We agreed to set sail, so you'd become the ruler of the deep sea?

Chapter 224 Lord of the [Secret Realm]! Planting seeds for the future!
Xia En was not only not unfamiliar with this fleeting feeling, but rather extremely familiar with it.

After all, he had to do this almost every time he went on a deep-sea dive.

However, this is somewhat different from previous underwater missions.

The moment he entered the heart of the Void Beast, Xia En also felt an incredibly vast and cold will, causing his heart to pound, his blood to surge, and an instinctive fear to arise.

It's like... an abyss staring back at you!

Xia En immediately recalled the several heartbeats he had heard earlier, as well as the gaze of the immense will that accompanied them, and couldn't help but feel a chill.

"Is this the will of the [Secret Sea Beast]?"

"It's not dead yet!?"

Only a skeleton and a heart remain, having withstood the test of a thousand years.

If it were still alive, that would be an absurdity.

After a moment's thought, Xia En dismissed the guess, thinking to himself.

"This is probably just the remnant soul of the [Mysterious Sea Beast], which remains in this heart."

Nevertheless, facing this will, Xia En dared not relax in the slightest, but remained highly vigilant.

After all, he was now inside the heart of the [Secret Sea Beast], and if that remnant soul wanted to do anything, he would have no power to resist.

Fortunately, the thing Xia En was most worried about did not happen.

After a brief moment of contemplation, the remnant soul withdrew most of its astonishing aura and transformed into a silvery-white ball of light, moving closer to Xia En.

The ball of light was only the size of an average person's head, and looked like a mass of flowing metal.

At first glance, it seems unremarkable, but the thought that its enormous skeleton is its true form inevitably inspires awe.

However, the ball of light's next move left Xia En somewhat baffled.

After it floated to Xia En's side, it neither attacked nor spoke. Instead, it moved up and down close to Xia En, observing him in a special way.

It gives the impression that...

A small dog sniffs around, trying to identify the person in front of it.

But to describe Xia En's feelings at this moment, one could only say, "Touched? I dare not move!"

A moment later, the silver ball of light glowed slightly and then nestled directly into Xia En's arms, nuzzling him affectionately.

Shane: "..."

He was already sweating profusely, but who knew that the silver ball of light would actually make such a move?
But after a moment of careful observation, it was clear that the ball of light was indeed emanating a sense of closeness, as if it also carried a faint sense of longing and gratitude.

What's going on here?

"Wait... Could it be that, like the Moonlit Clan, the will of the [Secret Sea Sky Beast] has also been waiting for my arrival?"

Xia En pondered for a moment and belatedly realized this.

Since that sigh of "You've finally come" didn't come from Augustine, nor from the ancestral soul of the Moonlit Clan, it could only have been the sigh of the [Mysterious Sea Sky Beast].

Thinking of this, even Xia En couldn't help but have a strange expression.

"What exactly did you do, my future self?!"

"...You really came."

Just then, a voice came from the silver light, more like a thought than words.

Even if you don't speak the same language, you can still understand what it means.

"……Thank you."

"I can finally be free."

Please accept my final gift.

The moment the thought was transmitted, the silver light distorted and changed, condensing into a strange mark.

Finally, it landed on Shane's chest, right where his heart was.

thump—

Xia En's heart skipped a beat, and this beating seemed to subtly echo the [secret realm] beside him.

There seems to be some kind of mysterious and profound connection between the two.

If someone could look down upon this "secret realm" from above, they would be astonished to find that the entire realm is trembling at this very moment.

Furthermore, obscure whispers rose and fell, penetrating the ears of all living beings in this [secret realm].

Countless birds and beasts fled their nests in panic, the tall forests glowed with an eerie light, and the turbulent river surged with enormous waves…

Mysterious phenomena are appearing from every angle in the [Secret Realm].

Xia En was completely unaware of this.

He was simply immersed in this strange feeling of being connected at heart, and felt that something about him seemed to have changed.

At the same time, several lines of information appeared on the panel.

[Gained the "Empty Beast Heart Seal" status!]

