Chapter 998 - 1006: Strange Sea Region (Part 2)

Boli's location is excellent, especially for dealing with the pirates of the Han Yang Sea Area later, it will prove very useful for New Porcelain Kingdom.

Thinking of this, Chen Mo added, "Of course, our army stationed here is to assist the locals of Boli Kingdom in maintaining border security, preventing external forces from intruding, and coordinating domestic conflicts and disputes."

Nangong Xian understood now; isn't this just like the Protectorate of the past?

"Understood." Nangong Xian accepted the order gladly.

...

After handling the affairs of Boli Kingdom, Chen Mo did not return to River Sea, but instead boarded a merchant ship heading towards the area of Han Yang Sea where the Immortal Island was discovered.

To be precise, this sea area is no longer considered part of the Ancient Luo Kingdom.

The Ancient Luo Kingdom was too weak to compete against Boli Kingdom controlled by the Nangong Family, therefore this sea area was seized by Boli and belongs to the Nangong Family.

In mid-July, Chen Mo arrived near this sea area.

Initially, Chen Mo had planned not to explore even if he knew the Immortal Island was real until he had absolute strength.

However, after listening to Nangong Jin's account, Chen Mo couldn't help but be curious, so he came to take a look.

This sea area has already been blockaded by the Nangong Family's "private army".

They were still unaware of the changes in Boli Kingdom.

Once Chen Mo presented the Nangong Family's token, the private army guarding this sea area allowed Chen Mo's ship to enter.

The entrance to the Immortal Island lies in this sea area. The exact location has been explored by the Nangong Family, though it is guarded by an array, making entry difficult.

"According to Nangong Jin, the fairy once said they couldn't enjoy the blessings."

On the deck of the ship's bow, Yue Ruyan perused a small booklet, which recorded Nangong Jin's descriptions of the Immortal Island and the clues about all the Immortal Islands held by the Nangong Family.

Chen Mo listened quietly.

"Before saying this, the fairy had already issued a warning, telling them not to return again, that she won't always be there to save them, but afterward, two people still went in and saw the Immortal Island, but were sent out by the fairy inside and warned again." Yue Ruyan said, reaching a page marked by Nangong Xian's vermillion pen.

The marker indicated that the fairy is kind-hearted, a trait that could be exploited.

Yue Ruyan closed the booklet, saying slowly, "Nangong Jin exploited the fairy's kindness, ignoring her multiple warnings and continuously sent people to explore. In fact, Nangong Jin guessed correctly, the fairy is indeed kind-hearted; people entered the Immortal Island and were safely sent out, but this was the last warning.

After that, no one could enter again, the phrase, 'unable to appreciate the blessings, do not force it,' was spread by the last person who managed to enter."

"Your Majesty, we have arrived."

At this moment, a Fish Scale Guard pointed to a mass of mist in front, and the ship halted.

Chen Mo, Yue Ruyan raised their eyes to look.

They saw several large ships anchored ahead in the mist.

With Chen Mo's keen eyesight, he could see the Nangong Family's private army driving some ragged people on the large ships.

Soon, a dozen small boats were lowered from the large ships.

The Nangong Family's private army drove all the ragged people onto the small boats, forcing them to row towards the white mist ahead.

These ragged people may have heard tales of terrifying things up ahead, and resisted.

After several had lost their lives, they were forced to row their boats toward the mist.

Each of the small boats was tethered to a rope, the other end connected to the large ship.

More than a dozen small boats slowly rowed towards the mist, their occupants were slaves bought by the Nangong Family from various countries, men and women, even the old, weak, sick, and disabled.

Perhaps thinking they were rowing too slowly, an arrow shot from behind, striking a man off one of the boats.

A voice urged them, "Hurry up, anyone who sees the Immortal Island and brings back an Immortal Fruit will enjoy endless wealth and honor. Anyone daring to slack, will face death."

The people on the small boats saw the patch of water stained red, their faces turned pale in fright, and they dared not dawdle any longer, quickened their actions, and entered the mist.

In the distance, Chen Mo, Yue Ruyan, watched this scene with calm expressions; not only that, one held a Thousand-Mile Mirror, wanting to see more clearly.

After the small boats entered the mist, the ropes tied to them suddenly pulled taut, even dragging the large ship connected to the other end slightly forward, causing the ship to rock.

Someone on the big ship issued an order, and soon the several large ships were locked together, reducing the rocking.

After a while.

"Crack!"

The taut rope snapped with a crack.

"Ah, another failure."

Someone on the large ship sighed.

After a quarter hour, broken planks drifted out from the mist, some people clinging to the planks were still alive.

Judging by their appearance, they were clearly the same people from the previous boats.

And the planks they clung to were the remnants of the small boats.

The small boats shattered like this, leaving a few survivors out of many; even without seeing the inner happenings, one could guess how tragic it was.

"Rescue these people, record the situation, next batch."

A voice skillfully directed from the large ship.

In the distance, Chen Mo lowered the Thousand-Mile Mirror, saying, "Steer the ship closer."

He couldn't see what was happening inside the mist, nor perceive it.

Yue Ruyan was similarly unable.

"Understood."

Chen Mo's merchant ship drew close to the several large ships of the Nangong Family.

After boarding their ship, Chen Mo showed the Nangong Family's token.

At this time, the person in charge on the ship, seeing Chen Mo and his party as unfamiliar faces, expressed skepticism about the token.

"Boom." Chen Mo kicked him off the ship into the mist, a faint splash of "plonk" could be heard as he fell into the water.

"Does anyone else disbelieve?" Chen Mo glanced across the others on the ship.

"Please instruct us, sir." Everyone was adept at gauging the situation, quickly siding with Chen Mo.

"Bring me the logbook to examine." Chen Mo said.

A clerk responsible for recording, pushed forward by others, nervously approached Chen Mo, presenting a small booklet made of sheepskin.

Chen Mo reached for it and began looking through it.

The booklet recorded all the explorations of the mist, including the accounts of those explorers who survived and emerged from the mist.

All the accounts were the same; entering the mist, they encountered fierce winds and torrential rain; the small boats were torn apart by wind and waves, and those onboard were swept away by the storm.

Only the lucky ones survived.

However, just because someone survived once does not mean they will next time; they are reused until death.

Yet those who made it out alive reported seeing no signs of the Immortal Island.

This did not surprise Chen Mo.

Because Nangong Jin had previously mentioned.

Those who saw the Immortal Island had entered the mist, miraculously withstood the storm, and only then saw the Immortal Island.

Of course, this doesn't mean that as long as you survive the storm within the mist, you can enter the Immortal Island.

It entirely depends on luck.

For the Nangong Family had sent Middle-Grade Martial Artists in before, intending to rely on their skills to survive the storm, but the Middle-Grade Martial Artist's fate was unknown, and yet an ordinary person emerged from the mist.

Quite mysterious.

"I want to try." Yue Ruyan hesitated, her interest piqued.

"No way." Chen Mo flatly refused.

Nangong Jin, Zhang Feng desired the Immortal Island so much, they gathered many clues about it but didn't risk themselves, indicating there was no guarantee, and the risk factor inside was extremely high.

Yue Ruyan had just arrived and wanted to try; it's not as simple as that, life only comes once.

"But if we don't try, leaving it to them like this, who knows when we might succeed; are we really just here to watch?" Yue Ruyan said.

Upon hearing this, Chen Mo pondered.

After a while, he had an idea, wondering if Soul Travel could work...