Chapter 67 Agricultural and Forestry University, Seed Bank

Chapter 67: Chapter 66: Agricultural and Forestry University, Seed Bank

Underwater, the sensory vision shared by Snow Cake painted a clear picture: there were no large obstacles or dangerous creatures within a hundred-meter radius.

"Move out!" Han Ning ordered in a deep voice.

"HOOOOOOT!"

Xu Ming pulled the horn. The deep, drawn-out blast pierced the heavy curtain of rain.

He slammed the throttle lever all the way forward.

RUMBLE!

The auxiliary diesel engine erupted with powerful propulsion, driving the heavy hull forward to slice through the water.

Simultaneously, a strong southeasterly wind filled the towering main and foresails. The white canvas instantly swelled like a full moon.

Wind and diesel power combined perfectly.

The bow of the *Wind Chaser* surged upward as the sailboat rapidly accelerated.

Plowing through the murky, dark green waves and trailing a long white wake, the bow aimed directly toward the dense fog blanketing the southeast.

Sails raised, they set off!

With Snow Cake scouting the underwater conditions ahead, the fleet easily avoided various obstacles, quickly leaving the dock and passing through the Fog Area.

Breaking free from the suffocating Fog Area, torrential rain instantly smashed down on them, though their field of vision ironically broadened.

The murky water stretched out endlessly, with dense raindrops kicking up countless tiny splashes.

"ROAR!"

Shortly after leaving the Fog Area, Snow Cake sent back a warning from ahead.

"There’s something underwater on the starboard side. Steer clear of it," Han Ning warned.

Before he could finish speaking, a monster covered in dark cyan Scale Armor, resembling a giant catfish, suddenly burst from the mud and rammed toward Snow Cake.

Snow Cake had actually anticipated this, but it refused to dodge.

Because behind it was its master’s ship.

The two beasts collided, generating an undercurrent that caused the ships to sway slightly.

Missing its initial strike, the monster slapped the water with its massive tail, kicking up murky waves over two meters high. At the same time, it spat a high-pressure Water Arrow directly at the cabin.

Roaring furiously, Snow Cake swatted the Water Arrow, leaving it completely scattered.

The Tri-Colored Crystal Scale on its forehead flashed, and an invisible Spiritual Scream pierced into the monster’s consciousness.

The giant catfish stiffened. Seizing the opportunity, Snow Cake opened its gaping maw and bit off half of the creature’s head.

Such attacks were clearly not isolated incidents.

Almost simultaneously, the other ships were also ambushed.

The monsters outside the Fog Area had slightly different forms compared to those inside.

Some resembled giant lobsters with incredibly hard shells, brandishing massive pincers that discharged electrical arcs.

Others looked like water snakes, moving at lightning speeds and unleashing Ice Cone-like Energy Attacks underwater.

Aside from these ferocious aquatic monsters, the navigation itself was exceptionally difficult.

Xu Ming remained highly focused, constantly correcting their course with the help of Han Ning’s warnings.

The Awakened on the other ships clearly had similar methods, doing their best to steer clear of the hazardous zones.

"There’s a large concrete block underwater at our twelve o’clock. Evade it," Han Ning warned promptly.

"Hard port, fifteen degrees," Xu Ming muttered to himself as he spun the helm rapidly.

Han Ning also remained on high alert, ready at any moment to entangle deadly, sudden underwater obstacles like rebar or billboard wreckage.

The ships painstakingly navigated the maze-like waters on the city’s outskirts, their speed kept to a minimum.

A journey of merely a few nautical miles took a grueling two hours.

Thanks to Snow Cake constantly purging the monsters underwater, the fleet managed to leave the densely infested waters relatively intact.

After continuous encounters, a familiar landscape finally appeared to the east of the fleet.

A large number of collapsed, low-rise houses soaked in the water, and the faint outlines of villages could be seen in the distance.

"It’s the outskirts of Dashicun!" Xu Ming said joyfully, wiping the rain from his face.

Having arrived here, although they still encountered monsters occasionally, their strength was somewhat weaker than those in the outer waters.

They were mostly things like Crocodile Lizards.

Standing at the bow, Han Ning scanned this flood-ravaged land.

Collapsed houses, floating furniture wreckage, half-submerged utility poles... it was a scene of total devastation.

Looking at the collapsed houses around him, he slowly recalled his bearings.

He rarely came here in the past, only visiting once to eat at a food stall when hosting an out-of-town friend.

"Agricultural University seems to be just north of Dashicun..." Han Ning muttered to himself.

He remembered that in the northern part of Dashicun, there was an undergraduate institution called Bailu Agricultural and Forestry University.

Being an agricultural and forestry university, it very likely housed a seed bank.

As a Druid, the importance of a seed bank was self-evident to him.

It was a crucial resource point for future food security, plant optimization, and potentially even the cultivation of special crops.

However... Agricultural and Forestry University was in the complete opposite direction of their return route to Biyun Resort.

"Since we’re already here, we might as well make a trip over," Han Ning ordered without hesitation. "Old Xu, change course. Northwest, to Bailu Agricultural and Forestry University!"

"Agricultural and Forestry University? Understood. I’ve been there once."

Xu Ming didn’t hesitate in the slightest. He began calculating the water current and wind direction as he turned the heavy helm.

The massive hull of the *Wind Chaser* slowly turned on the water, breaking away from the main fleet’s course and sailing northwest.

In the cabin of the fleet behind them, Chairman Wu noticed the *Wind Chaser*’s abnormal turn. He immediately poked his head out the window and shouted, "Mr. Han Ning! What’s the situation? Why are you changing course?"

His voice was quickly swallowed by the wind and rain.

However, Han Ning was an Extraordinary Being with astonishing hearing, so he still caught Chairman Wu’s inquiry.

Han Ning’s voice pierced through the storm, "I’m heading to Agricultural and Forestry University to grab something! It has nothing to do with you all. Continue advancing as planned!"

"Agricultural and Forestry University?"

Recalling Han Ning’s ability to conjure vines, Chairman Wu guessed his intent.

"Understood! Mr. Han Ning, please be careful!"

Chairman Wu didn’t ask further questions. He immediately issued an order to the fleet, "All ships, attention! Maintain course, destination is the original assembly point! Full speed ahead!"

They had a large number of people, which meant many things required their attention and care.

The fleet urgently needed to find a relatively safe anchorage for a comprehensive overhaul, and the personnel needed rest.

Furthermore, they lacked Han Ning’s strength. Following him to Agricultural and Forestry University now wouldn’t be of much help and could instead result in additional casualties.

Returning to a safe zone to regroup was their top priority.

In the murky rain blanketing the outer waters of Dashicun, the fleet split into two.

Under Xu Ming’s control, the *Wind Chaser* plowed through the muddy waters, heading toward Bailu Agricultural and Forestry University.

The deeper they ventured to the northwest of Dashicun, the clearer the outlines of urban architecture became, and the water level dropped at a visible rate.

The deep water zone that could previously easily submerge the hull gradually disappeared, replaced by a shallow area choked with floating garbage and furniture debris.

Xu Ming stared intently at the water’s surface. With his brow tightly furrowed, he constantly tweaked their course to avoid half-submerged cars, billboard frames, and low walls.

"Mr. Han, the water depth is dropping rapidly; it’s already under three meters. In the area ahead, the water is full of collapsed houses and street facilities. The depth there is probably not even two meters. The *Wind Chaser*’s draft is close to two meters, and we’re currently fully loaded. If we go any further, we could run aground at any moment."

"Stop the ship," Han Ning ordered decisively.