Chapter 511: From Transmuting Spirit Chicken to Beast-Taming Cultivation Chapter 510: Upper and Lower Two Islands

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Protagonist:

Yu Zhangsheng

"Not yet half a Jia, meaning not yet thirty, and able to slay a Sub-Talisman Peak cultivator before thirty — looks like he's also a Holy Son-tier figure. This Huangpu Yuanji has truly met his match."

Mo Qianxun fell silent for a long while, then laughed and spoke thus.

His tone held some complexity, but more than that, it held sighing emotion.

"At such an age, with such cultivation strength — if there's a chance, I'd indeed like to meet this Yu Zhangsheng, see what kind of heaven's pride he is, to stand toe-to-toe with a Holy Son-tier pride."

Mo Qianxun chuckled lightly, his tone full of incredulity and a strange feeling.

"Heroes emerge in every generation under heaven, but we absolutely must not underestimate anyone."

The steward heard this, scratched his head, cupped his fists respectfully and said: "Young Master compared to this Yu Zhangsheng is only stronger, not weaker. If they truly meet, that Yu Zhangsheng would naturally have to retreat in shame."

Mo Qianxun glanced sideways at the steward, a rare trace of anger surfacing in his brow, his tone turning two degrees colder, and he said resentfully:

"Enough, enough. No need to force awkward flattery on me — is that interesting? I, Mo Qianxun, know my own measure perfectly well."

"Day after day you flatter me here against your conscience — is that interesting?"

The steward heard this, his neck weakened slightly, his heart trembled, he lowered his head even deeper, and said nothing.

Mo Qianxun asked himself: he could just barely break through to Sub-Talisman and then slay a Holy Land Elder at Sub-Talisman Peak — this strength, even if it were him, though he could do it, it would certainly not be easy.

In his heart, his regard for Yu Zhangsheng's side increased by several degrees.

"Such a figure, even in a Holy Land, would be Holy Son-tier. Not yet half a Jia, and born in the barbarian wilds, a minor sect cultivator — how did he achieve this?"

Mo Qianxun frowned, doubt in his heart, murmuring in a low voice.

A good long while passed before he heavily exhaled a breath and asked:

"What happened after? This Yu Zhangsheng slew that Elder Meng Xiangrui's avatar — could the Meng Yao Holy Land let him go? How did things go afterward?"

The steward frowned, explained softly:

"Afterward, this Yu Zhangsheng was pursued all the way out of Wuzhou. Where exactly he went is unknown. And there's a strange matter: Wuzhou's Wanxiang Sect also, along with Yu Zhangsheng's pursuit, collectively vanished without a trace — not a single trace left."

"Some speculate it should be because they feared retaliation from the Meng Yao Holy Land and Qingzhou, so the entire sect relocated. But to vanish so cleanly in a single night, leaving not a shred of karma trace — it truly leaves one unable to figure it out, not knowing how it was done."

The steward voiced his puzzlement, tone doubtful.

"This... could it be a Space Realm Treasure?"

Mo Qianxun pondered, a flash of light in his eyes, faintly speculated.

"However, such a supreme treasure is priceless. A mere minor Wanxiang Sect — how could they possibly possess one? Not very realistic."

"That's unclear." The steward spoke sincerely, "But later, based on speculation and some clues from spider-silk traces, this Yu Zhangsheng most likely left the Southern Domain together with his sect, and came into our Beihai Domain."

"Oh?"

Mo Qianxun raised an eyebrow, slightly pursed his lips, then smiled lightly.

"If that's the case, then we still have a chance to run into him?"

Mo Qianxun chuckled lightly, lifted his gaze to the distance, following the boundless sea level, his gaze deep and remote, as if wanting to pierce through the clouds.

"Just unknown — this time's Hai Shou Tian Dao disciple recruitment grand ceremony, will this Yu Zhangsheng also come over?"

"If it's a heaven's pride figure like him, and he truly came to the Beihai Domain, even within the Hai Shou Tian Dao, he couldn't possibly remain unknown. Perhaps we truly could meet?"

Mo Qianxun licked his lips, smiled and spoke softly, his voice dissipating along with the sea wind.

"This trip to the Hai Shou Tian Dao... just got interesting..."

………

………

On the other side, the giant vessel sailed far away. On a small boat lagging a certain distance behind, Yu Zhangsheng listened to Shi Huishan's trio's explanation, his brows slowly relaxed, yet he suddenly sneezed several times in succession.

"Aqing, Aqing!"

"Who's talking about me behind my back?"

Yu Zhangsheng rubbed his nose, muttered.

Shi Huishan's three faces looked at each other in blank dismay, no one spoke.

"Forget it. The Mo Clan, Mechanism Puppet Technique — if there's a chance I'll ask for pointers, see what's so special about it."

