Start with a red name

"This really is a case of 'great effort brings miracles'."

As the nine vehicles and boats sailed steadily at a speed of over forty kilometers per hour in the sea, Geng Xuan couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion.

This speed is already quite astonishing.

As far as Geng Xuan knew, such a speed would not have been considered slow even in the past when ironclad warships roamed the vast ocean.

Except for a very few "toys" designed solely for racing, they have completely surpassed ships of the sailing age.

The reason these vehicles and boats were able to achieve such success so easily was not because of any ingenious design, but simply because they used a very simple trick—changing the main driving force of the boats from "wind power" to "human power".

When hundreds of cultivators pedal with all their might, the power they can provide to the ship even exceeds that of steam power, which is measured in horsepower.

Moreover, it is more flexible.

Its biggest drawback is probably that it's too demanding on cultivators.

This is actually the last thing the "Black Wind Army" needs to care about right now.

Furthermore, in order to ensure that everyone can have this special cultivation experience.

Iron Wolf and his crew even created a special schedule, stipulating that each batch of "sailors" could only experience the experience for a maximum of half an hour before having to give the opportunity to others.

When everyone left this extremely demanding job, their faces were filled with a sense of lingering reluctance and reluctance to leave.

According to Geng Xuan's observations, he also discovered that everyone's abilities were far from being fully utilized.

This wasn't because they were deliberately being lazy; it was simply the limit that these nine vehicles and boats could achieve.

At their peak speed, the nine vehicles and boats were slightly faster than they are now, at approximately 50 kilometers per hour.

However, as these nine ships maintained this high speed, their hulls began to change, and occasional slight abnormal noises could be heard from somewhere.

From the deck to the bulkhead, there was a slight tremor.

The feeling it gives is that even if it were to disintegrate without warning and break into pieces of wood, it wouldn't seem strange.

After realizing this, they had to gradually reduce the ship's speed to its current state by decreasing the number of "sailors".

Geng Xuan withdrew his gaze from the numerous other ships and said to Ruan Ruizhe beside him, "Now, tell me in detail about the situation on 'Huangwei Island'."

"Yes," Ruan Ruizhe replied and began to speak.

……

The Xuanqing Sea is more than 1,500 li from north to south and more than 600 li at its widest point from east to west.

Huangwei Island is located in the southern part of the central section of the Xuanqing Sea.

It is about 1,000 li away from the north shore of Xuanqinghai and about 500 li away from the confluence of the southern section of the Hanghe River.

It is about 200 li away from the eastern coast of Xuanzhou and nearly 400 li away from the western coast of Youzhou.

Huangwei Island itself is an irregular ellipsoid, about ten miles long from east to west and about six miles wide from north to south.

There was nothing particularly noteworthy about the output.

Furthermore, the island is too low, almost level with the water surface. During the months when the Hanghe River is at its highest in summer and autumn, the water flows into the Xuanqinghai Sea through the confluence of the Hanghe River and the Xuanqinghai Sea, causing the Xuanqinghai Sea to rise.

Although this impact, spread across the entire Xuanqing Sea, would only raise the water level by a few centimeters, at most a dozen centimeters.

However, because Huangweidao is too low-lying and flat, it is completely submerged for as long as four or five months.

Only a large clump of lush yellow reeds emerged from the water, marking its presence.

It's like this every year.

For this reason, even the sand eagles of the Azure Sea do not choose to lay their eggs and hatch their young here.

In addition, there are quite a few other "hidden islands" in the waters surrounding Huangweidao.

—It can also be described as a reef, that is, an island-shaped area "hidden" underwater that only needs to rise a few dozen centimeters above the surface to emerge.

Once you enter such an area, the slightest mistake could result in the ship being destroyed and everyone on board perishing.

For these reasons, although Huangweidao is located in the most bustling central and southern waters of Xuanqinghai, it remains largely untouched for dozens of miles around.

“I suspect that’s why they chose ‘Huangwei Island’ as their assembly point,” Ruan Ruizhe said.

Geng Xuan nodded slightly as he listened to Ruan Ruizhe's introduction of "Huangwei Island".

After Ruan Ruizhe finished explaining the situation, he asked:

Are you familiar with the hidden reefs and islands surrounding Huangweidao?

Ruan Ruizhe nodded hurriedly and said:
“Familiar, very familiar… There is a hidden pearl-producing area there. Every year I would take a group of trusted men and sneak off to that area to harvest pearls.”

After a while, I also got to know the condition of the surrounding waters myself.

I dare not say more, but I remember every detail of the waters within a thirty-mile radius of Huangwei Island.

"If I assign you to lead the fleet, can you safely bring the fleet to the vicinity of 'Huangwei Island'?" Geng Xuan asked.

Ruan Ruizhe immediately patted his chest and assured, "No problem at all. I can complete this task even with my eyes closed!"

At this point, realizing something, Ruan Ruizhe paused for a moment before asking:

"Do you want to go to 'Huangwei Island' first?"

