Chapter 140 - Leaving the Forgotten Ocean (1/2)

Dream Island, the closest island to the Continent as well as the destination of Hei's journey on the artifact ship. The island, unlike other inhabited islands, was quite small so that there was only one city. However, it would have been a mistake to think that its influence was low or that weak people lived there.

Since it was the closest island to the continent, it was also the one with the most contacts with the Sun Empire. It was necessary to know that, although there was a ban for the islands' martial artists, it wasn't that there was no communication at all.

The Empire had numerous commercial relations with the islands, which took place in Dream City, the only city on the Dream Island, thus becoming a nerve center for these exchanges. The territories of the islands produced certain species of plants and other materials, which, although they were of little value, were indispensable for the creation of more advanced pills. So the Empire had maintained a commercial relationship with the sole purpose of acquiring these goods and getting rid of other material of which it had an unsold surplus.

It was also the reason for the Empire's ban - if free transit had been allowed, any talented martial artist would have tried his luck on the Continent, destabilizing the political and commercial situation in the islands. It would have ended up affecting the production quotas that the Empire needed to supply its armies. In a sense, it could be said that the entire ecosystem of the islands was nothing more than immense cultivation fields belonging to the empire left in management to the martial artists of the islands. It wasn't so different from slavery, only that the Empire didn't interfere too much in the affairs of the islands so as to leave a semblance of freedom and not risk producing riots that were harmful to business.

The various sects and organizations of the islands were aware of this, but with the overwhelming power of the Empire, it wasn't something they could rebel against. The ideal solution would be that only a few young elites were accepted, but unfortunately, the Empire's standards were too high. It was, therefore, better to keep their fake freedom than to lose their lives unnecessarily.

Besides, it wasn't as if there were no benefits. The exchange with the Empire allowed the islands to stock up on materials not found elsewhere; however, it was the protection of the Empire itself that represented the greatest gain. If they hadn't had the Sun Empire behind them, the islands of the Forgotten Ocean would have ended up under the control of the Moon Empire, the empire of the demons.

It was known that in addition to the Forgotten Ocean, there was another Ocean. It was called the Evil Ocean, although that was the name humans gave to that ocean. The Evil Ocean represented the other side of the coin compared to the Forgotten Ocean, and inside there was another ecosystem of islands. However, those islands, instead of being under the Sun Empire's influence, were under the rule of the Moon Empire.

The two oceans were bordering, and there was no precise edge that delimited the contours. Fortunately, however, the distance between the closest islands of the Two Oceans was practically so big that the neighboring section between the two oceans was an area of ​​nobody, an area forgotten in itself and proclaimed by the spirit beasts.

”Well, we have come to an end. I conclude that this concludes my journey with you, Master Hei.” Old Tohyon said in a low voice as he sighed. After years of inactivity, this strange and impetuous adventure had been like sailing in a stormy sea. His heart had been on the point of giving up several times for the events in which he had been involved. But now that it was all over, he ached at the impossibility of being able to feel something similar.

”Yes, it is. It was a nice journey, though.” Hei answered with a smile as he thought about the various vicissitudes that had followed one after another. When he started his journey, he was still a spirit apprentice scarred by the death of his mother. Now, however, he had reached the rank of spirit soldier. Although the wound of the loss of his mother still hurt, he had found the spirit and determination that he had before.

”As promised, the artifact ship is yours, Old Tohyon. Take this too. It's a space ring; there's a lot of gold and jewels inside.” Hei handed one of the space rings with the smallest capacity he had to the old helmsman. After killing several spirit soldiers and recovering their better quality space rings, he could get rid of those with less carrying capacity.

”No, no. Master Hei, I can't accept. Only the artifact ship is more than enough. Besides, you, Lian, and those two strange little spirit beasts have given me something much more fulfilling. I can't.” Old Tohyon tried to refuse Hei's gesture. It was true that they had agreed on an economical sum as a reward for the work done, but now the old man thought he didn't deserve it.

”Accept it; it's an order. You've earned it. Old Tohyon, find a young wife, and start a family. Or adopt some child without parents. Teach them the art of navigation and continue to sail these waters. That money is for that as well.” Hei didn't accept Old Tohyon's refusal and forcefully slipped the space ring in his hand.

Old Tohyon could only accept as he bowed deeply to express his thanks. Inside, he blessed the day he received the visit of that strange and mysterious young man with a cautious attitude.

Thus, Old Tohyon separated from Hei and the others. His journey with them had now come to an end, but he would bring their memory with him. When he returned to lead the artifact ship, he swore that he would never touch the sail depicting a giant spider or the pirate flag attached to the top of the mast.

Hei then brought Lian and his little sisters to the city center to eat and visit the place. Since they were here, they could take advantage to ask questions about the Empire's situation and buy/sell useful resources for their future. Although it was the only city on the island, the City of Dreams was huge and full of commercial activities of all kinds. Hei gave his family and himself a few days off as he prepared preparations for reaching the Continent.

*

It should be known that the Sun Empire had been notified of the death of the Artifact Spirit as it was an episode involving all the islands, including the Dream Island. However, until the material production wasn't affected, the Empire would have little concern for the islands. So they dismissed the matter as a trivial matter. This reaction was also due to another reason - the disappearance of the family head of the Shé Family, one of the Eight Big Families of the Sun Empire.

The Sun Empire was ruled by the so-called Imperial Family, led by the Emperor of the Sun Empire. Nevertheless, it wasn't as if the Imperial Family had absolute control of power within the Empire. In order to deal with the threat known as demons and their Moon Empire, the Imperial Family of the Sun Empire had to grant territories and privileges to eight families who acquired the name of Eight Big Families.

Each of the Eight Big Families, in addition to the Imperial Family, had a very pure bloodline, also called Royal Bloodlines. Their power was so enormous that various spirit emperors per family were available. Together with the Imperial Family, they were the foundation of resistance against the demons. As a result, the loss of the family head of the Shé family, a sixth-rank martial artist, was a massive blow to the Sun Empire, mainly because it happened so mysteriously.

Some proposed a correlation between the disappearance of the Artifact Spirit and the family head of the Shé Family. But that hypothesis was immediately discarded. Why on earth would such a person go to the islands, considering he was a spirit emperor? And even if he had gone there, there was no one on the islands capable of injuring such a powerful martial artist, let alone kill him. The investigations continued to wander into thin air until they had to give up.

To avoid citizens' concerns and keep the Moon Empire in the dark, the Shé Family only communicated that the head of the family was in a closed-door cultivation period because he was close to making a breakthrough. It wasn't specified how long it would last, but by their movements, the demons were able to understand that there was something wrong. The situation, therefore, began to overheat as it was only a matter of time for the event that both Empires had been waiting for since their foundations.