Chapter 277: To the Endless Sea Region

Hearing this, Long Xuan finally understood her actions.

For a normal Gu Cultivator, breaking through to the Spirit Sea Stage is like thousands of soldiers crossing a single-log bridge.

Yet he, being merely a Mortal Body, faced difficulties in breaking through to the Spirit Sea Stage Gu Cultivator realm that were far greater; the difficulty soared by more than a hundredfold, making it impossible to achieve with ordinary Realm-Breaking Pills.

She had to seek those heaven-and-earth treasures with heaven-defying effects, for only Heaven-Defying Objects could allow her Mortal Body to achieve a heaven-defying breakthrough.

The treasures capable of enabling her Mortal Body to break through to the Spirit Sea Stage Gu Cultivator realm might be far more than one kind, but the one with the least risk should be the Earth Spirit Fruit Tree of the Teng Family in Central Earth.

Even knowing full well that the Teng Family in Central Earth was a den of wolves and tigers, she still had to jump into it.

"What business brings you here? If there's something, just say it directly," Di Xin said, turning her head at that moment.

"Nothing major; I'm just short a few materials, so I wanted to borrow some from you."

Saying this, Long Xuan took out a thick book from his Storage Ring and placed it on the map.

The contents recorded in this book were the remaining hundred thousand materials needed for the Swallowing Heaven World Toad Gu Formula, including a large quantity of Top Grade Spirit Insects.

Di Xin was equivalent to half a Multi-Treasure Merchant; matters concerning Top Grade Spirit Insects could only be resolved by finding her, as no one else could do it.

Looking at the book placed before her, Di Xin couldn't help but twitch her eyebrow; you call this 'a few materials'? And you have the nerve to use the word 'borrow'—does that mean you want to take them for free? He really has the gall; how can his face be so thick!

Di Xin widened her eyes and glanced at Long Xuan, finally picking up the book, quickly scanning through it, and then promptly tossing it back onto the map.

"Good heavens, another hundred thousand-plus kinds of materials, including a massive amount of Top Grade Spirit Insects; are you targeting just me when you pluck wool?"

"How many Top Grade Spirit Insects have you already traded with me for? You're still short? How can you be short every single day? If I resolve these hundred thousand materials for you, will you have another hundred thousand waiting for me next?"

"A hundred thousand, then another hundred thousand; you truly take me for a rich woman!" Di Xin exclaimed, her defenses completely shattered.

Hearing this, embarrassment appeared on Long Xuan's face; it seemed that was indeed the case, as he still needed to research repair Gu next, and also study Pills capable of increasing Aptitude with the Heaven Mending Fruit as the Main Material.

These projects were all huge consumers of resources; he would continue to pluck wool from Di Xin afterward, not knowing how many more waves there would be or whether he would pluck her bald.

"Calm down, calm down; I have no choice either. You're the only wealthy friend I know; if not you, then who? Just look at our years of friendship and help me out. Besides, I'm not asking for free; we've always conducted fair trades, so name whatever you want."

"Of course, it would be even better if we could run a tab; my funds are a bit tight lately," Long Xuan said, thick-skinned.

Di Xin couldn't help but roll her eyes dramatically, looking at him displeasedly as she said, "What could I possibly lack? I lack nothing; who is like you, lacking something every day?"

"However, now that you mention it, there is actually something I want to ask for your help with."

Di Xin's eyes darted, and she suddenly said, "Although the Earth Spirit Fruit has a forty percent breakthrough rate, for my Mortal Body, the success rate is still too small."

"Even if I truly obtain the Earth Spirit Fruit, I may not necessarily be able to break through to the Spirit Sea Stage Gu Cultivator realm."

"Therefore, I need your help," Di Xin said, looking into Long Xuan's eyes. "I need you to create a Pill Formula for me, one with the Earth Spirit Fruit as the Main Material."

"Eating the Earth Spirit Fruit raw already grants a forty percent probability of breaking through to the Spirit Sea Stage Gu Cultivator realm; once refined into a Pill, the breakthrough rate will be at least eighty percent."

"At that time, I will very likely break through to the Spirit Sea Stage Gu Cultivator realm," Di Xin said, her eyes shining with intense light.

"At the same time, the Teng Family's Earth Spirit Fruit is not so easy to steal; I need an assistant, I need your cooperation. Come with me, and we will split the treasures equally."

"As long as you agree to do these two things for me, I will resolve the hundred thousand materials listed in this book for you."

"However, I will need some time, as there are several types of Top Grade Spirit Insects inside that even I do not possess."

"These are my only two conditions; if you agree, we trade; if you disagree, then leave now."

Hearing this, Long Xuan's expression turned bitter.

The first condition was no problem; it could be considered a free gift.

Because ordinary Realm-Breaking Pills were useless to him, a Ten Absolute Body; just like Di Xin, he could only break through by refining the Earth Spirit Fruit into a Pill.

Therefore, creating a unique Pill Formula for the Earth Spirit Fruit was something he had to do; even if Di Xin hadn't mentioned it, he would have done it anyway, for aside from something like the Earth Spirit Fruit, he truly did not know how he could break through to the Spirit Sea Stage Gu Cultivator realm.

He had already been cultivating at the Marrow Cleansing Peak for quite a long time; it was time to consider the matter of breaking through to the Spirit Sea Stage Gu Cultivator realm, and he needed to make preparations for the breakthrough in advance.

It was just this second condition that troubled him.

Couldn't this Di Xin simply steal all the Earth Spirit Fruit Trees from the Teng Family, let them split the loot, and allow him to enjoy the ready-made benefits? Why did she insist on him going personally? That was far too dangerous.

