Douluo Continent: My Martial Soul is the Black Dragon, I am the Lord of the Gods

Chapter 305 Going to sea
……

Hanhai City, the largest port city in the western border of the Tiandou Empire, is filled with the salty sea breeze and the hustle and bustle of people, and the air is filled with the atmosphere of ocean and trade.

With the full support of Empress Bibi Dong of the Spirit Empire, preparations for the journey to Seagod Island were completed with astonishing efficiency.

A sturdy and magnificent large soul-guided power ship, flying the flag of the Martial Soul Empire, is already docked at the pier, ready to set sail.

The group of people on this trip is quite eye-catching, led by Xuanming and Gu Yuena, and including Hu Liena, Arou, Xiaowu, Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, Ye Lingling, and Dugu Yan.

Although Shui Bing'er and Huo Wu didn't fully understand the deeper reasons, they knew that this trip was related to their own safety and that of their families, so they silently followed the group.

This group of women, each with their own unique temperament and extraordinary qualities, gathered together, undoubtedly created a beautiful scene, attracting the attention of passersby on the dock.

Before parting, Ning Fengzhi, who was in charge of coordinating the supplies and ships for this long journey, found Xuanming alone at the dock, gazing at the sea from the railing.

The sea breeze rustled Xuanming's black robes.

The sect leader of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School no longer had the composure and elegance he once possessed; his brows were furrowed with undisguised weariness and worry.

Ning Fengzhi walked to his side, gazing at the distant view where the sea and sky met, his tone carrying an indescribable complexity, and softly asked, "Xuanming, did you ever imagine that such a day would come?"

Xuanming remained silent, his gaze still fixed on the deep blue expanse.

He couldn't answer that question.

He had long foreseen the inevitability of conflict and change, but he never expected it to unfold in such a violent way and so quickly.

The rise of the Martial Soul Empire, the upheaval of the continent's格局 (geju, a term referring to the overall situation or landscape), and the people gathered around him... the trajectory of his destiny was both within his expectations and full of unexpected variables.

Seeing that Xuanming remained silent, Ning Fengzhi's refined face revealed a helpless, bitter smile.

He pushed up his glasses, his voice tinged with weariness: "The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School is now completely tied to the Spirit Empire's war chariot, with no way out. Back then... assisting the Spirit Hall in eliminating the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan completely ruined our sect's reputation in the Soul Master world, leaving no possibility of recovery."

He paused, then turned his gaze to his daughter Ning Rongrong, who was talking quietly with Zhu Zhuqing not far away. His eyes revealed deep worry and a hint of pleading: "I have done my best for the rise and fall of the sect. Now, I only hope that you can take good care of Rongrong. Although the empire is powerful, it is riddled with internal contradictions, aggressive expansion, and many hidden dangers. I have a bad feeling about this."

His concerns were not unfounded.

The Martial Soul Empire expanded too quickly, its foundation was not stable, and it was riddled with internal factions with sharp conflicts between the old and new forces. It relied entirely on Bibi Dong's iron fist and powerful military force to forcibly suppress and integrate them.

If the core fails, this behemoth could collapse rapidly from within.

Xuanming finally withdrew his gaze and looked at the meticulous Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School Master, slowly saying, "She is indeed sometimes too radical. If necessary, please offer your advice. If you cannot persuade her..."

Xuanming pondered for a moment, "Then say it's my idea. She might listen to a word I say."

Upon hearing this, Ning Fengzhi's eyes flashed with surprise, which quickly turned into a deeper sense of complexity.

He hadn't expected Xuanming to say such a thing, and he certainly hadn't expected that Xuanming's influence over the Pope seemed to be deeper than he had imagined.

He nodded solemnly: "I understand. I will do my best."

He knew that this was perhaps the greatest promise and arrangement Xuanming could offer.

Soon, the last batch of supplies was loaded onto the ship's side, and it was time to depart.

"Do you think this empire can succeed?" Ning Fengzhi suddenly asked.

The Martial Soul Empire, to be honest, is too powerful.

Before Bibi Dong announced the establishment of the nation, he never imagined that the Spirit Hall would develop and expand to this extent in just twenty years.

In twenty years, the power of the Spirit Hall, under Bibi Dong's leadership, had grown to a level that could shake the two great empires.

Although the Spirit Hall was powerful in the past, it was only powerful within the Spirit Master world. Moreover, the Spirit Hall was loosely managed, and neither its power nor its information was centralized, somewhat like the situation of the Heaven Dou Empire.

However, the Spirit Hall's power is now so concentrated that it is even stronger than that of the Star Luo Empire.

Nearly 70% of the Soul Masters' power across the entire continent is firmly controlled by the Spirit Hall. Relying on its powerful Soul Master army, the Empress of the Spirit Empire has instilled great confidence in the people below.

Especially the Soul Masters who participated in the war, they were all thinking about how to become nobles and prime ministers in the future, as if the victory of the Spirit Empire was inevitable.

Everyone yearns for war, for slaughter, for glory, and for plunder.

He couldn't judge right or wrong; from the moment the Spirit Empire was founded, this matter had nothing to do with right or wrong.

