Chapter 1258: Tai'e (I)

When Li Zhouwei awoke from deep meditation, the mana within his body surged like great rivers. His aura was steady, his cultivation full and well rounded, and his Immortal Foundation shone with a clear and pristine radiance.

This ordeal truly did not cause too much harm with the aid of White Blood Sap. Still, it involved stirring the blood essence. Even after consuming such a spirit item, it merely balanced things on both sides and slightly stabilized my cultivation.

This was also Dongfang Heyun's precise sense of parity. Bright Yang possessed the effect of prospering one’s lineage, and although the Dragon Clan was generous, they valued dragon heirs above all else. As a result, they naturally became frugal when it came to Bright Yang spirit items.

"

Hoo...

"

He exhaled a breath of white vapor and opened his eyes. The clouds at his side still drifted and rose, as though he were standing within an endless sea of clouds. Not a trace of the crystal palace remained to be seen, and the Bei Sea Dragon King had already departed. Only the white robed youth stood quietly at his side.

He did not know how long his cultivation had lasted. Dongfang Heyun's gaze seemed never to have left him. The moment he saw Li Zhouwei, the youth immediately smiled considerately and said, "One hundred and twenty eight days have passed. Under the Li Wei orthodox calendar, with the Zi month of the Dipper Establishment[1] as the standard, it is now the Flowing Fire of the seventh month[2]. If calculated according to the Liu Chu orthodox calendar used by Yue State, then it is the twenty second day of the sixth month."

Li Zhouwei already knew that Yue State followed the Liu Chu orthodox calendar, which differed from the Li Family Wei dynasty's system of dating. Yet Dongfang Heyun spoke as naturally as if he had lived in the Wei State and routinely converted dates as a matter of course. His heart could not help but tremble slightly.

Just how many years has this one lived? The Beijia Dragon Monarch is a hornless dragon. If this man was formed from the first breath exhaled by the Beijia Dragon Monarch, would that not mean his lifespan is nearly the same as the Dragon Monarch's?

Sighing inwardly, he first saluted and said, "Many thanks to senior for watching over me. So nearly four months has passed. Senior is truly learned and well informed, to even know the Wei calendar."

Dongfang Heyun did not respond at first. Instead, he invited him to rise. The cloud qi of the entire palace swayed and gathered beneath their feet, and a speck of pitch black emerged. Only then did the youth speak, "It is merely a habit. Fellow Daoist, please."

Dongfang Heyun addressed everyone as Fellow Daoist. He stepped into the great void, and Li Zhouwei immediately saw a deep and resplendent glow of Converging Water within. It was likely a grand formation of the Dragon Clan.

Dongfang Heyun spoke at the same time he moved through the great void, "The matter of the Lie Sea originally stemmed from a favor owed to Daoist Master Zipei. Back then, Anhuai Heaven had to be opened during the conflict between north and south, releasing those portions of True Essence in nature and revealing the state of the True Essence Fruition Attainment as well. The one who occupied that Fruition Attainment is likely no longer present. This was extremely advantageous to our Dragon Clan, and Daoist Master Zipei took the opportunity to strike a deal with us. As for what motive lay behind it..."

Dongfang Heyun shook his head with a half smile and half not smile, and finished, "Even now, it remains unknown."

Li Zhouwei's heart sank slightly. Although the Li Family was not entirely without ties to Purple Smoke Gate, their relationship was merely superficial, and he had no personal connection with Zipei herself.

After a brief moment of thought, he asked, "Senior, are you sending me to..."

"

Hoh

." Dongfang Heyun smiled faintly in reply. "We have just exited the grotto heaven, so naturally we are heading toward Bei Sea. If you have a place to settle, I can go along the way and simply send you there. At present, there is no need to worry about Changxiao. As long as you do not run into several of Changxiao Gate's outer-sea outposts, he will have no mind to trouble you. As for returning to the mainland, it is still somewhat unstable."

𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Li Zhouwei understood his meaning. No matter what, the outer-sea was the territory of the Dragon Clan, and no overt or covert attacks would be directed at him there. Once he reached the mainland; however, the Dragon Clan would have no ability to intervene. Although Changxiao would not dare to kill him, the man's Fate Divine Ability was formidable, and it was hard to avoid whatever methods he might employ.

