Chapter 3

Cruise ships might sound high-class, but they aren't actually that exaggerated. In reality, a cruise ship is just like stuffing several thousand people and a department store into one big vessel. On board, there are a bunch of brand-name shops, entertainment facilities, movie theaters, outdoor swimming pools, sports centers, bars, casinos, theaters, high-end restaurants, and free buffets (this part is included in the ticket price).

Basically, a cruise ship is a very pleasant place for pure vacation and enjoyment. Although Elaine had only managed to get a third-class double suite to avoid attention, the attendant still diligently helped them move their luggage into the cabin and asked, "Are the two of you newlyweds on a trip?"

Qi Xing couldn't help but glance at the nun suspiciously, only to see that Elaine, who had already changed into casual clothes, kept a straight face and replied, "Yes, we are."

It turned out that on the fake passports Elaine had temporarily obtained, the two used the same surname and were both from Greece. As for why Qi Xing, with his obviously Chinese face, would be Greek, well, marriage immigration isn't exactly difficult anyway.

"Congratulations!" The attendant immediately beamed, "We will send a small cake to your cabin later!"

Oh, they have this kind of room service?

Once the attendant left, Qi Xing closed the door and turned to Elaine: "Nun, what kind of game are you playing?"

"The exorcists of the Roman Church are all monks and nuns; posing as a married couple on a trip is the only way to avoid having our identities discovered."

Elaine was very calm. Perhaps to tease Qi Xing, she even smiled faintly and countered, "What? Do you dislike pretending to be a married couple with me?"

"I dislike it very much."

Qi Xing answered decisively.

As a result, the nun puffed out her cheeks for the entire five minutes until the cake arrived.

003: When did you get the illusion that common sense hasn't changed

"Anyway, the documents are already like this, so let's continue according to the plan."

Elaine only recovered once the attendants brought the cake and placed it on the table. Regardless of what she usually said about being a nun and not giving herself away easily, Qi Xing's words had really dampened her spirits.

"Next, we will temporarily act separately."

Although Qi Xing possessed heaven-shaking magic power, incredible combat strength, and could even perform the act of refining living people, perhaps because he had already put all his talent into these areas, he was completely clueless about formations, barriers, and divination arts. It wasn't that he hadn't tried to learn, but these things really depended on intuition, and Qi Xing just couldn't grasp them.

In contrast, Elaine was a ritual master within the system of Christianity and an expert in witchcraft and magic within the Roman Church, knowledgeable in the mystical arts of almost all schools. Therefore, she would now blend in with the passengers, secretly setting up protective exorcism prayers and symbols, eventually turning the entire ship into a consecrated barrier.

As for Qi Xing, he was to intentionally move about in the open, pretending to enjoy all the ship's entertainment facilities, releasing the presence of a powerhouse to exert terrifying pressure on the hypnosis uncle hiding somewhere. After all, no matter how powerful the hypnosis was, anyone hit by Qi Xing's Thunder Fist would be sent straight to meet God.

Positional warfare and domain confrontation can be considered the most traditional forms of magical combat. Because no matter the religion or school of magic, mages can only exert their maximum power in a domain that resonates with their own school. Taoist top-tier spells require an altar, monks need barriers, wizards need temples, and exorcists' words have more power on sacred ground—the reality within these domains operates according to the will and paradigm of their creators.

Magical forms that conform to the owner's will are enhanced, while those despised by the creator are weakened.

Qi Xing was not good at these delicate barrier tasks, but Elaine could help him prepare the most suitable battle position.

The power-type hero in the open and the technical assistant in the shadows—they would work together to force the villain out and kill him. If they could find and rescue the hypnotized and kidnapped children during this process, that would, of course, be even better.

"Elaine, don't you go getting into trouble just because I'm not by your side. If you encounter anything wrong, run immediately." As they parted ways, Qi Xing reminded her seriously.

"You must also take care of your own safety." Unexpectedly, Elaine also said, "The Worlds Strongest Man is not absolutely invincible. Professor Van Stra has already been on this ship for several days. If we think he hasn't prepared a position or boosted his combat power in advance, then we would be too foolish."

"Once I complete the exorcism array, I can directly detect how many people on the entire ship are under mental control and where they are. So please don't get bogged down in a fight, and absolutely do not go around bombing things."

What do you take me for? A serial killer?

However, considering Elaine's past experiences, Qi Xing knew that her nagging was inevitable.

"Also, please keep an eye out on the ship for any lone Mysterious Little Girl, or parents whose children have gone missing."

A lone Mysterious Little Girl might have been kidnapped onto the ship by the hypnosis uncle; this was easy to understand. But the ship was so small, a confined space, how could there be parents whose children had gone missing?

"We don't know what he wants to do with those children. If he has already lost a few, and a few have died, it is normal for him to look for replacements on the ship." The nun explained calmly.

What kind of beastly behavior is this? Doesn't the person who does this have children of his own? Oh, he really doesn't.

