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A fortnight passed in silence within the West Sea Forbidden Area.

Beneath Qi Yun, the complex Array Patterns traced with Magical Power, covering an area hundreds of miles in circumference, pulsed with layers of clear light as he completed his final Circulation.

The light then drew inward. The patterns folded back on themselves, transforming into countless threads of Flowing Light that retracted into his body and vanished without a trace.

"HUUUU..."

A long, condensed breath of Muddy Qi, tinged with a faint golden glow, escaped Qi Yun’s lips, traveling three feet from his body before dissipating.

He slowly opened his eyes. A divine light shone from within them, all traces of weakness gone. Instead, they seemed even more profound and reserved than before.

The various hidden injuries and chronic ailments left within his body from forcefully interfering with the True Monarch’s probe and condensing the [Innate] state were now completely healed.

His Dao Foundation was stable, his Magical Power abundant.

He had even turned this misfortune into a blessing; under that extreme pressure, his control over his own power had become even more precise.

The gate to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage was now within his grasp.

All preparations were complete. He only lacked a sufficiently secure and undisturbed grotto for secluded cultivation to attempt his breakthrough, summon the Four Spirits, and forge his Realm Heaven.

’But... where should I go?’ Qi Yun mused, his fingertips unconsciously tapping his knee.

Although the Northwest was vast and the Wuji Holy Sect was his backer, it was not the ideal choice in his mind at this moment.

"Oh? From the sound of it, you’re not planning to return to your Holy Sect?"

The God of Wealth Cai Shen, who had taken the form of a palm-sized yet vividly lifelike golden treant and was lounging leisurely on Qi Yun’s other shoulder with his arms propped behind his head, turned to look at him.

Having spent several months together, they had grown to understand each other’s personalities, and it could already guess at some of Qi Yun’s concerns.

"No," Qi Yun said, shaking his head. His gaze turned toward the Northwest mainland, his eyes growing cold. "The Holy Sect Mountain Gate may seem impregnable and perfectly safe."

"But on the inside... it’s not a monolith. There are undercurrents and unstable elements."

"If certain people were to learn that I intend to break through to the Middle Stage, they would do everything in their power to interfere, and perhaps even... resort to underhanded tactics again."

He was, of course, speaking of the Black Mountain Master.

Back when he had been breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, the Black Mountain Master had launched a sinister, treacherous attack aimed directly at his Daoist Foundation Origin. It had nearly spelled his doom. If his master, the Elder Master, hadn’t intervened to block it, he would have long since been reduced to a pile of dust.

The man was incredibly petty and vengeful, holding a grudge over the smallest slight. Moreover, he held a high position and possessed profound abilities.

If he were to find out that Qi Yun was about to break through to the Middle Stage, it would be a simple matter for a Great Master like him to pull some strings within the Sect, interfering with or even sabotaging his secluded cultivation.

"Is that so?" Cai Shen’s small, golden tree-body swayed. His tone was as light as if he were discussing the weather. "If you’re that worried, then why don’t you just go far away, kid?"

The heavens are high and the earth is wide. The four seas and eight wildernesses... how vast is this magnificent world?

Why hole yourself up in a corner of the Northwest, constantly on guard against such contemptible villains?

"Only by escaping the cage can you see the true scope of Heaven and Earth."

He had only said it casually, with a hint of detached, otherworldly banter.

But to Qi Yun’s ears, the words struck like a bolt of lightning, cutting through the fog of his thoughts.

’That’s right!’

’Why must I be confined to the Northwest?!’

’The Black Mountain Master is now a Great Master. His Magical Power is immense, and his Divine Thought covers a vast area.’

’In the Northwest Territory, the karmic ties between us run too deep. Trying to completely avoid his notice would be harder than ascending to the heavens.’

’Even if I found a hidden place, there would be no guarantee that he wouldn’t use some Sect Secret Technique or a Great Master’s methods to divine my location.’

’If I were disturbed during a critical period of my cultivation, the consequences would be unthinkable.’

’If that’s the case... I should just flee far away!’

’Leave the Northwest entirely!’

’The world is a vast place; where can I not find shelter?’

’All I need is to find a sufficiently hidden place and achieve my breakthrough in peace.’

’Once I successfully step into the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, with the miraculous power of my [Venerable Dao Foundation], my Dao Position will be comparable to that of the Foundation Establishment Late Stage. By then, my Magical Power and Divine Techniques will have soared, and my ability to protect myself will be vastly greater.’

’Even if the Black Mountain Master finds out afterward, he’ll have to think twice before trying to move against me.’

His mind made up, clarity dawned upon him. The hesitation in Qi Yun’s eyes vanished, replaced by a cold, serene determination.

Without further hesitation, he sat down cross-legged and focused his Heart and Spirit. Within his Purple Mansion, the [Daluo Heaven] rippled gently.

