Chapter 1309: I Choose Her!

The Wind of Kyushu

The commotion caused by the activated divine sense echoed through the treasury. Haitang, who was heading out, noticed it, immediately stopped, and looked at Lu Ye, puzzled.

Lu Ye was still looking up and shouted again, "Come out!"

Within his line of sight, a mist appeared out of nowhere. It was the same mist that had emerged when the treasury first opened. Just like before, the mist twisted, and a sinister voice came from within it: "What is it?"

"Senior!" Lu Ye first bowed, then spoke again: "Junior wishes to confirm something with you, and requests your permission."

The voice from the mist sounded a bit impatient: "Speak!"

Lu Ye said, "Senior, you previously mentioned that since I've passed the Ghost Ship's trial, anything on this ship can be freely chosen and taken. Is that correct?"

The mist replied, "That is correct. So... have you made your choice?" Lu Ye nodded, "I have."

"If you've made a choice, just take it. Why bother asking me? But you only get one chance. So... is what you chose the treasure pearl in front of you?"

Lu Ye looked down at the treasure pearl on the stone platform in front of him and slowly shook his head. Then he looked up, meeting Haitang's puzzled gaze, and pointed at her: "I choose her!"

Haitang was utterly stunned.

Behind Haitang, the many crew members standing outside the treasury froze for a moment. Their expressions twisted, and ghostly wails emanated from their direction, as if they were extremely displeased with Lu Ye's choice.

Even the mist within the treasury twisted and shifted more rapidly. Gone was its previous calm demeanor; instead, it seemed somewhat furious: "Impossible!"

Composed, Lu Ye said, "Senior, are you planning to go back on your word? I just confirmed this with you. Since the rules are as stated, may I ask, is Senior Sister Haitang part of the ship?"

From within the mist came a reluctant voice: "Yes!"

"Since she is, then I can choose her, unless Senior intends to renege!" Lu Ye stared intently in the direction of the mist, his expression firm.

"But..."

"No 'buts'!" Lu Ye rudely interrupted the mist. As for whether it would cause any severe consequences, his various experiences on the Ghost Ship had made him understand one thing: though this place was bizarre and perilous, as long as one acted within the established rules, there would be no problem. When the mist first appeared, it had recited the rules for selecting items from the treasury, so Lu Ye's current decision did not break or deviate from those rules.

He was certain the mist would most likely be unable to refuse him.

Of course, whether this succeeded or not, he had to try!

If he hadn't noticed, it would have been fine. But since he had, Lu Ye's conscience would trouble him if he didn't try.

The mist, interrupted by Lu Ye, seemed to be in great discomfort. It twisted and shifted violently for a good while before speaking again: "Boy, do you know what kind of treasure that pearl in front of you is?"

"I don't know!" Lu Ye shook his head honestly.

"This pearl, known as the Great Evolution Spirit Pearl, can help you..."

"I'm not listening! I'm not listening!" Lu Ye raised his hands to cover his ears, shaking his head repeatedly. Of course, covering his ears was just for show and had no actual effect; he also simultaneously sealed off his divine sense.

The mist trembled violently in anger!

Over the years, whether intentionally or unintentionally, many cultivators had found their way onto the Ghost Ship. Not to mention those who failed the trial, there were, after all, some who passed. But among those who passed, every single one had been dazzled by the choices in this treasury. Yet, when it came to this boy, when it wanted to explain the many wonders of the Great Evolution Spirit Pearl, he actually refused to listen?

After a good while, Lu Ye reopened his divine sense. The mist's voice immediately reached his ears: "Setting everything else aside, if this Great Evolution Spirit Pearl were sold, it would be worth at least a million spirit jades. So, do you know its immense value now, boy?"

The mist was clearly waiting for this moment; it didn't have time to explain the wondrous uses of the Great Evolution Spirit Pearl, so it directly told him its value.

Of course, a million spirit jades was merely a measure of value; in the starry sky, such treasures were generally priceless and rarely available for purchase. Yet, Lu Ye showed no sign of being tempted. He still gazed stubbornly at the mist: "I choose her, just tell me if it's possible or not!"

Outside the treasury, the wailing and howling grew louder. Qin Zong and the others all had twisted expressions; from their appearance, if they weren't under some restraint preventing them from entering the treasury, they would probably have rushed in and torn him to shreds.

These crew members had always been part of the Ghost Ship. They were eager to see others end up in the same predicament as themselves, yet they were unwilling to see anyone escape from the Ghost Ship.

The mist stopped trembling, and its voice became much calmer: "Boy, are you sure you want to make this choice?" "Absolutely!" Lu Ye nodded emphatically.

"Hehehehe..." The mist trembled, seemingly delighted. "What an interesting boy. In all these years, no one has ever been like you. It's truly eye-opening!" Its voice then became solemn: "Since that's the case, take her with you!"

Lu Ye had only intended to try, not expecting it to actually succeed. He immediately bowed respectfully: "Many thanks, Senior. Please forgive my earlier rudeness!"

