Chapter 371: The ghost ship appears, living beings vanish

The ship's cabin.

"Has Lin Lin Shidi finished refining?"

Qin Yan's voice came from the doorway.

"Lin Lin Shixiong Qin, is something the matter?"

"Hu Hu Zhishi Gao and the deacons of the other sects are preparing to hold a competition among the disciples. You disciples who have yet to enter the sect will participate. The winners can receive rewards granted by the deacons of each sect."

Qin Yan had come to relay the words of Gao Zeming. After finishing, he continued, "Lin Lin Shidi, the rewards given by the deacons of each sect are of no small value, especially for martial artists who have not yet entered the Innate realm; they are all things you can make use of."

When he said this, there was also a look of envy on Qin Yan's face. If these rewards were for him, he would be very tempted, but unfortunately, only disciples who had not yet entered the sect could participate in the fighting. He had already entered the sect and was an inner sect disciple, so he did not have the qualifications to participate in the competition.

"Alright, I can come out of seclusion tomorrow."

"Lin Lin Shidi, there is no need to rush. If it really doesn't work, it's fine to delay for another day or two. This competition can be postponed for a day or two."

"No need to postpone, tomorrow will be fine."

Inside the cabin, Lin Chen felt the location of the Dragon-Transforming Grass within his body and gave a definite answer.

The energy of the Dragon-Transforming Grass had already reached his ankles. According to this speed, as long as he was given another few hours, there would no longer be any unrefined flood dragon energy left within his entire body.

Although he had already been reserved as a disciple by the sect elders, no one ever complained about having too many martial arts resources. Even for a personal disciple of an elder, there was an upper limit to the sect resources one could obtain.

Three hours later.

Lin Chen whispered a single word: "Panel."

【Host: Lin Chen】

【Stage: First Rank】

【Spirit Tier: 9.1】

【Innate Technique: Heaven Expansion Myriad Phenomena Destruction Palm】

【Wujin Divine Phase Body: First Layer (Giant Phase)】

【Innate Technique: Canglan Finger】

【Title: Martial Way Long-Lasting (Displaying prestige on Martial Way Mountain; for every thousand-match winning streak, Martial Way comprehension permanently increases by onefold, and spirit soul increases by ten percent)】

【Achievement: Light of Daliang】

【Effect: The more worshippers among Daliang martial artists, the faster the Martial Way cultivation progress.】

【Fate: 【Water Flows, Canal Forms】: Ninth-Rank Martial Way path, persistent and persevering, step-by-step, momentum like a broken bamboo, no distress of bottlenecks.】

"I didn't expect that thoroughly refining the flood dragon energy within my body would actually cause my spirit soul to grow by another ten percent."

Lin Chen had a smile on the corners of his mouth. As his Qi and blood circulated through his body, he could clearly feel that it was even smoother than before.

The deck of the Long Wang Ship.

At this moment, the disciples of each sect had all arrived, while Gao Zeming and the others were standing on the bridge tower above the deck, paying attention to this competition.

"Eh, your Canglan Sect still has another disciple?"

The deacon of the Heavenly Sun Hall saw the unfamiliar face standing among the Canglan Sect disciples, and there was a look of surprise in his eyes.

"Mm, this is a disciple of my sect. He was in seclusion when we boarded the ship and only just came out of seclusion today."

Gao Zeming explained, and the Heavenly Sun Hall deacon did not ask again. It was just a disciple, and he had confidence in the disciples of his own sect; this was the strongest disciple discovered by the sect on the islands of the East Sea Region over the past few decades.

"As for the rules of this competition, I think we shouldn't make it too formal. Let's just let the disciples of your sects choose their opponents."

Hu Yunhua spoke with a smile, and the deacons of the other sects also nodded. This competition was just something they had arranged on a whim, so it really did not need to be that formal.

"You all choose your opponents. The winners enter the next round, and the losers are eliminated."

Hu Yunhua's voice spread across the entire deck. Once these words were spoken, the gazes of the youths below also began to linger on others, wanting to choose their opponents.

