On a 15th-century Chinese junk, the ship utilized bamboo sails that extended like blinds, specially crafted from reeds to prevent accidents. The crew would store plenty of this reed on deck for emergency repairs, as they might need it.
The vessel weighed around 200 tons, enduring the strong currents and fierce storms of the mysterious Yangtze River, the world's longest river, infinite in length and width.
The ship sailed alone across the sea, crewed by about 50 people, including some nobles from small families who annually honored the Phoenix clan with thousands of gifts, some even offering their daughters in marriage for a better future.
As the tides rose with the angry moon dancing in the sky, protesting against the Phoenix clan's annual festival.
"What will we do, young master? The tide is crazy today; I don't know if we can really participate. Wouldn't it be better to turn back and send an apology just for today?" said Wu Bao's servant, who was silently facing his own dilemmas, ignoring the useless servants around him.
After all, why should he pay any respect to their words? He was the young master of a third-tier family in the Dragon Empire and possessed reasonable talent.
If nothing happened to him in the future, Wu Bao was confident he could at least reach the Central Foundation realm, enough to convince his father, the head of the Wu clan, to grant him the position of heir, securing his future as his father's successor.
But for that, he needed to interact more actively in the world and forge connections that would allow him to survive until then, after all, he was not the only one coveting his father's position—there were a total of six siblings, including one sister.
Wu Bao interacted with few people and was extremely cautious, as his goals as the young master of his clan had always been his priorities.
He could not fail to anticipate all kinds of scenarios so that nothing bad would affect his clan's good reputation, which would consequently hinder his objectives. He never used his status arbitrarily to oppress others without reason, but the world was cruel, and he knew it.
Within his clan, his brothers constantly used every possible means to dissuade him from giving up the position of young lord.
Since his second and third brothers were merely mediocre talents, they could not compete with him in terms of strength.
However, the two were twins, and together they had influence over a few of their father's servants.
Wu Bao even believed that some of his servants, who accompanied him on the ship, were currently monitoring him and relaying important information through jade talismans.
His first and seventh sisters were the favorites of heaven, their talents far surpassing his, and they could grow up nourished by all the resources of the clan, while Wu Bao would have to work hard to create business relationships for the family and try to survive.
Fortunately, his first brother cultivated most of the time and hardly interacted with him, while his talented sister had a sweet personality.
In Wu Bao's heart, she was a young girl who seemed to be a teenager now but had a maturity that always protected him in decisive moments.
Like the last time when his father reprimanded him for failing to close a deal with a comedian from the city of Shizou, just as his father was about to slap him, his little sister appeared to save him.
Since then, his respect for her had grown in his heart, and he vowed to repay her by protecting her in case he could not become the young lord of his family.
Even if he failed, he was sure that with his connections, he could significantly increase his seventh sister's chances of competing against his first brother.
That was why he was determined to endure this deadly journey at all costs.
Holy shit, a monster!" one of the men shouted, while another exclaimed, pointing at the creature. "It's really an aquatic beast of the Innatus grade, and I can feel it! Not only is it at the peak of its first mutation, but its combat power must be no less than the intermediate layer of Qi."
"Yes, that's right. This world is cruel; perhaps I will have to die here.
The beasts are incredibly powerful, stronger than humans. It's no wonder our human race is so diminished in this Era.
We can only lower ourselves to mere vassals of the beast states.
If only the human emperors cared about our miserable lives and tried to negotiate better conditions with the ten thousand races, we humans wouldn't be indigent, waiting for death like food destined to be served!"
The man who shouted this was the first to be torn in two by the beast, before it crushed and devoured him.
The beast licked its lips, looking satisfied. "Kukuku, it seems I will soon be able to undergo my second evolution.
Humans, surrender and let me eat you; it will be an honor to be the food of my spiritual whale clan." "It was indeed the whale clan!" Only then did Wu Bao react, taking a few steps back while keeping his cautious eyes fixed on the figure of the beast as it devoured more people.
Xu Bai thought of something, why had he forgotten this?
Before leaving home, Wu Bao's father had left a mark on his spiritual artifact, telling him that if he activated it, it would be enough to save his life.
He knew that this pendant could unleash the initial power of a Foundation Establishment realm cultivator, which for a beast at the first transformation stage, the equivalent of an Qi Discernment realm's intermediate layer, would be devastating.
Wu Bao thought it was a waste to use it now, due to his cautious nature and awareness of the numerous dangerous scenarios he could face. He had hoped not to have to use his life-saving trump card, but it seemed to be the only way.
Gritting his teeth, he infused a bit of his spiritual Qi to activate the talisman, his body trembling as his hands threatened to shake under the sharp gaze of the Whale Beast, which was fully aware of the powerful spiritual fluctuation from the pendant.
"Kuku, smart boy, I think you know what you need to do. If you don't want to be the first to die, hand over your pendant to me," the beast spoke in sarcasm while holding the injured body of a servant Wu Bao knew well.
"Damn it, cursed monster! If only I could get stronger, I swear I'll exterminate your damned clan!" These words flashed through Wu Bao's mind like the wind through the plains, but he dared not express them out loud.
His conscience wouldn't allow him to see his servant cruelly devoured.
He sighed, letting go of his last shred of judgment. He was ready to surrender.
[Author's Note: The three initial realms are: Qi Discovery, Kingdom of the central foundation and stage of the 4 elements.
The measure of power I will use will be by the bears: each real bear can lift half a ton, so the use will be my measure of strength]