In the days following the stormflood, every resident of Liuli Island received instructions: each household was to inspect their section of the island protection array for damage.
The method was simple. The Liuli Administration distributed spirit talismans. Families simply had to hang one in their home for several days and nights, observing whether it emitted red light.
Special teams were dispatched to inspect the array’s countless remote and isolated nodes across the island.
“All 367,800 nodes of the island protection array must be checked for anomalies.” Under the Immortal Master’s decree, and for the sake of their own survival, all other affairs on Liuli Island were suspended, with priority given to maintaining the array.
Normally, the Immortal Master would oversee the inspection personally. But this time, the spirit stones powering the array were nearly depleted. Thus, the Immortal Master had returned to Myriad Immortals Island to procure more.
Li Fan also received a spirit talisman and hung it in his house. Focusing his senses, he could faintly detect an intangible wave radiating from it.
The wave expanded outward for a distance before seemingly encountering an obstacle and bouncing back.
As the wave returned, the talisman glowed with a soft blue light. After a few breaths, the blue light faded. The wave was generated once more, and this cycle repeated.
Every three hundred and sixty flashes of the talisman form a minor cycle of the array’s self-inspection system. Li Fan recalled the instructions given with the talisman. Three hundred and sixty minor cycles form a major cycle. If no red light appears during a major cycle, the array is intact.
This island protection array is immense, yet incredibly precise. It’s difficult to imagine how it was constructed.
Myriad Immortals Island is said to be where the vast majority of cultivators in the Congyun Sea gather. It’s shrouded in mystery, and even Manager Zhao knows little about it.
All we know is that if a mortal on Liuli Island manages to cleanse themself of miasma and successfully draw in qi, an Immortal Master will descend and take them to Myriad Immortals Island.
It seems my goal for this lifetime will be to reach that place.
But matters had to be approached step by step. The first step was securing a slot in the outgoing fleet, which would grant him access to the Body Purification Spirit Pool.
Having waited for centuries already, Li Fan wasn’t troubled by a little more patience.
Time flowed quietly amidst the islanders’ anxious prayers.
Five days later, the result allowed the entire population to exhale in relief: the island protection array was undamaged.
When the Immortal Master returned with a sufficient supply of spirit stones, the residents’ worries vanished completely.
Life on Liuli Island gradually returned to normal.
In the following months, survivors from other islands occasionally arrived on Liuli seeking refuge. Of course, the vast majority of people on their islands had perished in the recent stormflood.
Upon learning that an Immortal Master safeguarded Liuli Island, profound envy washed over the faces of these refugees.
The Congyun Sea was vast and boundless, containing countless islands, large and small. Only islands that produced unique resources were fortunate enough to have an Immortal Master stationed permanently.
Li Fan hadn’t been idle these past months. His perseverance in practicing the Xuanhuang Heart Clarification Sutra daily had finally yielded rewards.
Name: Li Fan
Realm: Mortal
Biological Age: 41/88↑
Psychological Age: 504/1119↑
Both his biological age and psychological age limits had increased once more. The gains were modest, but they filled Li Fan with a surge of motivation.
From that day forward, he cultivated even more diligently. Aside from eating, he spent every waking moment practicing the Heart Clarification Sutra.
Another month passed in this manner until Li Fan finally received a message from Manager Zhao. The stormflood in the Congyun Sea had completely subsided. The fleet’s next voyage would soon take place!
Three days later, at Liuli Island’s docks.
The sea vessels of Liuli Island were larger than the Taiyan Boat’s second configuration, each stretching a full two to three hundred meters in length.
Over a dozen of these great ships were lined up, moored upon the sea’s surface. It made for a truly impressive sight.
Due to the stormflood, the fleet had been grounded for a long time. Thus, Liuli Island had fallen behind on a significant portion of the tribute materials it was required to submit.
Consequently, the Island Master had ordered the entire fleet of ships to set sail this time.
This was a rare spectacle. In the past, for safety’s sake, only one or two ships would ever sail simultaneously.
The docks were packed with people who had come to witness the event. Occasionally, they would spot a familiar face aboard a ship and wave enthusiastically.
Li Fan followed Manager Zhao’s subordinate and boarded a sea vessel named the Cangyuan.
Among the crew, many were setting out to sea for the first time like Li Fan. Their faces were alight with excitement, their eyes brimming with the hope of striking it rich overnight.
The veteran sailors, however, were the complete opposite. Not only were they devoid of any excitement, they wore expressions of deep worry and couldn’t stop their complaints.
“What in the blazes is the Island Master thinking, pulling a stunt like this? The ship with the smallest haul gets branded unfit and stripped of sailing rights for good? How’re we supposed to swallow that?”
“Ugh, don’t even mention it. It’s all because of that damned stormflood. You know Coral Island in the south? I heard in private that their island protection array shattered. The entire island was wiped flat. And the tribute they owed? It’s been dumped on us, Liuli Island.”
“What kind of mess is this! How are we supposed to live after this?”
“They say it’s only temporary. Just gotta make up the backlog, that’s all.”
A chorus of gloomy sighs followed.
“Look at you lot, sniveling like cowards! Why not think of the upside? Isn’t there a reward for first place? The crew’s share of the harvest jumps from thirty percent to fifty!
“Fifty percent! Think about what that means! One good haul, and you’d never have to set foot on a ship again for the rest of your lives!”
At that moment, a man with sun-bronzed skin strode over and began berating the crew.
“Boss, stop dreaming. First place? You know our fishing skills. We barely meet the quota every time, just managing to scrape by.”
“Yeah, if you ask me, this is our last voyage!”
“Blast it, why go back at all? Let’s just turn pirate and live free!”
Clearly, the crew had a close relationship with the bronzed man. Instead of being cowed by his scolding, they just ribbed him good-naturedly.
Hearing their foolish talk, the man didn’t get angry. Instead, he planted his hands on his hips, a picture of confident assurance.
“What? Boss, you got a plan?” Knowing their leader well, the crew pressed him immediately.
The man said with pride, “Relax. We have an expert on board this time. I guarantee we’ll return with holds full to bursting.”
With that, he pointed a thumb at Li Fan, who stood behind him.
“Him?”
“He looks so pale and soft. Has he even been to sea before?”
The crew squinted at Li Fan, their faces instantly falling into expressions of disappointment. They shook their heads in disbelief.
“You blind fools are too ignorant to recognize a man of worth! This is the exceptional talent Manager Zhao personally invited. He’ll soon be taking command of our ship, so show some respect!” the man bellowed, his anger seemingly genuine.
At these words, chaos erupted aboard the Cangyuan.
The sun-bronzed man glanced back at Li Fan, a conspiratorial smile briefly touching his lips.