Translator: CinderTL
Sunset followed sunrise, in an endless cycle.
Life aboard the flying boat was monotonous, consisting of daily meditation and cultivation, with occasional trips out of the meditation chamber to gaze at the scenery through the windows.
One day, Venerable He Yu's voice echoed through the flying boat: "We've reached the Mist Sea. Remain vigilant at all times."
Xu Sanyan emerged from his meditation chamber and peered into the distance. He saw vast, churning mists, resembling a colossal beast poised to devour its prey, its breath swirling in billowing clouds.
The Mist Sea stretched beyond the horizon, its boundaries impossible to discern at a glance. Within its depths, an eerie silence prevailed, unbroken by the chirping of insects or the roars of beasts.
Deadly stillness.
These two words formed Xu Sanyan's first impression of the Mist Sea.
A small town clung to the edge of the Mist Sea, appearing as tiny as a beetle when viewed from above.
Xu Sanyan turned to Elder Ren and whispered, "Elder Ren, why is there a town here?"
Elder Ren was a veteran of the sect, his cultivation level at the Peak Stage of the Dao Seeking Realm. At over three hundred years old, he was the most knowledgeable among them.
With Liu Tang absent, Elder Ren had temporarily taken his place, assisting Xu Sanyan with questions and explanations.
"Holy Son, this city is called Mist City. It was built on the edge of the Mist Sea. Many rogue cultivators gather here, seeking the heavenly materials and earthly treasures within the sea. Over time, as more and more cultivators congregated, someone established a city, which has grown to its current scale."
"Is it safe being so close to the Mist Sea?" Xu Sanyan asked, recalling tales of countless demon beasts and ghostly creatures lurking within. "Is this city truly secure?"
Elder Ren chuckled reassuringly. "Holy Son, you needn't worry. The Mist Sea never expands, and its demon beasts never venture beyond its boundaries. This has held true for ten thousand years without exception. Not a single demon beast has ever survived leaving the Mist Sea."
Xu Sanyan gazed at the approaching mist, which loomed like an immeasurably vast city wall, its imposing grandeur truly awe-inspiring.
"Why can't the demon beasts escape?"
Elder Ren admitted his ignorance. "I don't know. But the moment they leave the mist's range, they instantly perish, regardless of their cultivation level."
Xu Sanyan nodded slowly, falling silent.
The flying boat descended gradually, landing two miles outside the city walls. After everyone disembarked, Venerable He Yu waved his sleeve, causing the flying boat to shrink rapidly until it transformed into a miniature vessel that settled into his palm.
"The mist hasn't cleared yet. Let's rest here for two days and wait it out," He Yu said, leading the way into the city.
"Yes," the others replied, following closely behind.
The Harmonious Heart Demonic Sect had brought approximately 450 members, with Xu Sanyan leading 210 of them.
A large group of demonic cultivators, each with their own distinct demeanor, strode into the city, causing onlookers to quickly step aside.
"The Harmonious Heart Demonic Sect is here too..."
"And it's Venerable He Yu and Aunt Hua..."
"This is going to be quite the spectacle. All the Heavenly Prides are gathering here: Fang Qingge from the Source Worship Sect, Jingyi from Heaven's Will Demon Subduing Temple, the Luo Family siblings from Harmonious Mountain Praying Dao Sect, Mo Xianxian from Shangyin Mountain... I heard the demonic sect has produced a formidable figure too. What was his name... Qi Liang? I wonder which one he is."
"That one," someone pointed at Xu Sanyan. "He looks the most imposing. It must be him."
Xu Sanyan overheard their whispers, turned his head, and flashed a toothy grin. Without a word, he continued striding into the city.
Qi Liang naturally heard them too. He glanced at Xu Sanyan but paid him no mind.
Mist City was vast and teeming with people, especially since the Hundred Saints Secret Realm had recently opened, drawing even more cultivators from various Great Sects and noble clans.
Xu Sanyan casually scanned the crowd and spotted numerous Dao Seeking Realm cultivators.
