Chapter 109 After the Fog, the Hunter and the Prey Reversal

One second ago.

Jiang Chen was still wearing that asura mask emanating a thick scent of blood, looking like a Demon God crawling out of Hell.

The next second.

The vibe changed abruptly.

He pushed the mask up to the top of his head, revealing his lazy face, and let out a massive yawn.

"Little Fatty, stop lying on the ground."

Jiang Chen kicked Little Fatty Chen, who was still playing dead.

"The warship's hull is leaking and it's about to sink. Hurry up and take some people to clean up that ghost ship across from us!"

Little Fatty Chen scrambled up from the ground, looked at the eerie and terrifying pirate ship, and swallowed hard.

"Brother Chen, are we really going to sail that ship?"

"That ship is covered in blood and even has human skin flags hanging from it. It looks too creepy."

Jiang Chen rolled his eyes.

"If the warship sinks, are you going to swim there?"

"Burn all those disgusting flags. Use a mop to scrub the bloodstains off the deck and spray some air freshener."

Jiang Chen gave orders with total confidence.

"Especially the master bedroom. Lay out my Demon Ape Leather Mattress; I need to catch up on some sleep."

Su Qingyue and Mu Qingxue watched the youth who had instantly switched back to 'young master' mode.

The two looked at each other, both seeing a trace of helpless laughter in the other's eyes.

That suffocating pressure from just now felt like it had been nothing but an illusion.

Soon.

With everyone's efforts (mainly Little Fatty's), the ghost ship completed its 'purification.'

All those horrifying decorations were thrown into the sea.

On the mast, a flag that Little Fatty Chen had crudely painted on black cloth was raised.

There was no skull on it, only three crooked white letters: Zzz.

Representing sleep.

The ghost ship braved the wind and waves, sailing toward the depths of the Endless Sea.

Having changed ships, everyone's mood underwent a subtle shift.

After experiencing a life-and-death bloody battle.

Everyone on the ship had undergone a complete transformation.

Su Qingyue sat cross-legged on the deck.

She closed her eyes, and a faint gold-red light flickered on her body.

The broken longsword lay across her knees.

After the second Awakening of her phoenix blood, her comprehension of flames and Sword Intent had reached a brand-new height.

She could even complete the broken sword using solidified Sword Qi.

Mu Qingxue stood at the bow of the ship, her white clothes as pure as snow.

The Nine Yin Cold Poison within her body had been completely refined.

Now, not only had her strength surged to the fourth level of the Grandmaster Realm, but her entire temperament had undergone an earth-shaking change.

It was no longer that suppressed coldness.

Instead, it was a pure, transparent, and untainted Immortal Qi, like that of a Mysterious Lady of the Nine Heavens.

However.

Whenever her gaze occasionally swept over Jiang Chen lying on the lounge chair.

An unmistakable tenderness and shyness would always flash in those cold eyes.

As for Iliya.

She was in the kitchen helping Little Fatty Chen chop vegetables.

Nine crystal-clear spirit tails swayed happily behind her, fully revealing her first-level Grandmaster Realm aura.

She was now not only a top-grade body pillow but also a top-tier combat force on this ship that could not be ignored.

"Phew..."

Jiang Chen lay on the lounge chair on the deck, looking at the grey sky above, and let out a long breath.

At this moment, the mist on the sea was getting thicker and thicker.

Visibility was already less than ten meters.

Even the sound of the waves had become muffled, as if swallowed by this mist.

[Ding! Detected that the host is entering a high-risk magnetic field zone.]

[Identity Determination: Captain of an illegally modified pirate ship.]

[System Evaluation: Going on a raid under the banner of sleeping—this kind of bandit behavior is exactly to my liking.]

[Route navigation enabled. Fifty nautical miles ahead is the target stronghold.]

Jiang Chen looked at the System's cheeky pop-up, a mischievous smile curling his lips.

He sat up and pulled the Sea God Temple's wanted poster out of his storage ring.

He also took out the nautical chart he had scavenged from the Blood Hand Butcher.

"Teacher, come help me take a look at this."

Jiang Chen waved to Mu Qingxue at the bow.

Hearing this, Mu Qingxue walked over with light, graceful steps.

She carried a fresh scent like the air after a rain, with none of the previous bone-chilling coldness.

"How is it?"

She leaned down slightly, looking at the sea chart in Jiang Chen's hand.

Because she was so close, a few strands of her silver-white hair fell onto Jiang Chen's cheek, tickling him.

Jiang Chen leaned back slightly and pointed to a red mark on the sea chart.

"This place is called the 'Soul-Bewildering Abyss.' The Butcher's route ends here."

Jiang Chen'seyes became deep.

"This bounty was issued by the Sea God Temple, which means every time the Butcher finishes a kill, he has to go here to report and claim his reward."

Mu Qingxue looked at the sea chart, her elegant brows furrowing slightly.

"Sea God Temple..."

"I've seen intelligence on this organization in the classified archives of the Imperial Capital."

She sat down on a nearby chair, her voice crisp and pleasant.

"They call themselves believers of the Sea God, preaching ocean supremacy and harboring extreme hatred for land-dwelling humans."

"On the surface, they are a religious organization, but in the shadows, they commit all sorts of vile deeds—trafficking other races, plundering resources, and assassinating Geniuses."

