Chapter 1994: One Flower, One World

The shore was covered in white sand. A gentle sea breeze carried sea foam and the salty scent inland, while flocks of birds circled overhead, chirping. From time to time, they would swoop down to the shore or into the water to peck for food, then soar back up.

Suddenly, a streak of green light abruptly cut across the scene, startling the birds into scattering. Moments later, a massive shadow enveloped the land. A large ship appeared in the sky, sailing from the horizon, cutting through the wind. This ship was the Cloud-Traversing Treasure Vessel from Yun Du Tian.

Qin Sang sat cross-legged in his quiet chamber, his gaze passing through the restrictive spell to behold the vast ocean. The Jitian Dharma Assembly had concluded, and Qin Sang paid little attention to the struggles for profit within it. What was truly gratifying was that they had finally achieved their goal, securing the minor cave-heaven with the aid of the Coiling Dragon Heavenly Pillar. The progress was smoother than they had anticipated.

After presenting the Coiling Dragon Heavenly Pillar, internal resistance within the Jitian Sect was minimal. Sect Master Yu proactively used his connections to mediate, and with the efforts of Old Man Guyun and Sect Master Ying, Qin Sang didn't have to put in much effort to acquire the minor cave-heaven. Quite a few people had their eyes on the minor cave-heaven, but no one could produce a Coiling Dragon Heavenly Pillar. Even the most complete ruins couldn't sway the Jitian Sect.

Later, news spread that sects from Lushong Island had even participated in the Jitian Dharma Assembly. They weren't there to pledge allegiance to the Jitian Sect; they all came for the minor cave-heaven. This indicated that outside Moondu Bay, there were likely other ruins of the ancient Coiling Dragon Formation. The sheer scale of the ancient Coiling Dragon Formation was unimaginable; Moondu Bay was merely a part of it!

The Coiling Dragon Heavenly Pillar's value was surely higher than imagined, which explained why the Jitian Sect was willing to exchange a minor cave-heaven for it. Many people, seeing a glimpse of the whole, harbored ulterior motives regarding the ancient Coiling Dragon Formation. Old Man Guyun even regretted that handing over the Coiling Dragon Heavenly Pillar might have been hasty, as it could have contained greater secrets.

Qin Sang, however, felt no regret. For him, the Coiling Dragon Heavenly Pillar was an unexpected bonus; he had no prior expectations for it, and acquiring a minor cave-heaven in exchange was already very satisfying. His foundation in the Great Thousand World was shallow. Even if the ancient Coiling Dragon Formation held significant secrets, he lacked the power to contend with the Jitian Sect for them. The Jitian Sect had been searching for the ancient Coiling Dragon Formation for over a millennium, and who knew how many Coiling Dragon Heavenly Pillars they had found. It was almost impossible for him to uncover the secrets of the ancient Coiling Dragon Formation and get ahead of them with just one Coiling Dragon Heavenly Pillar. Moreover, he had already decided to leave and didn't want any unnecessary complications; less trouble was better.

Thinking of this, Qin Sang rubbed his fingers together, feeling a warm, smooth sensation. In his hand was a token, neither gold nor jade, which was the key to unlocking the beacon gate of the minor cave-heaven. The Jitian Sect had named this minor cave-heaven the Azure Sky Cave-Heaven.

"Senior, we've now left the landmass of Moondu Bay. Islands to the west of Moondu Bay are scarce. At our current ship speed, it will take another three days and two nights to reach Wanluo Island."

Old Man Guyun sat cross-legged on the other side of the quiet chamber, but when he spoke, it was with another person's voice, addressing Qin Sang as "Senior." This 'Old Man Guyun' was actually Yun Xi in disguise. The real Old Man Guyun had found an opportune moment to disembark earlier and remained hidden in the shadows. This was one of the arrangements made to prevent being followed. Riches stir avarice, let alone a minor cave-heaven. While the Azure Sky Cave-Heaven was in the Jitian Sect's possession, no one dared to harbor ill intentions. Now, however, that might not be the case.

