It's a rare, beautiful day at sea, with clear skies and a gentle salty breeze.

Sizzle... Sizzle...

The luscious fat of tuna dripped onto the charcoal in the grill, bursting into little golden sparks.

The enticing aroma lingered on the deck of the Sea Soul, making everyone's mouth water involuntarily.

Salt-grilled tuna neck, black pepper butter-fried fish face, fish rice bowl, lemon vinaigrette fish skin salad, brain sashimi, balsamic tuna salad... a feast centered around a demonized tuna was served dish after dish.

Utensils danced in the air, all fully automated, a dream-fulfilling skill for the gourmet campers.

The Sea Soul, having anchored, was gently drifting on the sea at the stern. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Olivia wore a white chiffon beach dress, with a large pink-purple "Dusk Starlight" tucked in her hair.

She kicked off her delicate sandals, resting her fair legs on Aiven's lap.

"So rich in fat, delicious! Ha, I'm so satisfied."

After being fed a piece of fatty, melt-in-the-mouth tuna belly by Aiven, she took a sip of the refreshing sweet watermelon juice from the Hurricane Cup and sighed contentedly.

"Because of the unique natural environment and extremely active magic elements in the Broken Star Sea, its ingredients are far richer in nutrition than those outside.

If we could turn this place into a hunting ground, it might even be enough to sustain a Tier 3 kingdom effortlessly.

The Kuma Empire's Zorjin Calendar mentions that the Ehecoatl Civilization of the Second Era was a 'culinary civilization', definitely worth exploring if given the chance.

Like the candy-growing fruit trees we saw in the Spirit Realm last time, those should be child's play."

Aiven leaned back in his chair, wearing beach shorts, sipping the watermelon juice Olivia had brought over, and wiped her lips gently.

Crunch... Crunch...

The Three-no Girl Baihe, Squid-ness Gem River, and Shadow Dragon Kaka ignored the affectionate display, fighting over the delicious food spread across the table, desperately indulging.

Even in the depths of the Broken Star Sea, the wizard's skills ensured they never had to deprive themselves.

Despite what seemed to be a slightly careless vacation, necessary defense measures were still in place.

Several Aivens were on deck, each fulfilling their role.

Some were fishing at the stern, some observing ocean conditions, others studying the nautical charts, while some kept watch on the mast, and some calculated time while focusing on a part of the sea near the Sea Soul...

Everything relating to sailing functions was attended to.

If not for Aiven's limited hair volume, he could command an entire fleet solo.

In fact.

Due to internal affairs transition in the Duchy, their departure was slightly delayed.

In the end, the old father-in-law Marquis Yuanfan took office as Prime Minister, First Minister of Finance, and Minister of Civil Affairs; Uncle Gel was bestowed as Earl Newark and appointed as Minister of Defense; other cabinet ministers were also appointed.

With gradually completed officials at various levels, step-by-step development poses no issue.

There were only four members in this adventure team: Aiven, Olivia, Astrologer Milan, and Jelos, who knew the Muriyan Civilization best.

While Aiven and Olivia leisurely enjoyed the food.

Milan was in his Witchcraft Garden, clutching the inherited magic book Echoes of Space-Time, cramming spells and techniques suitable for the Upper-Rank Wizard stage, with Jelos as his sparring partner.

At the Upper-Rank Wizard stage in the Clock Tower School, Milan's methods vastly enriched, coupled with the Magic-like Technique: Observing Time Line, he could choose the most favorable options and world changes.

He was no longer solely an auxiliary role but an impressive combat force.

Indeed, Milan's dedicated efforts were mainly a precaution against unforeseen encounters with unknown rivals.

The sun gradually tilted west, and the glorious dusk stained the sky red, while a slender crescent moon quietly emerged.

Aiven's body suddenly sensed something, turning toward the direction one of the Aivens had been staring at. The multitude of Aivens on deck reverted, transforming back into hairs to rejoin his body.

"Hesi, it's time. Switch to combat mode."

"Mm!"

As the two stood up, they had completed their full armament.

Olivia donned the form-fitting combat suit Gem Armament: Starry Dream, while Aiven wore a shirt, long pants, military boots, and bore the World Conqueror's Sword (Tyr's Blade: Splitting Sword) on his waist.

Bringing this sword on expeditions is very fitting, symbolizing exploration at the frontier of the unknown, with Aiven supplanting Hilus.

Thud... Thud... Thud...

Meanwhile, Milan and Jelos joined him on deck, also looking toward the seemingly empty sea before them.

Earlier,

Utilizing the genuine Ancient Scroll Aiven provided, Watt delineated a circular area over a thousand kilometers in diameter within the Broken Star Sea.

Within this area were marked six presumed coordinates of the "Crowned Wizard" Paracelsus.

There was open sea that required underwater exploration; fixed islands that needed deep inland exploration to face unknown dangers;

hidden Secret Realms in the void requiring manual barrier breaking; drifting islands roaming the sea that must be randomly captured along specific routes...

