The coral tree sprouted three main trunks, while its other branches were exceptionally slender—some as fine as hair, sparking the instinctive worry that they might snap at the slightest touch.
In truth, such concern was entirely unfounded.
To stand unyielding within the storm belt, the coral tree was by no means as fragile as it appeared.
Guiding the divine shuttle, Qin Sang landed at the base of one of the main trunks, where there was a relatively flat patch of ground.
The green glow dimmed, revealing three figures.
Qin Sang and Liu Li exchanged a look, both of their expressions easing somewhat. Before setting out, their greatest fear had been that the sea chart was inaccurate, or that unforeseen changes had befallen the shelters over the many passing years.
At the very least, they had made a good start.
Standing upon the coral tree, they could not feel the slightest tremor beneath their feet.
Their surroundings offered an open view, allowing them to clearly see the turbulent currents raging outside. Whenever those currents swept toward the divine tree, they seemed guided by some unseen force, parting to either side and flowing around the canopy.
This sensation was even clearer here than at the stone palace before.
Nothing stood between them and the chaotic currents. A single step outward would bring them face-to-face with the brunt of the storm, yet here inside, they remained completely safe and sound.
However, from the moment he entered until now, Qin Sang had detected no fluctuations of any ward or restriction.
It was as though an invisible barrier was sheltering this place.
Qin Sang reached out and lightly brushed the trunk. A chill met his fingers, the texture as rough as coarse gravel. It truly was not a real tree, though he could not determine whether it was the handiwork of ancient cultivators.
Liu Li and the incarnation found places to meditate and adjust their breath.
Qin Sang retrieved the sea chart to study the journey ahead.
Regarding the perils of the storm belt, he still knew very little.
Up to this point, the ferocity of the tempests remained within manageable limits. Even if a Nascent Soul cultivator were swept into the gales, they would in all likelihood preserve their life.
The most terrifying prospect was undoubtedly being blown off into the unknown, losing all sense of direction.
Qin Sang had entered and exited the storm belt multiple times, but never deeply.
Beyond even fiercer storms ahead, what other dangers awaited them?
Until now, he had not discovered a single trace of any living being within the storm belt.
Not daring to let his guard down, Qin Sang looked up from time to time to survey their surroundings.
They intended to rest here for a while, not only to restore their true essence, but also to alleviate the mental strain they had endured. Later in the journey, their rest periods would only grow longer.
Braving the storm belt continuously placed too heavy a burden on the mind.
Qin Sang's primary body had not expended much, and his condition was soon fully restored. Glancing at Liu Li and the incarnation, who were deep in meditation, he made his way to the base of the canopy.
He had originally intended to descend along the trunk toward the roots, but discovered that the invisible barrier protected only the trunk and the canopy; stepping beyond the canopy stripped away that protection.
Gazing down into the pitch-black seabed, Qin Sang pondered briefly before prudently abandoning the plan, staying obediently within the canopy to cultivate in peace.
Half a month later.
The divine shuttle flew out from the canopy, and they resumed their journey.
Just as expected, they located the second shelter without issue.
This greatly bolstered their confidence.
Little did they know that this journey would take far longer than they had ever anticipated!
***
Within the storm belt, day and night blurred together, and the changing seasons went unnoticed.
Only a lone point of green light journeyed on through the howling tempests and turbulent currents, pursuing that legendary promised land. Only the two within the divine shuttle silently kept count of time in their hearts.
Since the day they entered the storm belt, ten whole years had passed!
That it took so long was partly due to the vast distance, partly because they proceeded with the utmost caution, preferring to spend extra time rather than take needless risks, and also because their rest periods had grown progressively longer.
Heaven and earth stretched boundlessly.
Zhongzhou seemed impossibly remote.
Passing from one shelter to the next, they had journeyed east, then southeast, swung sharply west, and were now advancing toward the southeast once more.
These were merely the broad headings, with countless minor adjustments along the way.
The sheer complexity and winding nature of the path was enough to make one's head spin.
Across those ten years, all they ever saw were roaring gales and a raging sea.
A murky sky.
A black expanse of ocean.
Ever-worsening tempests.
Eternal, unchanging chaos.
No land! No signs of civilization! Not a single bird, beast, fish, or insect!
The storm isolated them from the rest of the world.
It felt as though the end of the world had arrived, leaving only the two of them alive, struggling and surviving through one harrowing trial after another in this apocalyptic wasteland.
Anyone else would have succumbed to wild, uncontrollable thoughts.
If this truly were the end of days, where could one go?
If the barrier warding off the storm were to abruptly vanish, would that vibrant world and its myriad living souls be instantly wiped out, reduced to dead silence?
Could anyone truly walk out of such a cage?
What had caused all of this in the first place? Was it merely the lingering aftermath of a clash between mighty figures?
Where was the Great Dao they sought so diligently, having cast aside worldly glory, renounced pleasures, and defied human nature?
Even if they found the path, would their ultimate fate be no different from the creatures once ravaged by the storms—casually erased by a flick of a mighty cultivator's finger, rendering their entire lives a futile struggle?