"Continue flying at the current ship speed," Qin Sang said.

"Yes!" Yun Xi complied; his master had instructed him to obey Qin Sang's commands before disembarking.

Azure sea and blue sky stretched boundlessly. The weather was excellent, with the sun shining brightly and the sea shimmering. The Cloud-Traversing Treasure Vessel flew leisurely through the sky, encountering no obstacles along the way. On the evening of the third day, a vast shadow appeared on the sea ahead. As they drew closer, they discovered it was a large island, the shadow cast by its mountains.

From a distance, the island seemed to have almost no plains; towering peaks rose one after another, and the soil and rocks on the mountains appeared faintly dark red. Most of the island's plants were also this color. It was as if not rain, but blood had poured down here, drenching the entire island to create this sight.

The cultivators enjoying the view from the ship's rail inexplicably felt a pang of unease and a stifling sensation. Those with insufficient composure became restless, wanting to return to their quiet chambers to cultivate and adjust. Others subconsciously suppressed their smiles, their faces solemn.

Among these people, several cultivators clad in dark red robes smiled upon seeing the island. They were disciples from Wanluo Island. Noticing the strange reactions of those around them, the few exchanged glances, a look of self-satisfaction flashing in their eyes. They jointly cast a spell, causing red light to emanate from their backs, revealing serpentine shadows. Their peculiar actions drew the attention of the others.

What appeared behind these Wanluo Island disciples were not snakes, but vines of a peculiar plant, winding like serpents. Their tips resembled snakeheads, opening a gaping maw to spew out a cloud of dark red mist. The mist dispersed over the deck, scattering seeds that floated before everyone. "Fellow Daoists, there's no need to worry. Your previous discomfort was due to the island's grand formation. Carry these spirit seeds, and you'll be safe," a Wanluo Island disciple announced loudly. Upon hearing this, everyone accepted the spirit seeds, and the uncomfortable sensation indeed subsided.

"Senior, Mount Wanluo has been reached," Yun Xi reported as he entered.

"Proceed directly to the island!" Qin Sang walked to the bow of the ship.

That day, after completing the transaction with Old Demon Zhen, Old Demon Zhen had returned directly to Wanluo Island to heal his injuries, not bringing his disciples back with him. After the Dharma Assembly, Qin Sang went to the trouble of escorting the Wanluo Island disciples back to the island.

The Cloud-Traversing Treasure Vessel surged towards Wanluo Island. As soon as it entered the airspace above Wanluo Island, ripples suddenly appeared in the void. Visible to the naked eye, thousands of feet of grey mist spread everywhere, as if a terrifying storm was brewing. "What's down there!" someone on the ship cried out in alarm.

From the depths of the mountain range, strange lights suddenly burst forth, and several enormous vines, thicker than mountains, flew out. They coiled and writhed wildly in the high sky, resembling flood dragons. Astonishingly, the ends of these vines all bore human faces, whose empty eyes stared fixedly at them. Even the Yun Du Tian disciples, who had witnessed the heavenly phenomenon of the Sacrificial Thunder Oath Chapter, felt profoundly shaken upon seeing these vines. One of the vines flew to the bow of the ship, incredibly close. The cultivators on board felt immense pressure and fell silent.

The Wanluo Island disciples on the ship all knelt down in unison, "Greetings, Master!"

"Thank you, Daoist, for taking the trouble to personally escort them." The human face on the vine spoke, its voice that of Old Demon Zhen, "This Zhen is currently healing. My true body is not convenient to come out and greet you. I hope Daoist won't take offense."

"No matter, this poor Daoist is not here to disturb your healing," Qin Sang waved his hand, and the ship slowly descended, flying towards the interior of Wanluo Island.