[Quality: Legend]

[Description: The gift given by the Mysterious Sea Beast at the end of its life establishes a mysterious connection between you and its heart.]

You can store this secret realm in your mind's eye and carry it with you at all times.

In addition, when you are in this secret realm, you will receive the blessing of the realm's will.

Luck greatly improved; combat ability slightly improved.

[As you explore this secret realm further, the effect of this status will also increase.]

Perhaps one day, you will be able to use this to become the master of this secret realm?

[Current exploration progress: 0%!]

[Note: Exploring resources in secret realms, expanding territory, and mining minerals can increase exploration progress.]

"Hiss...this..."

Upon reading these descriptions, Xia En gasped slightly.

The effect of this state was even more astonishing than he had imagined.

If he wasn't mistaken, the so-called "blessing from the will of the secret realm" was actually just the "blessing of destiny" in some novels!

Just like those legendary "chosen ones," they are naturally favored by the world and are more likely to have extraordinary encounters than ordinary people.

Although the [Empty Beast Heart Seal] is limited to this [Secret Realm], the buffs it brings are absolutely considerable.

Moreover, judging from the description, this ability will also be enhanced as he develops the [Secret Realm]?

"Not bad, really good."

A smile crept onto Xia En's lips as he chuckled to himself, thinking, "Would you say I'm... carrying a small world with me?"

Carrying around a [secret realm] that can be developed—isn't that the essence of a portable strategy?

Suppressing his distracting thoughts, Xia En looked at the silvery-white ball of light in front of him and sincerely said, "Thank you."

After the brand was left on Xia En's heart, the brilliance of the silvery-white light gradually dimmed and began to decompose and dissipate.

Finally, a voice resounded in Xia En's heart.

"I hope we can meet again in the Secret Sea..."

Soon, the silvery-white light disappeared, and Xia En felt a strange sense of loss.

Although it was the first time he had seen the remnant soul of this empty beast, its kindness was genuine.

Xia En couldn't help but wonder what their future meetings would be like.
But how long after that will it be?

"call……"

Xia En took a deep breath and calmed his mind.

Only when he took a deep breath did he quickly realize the change in his surroundings.

The air was slightly humid, the temperature was pleasant, neither too high nor too low, and it contained a strong sense of vitality.

This fresh scent could only be found in places with lush vegetation. Xia En looked around.

A world completely different from [Sand Island] came into view.

The first thing that catches the eye is a valley covered in lush green grass, with unnamed grasses covering the valley and dotted with many small white flowers that Xia En has never seen before.

Looking further ahead, there was a vast, clear lake.

When Shane arrived at the lake, he reached out and tested the water. The water was warm, indicating that there were hot springs or lava beneath the valley.

There is a kind of white fish in the lake, thicker than an arm. Judging from its lively appearance, it must taste delicious.

On the other side of the lake, there was an exceptionally tall forest.

The trees are lush and verdant, covering an area so vast that they seem to stretch as far as the eye can see.

Further afield, there are seemingly continuous mountain ranges, rushing rivers, and vast plains.

Judging from the view from Shane alone, this [Secret Realm] is larger than [Sand Island].

only……

The entire secret realm gave Xia En a feeling that was both familiar and unfamiliar.

What is familiar is that there is still a sun in the sky, and the valleys, mountains, and forests look somewhat different.

What's strange is that Shane doesn't recognize any of the creatures here.

Having spent so long on the Seven Seas, Shane is no longer the reckless rookie captain he once was, and he has long since memorized the common species in the world.

The fact that he couldn't recognize any of the creatures in the [Secret Realm] could only mean that they were all native species of this world.

Based on this alone, the value of this [secret realm] is exceptionally high.

"The climate here is very suitable for human habitation and settlement."

Xia En's heart burned with excitement: "Moreover, the concentration of mystic energy in the air here is not low, which means that there must be a lot of extraordinary materials produced here."

Plants and minerals that are imbued with this mysterious power will undergo a transformation in a subtle and gradual way.

Ultimately, that's how those mutated sea monsters in the ocean came about!

"but……"

Xia En looked up at the sky above the tall forest.

There, a large flock of birds took flight and circled above the forest, as if they had been startled.

