Chapter 232: Traces of the Stone Boat

Above the Sea of Death, four silhouettes swiftly swept toward the eastern coast of Yu State.

But shortly after the four set off, another sneaky figure emerged from the Tianhuang Realm, pursuing in the direction they had vanished.

The figure that came out was Chu Mu.

Although she had already attained the Yuanwu Realm cultivation at this time.

But compared to Fang Xu and the others, her speed was still considerably slower.

Seeing the four's silhouettes disappear in the distance, Chu Mu grew anxious.

"Hmph!"

She let out a cold huff and hurriedly sped up to give chase.

Canghai City.

Fang Xu, Guyuxi, and their two companions arrived here, landing directly outside the city.

"What's wrong?" Guyuxi asked curiously.

With their current cultivation, they hardly needed any rest, let alone finding a boat.

To them, sea and land were hardly any different.

"Wait for someone."

Fang Xu smiled, turned around, and looked toward the horizon.

"Who are we waiting for?" Chang Long asked curiously.

On the side, Xiao Long sneered, "Since she came out of the Tianhuang Realm, she's been following us."

"Really slow."

Chang Long looked at Guyuxi with a puzzled expression.

Guyuxi closed his eyes slightly, then smiled and said, "How did this girl end up following us?"

Fang Xu gave a wry smile: "Who knows."

As they were speaking, a figure in urgent haste appeared on the distant horizon.

That figure, after a few flashes, arrived before Fang Xu.

"How did you end up following us?" Fang Xu asked, looking at Chu Mu's somewhat pale little face, smiling.

Chu Mu blinked her eyes and said with a sweet smile, "I just wanted to come out and play with you."

Fang Xu affectionately ruffled her hair, then turned to Guyuxi and said, "Senior, let's go."

Guyuxi nodded: "I think we should still find a big ship in the city; otherwise it'll be a bit tough."

The four of them—Xiao Long and Chang Long being of the dragon clan—found the sea more comfortable than land.

Moreover, Guyuxi and Fang Xu's strength made them fearless of the ocean.

But now Chu Mu has come running; as a Yuanwu Realm cultivator, it would be difficult for her to keep flying nonstop over the sea.

"That works."

Fang Xu nodded, and the five of them went straight to the dock of Canghai City.

After searching for a while, Fang Xu suddenly saw a familiar banner.

"Liang!"

He vaguely remembered that over a hundred years ago, while on a mission to Fu Shan Kingdom, he had taken this very treasure ship of the Liang Clan from Canghai City.

At that time, the treasure ship encountered a beast tide while at sea.

It was also then that he met Chang Long and, by chance, helped enlighten Chang Long's wisdom.

After so many years, with so many major events having occurred on Three Mountains Island, he hadn't expected the Liang Clan to still exist.

He walked over slowly and discovered that seated beneath the hanging Liang Clan banner was an old man with white hair.

"Sir, we want to take a boat out to sea."

The old man slowly raised his head: "How many people?"

Fang Xu extended a hand, then prepared to take out money.

But the old man slowly rose to his feet, looking at Fang Xu with astonishment.

"Are you... Young Hero Fang?"

Fang Xu blinked slightly: "Old sir, do you know me?"

After sizing up the old man's face, Fang Xu could be certain he had never seen him before.

"Indeed, it's Young Hero Fang!"

The old man hastily clasped his hands and said, "I, your humble self, pay my respects to Young Hero Fang!"

Throughout Three Mountains Island, Fang Xu's status is highly esteemed.

The name Young Hero Fang is naturally known to all.

"Old sir, there's no need to be so polite."

"How did you recognize me, old sir?"

Fang Xu asked curiously.

He hasn't been active much on Three Mountains Island lately, so the old man before him shouldn't have seen him.

"If I may inform Young Hero Fang, on the day of your great wedding, our Liang Clan patriarch went to the Central State."

"After the patriarch returned, he ordered someone to paint Young Hero Fang's portrait, and we were all fortunate to see his true appearance."

"The patriarch instructed that, should we ever encounter Young Hero Fang in the future, we must definitely send someone to notify him."

"Young Hero Fang, please take a look."

The old man looked at Fang Xu carefully, seeking his opinion.

Fang Xu gave a somewhat helpless wry smile.

He never expected that he would actually become a big star.

The head of the Liang family is also strange.

Just attending his own wedding would be fine, but why have someone paint his portrait?

What he didn't know was that, after the wedding, many heads of great clans and leaders of powers had similar practices.

After returning, they uniformly spread Fang Xu's portrait among the core disciples of their families and forces, aiming to prevent any clueless disciple from offending him someday.

"Old sir, we're in a hurry to go out to sea, how about..."

"Fang Shaoxia, the matter of going to sea happens to be something the family head can help with."

"If the family head knows you want to go to sea, he will surely personally steer the ship."

Fang Xu turned his head to look at Guyuxi, saw he didn't mind, and nodded in agreement.

"Then you go notify the two family heads now."

