Chapter 401: Chapter 281: Turbulent Changes, the Struggle Erupts in Jun City (Middle)

Inside the cabin, the group of researchers accompanying the voyage were thrown about by the rocking ship. Some of the older professors even had to have themselves tied to the walls to keep from being flung away by the vessel’s sudden lurches.

"How are we supposed to sail in this freak weather?! We’re not going to die out here, are we?"

A young researcher peered through a cabin window at the sea outside, a chill running down his spine as a sense of fear and suffocation washed over him.

Mountainous waves, tornado-like waterspouts that resembled pillars of heaven... In the deep sea, even a steel behemoth forged by modern technology seemed so insignificant.

"Don’t be ridiculous! Do you think the country would have summoned us here without being fully prepared? Besides, aren’t there several Saint Experts on board? We’ll definitely be fine!"

A middle-aged researcher scolded.

"Even Saint Experts are useless against a natural disaster of this scale. Manpower is simply too insignificant."

someone said in despair.

Saint Experts might be powerful as individuals, but how could they keep a warship this large safe from such a natural cataclysm?

Just as despair began to creep into everyone’s hearts.

At the ship’s bow stood several figures. No matter how the surrounding waves churned and crashed, or how the hull rocked, they remained standing ramrod straight, their gazes fixed ahead.

Among them were several figures familiar to Yi Beidou.

Wei Cheng, Tao Zihong, Zhu Zi’Er, Shu Xuanji...

...as well as a few unfamiliar old men, each with an extraordinary bearing.

"This atmospheric phenomenon is all caused by a magnetic field Array. But to achieve this level, with such a vast range and immense power... I have never seen anything like it. It is truly a miraculous feat, hard to imagine it was artificially set up by a living being."

an old man in a Tang suit said with a sigh.

"Elder Guo, is there a way to design an Array to counter this phenomenon and ensure the ship can pass through unimpeded?"

Wei Cheng asked, looking at the old man.

"It’s difficult. Very difficult. We’ll have to get to the source of the magnetic field and take a look. The Immortal Mountain’s Power mentioned in the files might be the key to countering this phenomenon."

Elder Guo said, shaking his head.

"Everyone."

Just then, a voice came from behind them.

Zhou Baiwei appeared, her body bent low to stabilize her center of gravity as she walked toward them. Her tactical suit was soaked by the downpour, outlining her near-perfect figure.

"The ship’s control room asked me to request your intervention. They can no longer advance. If this continues, there’s a risk of the ship being destroyed and all hands lost."

Zhou Baiwei said in a low voice.

"Understood."

Wei Cheng nodded, his expression not changing much.

He had a way to ensure the ship could safely pass through this forbidden sea. This was merely a test to find the vessel’s limits.

After all, with a large number of personnel from the exploration and research team stationed on the Immortal Mountain, supplies and logistics would be a major problem. They couldn’t possibly have a Saint Realm expert escort the ship every single time, turning into a glorified transport captain, could they?

It now seemed that even the most advanced ships would struggle to pass through this area safely. Their only hope was to rely on these few Array Masters to set up a corresponding Array based on the Immortal Mountain’s conditions, thereby protecting the ship on its journey.

’For now, I can only rely on the object that person gave me.’

With a flip of his palm, the Jade Pendant that Yi Beidou had given him appeared in his hand.

This was the Jade Pendant, a relic left behind by an Alchemist, that Yi Beidou had discovered in a hidden compartment within Penglai Pavilion while searching the area around the Immortal Mountain. He later determined that it contained some kind of magnetic field circuit. Once activated, it seemed to have the effect of evading the extreme weather in the Immortal Mountain’s outer ring.

The Alchemists who lived on Penglai Immortal Mountain also needed to transport supplies from the outside world, or move resources from the Immortal Mountain outward. This was difficult to achieve through individual strength and required the use of ships.

And to allow ships to enter and exit the forbidden zone of extreme weather, they needed a corresponding means of protection.

However, this thing seemed to have a specific activation "password"—a particular magnetic field frequency set by the Alchemists. But for Yi Beidou, this was no obstacle.

He had refined the restriction with his Demon Flame and left his own mark behind.

It was a method similar to the Demon-Suppressing Seven-Star Needle.

Once someone else injected their magnetic field, they could ignite the Fire Seed within, creating a protective effect.

Moreover, what he had left inside was the Flame of the Demon Lord from his "Shiquan" state on the Immortal Mountain.