The Cloud-Traversing Treasure Vessel docked at Wanluo Island's mountain gate. Taiyi, Yulang, and the Yun Du Tian cultivators also disembarked, seemingly planning to stay for some time. Qin Sang was invited to follow the vine, flying towards Old Demon Zhen's cave dwelling. En route, Qin Sang communicated with Old Demon Zhen via spiritual message for a while. Old Demon Zhen didn't ask many questions and readily agreed.

An hour later, Qin Sang quietly left Wanluo Island alone, while the Cloud-Traversing Treasure Vessel and the Yun Du Tian cultivators remained on the island to divert attention. After identifying the direction, Qin Sang stealthily went southwest; the Azure Sky Cave-Heaven was in that direction.

After flying an unknown distance, he finally found an uninhabited small island. Qin Sang landed on the island. He didn't wait long before a figure quietly materialized beside him: Old Man Guyun. Old Man Guyun gently shook his head, "No signs of anyone tracking us were found." As he spoke, he glanced left and right, "Sect Master Yu and Sect Master Ying haven't arrived yet."

"They should be here soon," Qin Sang said.

The two sat on the ground. Qin Sang took out a stone emanating a clear radiance from his Thousand Jun Ring and examined it in his hand. This stone was a fragment of a formation artifact from the Heavenly River Reversal Killing Array, which could aid Qin Sang in comprehending the grand array. During this time, Qin Sang had gradually begun to grasp some of the profound mysteries of the Heavenly River Reversal Killing Array.

In the star sea, there was the Milky Way, where countless stars converged, making it the most dazzling place of starlight. Legend said this was a river in the heavens, and the Heavenly River Reversal Killing Array only drew upon the stellar power from this portion. The waters of the Heavenly River pouring down would pierce through heavens and earth, its weight far beyond ten thousand tons, making the destruction of mountains and treading upon seas seem trivial. Compared to Qin Sang's Four Symbols Sword Formation, the Heavenly River Reversal Killing Array had a touch of using brute force to overcome skill. It evolved killing moves using stellar power, unleashing them all at once, which was less intricate than the sword evolving the Four Symbols and Twenty-Eight Constellations. But this didn't mean the Heavenly River Reversal Killing Array was crude; they were simply two different approaches. Being part of the same Stellar Dao, Qin Sang could still gain some insights. His previous accumulation also helped him in comprehending the Heavenly River Reversal Killing Array, allowing him to quickly make progress.

Old Man Guyun knew Qin Sang was comprehending the grand array and did not disturb him. Seawater slapped against the shore's rocks. Dusk fell, then dawn broke again. In the early morning, Sect Master Yu and Sect Master Ying finally arrived, coming together.

Sect Master Yu cupped his hands and said, "We apologize for keeping you waiting, Daoists. Sect Master Ying and I made several extra arrangements to prevent any mishaps, which caused some delay."

"How was it?" Old Man Guyun asked.

"No trackers were found," Sect Master Ying replied with a smile, hearing that there was also nothing unusual on their side. "It seems we were overly cautious. Who would dare to harbor ill intentions? They'd not only offend four Void Refinement cultivators but also risk angering the Jitian Sect. Besides, you two Daoists just slew the old zombie, so your reputation is currently soaring."

Old Man Guyun nodded noncommittally, "Perhaps! I haven't heard of the Azure Sky Cave-Heaven producing any rare treasures, so perhaps they don't think it's worth the risk. However, it's always wise to be careful." With that, the four activated their flight techniques and continued to speed southwest.

They flew over the vast ocean. The weather seemed to be changing. The wind gradually grew stronger, and noticeable waves appeared on the sea. After flying for a while longer, the sky ahead also turned gloomy, giving a sense of an approaching storm.

Old Man Guyun silently calculated for a moment, then exclaimed in surprise, "So the Azure Sky Cave-Heaven is here!"

