...

Time swiftly passed by.

Before anyone realized it, everything had already been prepared.

In the vast and magnificent East Sea.

A large merchant ship, its sails towering, departed from the renowned East Sea Guard Port, cutting through the waves as it ventured into the depths of the ocean.

This merchant ship was a new model, crafted through the joint investment of the Chen Family and the Marriage Alliance. It was exceptionally sturdy, with many crucial dragon bones, planks, and masts made of millennial Spiritual Oak.

Because of this, its overall cost exceeded a hundred thousand Qian Gold.

The results were evident; it was like a solid fortress on the sea, capable of driving away Tier Five Ferocious Beasts and withstanding medium-sized storms.

This ship was a luxury merchant vessel built at Wang Shouzhe’s request, usually involved in trade operations, but whenever important members of the families needed it, a prior notice was enough to assign it.

In addition, Wang Shouzhe also brought along the Primordial Water Spirit Turtle. In case of adversity, he could ride the turtle to escape or dive underwater to avoid an unavoidable storm.

As for the salinity of the seawater, it wasn’t much of an issue for a Tier Three Spirit Beast like the Primordial Water Spirit Turtle, which could easily adapt and balance the osmotic pressure difference between saltwater and freshwater. Although, the Water Origin Spirit Turtle always seemed displeased with seawater, obviously disliking it.

Furthermore.

At Wang Shouzhe’s request, Faang You’an borrowed a Tier Four Red-crowned Immortal Crane Flying Chariot from the Academy, which was usually well-fed and cared for on the ship, and might prove useful in crucial moments.

However, flying such a Spiritual Bird Flying Chariot over the vast ocean wasn’t advisable. Firstly, the sea was prone to hurricanes, and encountering one could easily disorient even a Tier Four Red-crowned Immortal Crane; secondly, attracting any Tier Five Flying Fierce Bird would be troublesome.

The stranger the route, the more cautious one must be.

On the wide deck at the ship’s bow.

Wang Shouzhe and others gathered here, feeling the sea breeze and admiring the vast, rolling sea together.

"Husband, this is my first time seeing the real ocean." Liua Ruolan gazed endlessly into the distance, the boundless ocean stirring her emotions, prompting her to exclaim, "Just like in the books—Oh sea, you are vast; you are all water."

As someone with a Primordial Water Spirit Body, she had a strong affinity for the Water Element Qi, causing her to grow increasingly fond of water. To her eyes, water seemed to have a life of its own. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Uh... Wang Shouzhe felt a subtle concern for her choice of descriptive words, but he showed appreciation and admiration on his face: "My dear wife’s description, with its straightforward phrasing, reveals an eternal truth, and notably highlights the sea’s two most important attributes: its vastness and abundance of water. Truly exquisite!"

"My husband understands me."

"Oh, not at all, it’s really my wife who is outstanding."

Ancestor Longyan, standing to the side, twitched her lips, nearly unable to endure anymore, habitually employing her Profound Qi to seal off her ears.

This couple, they never miss an opportunity to spread love. Their child’s over ten, yet their act never changes. Isn’t this bullying someone like her, an elder who has never been in a relationship?

This...

Beichen Ancestor, Faang You’an, and Junior Sister Lvwei were different.

Their eyes widened, feeling as though their skin crawled with goosebumps. Must they be so oblivious? Could they be a bit more considerate of others’ feelings?

"Senior Brother Yoou’an." Lvwei shivered with a chill, "Is this what humans are like after marriage? It’s terrifying; I even thought about experimenting with marriage myself..."

Faang You’an almost stumbled, secretly thinking, Junior Sister Lvwei, you aren’t any less terrifying yourself. Can marriage be an experiment?

He immediately instilled her with the correct life perspective: "Not every couple is so... uh...’loving’. However, as direct disciples of our academy, we should prioritize the world’s peace over something like marriage, as married life tends to be quite dull."

Wang Shouzhe glanced at him.

Senior Brother Yoou’an, you clearly have a singles mentality, claiming sour grapes when you can’t have them.

After being lovey-dovey for a while, Wang Shouzhe didn’t allow Liua Ruolan to be exposed to the sea breeze for too long and urged her back inside to rest.

Afterward, he took out a jar of spirit wine, had a table brought over, and invited Beichen Ancestor, Faang You’an, Lvwei, and Ancestor Longyan to sit down and drink.

Faang You’an took a sudden gulp of spirit wine, looking at Wang Shouzhe with a gaze full of inexplicable resentment, as if holding a grudge.

"Senior Brother Yoou’an, why such a look? Senior Brother Yoou’an, being so handsome and charismatic, surely you’re pursued by many junior sisters." Wang Shouzhe stated earnestly, "Yet, you’re still single despite being over a hundred and fifty years old, leaving only one explanation."

"What explanation?" Junior Sister Lvwei perked up with interest, her eyes sparkling with a gossipy light, "Junior Brother Shouzhe, speak quickly, tell us."

At this point, not only Lvwei, but even Ancestor Longyan straightened up, showing interest.

And Beichen Ancestor, pretending to drink, also had his ears perked up.

"Senior Brother Yoou’an surely has a woman he likes, and she must be an incredibly outstanding woman at that." Wang Shouzhe analyzed sincerely, "So much so that she seems slightly out of Senior Brother Yoou’an’s reach."