"Eldest Senior Sister, I'm troubling you with this."
Inside Zhaoxi Palace, Zhou Fuyou solemnly handed a letter to Shi Miaoyin.
Shi Miaoyin took it. "It's no trouble at all, just a minor matter."
To her, it truly was nothing burdensome.
Zhou Fuyou merely asked her to deliver a letter to the Zhou family, bring his younger sister Zhou Qingyu to Tiannan Dao Palace to audit and cultivate, and look after her a little in daily life.
Indeed, their master had already granted Zhou Fuyou's request, permitting his younger sister to join Houtu Hall.
From now on, brother and sister would be able to live together again.
Shi Miaoyin did not dwell on such trifles. She sighed softly. "When Master asked for your opinion earlier, you could have easily used an unstable realm right after forming your core as an excuse not to go to the coast of the Eastern Sea. Why did you agree so readily?"
Zhou Fuyou replied calmly, "Since Master asked me, she clearly favored the idea. How could I disobey? Besides, is my realm truly unstable?"
Shi Miaoyin was struck speechless.
A fact defying all common sense lay plain before everyone in Houtu Hall:
Zhou Fuyou, who had formed his core at forty, showed not the slightest sign of instability. On the contrary, his magic power was exceptionally pure and as fathomless as an ocean, as if he had spent over a decade in seclusion refining and polishing it.
It was simply incredible.
"Actually, I roughly understand Master's intention."
"My cultivation speed is far too fast. Yet despite that, my foundation is exceptionally solid. While everything appears perfect on the surface, I possess one glaring shortcoming."
"I am too young and have experienced too little, leaving my mental state lacking."
"Master fears that if I keep surging ahead at this breakneck pace, I might suddenly suffer qi deviation one day. Once that happens, it would be difficult to undo. To guard against it, Master wants me to gain more experience in the world. Whether it is broadening my horizons, tempering my mindset, or gathering combat experience, it will ultimately benefit my future immensely."
Zhou Fuyou spoke with poise and fluency, showing no resentment toward Master Qinglan.
Seeing this, Shi Miaoyin offered no further dissuasion.
"I will tell Second Senior Brother and the others to take good care of you, but you must still be careful yourself."
"Understood. Thank you, Eldest Senior Sister."
After Shi Miaoyin departed, Zhou Fuyou stood at the entrance of Zhaoxi Palace, his expression slightly distant.
The next time he returned, he might have to move to a different place to cultivate.
In accordance with his habits, it would still be named Zhaoxi Palace, but both the grade of its spirit vein and the servants attending it would far surpass this place. Yet what Zhou Fuyou truly hoped for was to see his little sister waiting for him when he returned.
*Who knows how long this journey will take? I had better make some preparations.*
With that muttered thought, Zhou Fuyou returned to the cultivation chamber of his private quarters.
He first looked inward, examining his condition.
Just as before!
His qi sea was deep and vast, his Golden Core bobbing within.
In particular, that pure black core contained not a single speck of impurity, crystalline and profound as an ox's eye.
Even Zhou Fuyou could not help but click his tongue in awe at the pure magic power dwelling inside.
Back in the mid Foundation Establishment stage, his spiritual power had rivaled early Golden Core cultivators. Upon reaching the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment, he had felt that ordinary mid Golden Core cultivators were nothing special.
Now that he had formed his core, the magic power derived from it gave Zhou Fuyou an overwhelming sense of expansion.
Under this surging, immense strength, he felt omnipotent!
His divine sense circled around the Golden Core. Zhou Fuyou felt somewhat intoxicated, even tempted to sink along with the core into the abyss-like qi sea.
"Break!"
With a low bark, Zhou Fuyou snapped awake.
A look of lingering fear appeared on his face.
His strength had risen far too rapidly. If he did not exercise restraint, he feared he would lose himself within it and become a beast that pursued nothing but raw power.
"We seek longevity, not raw might. Power is merely a tool to protect our path to eternal life. Master sent me down the mountain to temper myself precisely so I could master this skyrocketing strength. Truly, she has gone to great lengths for my sake!"
After sighing with emotion, Zhou Fuyou paused his cultivation.
