Ten thousand li of waves surged across the Eastern Sea, dotted with jagged reefs and crags. Densely packed swells rolled tumultuously from the boundless east, tumbling one after another. Islands large and small clustered together, presenting a scenery vastly different from the inland realm. A radiant morning sun was rising over the horizon, casting ten thousand beams of dazzling dawn light.
It was Li Qinghong's first time venturing overseas. Deeply enthralled by the sight, she could not help asking, "The ends of the earth and the corners of the sea—are they the dwelling places of divine beings?"
Kong Yu stroked his beard and smiled. "Heading straight east to the boundary of the Eastern Sea lies the Boundless Void Abyss. There, the seawater churns in reverse and plunges into the abyss, falling slower and slower until it turns into water vapor, rising back upward to return to the sea.
"That place is devoid of qi, spirit, and even the Great Void. It is known as Beyond Heaven. In ancient times, human cultivators and the demon race set out from the four seas toward the surrounding outer heaven. Not a single person has ever returned."
Li Yuanjiao nodded. He had heard Li Xizhi speak of such things before, so he asked, "If so... why go out there?"
Kong Yu sighed with emotion. "When a cultivator attains the Golden Core, they attain a divine station, replacing the heart of heaven with their own. Above that is the Dao Embryo. And beyond the Dao Embryo? There is simply no path left to tread...
"I have heard that in the past, no one could leave. The borders of the four seas were sealed by a celestial shroud. But that contest between immortals and demons at Pingming Ferry lowered the heavens by thirty feet and raised the earth by nine feet. From then on, the four seas were unbound and cultivation methods were unconstrained. It is said that those at the Dao Embryo realm sensed that the Great Dao lay Beyond Heaven, and so they departed for Beyond Heaven."
Li Yuanjiao nodded in silence. Beside them, Kongheng chanted a Buddhist phrase before speaking, "So that is how the Immortal Teachings view it... My Shakya Teachings see things quite differently."
Looking somewhat embarrassed, he first offered an apology. "Our scriptures state that the battle at Pingming Ferry was called the Knot of Past Karma and Defilement. It marks the divide between the World-Honored One’s former era and latter era. In the former era, immortal methods manifested and the Xia people governed the realm; in the latter era, Buddhism flourished, and the northern barbarians replaced the Xia..."
Kongheng had phrased it quite tactfully, yet the expressions of those present still soured. Kong Yu, however, seemed lost in thought.
"After the battle at Pingming Ferry, the State of Wei fell, and Qi, Liang, Zhou, and Yan rose and fell in turn—all of them regimes of the northern tribes. Perhaps the World-Honored One’s words were indeed a prophecy of destiny."
Kong Yu sneered softly and murmured, "Five hundred years ago, the southern immortal mansions still harbored thoughts of reclaiming the northern lands. But as several of them collapsed one after another, all that remains now is the petty desire to huddle in a corner and squabble among themselves. The World-Honored One was not entirely wrong! With immortal methods crumbling, all that lingers in the south are demonic paths!"
The several Xuanyue disciples behind him looked at one another in bewilderment. One of them said, "Master's words make no sense. We subdue monsters and slay demons, wandering freely between heaven and earth. How could that have anything to do with the demonic path?"
Kong Yu's aged face grew bitter. Tightening his grip on his wooden staff, he glanced at Li Yuanjiao and sighed. "You are still young... You do not understand how this world works... Forget subduing monsters and slaying demons—take one wrong step, and you become the demon yourself. As for wandering freely... freely..."
The young disciples either fell into contemplation or wore rebellious expressions. Kongheng uttered a compassionate chant, looking as though he deeply resonated with the sentiment.
Seeing his demeanor, Li Yuanjiao surmised that whether through coercion or voluntary division of spoils during the demonic calamity, Xuanyue Gate had also committed sordid deeds. Shaking his head, he spoke gently, "Your esteemed sect has already done quite well."
Kong Yu chuckled hollowly, pointed ahead to change the subject, and smiled. "Just ahead is Fenkuai Island, our first stop in the Eastern Sea!"
