After approximately ten days, Ye Qin piloted the Great Winged Warship to a stretch of sea where, from a distance, he spotted a colossal spiritual island floating on the water.
Within several hundred li of the island, patrols of guards could occasionally be seen soaring by on their swords, meticulously inspecting the surrounding waters.
The island featured undulating mountain ranges, and the air above the island was lively, occasionally punctuated by streaks of various colors—the transformed manifestations of Golden Core cultivators—darting through the sky.
As the warship advanced further, it entered the vigilance range of the patrolling cultivators.
“We’ve arrived! The Immortal City being constructed under the supervision of Sect Master Jiang is just ahead!”
Liao Xiaozui, clad in a yellow robe, stood calmly at the bow of the ship, her face alight with joy.
“Arrived? Excellent! My heart has been in my throat this entire journey, worrying about encountering Demon Cultivators or spirit beasts. Now, we can finally breathe easy. As long as we reach the Immortal City, we will be safe. I just wonder if Palace Master Zhou and the Nascent Soul Ancestors have made it to the city yet!”
“The Ancestors should have arrived by now!”
The Golden Core cultivators aboard the warship, gazing at the island ahead from afar, surged toward the bow, relief chasing the fatigue from their faces.
During this desperate flight, they dared not rest or relax for even a moment. They had occasionally encountered monstrous beasts roaming the sea that preyed upon scattered Golden Core cultivators defeated in battle, managing to rescue quite a few along the way.
“That we all managed to escape the spirit beasts and reach the Immortal City safely is entirely thanks to Brother Ye’s efforts. Otherwise, only a handful of us would have survived. Should Brother Ye ever require my assistance in the future, just ask; I will never refuse!”
Zhou Yi had managed to emerge from the grief of Elder Zhou Hong’s death in battle, yet his mood remained somber. He cupped his hands towards Ye Qin in a respectful salute.
A flicker of surprise crossed Ye Qin’s eyes.
He knew well that Young Palace Master Zhou Yi usually presented an outwardly gentle and humble demeanor, one who avoided contention. Yet, like the direct disciples of other major cultivation families, he harbored an inherent pride. This pride, however, was deeply restrained, never becoming aggressive. Such a person would never willingly place themselves beneath another. Zhou Yi displaying this attitude was truly rare.
“Brother Zhou is too modest. Escaping the spirit beasts was the combined effort of everyone fighting with all their might. I only managed to slay a few dozen demonic beasts.”
“Let’s go; let’s enter the city first!”
Ye Qin shook his head slightly, unwilling to claim such an immense contribution. He wasn't so arrogant as to believe he could have saved hundreds of Golden Core cultivators single-handedly. Without the combined force of those hundreds of Golden Core cultivators breaking through the beast horde, he likely would have had to use the Great Winged Warship’s teleportation array to retreat to Linhai City and abandon the ship to save his life.
The cultivators had long been suspicious about why Ye Qin possessed a small-scale warship. However, as the Fifth Elder of the Purple Sword Palace, Ye Qin's status and authority were equal to that of other Nascent Soul Ancestors in the Palace. Warships, as military assets, were typically controlled only by Palace Masters and Elders. The inventory, rank, deployment, and usage of such artifacts were high-level secrets in any Immortal Palace, not something ordinary disciples could inquire about.
They secretly surmised that Ye Qin possessing a small warship was likely one built by the Purple Sword Palace, managed by Elder Ye Qin himself.
Yet, Young Palace Master Zhou Yi knew this was absolutely not a Purple Sword Palace warship. Their vessels bore the unique insignia of the Purple Sword Palace, and their style was entirely different from this one. But Zhou Yi dared not inquire about the ship's origins. The status of an Immortal Palace’s Young Palace Master was a tier below an Immortal Palace Elder. A Young Palace Master had the right to know most affairs of the Palace but lacked the authority to deploy crucial strategic resources. Only Immortal Palace Elders held the right to command such vital resources. Furthermore, Ye Qin was a Guest Elder of the Heavenly Dao Alliance Elder Council, holding a position of great reverence. Given his many scruples, Zhou Yi was even less likely to question Ye Qin about the warship’s source.
All dozens of Golden Core cultivators present were either from the Purple Sword Palace or allied Immortal Palaces. On the subject of the warship, they wisely kept silent, neither daring to ask further nor daring to mention anything related to it carelessly.
