“Are you alright?”
Ji Shiyu shook her head in annoyance, walking across the floating debris as if it were solid ground.
It was only a second-stage demonic spirit; Yun Liu disposed of it with a wave of his hand. But the smell of blood attracted more demon beasts. Shadowy figures gathered beneath the water’s surface, their cold glints fierce and murderous.
“Ugh! Why does everything have to mess with me?”
Forced to stop her spellcasting, the little yellow-haired girl threw a tantrum. The Seven-Star Sword appeared in her palm, ready to strike. As she activated the Xuantian Nine Transformations, she felt a strange sensation—the third-stage form awakened spontaneously.
As the divine tree fortune infused her entire body, her formless spiritual root converted to wood spirit. Ji Shiyu’s golden hair gradually turned pink, and her Starmoon Eyes transformed into peach hearts.
“Oh?”
Roiling spiritual energy wrapped around her body like crackling lightning, forming a thorn wreath that pierced through all the nearby sea demons, making her look like a rose with thorns.
“Wood Lord Peach Maiden…”
Yun Liu clicked his tongue. It gave him the feeling of watching his little girl grow up. She actually looked pretty cute like this. All his hard work hadn’t been wasted after all.
Ji Shiyu recalled the divine power Yinglong had displayed. Struck by inspiration, she rubbed her left palm, and a crimson light sparked.
Crackle!
She casually swung her hand, sending out a bolt of lightning red thorn that pierced through the strange fish, absorbing its spiritual energy as well. It was perfect for clearing out small fry, and the Qi Sea consumption was almost negligible.
Water nourished wood, amplifying her spiritual pressure. Apart from earth spiritual roots, which countered the water aspect, the divine tree fortune was extremely effective in the Boundless Sea.
“Huh?”
Ji Shiyu giggled happily, instantly turning into a formidable fish spearer.
“A new fortune… that’s amazing. What is it exactly?”
“I almost didn’t make it back. You owe me, you know. You’re the one who lost all my money.”
Ao Tian preened proudly, also somewhat amazed.
“Don’t say that to your silly daughter. Even it can’t seem to get enough of that Oily Boy now.”
“What do you think? Your father and I have worn ourselves out for this family.”
Ji Shiyu bit her lip. She finished spearing the fish with lightning speed, then turned to look at her old father, whose face was full of satisfaction. A sweet feeling welled up inside her, and the lingering dissatisfaction of being a left-behind child instantly vanished.
So it was all for me…
She didn’t fully understand how powerful the Gluttonous Dragon she had killed was. She only knew that her master was the best in the world, and he had nearly lost his life for this gift.
The Peach Maiden had just appeared, and this small test had already scared off the other sea demons, who scattered in all directions.
Yun Liu shook his head in frustration. Their spirit boat was destroyed, and in the vacuum zone of the Great Whirlpool, spirit control was forbidden. They couldn’t exactly swim down, could they?
With just a look, Ao Tian sighed in grievance and reluctantly dove into the sea to pick up the loot. Every bit counted.
Just then, a treasure ship slowly approached, and a friendly voice called out.
“It seems you fellow cultivators have run into a bit of trouble. Why not come aboard and travel with us?”
The land-dwellers didn’t recognize the emblem on the ship. Compared to Cloud Flow’s shoddy transportation artifact, their spirit boat was quite impressive. Common demonic creatures couldn’t even break through its protective formation.
Seeing the four hesitate, the gentle female voice spoke again.
“Don’t worry. We are disciples of the Tianyin Fang from Zhenhai Port, not bandits from the Chain Docks. This place is very close to the Howling Fjord. If you run into any suspicious characters, you’ll be in real trouble.”
The Tianyin Fang, unlike the Sea-Severing Alliance and the Chain Docks, was a righteous sect under the Great Alliance of the Shenhua Sect. They were overseas cultivators who followed the Music Dao, and they had a good reputation on the sea.
“Since you offer, we gratefully accept.”
Yun Liu cupped his hands in thanks and leaped onto the deck along with Little Peach Fur. He didn’t forget to give Ji Shiyu a meaningful glance—reminding her who she was supposed to be now.
The Tianyin Fang’s spirit boat was neither large nor small. Its giant sail looked like a large pipa. Everything was elegant, and the incense calmed the mind.
