Translator: Lynn
Xu Ziqing was not bothered by Yun Lie’s cold deanor. He simply smiled and said, “I intended to travel to Upper Yuzhou, and the journey can be quite lonely. So, I thought it would be nice to invite Brother Yun for so company. It has been a few days since I last saw you, and I truly missed you.”
Yun Lie remained silent but took a seat on the edge of the bed, crossing his knees.
Xu Ziqing’s smile widened, and he sat on the opposite side. With a wave of his hand, he summoned a chessboard and placed the pieces between them, suggesting, “How about a ga while we chat?”
Yun Lie nodded slightly and replied, “You can make the first move.”
Xu Ziqing didn’t hold back with Yun Lie either. Despite having different playing styles, Xu Ziqing didn’t win many gas, but he still relished the experience. Playing chess with Yun Lie felt like having a conversation, and he found it engaging rather than tedious.
In less than a minute, Xu Ziqing’s montum waned, and his pieces were scattered. He admitted defeat with a smile, prompting Yun Lie to let him tidy up the pieces and start a new ga.
They played two gas like this until suddenly the ship shifted, and Liu Sheng’s voice echoed from outside, “Esteed Cultivator, the spirit ship has moved.”
Xu Ziqing responded, “Yes, I understand.”
Liu Sheng’s presence receded after that.
Sighing softly, Xu Ziqing put down his chess piece and said, “It’s my first ti aboard this spiritual ship, and I am delighted by the experience. It’s a sha that I cannot venture out with Brother Yun to enjoy the splendid view of the sea.”
Yun Lie comnted, “You can go alone.”
Shaking his head, Xu Ziqing replied, “No matter how breathtaking the scenery may be, it loses its charm when enjoyed alone. It is much more enjoyable to share it with others.”
Yun Lie remained silent, but as the ga concluded, he spoke, “I can also appreciate it with you from within the ring.”
Xu Ziqing felt elated and promptly stood up, saying, “Then let’s go together?”
Yun Lie nodded and said, “I will accompany you.”
After their agreent, Yun Lie returned to the ring while Xu Ziqing opened the door of his room and exited the cabin. The eagle leaped up and followed closely behind, flapping its wings.
In no ti, the man and eagle arrived outside the cabin and stood on the deck.
The spirit ship glided through the air with remarkable speed. Upon closer inspection, it beca evident that the ship’s hull didn’t even touch the surface of the ocean but floated slightly above it. The entire ship was enveloped in a shimring aura, which didn’t obstruct the view but was clearly visible. Despite being surrounded by the vast ocean, there was no sensation of the sea breeze or the scent of salt in the air.
The ocean currents stretched across the entire small world, making the so-called continents re large land masses within this vast expanse. Their scale paled in comparison to the imnsity of the ocean.
After a short while, the spirit ship found its place within the current, smoothly riding its swift flow. Among all magical artifacts, spiritual ships were unparalleled, designed to navigate the ocean currents and safeguard the cultivators aboard.
According to Xu Ziqing’s knowledge, all the spirit ships traversing the ocean currents were owned by the Nine Stars Sea Sect. This sect’s dominion also included the Nine Star Sea route.
The expansive ocean currents were known as the “Nine Star Sea.” At the core of these currents lay the Nine Star Island, encircled by nine continents, spanning an area as vast as half a continent. The Nine Stars Sea Sect, firmly rooted on the island, wielded significant power and influence.
Countless cultivators resided on the island, and aside from a few affiliated sects, the majority were mbers of the Nine Stars Sea Sect. With their considerable numbers, the sect had opened up an ocean route between the nine continents, ferrying people across using spirit ships.
It wasn’t that other sects had no desire to claim a share of this lucrative trade, but they lacked the spiritual weapons necessary to traverse the sea safely. Consequently, they couldn’t compete in this industry.
As ti passed, the Nine Stars Sea Sect monopolized the ocean route.
Standing by the ship’s side, Xu Ziqing allowed his consciousness to sink into the storage ring and addressed his friend, saying, “Brother Yun, can you see those ten or so cultivators positioned on the deck, bow, and stern of the ship?”
The man within the ring responded.
Xu Ziqing continued, “These individuals are disciples of the Nine Stars Sea Sect, but why are they all acting in this manner?”
The man in the ring replied, “Observe closely.”
Xu Ziqing had rely sought a topic to discuss with his friend, so upon achieving his goal, he smiled and observed intently. As expected, those cultivators were using their magical spells to reinforce and stabilize the ship’s protective shield, while others controlled the spirit ship with their spells to ensure it stayed on course.
Having observed this, Xu Ziqing relayed his findings to his friend and received an approving response.
Surprised, Xu Ziqing exclaid, “Is that so?” He then smiled faintly and said, “I’ll have to rely on Brother Yun to enlighten .”
Yun Lie explained, “Most of these cultivators possess water-based spiritual roots and practice water-related magic techniques. By mastering these techniques, they can calm the sea and smoothen the mariti path.”