Pessimism was bound to spread.
No matter how long the rest, it could not soothe a weary soul.
Loneliness.
Despair.
Under the weight of such an environment, would two hearts inevitably draw closer?
Confined together in a narrow space for ten years, with only each other in sight, would they huddle together for warmth?
The answer was no.
Qin Sang's gaze was fixed unwaveringly ahead.
Each shelter was merely another checkpoint along the path of cultivation.
Just as he always had, he advanced with steady, resolute strides. As long as the next shelter remained and the path ahead was unbroken, he would never halt his steps.
He might reflect on such questions, but he would never let them waste his time or shake his resolve.
To Qin Sang's mind, being here was little different from cultivating in a secluded cave dwelling.
Over the past ten years, he had focused on *Fire Seed Golden Lotus*.
With his divine sense taking form, the efficiency of cultivating this secret art had increased noticeably, and the speed at which he refined demonic fire was faster than before, offering a promising future.
The same solitude, the same steady self-improvement—what difference was there?
On the contrary, Qin Sang was brimming with fighting spirit!
As for Liu Li, while Qin Sang could never read her inner thoughts, he had never seen the faintest hint of hesitation or bewilderment on her face. The iceberg never melted.
A woman who could spend centuries without wavering, doing everything in her power to rescue her master.
A woman who could make resolute sacrifices in the face of crisis, yet hold fast to her core when confronted with immense temptation, leaving no opening for the evil art.
A woman who could bear the brand of an evil art and achieve a breakthrough beneath the heavenly tribulation.
How could the heart of such a person ever be fragile?
***
The divine shuttle was caught in a pincer attack by three tempests. Finding a cunning angle, it slipped through a gap and broke away in a breathtaking escape.
Scenes like this had repeated themselves countless times.
Liu Li looked up at the unchanging firmament. Calculating silently, she pondered for a moment before waking Qin Sang.
"Are we there?"
Qin Sang opened his eyes and swept a glance outside.
Liu Li nodded, pointed upward, and handed the sea chart to Qin Sang.
"Ah, I almost forgot. This shelter is in the sky." Qin Sang rubbed his temples with a trace of fatigue, took the chart, examined it for a moment, and looked toward the heavens.
The distance from the previous shelter to this one was quite far. He, the incarnation, and Liu Li had each taken a turn exhausting their strength, relying on elixir pills to push through.
Liu Li eased the shuttle's speed.
Qin Sang awakened the Heavenly Eye Butterfly. Together, man and butterfly kept their gazes fixed on the sky.
After a short while, they finally spotted an unusual patch of shadow in the air.
"Over there!"
Qin Sang pointed.
The divine shuttle shuddered slightly, rising sharply as it flew diagonally toward the sky.
Before long, the shadow filled their vision.
Spanning a thousand zhang across, it hung coiled in the void like a thin black mist, almost blending completely into its surroundings.
Under the buffeting of the tempests, the shadow's surface distorted, its shape shifting incessantly. Yet it proved extraordinarily resilient, neither torn apart nor swept away by the gales, remaining firmly anchored in place.
Lightning flared across Qin Sang's body, revealing his thunder wings.
"Be careful," Liu Li said softly.
This was one of their few exchanges.
Qin Sang nodded and shot out from the divine shuttle, arriving at the edge of the shadow. Liu Li remained outside in the shuttle, poised to provide support at any moment.
Having adjusted to each other over the journey, they had established the most fitting division of labor, their coordination growing ever more seamless.
The howling wind whipped against his face.
Qin Sang did not make direct contact with the shadow right away. He studied it from the outside, then flew several circuits around it, inspecting it thoroughly from above, below, left, and right.
The shadow formed a seamless whole, offering no point of entry.
Even the Heavenly Eye Butterfly could not see through it.
Pausing briefly, Qin Sang mobilized his divine sense and probed into the shadow.
What followed was an awe-inspiring sight!
The moment Qin Sang's divine sense brushed against the shadow, it was like a pebble tossed into water. It pierced through the shadow with ease, sending concentric ripples spreading outward.
The center of the ripples expanded at a visible pace, carving out a passage.
Immediately afterward, a brilliant radiance burst forth.
As if a seal had been broken, the light shone through the shadow, illuminating the void.
At the center of that light—and at the very heart of what had been the shadow—a crescent moon emerged!
It was a Moon Boat, though to the naked eye, it looked no different from a luminous moon.
The moonlight banished the darkness, turning the surging waves below into a shimmering expanse. Even the storm seemed far less ferocious, as a sudden sense of tranquility washed over the space.
Qin Sang stood inches away, bathed in moonlight.
Liu Li was likewise captivated by the Moon Boat, unable to pull her eyes away.
Without having endured ten years of drifting through this tempestuous void, it was impossible to fathom the profound shock that an ordinary moon—even a false one—could evoke in them.
The Moon Boat had created too grand a commotion.
Qin Sang stood for a brief moment before suppressing the emotion in his heart and swiftly withdrawing his divine sense.