Some shy female disciples of the workshop peeked from behind a curtain, pointing and whispering, filled with curiosity.
The sea was rough, and most men were rugged. It was rare to see such delicate, handsome youths.
The two had an extraordinary bearing, clearly from distinguished immortal estates in foreign lands.
The woman who had spoken earlier was petite. She smiled and nodded at them, wearing sea silk that reflected multicolored light in the sunset.
The unique fabric of the Merfolk race was expensive and rare. This was Yun Liu’s first time seeing it. If it were auctioned at the Shanhai Pavilion in another province, it would be priceless.
“Mu Shaohua of the Tianyin Fang. I saw you all encountering sea demons with little experience at sea, so I ordered my junior brothers and sisters to come to your rescue. But it turns out you two are quite skilled, with impressive cultivation.”
The woman was polite. Her appearance was average, but her temperament stood out. Her voice was the most pleasant he had ever heard; talking to her felt like having his ears washed by a clear spring.
“Not at all. Thank you, Fairy Mu, for saving us. Otherwise, we’d be drifting at the bottom of the sea.”
Yun Liu thanked her again, but he was puzzled. Why would she be here?
Mu Shaohua didn’t recognize them, but Yun Liu knew her. At the Initial Golden Core Realm, she was quite impressive among the younger disciples of the Tianyin Fang.
More importantly, this young woman had another identity, and she had no interest at all in the treasures of Mirage City.
Yun Liu returned the courtesy politely but distantly, hoping to reunite with Xiang’er as soon as possible.
“I am Yun Liu, a wandering cultivator with no sect or clan.”
“Shaohua greets you. Both young masters are handsome. May I ask your names?”
Mu Shaohua looked somewhat disappointed, her gaze lingering on the golden-haired youth.
“Young Master Yun is too modest.”
They had all seen Ji Shiyu’s abilities earlier. At the Peak Foundation Establishment stage, she had slaughtered sea demons right and left. Even she, a Golden Core cultivator, doubted she could do the same.
Ji Shiyu shed her Peach Maiden form, let down her twin tails, and let her long hair fall over her shoulders. She now looked like a handsome, graceful young man. She boldly reached out to shake hands.
“I am Ji Shiyu, young lord of the Tianji Sect, from Star Isle.”
“Oh?”
Hearing “Star Isle,” Mu Shaohua’s eyes lit up. That was the Gaotian Star Domain, where Nascent Soul experts were as common as dogs and Divine Transformation cultivators walked everywhere. Making a name for oneself among such a gathering of stars was the dream of all cultivators in the Nine Provinces.
While they were talking, the cold-tempered silver-haired woman and her little follower also boarded the ship.
Learning that the two were from the Eastern Extreme Sword Sect, Mu Shaohua was even more surprised. She hadn’t heard of them before, and she didn’t know which peak they belonged to. The other party’s attitude was cold, and they showed no intention of introducing themselves.
Though the Shenhua Sect was declining day by day, it was still one of the Six Standing Councils of the Heavenly Concord Alliance. A dying camel was still bigger than a horse. It wasn’t something a second-rate sect like the Tianyin Fang could touch.
With the Five Islands Aligned, the Inner Sea overlord, the Cold Chant Sect, had already entered the Great Whirlpool early to scheme for Mirage City.
The Soul-Seizing Banner Sect of the Demon Sect from Evil Spirit Port followed close behind. Together with the tardy arrivals from Penglai Island and the Tianyin Fang, the five factions assembled.
The treasure ship sailed downstream, gradually entering the depths of the Great Whirlpool, and the light dimmed.
Through the waves, countless fish could be seen swimming freely.
The master and disciple from the Sword Sect, the visitor from the stars, and the silent, low-key wandering cultivator—this party had a strange composition. No one knew how they had banded together, but they didn’t seem dangerous.
The Tianyin Fang disciples mustered up the courage to come out and greet them, asking about foreign lands. Most of the young cultivators had never left the Boundless Sea.
The silver-haired woman’s surrounding air was icy, making people afraid to approach. The little shrine maiden carrying a sword case on her back was easy to talk to. Her cute appearance quickly attracted a group of female disciples. Unfortunately, her answers were completely off-topic.