The Eastern Sea was divided into five great sea regions. Leaving the coastal waters of Xianhu led directly to the Red Reef Sea, an area filled with rugged crags and dense clusters of islands. Everyone looked ahead and saw a massive island looming into view.
The island was vast and sprawling, covered with all kinds of pavilions and towers. Countless cultivators took flight and landed, while its distant reaches remained veiled in mist and clouds, making its true expanse unknowable.
Kong Yu smiled. "This place is called Fenkuai Island. The fire veins here are extraordinarily vigorous, surpassing even those of volcanic deserts. It is one of the grand sights of the Eastern Sea."
The crowd was astonished. The Xuanyue disciples peppered him with questions, and Kong Yu, his aged face brimming with pride, introduced it to them:
"This island gets its name from Immortal Yingze of Yuehua Yuan Mansion. Legend has it that the immortal captured the Shaoyang Demon Lord, Kuai Li, on this very island.
"That demon lord had already attained the Shaoyang station and was undying and imperishable. Fearing that failing to eradicate him completely would allow him to reincarnate and cultivate anew, the immortal removed a white jade hairpin from his hair and cleaved him into three portions.
"One portion was cast into the Northern Abyss, taking form as a woman known as Lady Beiyao. Another was hurled west into the Great Western Plateau, manifesting as the demon Xi Yan. The last portion sank to the bottom of the Eastern Sea, claimed by the dragon kin, and became today's Dragon Lord Xiyang of the Eastern Sea."
Li Yuanjiao listened with a racing heart, silently taking note of the atmosphere of the Eastern Sea. In Qingchi, uttering such words would be forbidden, yet here they could be spoken openly. He merely asked, "Are all three of them Golden Cores?"
Kong Yu replied, "We only know that Lady Beiyao and the dragon lord are both Golden Core cultivators. The one on the Great Western Plateau is only a legend..."
"If it is true... wouldn't that mean a single Shaoyang station was divided into three Golden Cores... and all three are Golden Cores..."
A Xuanyue disciple asked in confusion, "How could that add up?"
Kong Yu chuckled slyly. "What does a boy like you know? Back then, when the flood dragon of Heshui had nine sons, the Heshui station dissolved and unraveled, and a single Golden Core gave rise to nine Golden Cores! How could the profound mysteries of the Golden Core be fathomed by low-level cultivators like you!"
The crowd chattered in discussion. After Kong Yu waited for a short while, a female cultivator flew over from ahead, brimming with smiles. Dressed in a light orange feathered robe and treading upon a pink cloud, she first bowed toward Kong Yu.
"Greetings, Clan Uncle!"
Only then did she look toward Li Yuanjiao, saying warmly, "Brother Jiao has arrived! What a coincidence. Come sit with me up ahead."
The young boys and girls were naturally taken away by Kong Yu to be assigned to their respective training duties. Kong Tingyun glanced at Li Qinghong, her eyes flashing with admiration, and smiled. "Could this be Sister Qinghong... I have long heard of your renowned name..."
She chatted warmly, clearly taking a strong liking to Li Qinghong. The group rode the wind and descended into Xuanyue Gate's encampment. Kong Tingyun said:
"Do you need to rest and regulate your breath for a bit, or should we head to the market in the outer sea as soon as possible to oversee things? Situ Mo is crafty and insidious. I only worry that if I stay away too long, something might go wrong..."
Li Yuanjiao and his companions were equally eager to arrive early, so they readily agreed. They rose on the wind together. Not wanting to miss the chance to gather information, Li Yuanjiao asked:
"Senior spoke earlier of the legend of Fenkuai Island and mentioned Lady Beiyao and Dragon Lord Xiyang very casually. Do the Golden Core True Monarchs overseas appear often?"
"Not often, but they do show themselves occasionally..."
Kong Tingyun replied along the way, "It is only overseas that one can speak so boldly... Unlike that Lushui, who hasn't dared to show his face for over a century."
Kong Tingyun chuckled softly. "Heh, he is scared to death! The Lushui station is no ordinary thing... Far too many eyes are fixed on him..."