Ye Qin certainly wouldn't volunteer any information either. He did not wish for too many outside cultivators to see the Great Winged Warship. Upon sighting the large island, he stored the vessel away and, along with the Golden Core cultivators from the Purple Sword Palace and allied palaces, soared toward the Immortal City on their swords.
Flying over the island’s mountain ranges, Ye Qin and the others soon spotted a magnificent Immortal City constructed from vast, red rocky formations. This newly erected Immortal City, overseen by Sect Master Jiang of the Western Branch of the Heavenly Dao Alliance, had already taken on a substantial form. Faint patterns of array light shimmered across various points on the city walls, ready to activate the protective city formation should any Demon Cultivators or beasts attack.
Now and then, streaks of light—flying swords and other artifacts—could be seen crossing the sky, either arriving from distant sea regions or departing the city to hunt sea beasts in the various parts of the Blood Sea.
This Immortal City appeared largely completed, capable of housing a considerable population of cultivators. However, given the ongoing war between Immortals and Demons, only cultivators at the mid-to-late Golden Core stage or higher were present here. This city was clearly far superior to the indefensible stone fortresses built by the Purple Sword Palace.
Ye Qin was not at all surprised by this. As a leading figure, Sect Master Jiang could mobilize all the financial and material reserves of the Heavenly Dao Alliance’s Western Branch, gathering numerous cultivators from the Western Branch’s Immortal Palaces. Erecting a powerfully defended Immortal City in just a few years was entirely normal; his strength far surpassed that of the Purple Sword Palace.
The patrol teams guarding the outer perimeter of the sea only swept them with spiritual sense and did not conduct a strict inspection.
In a short time, Ye Qin, Zhou Yi, and the group of Golden Core cultivators arrived at the eastern gate of the Immortal City and descended.
The city guards inspected those entering the city quite strictly, checking everyone one by one to prevent any spies from the Demon Race from infiltrating and ascertaining their true strength.
Above the city gate, a massive black wooden plaque edged with gold bore the majestic, sweeping calligraphy of “Guangguang City” in bold golden characters.
Near the city entrance, the Nascent Soul Beast Slaying Ranking and the Golden Core Beast Slaying Ranking were posted prominently. Many cultivators waiting to enter the city were currently clustered around them, pointing and discussing the lists out of boredom.
Ye Qin and his group waited for a considerable time before finally entering the city and walking down the street.
“Well, isn’t this Brother Zhou? What brings you to Guangguang City?”
Ahead, a group of seven or eight male and female cultivators, all dressed in luxurious robes, were emerging from a pavilion along the street.
Ye Qin and Zhou Yi looked over, seeing that the speaker was a refined cultivator in an elegant sapphire-blue robe, walking alongside several other heroic-looking men and beautiful women. This group was impeccably dressed in opulent silks, all of them cultivators at the ninth layer of the Golden Core stage, carrying an air of arrogance. It was immediately obvious they were direct disciples from a major Immortal Palace. Even many passing Golden Core cultivators quickly yielded the way when this group appeared, avoiding any potential collision.
“It’s Brother Jiang!”
Zhou Yi recognized the speaker immediately and bowed with a smile. He then turned to introduce the others to Ye Qin, “This is Young Palace Master Jiang Ran of Baoxia Palace. Brother Zhou and Brother Jiang used to cultivate together; we are old friends who haven't met in a long time.”
“Jiang Ran?”
“Jiang Ran, ranked ninth on the Golden Core Beast Slaying Ranking?!”
The cultivators from the Purple Sword Palace were all surprised upon hearing the name, a touch of respect entering their eyes. Breaking into the top ten of the fiercely competitive Golden Core Beast Slaying Ranking meant one was absolutely among the most elite Golden Core cultivators in the Eastern Sea cultivation world. This person’s fame was practically universal.
“Speaking of which, Brother Zhou, weren't you defending the city built by the Purple Sword Palace? How do you have time to travel all the way to my Guangguang City?” Jiang Ran asked with a smile, his gaze sweeping over the group. When his eyes lingered on Ye Qin, who bore the identifying mark of a Purple Sword Palace Elder on his robes, he paused momentarily, frowning slightly as if contemplating something.
Zhou Yi’s smile faded upon hearing the question, and he sighed, “Brother Jiang, you are unaware. About ten days ago, a horde of Demon Cultivators suddenly attacked the stone city built by the Purple Sword Palace. We were forced to abandon the city, and the cultivators from various Immortal Palaces were scattered. We plan to recuperate here for a while, gather our forces, and prepare for the next phase of action.”