Xu Ziqing admired his friend’s profound knowledge and found their conversation to be pleasant. He didn’t perceive anything peculiar about it.
He continued, “It’s an impressive operation, and it’s rare to see the Nine Stars Sea Sect manage it so effectively.”
Yun Lie remained silent, and Xu Ziqing didn’t press further. One was within the ring, the other outside, both imrsed in ditation, appreciating the expansive view of the sea. They shared an unspoken understanding.
After an hour of sailing, Xu Ziqing glanced backward only to find no trace of Shangquzhou, and when he looked ahead, there was nothing but the vast sea stretching endlessly.
Suddenly, the boat jolted and then steadied. Xu Ziqing lifted his gaze and saw a colossal wave rising in front of them. From within the wave erged a fearso creature with a scaly head, red eyes, and black horns, as if ready to devour anyone in its path.
It beca apparent that the ocean was teeming with countless sea beasts and demonic creatures. Whenever soone passed by, the waves would churn and threaten the lives of mortal beings.
Sea beasts had incredibly long lifespans, and even without exceptional magical abilities, their cultivation would gradually improve over the years. These creatures possessed spiritual intelligence and respected demon kings and leaders. They ford alliances, gathered demonic forces, established demon caves, and ruled over the sea, dividing territories among themselves.
Naturally, there were also untad beasts that didn’t align with any sea hegemony, but it was difficult to discern the identity of the creature before them.
The demonic scorpion was testing the waters and exuding an intimidating aura. Its presence signaled potential danger, and if it decided to crash into the spirit ship, it could cause quite a scene.
The cultivators operating the ship remained calm. They first utilized their magic to halt the ship’s movent, and then one of the female cultivators tossed out a piece of talisman paper, which swiftly detonated in the air, revealing a peculiar emblem depicting nine stars in a row.
The demonic scorpion swept its gaze over the emblem, flicked its long tail, and subrged back into the ocean.
Amazed by the scene, Xu Ziqing glanced sideways and spotted Liu Sheng standing at a distance. He raised his hand to summon him.
Liu Sheng promptly approached and spoke respectfully, “Immortal Master.”
Xu Ziqing smiled and inquired, “I witnessed the demonic scorpion’s rampage and its dive when it encountered the nine-star emblem. Do you know the reason behind it?”
Understanding the question, Liu Sheng, who had been serving on the spirit ship for many years and was no stranger to such queries, promptly responded, “Immortal Master, if you are unaware, whenever ships traverse the ocean currents, they inevitably face attacks from demonic beasts. The Nine Star Sea Immortal Sect governs this sea route, so in order to ensure safety, it is essential to communicate with the overlords of the sea.”
Intrigued, Xu Ziqing asked, “Could you elaborate further?”
Encouraged by his interest, Liu Sheng elaborated, “Within the Nine Star Sea, there are three lords of demonic beasts and two lords of spiritual beasts, each commanding nurous soldiers and generals. Rumor has it that these five lords of the deep sea are on par with Golden Core practitioners and are the most formidable figures that should never be trifled with.”
Xu Ziqing understood that in the small world of Hao Tian, a cultivator in the Foundation Establishnt stage was already considered exceptionally powerful. Beyond that, there were peak Foundation Establishnt stage cultivators, but those who chose to remain in this realm were already rare.
The cultivation level of demonic and spiritual beasts differed from that of cultivators. For spiritually intelligent beasts, there were twelve stages, each with early, middle, and late phases. Considering that the Ocean Lord’s cultivation was approaching that of a true Golden Core practitioner, it must be at least in the late1The late stage ans they are around the 9-10th level of said stage. Foundation Establishnt stage, if not the peak2The peak stage is the late 10th level and is awaiting enlightennt to advance to the next stage. Foundation Establishnt stage. In this realm, they would possess significant power and authority.
Doubts arose within Xu Ziqing’s mind.
The Nine Star Sea Sect appeared to have so kind of agreent with the Ocean Lord, but if the other party possessed such imnse power, why did they need to be so accommodating?
Liu Sheng understood Xu Ziqing’s concern and proceeded to explain, “The Immortal Sect is a prominent sect that operates overseas. Since its establishnt, there has always been a high-level cultivator at the late Foundation Establishnt stage overseeing the sect. This unbroken lineage has earned the respect of the sea overlords. Moreover, the successive patriarchs of the Immortal Sect have passed down a secret spiritual weapon. Rumor has it that it is a dium-grade spiritual weapon of trendous power, capable of overturning rivers and seas! If the overlords refuse to accommodate the sect, they would risk an unfavorable outco if hostilities were to escalate!”
Speaking in a lowered voice, Liu Sheng continued, “Immortal Master, although there are five overlords in the depths of the sea, they are not equal in strength. If one of them were to lose against the Immortal Sect, it would provide an opportunity for the others to take advantage. It’s better to maintain this arrangent, as it still benefits us.”
