Their eyes couldn't see through the ivory clouds and smoke, and their Soul Consciousness was hindered as well. None of their detectors worked here. Feng Ke stood in the thick mist, holding the star map in his hand, his face grimaced.
It had been half a year from the day Ka Tuo had broken through his new realm.
During these six months, they had entered deeper into the forbidden land. They had encountered many lethal barriers and restrictions, and one-third of them had perished on the way.
Three days ago, they had entered a place where thick ivory mist was hovering. After moving further inside the mist for a while, they lost their direction. Feng Ke's star map couldn't show the direction in this place at all.
"Why are we lost? Old brother Feng Ke, what about the direction?" Jie Nong was discontented. "Before we got here, you had ensured everything. And now you're telling us that we're lost? You tell me what to do then!"
Russell and Barrette were also restless. Losing direction was the most dangerous thing in the forbidden land. Once it happened, it was really hard to get back on the right track. If they deviated from their star map route, should they end their expedition here?
"I have nothing to explain because I can't predict the anomalies of the forbidden land. And, for now, I... I don't know what to do. We can't even navigate the way back," Feng Ke opened his arms begrudgingly. "People, think and see if you can come up with any solution."
"You're the leader. if you don't have any solution, how could we have?" Jie Nong snorted.
"I think we should wait here and see. Once we get the situation cleared, we will depart again. What do you think?" Russell frowned, "No one expected this. Before we came here, we had been aware of the dangers in the forbidden land. As we've been sinking already, we can't blame anyone, can we?"
"If we're lost, we just need to navigate again," Shi Yan pondered for a while. "This place's an illusionary formation, I suppose. If we can break it, it will be alright."
Hearing him, people had their eyes brightened. They all turned to look at him. "What solution do you have?"
"Let me try it first," Shi Yan regarded them, then took out his Sky-breaking Shuttle, trying to contact it.
"Can't break it. This illusory formation was formed naturally. It's not a barrier or a restriction. We can't tear it. We can only find the correct direction. But, I'm not good at navigating," The Sky-breaking Shuttle sent him a message, that it also didn't know what to do. "Help yourself."
"I have no solution," Shi Yan was baffled, his shrug indicating that he had no idea.
His attitude surprised people, giving them an even heavier feeling.
Along this journey, Shi Yan had helped them out through many difficult challenges. Every time they encountered something they couldn't handle, they would instinctively remember him.
If Shi Yan didn't have a solution, it would be a dead end.
"We will stop here, and everyone should think about a solution. I hope we could figure it out soon," said Feng Ke after contemplating for a while. He closed his eyes, sinking into his thoughts.
They had stayed like that for ten days. The pirates frowned, trying different energy powers to attack. But, they couldn't disperse those clouds and mist. Their Soul Consciousness still got nothing.
They were stranded.
Half a year had passed, yet they were still stuck in the illusory formation. There were no positive discoveries till now.
Gradually, people became uneasy and restless. While they were talking to each other, they would quarrel and fight. If not for the four leaders controlling their subordinates, the results would have been much more terrible.
This illusory formation was simply an illusory formation; it didn't have the power that could affect minds. Otherwise, being stuck here for a long time would cause worsen situations.
"If we continue like this, people will become more impatient. If we can't find the way out, they will get crazy soon." Russell frowned, talking solemnly. "It's getting harder to comfort my people."
Jie Nong and Barrette furrowed their brows, as they also knew how tense this situation was.
The four leaders gathered with Jester and Shi Yan, their face dark and cold as water. They knew their problem was big this time.
"It has just been half a year. If we continue staying in this dead corner, more and more pirates will become fiery. You know that those have experienced a life with blood on their sabers. They don't have good characteristics either. A small talk can lead to a life of death fight. Once we have someone dying, we won't be able to control the situation," Jie Nong sighed.
"We should find a solution," Feng Ke nodded. "Even if it's dangerous, we need to try."
Jester, Feng Ke, Barrette, Jie Nong, and Russell couldn't help but look at Shi Yan.
Shi Yan rubbed his nose as he didn't know what they meant. "Why are you all looking at me? I don't have a solution."
"You cultivate space power. Can you tear a space slit and take us out of here?" Russell couldn't help but ask.
This was what Feng Ke and the others had come up with after their private meeting.
"Tear space?" Shi Yan was aghast. "You dare have such thought!"
"What? What's wrong?" Feng Ke was surprised.