Instead, he turned his attention to external assets.
Because his realm advanced so rapidly and his magic power was so vast, his combat style had always centered around sweeping suppression.
As for offensive methods, thanks to his shocking talent in magic arts, he had mastered a great deal of water-attribute arts.
Yet what Zhou Fuyou truly considered his trump card was *Qi Sea Floating Heaven*, passed down to him by the Old Ancestor.
This technique was not merely capable of growing alongside him; it was also exceptionally accommodating. Like water, it embraced all things without contention!
Early on, Zhou Fuyou had refined a massive amount of miasma from Bailu Marsh, granting *Qi Sea Floating Heaven* potent toxicity that could threaten early Golden Core cultivators.
Later, through continuous experimentation, he merged several low-grade arts into it as well—such as the Water Arrow Art, Mist Concealment Art, the water escape technique Wave Treading, the Glazed Canopy, and others.
During that half-year journey alongside the Old Ancestor, who had created the technique, the Old Ancestor had offered Zhou Fuyou many suggestions, helping him refine it even further.
By now, Zhou Fuyou could even integrate third-tier water arts into it.
For instance, *Mist-Locked Jade Pavilions* and *Spirit Retaining Form*.
As long as he deployed *Qi Sea Floating Heaven*, Zhou Fuyou could cast these water arts rapidly without restraint. Not only did they not conflict with one another, their power multiplied.
This aligned perfectly with the philosophy of "embracing all things without contention."
Thus, this single art gathered together the virtues of concealment, escape, defensive protection, suppression, binding, and aggressive offense.
Naturally, it had a drawback as well.
Namely, the magic power it required was astronomical!
Yet for Zhou Fuyou, that flaw practically did not exist. In his few battles, he had never once run low on energy, and he could hardly imagine any circumstance that would completely exhaust his reserves.
Now, having organized his thoughts, Zhou Fuyou produced a jade pot shimmering with precious light.
It was none other than the Wave-Swallowing Sea-Ingesting Pot, a tool ubiquitous in the cultivation world used specifically to store liquid materials.
However, compared to the common goods found outside, this pot bestowed personally by his master was forged from far superior materials. And the liquid resting within was something countless cultivators dreamed of acquiring.
Forming an incantation gesture, Zhou Fuyou guided it with a casual wave of his hand. Instantly, a slender stream of black fluid, shimmering like mercury, gurgled outward.
"Ming Water!"
"And the highest grade among it—Ming Water True Essence!"
"Legend has it that for the Mingyuan Sect, the sacred ground of the Eastern Desolation, to refine a single drop of Ming Water True Essence, a Nascent Soul True Person must use their Nascent Soul True Fire to boil and temper Ming Water day and night for a full hundred and eighty days! Master gave me an entire pot—how could its value be limited to a mere ten million spirit stones?"
Zhou Fuyou, who had always possessed an aloof temperament and rarely gave pleasantries to outsiders, felt a warm surge in his chest at the thought of his master's protective affection.
He drew a deep breath and steadied his mind.
Next, he intended to refine this Ming Water True Essence bit by bit into *Qi Sea Floating Heaven* to enhance the art's might!
However, this process required unwavering focus from start to finish, without the slightest lapse.
Ming Water could taint a cultivator's magic power, and even their Golden Core and Nascent Soul.
A single moment of carelessness could damage the very foundation of his cultivation.
Zhou Fuyou separated a single drop of Ming Water True Essence, then deployed Qi Sea Floating Heaven. In an instant, strands of black vapor surged from his body, encircling the droplet.
He proceeded with utmost caution, fearing any mishap.
Yet mere moments later, astonishment covered his face.
"It refined... just like that?"
***
Three days later.
Within Tiannan Dao Palace, four treasure-grade flying boats slowly ascended, circling above the palace grounds.
Then, figures riding escape lights shot into the sky from the four great halls, boarding the vessels.
Zhou Fuyou was among them.
Once aboard the flying boat, he greeted the Second Senior Brother at the head of the deck.
"Greetings, Second Senior Brother!"
The Second Senior Brother was named Fu Bin, said to be a member of Master Qinglan's own clan.
Upon seeing Zhou Fuyou, he smiled and nodded in return.