Yu Zhangsheng shook his head, chuckled, pressed this matter into his heart, but didn't think further on it.

During the following stretch of time, as the distance to the Hai Shou Tian Dao grew closer and closer, the boats around them obviously increased even more. Amid a bustling clamor, Yu Zhangsheng's side continued adhering to the principle of keeping a low profile, and stirred up no trouble.

Thus, another half month later, at midday, the blazing sun shone high, over the ocean a glittering expanse, occasional waves surging up, refracting the sunlight, like countless seven-colored pearls, so dazzling.

The density of spiritual Qi in the surroundings also abruptly rose a degree. Over the sea domain, on the densely packed boats, rose cries of alarm.

"Hai Shou Tian Dao, we've arrived?"

"Is this it? Worthy of a Holy Land!"

"Such imposing grandeur — a Holy Land's reputation is well-deserved. Even the density of spiritual Qi is far beyond what the outside world can compare to."

Amid the clamor, located on the deck, Yu Zhangsheng and Wei Lao, who had been playing chess, also slowly ended their cultivation, opened their eyes, a sharp light flashing in their gazes.

"Dao Friend Yu, ahead is the Hai Shou Tian Dao."

Shi Huishan appeared at the right moment, spoke.

"Mm."

Yu Zhangsheng lightly nodded, stood up, gazed into the far distance — who knew he would let out a long breath, his brows slightly furrowing, a trace of surprise surfacing.

Crash! All around, waves surged. Surrounded by countless ships, at the end of vision, lay a coastline with no visible end — that was an island, or one could say, a continent.

Encircling the coastline lay a continuous undulating harbor coast, its scope vast beyond imagination. Within it, crowds came and went closely, voices boiling, clouds and mist surging. On the island, a faint haziness — until Yu Zhangsheng's party's boat drew nearer, only then did it gradually become clear. As far as the eye could see, the island was majestic to the extreme, rising high above the coast.

What first catches the eye is the spiritual Qi so dense it is nearly substantial, turning into five-colored Xiaoguang that winds through the air, enveloping the island continent, transforming into clouds and Xiaoguang suspended in the Tian Qiong — truly beautiful.

On the island, mountain ranges stretch continuously, Xianshan rise towering, clouds and mist drift mistily between peaks, and Immortal Palaces can be faintly seen scattered about. Flying waterfalls cascade from mountain tops, and amid the splashing water there seem to be shadows of immortals. Strange flowers and spirit grasses stretch in the spirit mist, emitting strange light and fragrance; immortal birds and spirit beasts shuttle through the woods, their cries melodious, spirit light flashing.

The surrounding Hai Yu churn with surging waves, yet auspicious light emerges from the seabed, as if some kind of inspection, clearly sweeping past all passing boats in the vicinity — silent and soundless, yet it makes Yu Changsheng's heart suddenly tighten.

"Huu..."

Yu Changsheng lets out a long breath of turbid Qi; after a long while, he suppresses the shock in his heart, and his complexion returns to calm.

"Finally arrived; this whole journey has run me ragged — these old bones of mine can't take the tossing about."

Wei Lao slowly stretches lazily, hehe laughing, his gaze skimming past Yu Changsheng to land on Hai Shou Tian Dao, his face involuntarily revealing a trace of deep feeling.

"It really is huge — worthy of a Holy Land, quite imposing."

Yu Changsheng says.

Shi Huishan lightly purses her lips, answering in a low voice:

"Hai Shou Tian Dao, as a Holy Land ruling one region, its ruled territory reaches a million Li of Hai Yu; its headquarters, this very island, though called an island, can actually be said to be a continent — spanning ten thousand Li."

"Ten thousand Li?"

Yu Changsheng raises an eyebrow, a bit tongue-tied, but on second thought feels relieved — the Cultivation World's territories are vast; just Wuzhou's Wanxiang Sect rules several thousand Li, so a ten-thousand-Li island for Hai Shou Tian Dao is nothing surprising.

"Yes, Dao Friend Yu has just arrived and may not know; actually, from the moment we crossed this Hai Yu just now, invisible, uncountable formations have already enveloped us — everything inside the formations counts as a layer of screening."

"The entire Hai Shou Tian Dao is shrouded in world-shaking formations controlling all within, orderly, integrating offense and defense, with many wonderful uses, also serving teleportation, making contact within the island's ten thousand Li still fairly close, convenient for management."

Shi Huishan explains patiently, her gaze bright, hehe smiling.

"So that's how it is."

Yu Changsheng nods, understanding in his heart; he is not surprised — he had sensed this from earlier.

"However, though Hai Shou Tian Dao is large, what we see now is only the outer circle — the place where Outer Sect Disciples live; the true Hai Shou Tian Dao is not on this island."

