The next day.

On the deck of the Ghostly Flood Dragon.

Su Ye was familiarizing himself with the changes brought about by his class change to [Pastor of the Sea].

’First, there are the base attributes.’

[Profession Attribute Bonus: Attack +36, Defense +16, Evasion +3, Mystic +3]

Su Ye remembered that before his class change, the attribute bonus for [Tide Hunter Lv. 10] was [Attack +33, Defense +13].

In other words...

’Every level up as a Pastor of the Sea increases all attributes by +3.’

’And in addition to Attack and Defense, I’ve gained two new attributes: Evasion and Mystic.’

Su Ye took the appearance of new attribute types very seriously.

He had conducted numerous tests over the past few days.

According to Su Ye’s tests...

The Evasion attribute.

Its initial effects manifested as a bonus to the movement speed of his Escape Techniques, as well as a chance to be immune to negative effects.

When converted into a bonus for his ship, the attribute was called ’Mobility.’

As for the Mystic attribute...

Its external manifestations were not obvious.

Su Ye could barely perceive it through conventional means.

’Perhaps... the Mystic attribute’s bonus to me is an enhancement to my ’Personhood’?’

The guess surfaced as Su Ye pondered this.

Of course, he was in no hurry to verify it.

’Even with just the Attack, Defense, and Evasion attributes, the bonuses provided by Pastor of the Sea are far stronger than those of a Tide Hunter!’

’I’ll just consider the Mystic attribute a little extra for now...’

Su Ye didn’t dwell on it.

...

Next, he began testing his exclusive skills.

’The exclusive skills for a Pastor of the Sea are divided into [Heart of the Vast Sea] and [Monarch of Calamity].’

The former was both a skill and a state.

Su Ye could feel the heart in his chest beating vigorously.

At its core, it shimmered with a deep blue light.

’It’s a bit conspicuous.’

’But with my fifth-level Body Refining cultivation and a Divine Sense stronger than my peers, I have enough control to lock down its aura and conceal the abnormality.’

’Besides, even if it were exposed, it probably wouldn’t be a huge problem?’

It was common for the physical bodies of high-level cultivators to have some abnormalities.

Some high-level cultivators, seeking to enhance their combat strength or extend their lifespans,

would even go so far as to transplant certain organs and limbs from demonic beasts or demonic plants.

Compared to those cultivators, whose appearances were clearly different from ordinary people,

his abnormal heart could only be described as unremarkable.

Su Ye was more concerned with the skill effects of the Heart of the Vast Sea.

BUZZ!

His Divine Sense spread out as he activated the Heart of the Vast Sea.

At the same time, Su Ye felt as if his consciousness had connected with this stretch of the sea, resonating with it. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

SWISH.

Su Ye waved his hand casually.

A terrifying ice spear, like a battering ram, formed in an instant, thundering across hundreds of yards!

He then cast several more water-elemental spells: water dragons, Fog Concealment, Ice Seals...

The performance was so outstanding that even Su Ye himself was somewhat surprised.

’After activating Heart of the Vast Sea, casting all these water-elemental spells is completely effortless.’

’Even the bloodline spells of demonic beasts aren’t this easy...’

’Furthermore, the power of the spells has nearly doubled, but the cost is less than a third of what it used to be...’

’At the same time...’

Su Ye’s feet moved.

His body suddenly disintegrated, turning into a pool of clear water!

BUZZ.

Several miles away on the sea’s surface.

Su Ye’s figure emerged unhurriedly from the seawater!

He turned back, looked at the hull of the Ghostly Flood Dragon, and smiled. With a mere thought, his body disintegrated once more.

In the blink of an eye!

Su Ye’s figure was once again standing on the deck of the Ghostly Flood Dragon!

’The Water Escape Skill!’

The Five Elements Escape Skill seemed simple, but in reality, it involved many profound mysteries and could not be attempted by anyone below the Crystal stage.

But now.

With the help of the Heart of the Vast Sea, Su Ye had mastered this ability ahead of schedule!

