Re-entering the Deep Sea

It had been three full days since they had parted ways. Why were they still in the underwater world?

According to the original plan, they should have arrived near Night Lotus Valley long ago.

The best-case scenario was that they had run into some trouble and were trapped underwater. As for the worst-case scenario... Starlight didn't even dare to think about it.

He turned to Lira and spoke in a pleading tone, “Mr. Lira, I know this is sudden, but my companions might be trapped in that direction. Can we turn the ship around and go there now?”

A flash of hesitation crossed Lira’s face as he looked toward the direction Starlight pointed. However, under the influence of the wind and waves, even someone as sharp as he could detect nothing.

“Companions? Are you sure? This is no joke—that storm will sweep through this area in a matter of hours! We can’t just take risks like that!” Lira replied sternly.

Starlight didn't know how to explain this strange premonition to him, but as time passed, he became increasingly certain that the fluctuation was coming from Noah’s body.

“Is it a no, then...? In that case, Lian, you know the Water Breathing Spell, right? Please cast it on me. I’ll go into the sea and find them myself!”

Starlight saw the hesitation on Lira’s face and understood that the man was responsible for the lives of everyone on the ship. Thus, he turned his gaze to Lian.

“Kid, are you crazy? That’s a storm! A storm! Even with the help of a Water Breathing Spell, a human like you would only last a short while. Nature doesn’t care about your luck!”

Lira saw the look of determination in Starlight’s eyes and grabbed him by the shoulder, shouting loudly.

“But I can’t just leave my companions behind. Lian, please help me! If I’m not back within half an hour, you should evacuate on your own.” Starlight’s tone was firm, and there was not a hint of retreat in his eyes.

Starlight looked at Lian’s lowered face, seeing a strange light flickering within the girl’s silver-white pupils.

“Lira, listen to him. Turn the ship around!”

Just as Starlight was starting to feel despair, Lian, who had been silent with her head down, looked up and gave Lira a direct command.

“But My Lady...” Lira wanted to argue, but he was silenced by Lian’s calm gaze.

“This is not a request, it is an order! The storm won’t arrive for several hours anyway, will it?”

Lian’s tone carried an indisputable firmness, showing her aura as a superior for the first time in front of Starlight.

“Fine... but we only have one hour at most for the search. Understood, My Lady? All hands, hear my command! Hard a-port! Turn around and head southwest!” Helpless, Lira could only grit his teeth and issue orders to the crew.

Under the crew's operation, the ship successfully turned around on the spot, sailing against the wind toward the direction Starlight had indicated.

“Lian... thank you. You didn't really have to do this...” Starlight looked down at the girl, a strong sense of gratitude welling up in his heart as he thanked her solemnly.

“Who said we weren't friends? Your friends are my friends too! They’ll definitely be fine!” Lian patted him on the back gently, offering words of comfort.

It didn't take long for them to reach the sea area where Noah’s soul fluctuation was originating.

Starlight could now clearly feel the fluctuation directly beneath them, but the seawater had become murky, and he could see nothing. It seemed the only way was to go underwater and investigate.

“Alright, this is the spot. Please wait for me here for a little while. I’ll leave the Water Breathing Spell to you, Lian.”

Having made up his mind, Starlight quickly stripped off his shirt, revealing an athletic physique that didn't look like a mage’s at all as he spoke to Lian.

However, to his surprise, Lian also pulled off her ornate ceremonial dress and heavy jewelry, revealing her light gauze clothing underneath.

“You’re...?” Starlight started to ask.

“Don’t look at me like that. Of course I’m going down with you! If there’s a problem, I can at least lend a hand. It’s just a pity I’m not very skilled with this spell; I can only maintain enough for the two of us.”

Lian spoke casually as she tied up her long silver hair, seemingly fully prepared to enter the water.

On the contrary, Lira didn't look surprised at all upon hearing Lian’s words. Instead, he said calmly, “My Lady, please be careful. I will mark the ship’s side with light sources so you can find us quickly once you come back up.”

“No problem! Just stay on standby on the ship!”

Lian gave him a thumbs-up gesture and then tapped Starlight on the shoulder with her small hand.

Unlike the warm sensation when Moen cast the Water Breathing Spell, a completely different cool feeling instantly enveloped both their bodies.

Feeling that familiar sensation of being encased, Starlight and Lian exchanged a look and jumped over the railing together, plunging into the murky seawater.

Once Starlight dove into the sea, he realized just how important Lian’s help was.

The visibility beneath the surface was indescribably poor. If not for his connection to Noah, he wouldn't even have been able to tell forward from backward.

Lian, however, was able to quickly adjust her state in such a harsh environment, and she immediately discovered movement coming from the seabed.

To think that even Xia Duo couldn't move so freely underwater. It seemed Lira was right—Lian’s abilities were far more complex than they appeared.

Since there was no mental link between them, they had to use hand gestures to communicate what to do.

Lian pointed to herself and then in another direction, guiding Starlight to swim deeper.

With Lian’s accurate guidance, they easily avoided the reefs and obstacles in their path, soon arriving at a strange place.

The two stopped over a barren patch of seabed. Starlight could feel Noah’s position about ten meters ahead, but their vision was blocked by a black barrier.

Lian swam forward gracefully and touched the barrier with her small hand, examining it closely before shaking her head at Starlight, indicating she couldn't see what was inside either.

However, they were certain that a fierce battle was taking place behind this barrier. The sound of clashing blades even pierced through the roaring currents to reach their ears.

As the situation was urgent, the two immediately turned to other directions, trying to find a gap in this black barrier.

But after some searching, they discovered that the black barrier was like a massive hemispherical black bowl placed over the seabed, without a single crack.

Out of necessity, Starlight began to analyze the composition of the dome on the spot.

Although it appeared pitch black, it actually had little to do with dark elements; rather, it was a unique product of multiple powers mixed together.

“This feeling... why does it feel a bit like Hitral’s Blood Gluttony?”

Starlight soon detected a familiar sensation from the light shield. However, this dome was clearly much more stable than the terrifying skill he had seen a few days ago that could swallow even space itself.

“Stable, but not extremely complex. If that’s the case... maybe I can find a loophole?”

Thinking this, Starlight began to circulate the mana within his body, moving it along the trajectory of the barrier’s operation.

If what lay before him was Hitral’s Blood Gluttony, Starlight wouldn't have dared to let his mana permeate it even if he had a hundred times his current courage.

But this barrier was different. Although its strength was outrageously high—so much so that even high-tier magic couldn't penetrate it—its structure was much simpler than expected.

Compared to the Sea Demon King’s skill that devoured all things, this was more like a door protecting something.