The sun rose and fell seven times, signalling a new start to a new week. Liang Jianwei awakened to the soft sounds of seagulls flying and splashing in the Cerulea sea. He took a deep breath, the salty scent of the sea filling his nostrils and invigorating his senses.
As he opened his eyes, Liang Jianwei found himself lying upon a white hammock, swaying gently in the cool ocean breeze. He arose and stretched, his body humming with energy and vitality. He looked around at the vast Cerulea sea, its clear azure waters sparkling in the sunlight.
Liang Jianwei hopped off his hammock, his feet touching the wooden floor. He went to a window, his eyes taking in the magnificent sight. He then turned and picked up a brown leather bag near him. In it were some supplies and clothes. Liang Jianwei changed out of his white silk clothes and into some cotton white pants, a white and red vest, and his Cerulean emblem pinned to his right shoulder.
"Jianwei!" His mother's voice rang out. Liang Jianwei quickly ran outside his house and to his mother. She stood there, her face filled with both sadness and joy.
"Jianwei. You must be careful. And I'll be here when you come and visit." She said, tears forming at the edge of her eyes. Liang Jianwei nodded his head, his emotions rising in his chest.
"I promise, mother. I'll visit you as soon as I can." He said, embracing her. She held him tight, her arms warm and comforting.
After a while, they bid farewell, and Liang Jianwei ran towards the Cerulean. Upon his arrival, Li Weiyang was there, waiting.
"Good morning, young Jianwei. Are you ready to set sail?"
"Yes, senior Yang." Liang Jianwei stated.
Senior Yang smiled and gestured for him to follow. He was led into a group with others, and Li Weiyang turned to look at him.
"Wait here; once we gather everyone, we'll set sail." Li Weiyang commanded before walking away.
Liang Jianwei spent some of his time looking at the other ensigns; they were all from the same village, so most of them had worn-out clothing as they still needed to give out the uniforms. Some were a little bigger than the rest, their physiques robust and well-built, while others were petite and thin. Liang Jianwei examined their powers with Aqua Mind Resonance, sensing their soul essence and ranking it. He can do this because the more robust the person is, the more moisture they have in their bodies because of their denser physique.
After ranking them, Liang Jianwei was shocked that only one person had a 6th-rank soul essence, while most had 2-3 ranks. He wanted to know what the requirements were for joining the Cerulean. Although they said you must have strength and a sense of justice, some people here aren't talented.
Liang Jianwei spent some more time waiting before Senior Yang returned with other lieutenants.
"Alright, ensigns, it's time to set sail. Everyone follow us onto the ship." Li Weiyang declared before turning and walking towards five different ships.
Each ship seems to glow in the sunlight, their wooden hulls polished to a fine sheen. Mythical creatures such as dragons and qilins dance along the sides, their painted bodies gleaming with a vivid intensity. Liang Jianwei boarded the fourth ship with his peers, the other ensigns gazing at their new surroundings in awe and excitement. Li Weiyang led them below deck into a spacious area filled with hammocks and pillows.
"You will all be staying here for the next few days. Food, water, and some spare clothes are in the chest. Make yourselves comfortable. You may explore the ship if you wish, but stay safe." Li Weiyang instructed before walking towards the exit.
"Senior Yang, is there somewhere we can train?" Liang Jianwei called out.
Li Weiyang stopped and looked back at him, a soft smile on his lips.
"There is a training room on the second floor. I'll inform the Ceruleans guarding that area that you can use it." Li Weiyang said before continuing towards the exit. Liang Jianwei watched as he disappeared through the doorway, his footsteps echoing in the distance.
Liang Jianwei wasted no time in exploring the ship. He roamed the deck, observing the numerous Ceruleans as they went about their day. He wandered the training room, testing the equipment and practising his soul essence. He also ate and talked with the other ensigns, learning more about his comrades.
Days passed, and the ocean was tranquil, the cerulea sea shimmering in the sunlight. Jianwei was still sleeping before he heard a loud cry of alarm. He awoke immediately, his soul essence stirring within him.
"What's going on?" He thought, exiting his hammock and looking around at the other ensigns.
Liang Jianwei peered down from his hammock, his soul essence resonating with water. He sensed a huge aura and immediately knew that someone was attacking them. No, he should say something is attacking them.
He didn't waste time and bolted above deck, his Aqua Mind Resonance activating. He looked for senior Yang amidst the chaos, eyes scanning the frantic crowd.
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Liang Jianwei rushed towards senior Yang, who was directing the Ceruleans with poise and clarity.
"Senior Yang! What's happening?!" Liang Jianwei screamed. Senior Yang turned, his eyes filled with urgency and determination.
"A spirit beast is attacking us! A level three threat. There is no need to worry too much. A level two threat is around a rank 30 to 39 soul master. We Ceruleans should be able to handle this threat." Li Weiyang yelled over the clamouring crowd.
Liang Jianwei's eyes widened at hearing the beast rank. A rank 30 to 39?! A beast so powerful? He thought the beast in this world would be weak, just like the ones in his previous life.
Liang Jianwei nodded and rushed to the ship's side, his soul power humming. He gazed down at the cerulea sea, his Aqua Mind Resonance probing the surroundings.
He looked down into the sea and could sense something moving through the water, the giant waves crashing against the ship.
