Above the undeveloped oasis, various enormous and magnificent vessels floated.
These vessels were all quite large, and the oasis itself was too small, with many of the behemoths having half their bodies extending beyond the oasis, probing into the dense grey mist.
But as the Four Hegemonic Powers arrived, the fleets, palaces, fortresses, and airships suspended at the highest point all emanated divine light, forcefully dispersing the surrounding grey mist. Within a radius of tens of thousands of meters, only wisps of thin mist remained, revealing the faint celestial light above and the surging grey waves below.
These waves were the Sea of Filth.
The Shattered Sea was the general term for the region, while the Sea of Filth specifically referred to the waters of the entire region, which were a murky grey-black, resembling sewage discharged from a drainpipe.
In reality, these waters were tens of thousands of times more toxic than sewage. Contact meant potent poison, a corrosive pollution that even the strongest individuals feared. Furthermore, the number of aberrations dwelling within the Sea of Filth was far higher than the regional average.
The surface of the Shattered Sea was several times less dangerous than the outer regions.
However, beneath the surface of the Shattered Sea, the danger was tens of times greater. It was precisely because eradicating the source of the disaster was a mythical task, proving incredibly difficult and troublesome, that it had been repeatedly postponed.
"Even now, the powers in the Shattered Sea are only superficially united. If everything goes smoothly, that's fine. But if any complications arise, I'm afraid..."
Within the oasis, the assembled forces, fully geared and radiating faint halos, appeared impressive. However, viewed from high above, the equipment styles and designs of these teams were completely different, and they maintained considerable distances from each other.
These were high-end miscellaneous troops.
Fang You couldn't help but complain; such a team, let alone cooperating, would be fortunate not to hinder each other.
But then again, Mythical existences were always held in immense reverence. No one was willing to be subordinate, making it almost impossible to get two Mythicals to team up for a mission.
This time, it was the hegemonic powers leading the charge, with Demigods present to oversee, which had barely suppressed some of the dissension.
Even so, the major hegemonic teams still kept to themselves, each forging their own path.
Led by Demigods and Mythicals from the hegemonic powers, with other Mythicals and ordinary Awakened individuals assisting, they would delve into the Sea of Filth to investigate the source of the disaster. Before that, all Mythicals were free to choose their own teams.
—Even those from third-rate super forces, Mythicals were noble beings, qualified to converse with the Mythicals of the hegemonic powers. A Demigod like Ri Yun Ruler would not force the Mythicals present to arrange themselves on such a trivial matter. This was basic respect for Mythical existences.
However, despite this, the vassal forces of the Seven Stars Alliance would undoubtedly follow the Seven Stars Alliance. The ancient Moon Lin clan, the Chen clan, and other super families would inevitably follow the ancient Moon Dynasty.
Some super guilds, organizations, and mercenary groups not under the direct jurisdiction of the hegemonic powers often had their own operational areas, typically conducting business within the domain of a particular hegemonic power. Which hegemonic team they would follow had long been decided.
Only a very small number of forces had any room for choice.
This was the high-intelligence way of putting it.
In reality, these forces lacked patrons, had not befriended any hegemonic power, and were fringe existences in the top circles. The Burning Flame Merchant Guild was one such entity.
Whether they had a patron or not was of no concern to the trio of Yiluoxi. Their patron was their mentor, the elder, so they didn't need the Red Lotus Empire's Seven Stars Alliance.
However, they were unfamiliar with the Four Hegemonic Powers and other factions, and suddenly having to choose a team... it presented a dilemma!
The three of them muttered amongst themselves, finding it difficult to decide.
However, their first exclusion was the Great Mi Chaos City. It was well-known that among the Four Hegemonic Powers, one was relatively short, which was Great Mi Chaos City. And this mission required them to delve deep into the Sea of Filth, traversing layers of danger and obstacles... Although they didn't fear it, given a choice, they would opt for more straightforward teammates.