“Oh, that happened? I just came out of seclusion these past few days and am not very clear on the situation at sea. My apologies for asking so abruptly. Guangguang City has plenty of space for all of you to reside. Brother Zhou and all you Daoist friends, please rest assured and stay within the city. If you need anything at all, Brother Zhou, just say the word.”
Jiang Ran looked surprised, his expression apologetic. His polite words eased the mood of the somewhat depressed cultivators from the Purple Sword Palace, making them feel somewhat better. After speaking, Jiang Ran suddenly looked towards Ye Qin and asked Zhou Yi with a smile, “And who is this Daoist friend?”
“Ah, look at me, I forgot to introduce Elder Jiang—this is my Purple Sword Palace Fifth Elder, Ye Qin, and these are all cultivators from the Purple Sword Palace and allied palaces.” Zhou Yi smiled and made the introduction.
“Elder Ye?”
“Is he the Purple Sword Palace Elder who jumped over two hundred places on the Golden Core Beast Slaying Ranking in just one month?”
“I heard his Grand Five Elements Sword Formation is unrivaled among his peers; I wonder if that’s true.”
“Invincible at the Golden Core stage? That’s unlikely. What invincible person exists in the Eastern Sea cultivation world! Perhaps he accumulated merits over several years and only cashed them in last month to jump over two hundred ranks at once. Besides, ranking over two hundred—he hasn't even cracked the top hundred. Any one of us could defeat him!”
“Let’s talk when Elder Ye manages to break into the top ten,” sneered one of the seven or eight young cultivators behind Jiang Ran. Their voices were not loud, but loud enough for everyone in Ye Qin's group to hear.
This group of seven or eight ninth-layer Golden Core cultivators were all direct disciples of the major Immortal Palaces in the Western Branch. Most of them ranked in the top fifty or top hundred on the Golden Core Beast Slaying Ranking, and the weakest hadn't fallen below two hundred—they were truly powerful and certainly had the qualifications to be arrogant. Ye Qin’s humble ranking of over two hundred was beneath their notice.
The other cultivators in Ye Qin’s group—only a few ranked between two hundred and a thousand, while the rest hadn't even entered the top thousand. It was entirely understandable that this group of Western Branch Golden Core cultivators looked down on them. However, Zhou Yi and the others had personally witnessed Ye Qin’s strength over the past few months, and thanks to Ye Qin activating the Great Winged Warship, they had escaped the beasts. They already regarded Ye Qin as the leader of their group. Upon hearing these Western Branch Golden Core cultivators speak disrespectfully of Ye Qin, their expressions instantly changed, and they glared back. If they weren't inside Guangguang City, they might have started a fight on the spot.
“Enough!!” Jiang Ran frowned and stopped the cultivators behind him with a sharp command.
“Brother Zhou, Elder Ye. I have an urgent mission that requires me to leave the city today, so I cannot delay for further conversation. Brother Zhou, once you have selected your residence in the city, let me know, and we can catch up later!” Seeing the atmosphere turn tense, Jiang Ran did not wish for an unnecessary conflict between the sides. He bid farewell to Ye Qin and Zhou Yi and led his group of seven or eight Golden Core cultivators out of the city.
“Farewell, Brother Jiang!” Zhou Yi’s expression was grim, but he could not afford to offend Jiang Ran and his cultivators here. He suppressed his displeasure and bid Jiang Ran goodbye.
“What nonsense! If Young Palace Master Jiang had said those big words, fine, at least he has the ability. But those jerks dare to compare themselves to Brother Ye? Hmph! Next time we meet outside the city, we’ll certainly teach them a lesson.” Jin Zhongxin said indignantly once they were far away.
“Exactly. They dare to compare their rankings to Brother Ye after years of accumulated merits,” Liao Xiaozui added angrily.
“Let’s go. First, we’ll report the demonic cores to the Heavenly Dao Alliance and tally our merits. It will soon be the end of the month, and the ranking for this month’s beast slaying list will be redrawn. Afterward, we still need to find Palace Master Zhou and the cultivators from the allied palaces to locate everyone who was separated,” Ye Qin said with a faint smile, feeling a touch of amusement at their indignation. He hadn't paid any attention to the sarcastic remarks from those Western Branch Golden Core cultivators; his mind was occupied with other matters.