Chapter 444: Sky Billows

"Captain Shi, long time no see; I hope you have been well."

Qin Ming smiled faintly, and his figure immediately shifted and transformed, right before Shi Jin's utterly stunned gaze.

He took on the appearance of Shopkeeper Lu. "This Elder Lu..."

Shi Jin's thoughts churned; combining this with the topics cultivators had been hotly discussing in recent years, and Hua Tianxiong, a mid-stage Jin Dan cultivator, showing such an excessively flattering attitude toward him...

... it was not difficult to guess that this young cultivator before him was likely the renowned Wangyue Zhenjun of the Immortal Realm.

A true Nascent Soul expert! Shi Jin had actually met Nascent Soul Zhenjun before, but Qin Ming was the first to give him such a feeling.

Thinking carefully now, over a decade ago when he first encountered Elder Lu, the latter was already at the peak of the Jin Dan stage.

In all likelihood, the other party had returned to the Southern Wilderness and quietly broken through to the Nascent Soul stage.

"So it is Elder Lu; it is actually you! Congratulations, Elder, on successfully condensing your Nascent Soul! This junior pays his respects to Wangyue Zhenjun!"

"If Elder has any commands, please do not hesitate to order!"

Shi Jin felt both extremely apprehensive and intensely excited.

After all, Nascent Soul experts always had strange temperaments; his life or death rested on a single thought of the other party.

Crushing him would be simpler than crushing an ant.

What excited him was the unexpected realization that he, Shi Jin, might one day come to know such a major figure in the Immortal Realm.

"Mm, no need for excessive courtesy; this seat intends to travel to the Eastern Sea Immortal Realm and will take passage on your ship," Qin Ming stated his purpose directly.

"Once the matter is accomplished, rewards will certainly not be lacking for you," Hua Tianxiong added from the side.

Shi Jin hurriedly replied, "The great grace of Wangyue Zhenjun is something this junior could never repay; how could I possibly dare to demand compensation?"

"Being able to assist the Elders is an immense honor for this life!"

"Please, both Elders, board the ship."

Subsequently,

Qin Ming and the other boarded the Black Sail.

Hua Tianxiong kept scrutinizing this dilapidated and wretched vessel, even beginning to doubt whether it could safely deliver them to the Eastern Sea.

However, when he saw those strangely shaped Merfolk crew members, he was just as astonished as Qin Ming had been back then.

"Rest assured; this Black Sail is famously fast; this seat has experienced it once before," Qin Ming explained to him indifferently.

Hearing this, Hua Tianxiong's facial skin twitched, and he awkwardly responded, "Heh! Yes!"

Shi Jin arranged a superior guest cabin each for Qin Ming and Hua Tianxiong.

Subsequently,

the Black Sail plunged into the deep sea, like a giant shark, roaming about at tremendous speed.

The sight left Hua Tianxiong dumbfounded, greatly widening his horizons.

Qin Ming then summoned Shi Jin over to inquire about news from the Eastern Sea Immortal Realm.

"You should be aware of the descent of the Blood Ring Realm, correct? What is the situation here in the Eastern Sea?"

Shi Jin ordered someone to serve a fine table of wine and dishes to Qin Ming and the other, then replied, "Reporting to Elder, this junior is naturally aware; furthermore, on the sea islands, I have even personally witnessed the void anomalies."

"The faction descending to the Eastern Sea Immortal Realm this time is the Ghost Domain Hall from within the Blood Ring Realm."

"However, the overall strength of the Eastern Sea Immortal Realm is powerful, and with the existence of Soul Transformation sects, the descent of the demonic path has not caused much impact."

"Soul Transformation sects? Could Fellow Daoist Shi possibly be referring to..." Hearing this, Hua Tianxiong could not help but exclaim in surprise.

"Indeed, it is the Star Palace, which governs the vast Eastern Sea Immortal Realm; besides that Soul Transformation Venerable who has stood tall for over two thousand years, it is said there are also several Nascent Soul Zhenjun."

"Beneath the Star Palace are the four great Nascent Soul sects: the Penglai Sect, East Pole Island, the Ancient Sword Gate, and the Crystal Palace, all guarded by Nascent Soul Zhenjun."

"Below these lie countless scattered cultivator families, powers, and islands."

Qin Ming nodded. "In that case, the strength of the Eastern Sea Immortal Realm seems to be far superior to that of the Southern Wilderness and Great Jin."

