The fleet led by Xu Lin had been sailing on the ocean for over two months. Throughout this time, they had endured countless storms and trials, yet their determination to find the required materials never wavered. By searching isolated islands and trading with other factions, Xu Lin was finally close to gathering everything he needed, with only one ingredient remaining: the Hundred Flower Fruit.
Yet, this final material proved somewhat tricky for Xu Lin. After making inquiries everywhere, he finally obtained a clue from the locals: about two hundred miles to the south, there was a faction that might possess the Hundred Flower Fruit. This news filled Xu Lin with excitement. He immediately expressed his gratitude and led the fleet to continue southward.
The fleet sailed for a full day without a single island in sight. The originally calm and placid sea gradually began to churn with waves that grew larger and larger, until moments later they reached several meters in height. The young crew members and others on board began to panic; only a handful of elderly sailors appeared relatively calm, seemingly unconcerned by waves of this magnitude.
Standing on deck with his hand on a mast, Xu Lin looked at the panicking crowd and hurriedly called out in a loud voice, "Do not panic too much. We have encountered similar situations before and made it through safely just the same. As long as everyone attends to their duties, we will certainly make it safely through this stretch of sea."
Following his words, the crew members' emotions gradually steadied, though they remained filled with worry and fear. They knew all too well how unpredictable storms at sea could be, and that the slightest carelessness could result in the destruction of the ship and the loss of all lives.
However, things were not so simple. Slowly, the sky turned dark and gloomy, and a fierce gale began to howl. All of this seemed to portend that this storm would not pass quickly, as if it intended to swallow everyone whole before subsiding.
At this moment, the waves surged toward the vessel like enraged, roaring beasts. Every impact caused the hull to shake violently, making it feel as though it could capsize at any second. The howling wind sounded like a demon's roar, carrying boundless power and malice, whipping up spray so fiercely that people could barely open their eyes.
Xu Lin still gripped the mast tightly, struggling to steady his body. He shouted at the top of his lungs to order the crew to take countermeasures, but the fury of the storm was far too overwhelming; his voice seemed entirely swallowed by the roaring wind, and the ship rocked precariously amidst the towering waves.
Just then, a massive wave on the sea not far away rolled slowly toward their ship. Like a giant beast poised to devour men, it advanced with unrivaled might, preparing to crash down upon them. Seeing this, the crew members were all struck with terror. Waves of this scale were something most of them were witnessing for the very first time in their lives; only a few veteran sailors had ever experienced such a thing, and their expressions grew grim. One veteran shouted at the top of his lungs, "Hold fast to the ship! The wave is about to strike us!" Everyone frantically grabbed the railings beside them and anything else secured to the hull—anything that could help them brace themselves. At that very instant, the wave slammed into the vessel, and the wooden doors of the superstructure creaked loudly, appearing to endure an impact that exceeded their utmost limits.
Yet the ocean, as if increasingly furious at having failed to destroy their ship, sent an even more gigantic wave roaring toward them from several hundred meters away. This wave towered dozens of zhang high, carrying a heaven-destroying, earth-shattering momentum that seemed ready to swallow everything in its path.
At this sight, even the veteran sailors wore looks of despair. They had weathered countless maritime storms, but this wave surpassed anything they could have imagined. They knew full well that their vessel could not withstand a wave of this magnitude; once struck by the crest, not a single one of them would survive.
One veteran sailor seemed to resign himself to his fate, his expression turning to despair—or perhaps it could be understood as relief, since the sea was the ultimate destination of all sailors. He let go of the railing and stood quietly upon the deck, raising both hands as though welcoming the arrival of death, as if returning to the embrace of the ocean.
Before the power of nature, everyone could feel their own insignificance and helplessness. The other crew members looked at the veteran, their hearts likewise filled with terror and sorrow. They knew that no matter how desperately they struggled, it was already impossible to alter the arrangements of fate.
Xu Lin still gripped the mast tightly, as though fusing his own body with the ship, and shouted with all his might, "Hold on, everyone..." Yet, after saying those few words, he no longer knew what else he could say to boost morale. In the face of this roaring sea and the immense danger bearing down upon them, words had grown pale and powerless. He could only silently pray for the blessing of the gods, hoping they might survive this test of life and death. He did not know if he would die. Unlike the others, his body had been altered by the Immortal Pill, and he might survive this crisis—though, of course, he could also be buried within this vast ocean, for he still understood very little about the changes in his own body and had no idea to what extent the Immortal Pill had transformed him.
The distant giant wave resembled a ferocious beast, closing in on the ship at an astonishing speed. When it was less than a hundred meters away, the crew's terror reached its absolute peak; the more directly they looked at that towering wall of water, the more the dread spread to every corner of their bodies. The closer it came, the more terrifying its might felt, chilling everyone to the bone.
When the massive wave finally reached close quarters, Xu Lin widened his eyes, and despair began to fill his heart. He felt that even with the Immortal Pill within him, it would be of no use against such a colossal wave; if that wall of water crashed directly onto his body, it would likely shatter him to pieces. Only at that moment did he understand the veteran sailor's actions, for he similarly felt that any struggle now was entirely in vain. Yet, unlike the veteran, he did not completely abandon hope of resistance. He could only muster his very last ounce of strength to grip the mast, shelter his body behind it, and then close his eyes, awaiting the judgment of fate.
As time ticked away, the giant wave arrived on schedule, slamming directly into the hull. The ship shattered instantly, and the waves descended like divine soldiers dropped from the heavens, displaying the might of the heavens to the fullest, pressing that terrifying wrath upon the bodies of every single person.
Xu Lin merely felt the impact of the wave against his body for a fleeting second before losing consciousness entirely.
In the end, the large vessel failed to withstand the colossal wave and was utterly pulverized. A portion of it sank to the bottom of the sea, while even more debris floated upon the surface, continuing to endure the fury of the ocean. Xu Lin and his fleet vanished into the boundless sea. What would their fate be? Was there still a glimmer of survival?