Because of this conscription order, the bustling streets and hidden nooks of Spirit Mist City, along with the upper rooms of its inns, were filled with countless Foundation Establishment stage cultivators excitedly discussing the journey to the East Sea.

They were clearly divided into two factions.

A small contingent of Foundation Establishment cultivators were overjoyed, speaking of the East Sea with obvious relish.

Since many cultivators had already traveled to and returned from the East Sea to the Central Continent, those from the Central Continent possessed at least a passing familiarity with it; it was not entirely unknown territory.

The entire Central Continent was encircled by vast oceans.

Since ancient times, countless cultivators attempting to leave the Central Continent to establish immortal cultivation sanctuaries overseas invariably set their sights eastward.

The sea areas to the other three directions were dead ends—journeys of no return.

Only the East Sea offered passage. Although the East Sea harbored rampaging sea beasts, it was the most navigable of the aquatic expanses. Upon reaching the East Sea, many cultivators found fertile ground to root themselves, experiencing remarkably fast progress in their cultivation. This naturally increased their allure to Central Continent cultivators.

According to those who had been to the East Sea, it was vaster than the entire Central Continent, its boundaries unreachable. Within its depths lurked immense sea beasts. Though the voyage across the sea was perilous, the spiritual resources and yields there surpassed even those of the Spirit Mist Realm. Rare items and high-tier spirit herbs, scarce on the Central Continent, were relatively easier to locate on the East Sea islands, assisting Foundation Establishment and Golden Core cultivators in rapidly boosting their power.

For Foundation Establishment cultivators striving to break through the bottleneck to the Golden Core stage, the best path lay in venturing to the East Sea; the opportunities there were far greater.

Of course, an equal number of Foundation Establishment cultivators were gripped by dread regarding the trip to the East Sea.

The East Sea was not a destination for just anyone.

At the very least, one needed proficiency in artifact flight to have any chance of traversing the treacherous waters and reaching the islands beyond.

Consequently, only cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage or higher were qualified to attempt the crossing.

Qi Refining cultivators unable to pilot artifacts attempting the voyage was pure fantasy—for every one who tried, one would surely perish.

Encountering sea beasts on the East Sea was a constant possibility, a danger no less severe than a major war in the cultivation world, perhaps even more terrifying. Over hundreds of thousands of years, the number of cultivators lost to the East Sea was incalculable. Only a small fraction of those who embarked ever managed to survive on the islands.

Yet, turning the coin over, despite the immense losses, cultivators continued to flock towards the East Sea, generation after generation. Even a mere one-in-ten-thousand chance of breaking through the Golden Core bottleneck was enough to drive countless Foundation Establishment cultivators into a frenzy toward the eastern waters. If there was no opportunity for breakthrough on the Central Continent, risking the East Sea was better than waiting for death. To achieve longevity always demanded a price. Whether one died from depleted lifespan or died taking a risk, the latter offered a possibility of living longer. Even the lowest-ranking cultivators understood this logic.

This was especially true for those already at the eighth or ninth layer of Foundation Establishment, who endlessly searched for the requisite spirit herbs to pierce the Golden Core barrier. Their desire to risk the East Sea became even more fanatical. As soon as the conscription order was issued, numerous high-level Foundation Establishment cultivators volunteered immediately to head East.

After days of such commotion, the Spirit Mist Alliance’s recruitment notice finally dropped, delivered to every sect and family.

Ye Qin reluctantly discovered his name was unequivocally present on the list drafted for the Azure Pill Sect. This roster had been personally approved by Ancestor Huangpu; refusing was impossible. Within the Azure Pill Sect, a total of four Golden Core Ancestors and over seventy Foundation Establishment cultivators were designated to travel to the East Sea.

The three great cultivation spheres finally ceased hostilities. Following this conflict, major wars were unlikely to erupt for at least another century. With the cessation of bloodshed, the Spirit Mist cultivation sphere settled into a tranquil state. The Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining cultivators who had gathered in Spirit Mist City for refuge began to disperse, returning to their respective territories. The figures of cultivators started reappearing across the nations of the Spirit Mist Realm, gradually bringing life back to the land.

One day, two streaks of light—one golden, one icy blue—shot away from Spirit Mist City, flashing across the horizon toward the territory of the Wu Kingdom.

About ten days later.

The two streaks of light arrived over Zhuqi County Town, within the borders of the Wu Kingdom.

A man and a woman, two young Foundation Establishment cultivators clad in the robes of the Azure Pill Sect, alighted upon flying swords in the sky above Zhuqi County Town.

The man, though possessing ordinary features that suggested a humble and gentle demeanor, even a hint of shyness, held a deep current of calm in the depths of his gaze.

The woman, her face veiled, wore white robes that billowed like fine silk; she was an unparalleled beauty. Though the sheer gauze obscured her features, the ice-cold, snowy depths of her eyes beneath the veil discouraged any direct look. She followed slightly behind, occasionally glancing at the man, then lowering her head as if lost in thought.

The Wu Kingdom was a tiny nation within the Spirit Mist Realm, characterized by harsh mountains, difficult terrain, and sparse spiritual resources. It had been spared the ravages of the great cultivation wars. Even enemy cultivators were too disdainful to bother raiding this obscure region for resources.

Zhuqi County Town, a small secular settlement, remained as it always was. The low city walls were patched with mud and vines in countless places, crumbling and neglected. A dozen city guards stood listlessly at the gate, shouting curses at the farming folk leading mules and donkeys into the city.

In this remote, barren gully spanning a thousand miles, the town’s common folk lived their perpetually meager lives day after day.

The young cultivators surveyed Zhuqi County Town for a moment, then turned to look behind them, catching the veiled woman secretly gazing at the back of his head.

He couldn't help but offer a faint smile.

"Bing'er, what are you looking at?"

"Nothing!"

The veiled woman parted her pearly teeth, smiling sweetly. "Immortal affinity is inherently marvelous; all rogue cultivators stumble onto the immortal path by chance. Wasn't my own mother the same? If she hadn't cultivated by sheer coincidence, I perhaps wouldn't even exist in this world."

Ye Qin nodded faintly, engaged in their light banter, when he suddenly froze.

He saw the Yang Family Ironworks and the Yang Family Residence within Zhuqi County Town.