Chapter 470: Section 257: Cang Xu’s Despair
Flower Snake Pirate group.
Flagship—The Flower Snake Ship.
“Load the bomb!” the gunner shouted.
Six assisting sailors, exerting all their strength, lifted a huge bomb together.
The bomb was overall cylindrical, with the front end shaped into a hemisphere, emitting a faint golden glow.
The elongated cylindrical bomb was the Bird Kid Yun Mushroom Bomb.
This bomb radiated Golden Level energy, indicating that the materials used for its creation were far from ordinary.
The sailors forcefully stuffed the bomb into the back of the cannon.
This peculiar cannon, known as the High-Arc Artillery, was several tens of meters long and wrapped completely around the central superstructure several times before its muzzle was mounted on the roof of the ship.
This High-Arc Artillery had undergone some degree of Alchemy Transformation, with an exterior matching the Flower Snake Ship’s design; the muzzle was a wide-open snake’s mouth, the barrel was a long and sturdy python, and the loading end where the bombs were inserted was also fashioned to resemble a python’s tail.
The entire serpentine giant cannon’s surface was laden with hundreds and thousands of shields, layered upon one another, fully covering the barrel and providing excellent defense.
“Seal the cannon’s rear, commence the firing sequence for the High-Arc Artillery,” ordered the main gunner from the central superstructure, manipulating the alchemy device—a room specially fitted for the High-Arc Artillery.
A vast amount of Mana was distributed from the Mana Pool of the Flower Snake Ship, channeled into the High-Arc Artillery.
The barrel of the High-Arc Artillery began to tremble subtly and made a series of hissing sounds like a snake.
Two assistant gunners each placed hands on the tail section, channeling their own Fighting Energy, controlling the Bird Kid Yun Mushroom Bomb.
The Golden Level bomb slowly activated, starting from the tail and, following the tightly-spiraled grooves in the barrel, gradually gained speed.
As it made one whole circle around the superstructure, the main gunner heard the alchemy device’s monotone voice, “Level 1 Acceleration complete.”
When the bomb circled the second time, the alchemy device spoke again, “Level 2 Acceleration complete.”
Very quickly.
“Level 3 Acceleration complete.”
The main gunner roared, “Fire!”
After three tiers of acceleration, the Golden Level bomb’s launch speed had reached an astonishing stage, turning into a black shadow that burst from the muzzle. Within two seconds, it rose rapidly into the sky, soaring over 1000 meters above the sea.
The Bird Kid Yun Mushroom Bomb reached its peak and then started to fall.
At that moment, steel wings sprang forth from both sides of the bomb’s body.
A pair of steel wings fluttered in the air, making a bird-call-like noise.
Tweet—!
As the bomb aimed at the Ghost Ship and dived downwards, the sound of the bird call stretched longer, causing everyone’s hearts to tense, their hairs to stand on end.
On the deck of the Ghost Ship, everyone’s complexions changed dramatically.
Ku Feng murmured urgently, “This is bad, we must intercept it!”
The Ship Ghost’s Ghost Ship was only Silver Level, while the Flower Snake Lady’s High-Arc Artillery and Bird Kid Yun Mushroom Bomb were Golden Level.
If it were to hit the Ghost Ship, the consequences would be unimaginable!
Before Ku Feng’s warning, three Mages had already taken action.
Qing Xin sent forth a massive Wind Blade.
The Little Prince immediately pulled off his own left index finger and hurled it with force.
The finger transformed mid-air into a Bone Spear.
Meanwhile, Cang Xu took out a damaged Magic Book.
This was the Water Magic Book he and Zi Di had purchased together at the auction on Twin Eyes Island.
Only three pages remained in the Magic Book, but all were Golden Level Water Magic Spells.
Cang Xu was under a heavy spiritual burden, and his spellcasting speed and success rate were low. With the situation dire, he had no choice but to play his trump card.
A page from the Magic Book immediately disintegrated into fine ash, scattering in the wind.
A Water Arrow manifested out of nowhere and shot towards the Bird Kid Yun Mushroom Bomb.
Qing Xin’s massive Wind Blade was the fastest, clashing first with the Golden Level bomb. The former shattered into specks of green light, merely slowing down the bomb’s diving speed slightly.
The Little Prince’s Bone Spear was of exceptional quality, a solid Silver Level. It wasn’t a spell but a Magic Tool that normally shrank in size, disguised as a fingertip.
However, the Bone Spear failed to strike the Bird Kid Yun Mushroom Bomb.
In a crucial moment, the Bird Kid Yun Mushroom Bomb slightly lifted its body, actively evading the Bone Spear!
Of course, the Golden Level bomb wasn’t merely powerful—it also had an excellent design.
Since the Bird Kid Yun Mushroom Bomb was designed as a high-trajectory artillery round, with a trajectory that formed a large parabola, it gave the enemy more time to intercept.
Considering this, the Alchemist who designed the bomb also equipped it with intricate internal mechanisms to provide a certain degree of evasion capability.
“It can even dodge?” The Little Prince was astonished and quickly used Spirit Manipulation to redirect the Bone Spear.
But how could the Bone Spear’s speed compare to the Golden Level bomb’s?
For a moment, the Little Prince could only watch helplessly as the bomb quickly outpaced the Bone Spear.
Cang Xu had used the Magic Book and, by all reasoning, his Water Arrow should have taken shape first.
However, his spirit was in such poor condition that in the actual battle, it ended up being the last to act.
“It’s all down to me now,” Cang Xu watched as Qing Xin and the Little Prince failed to achieve their goals, holding his breath anxiously and mobilizing all his spiritual power.
Under his control, the Water Arrow crashed towards the Golden Level bomb.