On the other side of the deck, Qin Yan and Gu Kong stood together with the disciples from each sect who had followed the deacons out to sea. They were also bystanders to this competition.

"Lin Lin Shixiong Qin, who do you think will pick Senior Lin Lin Shidi?"

Gu Kong blinked his eyes. Qin Yan knew what Gu Kong meant; whoever chose Lin Lin Shidi would be considered to have misjudged.

Lin Chen did not take the initiative to choose an opponent; to him, it didn't matter who the opponent was.

"Let the two of us spar."

The disciple from the Heavenly Sun Hall looked at Lin Chen, and Lin Chen agreed.

The deck of the Long Wang Ship was large enough that even if dozens of matches were held simultaneously, it would be sufficient.

Lin Chen and the Heavenly Sun Hall disciple arrived at one side of the deck, and the sea breeze, carrying a salty, fishy scent, swept across the deck.

The opponent was dressed in red-patterned tight-fitting clothes, with an eager-to-try sharpness leaping between his brows, and dark red patterns on his palms faintly glowing with firelight.

"Zhao Yan of Heavenly Sun Hall, here to learn your high-level moves!"

"Lin Chen of Canglan Sect, please grant me your instruction."

Before the words had even faded, two clusters of red flames suddenly exploded from Zhao Yan's palms, and the scorching heat wave illuminated the deck a deep red.

His figure shot out like an arrow from a bow, and the afterimage trailing behind him actually plowed charred marks onto the deck.

This move, "Burning Shadow Step," caused the eyes of the bystanders like Qin Yan and the others to narrow, and the several deacons on the bridge tower also noticed this scene.

"This Zhao Yan should be one of the good seedlings recruited by the Heavenly Sun Hall this time, right?"

The deacon of the Grand Beginning Gate spoke and looked at the Heavenly Sun Hall deacon, Du Dongyang, who also nodded slightly: "Zhao Yan has good talent in the Blazing Sun Technique."

The Blazing Sun Technique was one of the signature techniques of the Heavenly Sun Hall, equivalent in status to the Canglan Sect's Canglan Finger.

"Brother Gao, looking at it this way, I'm afraid this disciple of your Canglan Sect is going to lose."

Facing the gazes of the other deacons, Gao Zeming's expression remained unchanged. Lin Chen would lose?

Just relying on this Zhao Yan's Blazing Sun Technique was not enough to be seen.

On the deck, facing the oncoming heat wave, Lin Chen seemed to be strolling in a leisurely courtyard.

When the red flame palm wind was about to touch his face, his right hand suddenly lifted, and the Canglan Finger energy burst forth from his fingertip like the cold light of a deep pool.

In an instant, everyone seemed to see an ice-blue flood dragon breaking out of the sea, carrying biting coldness as it pierced straight through the blazing flames!

Chi—!

After the two energies collided, they exploded with a bang. Zhao Yan was shocked to find that the palm energy he had poured his full cultivation into was like a clay ox entering the sea.

Before he could change his move, a finger wind of ice-blue color accurately pointed at the Shanzhong acupoint on his chest, causing the violent Blazing Sun energy within his body to be instantly cut off, his meridian circulation to be obstructed, and his body to stagger back three steps before falling onto his bottom on the ground.

"I concede."

Lin Chen withdrew his finger and stood still; the wrinkles on his clothes that had just been stirred up by the blazing flames had not yet completely settled.

The opponent was too weak. He had only used thirty percent of his strength, and the opponent hadn't even managed to make his sleeve slightly dirty.

Zhao Yan looked at the tear in his clothes on his chest, which was only an inch long, and his face turned deathly pale—if that finger wind had advanced another half an inch, his heart meridians would have been completely shattered by now.

On the deck, there were not many disciples who noticed this scene. Although Qin Yan and Gu Kong had been staring, this result had long been within their expectations, and they did not feel surprised at all.

Up on the bridge tower, Du Dongyang narrowed his eyes and looked at Gao Zeming: "Is this person the good seedling your Canglan Sect discovered this time?"