Long Xuan was naturally one hundred percent unwilling.

Di Xin seemed to see through his inner thoughts and smiled, saying, "I know what you are worried about."

"Stealing the Earth Spirit Fruit Tree from the Teng Family seems very dangerous, but let me tell you, I have never been someone who courts death; without absolute certainty, I would never undertake any risky endeavor."

"I have done countless dangerous things, but which time ever resulted in me facing a fatal danger?"

"Following me, you don't need to consider the issue of danger; you are one hundred percent guaranteed not to come to harm."

"If you don't even have that much courage, then leave. Don't think about secretly embezzling a pile of Earth Spirit Fruits while researching the Earth Spirit Pill to enjoy the ready-made benefits; let me tell you, there's no chance of that."

Di Xin actually saw through Long Xuan's little schemes at a glance, directly nipping his thoughts in the bud.

"Alright, alright; without the Earth Spirit Fruit, I can't break through either, so I'll accompany you on this trip. But let it be clearly stated beforehand: the plan you formulate must make me feel one hundred percent certain there is no danger; otherwise, no matter what, I won't go."

Helplessly, Long Xuan chose to compromise.

Seeing Long Xuan agree, Di Xin curled the corner of her mouth and added, "Also, don't think about sending a Clone to accompany me inside while your main body keeps watch outside; don't even think about it. You've already used that trick on me once; don't think you can use it a second time!"

Long Xuan's expression instantly stiffened; he had indeed been thinking exactly that, which was why he had agreed so readily.

He hadn't expected this Di Xin to have become cunning, seeing through his scheme at a single glance.

Cooperating with someone too familiar wasn't good either; this Di Xin knew him too well, making it very difficult for his thoughts to escape her eyes.

After storing the book from the map into her own Storage Ring, Di Xin said, "Give me half a year, and I will prepare all the materials listed above for you."

"Anything else? If not, then leave?"

Seeing that Di Xin had already issued an order to expel guests, Long Xuan tactfully walked out.

Opening the door and then closing it again, he took a deep breath outside.

If he were to accompany Di Xin to the Teng Family in Central Earth, then after the Sky Island journey concluded, the Divine Dragon Ship would have to head toward Central Earth.

He wondered what kind of world Central Earth would be.

"Captain, we have now entered the Endless Sea Region; the upcoming voyage will absolutely not be calm, so you must make preparations early."

Just at this moment, Nie Qingcheng's voice interrupted Long Xuan's thoughts.

His heart gave a start; had they entered the Endless Sea Region so quickly?

Alarm instantly surged within his heart.

The Endless Sea Region was one of the Forbidden Seas; before the Endless Jade emerged, anyone who entered died, with not a single person ever returning alive.

It was only after the Endless Jade appeared that humans gained the possibility of navigating the Endless Sea Region.

However, this merely meant navigation became possible; it did not mean the danger had vanished.

This was a Forbidden Sea, after all; most vessels venturing into such seas ended up buried in the depths, and among the ships heading to Sky Island to seek treasures this time, roughly half would be filtered out by the Endless Sea Region.

Every time Sky Island emerged, most Gu Cultivators did not die within the Sky Island Ruins but perished in the Endless Sea Region; the majority were killed by its various perils before even catching a glimpse of Sky Island's shadow.

Facing such an utterly terrifying sea region, how could Long Xuan fail to steel his resolve?

With no time for further wild thoughts, he immediately left the ship's cabin and stepped outside.

Yet the moment he exited the cabin, he felt his shoulders suddenly weigh down, nearly forcing him to his knees.

Long Xuan was greatly alarmed; he hastily mobilized all his strength to resist this sudden force, barely avoiding humiliation.

His face darkened as he said, "It's gravity; the gravitational force in this sea region is incredibly powerful."

"In this sea region, even birds cannot pass, and a single goose feather cannot float!"

"In this sea region, flight is utterly impossible!"

Long Xuan hurried to the deck and looked down at the water, discovering that the Divine Dragon Ship was already sitting extremely low in the water.

The water level was nearly reaching the deck.

Only because the Divine Dragon Ship's performance was strong enough did it remain afloat; had it been an ordinary vessel, it would have long since been crushed and sunk by the powerful gravity.

Under such terrifying gravity, even the strongest swimmer, once fallen into the water, would never manage to surface again.

Moreover, with gravity this intense here, who knew how horrifying the water pressure must be?

Anyone falling into the water would likely be crushed into minced meat by the immense pressure immediately; no matter how skilled a swimmer they were, it would be useless.

"I've heard there are Sea Beasts in the Endless Sea Region; just how terrifying must creatures be that can survive under such water pressure?" Long Xuan thought, his heart pounding with fear, his expression revealing deep apprehension.

He took a wooden board from his Storage Ring and threw it into the sea.

The moment the board hit the water, it instantly sank to the bottom and vanished from sight.

Long Xuan felt his scalp go numb.

"Good heavens, even a buoyant wooden board gets dragged to the seabed instantly by the gravity; if a person falls into this water, the consequences would be unthinkable!"

How strong would one's swimming skills need to be to fall into this sea and swim back up?

At this moment, the entire crew had gathered on the deck; upon witnessing this scene, none failed to draw in a sharp breath of cold air.

"Old Qiu, among us, your swimming skills are the best; if you jumped into this sea, could you swim back up?"

Xiong Dali stared dumbfounded, slowly turning his head to look at Qiu Tiandao.

Hearing this, Qiu Tiandao immediately shook his head like a rattle-drum.

"Don't joke around; what does this have to do with swimming skills? Anyone who falls into this water is as good as dead; no matter how good a swimmer you are, it's useless..."

(End of Chapter)