Hai Tang was clearly very weak at the mont. She had fallen into the Ghost Ship months earlier than Lu Ye, her physical body trapped within, her essence continuously leaking.
Strictly speaking, the Hai Tang that Lu Ye saw on the Ghost Ship was not her true self, but rather the manifestation of her psyche spirit body.
Thus, she was able to repeatedly trace back through countless cycles; her true body was always trapped sowhere on the Ghost Ship.
Separated from her true body, Hai Tang was unable to control her own physical form, and naturally, her condition would progressively weaken until she eventually perished.
What surprised Lu Ye was not her current state, but her appearance.
The Hai Tang he had seen inside the Ghost Ship appeared as a normal human race cultivator, yet the Hai Tang now before his eyes was only palm-sized. She looked no different from a human, but Lu Ye was certain Hai Tang was definitely not of the human race!
There were simply no humans so small in this world.
The smallest race Lu Ye had encountered was undoubtedly the Fairy Race, but even the individuals of the Fairy Race were as large as infants, much larger than the Hai Tang before him.
Hai Tang managed a faint smile on her pale face: "I'm sorry, Junior Brother, I am of the Dwarf Race from Mount Fangcun."
"Dwarf Race from Mount Fangcun?" Lu Ye stared in disbelief: "But on the Ghost Ship, Senior Sister, you clearly..."
Hai Tang explained: "It's likely one of the rules of the Ghost Ship, actually. The crew you see should have various races among them; it's just that on the ship, everyone manifests in the form of a normal human."
Lu Ye finally understood, realizing he was sowhat ignorant.
Still, such a small figure was indeed a novel sight for Lu Ye.
However, now was not the ti to marvel at new things. Hai Tang's condition was visibly troubling, so Lu Ye said with concern: "Senior Sister, you should recover yourself first!"
As he said this, he extended his hand, gently lifting her and placing her on his shoulder.
Hai Tang nodded and sat down cross-legged.
"Do you need an elixir pill?" Lu Ye asked.
Hai Tang shook her head: "Elixir pills from the outside world don't suit my Dwarf kind. I have my own ans of recovery, so there's no need to worry, Junior Brother."
Lu Ye no longer asked, reasoning that the elixir pills he used were about half the size of Hai Tang's head, which would be quite ungraceful for her to consu.
Would she nibble on them?
That would be far too unbecoming.
While Hai Tang focused on recuperating herself, Lu Ye began to explore the surroundings, intending to determine the direction of the Nine Provinces.
He hadn't been delayed long on the Ghost Ship, about ten days by his count, so he shouldn't have strayed too far.
He observed the Sun and then the Taibai Star amidst the vast stellar space, deducing the direction towards the Nine Provinces. Lu Ye propelled himself, setting off on the return journey.
This first venture from the Nine Provinces into the stellar space had certainly encountered many events.
Lu Ye sorted through his thoughts, realizing only the initial three months had passed peacefully, between searching for spirit jade and exploring. Afterward, he encountered a large group of star beasts, which he fiercely defeated, and on the brink of returning t Fong Rumo, who guided him to the Ghost Ship.
He had always thought the stellar space around the Nine Provinces would be silent, as Yang Qing had previously ntioned the remoteness of the Nine Provinces.
But now it seed, despite its remoteness, it was lively at tis.
The objects or creatures roaming the stellar space occasionally drifted towards the Nine Provinces.
He controlled his speed within manageable limits, leaving so of his mind to watch over the surroundings, ensuring he wouldn't fly headlong into anything. Only then did Lu Ye delve into his consciousness, examining himself.
Upon leaving the Ghost Ship, a dense fog had rushed into his body. Though his Talent Tree didn't show any unusual reactions, and the fog asserted it was a benefit, Lu Ye didn't dare be careless without fully understanding what this benefit entailed.
His ntal Consciousness examined every inch of his flesh, finding nothing amiss.
This was bewildering…
Seeing no anomalies in his physique, Lu Ye then investigated his Divine Sea.
He indeed found sothing unusual; previously, only the presence of the Soul Suppressing Pagoda existed within the Divine Sea, but now, there was a dilapidated ship navigating that ocean.
The dilapidated ship's design was identical to the Ghost Ship!
The Ghost Ship's physical body couldn't have entered his Divine Sea, for Lu Ye had watched it depart earlier. If so, what was the story behind this Ghost Ship here?
Lu Ye manifested his psyche spirit body, flying onto the Ghost Ship.
In an instant, various mysterious insights lingered in his mind, and Lu Ye closed his eyes to focus and comprehend.
A mont later, he opened his eyes, revealing a bright gaze.
The last words from the mist were true, this was indeed a great gift!
The Ghost Ship in the Divine Sea can be considered to be an imprint of the actual Ghost Ship, possessing so features and rules of the Ghost Ship, but naturally, not as powerful as the real Ghost Ship.
And this object can be used for soul battles.
For Lu Ye, now that he has set foot in the stellar space, he will inevitably face so powerful opponents he can't defeat by force in the future. The chaos in the stellar space is beyond comparison with the Nine Provinces.
