428: Chapter 428 Maple Leaf Island!!

It was a relentless advance, pushing those damned Sea Tribe forces back step by step, driving them back to their lairs!

Ultimately, it was to destroy that spatial passage connecting the two realms, thoroughly beating these invaders back to their Vast Sea Realm, making them never dare covet even an inch of Human territory again!

This very fighting spirit blazed in the eyes of every soldier.

Soon, Qin Yan arrived before the vast expanse of the sea.

The azure seawater stretched as far as the eye could see, waves crashing against the shore with a constant, thunderous roar.

On the distant sea surface, the silhouettes of massive warships could faintly be seen anchored, their masts like a forest, flags fluttering, exuding a solemn, murderous aura.

Qin Yan took a deep breath, adjusted the hood over his head, and strode forward.

After presenting his electronic orders and undergoing layers of strict identity verification, he smoothly boarded a warship numbered "Wavebreaker Thirty-One".

The moment he stepped onto the deck, Qin Yan felt dozens of gazes sweep over him in unison.

On the warship, many martial artists turned to look, their eyes filled with curiosity and scrutiny.

After all, on this battlefield, everyone was accustomed to openly declaring their identity.

Someone like him, who wrapped himself up tightly and refused to even show his face, was truly a first.

A soldier muttered quietly, "Who is this guy? So mysterious."

"Don't know. But anyone who can board our ship must be part of the formal chain of command. Don't go prying."

Whispers drifted over faintly, but Qin Yan acted as if he hadn't heard them.

He just walked unobtrusively to the edge of the deck, his gaze sweeping over the people on board.

While these soldiers were sizing him up, he was also sizing up these comrades he would soon be fighting alongside.

On the vast warship deck, a full hundred or so soldiers were gathered.

They were either sitting or standing; some were polishing their weapons, some were resting with eyes closed, and some were gathered in twos or threes, talking in low voices.

Qin Yan took one sweeping glance and had a rough assessment in his heart:

The vast majority were Fourth Rank Martial Artists. Their level wasn't low, but it certainly couldn't be considered high either.

And among them, the overwhelming majority were still at the early-stage of the Fourth Rank.

Mid-stage Fourth Rank Martial Artists could be counted on one hand.

As for late-stage Fourth Rank Martial Artists...

Qin Yan's gaze fell on the straight-backed figure at the ship's bow.

There was only one.

He was a middle-aged man with resolute features, clad in standard-issue battle armor.

A long saber hung at his waist as he stood with hands clasped behind his back, gazing at the distant sea.

His aura was as steady as a mountain, making him stand out prominently among the crowd.

Just as Qin Yan was observing him covertly, that late-stage Fourth Rank Martial Artist turned around. His gaze swept over everyone on the deck as he spoke in a deep voice:

"Alright, quiet down, everyone."

His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears.

The whispers on the deck immediately ceased, and all eyes involuntarily turned to him.

"I see many new soldiers today, unfamiliar faces."

The middle-aged man's gaze swept over the crowd. "So, let me explain the specific mission and rules for this trip."

He paused briefly before continuing, "Our destination is Maple Leaf Island, located at the northwest corner of the front line."

Maple Leaf Island.

Qin Yan's heart stirred.

He had seen information about this island before. It was a small island occupied by the Sea Tribe.

It wasn't large in area, but it was rich in a Fourth-Rank Spirit Herb called "Maple Leaf Waterweed."

This spirit herb was one of the main ingredients for refining Fourth-Rank Water Attribute Spirit Pills and was quite valuable.

Previously, this island was located deep within Sea Tribe territory, considered an unreachable forbidden zone by humans.

But now, as the Sea Tribe's territory has retreated hundreds of miles, Maple Leaf Island's position has become delicate—it happens to lie right in the boundary zone where the front lines have shifted.

Like a chip pushed onto the gambling table, it has become a "cannon fodder" island contested by both armies.

Both sides want to seize it, but neither wants to invest too many troops in a bloody fight. Thus, these small-scale skirmishes have become the norm.

And there are quite a few islands like Maple Leaf Island scattered across this vast sea.

"On Maple Leaf Island, there is a Sea Tribe garrison. Their strongest member is at the mid-stage Fifth-Rank Martial Artist level."

"However, you don't need to worry about that Fifth-Rank Mid-stage Sea Tribe member. Higher-ranking officers will handle him.

Our task is to kill the miscellaneous soldiers on the island and eliminate the Sea Tribe's active forces."

At this point, his gaze turned sharp as he enunciated each word clearly, "Remember, fight if you can win, run if you can't.

The advantage is on our side now. There's no need to fight desperately like in the past.

Your life is your own. As long as the green hills remain, there will be no shortage of firewood. Is that understood?"

"Understood!" A unified response echoed across the deck.

Listening to this officer explain the rules, Qin Yan quickly grasped the ins and outs of this mission.

The warship continued forward, the roar of its engines unceasing.

Qin Yan stood on the deck, gazing at the distant sea.

Across the vast expanse, numerous human warships were cleaving through the waves, heading in different directions like arrows shot from bows.

And among the warships, many martial artists' figures were particularly eye-catching—

They tread upon the void, condensed light forming beneath their feet: some were a mass of blazing flames, burning fiercely;

some were a swirling current of water, supporting their figures;

some were a howling whirlwind, carrying them forward at great speed.

They walked upon the waves, their robes fluttering, appearing exceedingly carefree and unrestrained.

As if this boundless sea was merely the backyard garden for their leisurely stroll.

These were Fifth-Rank Martial Artists!

The true qi of Fifth-Rank Martial Artists, compared to Fourth Rank Martial Artists, was more condensed, purer, having reached a level where it could take form.

Flames, water currents, wind and thunder, frost...

If they wished, their true qi could manifest into the form of their cultivation techniques, with endless marvelous uses.

And he, Qin Yan, was still only a Fourth Rank Martial Artist. What he unleashed were merely sharp bursts of true qi.

In essence, it was still confined to the category of "qi."

He couldn't transform the intangible into the tangible, nor could he tread the void like Fifth-Rank Martial Artists.

Soon.

Qin Yan clenched his fist, thinking silently in his heart.

He wasn't far from the Fifth Rank.

Just as his thoughts were swirling, the warship beneath his feet suddenly changed course, gradually veering away from the main fleet and heading towards an even more remote stretch of sea.

The surrounding sea gradually became emptier, and in the distance, the faint outline of an island could be seen.

Maple Leaf Island was in that direction.

...

Half an hour later.

The periphery of Maple Leaf Island.

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

On the warship's surface, arrays of blue runes suddenly lit up, flashing with a soul-shaking radiance.

These runes were dense and numerous, layer upon layer, covering the entire hull as if cloaking the warship in mysterious armor.

The next moment, out in the sea, thick streams of water began to coalesce into cannonballs!

Countless amounts of seawater were drawn by an invisible force, swirling and solidifying.

Finally, they transformed into deep blue water orbs, each a full *zhang* in size, emanating a heart-palpitating pressure.