Which one to choose? The Seven Stars Alliance, the Ancient Moon Dynasty, and the Red Lotus Empire were all old hegemonic powers that had existed for a long time. On the surface, the three hegemonic powers were all similar.
The Lord of Shadow Island extended an invitation.
"Perhaps Your Excellency Qian Qiu would accompany us. We can look out for each other. Hmm, the Ancient Moon Dynasty's team has many strong individuals and acts with caution. Following them is a safe bet."
Qian Qiu looked at him with confusion. He was direct and spoke his mind, "So you have a patron too."
The Lord of Shadow Island was momentarily speechless.
Perhaps having been choked a few times just now, he had become accustomed to it. He shook his head, "My Shadow Island's main business operations are within the jurisdiction of the Ancient Moon Dynasty, but we are not important enough to be closely associated with the Dynasty."
"However, this island lord does know a Mythical from the Ancient Moon Chen clan and has a slight acquaintance."
In this regard, compared to Qian Qiu, who was truly on the fringes, he considered himself far superior! Thinking of this, the Lord of Shadow Island smiled faintly, perhaps this was the simple joy of Mythical existences.
The Red Lotus Empire always acted with swiftness, and before long, it was time to depart.
Mythical existences gradually gathered in the northwest, northeast, southeast, and southwest, some sitting cross-legged, some standing with eyes closed, and others conversing in small groups. Perhaps due to Ri Yun Ruler emphasizing the dangers of this mission, many Mythicals left their attendants behind and ventured into the sea alone.
The Lord of Shadow Island left his warship on the oasis, bringing no one with him.
He was not like those wealthy individuals who owned super oases. His accompanying retinue, besides a dozen attendants, also included true powerhouses, several six-awakened individuals and titled six-awakened individuals. But since the important figures had not mandated the inclusion of cannon fodder, the Lord of Shadow Island naturally chose not to bring them.
His Shadow Island was a small enterprise; the loss of several six-awakened individuals would be considerable.
He believed Your Excellency Qian Qiu had a similar idea, but upon turning his head, he noticed that Your Excellency Qian Qiu had actually brought two attendants.
Wait!
The Lord of Shadow Island frowned. From the positioning between Qian Qiu and the other two, he keenly detected something amiss.
It was too casual, lacking any discernible difference in status between a noble Mythical and their attendants. Furthermore, Mythical Qian Qiu was positioned slightly behind.
"Your Excellency Qian Qiu..." The Lord of Shadow Island shifted his gaze to Yiluoxi and Xing Jinglei. These two did not radiate divine aura, but the keen intuition of a Mythical told him that the youthful girl and the man forged of bronze and iron before him seemed rather extraordinary!
"This is Burst Fist Martial Saint, Your Excellency Xing Jinglei."
"This is Blazing Annihilation Flame—Queen of Witches—Infinite Chanter—Master of Sorcery—...—Crimson Empress, Your Excellency Yiluoxi."
As the long title Yiluoxi had self-proclaimed was recited, Qian Qiu couldn't help but feel a hint of embarrassment.
Only Yiluoxi stood with her hands on her hips, her fair neck slightly raised, the whipping wind ruffling her wine-red hair.
The Lord of Shadow Island was indeed shocked!
... Of course, he wasn't shocked by Yiluoxi's title, but rather, by the fact that the Burning Flame Merchant Guild had three Mythicals?!
Shadow Island was merely a third-rate super force, and he didn't have much information. He only vaguely knew that the Burning Flame Merchant Guild's headquarters was located in the outer region's 'Crashing Star Grotto', and later, after defeating the Hidden Killer Pavilion Master in battle, they acquired hundreds of Hidden Killer Pavilion strongholds. The Burning Flame Merchant Guild modified these strongholds into their own structures.
He had initially thought they were all third-rate super forces, but then, the Burning Flame Merchant Guild had three Mythicals in one lineage?!
