"Besides our Tianhai Sect, the Jianghe Gang and Qianyan Hall were also raided and besieged by the Fu City authorities..."
The carriage sped along the official road, and inside, Nong Yu recounted everything she knew.
"As expected..."
After listening to her, Lin Sheng inwardly thought, "As expected."
Evidently, the Donghai Prefecture authorities, like those in Tiannan, had begun to act against the small and medium-sized forces in Fu City, naturally for the Beast Suppression Army.
More accurately, it might not just be Donghai Prefecture, but the entire Huanghai Dao that was undergoing such actions.
Previously, Tiannan Prefecture was considered a pilot area, but the number of Martial Artists in one prefecture was ultimately limited. Coupled with the sabotage by Qi Ning and others, especially the matter of Gongsun Yuanzhou, a large number of Beastified Martial Artists in Tiannan Prefecture were lost.
This would inevitably fail to meet the consumption at the front lines, so it was not hard to foresee that in the future, all small and medium-sized forces within Northern Yan would likely be purged; it was merely a matter of time.
The Tianhai Sect's encounter was, in essence, similar to that of the Seven Forms Sect back then.
Although the imperial court still had some reservations in their actions, such small and medium-sized forces would certainly draw the attention of the powerful Sects and aristocratic families within the prefectures. It was not hard to imagine that the situation within Northern Yan would become increasingly tense in the future.
"Your injuries have mostly stabilized. Once we pass the Fu City region and reach the county town, you can take your younger brother down."
Lin Sheng's gaze fell on Nong Yu as he spoke indifferently.
Upon hearing Lin Sheng's words, a hesitant expression appeared on Nong Yu's face.
She understood that the young man before her was definitely of extraordinary status, perhaps a Genius from some top-tier force.
Staying by his side would undoubtedly ensure the safety of herself and her young brother. However, she could also tell that he had a cold personality and was not a lecherous person.
She was quite confident in her own appearance and figure, but since she got into the carriage, there had been no ripple in his eyes. Even now, with her clothes torn and revealing a good deal of skin, his gaze remained indifferent from beginning to end.
Moreover, she was a content person. She understood that it was a great fortune for her and her brother to escape the Fu City authorities' pursuit this time, so she nodded and sincerely said,
"Thank you, Benefactor, for this great kindness in saving our lives. Nong Yu dares not ask for anything else. This is the Tianhai Sect's Legacy True Art, the Heavenly Dream Sea Heart Incantation. Please accept it, Benefactor."
As she spoke, she took out a blue, spherical crystal, about the size of a baby's fist, from her bosom and presented it.
"Heavenly Dream Sea Heart Incantation? Is it a Peerless True Art?"
Lin Sheng did not stand on ceremony and took the blue spherical stone from her hand.
"This... this Cultivation Technique was originally a Peerless True Art, but due to a Sect upheaval over 300 years ago, the latter half of the Cultivation Technique was lost. Although it was completed by our Ancestral Master, it can only be considered a High-grade True Art..."
Nong Yu lowered her head and spoke softly.
She understood that given his status, her Sect's Legacy True Art would likely not impress him, but this True Art was the most precious thing she had on her now.
"Only a True Art?"
Lin Sheng shook his head slightly, looking at the blue stone in his hand. Although called a stone, it was extremely smooth and looked like a blue pearl.
"This is a Blue Spirit Clam's inner pearl. The Legacy Cultivation Technique is hidden within it, and it will only appear when it comes into contact with water."
Seeing Lin Sheng examining the Legacy spherical stone, Nong Yu immediately explained.
"Oh?" Lin Sheng raised an eyebrow, feeling a sense of strangeness.
He took a waterskin from the side, poured out some clear water, and let it fall onto the blue pearl.
Sure enough, as the clear water landed on it, faint glows emanated, and then the water droplets gathered into individual characters.
Seeing this scene, Lin Sheng found it quite novel.
This was the first time he had seen such a situation.
"Benefactor, the Blue Spirit Clam has the ability to gather water. Its inner pearl, after special refining, can achieve such an effect."
Nong Yu explained again.
"You know a lot about these sea beasts?"
Lin Sheng put away the blue spherical pearl, his gaze falling on Nong Yu as he asked.
"Donghai Prefecture is adjacent to the East Sea. The Tianhai Sect originally started with various marine goods, and we have dozens of merchant ships. This humble girl often follows the merchant ships, so I do have some knowledge about sea beasts."
Nong Yu was somewhat confused but still instinctively replied.