Undoubtedly, every location on the [Ancient Scroll] was marked with a color as crimson as blood.

Especially the one very close to the coordinates "Aerial Garden (N21°, W158°)," which was as darkly red as the Royal Capital of the Zongderilic people once was.

This means that there at least exists a terrifying being standing at the Tier 4 Peak, similar to the Divine Son known as the "Ten Kings."

Therefore.

Every coordinate that requires thorough searching necessitates search personnel risking great danger and expending enormous effort.

For safety's sake, each search team must be equipped with at least three Great Wizards. Apart from Aiven and his team, each group is assigned to only one coordinate.

A total of twelve Great Wizards were drawn from the "Holy Stone Council," plus Aiven's four members.

This force would be enough to suffocate any human kingdom, but inside the "Broken Star Sea," it's just a mere weak group.

Watt could not overlook the possible loss of his forces, so he proposed an exit mechanism.

If the exploration of the core area exceeded 10% and gained the [World's Favor] but still did not find the trace of the Crowned wizard, the mission could be declared over and they would withdraw from the "Broken Star Sea."

Because there were other purposes for this operation, the coordinates Aiven ultimately chose were, of course, the two closest to the "Aerial Garden (N21°, W158°)."

Why not kill two birds with one stone?

Two days ago, they first traveled outside the atmosphere aboard the [Gem River] and then quickly plunged into the interior of the "Broken Star Sea," arriving at a coordinate slightly towards the outer perimeter of the "Muriya Islands."

This was also a place that presented as a normal red unknown "Secret Realm" when the four of them touched the [Ancient Scroll] together, not directly existing in the Material World.

They used Aiven's [Eye of Profound Wisdom] to penetrate the chaotic veil of the "Secret Realm" and, combined with Milan's [Astrology], deduced the method to enter this Secret Realm:

On the evening of the New Moon day, when the sun and moon shine together, they walked out an "∞" mark on the sea facing the direction the ocean surged in.

"The Secret Realm might have special rules completely different from the outside world, and could also randomly separate us.

Everyone should keep the [Positioning Talisman] safe with you; as long as you hold on and wait for the main forces to gather, normal red shouldn't be too difficult to handle."

Aiven put away the [Sea Soul], and Kaka darted into the shadows, while Olivia also put away the Gem River and Baihe.

Hand in hand, the two of them walked on the sea surface more easily than on flat ground.

Milan and Jelos followed closely behind.

....

Silence!

A deathly silence!

One could almost hear the clear sound of one's own blood flowing.

Further obstructed by a hazy gray mist, obscuring Aiven's vision, the visibility was extremely low, and even the [Magic-like Technique: Eye of Magical Insight] struggled to reach far, only confirming they were in an area with rolling hills and forests.

Hmm? No, this was a high-level [Anti-Magic] effect!

Aiven quickly realized it wasn't the [Eye of Magical Insight] failing, but that all witchcraft was being forbidden.

Feeling the comforting grip of Olivia's hand, Aiven relaxed slightly. The mysterious bond between them was indeed able to resist the power of the "Secret Realm."

But Milan and Jelos were nowhere to be found.

The two exchanged a glance, both understanding the meaning in the other's eyes:

"This kind of rock-solid 'Magic Element' might indeed render a 'Crowned Wizard' helpless, leaving them to completely fall here."

Then, they simultaneously raised their hands.

Sizzle!

Arcs of electricity crackled, and the physical abilities purely relying on the [Life Magnetic Field] were completely unaffected. Olivia, relying on Aiven's mitochondrial [Light Spirit Circuit], continued to function smoothly.

Every time at such a moment, Aiven was immensely grateful for his versatility, as the strongest creature of sea, land, and air was not a mere empty boast.

Suddenly.

Aiven tilted his head toward a direction beside him; in the faint mist, there appeared vaguely the silhouette of a human, seemingly a... delicately graceful white female figure.

"Wow, is the welcome ceremony for guests this exciting?"

Aiven couldn't help but whistle, only to be instantly pinched on the waist by Olivia.

Perhaps the disturbance from this side caught the attention of the other.

The graceful lady gracefully "glided" forward in the mist and simultaneously turned her body slowly but stiffly.

"Uh... sorry for interrupting."

In the moment they saw her appearance, the hand-in-hand pair instinctively took a step back.

Her skin seemed to be made of fine white porcelain carefully crafted by a ceramic master, waist, legs, arms... every detail of a woman's body was beautiful, yet she bore... a cracked ceramic head.

The dark hollow interior seemed filled with horrifying eerie things squirming constantly, staring too long into it felt as if it might suck one's soul right into that shell.

At the same time.

Due to the sound of movement in the silence, one by one, more "silhouettes" appeared silently within the mist, without exception, all were variously damaged Ceramic People!