Even if they were all newly ascended Mythicals, that was still three Mythicals! No wonder the Hidden Killer Pavilion Master fell to the Burning Flame Merchant Guild. If it were him, he'd be in the same boat—how could one Mythical fight three? They were bound to lose!
The simple joy he had felt moments ago quickly dissipated, and a bitter taste arose in the Lord of Shadow Island's mouth.
But then he thought, Your Excellency Qian Qiu had already agreed to mutual assistance. This meant he had gained a powerful ally in the upcoming mission, which was a good thing!
One lineage with three Mythicals not only shocked the Lord of Shadow Island but also drew the attention of many other Mythicals, who murmured in surprise, wondering which force this was, with such a formidable lineup!
A third-rate super force would certainly not be able to produce three Mythicals.
Even a second-rate super oasis might not be able to, and even if they could, they wouldn't risk sending all three Mythicals into the dangerous Sea of Filth.
The Tianhe Chen clan, one of the Four Great Clans of the Ancient Moon Dynasty, and a possessor of a Level Seven oasis, had only sent two Mythicals this time.
But the three Mythicals who had gathered with the Lord of Shadow Island looked very young and unfamiliar.
They pondered and speculated.
At this moment, some Mythicals noticed that the leader of the Ancient Moon contingent, the Demigod 'Xi Guang Ruler', was casting a glance at the trio and slowly walking towards them.
"You are the Mythicals of the Burning Flame Merchant Guild, aren't you? With such a young generation like yourselves, this honored one believes the future of humanity will only grow brighter."
Saying this, the usually stern-faced great figure revealed a gentle smile, like that of a benevolent elder.
He then fixed his gaze on Xing Jinglei.
"I have also heard of your exploits, defeating a Mythical in a mortal body. Remain humble and patient, and you may yet become a pillar of humanity. However..."
His tone shifted, "The Sea of Filth is extremely perilous. We do not know what we will encounter on this journey. A mortal body is too fragile; an accident could easily affect your path to becoming a Mythical."
This existence did not recommend Xing Jinglei venture into the sea.
But how could Xing Jinglei be someone who would back down? Besides... he emanated wisps of divine aura and clasped his fists in salute, "Your Excellency's kindness is appreciated, but eradicating aberrations is everyone's responsibility. I have painstakingly cultivated to become a Mythical not to be a coward!"
"This trip, I am going!"
As the gaze fell upon Xing Jinglei, the surrounding air seemed to grow a little colder. Suddenly, Xi Guang Ruler chuckled, shook his head, and nodded slightly before turning to leave.
"The younger generation is formidable..."
Only after Xi Guang Ruler had departed did the seemingly solidified space around them begin to recover. The Mythicals looked at the Burning Flame trio with even greater astonishment.
"Defeating a Mythical in a mortal body? Hiss—!"
The Lord of Shadow Island couldn't help but gasp, his eyes appraising Xing Jinglei's open collar.
Although he knew that Xing Jinglei must have defeated a weak Mythical, more likely a divine manifestation, whose combat power was far inferior to his own, even the weakest Mythical was still a Mythical, with an insurmountable gap between them and a mortal.
Moreover, this burly, muscular man was no longer mortal; he was a newly ascended Mythical! If he could defeat a Mythical as a mortal, how powerful would he be now that he was a Mythical?
All the Mythicals present dared not treat Xing Jinglei as a newcomer... he would likely be no weaker than veteran Mythicals!
The value of one lineage with three Mythicals increased even further. The Mythicals under the Ancient Moon's jurisdiction began to inquire about the Burning Flame Merchant Guild's origins.
Soon, information arrived.
This was a nascent force with its roots in the outer region's 'Crashing Star Grotto'. They were very new, with few direct members in the entire guild, and all three Mythicals were extremely young.
Overall, the Burning Flame Merchant Guild, with its one lineage of three Mythicals, was not particularly strong. However, the Mythicals still looked at Xing Jinglei and the other two with complex expressions.
There was admiration, surprise, and mockery.
