Chapter 3048 - The Dragonbone Worldship

Half a month later, the Southern Darkness Continent, Spirit Grain City.

The Southern Darkness Continent bordered the Southern Sea. It was the only one of the Eternal Heavens Domain’s thirty-three continents with access to those boundless waters.

Spirit Grain City was the closest major city to the Southern Sea. It was densely populated and prosperous, with an abundance of factions and merchants as numerous as the clouds.

Once an hour, a Dragonbone Worldship would set sail, carrying passengers through the Dark Winds Belt that separated the Southern Darkness Continent from the far reaches of the Southern Sea.

The Dragonbone Worldships were enormous. Each was the size of a mountain and capable of carrying one hundred thousand passengers.

When ordinary cultivators explored the Southern Sea, their only choice was to take a Dragonbone Worldship; it was the only way they could avoid the corrosion of the Dark Winds Belt, traverse shattered spacetime, and reach their destination safely.

Of course, passage on the Dragonbone Worldships was extraordinarily expensive. Even the lowest level cabins cost one hundred pieces of Eternal Essence Gold, a sum most ordinary cultivators couldn't afford.

Eternal Essence Gold was a rare cultivation resource, and one that all Eternals needed to cultivate.

Cultivators yet to step into Eternity seldom acquired Eternal Essence Gold, but even when they did, how could they spend one hundred pieces of it just to ride a boat?

Thus, those who dared venture into the Southern Sea were all extraordinary. They were scions of powerful factions, in the employ of merchants, or bold, tough sorts looking to test their fortune.

There were also outlaws on the run from the law. They, too, often sought refuge in the Southern Sea.

A massive Dragonbone Worldship hovered just outside Spirit Grain City, its hull glittering beneath the light of the heavens.

Numerous cultivators were lining up to board. The Dragonbone Warship would set course for Myriad Jades Island in the far reaches of the Southern Sea in just fifteen minutes.

“Senior, we’re almost there. That’s the Dragonbone Worldship, and once we’re on board, we’ll reach Myriad Jades Island in just two days,” said Yun Rong, leading the customer she’d found with great difficulty toward the ship.

Yun Rong was petite, and she wore a plain white dress. Her eyebrows were curved, and she had a meek and obedient demeanor, but she worked with practiced familiarity.

She eked out a living in Spirit Grain City year-round, working as a guide to earn Eternal Essence Gold.

And this time, she’d happened upon a traveler with no shortage of wealth. He’d booked the ninth premium pavilion at the very front of the Worldship, the dragon’s head.

Each Dragonbone Worldship had thirty-six of these luxurious pavilions, and each required a full five Destiny Jades.

A single Destiny Jade was worth one thousand pieces of Eternal Essence Gold. That meant this one pavilion effectively cost five thousand pieces of Eternal Essence Gold.

Yun Rong was a lesser god. To her, that was an absolutely astronomical figure.

The best part was, so long as Yun Rong did her job as a guide, her wealthy guest would give her a Destiny Jade each day. To Yun Rong, that was mind-boggling wealth. She’d been cultivating for years, but she’d never even touched a Destiny Jade before. The mere thought of it delighted her. She’d already started fantasizing about what she’d do with the money.

The Dragonbone Warship is really quite something,” Su Yi said casually, for he was Yun Rong’s wealthy guest.

Su Yi was gazing at the ship hovering beneath the heavens. He could tell at a glance that the ship was covered in spatial formations. It was of a comparable level to the treasures used by Heavenly Monarchs.

“Right, how long has it been since you last returned to Crimson Kite Daoist Court?” asked Su Yi.

Yun Rong said hurriedly, “One hundred thirty-nine years, eight months, and twenty-nine days.”

Su Yi blinked in surprise. “You remember in such detail?”

Yun Rong’s gaze was a bit melancholy. She said softly, “I won’t lie to you, Senior. I’m still just an unregistered disciple. It’s only by passing Crimson Kite Daoist Court’s tests that I can become a true outer-sect disciple.

“Unfortunately, my background is ordinary, and my abilities are mediocre. Even after all this time, I’ve yet to pass the final test for outer-sect disciples.”

As she spoke, her eyes dimmed.

Yun Rong wasn’t a cultivator of the Eternal Heavens Domain. Rather, she was from a little island in the Southern Sea, and her family wasn’t at all reputable.

She’d been eking out a living by traveling between Spirit Grain City and the Southern Sea for years, scampering about to pay all the bills, all for the sake of completing that final test and becoming a true outer-sect disciple.

“So that’s it.” Su Yi inclined his head. He could see how badly Yun Rong longed to become an outer sect disciple. Otherwise, there was no way she’d have tracked the time since she’d left Crimson Kite Daoist Court in such detail.

Su Yi didn’t ask any questions about the test itself. Every sect had tests for would-be disciples, and they came in all varieties. Su Yi had long since grown accustomed to such practices.

But just as they were about to board the Dragonbone Worldship, there was a little interlude. A beautiful woman in yellow picked Yun Rong out of the crowd, then lit up with delight and walked over to greet her and exchange pleasantries.

Yun Rong lowered her head and frowned, her beautiful face icy. She didn’t say a single word in response.

The woman in yellow laughed, not the least bit offended. She even affectionately patted Yun Rong on the shoulder and said, “A’Rong, you and I are from the same clan. If you ever need any kind of help, be sure to let me know.”

