"Brother Qingyuan," Yunxiao said as they emerged from the grand hall, her voice carrying the gentle authority of an elder sister, "why don't you accept our hospitality while you consume Master Uncle's gift? We three sisters will ensure your safety during the process."
Yang Jian considered her offer carefully. Lingbao Tianzun had emphasized the importance of taking the lotus seed quickly, but he was unfamiliar with Jin'ao Island's geography. Finding a secure location in the vast East China Sea would be challenging, especially when he needed to remain vulnerable during the absorption process. Yunxiao, as one of the four premier outer disciples of Jiejiao, possessed both the strength and authority to guarantee his protection. Moreover, her presence would deter any opportunistic troublemakers who might view a defenseless cultivator as easy prey.
"Then I gratefully accept Junior Sister Yunxiao's kind invitation," he replied with a respectful bow.
"Excellent! Please, follow me," Yunxiao said, her serene smile brightening. She led the way across the mystical waters, with only Bixiao trailing behind them, her expression thoroughly dejected.
Their destination was Sanxian Island, originally located far from Jin'ao Island but moved to the outer periphery after the Three Xiaos became disciples of Lingbao Tianzun. The island was one of thousands that formed a protective constellation around the main stronghold—each one home to various Jiejiao disciples who had relocated when the Three Pure Ones separated from Kunlun Mountain.
As they approached, Yang Jian couldn't help but admire the strategic positioning. Jin'ao Island sat at the center like a brilliant moon surrounded by countless stars, each smaller island serving as both home and fortress. To his trained eye, the arrangement bore unmistakable similarities to the legendary Zhoutian Stellar Array of ancient Heaven.
"Impressive," he murmured, recognizing the defensive genius of the formation.
Yunxiao caught his appreciative gaze and nodded knowingly. "Master mastery of formations is legendary. Though he never obtained the complete diagram of Heaven's Great Zhoutian Stellar Array, he created this modified version through his own understanding. It may not match the original's power, but it serves our purposes admirably."
Sanxian Island emerged from the morning mist like something from a dream. Dense clouds and swirling fog concealed its true form, creating an otherworldly veil that spoke of powerful protective enchantments.
"We're about to pass through the island's defensive barrier," Yunxiao explained as they approached the wall of mist. "Without the guidance of myself, one of my sisters, or Brother Gongming, even a Daluo Golden Immortal would find themselves hopelessly lost in the maze."
The moment they crossed the threshold, Yang Jian felt the subtle shift in spiritual energy that marked truly masterful array work. The protective formation wasn't just a barrier—it was a complete dimensional fold that could redirect unwanted visitors into endless loops of confusion.
"Junior Sister's formation skills truly honor Uncle Master's teachings," Yang Jian said with genuine admiration.
"You flatter me, Brother Qingyuan," Yunxiao replied modestly, though her pleased smile suggested she appreciated the recognition.
Beyond the mist lay a paradise that defied earthly description. The main island bloomed with impossible vibrancy—fields of flowers in every conceivable hue stretched toward distant mountains, while elegant cranes danced through crystal-clear skies. Ancient trees bore fruits that glowed with inner light, and streams of liquid starlight meandered through groves of singing bamboo.
"Big Sister! Little Sister!" A melodious voice interrupted their sightseeing as a graceful figure descended from the sky. This was Qiongxiao, the middle sister of the Three Xiaos, her beauty more approachable than Yunxiao's ethereal perfection—like a beloved daughter of a prosperous household rather than a remote immortal.
"Second Sister," Yunxiao greeted her warmly.
Qiongxiao's curious gaze settled on Yang Jian. "And who might this distinguished guest be?"
"This is Brother Qingyuan, personal disciple of Uncle Daode," Yunxiao explained, then proceeded to recount the day's events in detail, including Bixiao's impulsive attack and subsequent punishment.
With each word, Bixiao's expression grew more mortified, as if her elder sister were deliberately exposing her worst moments to public scrutiny.
"Little Sister," Qiongxiao sighed once the tale concluded, turning to face the squirming Bixiao with the practiced disappointment of an older sibling. "How could you act so rashly? You nearly caused a catastrophe between our sect and Uncle Daode's lineage! What if Brother Qingyuan had been seriously injured? What if—"
"Second Sister, I already know I was wrong!" Bixiao wailed, covering her ears dramatically. "Master has already confined me for three thousand years! If you keep lecturing me like this, I'll die of nagging before the sentence is even half over!"
"How can you call this nagging?" Qiongxiao protested, clearly preparing to launch into an even more detailed sermon. "I'm trying to help you understand the gravity of—"
Before she could finish, Bixiao shot through the air like an arrow, disappearing into her personal cave dwelling and slamming the door with enough force to rattle the island's foundations.
"Don't mind Second Sister," Yunxiao said apologetically to Yang Jian. "She means well, but her... thorough explanations can be overwhelming."
