Chapter 540: Abducting a Group of Little Sea Lions

Out on the open sea, Ning Fei sailed homeward, riding the wind.

Seabirds and dolphins accompanied the cruise ship, making the live-stream footage look even more relaxing.

A moon like a silver plate reflected upon the calm, windless water.

The waves continuously rippled into folds.

Everything was beautiful.

Ning Fei set his course, turned off the stream, and rested comfortably on the ship.

Days without his pets felt slightly boring.

If he had known this expedition would be so simple, he would have brought the little guys along.

His main concern had been that the natives on North Sentinel Island might harm them.

Just like that, the Qingfeng cruise ship continued speeding across the ocean.

Once he bypassed the Australian islands and entered the Fiji Sea, he wouldn't be far from Huaxia.

"We've reached the Fiji Sea."

"This area is rich in tropical cash crops. There's an abundance of sugarcane, coconuts, and bananas. Fiji is even known as the world's sweet island."

"But the most famous inhabitants of the Fiji Sea are its tropical fish."

Ning Fei said as he stood on the deck, enjoying the sea breeze and looking out at the water.

"Look over there, everyone. It's a school of sardines."

Ning Fei pointed forward, looking quite interested.

Through the live-stream lens, the netizens saw a massive, dense black mass of fish beneath the blue ocean, packed so tightly it almost looked as if the water had been polluted.

"Good lord, those fish look terrifying! There are so many of them!"

"I almost thought some giant sea monster had appeared!"

"The ocean is truly terrifying."

"There has to be at least a million sardines there."

"Sardines are highly gregarious. Generally speaking, their schools are massive. At their peak, up to 400 million of them can gather together."

"The number of sardines in this school definitely isn't small."

At that moment, Ning Fei noticed more and more seabirds gathering around the cruise ship. He also saw many sailfish darting back and forth through the school of sardines.

"Sardines are the best prey in the sea. Many marine animals feed on them."

The Qingfeng cruise ship had already approached the school.

Various seabirds circled continuously in the sky before suddenly plunging into the water and resurfacing with a sardine clamped in their beaks.

Meanwhile, several strange-looking sailfish would occasionally breach, exposing their four-meter-long bodies before diving back down to continue hunting.

Ning Fei had already eaten the finest bluefin tuna, so he had no intention of hunting these sailfish.

He simply watched this spectacular hunting scene unfold on the ocean.

The seabirds soared excitedly, enjoying their sardine feast.

The sailfish rampaged through the dense school of fish.

Watching such a magnificent scene, the netizens were full of awe.

"Those poor sardines, they're the only ones taking a beating!"

"Haha, nothing can be done about it. Who told them to be prey!"

"There are so many seabirds here. Nature is just too beautiful!"

In the live-stream footage, the sea met the sky with countless birds fluttering in between. It was a truly beautiful sight.

Just then, Ning Fei noticed another dark mass swimming over from the distance.

It looked like another type of marine creature.

"Look over there, everyone. It seems someone else has come to join the fun."

Ning Fei remarked with curiosity.

"What the heck is coming over now? A battle royale?"

"Could it be another school of sardines?"

"Are the sardines crazy? Why would they run over here for no reason?"

"It has to be a predator. It's either sharks or dolphins."

"Sardines: We thank your whole family."

Ning Fei looked over with deep interest.

The school of sardines below had an estimated population of several million. For marine predators, this was practically the most lavish all-you-can-eat buffet on the ocean.

Who could refuse a buffet!

"It seems like a lot of animals eat sardines."

"These fish have it so rough!"

"Damn it, there are so many sardines in the sea, yet canned sardines in the supermarket are still sold for so much!"

Ning Fei gazed at the dark figures swimming closer from afar.

He was also curious about what kind of animal they were.

His eyesight was excellent, and he identified the approaching creatures from a distance.

"So they're sea lions!"

"The Fiji Sea has quite a few sea lions. It looks like this herd caught the scent of the sardines and traveled far and wide to get a share of the meal."

At that moment, the drone panned over to film them.

The netizens saw a group of sea lions slicing through the water, steadily swimming closer.

Everyone couldn't help but laugh.

"Another pack of predators. There probably won't even be scraps left of these sardines."

"Are those sea lions? Why do I feel like they look exactly like seals?"

"They really do look alike. Normally, you really can't tell the difference."

"Sea lions have a relatively mild temperament."

Seeing the sea lions also put Ning Fei in a relaxed mood.

"Sea lions and seals do look very similar."

"But there are many differences. Sea lions have smooth bodies without other colors, while seals have lots of small spots."

"Sea lion flippers look more like fish fins, whereas seal claws are furry with little hooks."

"Also, sea lions have longer necks and long whiskers, while seals barely have any neck at all."

Ning Fei explained with a smile.

"I learned something new again."

"A new piece of trivia every day."

"Temple Master Ning really knows so much. I'm completely won over."

The little sea lions were delightfully clumsy, looking exceptionally cute.

They charged right into the school of sardines.

In an instant, the ocean surface became entirely lively.

Thousands of seabirds flew in unison above the water, while sea lions and sailfish darted wildly below.

As for the school of sardines, one could only say they were too pitiful.

"However, these sea lions might be in danger too."

"They probably didn't notice the sailfish."

"You have to know, sailfish don't just eat sardines. They eat sea lions too."

Just as Ning Fei was speaking, a sea lion suddenly leaped from the ocean, landing directly onto the deck of the Qingfeng.

The hull of the Qingfeng cruise ship was much higher than that of a regular yacht. For a sea lion to jump up so easily truly exceeded Ning Fei's expectations.

The netizens were also startled.

Ning Fei looked down and found that a sailfish was chasing it!

"These sea lions have noticed the sailfish now," Ning Fei said. "I'm guessing they're terrified."

"Eating sardines is important, but being hunted by sailfish is no joke."

Ning Fei looked back at the sea lion on the deck.

The sea lion stared wide-eyed, curiously examining Ning Fei.

Sea lions were relatively mild-tempered animals, with a very cute and somewhat adorable appearance.

Therefore, Ning Fei temporarily allowed it to take refuge on the cruise ship.

At this point, Ning Fei looked down and discovered quite a few sea lions gathering around the Qingfeng.

Sailfish were fast and needed room to sprint for their attacks. If there was a solid object behind their target, the sailfish wouldn't dare to abruptly ram into it.

These sea lions were actually using the cruise ship as cover.

The netizens witnessed this scene as well.

Everyone rejoiced.

"It looks like the herd of sea lions is seeking the Qingfeng's protection!"

"It's too chaotic down there. Being targeted by a sailfish is no laughing matter."

"Yeah, sailfish are fast and fierce. It's much safer for the sea lions to stick close to the cruise ship."

Seeing this situation, Ning Fei steered the cruise ship away from the school of sardines, heading in another direction.

Sure enough, the herd of sea lions simply trailed behind the cruise ship, swimming outward alongside it.

Seeing the group of sea lions following behind the Qingfeng, the netizens were a bit dumbfounded.

"What's going on? How did Temple Master Ning end up abducting a whole herd of sea lions?"

"Haha, Temple Master Ning and the sea lions are making a clean getaway together!"

"There's no helping it. With so many sailfish around, even the sea lions are scared. Right now, the cruise ship is their savior."

The live-stream footage was exceptionally beautiful and amusing.

Ning Fei also hadn't expected that he would end up running off with a group of little sea lions just like this.