Dongfang Heyun nodded slightly and said, "Only that Daoist Master of your household will have to bear some hardship."

Li Zhouwei replied, "In that case, I ask senior to drop me off at a nearby marketplace. I still have some dharma artifacts to deal with. Otherwise, traveling upon the sea will ultimately be unsafe."

Li Zhouwei most wanted to trade with the Dragon Clan, since they possessed first rate treasures and did not fear holding items from Changxiao Gate. Yet there had been no opportunity previously, and Dongfang Heyun likely lacked the authority to decide such matters. He asked deliberately, to see how he would respond.

"Easy enough." As expected, Dongfang Heyun did not say much. He raised his brows and glanced outward from the great void, then replied, "In Bei Sea, there is a marketplace at Changliu Mountain. There is a place called Tai'e Island to the east. It is a small island used by the Azure Pond Sect for trade in the Unison Sea. To the west lies Xia Mountain. Although it has a marketplace, it can be skipped. To the south is the Scarlet Pristine Sea."

Li Zhouwei nodded in understanding, feeling a slight sense of regret. He had originally intended to go east to take a look at the farthest edge of the Lie Sea.

He said, "Then I shall trouble senior to go to Tai'e Island."

"Alright. Tai'e Island. That name was also changed not long ago."

Dongfang Heyun spoke of it as a newly changed name, though no one knew when this newness had occurred. The youth merely nodded, and after traveling for a short while within the great void, the two broke through it and returned to the manifest world. Li Zhouwei felt light gather beneath his feet and rose upon the wind.

The white robed young man beside him had already vanished, leaving behind only a graceful voice, "After all, it is the site of an immortal sect, so it is not suitable for me to approach. This place is only fifty kilometers from Tai'e Island. You may fly there on your own."

Li Zhouwei descended upon his light, performed a salute toward the sky, and let out a breath, feeling much more relaxed.

I have finally managed to get through this.

Although the Dragon Clan bore little malice, there was a peak Purple Mansion Realm cultivator here and a Purple Mansion Realm demonic spirit there, each one holding immense authority and belonging to the Dragon Clan that the world looked up to. Remaining in the company of such demonic creatures was ultimately uncomfortable.

I have also learned news of Changxiao along the way, so there is no need to be overly wary of him. Everything will be more at ease.

Although matters concerning Luoxia and the Dragon Clan were troublesome, they were not something that a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator like him needed to consider. Li Zhouwei had never troubled himself over such things. His mood immediately improved, and when he raised his eyes to look into the distance, he unexpectedly saw the seawater spread out in a purplish red hue.

The seawater here was actually purple red, and faintly mixed with bluish purple tones, with none of the deep blue color of the Unison Sea to be seen. The vast sea before him was, at least within his field of vision, interwoven with purple and blue hues. He immediately rode his light into the air, admiring it with a trace of curiosity.

After flying only a dozen kilometers or so, he saw a rogue cultivator riding the wind and hovering above the sea surface. Li Zhouwei just so happened to need someone to ask for directions. He lightly raised his hand, and a beam of heavenly light leapt forth, appearing not far from that cultivator.

Li Zhouwei's speed was never something an ordinary Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator could match, and he also possessed the light-transformation traversal method of the Yuan'e soft armor. Naturally, the rogue cultivator could not react in time. When he saw a late stage Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator appear nearby, he immediately broke out in a cold sweat. Upon noticing that the man's bearing and dharma artifacts were far beyond those of ordinary people, he hurriedly performed a salute.

"This humble cultivator greets the Daoist."

1. Zi Month of the Dipper Establishment refers to the ancient Chinese Dipper-Establishment month system (斗建纪月), in which the direction of the Big Dipper determines the ruling month. When the Dipper points to Zi (子), it marks the Zi Month, the start of the annual cycle and the orthodox calendar month used in early dynastic reckoning. ☜

2. Flowing Fire of the seventh month derives from the classical phrase 七月流火, first recorded in The Book of Songs (Shijing, 《诗经·豳风·七月》). Here, "fire" (火) refers to the Fire Star (心宿二, Antares), and "flowing" (流) describes its westward descent in the night sky during the seventh lunar month, marking the seasonal transition from midsummer toward autumn rather than literal fire. ☜