Within the Nine Provinces, cultivators typically don't encounter enemies whose realm greatly surpasses their own. Spirit Stream cultivators battle within the Spirit Stream battlefield, Cloud River realm within the Cloud River battlefield — combat is between those of similar realms. Even upon ascending to the True Lake Realm and joining provincial guards, Divine Sea Realm mbers restrain each other. True Lake cultivators rarely suffer oppression from the Divine Sea Realm, and if they do, their side's Divine Sea Realm mbers will soon stand up.
But the stellar space is different; there are no such restraints. Like Yueh Xin who forcibly descended upon the Nine Provinces, trying to enslave its land — if not for Yang Qing wiping him out, the current Nine Provinces cultivators would likely be reduced to soone else's slaves.
Or like Lu Ye previously encountering Fong Rumo — had the latter been bloodthirsty, Lu Ye would surely have been dood.
In stellar space, one's strength is important, but so is luck. No matter how strong you are, if you have bad luck and encounter an invincible powerhouse, you can only bla your own misfortune.
One's cultivation must improve step by step; there is little room for shortcuts when it cos to this, while soul protection offers many peculiar thods.
The Soul Suppressing Pagoda within Lu Ye's Divine Sea is one such thod.
Once cultivation reaches the Constellation Realm, each guards their psyche with unique thods, mostly by leveraging treasures or cultivating specialized Psyche Secret Techniques.
However, for Lu Ye, the Soul Suppressing Pagoda is rely a passive defense thod that can only maintain Lu Ye's psyche's stability, unable even to block an enemy's ntal Consciousness invasion. But now, the imprint of the Ghost Ship acquired can be used as an active attack thod!
If in the future he encounters opponents he can't match physically, or get caught in a duel of souls by a stronger entity, this Ghost Ship imprint will serve its purpose.
The various mysteries around this ship lingered in his mind, Lu Ye let out a low shout: "Everyone, be ready!"
As the words fell, the originally tattered ship's fra restored to the perfect condition of the Ghost Ship, then shadows manifested on the deck. Observing closely, they are indeed the silhouettes of Qin Zong and other crew mbers.
Outside the Ghost Ship's treasure vault, the dense mist finally flowing into Lu Ye's body was all transford from Qin Zong and others after disappearing, thus this Ghost Ship likewise bears their imprints, which Lu Ye can freely command.
In other words, when Lu Ye engages in a soul battle with soone, it's no longer just a battle of psyches. Lu Ye can command the Ghost Ship, leading his crew to catch the enemy by surprise.
A duel ant to be pure soul combat, yet Lu Ye unveils a treasure ship… just imagining that scene is terrifying.
Who knows how the struck enemies will react!
Now within the Divine Sea, protected by the Soul Suppressing Pagoda and attacking with the Ghost Ship, there's offense and defense, truly achieving both.
After racing the Ghost Ship through the Divine Sea for a mont, Lu Ye withdrew from the Divine Sea.
Overall, he is quite satisfied with the benefit granted by the mist, and judging by its words, he seems to be the only one to have ever received such a benefit — in the past, even if soone passed the Ghost Ship's test, they usually left with a treasure from the vault.
In comparison, the value of the Ghost Ship in the Divine Sea is not inferior to anything in the treasure vault — in critical monts, it can turn defeat into victory.
For cultivators, what's most important in cultivation? Living is most important, as long as you live, there's hope.
Hence, the decision to take Hai Tang away earlier had a touch of unintentionally favorable outcos.
Honestly, giving up a treasure from the vault was quite hard for him, as those items were indeed precious and rare, but compared with his ultimate choice, they seed less significant.
If he had really only taken a single treasure, he would never find peace of mind.
Speeding away swiftly.
An entire month later, Hai Tang's situation just barely improved; although she was still weak, her condition was at least stabilized, allowing for gradual recovery as long as she rested properly.
Hai Tang rose from Lu Ye's shoulder, gazing at his side face, her expression sincere as she bowed with heartfelt gratitude: "Thank you, Junior Brother Lu, for rescuing from my plight. This kindness, Hai Tang will rember forever!"
Lu Ye smiled: "Senior Sister Hai Tang exaggerates; truthfully, I should thank you instead. Had it not been for your last efforts, I wouldn't have passed the Ghost Ship's test. Otherwise, we two might still be clinging on the Ghost Ship in despair, holding hands with tears choking back."
In the final battle of the nineteenth cycle, Lu Ye steered the Ghost Ship into the last enemy vessel but failed in one blow. Seeing the enemy ship's magic array humming with bright light, Hai Tang tily maneuvered the assault magic array, delivering the enemy ship a fatal strike, thus making it possible for Lu Ye to pass the test.
From this aspect alone, Hai Tang owes Lu Ye considerable gratitude.
Amused by his words, Hai Tang couldn't help but chuckle: "No matter what, Hai Tang's life was given by Junior Brother Lu. In the future, should Junior Brother have any request, I will comply without fail!"
Her words were earnest, and Lu Ye waved his hand: "You saved , and I saved you, so it's like mutual assistance, neither of us owes the other. Also, my decision to take away Senior Sister was not without benefits; what I received is no less than the treasures in the vault."
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