CHAPTER 326: CHAPTER 191: STEEL BONES UPGRADE, RETURN!_2

The light above gradually fades, with many sea fish brushing past.

Chen Feng holds Fannie with one hand, and the box containing the Blue Heart Stone with the other, quietly activating the Steel Bones to absorb nutrients.

[Metal Essence +1!]

[Metal Essence +1!]

[Metal Essence +1!]

A series of notifications arrive, the Steel Bone progress surges, instantly breaking through obstacles, and upgrades once more.

The cracking sound is drowned out by the underwater currents, an inspirational feedback echoes in the mind.

[Steel Bone Level 4: 3/100]

The progress appears, Chen Feng can feel the increased difficulty of upgrading the Steel Bone again.

Not disappointed, because he can clearly perceive how strong the effect of this talent upgrade is.

To be blunt, this second-time dream is completely correct!

"This, here is our territory."

Fannie suddenly speaks, her voice normal even underwater, remarkably magical.

Chen Feng doesn’t bother attempting the Steel Bone Talent, and looks down where Fannie points.

A red coral area, covering several kilometers.

Huge rocks jut out like mountain ranges, interspersed among the coral, stretching continuously.

In the very center, there’s an open space, where crystal-like palaces are built, resplendent and magnificent.

Taking a distant glance, the group of mermaids does not move forward.

Instead, they lead Chen Feng to dive deeper, after more than ten minutes, they reach a desolate area.

Indeed, desolate.

The seabed is barren, without a single seaweed.

The reef extends, forming a cliff.

Gray and black gravel is tread underfoot, Chen Feng releases the soft hand and stands on the reef ground.

The surrounding water pressure is noticeably stronger, but it doesn’t make much difference to him.

"Sir, this is the source of the Blue Heart Stone."

The mermaid elder named Della steps down from the chariot and approaches Chen Feng.

Standing on the sea cliff looking down, one can see columns of water rising like tornadoes, densely packed, each at least over ten meters thick, resembling a storm.

Strong wind pressure rises from within, even with flashes of lightning, akin to an underwater miracle.

Further down, the depth is dark and bottomless, as if some kind of presence lurking below exerts an overwhelming pressure, making one shudder.

"The sea tides, caused by the movement of this seabed plate."

"Whenever this happens, stray Blue Heart Stones are caught in the storm and blown upwards."

Elder Della explains, Chen Feng focuses, seeing two or three Blue Heart Stones circling around the water tornadoes.

"Those are the few Blue Heart Stones left after the last tide, but the storm power there is too strong, we dare not approach."

Without doubt, Chen Feng can perceive the storm’s power, far more terrifying than the white mist encountered entering Fishman Bay.

He even witnesses a Blue Heart Stone struck by lightning, suddenly cracking and shattering into dust.

His heart tightens, realizing that ore comparable to Golden Steel is so fragile here.

Chen Feng suspects that even the Holy Shield Giant might not safely enter.

"How is this storm formed?"

Chen Feng is curious, having never seen such a sight.

"I don’t know either."

Elder Della responds calmly, but beside her, Fannie seems like she wants to speak but hesitates.

Noticing her discomfort, Elder Della hesitates momentarily, then sighs and reminisces: "Our Mermaid Clan actually has a related ancient lore."

"Oh?" Chen Feng is puzzled.

"It’s said that the Storm God once battled the sea god here."

"The storm power left is from Him, and the Blue Heart Stone at the seafloor is due to the sea god’s armor shedding..."

Chen Feng ponders at her words.

Regardless of the validity of the lore, at least this tone suggests the Mermaid Clan likely has a long history.

Out of nowhere, he recalls the remaining diary seen in Qinggang City.

To resurrect and summon the Heroic Spirit Alonco, Wang Yu and the Storm Queen ventured into this secret realm.

A spark in his mind, Chen Feng suddenly speaks.

"Elder Della, have you ever heard of the Storm Queen?"

"Storm Queen?"

With furrowed brows, Elder Della contemplates for a moment.

"No."

She shakes her head, and Chen Feng is not disappointed.

Perhaps Wang Yu also concealed their identity.

Or maybe when they entered this realm, they didn’t come to the nearby sea.

Then, there was no further probing.