"How is this going?"

"Could it be that some terrifying creature has awakened?"

Xia En was completely unaware that he was the one who started it all, and just seriously speculated.

"Indeed, with the vitality and concentration of mystic power in this secret realm, some powerful native creatures are bound to emerge."

In fact, the vitality of this "secret realm" is so abundant that it can only be described as exaggerated.

It was even more concentrated than the Emerald Isle, where the Sacred Tree of the Elves was located, which Shaen had once visited.

"and many more……"

Xia En frowned suddenly.

According to Sha Jingjing, Sand Island used to be a vibrant island, but now it has become this desolate place.

Could it be that the vitality in this [Secret Realm] was drawn away from [Sand Island]?

So, what roles do the [Secret Sea Beast], the [Filthy Apostle], and your future self play in all of this?
Just thinking about this problem for a moment made Xia En feel a headache coming on.

He has too little information to draw any conclusions.

However, one thing is certain—

This hidden paradise is perfect to become the new home of the Moonlit Clan!
Moreover, it is foreseeable that this [Secret Realm] will also bring very rich rewards, with exceptionally amazing returns.

However, on the other hand, it would undoubtedly take a lot of time and effort for Shane and his crew to develop such a large "secret realm".

This is not good for Shane's job.

He was, after all, a captain; his main job was exploring the seas and searching for underwater ruins.

So, after careful consideration, Xia En came up with a good idea—

Collaborate with the Moonlit Clan!
The Moonlit Clan has established villages and cultivated farmland in the Secret Realm, and continues to explore other areas of the Secret Realm.

Shaen traded with them using supplies from the sea, including equipment, weapons, and food...

"Ok?"

Xia En raised an eyebrow: "In that case, wouldn't I be raising a private army?"

The people of the Moonlit Clan are not ordinary civilians. With their bloodline and physical abilities, they can basically be considered a nation of soldiers.

If you add advanced weaponry...

Such a force should not be underestimated.

Especially when facing a large number of adversaries, Xia En's sudden release of this group of people might have a surprising and effective outcome.

"By the way, any pirates captured later can also be sent here to serve as slaves and laborers..."

Xia En's eyes grew brighter as he thought about it, and he murmured to himself.

"And those seeds from the Coral City and the Ember Treasure should be able to thrive in this Secret Realm."

"I remember that many of those seeds were excellent food crops..."

"As expected, farming is still the best!"

Driven by the simple values ​​of the Chinese soul, Xia En was very interested in the farming plan and felt that it had great potential.

And when Xia En thought of the seeds, he couldn't help but recall something that had been stored in his spatial ring for a long time—

Seeds of the Crimson Ancient Tree!

Shaun had not forgotten the seed, but he had not found the right opportunity and place to plant it.

Right now, this [secret realm] perfectly meets the environment that the seeds need.

A suitable climate, abundant secret power.

Moreover, with Shane's protection, this seed will surely thrive here, without any worry about it encountering disaster before it matures.

Thinking of this, Xia En did not hesitate and directly took out the dark red seed.

"Senior, what do you think of this place?"

As if hearing Shane's voice, the Crimson Seed trembled slightly, and the soul within it began to awaken.

The lush vitality around them also accelerated this process.

Immediately, the Crimson Seed fell into the ground beneath Shane's feet, continuing downwards until it was buried deep in the soil.

After a while, a tiny sprout emerged from it and began its slow but steady growth.

Seeing this, Xia En was overjoyed and breathed a sigh of relief.

Finally, one thing on my mind has been put to rest.

Just then, a quarter of a silver-white skeleton appeared out of thin air in the valley.

Immediately afterwards, Augustine appeared before Shane.

At this moment, the afterimage had become very faint.

This saddened Shane; the traces of this pirate king in this world were fading once again.

Augustine stared at Shane and said, "I have two last reminders."

“You can go find a person named ‘Xin’; he will be one of the helpers in the rebellion against the gods.”

"Secondly, be extremely careful of the [Truth Society]..."

As soon as he finished speaking, Augustine's figure vanished into thin air.

(End of this chapter)