The steel wings of the Bird Kid Yun Mushroom Bomb slightly turned upwards, wanting to pull off the same trick and avoid the Water Arrow.
But the Water Arrow was remotely controlled by Cang Xu’s spirit, and he was mentally prepared, immediately steering the Water Arrow to change its course.
Boom.
The Water Arrow successfully collided with the Golden Level bomb.
The bomb’s speed plummeted drastically, its hemispherical front shattered by the Water Arrow, plummeting vertically towards the sea below.
It ultimately crashed into the water.
Boom!
With a loud boom, the bomb finally exploded in the sea.
The violent explosion raised towering water pillars, and when the huge columns that reached several meters high fell, they caused massive white waves to sweep around.
The Ghost Ship rose and fell on the crest of the waves.
On deck, the Undead Mage and the others were still petrified, overtaken by belated fear.
The Little Prince patted his chest, “That was close, thankfully it was intercepted.”
The Bone Spear he had thrown earlier now flew back, and the Little Prince grabbed it with one hand.
The Little Prince cried out again, “Help, help, oh great ship ghost!”
It was identical to the cries for help he had made while facing danger on the Nether River before.
Cang Xu couldn’t help but look sideways, thinking to himself: Why does the Little Prince cry for help with such familiarity?
In the next moment, the frail voice of the ship ghost came through, “We’ve brought back a Gold-level Water Ghost, and I am trying my best to suppress it.”
“We will not be able to phase through to the Netherworld for a while.”
“The Mana Pool has reached the warning level.”
“Next, I will cast the Ghost Fog Technique; everyone hide in the cabin and try to buy some time.”
If the ship ghost used the spell to travel through the Netherworld again, the Ghost Ship would return to the Nether River.
Facing a swarm of Gold-level sea ghosts again would most likely spell doom.
And even if they were to gamble on the chance that the swarm of sea ghosts would disperse, the Ghost Ship could not return to the Netherworld.
Because the Mana cost of interdimensional travel was terrifying, and sailing on the Nether River also depleted a great deal of Mana.
The Ghost Ship’s Mana was already severely insufficient.
If they were to go to the Netherworld again, they would not have enough Mana to return to the Main World.
Their fate would be to sail in the Nether River for a short distance until their Mana was completely depleted, the Ghost Ship being fully eroded by the negative energy, to ultimately become a part of the Nether River’s ecosystem.
Flower Snake Ship.
The Sea Snake Lady had witnessed the entire process of the first shell being intercepted; her expression unchanged, she gave the order: “Continue firing.”
The opponent had cast a spell of Gold-level strength, so it was within reason that the bomb was intercepted.
The advantage of the powerful was also evident here.
For a Gold-level Mage, using magic to intercept such a bomb could be successful—the Mage’s only cost was the expenditure of Mana and spiritual power.
After some time, they would recover naturally.
Such low cost!
In contrast, each shell the Sea Snake Lady fired, including the cost of the bomb, the maintenance of the anti-aircraft guns, and the Mana spent, amounted to hundreds of Gold Coins.
But the Sea Snake Lady was unmoved and still ordered to fire.
Because intercepting the first time did not mean the second or third interceptions would be successful.
Even if every attempt were successful, she would be happy.
This was essentially her using money to deplete the opponent’s Mana.
The recovery of Mana takes time, or it could be potions; she was depleting the enemy’s wartime potential.
Soon, the second bird child cloud mushroom shell was loaded.
But just as the anti-aircraft gun was about to be fired, a thick fog began to rise around the Ghost Ship.
The fog expanded rapidly, completely enveloping the Ghost Ship.
The main gunner hurriedly reported, “Squad leader, we’ve lost the target.”
The Sea Snake Lady snorted coldly, “This is the Ghost Fog Technique. The strength of the Undead sect still exists. Conventional surveillance will fail. Forget it, stop firing.”
After saying this, the Sea Snake Lady couldn’t suppress a laugh.
She turned to look at Wei Ying.
This Golden Fighter stood with his arms folded, leaning against the corner. Although the cabin was brightly lit, thick shadows seemed to engulf his surroundings.
The Sea Snake Lady spoke to him, “It seems we’re in luck. The Ghost Ship was clearly forced out; the dangers of the Nether River are immeasurable.”
“Now they are clearly trying to delay time. Seizing this opportunity, we can complete the mission.”
“What are we waiting for?” Wei Ying’s words hardly fell before his body, along with the surrounding shadows, swiftly vanished.
Cang Xu hid in the cabin.
But this cabin did not provide him any sense of safety.
He sensed that the Ghost Ship was sailing, having moved far from its previous position.
But this was far from enough.
The range of the Ghost Fog Technique was ultimately limited, and their numerous and powerful enemies
would eventually find them if enough time passed.
Cang Xu’s greatest fear was the mysterious black-clad fighter, followed by the Sea Snake Lady’s Gold-level Magic Pet.
If any one of them managed to locate them, the Undead Mages would be in trouble.
“Once a battle starts, I am in the most danger,” Cang Xu, whose true level was merely Black Iron, thought.
“Combat power, I need more combat power!” A fierce thirst for increased strength filled Cang Xu’s dry mouth.
With each increment of combat power, his chances of survival would grow.
But how could he increase it?
Faced with this problem, Cang Xu fell into rapid contemplation.
Although he had acquired a considerable Undead Inheritance, these entirely new spells all required time to become familiar with, to train, to be successfully cast.
Rash spellcasting may result in failure and the terrible backlash.
“Stay calm.”
“I mustn’t be overly reckless; that’s almost akin to suicide.”
After a moment of pondering and finding no solution, a sense of despair began to rise in his heart.