"Your quarters are the middle room, right next to mine. If you need anything, just call for me."
Zhou Fuyou gave an affirmative grunt, and after exchanging brief greetings with his other senior brothers and sisters, he wasted no time stepping past the crowd straight into his room.
Moments later, an azure barrier of light completely enveloped the chamber.
Seeing this, Fu Bin stared blankly.
Beside him, Fifth Senior Sister, Eighth Senior Sister, and Seventh Senior Brother were also caught off guard.
Why had he holed himself up so quickly?
Seventh Senior Brother furrowed his brows. "Junior Brother is pushing himself a bit too hard. Later, we still need to assign squad rosters and meet with the Golden Core lords of the other three halls. How can he just ignore everything?"
Fu Bin waved his hand dismissively. "Perhaps that is precisely why Junior Brother succeeded in forming his core at the mere age of forty, leaving mediocre folk like us far behind!"
Seventh Senior Brother curled his lip, disagreeing inwardly.
They had formed their cores at a fairly young age themselves, mostly just over a hundred, which would count as supreme prodigies in any sect.
It was merely that this junior brother was too monstrous, not that they were mediocre.
"Rest easy, I will handle the matters ahead. First, organize the squads according to the roster. As for Junior Brother, I will arrange his placement personally!"
Fu Bin gave the order, and his fellow disciples chorused their assent.
For this expedition, Houtu Hall dispatched five Golden Core lords: Second Senior Brother, Fifth Senior Sister, Seventh Senior Brother, Eighth Senior Sister, and Zhou Fuyou.
In addition, one hundred Foundation Establishment True Cultivators marched with them.
The other three halls maintained a similar roster.
In this manner, Tiannan Dao Palace rapidly formed an elite force of twenty Golden Cores and four hundred Foundation Establishment True Cultivators. Barring any accidents, this contingent would soon be deployed to the battlefront on the coast of the Eastern Sea to slay demons, purge fiends, and defend the Dao Sect!
Fu Bin stood at the prow, facing the howling winds with a melancholy expression.
If only this were the Central Plains of old, where teleportation formations spanned the continent. Traveling to the coast of the Eastern Sea would have taken only two or three teleportations instead of such a troublesome voyage.
It was all because that demon phoenix had shattered the Central Plains, leaving most of the teleportation networks fractured or disabled.
Now demon troubles had flared again, proving a true headache.
"Enough. We are merely following the footsteps of our forebears, walking that path once more. If our predecessors could do it, so can we!"
"Depart!"
***
Ever since boarding the Houtu flying boat, Zhou Fuyou had immersed himself in refining the Ming Water True Essence.
He discovered that refining this substance was even faster than refining the Bailu miasma!
Not only was it swift, but after refinement, manipulating it felt exceptionally natural, as effortless as moving his own limbs.
Thus, without wasting a single breath, he refined the Ming Water True Essence into *Qi Sea Floating Heaven* day and night.
And the power of the technique advanced by leaps and bounds with every passing day.
Just like that, half a month slipped by.
Zhou Fuyou slowly opened his eyes.
Above his head hung a heavy, ink-black canopy formed from dense Bailu miasma.
Beneath him lay a gurgling pool of black liquid.
The qi sea lifted the heavens, like dark clouds bearing down upon a city.
Still waters ran deep, coiled and ready to devour anyone whole!
With a flick of Zhou Fuyou's thought, he beckoned outward, and a voice transmission talisman flew inside.
The talisman ignited on its own without any wind. Zhou Fuyou raised an eyebrow, and the Qi Sea Floating Heaven instantly receded into his body. Rising to his feet, he stepped out onto the flying boat's deck.
On the deck, numerous cultivators had already gathered, waiting in silence.
Zhou Fuyou swept his gaze across them and recognized several familiar figures.
He did not greet them, making his way instead to Second Senior Brother and the other three.
"Second Senior Brother, have we arrived?"
Second Senior Brother gave a gentle smile. "We still have a bit of distance left, but the city lord of Zhenhai City sent word that he is coming out to welcome us. So we are preparing ahead of time to avoid any breach of etiquette."
"The city lord of Zhenhai City?" Zhou Fuyou was startled.
