Stranger Danger

The sun would remain on the sea surface for another two hours or so. During this time, neither the demonic fire nor the demonic monsters could approach the sun, much less threaten Gold Island.

Two hours later, the sun emitting endless rays of profound light finally began to dim.

When the light was completely gone, it was revealed that a man existed within the sun.

More accurately, the manwasthe sun.

The man wore a blue outfit and boasted a handsome countenance. He was wielding a bronze bell and surrounded by profound light like a living deity.

"It's Warrior Ye! Hahaha! It really is Warrior Ye! I told you that he's the one who saved us! Hahaha..."

Jin Manshan could not help but laugh at the top of his lungs when he saw this.

"He didn't trick us... he didn't trick us after all..." Ming Yueying mumbled to herself both in excitement and shame.

As for Yue Ling, she looked astonished. Her eyes were glinting with enigmatic intent as well.

Suddenly, the seawater beneath Ye Qing's feet stirred unnaturally. It was also turning dark green in color. The next moment, a massive object rose to the surface.

"Warrior Ye, watch out!"

Jin Manshan subconsciously cried out, though he immediately realized that his warning was probably unnecessary. Considering how powerful Ye Qing was, there was no way he wouldn't notice the disturbance happening right under his feet. Even if he didn't, they were too far apart for him to hear his voice.

Or were they? On the sea surface, Ye Qing smiled and nodded as if he heard Jin Manshan's cry.

While this was going on, the seawater underneath Ye Qing's feet continued to stir harder and harder. Soon, bizarre dark green flames were rushing out of the sea surface and burning furiously.

Despite standing right on top of the flames, Ye Qing could not seem to feel its heat. He looked perfectly calm.

An ugly dragon head rose after the dark green flames. Right now, Ye Qing was standing on top of it. It was then followed by a mast of bones, a banner of flesh and blood, a deck of flesh and blood... It was a massive dragon boat.

"The Ghost Dragon Boat... That's the Ghost Dragon Boat!"

The Ghost Dragon Boat was one of the most famous Anomalies on the sea. Many people in the Profound Alliance had seen it with their own eyes, and even more had heard of its many legends.

Naturally, Jin Manshan, Ming Yueying, Yue Ling and more recognized the boat instantly.

This only deepened their astonishment and confusion, however.

Why was the Ghost Dragon Boat here?

Why did it not attack Ye Qing?

Was Ye Qing connected to it somehow?

For a time, all sorts of questions surfaced in everyone's mind.

It was at this moment the space next to Ye Qing circulated like rippling water. Then, Feng Qingyou stepped into view.

The duo exchanged smiles with each other before disappearing at the same time.

For a moment, the trio wondered where they went. Then, a chuckle came from behind their backs.

"Island Lord Jin, Lady Jin... How are you doing?"

The trio hurriedly turned around. As expected, Ye Qing and Feng Qingyou were standing not far behind them.

"Warrior Ye! Miss Feng!"

Jin Manshan and Ming Yueying hurriedly gave the duo a deep bow and expressed their gratitude, "Thank you so much for lending us your aid, Warrior Ye, Miss Feng. Without you two, Gold Island would have met a gruesome end. Words cannot describe how grateful we are."

"Please rise, island lord, lady. We are simply fulfilling our natural duty and promise."

Ye Qing made a lifting gesture, and a gust of invisible force lifted them to their feet. "Besides, what happened is technically our fault. We have a duty to resolve it."

Ye Qing then shifted his gaze away from the duo and looked at Yue Ling. "And how are you doing, Miss Feng?"

"Yue Ling greets you, senior. Thank you so much for saving my life earlier," Yue Ling hurriedly saluted him.

"You're welcome." Ye Qing nodded and motioned for her to save the pleasantries.

Yue Ling then bowed to Feng Qingyou next and said, "Yue Ling greets you too, senior Feng." "You're welcome, Miss Yue. Just call me Qingyou," Feng Qingyou said with a kind smile.

"So, what's up with the Ghost Dragon Boat, Warrior Ye?" Jin Manshan asked curiously after the trio were done exchanging greetings.

"You all know about the Ghost Dragon Boat, right? One of its defining characteristics is its extreme vengefulness."

Ye Qing explained smilingly, "Some time ago, we provoked the Ghost Dragon Boat and have earned its ire since. From time to time, it would seek us out and make trouble for us. Today is one such day."

"Oh right, I should explain that the demonic monsters that attacked the island earlier were summoned by the Ghost Dragon Boat. More accurately, they were controlled by it." "What? The demonic monsters were controlled by the Ghost Dragon Boat?" Ming Yueying exclaimed in shock. "How is this possible?"

Yue Ling and Jin Manshan were just as shocked as she was. Everyone knew that demonic monsters were mindless. They had never heard of anything that could control them, much less something that seemed to have nothing to do with them like the Ghost Dragon Boat.

"I don't know why the Ghost Dragon Boat could control the demonic monsters either, but that is the truth."

Ye Qing shrugged. "I found out about it by accident."

"The Ghost Dragon Boat can control the demonic monsters?!" The trio repeated as if they couldn't process the revelation.

It was at this moment Ye Qing added, "Oh, I forgot to mention, but the Ghost Dragon Boat can control the demonic fire as well."

"What in the..." the trio exchanged wordless glances with each other again.

What is happening right now? All these revelations sounded so fantastical they needed some time to cool down and understand what they just heard.

"If the Ghost Dragon Boat can control the demonic monster and the demonic fire, does that mean that they share the same origin?" It was at this moment Yue Ling blurted out in realization.

"It's possible. We do not know yet." Ye Qing shot her a look of approval. "However, it is an undeniable fact that the Ghost Dragon Boat is unafraid of the demonic fire or the demonic monsters."

It was a half-truth. The truth was the fact that the Ghost Dragon Boat was unafraid of the demonic fire or the demonic monsters. The lie was the claim that he didn't know if there existed a connection between the two entities yet. He now knew for certain that a connection existed.

The reason he spent so much time defeating the Ghost Dragon Boat earlier wasn't because the Anomaly proved to be greater than expected—hell, killing it was literally just a matter of one punch—but because he was trying to capture it alive and convert it into his Heavenly Demon Dependent.

Killing the Ghost Dragon Boat was easy. Capturing the Ghost Dragon Boat wasn't difficult either. But controlling it and turning it into his Heavenly Demon Dependent was much harder.

After all, the Ghost Dragon Boat wasn't afraid to commit suicide if necessary.

In order to capture the Ghost Dragon Boat, he had suppressed the sea region within several kilometers of him with the Earthly Sovereign Bell, while Feng Qingyou sealed off the area within dozens of kilometers of them. It was all to prevent the Ghost Dragon Boat from escaping.

Throughout this process, the Ghost Dragon Boat had tried to self-destruct and break free from their suppression again and again. He had to stop it each time with everything he got.

After they managed to pin down the Ghost Dragon Boat, Ye Qing began trying to control it. There were no shortcuts though. He could only erode its strength and consciousness bit by bit with his demonic thought.

The Ghost Dragon Boat was a dark, corrupted, and evil Anomaly. Compared to converting a warrior on the same power level, the time and effort necessary to convert the Ghost Dragon Boat into a Heavenly Demon Dependent were easily over ten times. One misstep, and he would have to start all over as well.

The Ghost Dragon Boat was the key to neutralizing this Sea Burning Demonic Fire and saving countless Profound Alliance lives, and he only had one shot at this. If the Ghost Dragon Boat escaped or died, then it would be near impossible to capture it again, at least in the short term.

That was why he had acted with the greatest caution and care, and why it had taken him so long to convert it.

It was all worth it though.