Douluo Continent: Martial Soul Blue Silver Grass, Simulating Godhood

Chapter 26: Conquest of the Vast Ocean! Storms and Bandits!

The simulation is still ongoing.

After the silhouette of Hanhai City completely disappeared behind you, you sailed alone into the vast ocean. For the first three days, the sea was calm, the surface stretching to the horizon like a giant blue ribbon. Occasionally, a few seabirds would skim past the bow, emitting clear calls; everything seemed peaceful and serene. But you knew very well that the calm of the sea was only an illusion, and the real test could come at any moment.

[Sure enough, by the evening of the fourth day, you sensed the first wave of uninvited guests. Three fast ships flying black skull and crossbow flags suddenly emerged from behind the reefs to the southwest, fanning out to surround you. A group of burly men with menacing grins stood at the bow, their swords reflecting the cold light of the setting sun. The leader was actually a four-ring Soul Master, surrounded by intertwined yellow and purple Soul Rings, wielding a massive trident, standing at the bow like a sea monster.]

"Hey, you ship up ahead, stop right there! Hand over all your valuables, and I might spare your life if I'm in a good mood!" The pirate captain's voice cut through the sea breeze, rough and fierce, brimming with an arrogant confidence.

Standing at the stern of your own ship, you tilt your head, watching the three pirate ships approaching, a helpless smile playing on your lips. This wasn't the first time you'd encountered such a robbery. On your journey from Hanhai City to Holy Soul Village, you'd run into at least eight or ten waves of fallen soul masters and bandits, each one treating you like easy prey for a lone traveler, only to regret it later.

"Hey you robbers, can't you come up with a different strategy?" you shouted back. "The last one you ran into is probably still floating in some crack in the void."

The pirate captain clearly didn't understand what you were saying, assuming the boy was just being deliberately mysterious. He grinned maliciously, "Stubborn brat! Wait till I get you aboard, then we'll see if you're still so stubborn!" With that, he suddenly waved his hand, and several ropes with iron hooks were simultaneously thrown from the three pirate ships, precisely catching the gunwale of your ship. The pirates climbed up the ropes like monkeys, their movements practiced and agile.

You sighed and gently raised your right hand.

Just as the pirates were about to step onto your deck, a pale purple halo silently spread out from beneath your feet. Hallucinogenic Domain, activated. The halo appeared gentle and harmless, but the instant it touched all the pirates, the previously ferocious-looking men simultaneously froze, their weapons falling from their hands, their eyes becoming empty and blank, drool uncontrollably dripping from their mouths, standing frozen in place like soulless puppets.

The pirate leader, slightly stronger, struggled for a moment before his face contorted in terror: "What...what have you done!" Before he could finish speaking, he too succumbed to the corrosive influence of the mental field, his gaze unfocused, his knees buckling as he collapsed to his knees on the deck, his trident clanging against the ship's planks.

You crouched down in front of the pirate captain, patted his face to confirm he was completely trapped in the illusion, then stood up and stretched your wrists. A corner of the imaginary space quietly opened beneath your feet. You searched the pirates, taking all their valuables: gold soul coins, a few decent-quality soul tool parts, and some miscellaneous medicinal herbs and other odds and ends. While not a huge haul, every little bit helps.

You leave the pirates and their three ships where they were, untie the mooring lines, raise the sails again, and continue your voyage. It will be about three days before the pirates awaken from their hallucinations. By then, they will remember nothing but a splitting headache and the fact that a large sum of money is inexplicably missing.

Five days later, you encountered your first large-scale attack by sea spirit beasts. It was a school of serrated fish with sharp fangs, far larger than the wave you encountered in the last simulation, numbering over a hundred. Several of them exuded an aura of cultivation over a thousand years, with the leader approaching ten thousand. Like a pack of ravenous wolves, they frantically tore at the metal hull of the ship, producing a teeth-grinding crunch.

You glanced down from the ship's railing, then leaped into the sea. The life force of the Blue Silver Emperor shone like a beacon in the water. Far from being deterred, the swarm of sawtooth fish rushed towards you like sharks drawn by the scent of blood. A slight smile played on your lips, and with a flick of your arm, your hallucinogenic field instantly enveloped the entire area. Under the mental shock, the ferocity in the sawtooth fish's eyes vanished, replaced by confusion. Their movements slowed dramatically, and the entire school floated in the water as if frozen in time.

You calmly swam back to the ship, climbed the ropes back onto the deck, soaked but unharmed. You shook the water droplets from your hair, and with a surge of your soul power, your clothes quickly dried. Looking back at the sea, the serrated fish were still circling aimlessly, unlikely to recover for at least several more hours.

You shook your head and muttered to yourself, "Encountering soul beasts at sea is easier than on land. These creatures in the ocean are definitely much more ferocious than those on land."

In the days that followed, you encountered two significant storms. The first storm was fierce, with dark clouds looming overhead as if the sky were collapsing, and giant waves several meters high. Your sailboat tossed violently through the waves like a withered leaf. But you were no longer the weak Soul Master who could only struggle against storms. You activated your Golden Domain, and golden-green light enveloped the entire ship. The giant waves crashing against the boundaries of the domain turned into a shower of water, and although the ship still rocked, it was not swallowed up. You steered the ship through the storm for two full hours, finally managing to sail out of the storm's circle.

The second storm was even more violent, accompanied by a dense hailstorm. Fist-sized ice shards pounded the deck with a resounding thud, tearing several holes in the sails. Instead of panicking, you used this opportunity to test the limits of your new soul skill. You expanded a corner of your imaginary space, drawing all the hailstones falling on the ship into another dimension, causing them to vanish into thin air. If those pirate ships saw this, they'd probably be so terrified they'd jump overboard and flee for their lives.

After the storm, the sea returned to calm. You repaired the sails damaged by the hail, checked the hull for any major damage, and inventoried the supplies. Confirming everything was in order, you continued on your planned route. Your logbook recorded the celestial phenomena and directions for each day, and you carefully kept the nautical chart copied from the library in your breast pocket, ready to consult it at any time.

[After sailing for more than twenty days, overcoming countless twists and turns and dangers, one morning you finally stood at the bow and gazed into the distance, seeing a blurry, dark outline emerging where the sea met the sky. At first, the outline was very small, like a speck of dust on the horizon, but as the sailboat continued forward, it became clearer and larger, gradually revealing the appearance of a vast landmass.]

Controlling your excitement, you slightly reduced the ship's speed and cautiously approached the land. You saw vegetation along the shore that was completely different from that of the Douluo Continent—tall and peculiar, with canopies shaped like giant, open umbrellas; some plants even had leaves that were crimson and purple. A rich, unfamiliar scent of vegetation wafted in the air, pure and primal, as if this continent had never been set foot on by humans.

[We've arrived at the Sun and Moon Continent.]

You slowly steered the sailboat into a naturally formed harbor, anchored it, and then jumped off the boat, your feet firmly planted on the soft, damp earth of this unfamiliar land.

The simulation is still ongoing.