Geng Xuan nodded slightly.

Given his past behavior, this is not hard to guess.

Ruan Ruizhe hurriedly said:
"Aren't you taking me with you?... Or should I come with you? There are many situations that can't be explained just by talking. Based on my understanding of 'Huangwei Island,' I should be able to offer you some assistance."

Geng Xuan shook his head and said:

"You should still take the lead; it's equally important to get everyone safely to the vicinity of Huangweidao."

Hearing his answer, Ruan Ruizhe was clearly disappointed.

However, he quickly cheered up and asked again:
"If there are no unforeseen circumstances, we should be able to arrive by 9 PM... Shall we sail directly into Huangwei Island? Or should we stop in the waters further north and wait for your instructions?"

Geng Xuan said, "Don't worry, I'll come pick you up then."

After explaining things to Ruan Ruizhe, Geng Xuan went to Tie Lang and gave him a brief explanation.

The "Black Wind Army" currently only has two members at the first level of perfection: Song Mingzhu and Tie Lang.

Song Mingzhu, with his family in tow, led the large group slowly southward.

Iron Wolf led 3,000 men of the "Iron Cavalry Battalion" and 10,000 men of the "First Battalion" to accompany him on his "personal campaign".

Before boarding the ship, he had already given Iron Wolf most of the instructions.

This trip was actually to say goodbye and formally hand over this force to him.

Just as he made arrangements and was preparing to leave.

A voice suddenly came from beside Iron Wolf: "Wait...wait!"

Geng Xuan turned his head to look.

The speaker was none other than Yang Qian, the Chief of the Dark Night Division.

From the moment he was captured alive and brought from 'Fish Scale Dock' to 'Wild Wolf Gorge' and handed over to Song Mingzhu, until today when Song Mingzhu personally handed him over to Iron Wolf, this man has remained completely silent, like a mute.

Even now, when he's with his former colleague and subordinate, Iron Wolf, his mouth is as if it's been welded shut.

In addition, at Geng Xuan's special request, no special torture methods were ever used on him.

He has survived in the Black Wind Gang as an outsider until now.

Although, there was no intention to reveal any information to him.

But from the moment he was subdued by Geng Xuan at the banquet of the "Poisonous Scorpion Gang" to the moment he was taken by Geng Xuan and traveled thousands of miles eastward overnight, from Youzhou to Xuanzhou, and was handed over to Song Mingzhu and others in "Wild Wolf Gorge".

To witness the various aspects of "Wild Wolf Gorge".

Then, he witnessed firsthand the complete annihilation of the two thousand Xuanyou Iron Cavalry who had come to "Wild Wolf Gorge" to pick fruit.

After Tie Lang and the others arrived and joined forces, it was heard that the Xuan You Iron Cavalry who went to "Yan Lai Peak" received the same "treatment".

Then came the major reorganization of the "Black Wind Army," which numbered nearly 40,000 on the island.

Now, under Iron Wolf's personal protection, they travel south together, heading towards "Huangwei Island"...

He witnessed almost the entire process of the Black Wind Gang's transformation into the Black Wind Army, and saw firsthand how it rampaged through the "body" of the Xuan You and Er Zhou states, causing chaos and upheaval.

He was quite certain that this was only the beginning.

This is a "demon" who cannot be fathomed by common sense. He is the greatest calamity Dong Guan has ever encountered in his life, and his nemesis.

He already understood the other party's intentions.

He desperately wanted to hold back from speaking.

He knew that in this "game," whoever spoke first was essentially surrendering. But judging from the other party's demeanor, he understood that waiting for them to speak first was impossible.

The longer time goes on, the lower his value becomes.

The weaker his bargaining power, the less bargaining power he has.

If he keeps holding back and refuses to show weakness because of his pride, his ultimate fate will likely be to be abandoned.

It is even quite possible that they could become "living materials" for the recovery and healing of those who are seriously injured or disabled.

After figuring all this out, he dared not push himself any further.

Seeing the other person's gaze, which held a faint smile, Yang Qian gritted his teeth and said:
"I'd like to talk to you."

Geng Xuan asked, "Now?"

“Yes, now,” Yang Qian said.

He spoke these words with great anticipation in his heart.

He assumed the other party wouldn't refuse.

In any case, Huangweidao is not an easy place to conquer.

If the spies planted by the Dark Night Division on "Huangwei Island" are used well, they will make this "tough nut to crack" much easier to crack.

But Geng Xuan's answer made his heart sink.

Geng Xuan stared at him for a while, then gently shook his head and said:

"Forget it, I'm busy right now, I don't have time to waste here..."

At this point, he looked at Yang Qian and chuckled softly, his tone enigmatic:
"Besides, I don't think you've really thought it through yet. I think it would be better for both of us to talk to you after you've thought it through."

With that, he ignored Yang Qian, whose face had turned pale in an instant, nodded slightly to Tie Lang, and then turned and left without lingering for a moment.

Soon, his figure leaped from the deck of the speeding vehicle on the water, and with a soft "pop," he disappeared into the water dozens of meters away.