However, this arrangent ant that the route of the Nine Star Sea Sect would be safe most of the ti, but other sects would not receive the sa treatnt. Additionally, so less fortunate cultivators who wished to venture into the sea on their own would face great risks. If they were lucky, they would encounter nothing, but if unlucky, they would beco easy prey for the demon beasts.
Liu Sheng was quite talkative, and his words conveyed the Nine Star Sea Sect’s commitnt to upholding the prestige of the Immortal Sect.
As Xu Ziqing listened to the narrative, he realized that more than two hours had passed without his notice.
By this ti, it was nearly noon, and several cultivators began erging on the deck, excluding the disciples of the Nine Star Sea and the Pre-Celestials3Pre-Celestials: people who are yet to advance to the Foundation Establishnt stage..
This group of cultivators stepped out of the cabin, with a tall man standing on the left, towering at more than nine feet in height, exuding a strong and formidable aura. On the right side, there were three or five individuals, both male and female, possessing attractive appearances.
The three or five n and won laughed and conversed amiably, showing familiarity with each other. However, whenever their gaze happened to land on the tall man, a sense of disdain flickered in their eyes, and they made no effort to associate with him.
Xu Ziqing observed the situation keenly. The tall man had an unattractive appearance, with a head as large as a bucket, sparse hair on top, copper bell-like eyes, and earholes instead of ears. To a layman, he would likely be deed a “demon,” and even to a cultivator, his appearance was sowhat peculiar.
Although not all cultivators were blessed with exceptional looks, once they embarked on the immortal path, their aura and connection with spiritual energy bestowed upon them an otherworldly allure. A person with such an unappealing appearance seed out of place. Furthermore, his cultivation level appeared to be only at the second or third level of Qi Refinent, making him seemingly undesirable.
When he stepped onto the deck, not only did the other cultivators keep their distance, but even those with innate advantages refused to entertain him.
Upon witnessing the exclusionary behavior towards the tall cultivator, Xu Ziqing couldn’t help but furrow his brows slightly. However, he soon let out a sigh. It was only natural for people to have a preference for beauty, so it was understandable that those cultivators intended to exclude rather than bully him.
Feeling sorry for the tall cultivator’s inability to find a place to settle down, Xu Ziqing decided to intervene. He spoke up, “Fellow monk, there’s still space here. Would you like to co and have a chat with ?”
The tall monk turned back and smiled, revealing his unattractive grin, but he strode towards the indicated spot.
With a friendly smile, Xu Ziqing moved back to create room. “Please.”
The tall cultivator clasped his fist in gratitude. “Thank you.”
Xu Ziqing smiled and replied, “Our encounter is a result of fate, a re square inch. How can we talk about thanks?”
Raising his eyebrows, the tall monk’s appearance grew even more unappealing. “You don’t mind my ugly appearance?”
Xu Ziqing responded, “Regardless of whether the skin is beautiful or ugly, it is a gift from heaven. But a person’s character is what truly matters. We should not judge based on appearance but on the character of the individual.”
The tall monk smiled once again. “You possess a broad mind, Your Excellency. My na is Zhang Jiu. May I know your na?”
Xu Ziqing returned the smile. “I am Xu Ziqing.”
They exchanged nas and gradually grew more acquainted, engaging in conversation while each harbored their own thoughts.
Zhang Jiu appeared to have modest cultivation, yet his temperant was remarkable. If an ordinary cultivator couldn’t discern Xu Ziqing’s true cultivation level, they would have recognized that they were in the presence of a senior and shown more respect instead of obsequious flattery. Zhang Jiu remained at ease, unaffected by his own appearance. Instead of seeking pity for his looks, he exuded a generous attitude that made others feel at ease.
Xu Ziqing had always been gentle, treating people with friendliness and warmth regardless of their cultivation level. He never gave the impression of being superior. When conversing with Zhang Jiu, he felt like a refreshing spring breeze.
As they continued their conversation, they grew closer to each other.
Zhang Jiu possessed extensive knowledge, whereas Xu Ziqing had been secluded in the mountains and hidden places for many years, resulting in his unfamiliarity with nurous legends and events.
As their conversation drew to a close, Zhang Jiu retrieved a jar of aged brew called ‘Hundred Quenching Incense’ from his storage bag, along with two delicate wine cups the size of thumbs. Filling one cup, he handed it to Xu Ziqing and said, “I’ve been saving this wine for a long ti, and today I’ve encountered a worthy friend. Why not enjoy it together?”
Xu Ziqing, intrigued by the prospect of tasting wine for the first ti, accepted the cup, brought it to his nose, and sniffed. He remarked, “The aroma is truly sweet and llow. It’s quite good.”
Seating himself in a cross-legged position, Zhang Jiu lifted his cup and proposed a toast. “Shall we drink?”
Xu Ziqing, equally at ease, sat down and raised his own cup. “Let’s drink.”
They exchanged smiles and tilted their heads simultaneously to take a sip.
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