"Heh! Moreover, under the leadership of the Star Palace, the Eastern Sea Immortal Realm has formed the super-power 'Tianhai Alliance,' where all obey deployments uniformly, with none daring to disobey."

"This junior has also learned that the Tianhai Alliance is already preparing to dispatch cultivators to support the other major Immortal Realms in jointly countering the descent crisis," Shi Jin explained.

After hearing Shi Jin's words, Qin Ming sighed with emotion.

'The Southern Wilderness is truly too shabby, having only myself as a lone Nascent Soul scattered cultivator...'

'Unlike other Immortal Realms, where great sects and clans stand in great numbers, with no shortage of Nascent Soul sects; even when dealing with a descent, they can easily handle it.'

'With the existence of a Soul Transformation sect, those Demon Lords, unless their brains are defective, would not dare to run blindly into the Eastern Sea; they are directly deterred.'

'Those sea beast demons are also exceptionally powerful.'

'After all, it is estimated that only by the late stage of the descent, when the void passages fully open, will the Soul Transformation Demon Venerables of the Blood Ring Realm be able to pass through.'

'For now, it is still unlikely; at most, it will be Nascent Soul Demon Lords.'

"May I ask what Elder plans to do this time?" Shi Jin was also unclear about Qin Ming's final destination.

Qin Ming pondered briefly, then countered with a question: "Where is the most bustling place for trade in the Eastern Sea Immortal Realm?"

"That is naturally 'Yunze Xiancheng,' established by the Tianhai Alliance on Kuixing Island."

"Yunze Xiancheng serves as the trade and exchange center of the Eastern Sea Immortal Realm, gathering almost all powers, large and small, from across the Eastern Sea," Shi Jin replied while pouring spiritual tea for Qin Ming and Hua Tianxiong.

"As long as one has sufficient spiritual stones, all kinds of rare resources can be obtained."

Qin Ming immediately decided, "Then let us go to Yunze Xiancheng first."

"Yes! I will instruct my subordinates at once," Shi Jin said, his eyes suddenly brightening.

Qin Ming asked again, "By the way, this seat has heard that the Eastern Sea Immortal Realm will soon hold an 'Immortal Mansion Grand Assembly'?"

"Indeed, the Immortal Mansion Grand Assembly is the foremost grand event in the Eastern Sea Immortal Realm; even the sea races will participate."

"It will be held on Dragon Abyss Island in three years; if Wangyue Zhenjun intends to attend, there will be plenty of time to arrive by then," Shi Jin said.

Qin Ming nodded.

Under Qin Ming's instructions, Shi Jin dared not show the slightest negligence; he temporarily abandoned his primary occupation as a pirate and sailed at full speed to deliver them to Yunze Xiancheng.

……

……Half a year later.

"Senior Wangyue Zhenjun, we have arrived at Tianlan Xiancheng."

The Black Sail emerged from the water, and Qin Ming and the others walked onto the bow.

Over this past half-year, even while submerged in the deep waters, the Black Sail had encountered several batches of demonic cultivators descending from the lower realms.

However, they were all low-tier demonic cultivators and were easily eliminated.

Gradually, a black dot on the sea surface became increasingly clear and large.

Before even drawing near, merely its massive silhouette connecting with the firmament and the terrifying aura it emitted left Qin Ming utterly astonished.

As for Hua Tianxiong, there was no need to mention it; he was already plunged into profound shock.

Gradually.

A large island, like a giant pillar holding up the sky, stood tall between the sea and the heavens, its main peak soaring into the clouds.

And Tianlan Xiancheng was built precisely upon this Kuixing Island; the upper layers of the island were filled with various jade towers and immortal palaces, with Lin Li everywhere.

The outer periphery below consisted of densely packed buildings surrounding the central main peak, distributed in concentric, tiered circles, organized in perfect order.

Surrounding the periphery of Kuixing Island, like stars arching to guard it, numerous small islands were scattered in a chessboard pattern, enclosing it within.

An immortal city of such scale was also something Qin Ming had never seen in his life; calling it a super-megacity would not be an exaggeration.

Merely the two sky-piercing giant pillars standing at the island's city gates shot straight into the clouds with their tops invisible, and in their center was the massive light gate for entering and exiting Tianlan Xiancheng.

The entire immortal city was shrouded beneath a fourth-tier top-grade formation, invisible to the naked eye.

Yet, with Qin Ming's divine sense, comparable to that of a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, he could detect a layer of vast, blue-hazy light curtain, within which countless high-tier runes drifted, encompassing the whole of Tianlan Xiancheng.