So, Qi Xing looked at the photo to memorize Professor Van Stra's appearance, as well as the appearances of all 40 Mysterious Little Girl who had been hypnotized and kidnapped, and began to wander around the cruise ship alone.

Restaurants, bars, movie theaters, swimming pools—this cruise ship had everything, like a small town.

Qi Xing walked over to look at every restaurant. Although it was past nine in the evening, whether it was the high-end shops that required extra payment or the buffet that all passengers could eat for free, many people were still happily gorging themselves.

With a semi-immortal body immune to all poisons, Qi Xing also grabbed two muffins at the buffet to eat and drank a cup of hot chocolate. Apart from being extremely sweet, he didn't feel anything wrong.

Children? He didn't see any children. Looking over, there were only adults eating.

What about the movie theater? Qi Xing walked over to take a look; it was all people, adults, gathered together laughing and chatting, seemingly nothing special.

The swimming pool? Same as above. It was all adults playing in the water… Hmm?

Now Qi Xing finally realized something was wrong: "Never mind a lone Mysterious Little Girl, I haven't even seen a little boy—or even a child being brought along by an adult?"

Of course, there wouldn't necessarily be children on a cruise ship. Anyway, people don't want to have kids these days, maybe this time there really were no parents bringing children along for a cruise. But Qi Xing had wandered through most of the dazzling entertainment facilities on the ship and hadn't seen a single living person under 18; it was obviously a bit strange.

After pondering for a moment, he went the opposite way and walked toward the casino—the casino on the ship only opens in international waters, but even in international waters, the casino wouldn't serve minors. As a result, there was no one here. Only a few dealers stood in the casino, dazed.

Qi Xing turned and walked into the bar on the ship—also no one. Only the bartender was smiling behind the bar.

By now, anyone could see that something was wrong.

"Areas suitable for children to play in now have not a single child, only adults; entertainment venues that children are not allowed to enter, which should only belong to adults, now don't even have a single adult, and are completely empty."

To say this is a coincidence, of course, it's not impossible. However, having traveled for ten years and killed many demons and heretics, Qi Xing naturally realized that fighting a madman mage is like playing a rule-based horror game where you don't know the rules. Any coincidence must be taken seriously, otherwise, you will die a miserable death.

He rubbed his temples and began to think about the patterns hidden beneath these abnormal phenomena. No one in the bar, no one in the casino, so what about places for lewd activities? But even on a cruise ship, there are no places specifically for prostitution, and even in international waters, it's impossible.

Where did the children go? Why didn't the [adults] notice? Why are the places for [adult] entertainment now empty?

Did Professor Van Stra kidnap 40 Mysterious Little Girl with hypnosis to enjoy some physics-based pleasure with them? If that were the case, he would need a venue for an orgy. 40 people can't be stuffed into one cabin, not even a first-class one.

Thinking of this, Qi Xing looked at the Barmaid behind the counter. The young woman was smiling, looking like just an ordinary waitress on the ship.

"One Mimosa." Qi Xing walked over, sat down, and said, "Business isn't very good for you today, is it?"

"Yes." The barmaid answered with a smile, skillfully mixing the drink, her movements and reactions quite normal, "There haven't been any customers for the past two or three days."

As expected. Qi Xing nodded and picked up the glass to take a sip. The wine was a bit too sweet and didn't taste very good. He pondered where to start next.

For some reason, at the same time, he felt a very intense gaze staring at him. A hot, sticky gaze, just like a hunter staring at prey. Perhaps he shouldn't sit here for too long.

"Thanks for the drink. Keep the change." Qi Xing took out a twenty-dollar bill and handed it to the barmaid.

But the barmaid didn't take the money. She stared at the twenty-dollar bill with a puzzled look for a while, and finally looked up with an apologetic expression, asking Qi Xing: "Excuse me, what is this?"

"It's the payment for the drink." Qi Xing answered with a hint of ominous premonition.

Sure enough, the barmaid immediately laughed, "Guest, how can this thing be exchanged for wine? Wine can only be exchanged for a cock█, isn't that common sense?"

While speaking, she pulled a machete out from under the counter and locked her passionate, needle-like gaze firmly onto Qi Xing's █.

The ancients said: The valiant hero is sought by the fair lady. At this moment, the barmaid's hot gaze was like roasting meat, locked onto Qi Xing's lower █. No matter how hard a cock█ was, her machete would surely be able to slice it off at the root!

Damn it. Qi Xing finally realized that they had underestimated the hypnosis uncle too much. —When did you get the illusion that the change in common sense was limited to lewd activities?

004: High-class cruise ship becomes low-class

Damn it. Somewhere along the line, a strong aroma had filled the entire bar. Sweet, sour, just like the cocktail Qi Xing had just ordered, mixed with a spicy, stimulating sensation, intense and highly impactful. Once you smell this aroma too much, a strange chemical reaction occurs—if you can't react in time, you'll get drunk.

