Eternal Tale

Chapter 232: The Boundless Sea — Setting Sail to Fish

“Let's go buy supplies,” Chen Xun stood up, glancing at Brother Ox and Xiao Chi. “We’ll need some maps of sea beasts and spiritual herbs. Without them, we won’t even know what we’re catching.”

“Mo~” Brother Ox’s excitement was palpable. Their long-held dream was finally within reach.

Xiao Chi leaped up, his breathing quickening with anticipation. Finally, they were leaving Da Li behind.

The three of them dashed through the bustling streets, hopping from shop to shop, gathering essentials. Along the way, they picked up some key tips—like how mysterious powers controlled the Western Sea and shouldn’t be provoked lightly. It was safer to hunt sea beasts in partnership with a merchant guild, as they provided reliable sea maps and connections, minimizing the risk of venturing into dangerous waters.

Chen Xun laughed heartily at this advice, cheerfully bidding farewell to the Foundation Establishment shopkeepers he’d been chatting with.

The next day, at the teleportation array in Pingyun City, Chen Xun suddenly shouted:

“Brothers, let’s go!”

“Mo!”

“Roar!”

The teleportation array flared up with dazzling light, star-like glimmers rising from it. The cultivator managing the array scowled, rubbing his temples as Chen Xun’s loud shout echoed in his head, making his brain buzz.

In a flash, the teleportation completed, and the three of them vanished. The operator huffed and flicked his sleeve, letting out a disgruntled snort.

Guiyi City, a sprawling metropolis near the western coast of Da Li, buzzed with activity. Gigantic flying vessels filled the skies, each bearing the banners of different merchant guilds, sailing slowly toward the horizon.

Around these ships, brilliant formations painted the sky in vivid hues, making the city’s heavens a mesmerizing spectacle.

The city was a cacophony of sound as ships returned from the sea, their decks loaded with enormous sea beasts. People exclaimed in awe, admiring the monstrous creatures as they were brought ashore.

The rain had just cleared from Guiyi City, leaving the sky bright and blue. A rainbow shimmered gently in the distance, arching across the sky like a delicate ribbon.

A small flying vessel rose from the city, weaving nimbly between the larger ships, heading straight for the western coast.

“Woohoo! Brothers, let’s charge ahead!” Chen Xun shouted with enthusiasm.

“Mo!”

“Brother Xun, look at the sea!”

The three of them stood at the front of the vessel, eyes wide with wonder, staring at the endless expanse of sky and ocean ahead. The horizon blurred, making it impossible to tell where the sky ended and the sea began.

The waves of the Western Sea surged with power, enormous swells like mountains crashing from the distant gray horizon, rolling toward the shore with a deafening roar.

They slammed against the towering cliffs along the coast, sending plumes of white spray into the air, accompanied by a series of thunderous crashes.

In the distance, countless islands dotted the sea—some large, some small—stretching out to the horizon. From time to time, fierce sea beasts breached the water’s surface, creating massive waves that soared into the sky.

As their flying vessel neared the coastline, the vast, blue sea stretched endlessly before them. The water expanded outward, merging with the distant sky, where hundreds of large ships sailed, their decks teeming with cultivators. Under the bright sunlight, these ships sparkled like stars on the sea.

“Wow…” Chen Xun whispered, stunned. “It’s... it's enormous…”

“Mo~” Brother Ox let out a long breath, his body feeling weak at the sheer scale before them. The ocean was far more intimidating than any river they had ever seen.

Xiao Chi’s lips trembled, his claws gripping Brother Ox tightly as the shock overwhelmed him. Compared to the boundless sea, the Heaven’s End Plains seemed insignificant—this was beyond anything he had imagined.

At that moment, a powerful sea breeze swept in from the distance, carrying with it a sense of majesty that stirred something deep within them.

Their hearts beat slowly but steadily, filled with an indescribable sense of calm. A thought settled in their minds—it’s good to be alive.

An hour later, they arrived at a deserted stretch of coastline, where the waves crashed relentlessly against the rocks.

Xiao Chi crouched on Chen Xun’s left side, while Brother Ox stood on all fours to his right. Together, they stared silently at the sea.