"Mm."

Gao Zeming did not hide it. Lin Chen's strength was right there; by the time the final competition ended, these few people would all be as clear as a mirror in their hearts.

"Brother Gao, you really know how to hide things. Having such a good seedling and keeping him hidden in the cabin without showing himself, could it be that you were deliberately waiting for today's competition?"

The deacon of the Star Fall Heavenly Palace had a somewhat dissatisfied tone. Gao Zeming explained: "Everyone, please do not misunderstand. Lin Chen had residual energy of the flood dragon's true blood in his body, and it just so happened that Brother Hu had the Dragon-Transforming Grass here. Lin Chen has been in the cabin during this period of time taking the Dragon-Transforming Grass to refine the flood dragon energy within his body."

"Mm, I can testify to this for Brother Gao."

Hu Yunhua also spoke from the side. With Hu Yunhua's testimony, the other several deacons did not think much more about it, and besides, this competition was not proposed by Gao Zeming.

The battle on Lin Chen's side ended very quickly, but others were still fighting, especially the several battles in the middle of the deck, which were very intense. Those who could confidently stand in the middle of the deck to fight had sufficient confidence in their own strength.

Zhao Yan's strength was also not weak, but he had hidden a thought, wanting to preserve his strength for the first few rounds, but he had misjudged and picked Lin Chen, which was a case of trying to steal a chicken only to end up losing the rice.

A quarter of an hour later, the battles of the first round had all ended.

On the Canglan Sect's side, besides Lin Chen winning, there were two other disciples who also won, and they also took the initiative to stand by Lin Chen's side. As for the three eliminated disciples, they stood on the side of Qin Yan and the others.

"The second round continues."

Hearing the voice of the deacon on the bridge tower, the gazes of the disciples at the scene met again. After the first match, everyone had more or less understood the strength of their opponents.

"Please grant me your instruction."

"Please grant me your instruction."

"Let the two of us spar."

On the deck, as one disciple after another chose their opponents, Lin Chen was suddenly surprised to find that he was left alone.

Uh...

"It seems that although Lin Lin Shidi's match just now ended very quickly, these youths still saw it all."

Qin Yan spoke with a smile. The disciples of the other sects had realized that Lin Lin Shidi's strength was extraordinary and did not want to challenge Lin Lin Shidi anymore.

This was also good; Lin Lin Shidi could have a bye and rest for a round.

The second round ended, and the number of disciples remaining on the deck was eight, while the Canglan Sect only had Lin Chen left.

This time, Lin Chen was up against a disciple from the Star Fall Heavenly Palace.

"Wei Xuan of Star Fall Heavenly Palace."

"Lin Chen of Canglan Sect."

Ghostly blue starlight floated around Wei Xuan's body, and he stepped on the unique Tiangang footwork of the Star Fall Heavenly Palace to approach, his figure disappearing on the spot.

Lin Chen's figure did not move, and he still pointed out a Canglan Finger, with Canglan energy shooting out.

Bang!

The next moment, Wei Xuan's figure appeared, staggering several steps backward.

This scene caused everyone at the scene to gasp. It was still a single finger to defeat the opponent; this Lin Chen of the Canglan Sect was simply too strong.

At this moment, even those disciples who had already entered the sect had a look of seriousness in their eyes. The footwork of the Star Fall Heavenly Palace was famous in the Yan Yan Yan Huang Chao for being ethereal and untraceable. Just now, even they hadn't captured Wei Xuan's figure at the first moment, yet this Lin Chen had been able to hit him directly with one finger.

Wei Xuan, who was retreating, had a look of horror on his face; he only felt that the meridians in his entire right arm were as if they had been frozen, and his Qi and blood were stagnant.

"I concede."

Hearing Wei Xuan concede, the disciples of the Star Fall Heavenly Palace had a look of regret on their faces, but they also saw that Wei Xuan was indeed no match for this Lin Chen.

"Brother Qin, what is the background of this Lin Chen?"

A disciple from another sect beside Qin Yan asked curiously.