Many cultivators, as their cultivation grows deeper, their human feelings fade more and more, until finally their humanity is obliterated by divinity, completely leaving the realm of humans.

In the eyes of those cultivators, ordinary mortals are not even worth acknowledging.

Even if they accidentally kill some mortals with a casual gesture, they don't care.

But Fang Xu is different; he still likes his own human feelings.

He always believed that, no matter how high his cultivation, he is still a person.

The old man excitedly pulled a signal arrow.

Not long after, a figure hurried over.

The person who came was none other than the head of the Liang family.

The Liang family is a power in Canghai City, not far from the dock.

Upon seeing the person, Fang Xu slightly furrowed his brows.

The head of the Liang family is too young.

He could tell at a glance that the Liang family head's strength had reached the Martial Lord realm, but his age was only in his early twenties.

At such a young age to reach such a level shows his talent is exceptional.

You should know that Li Xun, who was once called a royal genius, was only at the peak of the Martial Scholar realm in his early twenties.

"Liang Shaohong pays his respects to Fang Shaoxia!"

After Liang Shaohong, the head of the Liang family, rushed over and discovered it was truly Fang Xu, he hastily clasped his hands in greeting.

Fang Xu slightly returned the salute, then said: "Liang family head, we want to go out to sea..."

"Going to sea?!"

"Easy!"

"Yan Bo, immediately have people prepare our best treasure ship!"

"I will personally steer for Fang Shaoxia!"

Everything was just as the old man had expected; upon learning Fang Xu wanted to go to sea, Liang Shaohong eagerly wanted to steer for him.

"This... isn't appropriate?"

Fang Xu frowned and said.

Liang Shaohong, seeing this, became a bit nervous.

He feared Fang Xu would refuse to let him accompany them.

"Fang Shaoxia, although our family head is young, he is skilled at steering."

"With the family head steering your voyage this time, it will surely go very smoothly."

Yan Bo, seeing this, hurriedly advised from the side.

"Yes yes!"

"I have been going to sea with my father since I was three or four years old."

"Across the vast sea of ten thousand li, I am very familiar."

"Fang Shaoxia, just let me personally steer for you."

Liang Shaohong spoke.

Youthful admiration.

To Liang Shaohong, Fang Xu is the object of his admiration.

Since learning of those legends about Fang Xu, he has sworn to take Fang Xu as his goal.

The Huayang Mountain wedding, originally, with the Liang family's status, they were not qualified to attend.

Liang Shaohong, however, spent a great deal of resources to exchange for a qualification from others.

The purpose was simply to see his idol in person.

"Alright."

Seeing Liang Shaohong's eager expression, Fang Xu could only agree to him.

Liang Shaohong was overjoyed and hurriedly urged Yan Bo to check whether the treasure ship was ready.

Under his incessant urging, the treasure ship finally sailed to the dock.

Liang Shaohong hastily invited Fang Xu and the others aboard.

"Fang Shaoxia, arrange the rooms on the ship as you see fit; if you have any needs, just give orders."

Fang Xu nodded.

The treasure ship, under Liang Shaohong's control, began to race toward the deep sea.

On Fang Xu's side, a few people had just sat down.

Liang Shaohong then came to the cabin.

「Young Hero Fang, I forgot to ask, where are you going? 」

Seeing Fang Xu made him so excited that he forgot to ask about Fang Xu's destination.

「I'm looking for something... 」 Fang Xu said, suddenly curious: 「Have you heard of the Immortal Carved Stone Boat? 」

Liang Shaohong was slightly startled, a hint of fear appeared on his face, and his body involuntarily stepped back a few steps.

Seeing his reaction, Fang Xu guessed that he must know of the Immortal Carved Stone Boat, and it's highly likely he has seen it.

It seems that agreeing to bring him along was indeed correct.

Liang Shaohong was frightened for a moment, then slowly said: 「Is what you're looking for the Immortal Carved Stone Boat? 」

Fang Xu nodded: 「What, you don't dare go anymore? 」

Liang Shaohong really wanted to say that he indeed didn't dare to go.

But thinking of Fang Xu's strength, he felt a bit hesitant.

Finally——

「Young Hero Fang, since you want to go, I naturally wish to accompany you! 」

Seeing his resolute expression, Fang Xu again asked: 「Have you seen the Immortal Carved Stone Boat? 」

Liang Shaohong nodded: 「I have seen it once. 」

「That was the time when my Liang family's three treasure ships, as well as my parents and some family experts, all died in the sea. 」

As expected!

「Then how did you survive back then? 」

Fang Xu had personally witnessed the terror when the Immortal Carved Stone Boat erupted.

Such power, not to mention a Martial Lord, even a God-Piercing Realm cultivator probably couldn't withstand it.

The might was strong, the affected range wide; he felt that anyone who had seen the stone boat likely couldn't survive.

As for him and Changlong, that was just an accident.

Back then, the two escaped quickly, and they were also relatively close to the coast.

Even so, Changlong almost died back then.

