Chapter 1623 (Raw 1605):
In the dark and gloomy seawater, the hundreds of several-kilometer-long Black Star Sawtooth Sharks frantically swam in a certain direction.
Every Black Star Sawtooth Shark appeared independent, but in reality, their auras were interconnected.
They formed one enormous entity, looking like a Black Star Sawtooth Shark swimming about. This way, they would reduce the water resistance and allow their entire shoal to move extremely fast.
The Black Star Sawtooth Sharks were far faster than most pirate ships. Furthermore, the complicated sea environment did not seem to affect them at all. They were simply blessed by nature.
In this vast group, the Black Cutlass pirate ship appeared extremely insignificant.
The people on board all focused their gazes on Xiao Suo anxiously.
At this moment, all it would take was one mistake from Xiao Suo, touching one of the Black Star Sawtooth Sharks, and the Dark Night Bewildering Formation would crumble, exposing everyone's life aura, and everyone would die.
To the crowd, every second in the quiet underwater world was torture.
"How long can the 3-Star defensive formation allow us to stay underwater?" Xiao Chen asked, looking at Luo Nan.
Luo Nan made some calculations and answered, "Three days. Three days later, we will have to surface and make repairs."
"What about the Dark Night Bewildering Formation?"
Fei`er said, "We are good there. With sufficient Spirit Jades and no interruptions or external damage, we can keep it up forever."
Three days should be enough. Right now, it all depends on Xiao Suo.
Every small tremor of the pirate ship startled everyone, making them think that they had run into a Black Star Sawtooth Shark.
The ship stumbled along the whole way, moving extremely cautiously. In the end, it did not run into a single Black Star Sawtooth Shark.
"We are changing directions. They have given up."
Xiao Chen's Spiritual Sense noticed that the shoal of Black Star Sawtooth Sharks finally gave up after searching for half a day, no longer wanting to waste any effort.
"Phew!"
Everyone released their bated breath. They were finally free of this danger. Their hearts found this somewhat hard to take.
Suddenly, the entire ship spun around, shaking everyone left and right, throwing them off their feet.
"What's wrong?"
Xiao Suo explained anxiously, "The slipstream that they created is too strong. Hence, the ship was dragged along when they changed direction."
That was to say, the pirate ship was still embedded in the shoal.
This news elicited some despair in everyone. They thought that they had escaped the danger, but who knew, the situation was still the same.
Xiao Chen entered deep thought and started to make some calculations, trying to figure out what the chances of breaking out were if he forcefully activated the Immemorial Demon Soul Formation.
No matter how he calculated it, the chances were not great.
The Yazi Beast Demon Soul was still too weak, only equal to a Major Primal Core cultivator. However, every member of this group of adult Black Star Sawtooth Sharks was as strong as a Major Primal Core cultivator.
Nevertheless, even though the chances were slim, he still had to do it, as it was their only option.
By forcibly breaking out, the initiative would be in their hands, which would be much better than passively defending when they were discovered.
However, when Xiao Chen explained his plan, a complicated light flashed in Xiao Suo's eyes. "Captain, will you believe in me? I guarantee that I can last to the end without making a mistake."
Xiao Chen worried about Xiao Suo making a mistake, as the pressure on him for the whole journey would simply be too great.
"Trust me. I definitely can do it. Gambling our lives on this is simply too risky."
Xiao Suo's eyes no longer appeared irresolute. Now, they shone with determination and confidence.
Xiao Chen looked at the other party and asked, "Are you sure? Right now, the lives of everyone on board are in your hands. You know that if you insist on this, I'll definitely agree."
"I insist!"
"Good, I'll trust you."
Without arguing or demanding much explanation, Xiao Chen unconditionally trusted Xiao Suo, gratifying him.
"Do your best. We also trust you!"
Fei`er encouraged Xiao Suo as well, helping lift some of the pressure.
"Boss, we trust you too!"
At this moment, Xiao Suo's previous subordinates also unconditionally put their trust in Xiao Suo.
The heavy trust in Xiao Suo allowed him to let go of his worries.
Xiao Chen stood at the side with a smile on his face. After this matter was over, Xiao Suo would truly be transformed.