"Lin Lin Shidi comes from an island on the sea."

Hearing Qin Yan's answer, the several people beside him rolled their eyes; everyone who appeared on this ship came from their respective islands.

"This person entering your Canglan Sect should have been given the treatment of an inner sect disciple directly, right?"

Qin Yan laughed: "I don't know about that."

Gu Kong on the side sighed lightly in his heart, inner sect disciple?

This was looking down on Senior Lin Lin Shidi.

And at this moment, on the bridge tower, the other several deacons also had equally serious expressions. Previously, they hadn't put their attention on Lin Chen, so they hadn't noticed anything, but this battle just now had been seen in its entirety.

The eyesight of Innate martial artists was not something these disciples below could compare to. The deacon of the Grand Beginning Gate was the first to be unable to hold back and asked: "Brother Gao, just give us the bottom line, what treatment will your Canglan Sect give Lin Chen?"

What treatment the sect gives a disciple can reflect the potential and strength of that disciple.

If Hu Yunhua hadn't been on the side, Gao Zeming wouldn't have intended to tell the truth, but Hu Yunhua had followed them to Daliang and knew Lin Chen's situation. Thinking of this, Gao Zeming stroked his beard and smiled: "Personal disciple of an elder."

"I knew it!"

Du Dongyang on the side slapped his thigh: "With Zhao Yan's strength being able to be defeated in one move, that definitely isn't the treatment of an ordinary inner sect disciple."

Because of Zhao Yan, the treatment their Heavenly Sun Hall gave was that of an inner sect disciple.

"Personal disciple of an elder, then what is the point of this competition?"

The deacon of the Star Fall Heavenly Palace shook his head somewhat helplessly. Being able to be favored by an elder of a sect already explained Lin Chen's strength.

"No wonder... no wonder your Canglan Sect traveled ten thousand miles this time to come and welcome him personally."

The Canglan Sect was located in the inland hinterland of the Yan Yan Yan Huang Chao, a long distance away from the East Sea Region. In the past, when the Submergence Storm disappeared, there had been no Canglan Sect deacons coming personally to welcome disciples.

If it were a personal disciple of an elder, then everything would make sense.

"Brother Hu, you aren't being authentic."

The several deacons suddenly reacted as well. They didn't know that Lin Chen was a personal disciple internally designated by a Canglan Sect elder, but Hu Yunhua had been on the ship the whole time and should have known.

This competition was proposed by Hu Yunhua first to provide a prize; wasn't this deliberately digging a pit for them?

"Everyone, I also brought out a prize on my side."

Hu Yunhua spread his hands. These words left Du Dongyang and the others unable to refute, but they also understood in their hearts that Hu Yunhua was likely deliberately trying to sell this Lin Chen a favor.

Looking at it this way, the descendants of the Hu family should be incompetent, causing Hu Yunhua to start befriending some potential geniuses so early.

The conversation of the several deacons was unknown to Lin Chen and the others on the deck, but after several rounds of competition, only Lin Chen and a disciple from the Grand Beginning Gate remained.

"I concede."

What was unexpected was that the disciple from the Grand Beginning Gate chose to concede directly.

Lin Chen was stunned, and in the end, he could only cup his hands and say: "Thank you for conceding."

"Senior Lin Lin Shidi is too polite. My strength is indeed not as good as yours. I wonder which island Senior Lin Lin Shidi comes from?"

The disciple from the Grand Beginning Gate had a smile on his face and explained: "Wei Xuan and I come from the same island, from the Nine Mountains Island of the East Sea."

Lin Chen suddenly understood. It seemed that this person from the Grand Beginning Gate and Wei Xuan must have sparred in the past, and their strength was about the same. Seeing himself defeat Wei Xuan so easily, he had taken the initiative to concede.

However, for one island to be able to produce two disciples favored by super sects, the foundation of this island was also extraordinary.

"Lin Chen of the Canglan Sect wins this competition."

On the bridge tower, Hu Yunhua announced the first place of this competition in a loud voice.