Chen Feng noticed that Elder Della knew quite a bit, and eventually asked one more question.

"Star Soul Elixir?"

Unlike before, Elder Della’s expression slightly froze as she looked Chen Feng up and down.

"You’re actually not part of the Scholar Sequence?"

Chen Feng did not respond, surprised as to why they thought he was part of this sequence.

"It seems that you must possess some Extraordinary item of the Scholar Sequence on you."

"No wonder you have so many methods."

She shook her head, filling in an explanation for herself without further questions.

Faced with Chen Feng’s curious look, she finally explained, "Star Soul Elixir is an alchemy item that only a Sixth-order Saint of the Scholar Sequence can create."

"This item is extremely precious. It is rumored to enhance the spiritual soul, allowing a Fourth-Order Sequencer’s spirit to transform, increasing their chance to break through to the Fifth Rank."

The diary’s contents were confirmed, and Chen Feng nodded in satisfaction, having gained another clue.

"So where can I find it?"

"The Court Alchemy Master of the Steel Kingdom, Adler... It is rumored he obtained it early in his career, and he is a Fifth Rank polymath himself."

Chen Feng’s doubts dispersed as he looked towards the stormy seabed ahead.

After a moment’s thought, he temporarily abandoned the idea of forcefully exploring.

He wasn’t adept at underwater combat, and the pressures there were too great, making it difficult even for the Holy Shield Giant to enter safely.

As if reading his thoughts, Elder Della’s eyes flashed.

"If you still need Blue Heart Stones, my Mermaid Clan can help you gather them."

"But, would you be willing to make a deal with us?"

....

....

Three days later.

A seagull descended from the sky, catching a large yellow-red fish from the sea.

The sea roared and splashed, stirring up waves and ripples.

A double-masted sailboat could be seen splitting the waves, sailing straight under the azure sky.

"The deal...."

Chen Feng stood at the bow, watching the seagull fly towards the horizon, his thoughts quietly spreading.

The deal Elder Della mentioned was simple.

To help them rescue the mermaids captured by the Steel Kingdom.

For each one saved and brought to Fishman Bay, he would receive ten Blue Heart Stones.

Chen Feng suspected that the Mermaid Clan still had some stocks, but ultimately sensed that Elder Della still possessed hidden power, some formidable means.

On recalling his own principles,

he did not forcibly plunder or cause slaughter as he did in the Snake Spirit Secret Realm.

Moreover, a one-time gain was certainly not as steady as a long-term sustainable arrangement.

As long as the Mermaid Clan exists, there will be people to help him collect and sustain the deal, helping him save time.

"Nevertheless, this trip to the Realm of the Dead wasn’t in vain."

Not delving deeper into the matter of Blue Heart Stones, Chen Feng looked at his upgraded Steel Bones, thinking of the Star Soul Elixir clue, feeling that the trip was rewarding.

Beside him, Lei Long was unaware of his thoughts and stood a half-step behind respectfully, looking ahead.

The gentle, peaceful sea breeze carried a slightly salty scent to his nose.

Finally, when the lookout helmsman suddenly spoke.

"We’ve arrived!"

"Captain! We’ve arrived at Banli Port!"

Amidst excited shouts, a port city appeared on the distant sea’s edge.

Gray-black steam ships docked at the shore, soldiers in blue naval uniforms stood upright, guarding the docks with their rifles.

Numerous double-masted and multi-masted sailboats were lined up nearby, with people in sweaters or thick woolen garments moving between the port and the ships.

It was a wide harbor with many people; even steam cars and horse-drawn carriages moved about nearby.

Further away, there was a cluster of buildings, closely packed, with low houses and rows of red-bricked walls that spread layer upon layer.

Black chimneys rose to the sky in the distance, gray smoke spewing forth, continuously turning the surrounding white clouds gray.

In that moment, many crew members were thrilled, and Lei Long saw his wife on the dock, holding their daughter and waving to him.

He felt immensely grateful, as this voyage was the most wondrous experience of his life thus far.

Full of gratitude, he turned his head to thank them.

"Sir, we’ve...."

He paused, his expression filled with bewilderment.

Wide-eyed, he saw that the young man in black had vanished.

Only a faint sea breeze blew gently by.