Chapter 482 - 317: Eastern Continent Group 2

Chapter 482: Chapter 317: Eastern Continent Group 2

"Then, while we’re resting, we’ll send a small team with you two into the Southern Four Islands to investigate the Witch Spirit Race’s current situation. This will minimize the risk."

"Sage and Hom are correct. This isn’t just important for them; it’s just as important for us. If we discover that the Witch Spirit Race’s territory is no longer accessible, we can change our plans in time and choose a different starting point to land."

From the very beginning, Dean Wu’s primary concern was the interests of humanity. He was worried the war between the Witch Spirit Race and the Alatak Clan had reached a fever pitch. Perhaps the Witch Spirit territory was no longer safe, or they might have even made plans to relocate their habitat long ago.

"I have no objections," Han Ning said, raising his hand first.

"I’m fine with it as well," the Second Elder nodded.

In the end, the vast majority agreed with Dean Wu’s proposal.

The selection of the small team for the reconnaissance mission then became the next topic of discussion.

This reconnaissance mission wasn’t like the one to Paji Island, which could be solved by just sending a single Soul Beast. They had to enter a warzone. An unfamiliar Soul Beast entering a combat zone would probably be obliterated instantly. It would be best for a Beast Master to sneak in using a Spiritual Secret Technique, or to enter under some kind of assumed identity.

Dean Wu’s fingers tapped lightly on the table.

"We need powerful experts to hold down the fort here on the Gray Demon Whale, so the Second Elder absolutely cannot leave. Right now, the Qing Dou Leader is still recovering spiritually. That leaves Grand Elder Qing Sen and Han Ning as the strongest."

Qing Sen was the Grand Elder of the Dragon Blood Race, his strength second only to Qing Dou and Cang Tong.

"The fewer people on the infiltration team, the better. I’m more familiar with Sage and Teacher Hom, so I’ll go. Just have Qingyao come over and give us a hand," Han Ning volunteered.

"I’ll go with Han Ning. Let Qing Sen temporarily hold command on the Gray Demon Whale. All operating personnel will be on standby. With the protection of the Jade Aurora Dragon and the numerous Monarch Dragon Clan members, as long as we stay inside the Gray Demon Whale, we can withstand an attack from at least an Upper Monarch Level entity. That’s more than enough."

"Any Beast Master whose Contracted Soul Beast hasn’t reached the Monarch level shouldn’t come. This trip is too dangerous."

Cang Tong voiced a different opinion.

...

After some back-and-forth, everyone came to a decision through discussion: they would first direct the Gray Demon Whale to land at the Sunset Islands. After confirming the local situation, they would make a final decision.

「The next afternoon.」

Han Ning stood on the observation deck at the edge of the Gray Demon Whale, looking down.

Below, vast stretches of gloomy, dark clouds drifted by.

「A short while later.」

A sprawling complex of buildings, like an ancient Giant Beast crouching on the ground, appeared in his field of vision.

’So this is Illusion Sea City, the terrestrial city controlled by the Deep Sea Race?’ Han Ning thought, his eyes glinting with a strange light as he looked down at the towering, bone-made buildings below.

As a powerful race whose overall strength was only a notch below the Witch Spirit Race, the Deep Sea Race also commanded a vast territory.

But due to their Race’s unique nature, the territory controlled by the Deep Sea Race was mostly in the Deep Sea regions of the Celestial Sea. As for land, they mostly held island chains of varying sizes, but not a single complete continent.

It wasn’t that the Deep Sea Race lacked the power to seize one or more continents; it was simply that the Deep Sea was the most comfortable living environment for them. There was no need to fight for continents. Occupying some land just for trading with other races was sufficient.

Clearly, the Sunset Islands were a prime example of a location the Deep Sea Race used to interact with other Alien Races.

Illusion Sea City had a rugged style, imbued with a strong island flavor. Most of the buildings were made of wood, stone, or the bones of some creature. The city had no walls; the surrounding seawater was its best defense.

When the Gray Demon Whale descended into the Sky Domain 500 meters from Illusion Sea City’s outer harbor, an Aqua Blue light immediately shot up from below. A Beast Master in charge of reception began to communicate with the bridge’s command center.