And as the winner of first place, Lin Chen was also surrounded by these island youths. Even Zhao Yan, who had been defeated by Lin Chen, was also surrounding him at this moment.

After some conversation, Lin Chen finally understood why these people had such a friendly attitude toward him.

The islands in the East Sea Region also had trade and competition among themselves.

Like the Nine Mountains Island where Wei Xuan was located, it was not just one island, but three islands. These three islands were discovered more than a thousand years ago, and the forces on the islands had gone through multiple replacements, finally forming a stable pattern.

For these islands, whether they would be annexed by other islands in the future or annex other islands depended on how many geniuses on the island were favored by the major sects within the Yan Yan Yan Huang Chao.

Nine Mountains Island had fifteen Innate martial artists sitting in town, and among the many islands in the East Sea Region, its strength was also among the best.

These youths represented the forces behind their respective islands, and upon learning that Lin Chen came from a newly discovered island, these youths also had a decision in their hearts: they must write a letter to inform the elders at home that they must pay attention to whether there was a country called Daliang among the newly discovered islands.

If there was, try to befriend it rather than form a grudge.

Understanding the thoughts of these youths, Lin Chen's attitude was also very humble. It might be difficult for Daliang martial artists to reach the Yan Yan Yan Huang Chao, but it was still possible to first establish contact and trade with other islands to exchange for the martial arts resources they needed.

Lin Chen silently remembered the names of the islands mentioned by several of the youths. When he reached the Canglan Sect, he would write a letter to Lord Kong then.

The Canglan Sect was, after all, too far away. Sometimes, distant water cannot quench near thirst. Befriending the surrounding islands could allow Daliang to integrate into the circle of these islands relatively quickly.

The next day.

Gao Zeming appeared in Lin Chen's cabin and handed Lin Chen several items.

"This is the prize for this competition, the Dragon-Silk Jade Soul from the East Sea Donghai Shengong. This item has the effect of tempering the spirit soul. This is the Meteorite Stone from the Star Fall Heavenly Palace, a rare top-grade material for refining weapons. And this Melting Sun Grass... you don't have use for it for the time being, but if you take it to the sect, you can exchange it for one thousand contribution points..."

"Thank you, Hu Hu Zhishi Gao."

Since it was the reward for first place, Lin Chen was not polite either.

"There are still seven days until we reach the East Sea Region. During these seven days, you can continue to go to Martial Way Mountain to challenge, but you must be certain. If you don't have the certainty of winning, don't rush to challenge."

Ever since knowing that Lin Chen had won all the way into the top ten thousand, Gao Zeming could guess how the sect elders would arrange things.

Improve Lin Chen's strength as much as possible, so that Lin Chen could maintain more winning streaks on Martial Way Mountain.

A winning streak on Martial Way Mountain was not just an honor, but also had substantial rewards. However, what specific rewards there were, only the elders knew.

"Mm, this disciple will keep it in mind."

Lin Chen nodded and agreed. Gao Zeming was just about to continue speaking when the ship suddenly began to sway.

The Long Wang Ship swayed!

Gao Zeming and Lin Chen's expressions changed at the same time. Both of them knew very clearly that with the condition of the Long Wang Ship, it would absolutely not sway because of wind and waves; it must be that some other major event had occurred.

"Let's go, go out and take a look."

The two of them quickly headed toward the deck, and when they reached the deck, Lin Chen looked at the situation on the sea surface, and his pupils shrank.

On the sea surface ahead, a black ancient ship no more than ten zhang long was sailing slowly. The sea surface where the ancient ship passed was calm, but around it, surging waves were being stirred up.

"The ghost ship has reappeared. Which island is going to suffer this time?"

On the deck, Wei Xuan's voice carried a tremor. Lin Chen frowned. What was a ghost ship?

"Ghost ship?"

Gao Zeming heard these words, and his eyes carried a thick look of wariness.

He had also heard of the name of the ghost ship of the East Sea Region.

"Brother Wei, what is a ghost ship?" Lin Chen couldn't help but ask curiously.