"Then are there any powerful sea beasts in this East Sea?"
"Powerful sea beasts?"
Hearing this, Nong Yu paused, seemingly not understanding why he asked this. However, after thinking for a moment, she still spoke.
"The East Sea is vast and boundless. It is said to be several times larger than the combined land area of Northern Yan and Southern Qi. Many areas experience thunderstorms year-round, with extremely harsh conditions, making it difficult even for giant merchant ships to pass.
In these places, it is said that terrifying sea beasts have been seen. For example, at Thunderwind Cliff, over 30,000 li west of the East Sea, people once saw a giant sea fish, thousands of meters long, leap out of the sea and spew lightning.
Others have seen giant sea snakes, whose single tail flick could overturn several hundred-meter-long ships.
However, these are all just rumors, and whether they truly exist is not certain. There are more than a dozen truly confirmed powerful sea beasts in the East Sea, all recorded in the huanghai register. These dozens of powerful sea beasts have all harassed coastal areas before.
Among them, the most famous is the powerful Yao Beast ranked first, named Cangming Bony鳌. Over thirty years ago, nearly half of the people in Bailang County, which is near the East Sea, died at the hands of this powerful Yao Beast."
"Cangming Bony鳌, huanghai register..."
Lin Sheng's eyes remained still as he chewed on these words.
He was quite interested in these powerful exotic beasts living in the sea.
This world, like Blue Star, has a much larger ocean area than land area.
And compared to land, marine species are bound to be more complex and diverse, and there are definitely many more exotic beasts than on land.
There must also be no shortage of powerful Yao Beasts, and even more formidable Void Beasts might not be absent.
Moreover, among the various exotic beasts collected in the mountain and sea scroll, the number of sea beasts is extremely small, and there are no Spirit Beast-level ones among them.
So, since he had arrived at Donghai Prefecture on this trip, he might as well focus on collecting some powerful sea beasts to integrate into his body.
"Do you have that huanghai register on you?"
Thinking of this, Lin Sheng asked.
"This humble girl does not carry the huanghai register." Nong Yu shook her head slightly, but quickly added, "However, this humble girl has always been quite interested in sea beasts, and this huanghai register was originally established by our Tianhai Sect's Ancestral Master, so I basically remember all the powerful sea beasts recorded in the huanghai register. If Benefactor is interested, this humble girl can tell you everything I know."
"Oh? The huanghai register originated from your Tianhai Sect?"
Upon hearing this, a strange look flashed in Lin Sheng's eyes. He indeed did not expect the Tianhai Sect to have such an achievement.
"That's right. Our Tianhai Sect's Ancestral Master was a master of the Divine Transformation Realm Five Transformations. He came to Donghai Prefecture from an island and founded the Tianhai Sect, recording all the sea beasts he knew in a register. Over the years, it was completed by various Ancestral Masters of the Tianhai Sect, which is why we have the complete huanghai register today." Nong Yu said with a hint of reverence on her face, clearly greatly admiring the Ancestral Master who founded the Sect.
"I see. In that case, tell me what you know." Lin Sheng nodded and said slowly.
"Okay."
After responding, Nong Yu immediately began to introduce them.
"The sea beasts recorded in the huanghai register are all powerful sea beasts. Besides terrifying Yao Beast-level sea beasts like Cangming Bony鳌, the weakest are also Spirit Beast-level sea beasts.
Cangming Bony鳌 is a giant crab, tens of meters in size, with dozens of compound eyes, and the ability to control water... Besides Cangming Bony鳌, the second ranked is called..."
The carriage sped along the official road, and inside the carriage, Nong Yu very seriously introduced various sea beasts from the huanghai register to Lin Sheng.
Half a day passed quietly.
The carriage had already entered the central area of Donghai Prefecture. To avoid unnecessary trouble, it did not head towards Fu City but instead proceeded along its side.
"There's a Spirit Beast called the Demonic Cloud Sailfish. It usually hides very well in the sea, like seaweed, but when it hunts, it's like a sail floating on the surface of the sea. When fish or fishing boats approach, it suddenly bursts out and devours them, making it impossible to guard against..."
Inside the carriage, Nong Yu's voice resounded.
Lin Sheng listened with great interest.
In half a day, Nong Yu had introduced hundreds of sea beasts, and her descriptions were quite detailed, even knowing their preferred living environments and hunting methods clearly. This made Lin Sheng secretly marvel.
"Actually, besides the vastness of the East Sea, there are countless sea beasts living within it. The sea beasts recorded in the huanghai register are only a small portion of them. New sea beasts are discovered every now and then, and many haven't even had time to be recorded yet."
