Chapter 490: This Squall Came Just Right!

The sudden change came without warning.

At the edge of the sky, masses of inky black clouds, like an overturned inkstone, surged toward the warships with the force of thunder.

In less time than it takes for an incense stick to burn, the sky was completely obscured, daylight plunged into twilight, and even the banners on the mastheads lost their luster.

The azure seawater churned into dark, angry waves, and the fine spray transformed into rapid slaps against the hull, sounding ‘pat-pat,’ like a warning before the Sea God’s wrath, sending shivers down people’s spines.

On the watchtower, flags fluttered as signals were rapidly sent out, directing all the ships.

Gusts of gale-force winds roared like charging thunder, slamming violently against the tall sails. The canvas was pulled taut, emitting a tearing ‘flapping’ sound, as if it might snap at any moment.

The soldiers on board quickly grabbed the mooring ropes and rushed toward the base of the mast against the fierce wind. The warships began to rock violently, and the deck underfoot was slippery and hard to traverse; every step required maximum effort just to keep steady.

The wind grew increasingly savage, roaring like tens of thousands of Vicious Beasts between heaven and earth. The waves it whipped up were several meters high, wrapped in white foam, charging toward the warships like moving small mountains.

“Bang…” A huge wave smashed heavily against the hull, causing the warship to pitch violently up and down. The ordinary soldiers felt as if their internal organs were about to shatter. The weapon racks beside them collapsed with a crash, swords and blades rolling across the deck with a ‘ding-ding-dang’ sound.

A streak of brilliant lightning suddenly tore through the inky sky, splitting the rolling dark clouds with a hideous gash.

The soldiers hunched over, clinging tightly to the mooring ropes or the hull. Their armor was already soaked through, and their messy hair plastered against their faces, yet not a single person let go.

Immediately following, a deafening clap of thunder exploded overhead, as if detonating right above their heads, making their eardrums buzz and even breathing difficult.

Raindrops the size of beans followed the thunder, initially sparse, but quickly turning into a torrential downpour. The dense lines of rain wove a massive net of water, completely shrouding the entire sea surface, leaving nothing but a vast expanse of white in sight.

Fortunately, every ship was equipped with experienced boatmen and the Langya Army, who were familiar with the waves, so the situation remained controllable.

Yu Xian stood above all the ships, his Divine Sense constantly covering every vessel, aware of the conditions on each one. He could clearly perceive the amplitude of the pitching and rolling for every warship amidst the gale and giant waves, and he could ‘hear’ the sailors’ rhythmic chants amidst the wind and rain on the decks.

His Divine Sense was like an invisible great net, enveloping the entire fleet. Not the slightest abnormal fluctuation escaped his perception, and any potential danger was under his surveillance, ready for him to intervene and resolve at any moment.

Yu Xian noticed that Zhang Sanfeng and Wuming were likewise standing steadily at the bows of their ships despite the high winds and waves, constantly watching the movements of nearby vessels.

Whenever a soldier was swept up by the wind and waves, a gentle force would always pull him back. When a soldier could no longer hold onto a rope, a strength would appear to help him stabilize.

Moreover, those above the Spirit Travel Realm—Li Hanyi, Wu Xingyun, Yao Yue, Dongfang Bai, Little Dragon Girl, Wang Yuyan, Yin Luoxia, Ning Zhongze, Huang Rong, Li Mochou, Lian Xing, Murong Qiudi, Ye Ruoyi, and Xiao Feng—eleven people in total, were each stationed on one ship, ready to deal with any sudden emergencies.

Thus, although the change was sudden and the storm raged fiercely, thanks to the protection of everyone, the fleet never had a single ship deviate from its course, nor did anyone suffer injury or death due to the waves.

Soon, all their warships passed through the storm, and everything on the sea returned to calm.

Many soldiers were encountering such danger for the first time. Having survived the ordeal, they felt relief, but even more so, they felt awe and gratitude toward Yu Xian and the experts on board.

They had personally witnessed how those figures, usually legendary, remained composed while dealing with such a terrifying storm, how they resolved crisis after crisis without showing emotion, pulling them back from the clutches of death.

On the deck, the surviving soldiers looked at the clouds gradually dispersing in the sky and the sea surface regaining a faint glimmer of light in the distance; many had tears welling up in their eyes.

The experience of being on the brink of death just moments ago made them deeply realize how fortunate they were to follow a leader who bore responsibility and was guarded by countless powerful individuals.

The way they looked at Yu Xian and the others now held an unprecedented seriousness and trust.

Someone unexpectedly let out a cheer, which immediately resonated, and the surviving soldiers all began to cheer along.

That sound lacked the fatigue from previous drills or the fear of facing the storm; it contained only the relief of survival and determination for the future.

The entire fleet, after being baptized by a thrilling storm, had not dispersed in the slightest; instead, it had condensed into an even tighter, stronger force. A fire ignited in everyone’s heart—absolute trust in Yu Xian.

“This squall came just right!” Huang Rong, having returned to the ship, listened to the cheers and said with a smile to Yu Xian.

Although this storm arrived dangerously, it unexpectedly served as a fierce fire to temper the army’s morale. After this battle, the soldiers were no longer just a unit constrained by military discipline; they were more like comrades who had truly experienced a life-and-death test, sharing a tacit understanding that needed no words in their gazes.

This time, Yu Xian truly won the hearts of the people and consolidated the army’s morale.

“It was mainly due to your assistance; otherwise, we wouldn’t have passed through so smoothly,” Yu Xian looked at The Women standing beside him. Each of them looked somewhat disheveled—either their hair was wet or their clothes were stained with water spots.

Upon hearing this, The Women all showed proud smiles. Being able to fight alongside Yu Xian had always been their desire, and now being able to guard the fleet shoulder-to-shoulder amidst the terrifying waves filled their hearts with strength.

“This is all we should do! It is our greatest honor to be able to help our husband,” Ning Zhongze replied with a smile.

“In the past, I always felt the Jianghu was vast, and the nation’s affairs were heavy. Only now, standing with my sisters, sharing some of the wind and rain for my husband, do I truly understand the weight of the word’shoulder-to-shoulder’,” Yao Yue sighed.

Yu Xian’s gaze swept gently over every face. How fortunate he was to have so many loved ones accompanying him.

“Hurry back and tidy yourselves up; don’t catch a cold,” Yu Xian’s tone was full of concern. Although with their cultivation, they wouldn’t easily catch a cold, it was better to be safe.

The Women looked at each other. They indeed showed varying degrees of disarray, so they instantly scurried back into the cabins.

They usually cared most about their appearance and naturally did not want to be seen in their current messy state.

Yu Xian just smiled, shook his head watching their retreating figures. His lovely Women!