With the Water Escape Skill, his combat power and survivability in the great sea were drastically enhanced!

Beyond that.

Su Ye discovered that activating the Heart of the Vast Sea also provided a buff to the Ghostly Flood Dragon!

He could control the sea winds and ocean currents to augment the Ghostly Flood Dragon.

’In terms of sailing speed, it’s nearly doubled.’

’And its resistance to maritime disasters is greatly enhanced?’

’No, it’s not that its resistance is enhanced. Rather, it’s now seen as a part of the ocean itself, no longer targeted by the ocean’s spirit...’

Su Ye continued to sense the changes.

He grew thoughtful as an understanding dawned on him.

The many bonuses from [Heart of the Vast Sea] were merely a surface-level manifestation.

Its true nature was to resonate with the ocean’s spirit and share in its authority!

And [Monarch of Calamity] was the same!

’These two exclusive skills seem to be a yin and yang, corresponding to the gentle and violent aspects of the ocean’s spirit...’

’Is this what it means to be a [Pastor of the Sea]? For the exclusive skills to be so extraordinary...’

A glint shone in Su Ye’s eyes.

Admittedly, the exclusive skill provided by the Tide Hunter class, the ’Whale-Hunting Spear,’ was immensely powerful and had provided Su Ye with crucial assistance many times.

But he had to admit.

The Whale-Hunting Spear, and even its subsequent derivative, ’Soul-Chasing, Life-Reaping,’ was still confined to the realm of ’technique.’

But the two exclusive skills of a [Pastor of the Sea] seemed to have... already touched upon the domain of the ’Dao’?!

’Perhaps, with the help of these two exclusive skills, I can comprehend the rudiments of a Divine Technique?’

Su Ye guessed.

This was not some wishful thinking or a world-shocking notion.

On the contrary.

Perceiving the nature of heaven and earth to comprehend Divine Techniques was the most orthodox and ancient method.

The cultivators of antiquity didn’t have things like ’Crystal Skills’ or ’Divine Technique Seeds.’

Yet the most outstanding among them could still achieve the True Method Golden Core and master their own Lifebound Techniques.

...

Then.

Su Ye deactivated the [Heart of the Vast Sea] state.

The deep blue halo in his heart withdrew and became restrained.

Having completed the class change to [Pastor of the Sea], Su Ye was in a very pleasant mood.

The two exclusive skills from this class change provided him with powerful combat strength and a profound foundation.

’Under these circumstances, it seems... I don’t need to be in such a hurry to run?’

A glint shone in Su Ye’s eyes.

He began to think about the current situation.

The strange events in the Dongning Sea Region were escalating.

Especially on this trip to the Chaotic Reef District, Su Ye had even sensed a third-order existence!

This sea region was showing signs of becoming the center of a storm.

This made Su Ye quite anxious.

Donglong Island’s Island Protection Array would be difficult to defend against a third-order existence!

Therefore, during this period.

Su Ye had planned to persuade the core members of the Luo Family to temporarily leave Donglong Island after he returned.

’But now, I can put that plan on hold.’

The process of changing his class to Pastor of the Sea had given Su Ye the ability to sense the three great keys.

As a result, he could locate that native third-order being.

’This way, with my strength after the class change, the risk of remaining on Donglong Island isn’t actually that high.’

Su Ye analyzed calmly.

Without a direct threat to his life.

Leaving Donglong Island to rent a Spiritual Cave Arena was not necessarily a good idea.

After all, Su Ye had many secrets.

His spirit ship, the Ghostly Flood Dragon, was especially conspicuous!

On Donglong Island, which was completely under his control, he could conceal the superiority of its Arrays and performance.

It would be difficult to do the same at a rented Spiritual Cave Arena!

’So, on the premise that my safety is guaranteed...’

’...using Donglong Island’s Spirit Vein to rapidly increase my strength is the optimal solution!’

’At least... until I break through to the Mid-stage of Foundation Establishment!’

...

...

Third update, today’s 6,000 characters are done.

A bit late, my apologies.

Still getting back on track.