「I don't know either. 」

「When the Immortal Carved Stone Boat erupted, I was directly knocked unconscious. 」

「When I woke up, I found myself on a sea island of Self-Fowl Mountain Country. 」

Liang Shaohong rubbed his own arm, where there was a strange mark.

The mark had abruptly appeared on his arm after encountering the Immortal Carved Stone Boat.

It was also because of the mark's appearance that his talent made rapid progress in a short time, reaching the Martial Lord realm at just over twenty years old.

However, he did not tell Fang Xu about the mark.

「Can you still find the Immortal Carved Stone Boat now? 」 Fang Xu asked again.

Liang Shaohong shook his head: 「Uncertain. 」

「But I can take you to the sea area where the Immortal Carved Stone Boat originally appeared to have a look. 」

Fang Xu nodded: 「Thank you for your trouble. 」

Liang Shaohong clasped his fists and returned to the helm of the treasure ship.

The treasure ship adjusted its course and then sped toward an unknown sea area.

Time quickly came to evening.

Everyone returned to their own rooms to begin cultivation.

Liang Shaohong thoughtfully prepared a luxurious room for Fang Xu, with everything that should be there all complete.

After a simple wash-up, Chu Mu eagerly pulled Fang Xu to rest.

On the bed, after some tossing and turning, Fang Xu looked at the little girl and teased: 「You came along just to have me all to yourself, right? 」

Chu Mu shyly buried her head in the blanket.

This can be considered as tacitly accepting his statement.

……

Time passed day by day, and the treasure ship continued to move forward.

According to Fang Xu's estimate, they are now at least tens of thousands of li from the coastline.

Standing on the deck, looking at the boundless sea around, a thought arose in his mind.

Could the sea of the Heaven Profound Realm be even larger than the Central Continent?

Where does this sea end?

「What are you thinking about? 」

Chu Mu's voice sounded.

Fang Xu turned around, looked at her, and shook his head.

Over these past few days, thanks to my constant nourishment, Chu Mu could be said to be radiant and glowing.

Chu Mu lightly wrapped her arms around his arm, standing thus on the deck, blowing in the sea breeze, gazing at the setting sun.

Time passed another two days.

On this day, just as dawn broke, Liang Shaohong found Fang Xu.

「Young Hero Fang, the sea area ahead is where the Immortal Carved Stone Boat originally appeared. 」

「I think, should we first stop the treasure ship here? 」

Fang Xu nodded.

Leaving the treasure ship here is also fine; I and the Bone Prison can go out to search, so that if the Immortal Carved Stone Boat were to erupt, everyone wouldn't be drawn into danger.

Mu, go fetch Senior Gu.

On the deck.

Fang Xu looked toward Chang Long and said, "Protect Mu and Xiao Long well; I'll go out with Senior Gu for a while."

I'll go with you.

As his words fell, Xiao Long immediately spoke.

You...

No, I'm going!

Before Fang Xu could refuse, Xiao Long hurriedly said, "Believe me, I can help."

Seeing this, Fang Xu pondered for a moment, then agreed.

Senior, let's go.

The three of them flashed and directly left the treasure ship, flying forward.

In the sky, Fang Xu's soul power extended to the extreme, scanning the seabed along their path.

Gu Yuxi also released his soul power, and together with Fang Xu carried out a carpet-like search of the seabed in this sea area.

That won't work like that.

Xiao Long followed beside the two and suddenly said, "Some things can be seen with the naked eye, but soul power cannot detect them."

If you want to find the Immortal Carved Stone Boat, you still have to go down and see for yourself.

Having said that, her figure flashed and she directly revealed her dragon form.

Come on, I'll take you down to have a look.

Fang Xu and Gu Yuxi exchanged a glance and then landed directly on Xiao Long's back.

Roar!

Xiao Long let out a clear dragon cry, then soared in the sky for a moment before plunging into the vast sea.

A bubble barrier formed on their surfaces, wrapping Fang Xu and Gu Yuxi, while Xiao Long roamed freely in the seabed.

Her speed was fast; Fang Xu and Gu Yuxi each took a side, carefully searching for traces of the Immortal Carved Stone Boat.

In the deep sea there was no light, and they couldn't tell day from night.

Under Xiao Long's guidance, they had almost scoured this sea area, yet still couldn't find any trace of the Immortal Carved Stone Boat.

Gu Yuxi frowned and asked, "Could the Immortal Carved Stone Boat have left this place?"

Fang Xu shook his head, uncertainly saying, "Maybe."

"Xiao Long, go check the left side; if there's nothing, we'll change locations and search again."

Xiao Long didn't answer; his agile body swept past the seabed peaks and headed left.

Not long after advancing, Fang Xu suddenly saw a cluster of shimmering green liquid drifting slowly toward the sea surface in the distance.

As it drifted, the liquid also split into smaller droplets.

"Immortal Nectar of Creation!" Fang Xu exclaimed. (End of chapter)

Fang Xu exclaimed. (End of chapter)