"The noble families of the Imperial Capital have no shortage of secret dealings with them."

After listening to Mu Qingxue's explanation.

Jiang Chen let out a cold laugh.

"God?"

"What I hate most in this life are those high-and-mighty things that like to boss others around."

He threw the sea chart onto the table, his fingers lightly tapping the surface.

"They put a one-billion bounty on my head and even sent a mad dog to disturb my sleep."

"This debt can't just be left at that."

Hearing the commotion, Su Qingyue also stopped her Cultivate and walked over.

"What do you want to do?"

Battle Intent flickered in Su Qingyue's eyes. "Attack them directly?"

"No, no, no, that's too crude."

Jiang Chen wagged his finger, a devious smile appearing on his face.

"We are now the remnants of the 'Skinning Cult'."

He pointed to the ghost ship.

"Since they are the employers, it's only reasonable for the employees to go to the boss to ask for some wages after finishing the job, right?"

Everyone was stunned for a moment, then quickly realized.

This was a reverse frame-up, a disguised infiltration!

"Little Fatty! Bring out those masks!"

Jiang Chen gave a grand wave of his hand.

Little Fatty Chen quickly ran out of the cabin, holding several asura masks stripped from the pirates' corpses.

"Everyone, change into black robes and put on the masks."

As Jiang Chen spoke, he draped the Blood Hand Butcher's iconic blood-colored coat over himself.

He put on the hideous asura mask.

He slightly activated the Heart of Nightmares within his body.

A thick scent of blood and violent Evil Qi instantly radiated from him.

He looked even more like a murderous Devil King than the Blood Hand Butcher himself!

"Wow... Brother Chen, your acting is incredible," Little Fatty Chen exclaimed in awe.

"Less talk, hurry up and change."

Jiang Chen turned to look at Iliya.

The little fox was currently walking over with a plate of sliced fruit, looking completely bewildered.

"As for you..."

Jiang Chen rubbed his chin. "Your nine tails are too eye-catching, and you're an important target on the bounty."

"So, I'll have to trouble you to be a 'tribute'."

Jiang Chen pulled a golden rope (actually a mid-tier Spiritual Artifact) out of his storage ring.

In a few quick moves, he tied Iliya up securely.

Of course, his technique was very deliberate; it didn't hurt her, but it emphasized her graceful curves.

"Mas... Brother Chen! Why are you tying me up!"

Iliya blushed and struggled a couple of times.

"We have to commit to the act."

Jiang Chen patted her head. "You're our bargaining chip to claim the reward. Once we're inside, I'll untie you."

Mu Qingxue and Su Qingyue also changed into loose black robes and put on masks, concealing their peerless beauty.

"Listen up, everyone."

Jiang Chen stood in the center of the deck, his voice low and filled with a killing intent.

"Once we're inside, don't say a word. Follow my lead."

"Didn't they want to hunt us?"

Hidden behind the mask, Jiang Chen's eyes shimmered with a dangerous purple light.

"Then we'll just change identities."

"From now on, we are the hunters. They are the prey."

The ship sailed at full speed through the thick fog.

The surrounding magnetic field became increasingly chaotic.

If it were an ordinary ship, it would have lost its way and struck a reef long ago.

But this ghost ship was already inscribed with special Formations, and with Jiang Chen's powerful Mental Energy for navigation, they proceeded without hindrance.

[Ding! Warning! High-energy reaction ahead!]

[Sea God Temple branch stronghold has entered visual range.]

Just as the System's pop-up lit up.

A sudden gust of wind blew, instantly tearing through the wall-like thick mist ahead.

Hiss—

Everyone on the deck sucked in a breath of cold air simultaneously.

Even the well-traveled Mu Qingxue was shocked by the scene before her.

Beyond the mist.

It wasn't some deserted island.

But an incredibly magnificent underwater city!

The city was not entirely submerged; half of its buildings rose above the sea surface.

Massive coral reefs interwoven with black basalt formed city walls a hundred meters high.

On the walls, countless hideous sea monster totems were carved.

In the center of the city stood a statue of the Sea God that pierced the clouds.

The statue held a trident, and its eyes were embedded with massive night-luminescent pearls, emitting a ghostly blue light.

It illuminated the entire eerie and sinister city.

Around the city, hundreds of uniquely designed warships were moored.

Countless fully armed sea race warriors rode fierce sea beasts, patrolling back and forth on the water's surface.

This was the Sea God Temple's stronghold!

One of the overlords of the Endless Sea!

"Good grief... this place looks like it's not to be messed with." Little Fatty Chen swallowed, his legs feeling a bit weak.

Jiang Chen stood at the bow.

The sea breeze blew against his blood-stained coat.

He looked up at the high-and-mighty Sea God statue.

From beneath the mask came an extremely arrogant chuckle.

"Quite a grand display."

Jiang Chen cracked his neck, his joints making a crisp snapping sound.

"I hope the beds in their treasury will satisfy me."

"Full speed ahead! Let's go knock on their door!"

The ghost ship let out a low whistle.

Like a sharp knife, it plunged straight toward this deep-sea fortress.

A mad slaughter to subvert divine authority was about to begin within this mist.