554: Lu Xueqi (31)

"Although this compass is an ancient artifact, its core Formation is too incomplete. It's difficult to use it to track the spirit boat."

Su Han concluded after a careful examination.

Bi Yao picked up the token and played with it.

"This pattern... it's very similar to what Old Li said. Could the Black Water Gang also be involved in the matters of Liubo Mountain?"

Lu Xueqi mused, "Situ Hao is a Nascent Soul Cultivator. If he is connected to the Black-Robed Person, then things become complicated."

Su Han nodded.

"The most pressing task is to repair this compass, or find a true spirit seeking plate."

He tried to inject True Qi into the compass. The rust on the compass actually began to slowly peel off, revealing more ancient and complex patterns underneath. The spiritual light of the central pointer also strengthened slightly.

"Oh?"

Su Han was a little surprised.

"This compass... it seems to be able to absorb my True Qi for self-repair?"

He continuously injected pure True Qi. The patterns on the compass gradually lit up, like a dry riverbed receiving nourishment. An ancient and vast aura slowly emanated from it.

Lu Xueqi and Bi Yao also showed surprise, staring intently at the changes in the compass.

As Su Han's True Qi poured in, the rust on the compass's surface completely faded, revealing its dark gold body. It was covered with star patterns and ancient runes that were difficult to decipher. The central pointer turned a deep blue, emitting a soft and stable light.

Buzz!

With a soft hum, the compass seemed to awaken from its slumber. A miniature projection of the starry sky rose from the compass, with points of starlight. A faint line among them subtly pointed towards the sea in the southeast direction.

"It worked!"

Bi Yao exclaimed in surprise.

"This doesn't seem like an ordinary compass!"

Su Han felt the information coming from the compass, and a look of surprise flashed in his eyes.

"This seems to be... an ancient Star Dial?"

"Star Dial?"

Lu Xueqi, being knowledgeable, asked, "Is it the ancient Magical Artifact from legends that can observe stars to determine trajectories, and even glimpse a sliver of the Dao of destiny?"

Su Han nodded.

"It should be. This item can sense the residual stellar positioning Formation fluctuations of that spirit boat. Although faint, the direction is clear."

He looked to the southeast.

"It seems that spirit boat did go in the direction of Liubo Mountain."

With the Star Dial's guidance, the target became much clearer. But how to go to sea became a problem again.

After this incident, the Black Water Gang would surely conduct strict checks. All large and small boats in the port were probably under surveillance.

"We can seize a boat," Bi Yao suggested.

Su Han shook his head.

"Ordinary boats cannot cross the dangers outside Liubo Mountain. What we need is a sturdy, fast boat that can, to a certain extent, evade detection."

Just then, Su Han's heart stirred. He took out the dark token he had obtained from the Black-Robed Person.

The strange runes on the token seemed to flash with a faint light in the darkness.

He remembered Fatty Jin's words: this token might be more than just a mere token.

He tried to probe the token with a wisp of Divine Thought.

Buzz!

The token vibrated slightly, and a vague stream of information flowed into Su Han's mind. It was not text or images, but a sense of direction, pointing to a secluded corner of Black Water Port.

At the same time, the token conveyed a longing for a certain cold, yin energy.

"What's wrong?" Lu Xueqi noticed Su Han's abnormality.

Su Han explained the situation.

"This token... seems to be guiding us to a certain place."

Bi Yao asked curiously, "Could it be a trap?"

"It's possible," Su Han mused. "But it's also a clue, worth investigating."

Following the token's vague guidance, the three of them, under the cover of night, avoided the patrolling Black Water Gang members and arrived at a deserted pier at the very edge of the port.

The place was piled with damaged old boats and miscellaneous items, emitting a musty smell, and was almost unguarded.

The token's sensation grew stronger here. Beneath the wreckage of a half-submerged broken boat, they discovered a hidden entrance leading underground.

There were faint Formation fluctuations at the entrance; it would have been extremely difficult to find without the token's guidance.

Su Han studied it for a moment, and using the token as a key, he easily broke the Restriction at the entrance.

A downward stone staircase appeared, and a cold, damp aura rushed out. The three exchanged glances and carefully walked down.

At the end of the stone steps was a spacious underground chamber, where a boat was moored. It was a completely black boat, with sleek lines and an eerie design.

The boat body was not large, about ten zhang long, and seemed to be made from the bones of some large sea beast, emitting a cold, eerie glow. The sails were dark purple, painted with twisted runes.

The entire boat had none of the usual lights of a shipyard, only a few floating, eerie green ghost fires providing faint illumination. The air was filled with a faint aura of deathly stillness.

"This is... a Ghost Boat?" Bi Yao exclaimed in surprise. As someone from the Demonic Sect, she had some understanding of such sinister things.

Su Han's gaze swept over the boat, sensing the cold, yin spiritual power it contained, as well as a kind of bound vengeful spirit power. This was indeed a spirit boat, but not an item of the Righteous Path; it was more like something used by Demonic Cultivators or Ghost Cultivators.

Inside the cabin, they found a skeleton in a meditative posture. The skeleton was draped in a tattered black robe, similar in style to the Black-Robed Person who had attacked them, but even more ancient.

On the ground in front of the skeleton were a few lines of text:

"I am a renegade of the Netherworld Dao. I stumbled upon the method for refining the 'Nether Bone Spirit Boat' and wished to go to Liubo Mountain to seek the secret of Reincarnation. However, the Heavenly Dao did not permit it, and my Lifespan withered here. To those who come later, if you hold the 'Netherworld Token' here, you are fated. This boat is gifted to you. Use it with caution. The secret of Liubo Mountain concerns the ancient... great evil..."

The writing stopped abruptly here, as if the carver had died of exhaustion.

"Netherworld Dao? The secret of Reincarnation?" Su Han was thoughtful. Liubo Mountain seemed to be involved in something deeper than he had imagined.

The token in his hand was precisely the "Netherworld Token." This "Nether Bone Spirit Boat," though eerie in aura, was rich in spiritual power and sturdy in its hull, inscribed with powerful protective and concealment Formations. It was exactly what they needed at the moment.

"With the power of this boat, combined with the Star Dial's guidance, we might be able to avoid the Black Water Gang's surveillance and reach Liubo Mountain directly." Su Han made his decision.

The three of them carefully inspected the spirit boat, and after confirming there were no hidden dangers, decided to set off immediately.

Under the darkest hours before dawn, the Nether Bone Spirit Boat, like a phantom, silently slipped out of the abandoned pier and sailed into the vast sea, breaking through the waves towards the southeast direction indicated by the Star Dial.

Standing at the bow, Su Han looked back at the gradually receding Black Water Port. The lights were dim, and danger lurked. Ahead was the even more unknown Liubo Mountain, and hidden within its mists were ancient secrets, the mystery of the Black-Robed Person, and the possibility of Reincarnation.

The sea wind whistled, fluttering his clothes. Lu Xueqi stood quietly beside him, her white robes as pure as snow. Bi Yao, meanwhile, curiously explored the strange runes on the spirit boat.

A new voyage had begun. Above the vast East Sea, a new legend was slowly unfolding. (End of Chapter)