Under normal conditions, spiritual energy could be considered a fluid, especially a plasma.
99% of the living beings in the Spiritual World could only absorb this energy when it was in the form of plasma, which was easily found in the atmosphere, in living beings, and in spiritual crystals.
Although the crystals were solid objects, the solid part was not crystallized spiritual energy as one might think. The solid part was just the envelope that contained a certain amount of spiritual energy plasma.
So, spiritual crystals and frozen spiritual energy were two completely different things!
Frozen spiritual energy was actually another physical form of spiritual energy that was completely crystallized, extremely dense, and difficult to access.
Most of the beings in this world couldn't absorb this kind of energy, and they didn't even have any methods to change the state of this form of spiritual energy. Therefore, it was natural to think that it would be impossible to live or cultivate in this area, as some of the Sages in that group thought.
However, there were beings native to the Arctic who could devour and assimilate this kind of spiritual energy!
"Are there such beings?"
"The sharks we dealt with a few days ago were one of those beings capable of absorbing crystallized spiritual energy," Minos said to his people. "But even these beings have to be careful of the Arctic.
These icy waters can strengthen them and create the conditions for them to become stronger. But beyond their limits, even they can freeze to death, even considering their special characteristics."
"Incredible!"
"Your Majesty seems to know a lot about this area." One of the two Sea Folk men commented as the mermaids on the boat looked at Minos with interest.
He said with a smile. "I read an old book about them."
After that, the group continued talking about how special and unique this area was and the dangers and precautions one had to take while there.
The sea was treacherous. Sometimes, you could think you were safe, and then something would happen that would subtly change the conditions but enough to endanger the lives of even high-ranking people.
As they talked about this dangerous environment, the three individuals from the Sea Folk drove the ship through the area, following the less icy path in front of them.
As beings who are extremely sensitive to spiritual energy, they could use the crystallized energy in the environment and the frozen water to determine the coldest and least cold spots.
Thus, they made their way through the area that would soon bring them close to the region of the Arctic Whale tribe.
But as the hours passed and they approached this other powerful tribe of the deep sea, one of the mermaids suddenly noticed something unusual.
"Guys, I feel something's wrong about 15 kilometers from our position." She said as she noticed something beyond the distance the group could see.
Another level 91 mermaid agreed and said. "I smell blood and two powerful auras in that distance, just ahead of where we're going.
They are two 10th-stage beasts, level 92 and 93. The stronger one is chasing the weaker one, which is wounded."
Listening to Adrina, Minos became more serious, along with the mermen in this crew and the members of the Sea Folk.
A confrontation between specialists of these levels near them would be dangerous for the crew!
The Krakens there became interested and tried to observe further ahead while their ship continued to approach the two beasts in front of them.
Minos ordered his group. "Prepare to defend our ship."
Immediately after he said this, the creatures of various races in that group left where they were sheltering from the icy waters of that area and headed for the sides of that ship.
As soon as they did so, all of them circulated their energies in their bodies and transformed into their giant versions, with the two Krakens positioning themselves at the front of the ship and the mermaids and mermen at the sides behind them.
Minos, the humans, and the land beasts on the ship were soon on the deck, all in their larger forms, showing either their bestial bodies or avatars.
Even though they weren't sea creatures, like the 9th and 10th-stage experts, they could still fight in the underwater world.
They would be weakened in that environment, just like a marine being on land. But they could fight in an environment different from the one they were used to.
When they were fully in the defensive formation they had set up after their recent battle, they finally spotted two huge creatures as big as the Krakens in front of their ship.
One of them was a level 92 whale, its scales as light blue as the sky. It was currently missing several parts of its large body, with bite marks in the middle of the bloodied areas of its body.
There was so much blood gushing from the back of this enormous creature that there was enough to fill dozens of human swimming pools with blood alone!
Even so, this creature remained conscious and tried its best to escape from the cruel opponent trying to devour it.
On the other hand, the level 93 creature, a giant shark with dark blue, almost black scales, swam rapidly after the whale, its enormous mouth open as it prepared to lunge and tear another chunk out of its enemy.
It wasn't as badly injured as its target, but even though it was one level more powerful in cultivation than its target, it had several purple spots all over its large body.
"You bastard! I'm going to eat you! I will make you regret standing up to us, the Arctic Sharks!" The fearsome-looking being said as it gave another thrust to attack the fleeing being.
"You bastard! You're insane! The sky whales will destroy you when they discover what you've done!"
"Not if they don't find out!" The shark said as it attacked its target, once again unleashing a powerful bite and making its target scream in pain, making the surroundings tremble with its loud scream alone, capable of piercing the eardrums of lower beings.
Emlyn heard that and had to hide behind Minos, realizing that she couldn't help protect this ship.
But when her group realized what was happening up ahead, these two beings realized that there were observers nearby.
"A crew?" The whale commented to itself as it looked in the direction of Minos' group and saw these huge beings on the sides of the ship.
"Krakens!" The shark also saw the crew while chewing on a piece of its enemy's flesh, feeling that it would have problems if it allowed observers to see what was going on.
'But at least they're weak...' It thought as it looked in their direction and attacked.