Yun Rong suddenly couldn’t take it anymore. She shouted, “Yun Liu, enough of your insincere kindness! Do you really think I don’t know what you’ve done? If not for you impeding me in secret, I’d have passed the final test and become an outer sect disciple a long time ago!”

The woman in yellow, Yun Liu, didn’t lose her temper. On the contrary, she looked aggrieved. “A’Rong, you can’t just say things like that. How could I possibly be capable of interfering with your test?”

Yun Rong’s chest heaved with fury, but just as she was about to say something, Yun Liu said warmly, “Sometimes, it’s better to look inward. Have you been working hard at your cultivation? Don’t blame others for your own failings. Given my status, do you think I have any need to target you?”

She spoke indirectly, but the mockery was readily apparent.

Once she’d said her piece, she smiled and left, leaving Yun Rong standing there glowering.

Su Yi took all of this in. He could see that Yun Liu was the type whose words were like needles hidden in soft fabric. She smiled charmingly and spoke pleasantly, but she was really provoking and humiliating Yun Rong.

It was obvious that Yun Rong was angry and frustrated, but Su Yi didn’t say anything.

Some time passed before she got her emotions under control. She lowered her head apologetically, then said, “I embarrassed myself in front of you, Senior. Please don’t take offense. I guarantee I’ll guide you to the best of my ability, and I won’t let my personal matters interfere with your journey.”

Su Yi inclined his head. “Let’s go.”

The two of them promptly boarded the Dragonbone Worldship.

Off in the distance, Yun Liu joined a group of other cultivators. One of them, a man in teal, asked, “Junior Apprentice Sister, was that your clanswoman, Junior Apprentice Sister Yun Rong?”

Yun Liu nodded, then sighed, a melancholy look on her face. “That’s right. A’Rong has been running about like mad for years. It’s been hard on her, and it hurts to watch. All I wanted was to help her, but it seems she doesn’t appreciate my good intentions.”

Someone said with pity, “You tried to help her out of the goodness of your heart, but she doesn’t appreciate you. Why bother with someone so ungrateful?”

Someone else sighed, “Junior Apprentice Sister Yun Liu, you have a kind, beautiful heart. It’s a rare and precious thing indeed.”

These were cultivators from Crimson Kite Daoist Court, just like Yun Liu. All of them were elites within the outer sect, and all of them had extraordinary status.

In contrast, Yun Rong had yet to pass the sect’s tests and formally become an outer-sect disciple. If not for her connection to Yun Liu, most of them present wouldn’t have even known she existed.

“Never mind all that. We ought to get going,” said Yun Liu. “If nothing unexpected happens, we’ll make it back to the sect in time for the Dao-Seeking Ceremony.”

The Dao-Seeking Ceremony!

This was a grand occasion, an event the Crimson Kite Daoist Court held but once every thousand years.

The disciples outside the sect had long since received word, and they were rushing back from all around the world.

Yun Liu and her companions promptly boarded the Dragonbone Worldship.

They’d only just boarded when Yun Liu blinked in surprise, as she’d just spotted Yun Rong and her client headed for the premium pavilion at the head of the boat.

Strange. How could a lowly, unexceptional woman like her get so ridiculously lucky? Where’d she find someone so ridiculously wealthy? Yun Liu’s brow furrowed.

She knew that everyone capable of occupying a private pavilion was extraordinary. They didn’t just need the five Destiny Jade room fee; they needed a powerful background and connections, too!

The thought made Yun Liu instantly uncomfortable. She couldn’t even imagine how Yun Rong, the lowly woman she habitually trampled, could have gotten acquainted with someone capable of staying in premium accommodations.

On what basis?

Yun Liu pondered briefly, but in the end, she couldn’t take it. She’d decided to investigate for herself. If a lowly woman like Yun Rong caught that wealthy client’s eye, why can’t I do the same?

“Stop!”

As Yun Liu approached the head of the boat, a middle-aged manager blocked her path and said calmly, “Miss, you don’t belong here.”

Yun Liu was inwardly furious, but out loud, she said, “This junior is an outer-sect disciple of Crimson Kite Daoist Court. Just now, my clanswoman, Yun Rong, entered the ninth private pavilion near the head of the boat. If you wouldn’t mind...”

But before she could finish, the manager coldly cut her off. “I’ve seen no small number of others like you over the years. You just want to cozy up to the wealthy client in the premium accommodations. Let me tell you in no uncertain terms that you can forget about getting anywhere near him without an invitation!”

Yun Liu froze, instantly overcome with awkwardness. Out loud, she said, “Might you at least tell me who Yun Rong’s client is?”

The manager’s gaze was cold and stern. “How could a mere outer-sect disciple of Crimson Kite Daoist Court have any right to inquire about our distinguished guest? Hurry up and leave! Don’t bring disaster upon yourself!”

Yun Liu no longer dared linger. She slumped her shoulders and left, feeling utterly pathetic.

Her heart was still full of hatred and fury, all of which she directed at Yun Rong.

Su Yi leaned against the railing and watched from his private pavilion. He witnessed the entire exchange, but he couldn’t be bothered to give it any further thought. He just shifted his attention toward admiring the rest of the Dragonbone Worldship.

From here, he could gaze into the sea of clouds or onto the deck. The view was impeccable; these pavilions really were premium.

From this lofty vantage point, he could gaze down at everything going on around him.