The crew of the ship would also be more united.
The undercurrent surged as the Black Star Sawtooth Sharks swam increasingly deeper, complicating the situation even further.
However, Xiao Suo already let go of all his concerns and performed extraordinarily well. Although the ship was still stumbling along, it did not run into any Black Star Sawtooth Sharks.
After some time, everyone felt the pirate ship slowing significantly.
The shoal of Black Star Sawtooth Sharks scattered.
The water screen in the control room had been pitch-dark. After a few flickers, a scene finally appeared.
The scene showed many towering trees growing in front. They looked crystalline and shone with a crystalline, fluorescent light.
This light lit up the bottom of the sea, allowing the water screen to show something again.
Several Black Star Sawtooth Sharks swam around the fluorescent trees peacefully.
The originally dark and gloomy seabed looked very beautiful when illuminated by these fluorescent lights.
As for the people aboard the pirate ship, they somewhat forgot that they were already free from danger.
"How beautiful! What tree is that?" Fei`er asked, impressed. Those trees were not only huge but also completely crystalline. They even released bright fluorescence.
Xiao Suo startled and exclaimed with some excitement, "Those are Starry Sea Fluorescent Trees, also known as the Tree of Life in the sea. They live for a long time and are the living fossils of the starry sea.
"The Black Star Sawtooth Sharks must have brought us into their most mysterious nest. If not for this coincidence, even a Cloud Sea Realm powerhouse would not be able to find it.
"The sap secreted by the Tree of Life is known as Life Juice Source. According to legend, the starry seas can birth life because of it; it is extremely mysterious.
"This Life Juice Source can improve one's physique as well as strengthen one's bloodline. With one bottle of Life Juice Source, I could immediately make a breakthrough!"
The crew on the ship started talking about the various effects and the value of the Tree of Life.
However, they could only just chat about it. The many Black Star Sawtooth Sharks peacefully swimming around the Trees of Life were not just decorations.
This place was the Black Star Sawtooth Sharks' nest, which might contain their chief. That creature would most definitely be something surpassing the Cloud Sea Realm.
Strengthening the bloodline, improving the physique, strengthening the physical body, and building a stronger foundation for significantly increased chances of breaking through—these were the benefits brought by the Tree of Life. Just one of these benefits would inspire temptation. Of course, Xiao Chen was tempted by this.
As Xiao Chen looked at the towering trees on the water screen, a decisive light flashed in his eyes.
Just leaving such a natural treasure behind was not in his character. He wanted to take the risk.
The homonym of Life Juice Source was "source of life." With the various benefits that it brought, it was indeed worthy of the name.
[TL Note: Naturally, the homonym refers to the Chinese words.]
More importantly, this spiritual wood held extremely great value to Xiao Chen.
"Xiao Suo, you all slowly ascend to the surface first and wait for me there."
The moment Xiao Chen said that, he startled all the people on the ship. What was Xiao Chen planning? This was the nest of the Black Star Sawtooth Sharks.
Xiao Chen had made his decision, but he could not involve them. He would take the risk alone.
Xiao Suo was left without a choice. Although he was reluctant to let Xiao Chen take the risk, he understood Xiao Chen's character.
"In that case, we will wait for you at the surface."
"Captain, you must return alive."
Xiao Chen felt the sincere concern of these people, and warmth filled his heart. No matter where one was, having a group of people with such sincerity was worth being happy about.
After leaving the pirate ship, Xiao Chen withdrew his aura and pushed the Buddhist pendant on his chest to its limits. Then, he slowly made his way into the Black Star Sawtooth Sharks' nest.
There were hundreds of Trees of Life in there. Each one of them was covered in treasures to Xiao Chen's eyes.
The starry sea was extremely corrosive and continuously drained Veritable Essence Energy from the protective barrier that he maintained around himself.
Xiao Chen would be able to remain for only two to four hours, which was not very long.
He needed to do his best to avoid a battle. Otherwise, his time would be even shorter.
With some anticipation, Xiao Chen approached the Black Star Sawtooth Sharks' nest, steadily getting closer.