Li Yuanjiao nodded thoughtfully. His impression of True Monarch Lushui underwent a drastic shift, and the invincible, terrifying shadow that had loomed over his mind faded considerably. He merely whispered, "The Eastern Sea is truly completely different."
As they flew on the wind, Kong Tingyun cautioned, "In the Eastern Sea, there are several powers one must never provoke. Fellow Daoist likely knows of them, but I must emphasize a few points.
"First is the dragon kin... The Eastern Sea dragon kin are the fiercest among the four seas, a top-tier great power. Moreover, they are fiercely protective of their own. As long as it is a true dragon, not a single one may be offended..."
The group nodded, and Kong Tingyun continued, "Next are the various evil anomalies—some called immortals, some called ghost officials, and others bizarrely shaped, bearing no resemblance to living beings. They are manifestations born from the convergence of various golden natures, destinies, and ill omens."
She shook her head. "If you cross paths with them, there is nothing you can do. Some force even Purple Mansions to retreat three paces, while others merely make you sneeze lightly.
"Inland, the denizens of the Netherworld keep watch, so there are no evil anomalies. But there are none overseas, and the Eastern Sea is boundless. Far too many things lie hidden here."
She paused before continuing, "As for the other factions, large and small... the slaughter never ceases for a single day. It all comes down to the word 'profit.'"
Kong Tingyun waited a short while, then led them down into the water. After calculating the time, she said gently:
"The Eastern Sea is simply too vast. Relying solely on flight, who knows how long it would take. We must rely on the water veins. Not only does it conserve dharmic powers, but it is also far faster."
Li Qinghong swept her gaze across the surroundings. Sure enough, several figures were waiting nearby, warily eyeing one another as though anticipating something. Kong Tingyun whispered:
"In just a few breaths, the water veins in the sea will surge, and seawater will rush violently down this sea route. By riding water-controlling arts, we can travel with the current straight to the Zhulu Sea, where my family's market is located."
'The Zhulu Sea.'
No sooner had her words fallen than the surrounding seawater began to churn violently, surging east. Bubbles of all sizes rose, the earth trembled, and thunder and lightning flashed across the sea's surface, plunging the world into a murky gloom.
Li Yuanjiao had traveled the Eastern Sea for half a year and was like a fish in water here. Knowing what to do, he said in a deep voice, "My immortal foundation is 'Vast Sea.' Leave the water navigation to me."
With that, a coiling flood dragon emerged beneath his feet. It swirled through the sea and transformed into a halo of grayish-blue light that enveloped everyone, carrying them eastward at high speed alongside the roaring torrent.
***
Zhulu Sea, Jindou Island.
There were quite a few islands in the Zhulu Sea. Jindou Island was of medium size, and Tangjin Gate had poured immense effort into fortifying it thoroughly.
Clad in golden robes, Situ Mo sat high above with a dark expression. Below, a man prostrated himself on the ground, saying timidly:
"Reporting to My Lord... that crab came to press us again... demanding another thousand people... within three days."
Situ Mo's face darkened further, and he whispered, "I understand."
Though Tangjin Gate was an immortal sect, in the Eastern Sea it still had to follow the sea's rules. What had to be handed over still had to be handed over. That crab was merely at Qi Refinement, yet behind it stood a flood dragon. No matter how dissatisfied Situ Mo was, he could only swallow his anger.
What worsened his mood went far beyond this. The dossier resting on his desk similarly troubled his mind. As the sole direct descendant on this island, he had secretly retrieved the files to carefully review the events of that year.
"In the sixth month, the Yu clan submitted to the sect. Wan Huaqian was renowned throughout the commandery for his mastery of formations... The Yu clan subsequently ambushed and killed several members of the Wan clan, framing the Ji clan... The Wan clan breached Mount Huazhong. The Xiao clan dispatched envoys to warn the Yu family... slaughter... besieging the commandery..."
Behind the entire destruction of the Ji family stood the Yu family and the Xiao family, ripples born from the power struggle between Qingchi and Tangjin. Looking at the sequence of events, Li Tongya had merely been a pawn in Xiao Chuting's hands.