Even though many eyes were searching around the water where he entered, apart from a slight ripple spreading from where he entered, the surrounding waters, up to the end of their line of sight, showed nothing unusual.

When Geng Xuan entered the water, the vehicle and boat had already traveled dozens of miles south, and the distance to "Huangwei Island" was less than nine hundred miles.

Now, he has mastered the "Water Movement Technique" to the level of a master, and when he uses it at full power, his speed exceeds one hundred kilometers per hour.

For him, it was only a journey of about four hours.

Actually, if the goal is simply to reach the destination faster, there is an even better way: swim eastward for dozens of miles to the east bank of Xuanzhou, and then head south.

After arriving near the destination, we swam to the vicinity of "Huangwei Island".

Choosing this option will increase the mileage, but the travel time will actually be shortened to about three hours.

However, when faced with this more time-saving solution, Geng Xuan abandoned it without much consideration.

At this moment, Geng Xuan, who was speeding south underwater, was carefully experiencing the wonderful changes brought about by the master-level "Water Movement Technique" while maintaining his high speed.

For almost all secret arts, the transition from mastery to mastery is a huge watershed.

The former is merely a mastery of technique, while the latter signifies a preliminary grasp and questioning of the "essence" of this secret art.

This is Geng Xuan's current state.

He no longer needed to consciously control it; all his experience in water movement and swimming skills had been forgotten.

"Water movement" has begun to become as natural and casual as breathing.

Geng Xuan felt as if he had truly become a swimming fish at this moment.

It is the kind of "fish" that excels in speed, has extraordinary endurance, and is very good at long-distance travel.

At first glance, it really looks like a big fish swimming in the water.

If you look more closely, you can also see that his palms, soles, and even his body shape have undergone significant changes.

These changes made him drift further and further away from being a "human" and closer and closer to being a "fish".

Perhaps changing "fish" to "demon" would be more accurate.

Water spirit, a spirit of the water.

Because of the high speed, the clothes were quickly torn to shreds in the struggle with the surrounding water.

—During the frequent moves, he had long since discarded the water-resistant garment he brought from Yuanzhou.

Moreover, as Geng Xuan's "Water Movement Technique" advanced to the master level, he also discovered that only by using "real skin" could he maximize his speed in the water.

Any additional burden, and clothing, will become an obstacle, not an aid.

Even the finest craftsmanship of a water-resistant garment is no exception.

……

Geng Xuan already had an excellent sense of direction, and he also used several sand islands that were quite famous in Ruan Ruizhe's introduction to "correct and fine-tune" his direction along the way.

The journey was uneventful, without any surprises or dangers.

About four hours later, Geng Xuan felt that he had arrived near his destination.

Although he has not yet seen "Huangwei Island", he has already seen many "hidden islands and reefs" hidden beneath the water.

According to Ruan Ruizhe, this is the most distinctive feature of the waters surrounding Huangwei Island.

Using these "hidden islands and reefs" as a guide, Geng Xuan made some adjustments to his course.

Not long after, Geng Xuan, who was moving rapidly underwater, suddenly slowed down.

The water in Xuanqinghai is very clear, and the visibility underwater is not much worse than that on the surface.

Even with Geng Xuan's eyesight, things more than ten miles away were still clearly visible.

At this moment, Geng Xuan's eyes, which he had been protecting with his strength, were fixed on a body of water slightly to the left of directly in front of him.

More than ten miles away, he saw not only a huge "mountain" rising abruptly from the water.

The "mountain top" section completely breaks through the limitations of the water area.

And near the "summit" of that "mountain", there was a dense cluster of black dots floating there.

Most of those black dots were quietly clustered together, motionless.

However, some of them were slowly moving.

Some approached the "high mountain" from a distance.

Some, on the contrary, travel from near the "mountain" to a distance.

These are all Geng Xuan's views underwater.

The "mountain" in question is not actually a mountain, but rather the underwater portion of the island.

The black dots floating around the "mountain top" are actually the underwater parts of ships floating on the water.

"This is it."

With these thoughts in mind, Geng Xuan slowed down and approached little by little, his body gradually rising from the depths of the water.

More of the scenery above the water's surface entered his eyes through the refraction of the water.

A tall, imposing ship.

A large number of vehicles and ships.

The figures moving back and forth on the ship, the people on duty...

Those who disembark and go ashore, those who board the ship from the shore...

Neat processions, each leading a magnificent black horse, passed by the riverbank.

It's like taking a walk to digest your food.

Keep the Xuanyou horse active, instead of keeping it in the stable for long periods of time, eating and sleeping, and letting it gradually become useless.

in Apple pie order.

It's comfortable and leisurely.

"That's right, it's here."

With this thought in mind, Geng Xuan circled "Huangwei Island" underwater.

However, they were unable to find a suitable landing spot.

At this moment, it is the time when dusk is transitioning into night.

Geng Xuan pondered for a moment and then came up with an idea. (End of Chapter)