The leaflets fluttered down from the sky, their descent an unpredictable motion, with no guarantee they would land on the ship. However, the sheer volume of leaflets ensured that as long as they were continuously scattered, some would inevitably reach the vessel. The moment even a single leaflet landed on the ship, Shen Feng and Li Ke Yi's mission would be accomplished.
The leaflets quickly reached the captain and the ability users. Upon reading the contents, everyone rejoiced. They had been pondering how to ascertain the location of the Blue Whale just last night, and by this morning, they had already received the information.
"Xiao Sheng, your brother-in-law's status is quite useful, isn't it? Shen Feng actually took the initiative to send you the information. Not simple, not simple at all. You are a remarkable individual," Zhang Zi chuckled after seeing the leaflet in his hand.
Xiao Sheng, however, was not pleased. Instead, he frowned and replied seriously, "I don't think this is simple. Based on my understanding of Shen Feng, he's not the type to do something like this. He's someone who wouldn't act without a benefit. Yet, at this moment, he's actively disseminating exclusive information. There's something amiss."
Gong Changfa was also studying the map, analyzing as he looked. "Shen Feng is indeed a shrewd fellow. Since he's willingly thrown down the map at this juncture, it signifies he wants us to know the Blue Whale's whereabouts. This presents two possibilities: one, Shen Feng is using this fake map to deceive us; the other, Shen Feng deliberately wants us to know the Blue Whale's location so we can clear the path."
The others followed Gong Changfa's line of thought, analyzing carefully and forming their own opinions. The majority believed Shen Feng was intentionally having them clear the path. The captain suddenly received other messages and immediately understood.
"We don't need to speculate. This is Shen Feng and his group's 'drive the tiger to swallow the wolf' strategy. They are truly insidious. Knowing the dangers within the Divine Realm, they want us to clear the path while they can observe from the sidelines," the captain stated decisively.
Upon hearing this, everyone asked, "How do you know?"
The captain replied, "Fleets from other countries have also received leaflets. It's evident that Shen Feng and Wang Ao Ye have prepared enough leaflets and are distributing them everywhere. At this moment, the leaflets are likely scattered far and wide."
"I knew it wouldn't be that simple. Shen Feng truly has a belly full of bad water, to think of such a devious method. Having us clear the path is tantamount to sending us to our deaths. Utterly detestable!" someone exclaimed in anger, having understood Shen Feng's malicious intent.
The ability users also did not wish to be manipulated. After all, they were ability users, and none wanted to be controlled. However, Shen Feng was employing an open stratagem. Even knowing Shen Feng's intentions, they were helpless to resolve it. If they didn't search for the Blue Whale, other factions would. In the end, whoever found the Blue Whale first would have the priority in obtaining the extraterrestrial meteorite.
Gong Changfa pondered for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Captain, can we contact other factions and urge everyone to unite, to refrain from acting rashly? If we can rally other ability users and act together, Shen Feng's scheme will fail."
However, the captain shook his head upon hearing Gong Changfa's suggestion. "That's impossible. The matter itself is difficult, and there's no reason why our call for unity would be supported. At this moment, it's likely that other factions are also focused on seizing the extraterrestrial meteorite first. Who would heed our call?"
Everyone fell silent. Clearly, uniting at this moment would be the most appropriate course of action. Yet, human nature was inherently selfish. Who would willingly watch such immense profit and do nothing? Shen Feng's plan, targeting the weakness of human nature, was truly despicable. They knew it was a 'drive the tiger to swallow the wolf' tactic, yet they had no choice but to proceed.
Xiao Sheng finally sighed and said, "Since we cannot unite, we can only prepare for battle. Pack up and get ready to enter the Divine Realm. In any case, let's try to approach the ring-shaped island."
The ability users busied themselves, preparing to enter the Divine Realm to search for the Blue Whale. As for the potential dangers they might encounter, they could only overcome them, a fact likely within Shen Feng's calculations.
At this moment, the captain found Xiao Sheng and Gong Changfa. "Gentlemen, you are both leaders of your respective teams. I can now tell you a secret: there are actually hot air balloons in the warehouse. If you need to use them, you are free to do so. Ten hot air balloons, once retrieved from the warehouse, are ready for use. This is one of the methods for aerial travel."
Headquarters was not foolish. Having learned that airplanes were unusable in the Divine Realm, they began to consider other methods. Besides airplanes, there were other ways to ascend into the sky. For instance, gliders powered by internal combustion engines, which did not require sophisticated electronic instruments. There were also other means for humans to fly, and hot air balloons were a very viable option.
Xiao Sheng and Gong Changfa were quite surprised to learn that they could also enter the Divine Realm from the air, never expecting such items to be prepared in the ship's warehouse. However, at this moment, the usefulness of hot air balloons was not very significant.
Gong Changfa directly stated, "At this time, there are always sea gulls in the sky. Hot air balloons are too large a target. In such a situation, using hot air balloons is not a good choice. We should still travel by ship. On the water, at least we have coral islands to take cover from attacks."
