95: Chapter 95 The Island in the Mist
After the teams from the three countries completed their assembly, they did not set off immediately.
This was because the leaders of the three nations were currently gathered to discuss the most critical issue... who would serve as the commander-in-chief for this operation?
On the side of the Land of Rebirth on the Other Shore, the leader on the surface was Zhou Kai.
He didn't fight for command, instead standing there quietly, playing with the prophecy pen in his hand as if none of this had anything to do with him.
Mainly... Lin Chuan wouldn't let him fight for it!!
Zhou Kai was actually quite happy about this.
After all, the bird that sticks its head out gets shot.
This operation was full of unknowns and dangers.
Whoever took the lead would have to bear the greatest responsibility and risk.
On the Shaven Empire's side, Petrovsky was in charge of leading!
Of course, he was actually just a spokesperson.
The true core of the Shaven Empire was that 'Black Church' suspended in mid-air!
It wasn't interested in command either.
That left only the Yanlong Empire.
The leader of the Yanlong Empire's team was a woman.
She looked to be in her thirties, extremely well-maintained with skin as fair as jade and a smoking hot figure.
She wore a tight black evening gown, ten-centimeter red high heels, and held a glass of crimson wine in her hand.
At first glance, the woman looked like a noble lady attending a banquet.
“Allow me to introduce myself first. I am the Captain of the 749 Bureau's Third Team—White Rose!”
“Since everyone is being so polite, then I'll do it.”
White Rose gently swirled her wine glass, her gaze lazy and arrogant.
“After all, our Yanlong Empire's strength is right here.”
“And...”
She glanced at Zhou Kai and the Black Church, the corners of her mouth curling into a disdainful arc.
“One of you is a newly established small country, and the other is just a rat that only knows how to hide in a church and pray...”
“What could you possibly accomplish?”
As soon as these words came out, the expressions of the people from the Land of Rebirth on the Other Shore and the Shaven Empire turned somewhat ugly.
But no one dared to talk back.
Because the aura on this woman... was too terrifying!
S-Rank Seventh-Tier!
Furthermore, through the perspective of the Coughing Ghoul, Lin Chuan, who was far away in the Rebirth Temple, actually felt a faint, extremely subtle... sense of danger from this woman!
“This woman is not simple.”
Lin Chuan thought to himself.
That sense of danger didn't come from her Rank, but from something much deeper within her body.
“Since Miss White has such an interest, then I shall trouble you.”
Zhou Kai smiled slightly and took a step back of his own accord.
The Black Church also emitted a dull bell chime, seemingly signaling its silent consent.
“Hmph, at least you're sensible.”
White Rose raised her chin triumphantly.
“Everyone, hear my command!”
“Board the ship!”
Following her order.
A massive object suddenly flew out from the Yanlong Empire's team.
It was a... dragon boat!
An ancient dragon boat, a thousand meters long and built entirely of an unknown black wood!
The surface of the dragon boat was carved with countless hideous ghost faces, and the bow was a massive skeletal dragon head with green ghost fires burning in its eyes.
This dragon boat was impressively an S-Class Rank Six Taboo Item!!
Two striking ancient characters were also carved onto the dragon boat—Netherworld!!
“Is this the foundation of the Yanlong Empire...”
Zhou Kai looked at the giant boat emitting an ominous aura, a trace of wariness flashing in his eyes.
This ship didn't need anyone to pilot it; it could sail through any medium on its own, and could even traverse the Void Realm!
“What are you all dazing for? Get on the boat!”
White Rose urged impatiently.
Hearing this, the three teams from the three countries, totaling over two hundred top-tier Ghost Controllers, boarded the dragon boat one after another.
Even the massive Black Church shrunk in size and landed on the dragon boat's deck.
“Depart!”
BOOM!!!
The dragon boat let out a low roar, and black mist billowed around the hull.
In the next second.
Like an arrow leaving a bow, it instantly broke through the shackles of space and sped toward the distant eastern sea... Inside the Rebirth Temple.
Lin Chuan withdrew his gaze.
The team had already set off.
It would still take some time before they arrived at the Neon Country.
Next, it was a matter of waiting.
But he didn't stay idle.
He was making final deductions and preparations.
The pink mist of the Neon Country was definitely not going to be easy to deal with.
The Celestial Standing Venerable, the Illuminating Heaven Turbid Sun, and that mysterious woman... these terrifying existences were like heavy mountains pressing down on his heart.
“If things really reach an unmanageable state...”
Lin Chuan's gaze focused on his own chest.
There, the handprint left by that Mysterious Old Man still remained.
This might be a trump card.
But it was also a ticking time bomb.
Once detonated, that old man might take action, but it could also lead to an even greater disaster.
If things went wrong, even his own existence might come to an end!
“And...”
He cast his gaze toward the direction of the Kunlun Ruins.
“If I release everything inside there...”
“Perhaps it could also suppress the Neon Country's taboo.”
But this was also like driving a tiger to swallow a wolf, and was even more dangerous than seeking help from the Mysterious Old Man.
Because the things inside the Kunlun Ruins... were definitely countless times more terrifying than the source of the disaster in the Neon Country!!
“What a hassle...”
Lin Chuan's heart was heavy.
This feeling of his fate not being in his own hands made him feel very unpleasant!
“I must become stronger as quickly as possible!”
“Only by becoming an SS-Rank taboo, or even an SSS-Rank Taboo... can I deal with everything more calmly!!”
...The scene shifted.
Above the East Sea.
The netherworld dragon boat was extremely fast; in just a few hours, it had already crossed ten thousand miles of sea area.
The surrounding scenery began to change.
The originally azure sea had turned into a turbid gray-black at some point.
In the sky, that eerie pink mist grew thicker and thicker, almost blocking out all light.
A depressing and irritating aura permeated the air.
“Stay alert!”
White Rose stood at the bow. The wine glass in her hand had long been set down, replaced by a black whip covered in thorns.
Although she still appeared arrogant on the surface, a hint of solemnity was clearly visible deep in her eyes now.
“What... is that?”
Suddenly, someone cried out in surprise.
Everyone followed the sound and looked.
They saw that in the thick pink mist ahead, a small island had actually appeared out of thin air!
That island was very bizarre!
It looked as if it had grown out of the void, floating solitarily on the sea surface.
Furthermore, on the island... it was actually brightly lit and bustling with activity!
Vague sounds of cheerful music and people's laughter could even be heard.
In the deathly silence of the pink mist, this appeared exceptionally abrupt and exceptionally terrifying!!
“That is...”
Zhou Kai narrowed his eyes and activated the investigation ability of the prophecy pen.
In the next second.
His expression changed drastically.
“Something's not right!”
“The people on that island...”
“Don't have faces!!”
Through the mist, he saw clearly.
Those 'people' singing, dancing, and laughing on the island.
Their faces were nothing but smooth skin.
No eyes, no nose, no mouth.
Only rows of... painted-on, stiff, and distorted smiling faces!
“Hee hee hee...”
“Welcome to... Faceless Island!”
Just then.
A high-pitched, eerie voice suddenly rang in the ears of everyone on the dragon boat.
Immediately after.
The seawater around the dragon boat suddenly began to boil.
Countless pale, bloated arms reached out from the seawater, tightly grabbing the bottom of the dragon boat!
“Stay behind...”
“Join us... in the revelry!!”