Chapter 372: Such a Big Tentacle

Hei Haowen, still chatting with a nearby merchant, inquired about recent sea conditions. He found that not only the situation in Yangzhou City was unfavorable, but there was also a water monster lurking beneath the waves.

“I heard that the monster has many tentacles and often drags cultivators underwater to devour them. Even cultivators are afraid to go near it, so how could we ordinary folks dare?” As he spoke, the merchant efficiently wrapped up some rations.

The sea was vast, and it would take at least two days to fly across it. The regions in this world were not densely packed but scattered here and there. The area where Ye Wenxin currently resided was just one of the four major regions.

While some might say this was a small world, it was definitely not insignificant. Aside from border wars, there were various issues emerging, and each day was chaotic. Ye Wenxin had not yet fully acclimated to this world and dared not aspire to explore new realms.

Drinking water, Ye Wenxin looked at the distant sea, wondering if this journey would prove to be even more troublesome.

Hei Haowen returned at this moment and shared the news about the sea conditions with everyone. Gu Xiangsi frowned slightly upon hearing this, and Wang Cuihua also felt a headache forming. Ye Wenxin’s gaze shifted to the sky, as if sensing something had flown far above.

But when she looked again, the object had already disappeared. She was unsure if there were other dangerous entities in the sea besides sea monsters. However, she still had an appointment to fulfill at the Southern Dipper Temple.

That morning, Ye Wenxin had written a letter to Senior Sister Xuan Luofei of the Beast Taming Garden, informing her of the events on the road, and that she might not make it to the Beast Taming Garden before the Spirit Beast Tournament.

“Alright, then we will use Junior Sister Wenxin’s flying magic item to cross the sea.” As he had the highest cultivation among them, Hei Haowen was dedicated to guide Ye Wenxin to the Southern Dipper Temple.

Coupled with his herbivorous luck, even Gu Xiangsi had no complaints about Hei Haowen. Moreover, he meticulously planned their itinerary, so the few women didn’t need to worry too much about the details.

Ye Wenxin took out the Phoenix Fire, and it instantly drew everyone’s attention. Their gazes were filled with hunger, as if everyone lingering there wished they could use the flying magic item to leap to the other side.

However, the Phoenix Fire could only accommodate up to five people. Ye Wenxin wasn’t inclined to waste time with unrelated individuals, so after ensuring there were no special auras around, she stepped onto the Phoenix Fire first, and reached out to pull Gu Xiangsi up.

Gu Xiangsi readily extended her hand, allowing Ye Wenxin to pull her up, and took the opportunity to hug Ye Wenxin briefly. This had become part of Gu Xiangsi’s daily routine, and Ye Wenxin was already numb to it. She then reached out to pull Wang Cuihua.

Wang Cuihua hmphed, and as she moved, her bells jingled with a crisp sound. She directly jumped onto the Phoenix Fire, but seemed very curious about it, examining it intensely once she got on.

Ye Wenxin paid no attention to the longing eyes around her. The Phoenix Fire began to ascend rapidly, and instantly shot up into the sky. Wang Cuihua, somewhat startled, instinctively tried to grab onto someone nearby to maintain her composure. Seeing that it was Ye Wenxin next to her, she decided to simply sit.

Ye Wenxin continued operating the Phoenix Fire, and doubled its speed as they flew across the extensive sea. The Phoenix Fire seemed to be specially designed for her, making her suspect that Long Qingyue might possess abilities beyond just mind-reading.

For instance, the ability to see into the past and future. Otherwise, how could the Phoenix Fire appear so perfectly timed to resolve a series of Ye Wenxin’s issues?

Several hours passed, and the sea stretched out endlessly. Despite its beauty, the view remained monotonous. Gu Xiangsi and Wang Cuihua, initially admiring the scenery, soon began to meditate while staying vigilant.

Hei Haowen stood beside Ye Wenxin, and with her, he observed their surroundings, guarding against any potential attacks from the water monster.

The day drew to a close without any sign of the water monster, leaving Ye Wenxin rather surprised. However, looking at the clouds covering the moon, she felt a slight unease creeping into her heart. It was like the calm before the storm, hinting a greater predicament was imminent.

“Sis, you rest a bit. I’ll take over,” Gu Xiangsi offered. Unlike other magic items, flying magic items could be operated as long as one had qi. Since Ye Wenxin thought she wouldn’t have the Phoenix Fire for long, she didn’t blood-bind it to her.

Acknowledging her fatigue from flying the Phoenix Fire all day, Ye Wenxin nodded and changed places with Gu Xiangsi. As Gu Xiangsi assumed control at the front, Ye Wenxin sat down, and Hei Haowen handed her some rations. Ye Wenxin ate a few bites casually but kept her gaze fixed on the surroundings; this kind of atmosphere made her restless.

“Feels like it’s going to rain soon.”

“Yes, but there are no spots nearby for us to land. Even if it rains, we’ll have to push through,” Hei Haowen replied calmly, clearly accustomed to maintaining his composure in various situations.

After Jin Xiaoqin had saved him, Hei Haowen had also gained a new perspective, so he transformed from a lay disciple into a true monk. As he continued to chant sutras, the soothing sounds helped ease Ye Wenxin’s restlessness considerably.

Sure enough, within less than half an hour, a torrential downpour began. The umbrella sword opened up to shield Ye Wenxin from the rain. As Ye Wenxin’s gaze fixed on the distance, she saw a dense black mist. The mist was so thick, it was pitch black. It stretched up to the clouds, and seemed to be a deliberately created trap.

“We need to avoid that black mist; there must be something dangerous inside.” Ye Wenxin signaled to Gu Xiangsi to steer clear of the threatening black mist.

Without saying much, Gu Xiangsi immediately complied, channeling her qi to speed up the Phoenix Fire in an attempt to circumvent the suffocating area. As they did, the black mist seemed to expand with a life of its own, and a tentacle emerged from within, rapidly reaching out to grab them.

Seeing this, Hei Haowen acted quickly. He unleashed a powerful lion’s roar, a forceful attack that repelled the tentacle a few meters away, but it soon reached out for the Phoenix Fire again.

But this time, more tentacles came out. Hei Haowen furrowed his brow and said to the others, “I’ll draw its attention. You all try to break through the mist.”

With that, Hei Haowen tossed his prayer beads, which grew in size and carried him aloft. He quickly distanced himself from the Phoenix Fire, his body enveloped in a brilliant golden light. The sutras he chanted took on a tangible form and battled the water monster.

Ye Wenxin watched the unfolding crisis with growing concern. One of the tentacles struck Hei Haowen, dragging him into the black mist within seconds. The situation looked grim. She glanced at the umbrella sword in her hand and instructed, “Go help him.”