Chapter 338: New Special Skill!!

In water, the power and speed of the Ninefold Wave Surge far exceed those on land.

The sea beast seemed to sense danger, its charge toward the merchant ship hesitating slightly.

But it was already too late!

"Go!"

Chen Mu slashed his fingertip downward.

Swoosh—

A brilliant blue water great blade, like a deep-sea shark lying in wait, shattered through the waves, ascending against the current faster than the beast's charge, piercing its skull with pinpoint accuracy, blood spraying outward.

"Roar~!"

The sea beast, its head pierced by the water great blade, did not die immediately; intense pain unleashed its final ferocity.

Letting out a deafening death cry, its massive body convulsed violently, rolled over, and thrashed its beam-like tail wildly, slapping the sea surface and raising terrifying waves tens of feet high.

At the same time, its shattered skull still surged forward by inertia, slamming hard against the hull of the "Haiyun."

If this impact landed, even if the merchant ship wasn't instantly split in two, it would suffer severe damage—or capsize.

"Hmph! Dying struggles!"

Chen Mu's eyes turned icy; without hesitation, he fully unleashed the Ninefold Wave Surge and the Triple Heaven Water Intent, his entire aura resonating powerfully with the vast sea below.

Splash—splash—splash—

Within a radius of hundreds of meters, the seawater boiled violently; three azure water great blades, larger, denser, and over thirty meters long than before, erupted simultaneously from beneath the waves!

These three great blades formed a "pin" shape, like three swords of heavenly retribution, radiating a terrifying aura capable of severing all things and shredding all matter.

"Cut!"

Chen Mu swung both arms sharply downward.

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!

Three water great blades, over thirty meters long, like three deep-blue lightning bolts, sliced through air and sea, piercing with shrill whistles, instantly catching up to the beast's thrashing, dying body as it neared the hull!

Slish! Slish! Slish!

A series of grating, teeth-chilling slicing sounds rang out.

The first great blade slashed diagonally, completely severing the beast's thick neck.

The second great blade cut horizontally, splitting the mountain-sized body in two!

The third great blade slashed vertically, cleaving the rear half of the body along with its wildly flailing giant tail.

Blood gushed from the wounds like a volcanic eruption, instantly staining a vast stretch of sea a blinding crimson, the heavy stench of blood spreading everywhere.

The once-mighty sea beast, under these three final blows, was cleanly and neatly severed into three pieces!

【Corpse detected. Collect?】

"Yes!"

With the card in hand, Chen Mu casually checked it.

Upon inspection, his eyes brightened slightly.

Special Skill Card!

Another Special Ability Card: Water Teleportation!

After "Earth Teleportation," he had now obtained the "Water Teleportation" skill!

'Good, good.'

Chen Mu nodded in satisfaction.

……

The broken remains of the sea beast sank helplessly into the waves; blood attracted several faint, shadowy predators from afar, but they dared not approach too closely, awed by the terrifying power of the water blades.

The sea surface rapidly turned red, then gradually diluted by churning waves.

Only now did the crew on deck, still shaken, seem to regain their ability to breathe.

"Huh… huff…"

"We're… saved!"

"Oh heavens…"

The relief of survival washed over everyone like a tide.

Some collapsed weakly onto the wet deck, gasping for air.

Others simply lay down, staring blankly at the sky and grinning.

Many women and children could no longer hold back, bursting into tears—both from released terror and joy at having survived.

The ship's manager, a sharp, capable middle-aged man with a goatee, wiped the sweat from his brow and forced himself to calm down.

He straightened his attire, strode quickly to Chen Mu's side, bowed deeply, his voice thick with lingering fear and boundless gratitude.

"Thank you… thank you, Elder, for saving us! Had it not been for your divine power, all hundred-plus souls aboard the 'Haiyun' would have perished in the fish's belly! Your great kindness, the Haiyun Trading Society will never forget! A small token of thanks—please, Elder, accept it!"

Saying this, he reached into his robe to pull out silver notes.

Chen Mu waved his hand dismissively, speaking calmly, "I happened to be here. No need for such formalities. No thanks are necessary."

He did not lack for such wealth.

Seeing Chen Mu's firm refusal, the manager dared not press further, but his gratitude deepened; he hurriedly added, "Elder, your noble virtue! The cabin you occupied was far too humble—it was an insult. The finest private suite on board remains vacant; please, Elder, allow us to offer you proper hospitality, so you may rest in peace and comfort."

This time, Chen Mu did not refuse; he nodded. "Thank you."

The manager beamed, immediately summoning a nimble crewman to respectfully guide Chen Mu to the ship's topmost deck—the most spacious, best-viewed, and most elegantly appointed private suite.

……

Over the next three days of sailing, aside from an unexpected storm that churned the sea into violent waves and rocked the merchant ship fiercely, no further sea beast attacks or other dangers occurred.

Chen Mu spent most of his time sitting quietly in his suite, cultivating and regulating his breath, occasionally leaning on the railing to gaze at the endless sea—content and at ease.

On the fifth morning, an island with clear contours appeared on the horizon.

The island was not large, but highly unusual—one end steamed with latent heat, the other blanketed in gleaming white snow, as if simultaneously embracing the poles of ice and fire; this was their destination.

Ice-Fire Island.

The "Haiyun" slowly sailed into Ice-Fire Island's only port.

Chen Mu descended the ship with the crowd, stepping onto a dock unlike anything on the mainland.

Salt-laden sea winds struck his face, carrying their distinctive fishy scent and the taste of freedom.

The dock held all manner of vessels: crude fishing boats, medium-sized merchant ships, and even a few fast ships adorned with strange banners and menacing hulls—clearly belonging to pirates or independent factions.

Laborers hauling cargo, fishermen hawking seafood, hurried cultivators, merchants dressed in varied styles…

Together, they formed a vibrant, wild portrait of the outer seas.

Chen Mu suppressed his aura, appearing as an ordinary outsider cultivator, and moved slowly with the crowd away from the dock, heading toward the island's center—and its only sizable settlement—"Tong Family City."

According to Yan Laogui's memories and rumors gathered aboard the ship, the owner of Ice-Fire Island bore the surname Tong and had maintained his lineage here for over three hundred years, making him a formidable local power on the outer seas' edge.

The strongest ancestor of the Tong family was said to have reached the Fifth Stage Earth Altar, the Five Qi in Harmony, and served as the cornerstone preserving Ice-Fire Island's independence and order.

The young man in Yan Laogui's memory, clad in a "Sword Armor" breastplate, was the current island lord's only son, named Tong Tong Shoutian, with cultivation at the Sixth Stage Innate.

Chen Mu walked deeper into the island.

Soon, a sizable city came into view.

The city walls were low, built from the island's unique black volcanic rock mixed with wood, radiating a rugged, sturdy aura.

Above the city gate were three large characters: "Tong Family City."