"Junior Sister Qiongxiao clearly cares deeply for her family," Yang Jian replied diplomatically. "Such concern is admirable, even if the delivery could use refinement."
Yunxiao's grateful smile suggested she appreciated his tactful response. "Brother Qingyuan, please allow me to show you to my retreat chamber. It's properly warded for cultivation, and I'll maintain a protective watch throughout your meditation."
Her cave dwelling proved as elegant and understated as its owner—simple furnishings consisting of a few chairs and two small arrangements of fresh flowers. The minimalist aesthetic spoke to a mind focused on cultivation rather than material comfort.
The retreat chamber itself was even more spartan, containing nothing but a single meditation cushion in the center of a perfectly circular room. Subtle formation markers carved into the walls hummed with protective energy.
"Thank you for your hospitality, Junior Sister," Yang Jian said as he settled onto the cushion. "I won't forget this kindness."
"Think nothing of it, Brother Qingyuan. Focus on your cultivation." Yunxiao withdrew to stand guard outside, her spiritual senses extending to monitor the surrounding area.
Alone at last, Yang Jian withdrew the precious lotus seed from his robes. Even in the dim light of the chamber, it seemed to pulse with its own inner radiance, like a captive star eager for release. Without hesitation, he placed it on his tongue and swallowed.
The effect was immediate and overwhelming. Power beyond anything he had experienced flooded through his meridians, threatening to tear his cultivation base apart before he could bring it under control. The seed dissolved instantly, but its essence spread through every fiber of his being like liquid lightning.
Yang Jian closed his eyes and threw himself into the most intense meditation of his young life. The lotus seed's power was both gift and trial—immense potential that would either elevate him to new heights or destroy him in the attempt.
Time became meaningless as he wrestled with forces that dwarfed his current understanding. Waves of transformation swept through his body and soul, reshaping the very foundations of his existence. Somewhere in the deepest part of his consciousness, he felt something new stirring to life.
Three days passed in what felt like an instant. To Yunxiao, maintaining her vigil outside, it was barely a moment's rest. But for Yang Jian, those three days contained lifetimes of growth and change.
Suddenly, Sanxian Island began to tremble. The vibrations started as gentle pulses but quickly intensified into full earthquake-level shaking that sent birds flying and disturbed even the deepest meditation chambers.
"What in Heaven's name—?" Bixiao burst from her self-imposed exile, her confinement forgotten in the face of genuine alarm. "Why is the island shaking? This is supposed to be a blessed realm!"
For immortal dwellings, earthquakes weren't natural phenomena—they were harbingers of catastrophe or extraordinary spiritual events.
The answer came moments later as a pillar of golden light erupted from Yunxiao's cave, piercing straight through the island's protective formations and shooting into the heavens like a divine beacon. The radiance was so intense that it illuminated clouds for hundreds of miles, visible even from the distant shores of the mortal realm.
"By the ancestors," Bixiao breathed, her eyes wide with awe. "What kind of power is that?"
In the Biyou Palace, Lingbao Tianzun observed the display with deep satisfaction, his gaze penetrating the distance as if it were mere inches.
"Yaoji, my old friend," he murmured to himself, "this is all the aid I can provide without overstepping bounds. But perhaps it will be enough."
The light show didn't go unnoticed in the Celestial Realm. In the magnificent Lingxiao Palace, the Emperor of Heaven sat upon his throne of stars, each point of light around him representing an entire world under his dominion. Though he had not achieved sainthood, his mastery of the three corpses technique and his imperial authority granted him power that could rival even the Western Saints when fighting within his own domain.
Unlike the lesser immortals who could only see the outer radiance, his divine sight pierced through all barriers to observe the truth unfolding on Jin'ao Island.
"Sister," he whispered, his voice carrying complex emotions, "I wonder what surprises my nephew will bring to this ancient game of ours."
Back on Sanxian Island, Yunxiao stared at her own cave dwelling with a mixture of awe and concern. The golden light was clearly emanating from Yang Jian's meditation chamber—but what manner of divine ability could produce such a display?
"What incredible power has Brother Qingyuan awakened?" she wondered aloud. "I've witnessed the birth of many supernatural abilities, but never anything that could reach both Heaven and Earth simultaneously."
Inside the chamber, Yang Jian struggled to contain the newfound power coursing through his transformed body. The most dramatic change was impossible to ignore—a third eye had manifested on his forehead, blazing with divine fire that threatened to burn away all pretense and illusion in its path.
This was his awakened ability: the Heavenly Eye, but not the common variety possessed by cultivators like Wen Zhong. Yang Jian's version was something far more profound—an organ of perfect perception that could pierce any deception, see through any concealment, and detect the truth hidden within any being below the level of sainthood.
Moreover, the eye possessed offensive capabilities that made it as much weapon as tool. However, such power came with a steep price. At his current cultivation level, a single attack would drain every drop of his magical energy, leaving him completely defenseless.