Beside him, Seventh Senior Brother explained, "It is True Person Wen. His clan has lived on the coast of the Eastern Sea for generations, and they were fortunate enough to survive the great calamity of the Central Plains. Consequently, the Dao Sect entrusted maritime defense to them once again."
Zhou Fuyou was somewhat surprised. Would a dignified Nascent Soul True Person actually lower himself to come greet them?
Second Senior Brother straightened his back and explained calmly, "Junior Brother, do not underestimate our status as disciples of the Dao Palace!"
Hearing that, Zhou Fuyou realized the truth in an instant.
Normally within the Dao Palace, everyone competed against peers of similar age. Aside from a rare few like himself, the others felt little sense of superiority regarding their standing.
Yet in truth, any youth capable of entering Tiannan Dao Palace was an outstanding genius in the outside world, a future pillar of their respective clans.
If they developed well, they could very well become influential figures in the Tianyuan Dao Sect!
This time, the four hundred-odd cultivators dispatched by the Four Imperials Hall were the very definition of elite talent.
Among the Foundation Establishment cultivators, not a single one was over a hundred years old.
The Golden Core cultivators were mostly in the prime of their youth, promising talents with hope of reaching the Nascent Soul realm.
True Person Wen condescending to greet them in advance demonstrated both respect and a desire to forge good ties.
Once he understood this, Zhou Fuyou felt completely at ease.
They were reinforcements, but they were also honored guests!
Soon, an exceptionally ornate, majestic flying boat flew toward them from the distance.
Streaks of light flew out from it, carrying abundant wine, melons, and fruits to console and welcome the Dao Palace disciples.
Meanwhile, the twenty Golden Core cultivators of the Four Imperials Hall boarded that vessel to attend the banquet hosted by True Person Wen, the city lord of Zhenhai City.
***
Several thousand li away, a wispy coil of green smoke spiraled amid the clouds.
Gazing from afar at the fleet of flying boats, the green smoke halted its advance.
"That boy spent twenty years in Tiannan Dao Palace, and to think he has already reached the Golden Core realm upon emerging!"
"Tsk, tsk. Even Master could not match this cultivation speed back in the day!"
"A Nascent Soul True Person has appeared. Though I am not afraid of being discovered, it is better to keep my distance."
The green smoke transformed into a dark cloud, merging into the cloud layer and drifting slowly along.
Bypassing the stationary fleet, it drifted out over the boundless ocean in the middle of the night.
Suddenly!
"Such heavy demonic qi!"
The dark cloud parted, and bathed in the moonlight, a slender, graceful figure was revealed.
It was none other than Xiao Bai, tasked with secretly watching over Zhou Fuyou!
Her brows were knit tightly as she spread her divine sense to survey the Eastern Sea.
The demonic qi was so dense that it almost made her feel as if she had returned to the battlefield of the great human-demon war in the Eastern Desolation.
Her exceptionally robust soul power allowed her to detect several formidable auras.
"One, two, three... there are actually three Nascent Soul demon cultivators!"
"Such an enormous display... could it be—no, this aura?"
Xiao Bai's expression shifted slightly. Concentrating her divine sense, she surged toward a certain sea region.
There, sea demons swarmed, birds wheeled overhead, and demonic qi churned thick as ink.
At the center of this gathering of demon beasts, a magnificent palace stood quietly upon the seabed.
Xiao Bai's divine sense swept in like a hot knife through butter, plunging straight inside.
Within, a transformed demon cultivator was enjoying the alluring dances of clam women and merfolk below.
And seated just below him, a massive black python had buried its head entirely inside a vat of wine.
"Brother Hei, my Qianlan Ice Wine doesn't taste bad, does it?"
Hearing this, the great black python jerked its head up, sending wine splashing everywhere.
Looking closely, how could that be any serpent or python?
A prominent horn crowned its head, and its eyes were round as an ox's—it was unmistakably a black dragon!
Right at that moment, the transformed demon cultivator seemed to sense something. Rage flared across his face, and raising a hand, he launched an attack toward the exterior of the palace.
"Insolent skulker, how dare you spy on this sovereign!"
Chapter 1046