He turned around, took large strides, and walked towards Haitang, who stood there feeling helpless.

Ever since the mist reappeared and she heard Lu Ye's request, Haitang was stunned. She had never imagined that Lu Ye would make such a request at the last moment, nor had she ever imagined that she still had hope of escaping the Ghost Ship!

Since falling into this place and failing the trial, she had known that her life would end there. She would continually weaken until she vanished into thin air, completely becoming nourishment for the Ghost Ship. She wouldn't even become part of the Ghost Ship like Qin Zong and the other crew members; the day she disappeared, there would be no trace of her left in this world.

She had long prepared herself mentally.

Her warnings and information sharing with Lu Ye were merely out of a desire to help where she could, without expecting anything in return. As someone destined to die, she had accepted her fate.

She had never imagined that at this final moment, there would be such a dramatic turn of events.

When Lu Ye made that request, she even suspected she had misheard him. When he engaged in a verbal confrontation with the mist, she was so grateful she nearly burst into tears.

Up until this moment, seeing Lu Ye approach her, Haitang could no longer hold back. Tears streamed from the corners of her eyes as she choked out, "Junior Brother Lu..."

"Let's talk outside, let's go!" Lu Ye called out to her. With one hand on the hilt of his Panshan Blade, his body was taut, ready for action.

Although the mist agreed to let him take Haitang out, there was still trouble at the treasury entrance. Qin Zong and the others looked like specters, eager to tear him apart and devour him. But because they were constrained by rules and unable to enter the treasury, he would undoubtedly have to fight his way out.

Haitang also clearly sensed something was amiss and quickly followed behind Lu Ye, focusing her mind and secretly channeling her spiritual power.

However, to Lu Ye's surprise, as he drew closer, the demeanor of Qin Zong and the others also changed.

The wailing and howling quickly faded away. The ferocious expressions on the faces of the many crew members blocking the treasury entrance transformed into gentle smiles. Their gazes, fixed on Lu Ye, showed deep approval and admiration; when they looked at Haitang, their expressions shifted to envy.

What in the world are these guys doing?

Lu Ye did not lower his guard and stepped out of the treasury door, stopping in front of Qin Zong and the others. His long blade was slightly unsheathed by half an inch.

Qin Zong said nothing, but walked forward, gently patted Lu Ye's shoulder, and then transformed into a cloud of mist. Next was Xiao Jianming, then Xu Qingwei...

One by one, the crew members came forward, seemingly bidding Lu Ye their final farewell.

Lu Ye vaguely understood. These crew members indeed did not want to see Haitang escape the Ghost Ship, which was why they were filled with ill will when he made that request. At the same time, their actions blocking the treasury entrance were probably his final test.

Since he firmly chose to take Haitang, they were powerless to stop him. As beings forever integrated with the Ghost Ship, long since becoming a part of it, all they felt now was admiration for Lu Ye and envy for Haitang.

It's not just anyone who would abandon a significant treasure from the treasury to take away an insignificant crew member.

Deep down, they might also be hoping for such a thing, hoping that one day, another person would take one of them away.

Human nature is always so complex.

Dense mist enveloped them, just like when Lu Ye first fell into the Ghost Ship. It was invisible to the naked eye and undetectable by divine sense.

The mist's unique sinister voice echoed in Lu Ye's ears: "Boy, you are the first to make such a choice in all these years. You are truly remarkable. As a reward for providing this venerable one with such a good show, I shall bestow upon you a boon!"

As it spoke, the dense mist around them surprisingly surged en masse into Lu Ye's body. Lu Ye was slightly startled and quickly channeled his spiritual power to protect himself.

Although the mist said this was a boon, Lu Ye dared not fully trust it.

What was strange was that no matter how much spiritual power he channeled, he couldn't stop the mist from integrating.

He quickly immersed his mind to check his Talent Tree, and finding nothing abnormal, he felt relieved. In a short while, the surrounding mist disappeared, and his vision became clear again.

Lu Ye looked around, realizing he was now somewhere in the starry sky. Within his sight, a dilapidated warship soared into the distance.

It was the Ghost Ship!

Lu Ye frowned, but ultimately bowed solemnly in the direction of the Ghost Ship: "Many thanks for Senior's earlier guidance!" There was no response!

And no response was needed.

Encounters in the starry sky were uncommon. The Ghost Ship drifted in all directions, and Lu Ye estimated he would likely never see it again in his lifetime, nor would he have any further dealings with it.

Watching the Ghost Ship disappear, Lu Ye finally realized: He had left the Ghost Ship. But where was Haitang?

"Junior Brother Lu!" A divine sense message came from afar. Simultaneously, Haitang's voice also came, imbued with a deep sense of weakness.

Lu Ye quickly flew in that direction and in a short while arrived at Haitang's location. He looked closely and was greatly surprised: "Senior Sister Haitang, why do you... look this way?"