"One lineage with three Mythicals, and all young Mythicals at that. They are even preparing to venture deep into the Sea of Filth. No wonder Lord Xi Guang said the younger generation is formidable."
"Formidable, but foolish. If all three Mythicals perish on this mission, the Burning Flame Merchant Guild will be finished."
"Indeed. I heard they are righteous and have sworn to eradicate the aberration disaster? But putting aside the fact that the aberration disaster cannot be eradicated, even dealing with aberrations requires method. If it were me, I would first accumulate strength and divine particles, rather than rushing to prove myself immediately after ascending to Mythical."
"Young people have drive, but perhaps it's a bit too impulsive."
An elder stroked his snow-white beard and chuckled.
Some also proposed a guess.
"Perhaps the Burning Flame Merchant Guild has more than three Mythicals in one lineage, but four! They have left one Mythical to guard their home, so the other Mythicals can go out with peace of mind."
This guess was agreed upon by some Mythicals.
Even so, in their eyes, the Burning Flame Merchant Guild was still... a reckless force!
Some still shook their heads and commented, believing that whether one was a Mythical or managed a force, the most important thing was prudence, and only with prudence could longevity be achieved. But more Mythicals dared not judge them casually. Why? The Burning Flame Merchant Guild, with its one lineage of three Mythicals, was already a far superior force in their eyes.
They could only look on with complex expressions, or approach to offer some flattery. Some Mythicals were envious.
To have three people successfully ascend to Mythical in the same period—what kind of luck was this?!
...
...
Regardless of the inner thoughts of the Mythicals, they were all minor details today. There was only one main task—to find and eradicate the source of the disaster.
"Depart!"
A faint voice accurately reached the ears of the dozen or so Mythicals and other Awakened individuals on the southeast side.
Instantly, the celestial palace, symbolizing the Ancient Moon Dynasty, broke through the filthy sea waves and began to descend beneath the surface. At the same time, strands of moonlight, like gossamer veils, emanated from the celestial palace, enveloping the dozen or so Mythicals present.
This was a form of light that could isolate the filthy seawater, covering the Mythicals and their two accompanying warships as they slowly descended.
The surroundings gradually darkened. Even though the palace nearby continued to emit pure white light, it was difficult to dispel the pitch-black darkness that was palpable.
Of course, the dim environment had little impact on Mythical existences.
With their divine sense combined with their eyesight, Mythical beings could see through the grey mist and could now easily see scenes several kilometers away.
Black seawater, black aberrations.
Yiluoxi reached out and brushed the air around her, finding she did not touch the filthy seawater.
"It must be that moonlight that has isolated the surrounding space."
She mused that she could do the same.
She could stack a thousand protective force fields to form a solid, impenetrable space, she huffed.
Xing Jinglei was also looking outside. He was contemplating whether he could use the seawater of the Sea of Filth to stimulate his 'Unquenchable Furnace Body'.
He believed he could. However, the polluting seawater possessed strong corrosive properties, and even Mythicals feared corrosion. He was unsure if the Unquenchable Furnace Body could treat the corrosion as a form of injury and heal quickly.
Qian Qiu was also looking outside.
The moonlight veil only isolated the seawater; it did not prevent them from going out. In fact, this was merely a resting area provided by the Ancient Moon Dynasty. Combat would take place outside later.
Qian Qiu's fingers were only an inch away from the moonlight veil. He was curious what the pollution of the Sea of Filth tasted like.
He had been curious since he was a child, but his mortal body dared not court death. Now that he was a Mythical, and possessed a perfect body, the more he thought about it, the more restless he became. He considered it a desire for knowledge.
"Your Excellency Qian Qiu, please be cautious, be cautious. Once contaminated by such filthy water, even we Mythicals find it troublesome to deal with, and it greatly affects our combat effectiveness. And there will likely be a major battle soon."
Not waiting for "soon," as soon as they plunged beneath the surface, it was as if several buckets of fresh blood had been sprinkled into a shark-infested area, the scent spreading far and wide! Instantly, countless aberrations that had smelled the strong human scent surged towards them from all directions.