Given their special purpose, Han Ning and the others were in no mood to appreciate Illusion Sea City’s character. Besides, the city wasn’t very beautiful. It had very little artistic value and was, for all intents and purposes, purely a distribution center for trade.

As soon as they completed the registration procedures, Han Ning, along with Sage and Hom, who were disguised as members of other races, entered the city to gather intelligence.

Numerous amphibious Soul Beasts covered in scales scurried along the muddy, slippery roads.

Compared to the beauty of Shuixiu City, Illusion Sea City had an added touch of Primordial Wildness.

The merchants doing business in the city were mostly Alien Races with scales of various colors and the heads of fish.

The ground hadn’t been maintained either; every few meters, there was one or more large pits filled with stagnant water.

A thick, fishy smell hung in the air.

The first impression Illusion Sea City gave was that of Insmouth from the Cthulhu Mythos.

Absurd, bizarre, and unsettling.

"How should we go about gathering intelligence related to the Witch Spirit Race?" Han Ning, who had no experience with intelligence work, asked his two seniors curiously as they walked along the muddy street.

"Generally, in a trade-focused city like this, the Wind Spirit Race’s commander would have assigned a team of undercover personnel responsible for communicating and exchanging information with other members of our race. As long as we find them, we can get the information we need," Hom answered.

At the moment, Hom was disguised as a Merfolk with scales on her face. She glanced around at the buildings of Illusion Sea City and said casually, "No need to rush. Let’s look around first."

Han Ning didn’t know what the two of them were planning. His mission was to accompany them and ensure their safety, so he kept his mouth shut and focused on following his two seniors as they wandered through Illusion Sea City.

Not only was the air filled with a fishy reek, but it was also permeated by a light sea fog.

Creatures from different races walked through the damp environment, their hawking cries rising and falling.

Before they knew it, the three of them arrived at a place that resembled an open-air trading market.

Here, there was a simple archway made from a giant fish bone, carved with the unique script of the Deep Sea Race.

The area inside was divided into square-shaped sections.

Some sections were piled high with all sorts of Water Type materials.

Other sections held rows of large sea tanks made from milky-white Sea Beast Bones. Inside the tanks, Sea Beast cubs of various species swam about.

At the moment, quite a few people were walking through the aisles between the square sections, picking out what they wanted. It looked exactly like a seafood market.

Han Ning walked over to one of the sea tanks.

In the deep blue seawater, three strange, pitch-black sharks with small barbs growing along their backs were swimming.

These were all cubs and not very dangerous. Han Ning casually scooped one up and examined it in his hand.

’A Black Thorn Shark? Tsk, not that great...’

If he had just transmigrated, he might have been interested in a D Talent Soul Beast.

But his standards were higher now. Any Soul Beast without at least B Talent or a special Talent couldn’t even catch his eye.

The cubs being sold off in sea tanks were basically D Talent or higher. Although their Talent wasn’t outstanding, their strange and varied appearances satisfied Han Ning’s craving for an aquarium visit.

’Hmm? This Thunderlight Eel...’

As his gaze shifted, he spotted a five-meter-long, pale white, eel-shaped Soul Beast swimming in an ivory-white sea tank not far away.

He blinked, and the vision in his eyes rapidly magnified.

The Thunderlight Eel is a D Talent Water Type Soul Beast. Its body can briefly release a powerful electric current, but because it doesn’t last long, it’s not considered to have control over the Thunder Attribute.

But what Han Ning noticed wasn’t the Thunderlight Eel itself. Thanks to the enhanced vision granted by his Ancient Dragon Bloodline, he could clearly see a dense, highly compressed Water Type Spiritual Energy constantly gathered on the Thunderlight Eel’s body.

The fluctuations from this highly compressed Spiritual Energy were surprisingly faint. If he hadn’t happened to glance over, he really wouldn’t have noticed anything unusual about the Thunderlight Eel.

’It’s just a small fry that hasn’t even reached the Awakened Level, so how can it have highly compressed Spiritual Energy on par with a Lord or higher?’

Filled with curiosity, Han Ning walked over to the large sea tank containing the Thunderlight Eel.