Chen Xun’s gaze held a hint of melancholy as he inhaled the unique scent of the ocean. His earlier excitement had faded into a peaceful stillness.

“Mo?” Brother Ox nudged Chen Xun gently, wondering what they were waiting for.

Xiao Chi also turned to look at Chen Xun, puzzled by his enigmatic expression.

“Let’s board the ship.”

Chen Xun took a deep breath, and with a sweep of his hand, radiant beams of five-colored light spiraled around him, soaring into the sky. A massive shadow began to take form over the sea.

Boom! Boom!

A giant flying ship crashed into the water with a resounding roar, sending waves rippling outward. The rumble was like the echo of a thousand valleys.

Atop the enormous ship stood a magnificent black-and-white tree, the Crane Spirit Five Elements Tree, its branches swaying in the sea breeze as it glowed softly, exuding an awe-inspiring presence.

They burst into laughter as they leapt into the air, landing on the deck beneath the glowing tree.

Brother Ox waved his hoof-like hands, releasing elemental flags that positioned themselves at the ship’s five corners. Immediately, the energy of the five elements converged, filling the air. Chen Xun also activated the ship’s core, channeling its power.

Xiao Chi stood at the edge, gazing out over the sea, waiting for the ship to set sail.

Buzz—buzz—

The sea breeze blew in waves, one after another. The ship roared to life, cutting through the water and heading deep into the vast ocean. Direction no longer mattered.

“Brother Ox, Xiao Chi, cast the net! Cast the net!!”

Chen Xun shouted from atop the tree, his eyes locked on the schools of fish moving beneath the surface. “Quick, use the net made from the Thousand Silk Vine! Let’s catch them all!”

“Mo~ Mo~!”

“On it, Brother Xun!”

Brother Ox and Xiao Chi scurried across the deck, dragging a massive net and tossing it overboard.

“Hahaha!”

Chen Xun laughed, pointing toward the sea. “Yes, that’s it! Right there—there’s definitely a big catch!”

“Mo?!” Brother Ox shot Chen Xun a sharp look, as if to say, Don’t distract us! We’re working!

Xiao Chi, focused, stood at the deck's edge, watching the water intently. To him, these sea creatures were a rare treat.

Half an hour later:

“Pull up the net! Hurry, Brother Ox! Hurry!!”

Chen Xun, sipping on his tea, suddenly froze. His expression shifted. “We’ve got something big! Xiao Chi, Brother Ox, reel it in!”

“Mo!” Brother Ox snorted, his grip tightening as he felt a distinct pull on the net.

“Let’s go, Brother Ox!” Xiao Chi laughed as they hoisted the net from the sea, water cascading down.

The net was full of large fish, shrimp, and crabs—each one bigger than the last. But they were just ordinary sea creatures, not the spiritual sea beasts they had hoped for.

Among the catch was a large turtle, which had caught Chen Xun’s attention earlier. It struggled fiercely, its Qi Refinement-level energy flickering.

The deck was soaked, and the sea creatures flopped about, but under the strength of two Nascent Soul cultivators, their struggles were futile.

“This big turtle's useless. Let’s toss it back,” Chen Xun said with a shrug, disappointed that it wasn’t a Foundation Establishment sea beast.

“Mo~ Mo~” Brother Ox grinned and tossed the turtle back into the sea, where it quickly disappeared from sight.

“Brother Xun, what should we do with all this seafood?” Xiao Chi laughed, looking at the wriggling creatures. “This is way too easy!”

“Xiao Chi, this net was specially crafted by me and Brother Ox. Of course, it’s easy—these sea creatures can’t even detect it.”

Chen Xun’s expression turned proud as he gazed out at the sea. “This Western Sea is vast and boundless. We can roam freely and fish all we want!”

“As for these sea creatures, leave them to me. I’ll cook up something special.”

“Mo~~~” Brother Ox trotted around the deck, his tail wagging joyfully. This was too good to be true!

Xiao Chi’s eyes sparkled with excitement—he had never tasted Chen Xun’s cooking before.

That evening, a crescent moon hung in the sky, its reflection shimmering on the water as if it had fallen into the ocean itself. When the wind stirred the waves, the moon’s image fractured into pieces.

The massive ship hovered just above the water, steady despite the rolling waves below.