Chapter 1551: Red Southern Island Chain

Qin Sang had previously traveled through Canglang Sea and Beihai, so he was no stranger to the ocean. Returning to the sea, he felt an inexplicable sense of ease; the Central Plains still held too many restrictions.

The sound of waves crashed against the hull. Splashing waves drew Qin Sang's thoughts back. He closed the window and sat down in meditation.

The Dragon Ship docked several times along the way. Each time, the crew knocked on his door to remind him that he could disembark for supplies, sightseeing, or to trade for rare spiritual materials and medicines from the land. Qin Sang politely declined all offers.

This merchant guild had been in this business for a long time, expertly managing all parties along the way. They encountered no bandits or pirates and successfully arrived at their destination, Bieli Island.

The island was located roughly at the edge of the Inner Sea. For human cultivators, the area within Bieli Island was relatively safe. Beyond Bieli Island, entering the Outer Sea, dangers lurked everywhere, and one's fate was uncertain. The name "Bieli" (meaning "separation" or "farewell") was aptly chosen for this reason.

However, even the most intimidating name couldn't deter cultivators' enthusiasm for treasure hunting. Cultivators who found treasures in the Outer Sea would bring them to Bieli Island to sell and exchange for what they needed. Bieli Island gradually became one of the largest trading hubs in the East Sea, with thriving commerce. The merchant guild that owned the Dragon Ship primarily aimed to purchase goods at Bieli Island, in addition to their shipping business.

"Please take care, honored guest."

The ship's steward stood by the dock. Seeing Qin Sang disembark, he offered a scroll of silk with a beaming smile. "There are quite a few unscrupulous petty thieves on the island, honored guest. Please be careful not to be swindled by them. All the businesses marked on this scroll are legitimate; our Shanhai Merchant Guild guarantees them by our reputation."

Qin Sang took the scroll and thanked him.

The steward smiled apologetically. For some reason, even though the young scholar had displayed no particular abilities, the steward always felt a sense of deference when facing him. It wasn't suppression due to cultivation; rather, the other person seemed to possess an innate nobility. The steward, having traveled extensively and seen much, trusted his intuition. He understood that being polite never hurt and that forming a good connection was always beneficial, with no loss even if he misjudged.

Soon, the steward congratulated himself on his foresight. He watched as Qin Sang walked through the crowd, heading directly towards a man and a woman waiting outside the dock. On Bieli Island, teeming with cultivators, the couple's appearance and demeanor certainly stood out. "The woman is at the late Foundation Establishment stage, and the man is even stronger!" The steward's heart tightened. Especially upon seeing the couple bow respectfully to the young scholar, he realized he had still underestimated this person. Indeed, appearances could be deceptive. He wondered which ancient monster was playing the part of a mortal.

They were none other than Zhou Jin and Ruan Yu. After Ruan Yu's hidden ailment was cured, the two confessed their feelings to each other and asked Qin Sang to officiate their marriage.

Many years ago, the Zhou and Ruan couple received Qin Sang's orders to journey east across the sea and scout ahead.

"Greetings, Senior Qin."

Zhou and Ruan stepped forward, about to bow, but Qin Sang stopped them. They were the only two who knew that Qin Sang and Daoist Qingfeng were one and the same, but they didn't fully understand the connection, only guessing that Daoist Qingfeng might be an avatar of Qin Sang.

"Excellent." Qin Sang observed them with a look of approval. Both of them were naturally gifted, having been carefully selected by the previous Master of Loutai Temple. When they first set out, Zhou Jin was at the early Golden Core stage, but he had now broken through to the middle Golden Core stage. Ruan Yu was also in the False Core realm, just one step away from the Golden Core stage. However, overcoming this hurdle was not easy.

On the way back to the inn, Zhou and Ruan seized the opportunity to ask Qin Sang for guidance. Qin Sang answered all their questions. After receiving his pointers, the two gained a great deal and were overjoyed.

As they talked, the three entered the inn. They sealed the protective enchantments. Zhou Jin's smile faded, and he said earnestly, "Senior Qin, we came to the East Sea, following your instructions, to search for legends of Nascent Soul cultivators. We've found that not only us, but also many cultivators of unknown origin have appeared in the East Sea, with similar objectives. We've tried to make contact with some people, but haven't found any accurate information."

Ruan Yu continued, "We tried to trace the origin of the legend. The place where a Nascent Soul cultivator appeared couldn't have been in the Inner Sea. Those who personally witnessed it back then must have been cultivators treasure hunting in the Outer Sea, at least at the Foundation Establishment stage. If Golden Core cultivators were present, they likely wouldn't have reached the end of their lifespan yet. But after so many years of searching, we haven't found any eyewitnesses. The information is chaotic, and we can't even confirm the island where the rumors first originated. Treasure hunting at sea is fraught with peril; the eyewitnesses might have already perished in accidents."

Qin Sang was not surprised by this. Two hundred years had passed, making it extremely difficult to trace the source. Furthermore, he wondered how many forces were secretly fanning the flames and muddying the waters. Another possibility that had to be considered was that the eyewitnesses were already under the control of some force.

Besides searching for people, Qin Sang had also instructed Zhou and Ruan to pay attention to other information. Qin Sang recalled that after the Ziwei Palace ascended, it left behind a deep pit in the ancient immortal battlefield, filled with terrifying ancient forbidden storms and spatial fissures. The Abyss Ruins and Boundless Valley were also affected, becoming forbidden zones. Inside the Abyss Ruins, every step was difficult, and True Master Canghong unfortunately perished there. Assuming the two immortal palaces of Tian Tong and Tian Xiang were also influenced by the Ziwei Palace, they might cause similar phenomena.

Zhou Jin shook his head. "My junior sister and I have ventured out to sea a few times, but we haven't found any such place. However, there's a recent rumor that someone found records indicating the existence of a very powerful ancient immortal sect in the East Sea. In ancient times, when demonic beasts ran rampant in the East Sea, this sect was destroyed in a beast tide. The rumor says that if one can find the ruins of this ancient immortal sect, one can obtain top-tier inheritances. The Nascent Soul cultivator might have gotten some clues and headed there. The rumor sounds quite credible, and many people have already been drawn to it..."

It seemed the situation in the Central Continent was not always stable; peace was hard-won.

Qin Sang, deep in thought, pressed, "Has anyone discovered anything?"

"No news yet," Ruan Yu replied, while activating her true essence to conjure a sea map in mid-air. It roughly covered the locations of the most famous islands in the East Sea. She pointed to an island chain located to the south. "This place is called the Chinan Archipelago, and many cultivators are already gathering there." The reason they had sent word back to the mountain, asking Qin Sang to come personally, was because the number of experts in the Chinan Archipelago was increasing. With Zhou Jin and her own cultivation, it would be difficult for them to achieve much, and even if they found something, they wouldn't be able to contact Qin Sang in time, thus missing the opportunity.

Qin Sang hadn't expected that investigating the whereabouts of the Nascent Soul cultivator and the two immortal palaces would involve an ancient immortal sect. If Saint Huiguang and True Lord Danyu were indeed trapped in the ruins of the ancient immortal sect, wouldn't it be suicidal for him, a Nascent Soul cultivator, to enter? His main body's breakthrough to the late Nascent Soul stage was almost a certainty, so there was no need to take risks during this period. Qin Sang lightly tapped the table with his finger, pondered for a moment, and decided to go and see for himself, acting according to the situation.

With his mind made up, the three rested briefly on Bieli Island, gathered some information, and then set off for the Chinan Archipelago. Instead of chartering a ship, Qin Sang directly conjured a flying magic treasure and flew through the air with the two of them.