"In short, the sea beasts in the East Sea are extremely dangerous, even more so than extreme weather. It's better near the coast, but in the true depths of the East Sea, various sea beasts are the most dangerous. This is why very few merchant fleets dare to venture deep into the East Sea."
Nong Yu said with some emotion, as if the boundless East Sea was right before her eyes.
"All things in the world are truly mysterious..."
Lin Sheng also felt a similar sentiment.
Through her introduction, he now had a good understanding of sea beasts.
He was already pondering how to collect sea beasts.
Should he have people purchase them in Fu City, or use Dark Star's channels, or simply catch them himself?
The most efficient way would naturally be Dark Star, but the merit points required through Dark Star would not be a small sum.
Purchasing from the city was the same; it would also cost a lot of money.
Although he was wealthy, there was a limit. Those powerful high-grade Spirit Beasts were all quite valuable, and the merit points he currently had could not buy many.
So, if he were to buy, he couldn't do so blindly; he needed to make targeted choices.
What he needed most now were naturally sea beasts related to mental power and perception.
Through what Nong Yu said, he had also filtered out some targets.
Once they reached their destination, he could first purchase a few through Dark Star's channels.
Time flowed, and soon two days passed.
By now, they had completely passed the Fu City region.
In the distance, beyond the official road, a city had appeared in their sight.
"That should be Wancheng ahead. After Wancheng, it's Pinghai County."
Outside the carriage, Bai Can's voice sounded.
Lin Sheng opened his eyes, his gaze falling on Nong Yu in the carriage, a thoughtful expression flashing in his eyes.
Nong Yu at this moment also clearly realized something. Looking at her young brother who was asleep leaning against her, she clenched her fists, as if she had made a decision, and spoke first.
"Benefactor, I see you seem quite interested in sea beasts. Although this humble girl's cultivation is low and I am of little use, I know a lot about sea beasts. If Benefactor doesn't mind, this humble girl is willing to follow Benefactor and serve you. Please take in my brother and me..."
As she spoke, she had already woken up her young brother beside her and pulled him down to kneel.
In these two days, she had understood that by herself, let alone avenging her father, she would definitely not be able to escape the Fu City authorities' pursuit. Although she was safe now, given the Fu City authorities' capabilities, she would probably be found before long, and with her meager strength, there was no possibility of escape.
Especially with the deaths of Song Kui and the two, and several Silver Badge Constables, given the Fu City authorities' style, they would definitely intensify her wanted status, making escape even more impossible.
So, she understood that the only way out for her and her brother was to follow the young man with the profound background before her.
Seeing this scene, Lin Sheng slowly tapped his fingers on the side of the carriage. He naturally understood her intentions, but he was indeed unfamiliar with Donghai Prefecture and lacked manpower.
Moreover, this woman's knowledge of sea beasts also exceeded his expectations.
After pondering for a long time, Lin Sheng had made a decision in his heart and spoke indifferently.
"In that case, I will allow you to follow me, but it's best not to harbor any improper thoughts."
"This servant understands, Benefactor, please rest assured, this servant will absolutely not cause Benefactor any trouble!"
Seeing Lin Sheng agree, Nong Yu was overjoyed and let out a long sigh of relief. She repeatedly kowtowed with the child to express her gratitude, and her address had already changed. At the same time, she put away the improper thoughts in her heart.
"From now on, just call me Young Master."
"This servant understands, Young Master." Nong Yu immediately responded respectfully.
Seeing this, Lin Sheng nodded and looked outside the carriage.
At this time, the sky was gradually darkening, and it was already nightfall.
"Old Bai, speed up a bit."
"Alright, Young Master."
Bai Can's laughter came from outside, and as the whip cracked, the two carriages accelerated again.
The next day, the sky in the east turned a fish-belly white.
Pinghai County had appeared in sight, along with the distant gray-blue sea level. On the sea, fishing boats and merchant ships were docked along the pier.
Although it was still early, from a distance, one could already see sailors and porters in short jackets moving goods onto the ships.
Even from afar, Lin Sheng clearly smelled the salty tang of sea salt.
The carriage did not enter the county town. On the official road, there were already special personnel waiting, who had come forward to greet them in advance.
Jin Yang stopped the carriage first, went forward to exchange secret signals with the person, and after confirming everything was correct, under the guidance of the reception personnel, the carriage left the official road and entered a small path, heading towards the west side outside the county town.