The spirit boat sped south through the sky as the two conversed. The sea roared beneath them. After sitting for most of the day, they passed an island spewing black fire. The spirit boat suddenly shook with a loud rumble. Kong Tingyun looked up with a slight frown, lifted the curtain, and stepped out.
Li Qinghong looked up as well and saw roaring flames beneath them. The marketplace on the sea was in ruins, with several families seemingly locked in vicious battle. Sulfurous fire erupted as thick smoke billowed into the sky.
A few stray spell arts had struck the spirit boat, prompting Kong Tingyun to reveal herself. Her late Foundation Establishment Realm aura, combined with the radiance of her full Dharma robes, instantly frightened the surrounding cultivators into panic. Many dropped to their knees.
"Spare us, my lady! Spare us!"
"Where do you think you are? Do you all have no regard for your lives?" At her words, the cultivators who had unleashed the spells turned pale with terror and stammered in response. Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators flew in from the distance.
One of them recognized her at a glance and quickly bowed, speaking humbly, "Greet... Greetings, fairy of the Immortal Sect... Allow me to offer our apologies for this incident!"
He seized the troublemakers with one hand, intending to kill them on the spot, but Kong Tingyun waved him down. She paused to question them thoroughly but could not find any deeper cause.
Kong Tingyun frowned and observed them for a while. Once she was certain they had only caused unintentional harm, she let out a soft sigh. Meanwhile, Li Qinghong found the island oddly familiar. She lowered her gaze and quietly returned to the cabin.
After a few moments, Kong Tingyun reentered and sat across from her. She spoke softly, "This is Dongliu Island. It used to belong to a rather decent family... but their old ancestor failed his breakthrough and perished. A few of the elder generations also died, and they suddenly couldn’t hold such vast territory anymore.
"It’s a pity... Our Daoist Master once said that their ancestor had a fairly good chance of success, but he happened to run into Falling Water Rising Storm... and got washed to death by it..."
She poured tea for Li Qinghong and said gently, "Earlier, a few nearby families were besieging this place... The Han Family has a solid foundation, so it’s not so easy to topple them. They’ve apparently been fighting for over a year now."
Li Qinghong listened quietly, her eyes fixed on her teacup. After taking a sip, she asked, "How much farther is it from here to Zongquan?"
Kong Tingyun calculated for a moment and replied softly, "There should be another three or four days’ time."
"Alright," replied Li Qinghong, nodding. She quietly sipped her tea, already making mental calculations in her heart.
————
Crimson Reef Island.
Crimson Reef Island was the second-largest island in the Shallow Sea after Splitreed Island, but it was quite different. While Splitreed Island was a complete and unified landmass, Crimson Reef Island looked more like five or six large islands patched together.
The island was divided into East Reef and West Reef, a geographic and administrative split. The entire reef archipelago was split in two by a sea trench over five hundred kilometers wide. It was windless above and so vast that ordinary Qi Cultivation Realm cultivators couldn't even fly across it.
A woman in white stood on the sea dotted with jagged rocks. A frosty haze veiled her face, making her features indistinct. Her arms were folded across her chest.
Tianwan had been waiting here for several days. It wasn’t wasted time. Chi Buzi’s probing had forced Daoist Master Tanyun to show himself. Rather than feeling pleased, Tianwan had grown even more alert.
Tu Longjian...
Ever since the loss of the Six Ding Merging Fire Token, Tianwan had grown suspicious that Tanyun[1] from West Reef had kept a close eye on Tu Longjian ever since he secretly broke through to the Purple Mansion Realm. Chi Buzi’s recent stir-up confirmed for her that Tanyun had long since entered the Purple Mansion Realm. The realization chilled her and filled her with doubt.
The loss of the Six Ding Merging Fire Token was no accident; it must’ve been Tanyun’s doing! And so, new questions began to surge in her mind, Was Tu Longjian truly just a hypocrite dressed in righteousness?
The Daoist Master went over the possibilities in her mind and slowly shook her head.
"West Reef’s shadow has always loomed behind Tu Longjian... he must’ve wanted to protect Li Xijun, but the Six Ding Merging Fire Token was important enough for him to break his bottom line... and abandon pride if needed."
Linking it to how the token was lost, she nodded slightly and murmured, "The Merging Fire Token is no ordinary ancient artifact... it holds something within. Maybe a hidden trove, a cultivation technique, a lead to some ancient grotto heaven... or even Metallic Essence!"
"Husband..." Tianwan folded her arms over her chest, as if speaking across space to her long-vanished husband Guo Shentong. Her voice softened, "The dragon kin gave you the Six Ding Merging Fire Token... What kind of pact did you form with them? And what secrets did you hide within this spirit artifact... Tu Longjian... quite the name indeed!"
She stood quietly for a moment as a gust of fragrant wind swept in from the distance. It landed nearby and transformed into a man in sandalwood robes. He had arched brows and small eyes, but he was hunched over as he closely examined her.
Tianwan lowered her gaze and murmured, "Tanyun..."
"This old servant greets Madam!" Daoist Master Tanyun chuckled slyly, his eyes lacking the slightest respect.
Daoist Master Tianwan spoke softly, "Your spirituality is bound to him, so why not be honest with me... How is my husband now?"
"Eh..." Daoist Master Tanyun shook his head, replying mockingly, "Haven’t had contact in ages! Pardon me, Madam... There are far too many grotto heavens and secret realms in this world... What good is a mere strand of spirituality?"
Daoist Master Tianwan stared at him with quiet weight. Daoist Master Tanyun just laughed and said, "Why not ask the Golden Feather Sect instead? Those immortal sects are far-sighted and formidable... I’m sure they know something."
Tianwan remained silent for a while before speaking, "There’s no need to hide it. You handed the Six Ding Merging Fire Token to Tu Longjian... and Xu Xiao will surely die too...
"Why not keep this artifact in hand? Why give it to a bearer of fate like him? Could my husband be trapped in a grotto heaven... and needs this token carried inside to be rescued?"
As she spoke in a low voice, she carefully watched his expression and continued, "Or could it be..."
Her words were suddenly cut off by the demonic creature, whose tone had turned cold, "You used their lives to test me and my master. Guo Hongyao, Guo Hongkang, Guo Hong’er... How many direct descendants have already died? Tianwan! They were your children all the same!"
1. This is the full name of Daoist Master Tanyun. ☜