Shi Huishan thinks a moment, a trace of envy showing between her brows, and says softly:

"Hm? Then where is it?"

Yu Changsheng frowns, asking in puzzlement.

"In the sky."

Shi Huishan raises her hand, pointing toward the sky above Hai Shou Tian Dao; Yu Changsheng follows her finger and instantly freezes, his pupils violently shrinking, waves rising in his heart.

"This is..."

He sees that high above the center of the ten-thousand-Li Hai Shou Tian Dao, a small black dot abruptly floats; due to distance, from the boat it looks only the size of an ordinary moon, so Yu Changsheng hadn't paid attention at first.

Only now, focusing his spirit to observe, does he discover the clue.

That dot is actually another continent island floating high above Hai Shou Tian Dao, much smaller than the lower island; from afar only the undulating outlines of mountain ranges are visible, seven-colored Xiaoguang accompanying spirit Qi enveloping it in a blur, impossible to see clearly.

Within the blur, formation lights connect to the lower Hai Shou Tian Dao; amid auspiciousness the island floats in the high sky, clouds winding around it — one glance shakes the heart and moves the soul.

If the lower Hai Shou Tian Dao is already stunning enough, the island in the high sky can truly be called a Xianjing.

Just as Yu Changsheng's heart is shaken, Shi Huishan shakes her head, a trace of complexity in her eyes, hehe smiling, looking at Yu Changsheng and saying softly:

"The island in the high sky, though less than a thousand Li in scope, is the true Hai Shou Tian Dao, the Core, the real Holy Land."

Shi Huishan swallows saliva, and when she looks at Yu Changsheng again her eyes hold a trace more sincerity and envy; hehe smiling she says: "The lower Hai Shou Tian Dao is only where Outer Sect Disciples live; the upper island is where Inner Sect Disciples live — between Outer and Inner Sect there is a heaven-and-earth difference, like these two islands."

"Inner Sect, high above, dwelling in the clouds, enjoying the best resources, looking down on the mortal world, unmatched."

"Outer Sect Disciples, to outsiders, even just living on this lower Hai Shou Tian Dao seems pretty good, but compared to Inner Sect Disciples they still fall far short — in sum, it's one sentence..."

Shi Huishan's tone pauses, a trace of helplessness on her face, bitterly smiling: "Lower Hai Shou Tian Dao exists because of Upper Hai Shou Tian Dao, serves Upper Hai Shou Tian Dao, everything takes Upper Hai Shou Tian Dao as primary."

"And Lower Hai Shou Tian Dao each year has a few quotas that can ascend to Upper Hai Shou Tian Dao regardless of cultivation base or talent — this is why some people, knowing their talent and strength are insufficient, still willingly join Hai Shou Tian Dao as Outer Sect Disciples of Lower Hai Shou Tian Dao: they want to fight for this quota to enter Upper Hai Shou Tian Dao and become Inner Sect Disciples."

"Thus they can rise rapidly, soar in a single leap. Only, how easy is that? Plainly put, this is a Holy Land — only true powerhouses may step across its threshold."

Shi Huishan finishes speaking, a trace of gloom on her face, yet it vanishes in an instant.

Yu Changsheng ponders, nods, and in his heart gains an intuitive understanding of Hai Shou Tian Dao's structure.

"Hai Shou Tian Dao is divided into upper and lower islands; only Upper Hai Shou Tian Dao can be called a Holy Land. Lower Hai Shou Tian Dao is more like a kind of vassal?"

Yu Changsheng ponders, and after a long while lightly exhales, nods to Shi Huishan, and pats his shoulder.

"Good luck."

Shi Huishan is invigorated, smiles faintly, and cups his fists toward Yu Changsheng.

"With Dao Friend Yu's talent and strength, entering Upper Hai Shou Tian Dao is a certainty; we have no hope of entering Inner Sect — from now on one high in the clouds, one fallen to mortal dust, meeting again is likely illusory; still, we must thank Dao Friend Yu for saving us on Wanxiang Island... we are endlessly grateful; if there is need, where we three brothers can be of use, please speak."

Shi Huishan speaks heavily, tone sincere, attitude earnest.

"No matter."

Yu Changsheng lightly nods, not minding.

Seeing this, Shi Huishan's eyes imperceptibly dim, but he only smiles.

Actually, just now he didn't finish: besides becoming Inner Sect, one can also ascend to Upper Hai Shou Tian Dao as an Inner Sect Disciple's vassal.

Though this doesn't count as a formal disciple nor grant Inner Sect resources, one is still in Upper Hai Shou Tian Dao's environment and courted by many — plenty of people are willing to become an Inner Sect Disciple's vassal for this.

As the few walk, steps unceasing, they follow the harbor and together step onto Lower Hai Shou Tian Dao. (Chapter End)