BZZMM!!

A golden brilliance bloomed around Wei Cheng as he injected his own Life Magnetic Field into the Jade Pendant in his hand.

The next moment.

FWOOM!!

A crimson Demon Flame, so dense it seemed corporeal, erupted violently and shot toward the heavens, piercing through the clouds.

The group, who had been standing proudly and calmly even in the face of the raging storm, now felt the terrifying properties contained within that Demon Flame. Their expressions changed, and they couldn’t help but take two steps back.

The Demon Flame surged to the sky, its crimson light flooding the surrounding area. The raging storm in the sky actually began to subside rapidly. Within a certain range, the turbulent waves calmed, and the swaying ship stabilized once more.

"The younger generation is truly formidable. In every great era, a prodigy is always born."

The group of old men couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.

In the ship’s command center, everyone stared wide-eyed at the miraculous scene. The pillar of Demon Flame soaring into the sky reminded them of a legendary term.

Stabilizing Needle?!

"As expected of Elder Wei! The power of a Saint Expert is truly beyond imagination. To think he can quell such an extreme weather phenomenon!"

a commander exclaimed.

"I heard it was the work of *that* person."

The captain beside him spoke up.

"Which person?"

The others were a little confused.

"Who else could it be? Without him, we wouldn’t even know a secret place like this existed in the world."

the captain said. Everyone immediately understood, and a look of reverence couldn’t help but appear in their eyes.

Those in the military admire the strong above all else.

What’s more, this was the man who single-handedly beat the Japanese to the point they nearly knelt and begged for mercy.

Inside the cabin, the researchers couldn’t see what was happening outside. They could only see a red light flooding the area and the wind and waves gradually calming.

"What on earth is happening?"

someone couldn’t help but ask.

"A magnetic field confrontation! One magnetic field is canceling out the abnormal magnetic field of the atmospheric disturbance, calming the wind and waves within a certain range! It’s incredible! Quick! Let me down, I need to observe this!"

the old professor shouted, his eyes filled with excitement.

Everyone crowded toward the windows, wanting to see the situation outside.

But they soon noticed a shocking scene in the distance.

Outside, the wind and waves were raging. Atop the mountainous, undulating waves, a figure was striding across the sea, rapidly approaching their position.

"Th-th-th-this..."

Everyone’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

「On the bow.」

"Hm?"

Wei Cheng and the others also sensed the aura of the person running across the sea. A look of surprise appeared on their faces, which was then replaced by a solemn expression.

’Wang Chen?’

Wang Chen was stationed outside. Once the exploration team entered the Foggy Area, communication was impossible. Wang Chen would only take action in an emergency, using his strength as a Saint Expert to force his way into the Foggy Area and deliver intelligence at great risk.

’What in the world happened outside? Could it be that the situation in the Mediterranean Region has changed?’

The very reason for their urgent exploration of the Immortal Mountain this time was due to the special situation in the Mediterranean Region.

This Immortal Mountain originally belonged to the Pioneer Organization, so it was hard to say if they had a way to track its location. Once those Secret Organizations made a move, Donghua might not have the means to protect the Immortal Mountain and conduct research safely.

Therefore, they had to act urgently while the Secret Organizations’ attention was focused on the Mediterranean Region to figure out the specific situation on the Immortal Mountain as quickly as possible.

If something went wrong in the Mediterranean Region, their operation here would also be affected.

Before long, Wang Chen’s figure arrived in front of the ship. With a few leaps, he landed on the deck and stood before them.

"Good. You haven’t gone too far."

Wang Chen said, letting out a sigh of relief.

"What exactly happened? Did something happen in the Mediterranean Sea?"

Wei Cheng asked in a low voice.

"It is indeed related to the Mediterranean Region, but it’s not bad news. Our comrades over there need help. They need to ask several Array Masters to deduce an Array. This matter is related to the upcoming Mediterranean operation, and it must be completed within two days..."

Deduce an Array? Everyone exchanged glances.

But soon, they received some classified information.

About the situation in the Mediterranean Region, and about the upcoming struggle for the Spiritual Talismans.

Everyone who received the news couldn’t help but be shaken to the core.

A struggle for twelve Spiritual Talismans? It could involve dozens, or even hundreds, of Saint Realm experts?!

This was simply a massive free-for-all, one that could even turn into a meat grinder.

Do the Donghua Martial Artists truly have what it takes to participate in such a chaotic battle?