Chapter 818: Acceleration and Rest (1/2, Request Subscription)

Fang Yue thought this way, so he tried to probe for some information from the seasoned helmsman.

When the helmsman heard the name Han Bai, his expression changed abruptly.

It was a look of extreme shock, quickly suppressed.

"... Never heard of it."

Fang Yue narrowed his eyes—the helmsman was lying.

Indeed, Lord Han's ordeal was connected to Jingcheng.

"Helmsman, don't forget we're still in partnership."

Fang Yue slightly intensified his tone, but the helmsman remained unmoved—this time, utterly impassive.

"Truly never heard of it. Names like Han Bai are rare; if I had heard it, I'd remember. Your master must be some hermit sage—this happens often in the vast Qing Guo..."

The helmsman rattled on endlessly, but Fang Yue frowned.

Honestly, if the helmsman refused to tell the truth, Fang Yue had no way to force him.

After all, the one who truly held the helmsman's life in his hands was Tian Ruichi—and right now, Fang Yue and the others were still on the helmsman's ship, their lives still in his hands, with no leverage to bargain.

After chatting with the helmsman for a few more words, Fang Yue temporarily gave up trying to extract anything from him.

This old man was truly tight-lipped—no openings at all.

"Ye Ge, how's your condition now? Can you still install that external turbine burst onto the Han Jiang giant ship?"

Qing Chen sidled up beside Fang Yue and asked quietly.

"I could do it, but the commotion would be huge..."

The consumption of Gui value was minor—the commotion was the deadly part.

"No problem! You know, along this journey, we noticed the sea's anomalies seem uninterested in our ship—even avoiding us from afar."

Fang Yue froze.

"Why?"

"Possibly because of the mark," Tian Ruichi interjected in a low voice.

"Mark?"

"Yes. According to Qing Chen, we may have been marked by that thing's aura—within a certain time or range, this mark persists, becoming our shield."

Calling it a shield wasn't precise.

More accurately, they had been marked as prey of the demon corpses.

And no anomaly in the entire Han Jiang dares challenge the demon corpses' authority.

Thus, as long as the demon corpses haven't come after them, this prey-mark aura has become their camouflage.

"But we don't know when this aura will fade—if it suddenly disappears and draws attacks from other anomalies..."

"Ye Ge, don't worry. The helmsman likely has more experience than us. If danger approaches, he might sense it early—just proceed with accelerating the Han Jiang giant ship."

Since it had come to this, Fang Yue naturally wouldn't refuse.

But Fang Yue had pushed himself hard all this way—his consumption was immense; he needed rest before he could properly power the Han Jiang giant ship.

Everyone naturally understood, and Jing Yan bustled about, preparing food for Fang Yue and tidying his room, eager and diligent.

Fang Yue stared at Jing Yan, whose gill-like flaps on both cheeks rose and fell with each breath, and said: "Jing Yan, I can handle it myself. I only need to restore my strength and internal energy—I'm not injured."

"That won't do! Ye Ge, you're our pillar! I must give you the best rest environment!"

Seeing Jing Yan's serious expression, Fang Yue muttered inwardly, then said:

"... If you want something, just say it outright—I'm not used to you being this helpful."

"Ye Ge... hehehe... since you brought it up, I won't be polite."

Jing Yan rubbed his hands, grinning: "Ye Ge, I remember you have a mist-form black robe..."

"What do you want the mist-form black robe for?"

"Well, it's just my face..."

Fang Yue understood.

With Jing Yan's current appearance, he'd be detained outside Jingcheng's gates before even entering—seen as an anomaly or someone possessed by a curse.

But the mist-form black robe wouldn't solve this—the guards would still inspect.

"No no no—I asked Tian Ruichi. As long as the guards don't directly see me like this, they won't stop us, especially with Tian Ruichi, the Special Envoy, here..."

So that's how it was—Jingcheng played the favor game too, just like everywhere else.

After understanding the situation, Fang Yue didn't hesitate—he handed the mist-form black robe to Jing Yan.

He himself chose to train in the room, swallowing pills to restore his condition.

Immersed in cultivation, time passed quickly.

When Fang Yue opened his eyes again:

"Name: Yese Liming."

"Realm: Human Intermediate."

"Gui Realm: Catastrophic Intermediate 【0%】."

"Spirit Root: Gui Spirit Root."

"Status: Gui Curse 【Wu Yu】, ——."

"Health: 20000/20000."

"Internal Energy: 40000/40000."

"Gui Value: 22000/40000."

"Control Power: 31020 【Base: 31000】 【Status/Bonus: +20】."

"Dissipation Power: 31020 【Base: 31000】 【Status/Bonus: +20】."

"Comprehension: 75. 【Special Attribute】"

"Talent: Night Breathing 【Human-Rank Superior Grade】."

"Curse Talent: Still World, Curse Ring."

"Rain-Rank: Frozen Heart Method 【Second Layer】, Glazed Ice Step 【First Layer】."

"Human-level Martial Art: Analysis Pupil 【Human-Rank Lower Grade】."

"Innate Martial Art: Innate Qi Shield 【Human-Rank Mid Grade】, Aura 【Human-Rank Mid Grade】, Shadow-Treading Step 【Xiantian Third-Rate】, Dark Moon Blade Technique 【Xiantian Third-Rate】, Night Flow Mental Method 【Xiantian Third-Rate】, Coiling Tree Heart Method 【Xiantian Third-Rate】."

"Acquired Martial Art: ……."

"Lifespan: 72 years, 7 months."

He had finally recovered.

Only the curse value was recovering rather slowly, but it wasn't a big deal — taking it slow was fine.

Then there was his lifespan…

Every time Fang Yue saw how little lifespan he had left, he felt like he could neither laugh nor cry. His hundred-year lifespan had been reduced to just this little bit — the thought alone was heartbreaking.

No, he had to hunt anomalies to earn lifespan! He would fight to climb back up and become a hundred-year-lifespan person again!

Then there was the Frozen Heart Method.

The Second Layer of the Frozen Heart Method had pushed its attributes up another level.

"Name: Frozen Heart Method."

"Grade: Rain-Rank."

"Layer: Second Layer."

"Requirements: 10 points of Comprehension, Human Realm, 10,000 Force Control, 10,000 Force Release."

"Description: Frozen Heart Method, stills the mind and concentrates the spirit, leading directly to the Rain Realm."

"Effect: When active, increases Force Control by 10,000 and Force Release by 10,000; attacks carry the additional effect 【Ice Curse: Condensation】."

"Note: Transform into an ice-block person, devoid of emotion and desire — you are the strongest!"

Honestly, after the encounter with the Demon Corpse, the biggest gains were the upgrade of the Frozen Heart Method and learning the Glazed Ice Step.

With his other stats unchanged, acquiring these two directly boosted Fang Yue's strength.

(End of Chapter)