The next moment, an incredibly condensed and secret Divine Thought shot out like a pebble cast into a placid lake. It crossed thousands of rivers and mountains, ignored the obstructions of the Earth Veins, and followed an extremely faint yet incredibly tenacious karmic link between master and servant.

It sped toward the distant south!

...

「In the south, at Nine Kings Mountain.」

This was not a solitary peak, but a chain of nine majestic, interconnected main peaks brimming with Spiritual Qi. Complemented by thousands of lesser peaks, they formed a vast mountain range stretching for tens of thousands of miles.

The peaks were perennially wreathed in vibrant clouds, with Spiritual Birds and Exotic Beasts occasionally visible. Streams of pure, clear light from Talismans shone from the palaces and grottoes on each peak, interacting with nature’s spiritual energy to manifest all sorts of auspicious phenomena. The sight was truly magnificent.

This was the foundational territory of Nine Kings Mountain, one of the foremost powers of the Talisman path in the Nanyin Righteous Dao.

Atop one of the side peaks, Profound Talisman Cliff, a middle-aged Daoist sat cross-legged on the edge of a naturally formed cyan jade precipice. He wore a Profound White Daoist Robe, embroidered on the chest with the pattern of a pale gold Cloud Talisman.

His face was gaunt, and three strands of a long beard hung to his chest. His aura was profound and serene. This was none other than the Nine Kings Mountain Elder, Xuan Ping Master.

After the incident in the Valley of No Life, Qi Yun had secretly released him, allowing him to blend in with the forces of the Righteous Dao, return to the south, and continue his infiltration.

At this moment, he was looking down into the valley below, watching the busy figures of the many inner and Outer Disciples of Nine Kings Mountain.

The disciples were taking inventory and registering the various losses, spoils of war, and compensation matters for the Nine Kings Mountain lineage from the recent northern expedition.

Although the northern expedition had come to an abrupt halt due to the incident with the Imperial Soldiers, the final outcome remained uncertain.

But from the initial campaign and the chaotic battle in the Valley of No Life, every side had suffered losses and reaped rewards.

This tedious yet necessary administrative aftermath still required someone to oversee it.

Xuan Ping Master’s expression was serene, his gaze occasionally sweeping over a familiar disciple’s belongings or a record of their passing, perfectly playing the part of "Elder Xuan Ping" with the appropriate solemnity and gravity.

Suddenly, his expression tightened almost imperceptibly, as if he had heard a summons imperceptible to ordinary people.

But his movements did not falter in the slightest; he maintained his posture of looking down over the valley,

Only his Heart and Spirit instantly sank into the deepest reaches of his Sea of Consciousness.

There, within his Sea of Consciousness, a figure dressed in dark blue stood with his hands clasped behind his back, having manifested at some unknown point in time.

It was an incarnation formed from a wisp of Divine Thought projected by Qi Yun from across the continent.

Xuan Ping Master did not hesitate for a moment. There, in the void of his Sea of Consciousness, he bowed reverently before the dark blue figure, kneeling and touching his forehead to the ground. His voice was filled with absolute piety and obedience.

"Zhe Cheng pays his respects to My Lord!

I respectfully welcome the descent of My Lord’s spiritual will!"

Qi Yun’s Divine Thought incarnation raised a hand slightly, and an invisible force lifted Zhe Cheng to his feet. A calm, unwavering voice echoed directly in his Heart and Spirit:

"Zhe Cheng, I require an absolutely secret, undisturbed place, rich in Spiritual Qi, to enter seclusion and break through to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.

Do you have any suitable arrangements?"

’An absolutely secret, undisturbed place for secluded cultivation, rich in Spiritual Qi...’ After a moment of thought, Xuan Ping Master waved his large sleeve and directly summoned two other Main Souls.

Xuan Hengzi and Mo Shou Master!

"My Lord requires an absolutely secret, undisturbed place, rich in Spiritual Qi, to enter seclusion and break through to the next Dao Realm. In your previous lives, you both had vast experience. Do either of you know of a suitable location?"

The soul-image of Mo Shou Master, his face stern and rigid, was the first to speak after a moment of contemplation.

"Most of the places in the south with superior Spiritual Qi are either forbidden grounds of Major Sects or known Secret Realms. I fear it would be difficult to avoid detection in any of them."

In contrast, the soul-image of Xuan Hengzi had a tranquil and detached air. He raised his head slightly, and a light like Starlight seemed to flow within his eyes.

In life, he had been an Elder of the Celestial Star Sect. He was an expert in the study of the stars, a frequent observer of celestial phenomena, and his friendships had not been limited to those within his Sect.

After a moment of thought, he drifted forward half a step and bowed. His soul-thought transmission was clear and steady:

"Reporting to My Lord, I know of a place that may meet your requirements."