After packing their equipment, the group set off. With Shen Feng's leaflets, they now had a map of the Divine Realm, making their actions twice as effective.
After Shen Feng distributed all the leaflets from the glider, he returned to the ship. Wang Ao Ye, meanwhile, dispatched his subordinates, earnestly instructing them, "Upon entering the Divine Realm, focus on observing the progress of other factions. If they reach the ring-shaped island, it means the dangers have been mostly resolved. At that point, we should make our move."
A glider departed every two hours, partly to allow practice in using the gliders and partly to ascertain the combat situation within the Divine Realm.
Wang Ao Ye said to Shen Feng, "Mr. Shen, at this moment, we should wait on the ship. As for the combat situation within the Divine Realm, it will undoubtedly be under our control."
Meanwhile, personnel from countless factions had already rushed into the Divine Realm. Among them, from India, over a dozen ability users entered the Divine Realm in hot air balloons. However, their targets in the sky were far too conspicuous. Within the Divine Realm, there were numerous coral islands, which served as nesting grounds for sea gulls. At this moment, countless sea gulls took flight, soaring towards the group in the hot air balloons.
Since they were ability users, they were not without their skills. They immediately unleashed their abilities to resist the mutated sea gulls, and many were killed. However, even with countless sea gulls dead or injured, they continued their assault. Eventually, two sea gulls approached a hot air balloon from above and pecked several holes in it. Hot air immediately spewed from the openings.
The principle of hot air balloons flying in the sky was simple, utilizing the principle of thermal expansion. Heating the air caused it to expand, reducing the density of the gas within the balloon, thus making it lighter. By adjusting the intensity of the fuel combustion, the ascent and descent of the hot air balloon could be controlled. Hot air balloons had appeared two centuries prior, and the Indians naturally mastered this technology.
At this moment, holes appeared in the hot air balloon, signifying a continuous loss of hot air from within. Fresh air would replenish the balloon, but this would cause the balloon's buoyancy to disappear.
The Indian ability users were furious, having never expected to be attacked by a flock of sea gulls. With the hot air balloon punctured, they could only descend helplessly. Fortunately, there were coral islands in the vicinity of the sea. As long as they approached these coral islands, they would be safe.
However, as the hot air balloon slowly descended, a massive dark shadow suddenly appeared on the water's surface. Immediately, a single horn drilled up from beneath the water. Once the horn emerged, it directly pierced the basket of the hot air balloon. In an instant, the basket of the hot air balloon shattered. One ability user was particularly unlucky, being impaled by the horn on the spot and dying shortly after. The remaining ability users in the basket fell into the sea.
Although they had fallen into the water, the ability users here could all swim to some extent. They immediately began swimming with all their might, heading towards the coral island.
"Hold on! As long as we reach the island, we'll be safe," someone shouted loudly.
Reaching the island meant survival, that was true. But the prerequisite was reaching the island. And at that moment, an accident occurred. The water's surface suddenly turned pitch black. Upon closer inspection, countless fish were swimming beneath the water. These were all pike, with long venomous spines on their backs. Once struck by the spines, their fate was sealed; they would undoubtedly be poisoned to death.
The Indian ability users ultimately paid the price for their rash and reckless actions. Surrounded by pike, they endured their bites. Two bites were not much, as they were not piranhas, but the venomous spines on the pike's backs had also struck the group. In the end, all of them perished at sea.
This scene was witnessed by surrounding ability users. Upon seeing this, everyone became fearful, as it seemed the closer they got to the ring-shaped island, the more dangerous it became.
"The surroundings of the ring-shaped island are too perilous. It's not simple to reach the central location through our own efforts. We must unite from now on. Everyone, why don't we first divide the meteorite, and then cooperate? After success, we will divide it according to the prearranged plan. No one should try to monopolize it." After encountering numerous dangers, everyone realized the necessity of unity.
The group decided to divide the meteorite right there. This way, their most basic conflict would be resolved, and they could unite. What a good idea, they should do just that.
"That's right, that's right. Let's cooperate, gather together, and prepare to divide the meteorite based on our numbers."
"No, no. If we divide it by numbers, China will gain too much advantage. Your ability users are the most numerous. Let's divide it according to the population of each country."
"What nonsense are you talking about? Even if we divide the meteorite by national population, China will still occupy the majority, won't it?"
... The ability users first gathered together to discuss how to divide the meteorite. Meanwhile, Gong Changfa said to Xiao Sheng, "These foreigners are too foolish. They're still being led by Shen Feng and don't even realize it, yet they're still discussing dividing the meteorite. By the time we've fought sufficiently, Shen Feng will be ready to come and reap the benefits."
Xiao Sheng nodded and replied, "Since the foreigners are so foolish now, we might as well use them. Let them be the vanguard, depleting the number of creatures in the Divine Realm, while we preserve our strength to seize the meteorite!"