At this moment, it was time to test Qi Xing's alcohol tolerance. The barmaid's hot gaze was like roasting meat, locked onto Qi Xing's lower █. She held a machete in her hand. No matter how hard a cock█ was, this knife would surely be able to slice it off at the root.

"Guest, don't delay any longer. Trading your healthy adult male cock█ for wine is only natural, right?"

Although she was still talking, the content had completely lost its logic. That longing gaze, the hot smile, and the gleaming machete in her hand were more terrifying to a man than facing a hundred thousand serial killers!!

Fortunately, Qi Xing was no ordinary man. Just as the barmaid's machete was about to kiss Qi Xing's lower limbs, Qi Xing struck first, moving as fast as lightning to lightly tap her right arm's Quchi acupoint. "Violet Lightning Palm, half power."

Invisible electricity immediately blasted into the woman's limbs and bones, striking her central nervous system with violent force. "Eee-eee-eee-oh-oh-oh-ah-ah-ah!?" The barmaid instantly emitted a shocking sound effect, her whole body vibrating with crackles, and she fell to her knees, tongue lolling out, her lusterless pupils indicating she was unconscious, with a completely ahegao expression. Urine wet the carpet behind the bar.

Qi Xing quickly pulled back and shook his head. Why did the Global Supernatural Council honor Qi Xing as Master Leipu? Besides praising his immense power, it was mainly because Thunder Arts was indeed the foundation of Qi Xing's cultivation.

Ten years ago, after Qi Xing ran away from home, he learned many different schools of magic all over the world. But the foundation remained the introductory mental cultivation method he had forced himself to memorize in the cultivation family before he fled.

Wasn't that family into refining zombies? What does that have to do with Thunder Arts? Actually, it has a lot to do with it. Because as early as when Taoist priests in the Song Dynasty first studied the Five Thunder Arts, they discovered that as long as you let lightning pass through a corpse, even if the soul had already left, the dead could move.

Therefore, Song Dynasty Taoists revered the Thunder Emperor as the Heavenly Venerable. The Heavenly Venerable of Thunder Universal Transformation governs all power of life and death in heaven and earth, summoning winds and generals, commanding ghosts and gods, and bestowing life or taking it away. He is both the Father of Ten Thousand Lives who rewards good and the God of Death who punishes evil.

The Huainanzi says: [When Yin and Yang collide, it is felt as thunder]. Thunder Arts is the meaning of the total control of the vibration of heaven and earth's Yin and Yang, and it is by no means something that ordinary [electricity] or [sound waves] can summarize.

Yin and Yang are the root of all things, which can be expressed as [life] and [death]. Since corpses can be revived with thunder, then at the divergence point of life and death, in the realm of the Thunder Emperor who holds the power of life and death, is there a supreme state where Yin and Yang are united at the end of the Thunder Cultivation path?

Qi Xing was obviously still far from it. But through special mental techniques, he refined his true qi into electricity, which he could release upon contact, allowing him to control the lives of other creatures with his bare hands. He could both treat illnesses and exorcise evil, and slaughter demons and take lives.

Similarly, poking someone with his finger to make her central nervous system reach an incomparable peak of sensation was also an easy matter. Qi Xing could even grab a villain and refine him instantly, making him only able to satisfy himself with a shock collar for the rest of his life. Such terror was no joke.

But at this moment, Qi Xing still felt ashamed of his negligence. He had underestimated the hypnosis uncle too much. Even the barmaid had picked up a machete to cut off a cock to pay for the drink; this ship, with over two thousand people, from the crew to every passenger… was probably already completely hypnotized.

Now, Qi Xing's electric shock therapy had taken down one barmaid, but what then? He still hadn't found a clue to the hypnosis uncle's location. Taking down the barmaid might actually make the hypnosis uncle aware of the anomaly.

(Mortals cannot hypnotize and brainwash over two thousand people by themselves. My total magic power can rank in the top ten in the human world, but even maintaining focus to brainwash twenty people is very difficult.)

Qi Xing is a semi-immortal living in the world, and a full-power [Thunder Fist] can sink an aircraft carrier. If the hypnosis uncle really had one hundred times Qi Xing's magic power, he could slap the Roman Church to death without thinking, and there would be no need to even run. There shouldn't be such a super-stat monster in the human world.

Although this world is twisted and strange, it still has rules to maintain its operation, otherwise, the world would have been destroyed long ago.

(Being able to pull off such a large-scale brainwashing of the whole ship must be some kind of large-scale ritual… A ritual driven by an ancient relic? Perhaps a great demon's magic power is indeed enough to do this; I don't understand this very well. I can only ask Elaine.)

Qi Xing quickly pondered, (But the ritual must have requirements, and it must have a ritual purpose. What exactly is the goal of this ritual? Could it be that he really wants to summon some evil god?)

While thinking, he walked out of the bar and activated his headset communicator: "Sword calling Holy Grail, I'm afraid the whole ship is full of goats."

The communicator didn't respond. The radio communication on the ship had been completely blocked.