Chapter 183: Chapter 134: The First Under Heaven Taoist (Third Update)_1

The Ghost Ship was a local legend among fishermen, rumored to be manned by the souls of sailors who had died unjustly, navigating a vessel that should have sunk, drifting endlessly at sea.

It would only appear amid ferocious winds and terrifying waves, and its emergence was always accompanied by death and disaster. No one who saw it would live to tell the tale.

Previously, there was a bug in this legend: if everyone who saw it died, then who passed on the story?

But ever since players came into the picture, that bug was no longer an issue.

After doing a simple divination for Zheng Quan, Fang Cheng said, “No.”

“So, there’s nothing in these waters? Alright, let’s move on and search the next sea area.”

No sooner had the order been issued and the sailboat started to turn, did the group of people witness something appearing in the distance.

It was a massive sailboat, its surface covered with mottled marks and barnacles clinging to the wooden hull, giving the vessel an air of weather-beaten antiquity.

Even as the surrounding seas roiled with wind and waves that could shake even the rocks, the boat sailed right past Zheng Quan’s front, ignoring the storm and vanishing into the distance.

In the darkness, the hull of the ship emitted a faint luminescence. You could vaguely see pale-faced sailors adjusting the sails, passing by without a care.

Pointing at the ship, Zheng Quan asked incredulously, “What is that?”

“It’s definitely not a Ghost Ship,” replied Fang Cheng.

“But a normal ship shouldn’t look like that!”

“Whether it’s normal or not, I don’t know, but it’s definitely not a Ghost Ship.”

Xiemen Waidao, on the other hand, was suddenly intrigued.

He wiped his mouth and then grabbed Mukuai 1234 beside him, excitedly saying, “Mukuai 1234, it’s time to cash in on some merit!”

As an “Easter egg” from a collaboration, Mukuai 1234 could use all functions from “The Healer,” including exchanging merit for various materials.

And ironically, Xiemen Waidao, who aspired to be the Number One Evil Person Under the Heavens, had a considerable amount of merit.

He had instigated a revolution in “The Healer” and spurred the people’s resistance, which won him the favor of Heavenly Tao and a significant amount of merit.

Despite Mukuai 1234 consuming it day and night, there was still a massive amount left, causing Tian Xuan to worry daily about how to make him spend this merit quickly.

Following Xiemen Waidao’s instructions, Mukuai 1234 took action.

A white glow emerged, and the silvery merit at this moment solidified into a long bridge, allowing Xiemen Waidao to dash along it, speeding toward the other side and the Ghost Ship.

Although Mukuai 1234 complained about Xiemen Waidao daily, their coordination was incredibly in tune, almost to the point where one glance was enough to understand each other’s thoughts.

Yet, just as he was about to jump aboard, he immediately turned back and leaped, returning to the ship before the wooden plank beneath his feet vanished.

After landing, he shook the rain off his face and said with lingering fear, “It’s not the legendary Ghost Ship at all!”

“What did you see?” asked Zheng Quan, curious.

“The moment I got on, I saw a bunch of barnacles on the ship. The entire deck opened its mouth as soon as it felt my presence, trying to swallow me whole. Lucky for me, I reacted quickly and ran back. Otherwise, I’d be dead. I realized then that it wasn’t a ship at all, but a monster disguised as one.”

“I see,” said Zheng Quan with a nod, then shouted loudly, “Everyone, follow that ship. We can’t let this demon escape; let’s charge!”

“Charge!”

Reversing course, the vessel began to navigate through the storm. In the face of nature’s power, the massive sailboat was like a toy in the hands of a child, tossed about by the huge waves.

But even so, the ship persisted in its pursuit of the monster ahead, constantly maintaining a certain distance.

On deck, Zheng Quan stood firm like a key stand, steadying the sailboat that nearly capsized several times. Each time, a burst of starlight descended from the sky, using a special force to realign the vessel just right.

While Xiemen Waidao, who had logged off feeling sick and dizzy from the sea’s tumult, was offline to recover, the storm suddenly ceased.

It was peaceful here, the sea’s surface smooth as a mirror, making the previous tempest seem like an illusion.

The Ghost Ship ahead had also come to a halt.

Seemingly aware it couldn’t shake off its pursuer, the sea vessel completely transformed, revealing its true form.

The deck unfurled, and the fake figures steering the ship flew into midair, turning out to be a multitude of barnacles in mimicry.

The front half of the sailboat opened up, exposing its starfish-like body and the dense array of nail-like teeth inside.

“It’s a starfish!” exclaimed Zheng Quan in shock. “So, the so-called Ghost Ship is actually a starfish’s mimicry?”

“Instead of marveling, you might want to think about how to take it down,” said Xiemen Waidao weakly as he came back online.

“Got it, open fire!”

The cannons on the deck targeted the starfish; the calm sea was ideal for aiming. The court’s artillery locked on the target and then fired.

Although no one knew why the starfish could grow so large, a starfish was still a starfish, a creature of flesh and blood.

And the artillery’s sixteen-pound Iron Ball, fired with each deafening blast, unleashed the power of human intellect from an alchemist’s formula, hurtling forth with great force.

The Iron Ball easily struck its target and just as easily pierced through. Several volleys of Iron Ball created a myriad of gaping wounds in the starfish.

The starfish, blood and flesh flying in the explosion, was wiped out in the blink of an eye. What was once a menacing starfish became a lifeless entity, floating on the water in mere moments.