"Xiao Chuting repeatedly used and manipulated the situation in Wangyue, weakening both the Jiang and Yu families in turn until virtually all the clans on the eastern bank were reduced to his vassals. Then he propped up his confidants, the Li family... What brilliant methods."
Situ Mo nodded silently, knowing that his current strength was far from sufficient to confront the Xiao family. He engraved it in his heart, waiting for the day he could repay it all in full.
'Still, Xiao Chuting is a formidable figure. I must pretend ignorance for now, or sooner or later I will be entrapped by the Old Man of the Stream.'
As he plotted in his mind, he suddenly realized that there had been no news of Kong Tingyun for a long time. Sensing something amiss, he thought:
'That woman is never one to stay quiet. After all this time without word, could she be scheming something?'
He promptly instructed, "Go and invite Master Moutuo up!"
Watching the attendant leave, Situ Mo felt a secret surge of wariness. Earlier, he had intended to eliminate her quickly so he could return home, never expecting that two rounds of probing would cost him small losses. He had to admit he had underestimated her.
"Damn it... Back in the sect, everyone was an easily duped fool, yet once outside, not a single one is simple..."
Situ Mo felt deeply irritable. Li Yuanjiao being difficult to deal with was one thing, but that monk seemed far from simple either. Kong Tingyun went without saying, and even that Li Xijun was sharp. Back in Tangjin Gate, Situ Mo had run circles around his senior and junior brothers, yet out here he suffered setback after setback. The more he thought, the angrier he grew, cursing under his breath:
"It serves Tangjin Gate right to decline! The sect is full of fools!"
As he was cursing, heavy footsteps thumped outside as a burly, bald-headed man rushed in. Covered in flushed red skin with a ferocious countenance, he barked, "Motherfucker! What is it this time?"
Seeing him immediately fueled Situ Mo's temper. He cursed, "You wretched monk, all you know is chasing women! Have you been keeping an eye on Kong Tingyun?!"
Moutuo gave him a sideways glance, his hands forming incantation gestures while his mouth kept running. "What do you know! The south has far more flavor. In my Great Zhao, the moment I reveal myself as a master, whether princess or commandery mistress, they kneel and let me have my way. In the south, they actually know how to weep and run..."
Situ Mo's face turned as dark as the bottom of a pot as he forced down his disgust. Suddenly, Moutuo's expression shifted, and he said with some guilt, "She's not on the island?"
Situ Mo had already anticipated this and kept his composure. Moutuo hastily resumed his divination, the golden radiance on his face slowly dimming as if the effort took a heavy toll. After a long moment, he said:
"She's not in the Zhulu Sea!"
Situ Mo's expression changed slightly. Thoughts raced through his mind, flashing across several names until inspiration struck. Somewhat hesitant, he said, "Fenkuai Island seemed to have suffered an attack by monsters recently, with many casualties, right?"
Moutuo froze, then realized with a start. "You mean... Kong Tingyun went to pick up sect disciples?"
Situ Mo nodded hesitantly, but Moutuo pressed on, "This is a golden opportunity! We can't break the grand array on their island, but we can ambush her on the sea route! If you and I head out together and get closer, I can divine her position again!"
Situ Mo immediately took to the wind with him. But upon reaching the seashore, hesitation gripped him, and he thought:
'That woman knows full well I have a Shakya cultivator with me. How could she make such a mistake... Sect disciples... Could Xuanyue really have no other Foundation Establishment cultivator available? This is far too convenient!'
A thought struck him, and he practically barked:
"Divine where Li Yuanjiao is!"
Moutuo stared blankly, baffled. "Didn't you say we wouldn't deal with the Li family until ten years from now?"
"If I tell you to divine it, divine it!" Situ Mo snapped.
Moutuo's face darkened with displeasure. "I'm not even in the State of Yue! How the hell do you expect your grandpa to divine him from here... We're already near the sea route—why not divine Kong Tingyun!"
Situ Mo could only suppress his temper. Looking out at the approaching torrent of sea water, he said in a deep voice:
"Just check whether Li Yuanjiao is in the Eastern Sea! Divine Li Yuanjiao first!"
Chapter 417