Qi Yun gestured for him to continue. "Speak."

Xuan Hengzi continued, "The Celestial Star Sect’s territory borders the East Sea, and we had close ties with the Overseas Loose Cultivators.

"During my lifetime, I once discussed the Dao with an Overseas Loose Cultivator. His Daoist name was ’Sea Dancer.’ His Cultivation was impressive, and he was particularly skilled in geomancy and seeking out overseas Spirit Veins.

"He once told me that deep in the southeastern outer sea, in a desolate region not marked on any common nautical charts, he chanced upon a lone island."

"The island is named [Huangli].

"According to the Sea Dancer, the island is not large, no more than a hundred miles across. However, due to its unique geography, it naturally gathers the water spirits from all directions and the essential Earth Qi brought up by deep-sea undercurrents. The Spiritual Mechanism on the island is quite abundant and pure.

"The island’s perimeter is perennially shrouded in a strange sea fog and surrounded by chaotic ocean currents. Not only is it nearly impossible for mortal vessels to approach, but even ordinary Cultivators can easily lose their way without precise directions.

"The Sea Dancer himself only managed to land on the island by relying on an Exotic Treasure, a unique Escape Technique, and a good deal of luck.

"After discovering it, he did not publicize his find, merely treating the island as his own secret Separate Mansion for cultivation."

Xuan Hengzi’s tone was firm. "The Sea Dancer used a method combining astrology and nautical charting to secretly pass the island’s location to me.

"Within the Celestial Star Sect, no one besides me should have known of it.

"The Sea Dancer himself has long since perished. No third person knows the island’s location, so it is indeed sufficiently secret."

’Overseas?’ Qi Yun’s physical body, still on the West Sea Cliff Peak, felt a stir in his heart as he received the information transmitted by Xuan Hengzi.

The overseas regions were vast and boundless, the islands scattered like stars in the sky.

Apart from the established Loose Cultivator alliances and a few major overseas sects, most regions were indeed a chaotic mix of powers, where information traveled slowly and spheres of influence were ill-defined.

Compared to the mainland, which was crowded with sects and their countless spies, the vast, empty ocean undoubtedly offered better concealment.

Coupled with the desolation of the open sea, it was indeed one of the best options for secluded cultivation.

Qi Yun quickly weighed the options in his mind.

Xuan Hengzi had been a cautious man in life; his words should be trustworthy.

Since the island had been discovered by an Overseas Loose Cultivator skilled in Pulse Seeking and used as a Separate Mansion, its Spiritual Qi conditions were bound to be excellent.

As for whether there were other, unknown risks on the island, that would require an on-site investigation.

But for now, at least, it was one of the most promising options.

"This place will do," Qi Yun decided, transmitting his Divine Thought to Zhe Cheng, who then relayed the message.

Immediately, from within the banner, Xuan Hengzi’s soul-image began to detail the complex nautical chart and method of entry that the Sea Dancer had taught him years ago.

This information transformed into a stream of runes, shimmering with illusory images of Starlight and ocean tides, and crossed the void through the master-servant connection to Qi Yun.

It was transmitted completely and flawlessly into the Sea of Consciousness of Qi Yun’s physical body.

Qi Yun closed his eyes for a moment. The [Daluo Heaven] Dao Foundation within him circulated slightly, committing the unique nautical chart and route to memory and performing a preliminary analysis to confirm its details.

"Huangli Island..." He opened his eyes and gazed to the southeast, in the direction of the outer sea.

"There’s no time to waste. I’ll make some brief preparations, then set off for the Overseas," Qi Yun said to the God of Wealth Cai Shen on his shoulder.

Cai Shen’s Little Golden Man form stretched languidly, its branches and leaves unfurling.

"The Overseas are nice. Quiet.

It’s been a long time since I’ve felt a sea breeze or seen a landscape different from the Northwest.

But listen, kid, the sea isn’t like the land.

Some ancient monsters like to hide in the deep sea. You’d best be careful."

"Of course I’ll be careful." Qi Yun nodded, rising to his feet and brushing non-existent dust from his Daoist Robe.

First, there on the West Sea Cliff Peak, he used his Magical Power to set up a few simple warning and misdirection Restrictions in case anyone tried to trace his path.

Then, determining his direction, the Magical Power in his body surged. A clear, watery light rippled around him, and his form gradually grew transparent and illusory, merging with the ambient light.

In the next instant, the clear light flashed, and the clifftop was empty.

Only the timeless, whistling wind of the ruins continued to blow across the cold, hard black rock.

Qi Yun’s figure had become a faint shadow, barely visible to the naked eye, that blended into the light of the sky and the color of the sea as it sped away toward the vast outer ocean to the southeast.

His destination—the lone overseas island, Huangli.

...