Sure enough, the ripples in the shadow subsided at once, the radiance receded, and the Moon Boat slowly faded from view.
Qin Sang ventured into the shadow, passing through the passage before it fully sealed, and successfully reached the Moon Boat. The vessel lacked any masts, its two ends curling sharply upward, suspended freely in the sky.
Once aboard the Moon Boat, all the howling clamor was shut out.
When Liu Li stepped aboard, the two of them did not immediately enter meditation as they usually did. Instead, Qin Sang brought out a flagon of Peach Blossom Brew, while Liu Li produced a Nine Transformations Coiled Jade Peach gifted by Shi Xue before their departure, and they shared a few cups together.
Once their condition had returned to its peak, they began preparing for the next leg of their journey.
Unexpectedly, two different routes branched off beyond the Moon Boat, leading to separate shelters. These two paths would merge again further ahead, meaning either one could lead them to Zhongzhou.
Logically, having a choice of paths should have made things easier.
Yet according to the markings on the sea chart, each carried its own difficulties.
The first shelter bore a mark indicating danger.
The second shelter was normal, but the distance between it and the Moon Boat was greater than any leg they had crossed before. Even taking turns piloting the shuttle would take an immense toll, forcing them to rely entirely on spirit stones and medicinal pills toward the end. Accumulating medicinal potency and impurities in their bodies was simply too risky.
Furthermore, exhausting too many spirit elixirs and spirit stones here would bode ill for the rest of their journey.
After conferring, they decided to scout the first shelter first. If advancing proved impossible, they could return here to rest and take the second route instead.
Perhaps inspired by the Moon Boat, the two did not linger long before setting out.
This time, the incarnation took the helm of the divine shuttle first, allowing Qin Sang and Liu Li to preserve their combat strength as much as possible.
All went smoothly along the way as they drew near the next shelter.
Upon seeing the scene before them, Qin Sang's expression darkened.
For some reason, the storm here was far more violent than elsewhere. Even while still on the outer perimeter, they had felt the wind strengthen dramatically.
This place resembled a convergence point of tempests.
Straight ahead lay a murky expanse. Whenever gales swept near, they were drawn in by an inexplicable force, crashing into one another and fusing together.
It somewhat resembled the wind wall outside the Hall of Seven Kills.
Naturally, its might could not begin to compare to that of the Hall of Seven Kills.
The sea chart indicated unequivocally that the interior of the wind wall was safe.
Qin Sang stared at the wind wall for a long time, noting that it was not entirely devoid of gaps. With sufficient caution, one ought to be able to slip through and reach the shelter.
He would not act rashly, of course. He decided to probe it step by step, peeling back the layers of the wind wall until he could at least see what the shelter inside looked like.
Leaving Liu Li and the incarnation inside the divine shuttle, Qin Sang stepped out alone at the edge of the wind wall.
The Heavenly Eye Butterfly focused with utmost concentration, tracking every shifting nuance of the wind wall for Qin Sang at every passing moment.
The interior of the wind wall was not without rhyme or reason. By observing the collisions between the gales, one could anticipate the changes of the next instant. Moreover, with the aid of the Heavenly Eye Butterfly, Qin Sang did not need to overtax his own mind, and felt the risk was manageable.
*Whoosh!*
Spotting an opening, Qin Sang turned into a streak of lightning and shot forward.
*Rumble!*
The tempests roared like thunder, easily drowning out the sound of his Thunder Escape.
Pushing his movement technique to its limit while coordinating with the Lotus Flower Seal, Qin Sang moved like a wraith, darting rapidly through the wind wall.
However, before pushing all the way inside to see the shelter, he pulled back.
Through repeated attempts, he continued until he was certain there were no other perils here besides the wind wall itself. Only then did Qin Sang summon his full resolve and plunge in to locate the shelter.
*Swish! Swish!*
Qin Sang navigated the wind wall with practiced ease.
He had just passed through the 'first layer' of tempests and was about to press into the second.
Right at that moment, a mighty roar—like the cry of a dragon and the bellow of a tiger—suddenly reached his ears.
Even amid the chaotic tempest of the wind wall, it rang out with startling clarity.
In an instant, Qin Sang's hairs stood on end, and his scalp felt ready to burst.
That roar was definitely not the howling of the wind, but the furious bellow of a living creature!
In the ten years since entering the storm belt, this was the very first time Qin Sang had encountered a living creature!
The sound did not originate from within the wind wall, but from another direction deep within the storm belt. It could not possibly be coming from the shelter.
There were actually living things in the storm belt!
Judging by the sound, it seemed to be closing in on their position!
Qin Sang shuddered in shock. Without a moment's hesitation, he abandoned his advance and shot backward, his peripheral vision catching a streak of green light flying toward him at top speed.
Evidently, Liu Li had heard the furious roar as well; it was no hallucination.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, the two moved toward each other without hesitation, rendezvoused at maximum speed, and then, heedless of the dangers within the wind wall, plunged straight inside.
The moment they entered the wind wall, a mass of surging black mist emerged from the depths of the storm, rolling toward them.
Chapter 1524