Under the protection of such a great formation, it was estimated that even a late-stage Nascent Soul great cultivator or a fourth-stage late-stage sea demon could be easily repelled.

Near the massive light gate of Tianlan Xiancheng, various flying birds and walking beasts, precious carriages and chariots, spirit boats and giant ships, shimmering with colorful light, transformed into streaks of escaping light, slicing through the sky and surging into the city gate.

At the outermost periphery of the island, several major ports were also established for ships to enter, exit, and dock.

The Shi Tian Shu also quietly climbed onto Qin Ming's shoulder; gazing at the shocking scene before him, his heart surged with emotion.

"If one doesn't come out, one never knows; the outside world is actually so wonderful."

"How many spirit stones must it have cost to build this?"

Qin Ming nodded, deeply agreeing.

"Hehe! This Tianlan Xiancheng has undergone thousands of years in the East Sea Immortal Realm to be continuously built to this scale," Shi Tian said with a smile.

"No wonder."

Subsequently, Shi Tian let out a loud shout, ordering his merman subordinates to sail at full speed toward Tianlan Xiancheng.

"Fellow Daoist Shi, aren't you a famous great pirate on the East Sea bounty list? Aren't you afraid of being captured upon entering the city?" Hua Tianxiong asked, puzzled.

Shi Tian chuckled, then boldly pulled a golden token from his bosom, inscribed with seal script upon it.

"This object is a Tianlan Token; possessing this allows free entry and exit."

"After all, Tianlan Xiancheng is open to all cultivators of the East Sea Immortal Realm."

"Once one enters the immortal city, all grudges and enmities are erased."

"But once one leaves Tianlan Xiancheng, then no one can intervene; those who should be wanted will be wanted, those who should have bounties will have bounties, and the various major powers will not show mercy either; everyone must rely on their own abilities."

"So that's how it is."

While speaking, the Black Sail had already slowly docked at the port on the island's periphery.

"Isn't that the Black Sail? Good heavens, how many years has it been since we last saw it?"

"It is said that over ten years ago, the Black Sail actually annihilated the twin demons of the Lou clan; I wonder if that is true or false."

"Stop prying blindly; be careful not to get targeted by this bunch of vicious pirates."

……

Long queues lined the entrance of Tianlan Xiancheng, with carriages flowing like water and people surging like a weaving loom.

Qin Ming took Hua Tianxiong and Shi Tian ashore first.

Shi Tianming, meanwhile, directed the crew to unload cargo, taking this opportunity to move the plundered goods into the city for fencing.

"Greetings to the two seniors, and to this fellow daoist."

"Do you gentlemen possess a Tianhai Token? Are you preparing for long-term residence or a short-term stay?"

A man and a woman approached, both at the late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation.

Both wore golden-threaded ceremonial robes as uniforms, with a three-wave watermark emblem embroidered on their chests; they were guards of the Tianhai Alliance stationed at the city gate.

Upon spotting the appearance of high-tier cultivators, they immediately walked over and bowed respectfully to Hua Tianxiong and Shi Tian.

Meanwhile, the plain-looking Qin Ming was overlooked.

The two could sense no magic power aura from him and assumed he was an attendant to the two Jin Dan seniors.

Mainly, Qin Ming did not wish to emit his Nascent Soul spiritual pressure wherever he went, making things too shocking and extraordinary.

He had already probed with his divine sense earlier; currently, within this immortal city, there was only one Nascent Soul Zhenjun stationed.

Just at this moment.

The spiritual energy nearby fluctuated violently; a golden streak of startling rainbow shot out from the uppermost palace of Tianlan Xiancheng's main peak, slicing across the sky.

In a flash, it landed directly before Qin Ming and the others.

As the escaping light dispersed, it revealed an old man in a Bai Shan, with a ruddy complexion, wearing a feathered crown, possessing quite the air of an immortal and the bearing of a Daoist.

An aura of Nascent Soul-level magic power manifested from the old man.

Amidst the extremely astonished gazes of the myriad cultivators at the city gate, they saw only the old man in the Bai Shan smiling warmly as he cupped his fists toward Qin Ming and welcomed him:

"Presumably, fellow daoist is the Wangyue Zhenjun from the Southern Wilderness? This old man has long admired your great name!"

"Welcome, fellow daoist, to Tianlan Xiancheng."

(End of Chapter)