"A ghost ship is also called a death ship. Every hundred or several hundred years, it will suddenly appear on the sea area. When the ghost ship appeared for the first time, there were Innate realm experts who were curious and boarded the ship, but they never came down again."

"Innate realm experts boarded the ship and never came down again?"

Lin Chen had a look of shock in his eyes, and at this moment, Hu Yunhua and the other several deacons also appeared on the deck. Seeing the ghost ship ahead, Hu Yunhua's expression was very ugly.

"When the ghost ship appeared for the first time, an Innate Sixth Stage expert from our East Sea Donghai Shengong had approached the ghost ship, but he didn't dare to board. According to this senior, this ghost ship is a death ship; those who step on it die."

Even an Innate Sixth Stage didn't dare to board the ship?

Many disciples who, like Lin Chen, didn't know what a ghost ship was, all gasped out loud.

That was an Innate Sixth Stage, an existence that could walk sideways in the Yan Yan Yan Huang Chao, yet they didn't dare to board this ship that was no more than ten zhang long.

"If it were just that one couldn't board the ship, then one could just avoid it from afar. But if an island appears on the ghost ship's sailing route, the entire island will sink and be submerged by seawater. But after the ghost ship passes, all the living beings on the island vanish, and in the sea area of thousands or even tens of thousands of miles around, one can't even find a drowned corpse."

Wei Xuan looked at Lin Chen, his voice carrying fear: "Since there have been records of the ghost ship appearing, thirty-four islands have been swallowed, and the ghost ship has been recorded appearing thirty-five times. Only once did the path it traveled not have an island swallowed by seawater."

Hearing Wei Xuan's words, Lin Chen understood why Wei Xuan was so nervous. Thirty-five appearances, and only once did an island not suffer. This wasn't a ghost ship; this was a walking Yama ship.

"Does this ghost ship go to various places?"

"Deep into the Submergence Storm."

"The ghost ship will eventually disappear deep into the Submergence Storm, but the route it takes is not a straight line. From the time it appears to the time it heads to the Submergence Storm, its trajectory and direction are erratic, and no one can estimate its route."

Lin Chen's pupils contracted. If the ghost ship was heading deep into the Submergence Storm, that meant it was possible it would pass by the island where Daliang was located.

"Islands covered by the Submergence Storm, although they cannot communicate with the outside world, have received the protection of the Submergence Storm. But islands not covered by the Submergence Storm, although they can communicate with the outside world and the Yan Yan Yan Huang Chao, face the devastating disaster of the ghost ship."

"Then is there no way to stop this ghost ship from approaching?" Lin Chen asked, unwilling to give up.

"Even Innate Sixth Stage experts don't dare to board the ship, who can stop it?"

Wei Xuan's rhetorical question left Lin Chen silent. No island had Innate Sixth Stage experts.

Perhaps, an expert of the Myriad Phenomena Stage...

"Don't worry too much. The ghost ship's speed is not fast, and islands can predict it in advance. If it really is on the ghost ship's route, one can also arrange for a group of people to evacuate in advance."

Gao Zeming knew what Lin Chen was worried about and patted Lin Chen on the shoulder to comfort him.

With Lin Chen's status, if this ghost ship really headed to the island where Lin Chen was located, Daliang would definitely arrange for Lin Chen's family to take a ship and leave the island.

Lin Chen also knew what Gao Zeming meant, but thinking of the billions of Daliang people who would just be gone if they encountered the ghost ship, his heart still felt somewhat heavy.

"Every time the ghost ship appears, it generally sails in the sea area for twelve years. Given the distance of your island, it will take at least ten years for this ghost ship to sail there. If you are worried, you can just write a letter back to inform them of this matter then."

PS: I was caught by the village chief to be a coolie for dragon boat racing these past two days, so I'm only updating one big chapter. Training for two days, competition tomorrow. Poor me, this weakling. When I rowed on the first day, my speed couldn't keep up, and the oar hit the oars in front and behind, causing it to drop several times. I was always being scolded. Then I'm asking for a monthly ticket to comfort me. It's almost next month.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 372 =====