The Yuenan Archipelago, April Island.
After leaving the Academy, Zhu Ziyang and his companions traveled swiftly, reaching April Island in the shortest possible time. By chance, Xu Jianwei had just returned from January Island as they arrived. The smile on her face told Zhu Ziyang at once that the Sun Moon Empire's Southern Sea Fleet stationed there had likely already fallen under their control.
That was excellent news.
Zhu Ziyang and Zhang Lexuan went directly to Xu Jianwei and explained their purpose.
"You want to sail out to sea? To search for the Eastern Continent? And this is part of your Silver Moon Trial?" Xu Jianwei's eyes widened in surprise as she asked for confirmation.
"Yes, Great Aunt," Zhang Lexuan replied with a nod. "We wanted to ask whether the Yue bloodline or the Yin family have any knowledge or artifacts related to seafaring?"
"...Yes," Xu Jianwei answered at last, after a pause.
"Really?" Zhang Lexuan and Zhu Ziyang exchanged delighted looks. "Please, tell us quickly! It might be of great help to us!"
"Wait here. I will fetch the item," Xu Jianwei said, rising to her feet before departing.
The two could not help but speculate what she might bring. Ideally, it would be a sea chart pointing out the location of the Eastern Continent. But even if it was something else—a navigational tool, a seaworthy vessel, or even veteran sailors—anything would help.
They did not wait long. Xu Jianwei soon returned, her hands empty, which left both Ziyang and Lexuan puzzled. Before they could ask, however, she conjured from thin air a small shuttle-shaped model no larger than her palm.
At first glance, it appeared ordinary, smooth in shape, yet its inner workings were obscured, as though unfinished. Strange and intricate patterns glimmered faintly at its tip, like an array, though neither Ziyang nor Lexuan could recognize them.
"This is the Moon God Shuttle," Xu Jianwei said, her aged face alight with pride and reverence.
"Moon God Shuttle?" Both Ziyang and Lexuan blinked, having never heard of it before.
"Yes," Xu Jianwei affirmed. "The Moon God Shuttle—an heirloom soul tool passed down for generations within the Silver Moon Priest lineage. A tenth-level soul tool." Her voice grew thick with reverence as she held the shuttle aloft. "It was the final masterpiece of our ancestor, the greatest of the Yin Clan, Empress of Silver Moon, Yin Lihua. It was the first tenth-level soul tool she ever crafted—and it is a permanent functional artifact."
"A tenth-level soul tool?!" Ziyang and Lexuan were both stunned. Though neither were experts on soul tools, they understood well enough what such a creation represented. More shocking still was the fact that the Sun Moon Empire had been capable of forging tenth-level soul tools even tens of thousands of years ago.
"Indeed. The Moon God Shuttle is a vessel," Xu Jianwei continued, undisturbed by their shock. "Her Majesty the Silver Moon Empress spent fifty painstaking years carving it from a complete Moon God Gem. She engraved within it a sea chart—now long lost—that is said to record the positions of every continent surrounding the Sun Moon mainland. For you, about to set sail, it is undoubtedly the most valuable treasure."
"A chart of all surrounding continents!" Ziyang's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Even if we can't be certain of the Eastern Continent's existence, having this is far better than setting out blind!"
"And more than that," Xu Jianwei went on, "the Moon God Shuttle can carry up to ten people, withstand a full-strength strike from a Super Douluo, and travel ten thousand li in a single hour. Of course, its functions are tied to the user's soul power. Only soul masters of Contra rank and above can operate it. Lexuan, now that you've reached Title Douluo, I entrust the Moon God Shuttle to your care."
"Thank you, Great Aunt!" Zhang Lexuan accepted without hesitation. Whether by bloodline or by destiny, the shuttle was hers to inherit sooner or later.
"That is all I can do for you," Xu Jianwei said at last. "The rest is up to your own strength. May the Silver Moon watch over you."
Zhu Ziyang and Zhang Lexuan bowed deeply before taking their leave. They soon found Jiang Nannan and Qian Lingyi, who were preparing supplies in the city.
It was only then that Qian Lingyi finally understood—they were going to sail out to sea, leaving Douluo Continent behind in search of the unknown Eastern Continent.
Her heart wavered with mixed feelings: uncertainty, and more than a little anger. The uncertainty was natural—who would not fear venturing into the great unknown? But the anger was directed squarely at Zhu Ziyang. After all, she had been by his side all along—yet she was the very last to know.
Hurt, the girl resolved not to speak to him for three days.
But the truth was, she lasted less than an hour.
When Zhu Ziyang and Lexuan found the two of them, he immediately pulled Lingyi aside.
Lingyi puffed out her cheeks and glared at him, heart fluttering with both anger and a trace of expectation. Had he brought her here alone because he intended… something?
"Lingyi, are you angry?" Zhu Ziyang asked, smiling as he saw her pouting lips and reddened cheeks. "Alright, I admit it—I was wrong. I shouldn't have hidden it from you. I'm sorry, don't be mad."
"Hmph! I'm not angry," Lingyi retorted, turning her face away. "Why would I waste my feelings on someone who doesn't care about me? From now on, just share everything with your Nannan, not me!"
"See? You say you're not angry, but your jealousy is practically overflowing!" Zhu Ziyang chuckled, reaching out to rest his hand on her shoulder. He gently turned her face back toward him. "Don't be jealous. I have something important to tell you."
"What?" she blurted, before catching herself. "Wait—don't tell me I'm the last to know again?"
"Uh…" Zhu Ziyang winced, then smiled wryly. "I don't want to lie. Yes—you are the last among us four to know."
"What?!" Lingyi's eyes brimmed with tears at once, her voice trembling as she cried, "Then why bother telling me at all? I'm just an outsider to you, aren't I? You needn't pretend otherwise!"
"Don't cry," Zhu Ziyang said softly, reaching up to brush away the tears that slipped down her cheeks. "Just listen to me first. You'll understand why I didn't mean to hide it from you."
"…Fine. Then say it," she murmured after a long pause, forcing her emotions under control.
"The truth is," Zhu Ziyang said gravely, "this voyage to the Eastern Continent isn't just for training. The real purpose is to complete my Divine Trial."
"Divine… trial?" Lingyi froze, staring at him blankly. In an instant, all her sadness and anger scattered like mist before sunlight.
"So you've heard of them. Then I don't need to explain," Zhu Ziyang said. "I've inherited the legacy of the God of Death. This journey across the seas is to complete the Seventh Trial of the Death God."
"My original plan was to bring only you with me," he added softly. "But plans can't keep up with changes. Nannan and Lexuan-jie's divine trials became intertwined with mine. And so, they must come as well."
"What? Their divine trials… are tied to yours?" Lingyi's heart had leapt with joy at first, but the latter words struck like ice. Her dream of a journey with just the two of them shattered in an instant.
"They're tasked with assisting me in completing the Death God's Seventh Trial," Zhu Ziyang said, revealing the truth that left Lingyi utterly speechless.
Her wide eyes blinked helplessly, filled with confusion and disbelief, as though the weight of his words were too much to bear.
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