Yet, no matter how many there were, Venerable He Yu and Aunt Hua's mere presence on the street forced everyone to give them a wide berth.
The Void Harmony Realm truly represented the pinnacle of the cultivation world's hierarchy!
"Venerable He Yu, Aunt Hua, we meet again. This humble monk offers his respects."
Suddenly, an aged voice echoed from a street corner. Xu Sanyan turned to see two groups of people observing them from afar: a group of monks and a group of Daoists.
The monks' bald heads gleamed like polished jade, reflecting sunlight with an almost blinding intensity.
At the forefront stood an old monk clad in a golden-red kasaya, wielding a crimson-gold staff taller than himself and wearing a string of eighteen Buddhist beads the size of infants' fists around his neck.
Elder Ren leaned in, whispering, "Those are the Old Daoists from the Harmonious Mountain Praying Dao Sect and the monks from the Heaven's Will Demon Subduing Temple."
"The Old Daoist leading them is Daoist Feng Yuan, and the old monk is Ming Hui."
Xu Sanyan nodded slowly, his attention completely focused on the young monk standing beside the old monk.
The little monk appeared to be around twenty years old, with handsome features. What stood out most was his small, rosy lips, as red and tender as a newborn's. Combined with his delicate face, he looked like a celestial child who had stepped out of a painting.
"This little monk... he's fucking beautiful," someone behind Xu Sanyan muttered, swallowing hard and offering a strangely meaningful compliment.
Xu Sanyan silently guessed that this must be Jingyi, the heaven's chosen who had cultivated the Great Luo Golden Body to the seventh layer.
Jingyi was also gazing at him from afar, his gaze calm and serene, utterly devoid of emotion. He ignored Qi Liang, Tu Wanshan, and the others nearby, focusing solely on Xu Sanyan.
In Jingyi's eyes, this man wore a pale blue robe, his nose sharp and straight, his lips thin, and his face strikingly handsome. Yet his narrow eyes held a hint of ruthlessness.
But what truly captured Jingyi's attention wasn't the man's outward appearance, but rather his inner essence.
The profound stillness that emanated from within his being, radiating outward through his very skin, suggested a detached indifference, as if nothing in the world could stir his heart.
Such a temperament could only belong to someone with profound Buddhist nature, possessing an otherworldly state of mind, or... someone with a cold, detached heart, viewing all living beings as mere livestock!
In his hazy perception, Jingyi could sense the man's savage nature—a demonic aura!
"Such intense malice!" Jingyi murmured to himself.
A young monk beside him didn't hear clearly and, assuming Jingyi was speaking to him, asked, "What did you say, Junior Brother?"
Jingyi shook his head. "Nothing. Who is that man?"
"I don't recognize him. I'll ask around, Senior Brother."
"Alright."
The young monk felt no awkwardness taking orders from his junior brother. Everyone knew Jingyi was destined to become the next abbot.
"Great Master Ming Hui, what an honor," Venerable He Yu said with a smile, cupping his hands in greeting. There was no trace of the animosity between them.
As if only now noticing the Praying Dao Sect disciples, he feigned surprise. "Oh, Brother Feng is here too?"
"Heh, is Venerable He Yu well?" Daoist Feng Yuan returned the greeting with a forced smile.
Venerable He Yu's face remained amicable. "Thanks to Brother Feng's blessings, all is well."
The two parties didn't seem to be mortal enemies, ready to fight at first sight. Instead, they exchanged pleasantries like old friends.
Xu Sanyan turned to observe the Praying Dao Sect's group. A young man and woman stood on either side of the Old Daoist, sizing up Qi Liang and the others.
These were the Luo siblings, the Luo Family's twin Heavenly Prides: the elder brother Luo Changtian and his younger sister Luo Qingwei.
In Xu Sanyan's perception, the Luo siblings posed less of a threat than the little monk Jingyi.
Venerable He Yu had little to discuss with them and quickly parted ways after a few casual remarks.
"Let's find lodging and wait peacefully for a couple of days."
"As you command."
(End of the Chapter)
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