"You don't know of the hidden dangers, do you?" Shi Yan beamed a forced smile. "The space slits could lead to the chaotic space basin which hides formidable powers. Even I don't dare to go in there, even though I've cultivated space power. No one knows what stays in there. But, I'm sure living beings with a body can't survive!"
"Didn't you tear space to escape while you were in the Heaven Punishment City?" Jie Nong was indignant. "You don't want to spend energy, do you?"
"I connected a space cableway using Space power Upanishad. You guys don't understand that Upanishad, so your Soul Consciousness can't have the same energy frequency as my Intent Domain in that cableway. How could you get in there? You should know that once the cableway explodes, you all will be dragged into the chaotic flows of space. I don't know what would happen, but I'm sure it will be more terrible than what we are in right now!" said Shi Yan.
Hearing this, the other five quieted down.
"If I can reach the Original God Realm and have the Empty Fantasy Crystal, it can be possible. However, I advise you to forget this thought. It's impossible. I don't dare take risks in this strange and evil place." Shi Yan shook his head resolutely.
"Then what should we do? Just stay like this?" Russell beamed a forced smile.
"Don't look at me. I don't have a solution," snorted Shi Yan.
Everybody sank into their thoughts for the second time.
After an unknown time, Feng Ke suddenly trembled. He opened his eyes in fear.
Shi Yan and the others looked at him asking.
"Fan He should be here soon," Feng Ke took a deep breath, his face brightened and his voice trembling.
"What?" Russell jolted up, his face terrible. "How could he? Your Soul Consciousness is also restrained here. How could you sense him?"
"It's not the Soul Consciousness," Feng Ke forced a smile, "…it's the pressure… The invisible pressure makes my soul heavy. It's the unique feature of a warrior at the Third Sky of Original God Realm. If he wants to release his pressure, my soul altar can feel it without using the Soul Consciousness."
Listening to him, everybody was petrified. They didn't know what to say at this moment.
"If Fan He's here, it means the other three powerful forces are also coming. Seems while we got stuck here, they were still moving… Big trouble this time," Jie Nong's face was dark and heavy. "We can't escape the illusory formation, and the three forces are coming. Seems we can't see the land where the star map leads."
A desperate and powerless feeling was spreading among those people. He was a Third Sky of Original God Realm expert!
If the other pirates knew this, it would create a massive shock, which would lead to a more terrible situation.
"We're in a hurry. If you guys have any solution, please do tell. As long as it's possible, we can try!" Feng Ke gritted his teeth.
Jester, Barrette, Jie Nong, and Russell shook their heads, indicating they had nothing.
"Precursor Feng Ke, can I... see the star map? I want to try." Shi Yan pondered for a while. He suddenly got something, giving a low shout.
People looked at him.
"I've cultivated the Star power Upanishad, which I had used to break through to the Third Sky of King God Realm. I have some understanding of the star mysteries. The star map is drawn by the star trajectories. Perhaps, I could find the direction," Shi Yan explained, although he had no confidence in this.
"Here, take it," Feng Ke was resolute enough. He took out the star map and threw it to Shi Yan without hesitation.
The star map he had given away returned to his hands with a different meaning this time.
"I hope you can find a way out for everybody. Please, we beg for your help," Feng Ke said seriously.
"I will try my best..." Shi Yan gave him a forced smile. He closed his eyes, releasing the Soul Consciousness with the star map in his hands.
Thousands of starlight dots emerged from his palms, then flew like fireflies, seeping into the star map. The simple wooden star map in Feng Ke's hands now became dazzling. It seemed to have real twinkling and dazzling stars in it.
People were shaken. They pulled themselves together, looking at him with a stir in their minds.
Shi Yan didn't look at them, closing his eyes and sensing. He seemed to find something, trying to understand something.
The starlight became more dazzling, and after a long moment, Shi Yan opened his eyes, which were like a galaxy with countless stars.
"How is it?" Feng Ke and the other four asked in unison.
"Follow me!" Shi Yan took a deep breath. With the star map in his hand, he turned into a shooting light, flying into the immense ivory mist.
"Everybody get yourself together. We'll follow Shi Yan!"
"Get you're a*s up!"
"Follow Shi Yan! Don't panic!"
"You kids, quiet down and follow Shi Yan!"
Feng Ke, Barrette, Russell, and Jie Nong were so happy, shouting and yelling at their crew.
Many pirates who were quarreling woke up. They knew they finally had something, all flying after Shi Yan as if they were afraid that they would end up lagging behind.