They ignored the mist-dispelling devices on the palaces and warships, rushing inwards.
And soon, the first World-Ending Aberration appeared.
"Let me, Chen Tianxuan, gauge this aberration's might!"
A youth with a massive sword box on his back spoke.
Brilliant divine aura enveloped him as he stepped into the filthy seawater. He was like a strong light in the pitch-black ink. With a raise of his hand, his divine sword flew out of the sword box, emitting dazzling light in an instant, actually unleashing thousands of sword rays.
Each individual sword ray was as thin as a silver thread, but when thousands converged, it was like a shower of starlight blooming in the Sea of Filth.
The raindrops were like falling stars, spreading outwards in spherical patterns.
Any aberration that was grazed by a single silver thread was instantly torn apart as if by countless sword rays. Even the World-Ending Aberration, whose massive half-body was revealed in the darkness, let out a mournful cry under the shimmering sword rain, its body being sliced away piece by piece.
Many Mythicals exclaimed in surprise.
"Who is that?" Qian Qiu asked, feigning confusion.
"That is someone from the Tianhe Chen clan, the Light Sword Saint—Controller of Ten Thousand Swords, 'Chen Tianxuan'."
The Lord of Shadow Island said, looking at Xing Jinglei, "Your Excellency Tianxuan is also a genius who surpasses expectations. He once resisted a divine manifestation in his mortal body. Furthermore, he is an extremely young Mythical."
"He ascended to Mythical at the age of less than forty, and now Your Excellency Tianxuan appears to be a child still under fifty years old... a young fellow."
Qian Qiu, Yiluoxi, and Xing Jinglei exchanged glances.
Their expressions were all somewhat peculiar.
"Uh... ascending to Mythical at less than forty years old, what kind of concept is that?"
The Lord of Shadow Island did not notice the hint of peculiarity on Qian Qiu's face, assuming it was normal for those from the outer regions, with their meager resources and lack of "common sense about the Shattered Sea."
"It seems you don't understand the significance."
"As everyone knows, awakening becomes increasingly difficult as one progresses. This is because as one's rank increases and one experiences more, the level of pollution within us also rises. This pollution, rooted in our bodies and souls, is something that even hegemonic powers like the Ancient Moon Dynasty cannot fully resolve. At best, they can only reduce some of the pollution through treasures like Clear Heart Tea, which requires time."
"Those with innate talent often awaken the first three stages quickly, perhaps in a few years. But the further one progresses, the more time is needed to prepare for each awakening. A fourth awakening might take years, a fifth perhaps a decade or more, a sixth two or three decades, and a seventh depends on fate."
"Awakening requires solid foundations and stability. The faster and more rushed it is, the more tragic the outcome."
"For a person with normal talent, reaching the sixth awakening might take sixty or seventy years, or even eighty, ninety, or a hundred years for slower individuals. More tragically, many die on the path of awakening, becoming mere skeletons. You tell me, is it fast for Your Excellency Chen Tianxuan to have ascended to Mythical at less than forty years old?"
The Lord of Shadow Island was naturally full of admiration, and also a bit of envy and jealousy.
He believed that if he had been born into a super oasis force like the Tianhe Chen clan, he might also have been able to ascend to Mythical in his forties or fifties, possessing a broader future.
As for Your Excellency Xing Jinglei of the Burning Flame Merchant Guild, his talent was even more terrifying; perhaps he would understand more and feel even more envy and jealousy.
The Lord of Shadow Island thought so, only to find that the expressions of the trio were not as he had imagined.
Were they a mix of surprise and a touch of strangeness?
Or a mix of strangeness and a hint of surprise?
"You don't think so."
"No, yes, yes, yes, awesome, awesome."
Yiluoxi affirmed with great certainty, giving a thumbs-up. However, the corners of her mouth couldn't stop curving upwards.
So I'm this amazing, hehe~!