The water began to boil as a giant circular fish with many spikes started coming out of the sea. It was pure white with red spots around its body and spikes. It swam like a shark, but the size was 4 times that. The cerulea sea began to rise as this monster started to swim toward the ship.
"It's a Cluffer Fish!" A voice rang out. Liang Jianwei looked down again, the fish swimming towards them rapidly.
The Ceruleans launched attack after attack, their soul essence raging in the air. They conjured water, ice, wind, earth, fire and more, raining down on the spirit beast.
Liang Jianwei summoned his soul essence and created a misty spear, launching it at the beast. His water spear whistled through the air, a faint blue glow radiating from the tip. The cluffer fish dodged his soul essence and swam towards him with incredible speed. Liang Jianwei braced for impact as the spirit beast rammed into the ship, its razor-sharp spikes gouging the wooden hull.
Liang Jianwei gripped the railing as the ship listed precariously, the cerulea sea rising and crashing onto the deck. The Ceruleans struggled to remain upright, their soul essences fluctuating erratically. Liang Jianwei activated Aqua Mind Resonance and launched water spear after water spear at the spirit beast, his soul power flashing in the sunlight. The beast deflected his soul essence and charged at him, its blood-red spikes glinting in the sun.
Suddenly, one of the spikes from the fish shot out, aiming straight for Liang Jianwei's heart. Without hesitating, Liang Jianwei turned into mist, the spike passing directly through him and impaling the other nearby ensign.
The boy's body began to twitch as his skin started to turn purple. The veins in his body were visible as they pulsated violently, his body convulsing uncontrollably. Suddenly, blood spewed from his mouth and nose, his eyes rolling to the back of his head. Liang Jianwei observed closely, his Aqua Mind Resonance studying the poison.
Liang Jianwei covered the boy in mist, some of it entering his wounds as purple liquid started to come out of it. A couple of seconds later, the boy coughed out the poison and regained his senses.
Liang Jianwei helped the ensign up, the boy shaking in his grip.
"Thank you." He whispered, his voice hoarse. Liang Jianwei nodded and turned, his eyes focusing on the spirit beast.
The Ceruleans bombarded the spirit beast with attacks, their soul essences flaring in the air. It wasn't long before the beast was killed as a lieutenant's soul essence pierced straight through its head. The cerulea sea turned crimson as the beast perished, blood spreading like a crimson tide.
Liang Jianwei calmed his soul essence, the adrenaline coursing through his veins slowly dissipating. The Ceruleans cleaned up the aftermath of the battle, their movements practised and efficient. Senior Yang approached him, his face filled with concern.
"Are you alright, young Jianwei? Did you get poisoned as well?" Li Weiyang asked, his eyes scanning Liang Jianwei's body.
"I'm fine, senior Yang. It wasn't a direct hit, so I wasn't poisoned." Liang Jianwei replied, his heart rate returning to normal. Senior Yang nodded and sighed in relief, the tension leaving his shoulders.
"That's good. You did well in helping the ensign. You are a true Cerulean at heart, Jianwei. Continue practising, and you'll go far in this world." Li Weiyang complimented, a gentle smile on his face. Liang Jianwei bowed, his soul essence humming within him.
"Thank you, senior Yang. I wish to become stronger and achieve complete justice in this world." Liang Jianwei uttered, his determination clear. Li Weiyang chuckled and patted his shoulder.
"Complete justice, huh. You have a long way to go before achieving that. But I can see that you have what it takes." Senior Yang said before walking away, his figure disappearing amongst the crowd.
Liang Jianwei walked down the deck below and checked up on the ensign who got poisoned, the boy sleeping soundly in his hammock. He sat beside him, his thoughts drifting to the upcoming journey.
A couple of hours would pass since the attack on the ship, and the boy who was poisoned before eyes began to flutter open.
The boy had pale grey eyes, and short black hair parted to the side. He was about 5'11 and had a toned body. He wore a lovely black coat made of silk and silver buttons on the cuffs of his arms. Under the jacket, he wore a simple white vest and on the left side of his chest was the Cerulean emblem. He also wore tight blue silk pants at his calves but loose at his thighs. On his feet, he had black military shoes that were shiny and smooth.
The boy rubbed his head and stared at Liang Jianwei before speaking.
"Hello? Who are you?" He said. Liang Jianwei smiled and introduced himself.
"My name is Liang Jianwei. What's yours?" Jianwei questioned. The boy blinked briefly, thought briefly, and stretched out his hand.
"My name is Thomas. Thomas Andersen." The boy was introduced. Liang Jianwei grasped his hand and shook it firmly, a new bond forming between them.
Liang Jianwei and Thomas began discussing life and their experience before the Cerulean. They were from two villages, but both were 15 years old. Liang Jianwei told him about how he saved Thomas' life and how his family is. Thomas didn't tell Jianwei much, but he learned that Thomas' family seemed to be solid and noble under the Olympic empire.
Thomas's soul essence rank was 9, one way before he hit a bottleneck. His soul essence was something extraordinary. When he summoned it, it rested in his hand. It was a unique, slender metallic object and smooth to the touch. It had a trigger at the bottom and a cylinder in the middle. Thomas explained to Jianwei that this revolver shoots soul-powered bullets.
This was his family specialty, and no one has been able to shoot soul-powered bullets today. Only him and his family. Liang Jianwei praised his soul essence, which only got a roll of the eyes and a blank look.