Sect Master Ying looked over, "Have you also been here, Daoist? I remember over 1300 years ago, I passed through this area and heard that this sea region frequently experienced hurricanes. I found it strange and stopped to search for several months, but found nothing. I never imagined a minor cave-heaven was hidden here."

"Indeed, I also heard that the weather in this sea region is volatile. However, I didn't think much of it back then. I wonder if it's related to the Azure Sky Cave-Heaven."

Old Man Guyun and Sect Master Ying conversed, exchanging stories of their respective travels. From their impressions, they pieced together the topography of this sea region. West of Moondu Bay, islands were sparse. This sea region was even more so, with almost no place to land, vast and desolate. This place was prone to storms, with harsh weather unsuitable for ordinary mortals. Since there were no benefits, cultivators wouldn't specifically come here either.

As they spoke, the wind grew increasingly fierce. The token in Qin Sang's hand glowed, being activated by his true essence to pinpoint the exact location of the beacon. After continuing their rapid flight for several thousand li, Qin Sang's expression shifted. He said, "Found it!" As he spoke, his speed greatly increased, and the three quickly followed.

Following the token's guidance, Qin Sang submerged himself in the sea, and the water parted on its own. After diving to an unknown depth, faint, shimmering lights refracted ahead. It turned out to be an underwater mountain, on which grew peculiar plants: some as grand as trees, some like moss, but most notably a white flower resembling an orchid. The spiritual senses of the four Void Refinement cultivators swept across the area one after another, detecting no formed demon-beasts.

Qin Sang descended to the mountainside and found a rock crevice where a single white flower grew. The flower was in full bloom, its pale yellow stamens as fine as needles, exquisitely delicate. The beacon to the Azure Sky Cave-Heaven was within the flower's pistil. This flower happened to grow here, yet it seemed as if one flower had bloomed into a minor realm.

"One flower, one world – truly not a false saying!" Qin Sang exclaimed, and the three others deeply agreed. The token flew up, the void shimmered with green light, and the four figures vanished into thin air. As if passing through an invisible barrier, Qin Sang clearly perceived the changes in the world around him. He had left the Great Thousand World and entered a minor realm.

'Crash...!' Torrential rain poured down. All around them was a world of rain, its intensity astonishing. In a mortal world, it would cause terrible disasters. 'Boom!' A deafening roar came from the sky, yet it didn't sound like thunder. "Suppress your aura!" Qin Sang sensed something unusual, his expression subtly changing as he warned in a deep voice. Old Man Guyun and the other two reacted quickly, suppressing their Void Refinement cultivator auras. The void had begun to vibrate the moment they entered. It was indeed a shattered minor realm; a single misstep could accelerate its destruction.

Qin Sang looked up at the sky. Despite the torrential rain, there were no dark clouds; the sky was clear and azure. All of it was water! The source of the downpour was actually a series of massive waves, reaching to the heavens, crashing down from above after losing their momentum. They had appeared over the sea, where the storms were even more violent than outside. On all sides, colossal waves rose relentlessly, ceaseless.

Finally, they saw the mainland of the Azure Sky Cave-Heaven. Sea waves, like towering walls, continuously slammed into the land, relentlessly eroding it. The torrential rain also spread to the mainland, transforming the land almost into lakes and seas. Mountain peaks emerged from the water, undergoing a baptism of rain. "No wonder there are no mortals in the Azure Sky Cave-Heaven," Old Man Guyun sighed. "It's impossible for mortals to survive in a place like this." However, the Azure Sky Cave-Heaven was not devoid of life. Various plants grew on the mainland. Due to the environment, there were no fragile small grasses here. All plants were unusually tall and robust. The plants had huge canopy-like coverings, and their long roots, like pythons, firmly gripped the earth and rocks. The root systems of these plants had well-developed fine hairs, spreading in patches over the land and water, dense like grass carpets. The land relied on them to withstand the torrential rain's erosion.

"There are plant spirits here," Old Man Guyun said.