The winner is the king and the loser is the bandit!

"Success?" Xuanming's gaze fell on the sea.

"The success of an empire has never depended on how vast its territory is or how powerful its army is."

He paused, his gaze returning to the giant ship that would soon carry them on their voyage, and to the young women on its deck, their expressions a mixture of confusion, anxiety, and anticipation for the future. "It depends on whether it can bring true order and peace to the people of this land."

“Bibi Dong… she was too hasty. She tried to forcibly forge everything with iron and fire, but she ignored the cracks and undercurrents deep in people’s hearts. The foundation of the empire is not built on absolute force, but on… hope.”

"When plunder and conquest become the only melody, when ambition devours reason, collapse... may be just around the corner."

Ning Fengzhi stared blankly at Xuan Ming. These words, spoken by someone who had emerged from the City of Slaughter and whose hands were stained with blood, carried a chilling sense of incongruity and...insight.

He seemed to have long seen through the fragile foundation beneath the empire's prosperous facade.

"Then why..." Ning Fengzhi couldn't help but ask, why did you still push all of this forward?
Xuanming did not answer, but simply said, "Take care of yourself. The future of the empire may not be as hopeless as you think."

After saying that, he turned around, his black robe billowing in the sea breeze in a clean arc, and strode toward the gangway to board the ship.

Ning Fengzhi stood there, watching Xuan Ming's departing figure, pondering the profound meaning of those words, and the uneasy premonition in his heart grew stronger.

Soon, the last batch of supplies was loaded onto the ship's side, and it was time to depart.

The group boarded the ship one after another.

The massive anchor was pulled up with a creaking winch, the sails billowed, and the soul-guided engine hummed, propelling the giant ship slowly away from the bustling port and into the boundless blue sea.

The coastline gradually blurred and shrank behind us until it disappeared completely.

All that remained was the vast sky and the unfathomable sea.

Seagulls circled and cried at the stern, and the fresh sea breeze, carrying a sense of freedom, swept across the deck, temporarily dispelling the tension and gloom that had been hanging over everyone's hearts for days.

Most of the girls gathered on the deck, curiously observing the magnificent ocean view. Even the usually aloof Zhu Zhuqing and Ye Lingling had a hint of curiosity in their eyes.

Little Ah Yin ran around excitedly, her silvery laughter filling the deck.

Xuanming stood at the bow of the ship, with Gu Yuena standing quietly beside him. Her silver hair and purple eyes shimmered faintly in the sunlight as she calmly gazed ahead.

Hu Liena stood a little behind, looking at the backs of Xuan Ming and Gu Yuena standing side by side, her eyes filled with complex emotions, but they quickly became firm again.

Arou gently held Xiaowu's hand and whispered something to her.

Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, and the others also leaned on the railing and gazed into the distance, their thoughts drifting with the waves to the unknown horizon.

Shui Bing'er and Huo Wu leaned against each other, gazing at this unfamiliar territory. They felt both unease about the unknown and a sense of temporary relief from the conflicts on the mainland.

However, this initial novelty and relaxation did not last long.

As the ship sailed fully into the open sea, the waves became noticeably more turbulent.

The massive ships began to rise and fall with the waves, no longer experiencing the smooth feeling of the inner harbor.

At first, it was just a slight bump, which was within an acceptable range.

But as time went on, the waves grew larger and larger, and the ship rocked more and more violently.

"Well……"

The first person to feel unwell was Ning Rongrong.

Her pretty face, which had been gazing into the distance from the railing, turned slightly pale. Her slender fingers unconsciously gripped the railing tightly, her knuckles turning white from the force. She frowned slightly, as if trying to suppress the nausea rising from her stomach.

Next was Ye Lingling. She was already aloof and quiet, and now she pursed her lips tightly, her face was so pale it was almost transparent, fine beads of cold sweat appeared on her forehead, and her body trembled slightly, as if she was trying her best to endure great pain.

Dugu Yan's condition wasn't much better. She was holding onto the gunwale, her breathing became rapid, and her eyes began to glaze over.

Even Zhu Zhuqing, who was in good physical condition, frowned slightly at this moment. Although she could still stand steadily, her complexion was obviously not as rosy as before, and she was clearly enduring discomfort.

They were all Soul Masters who had grown up inland. How could they have experienced such a long period of sea turbulence? Their bodies' balance systems were challenged like never before.

"vomit--!"

Finally, Ning Rongrong could no longer hold back. She bent over and started gagging out of the ship's side, but because she hadn't eaten anything, she couldn't vomit anything. She just felt dizzy and lightheaded, and tears welled up in her eyes.

The others weren't much better off. In an instant, the relaxed atmosphere on the deck vanished, replaced by suppressed groans and painful gasps.

Only Xuanming, Gu Yuena, and Xiao Ayin were completely unaffected.

Fortunately, before going to the City of Slaughter, Xuanming had already told Ah Yin about this and found her a lot of nautical knowledge.

After everyone who was originally doing their own job started to cause chaos, the Blue Silver Emperor's vines quickly extended to all parts of the ship, controlling its navigation.

(End of this chapter)