37

The vast ocean stretched to the horizon, where water and sky met, merging into one, a magnificent and awe-inspiring sight.

However, even the most beautiful scenery could become tiresome and monotonous after days of sailing on this boundless sea.

At this moment, several people from the seven kingdoms stood silently on the deck of the immortal ship, gazing at the distant horizon, each lost in their own thoughts.

Qing Chen's gaze turned back in the direction they had come from, seemingly looking at something.

A simple-minded boy of only fifteen stood beside him, asking curiously,

"Brother Qing, what are you looking at? I've seen you staring for a quarter of an hour now, without even blinking. Aren't your eyes tired?"

Qing Chen smiled faintly and replied, "I'm looking at the Jing Kingdom. I wonder if I'll ever have the chance to go back in this lifetime."

"Are you missing the woman in red who called out to you a few days ago?" the boy asked again, his voice still carrying a touch of childishness.

"Ting'er, don't be rude." A composed man, around thirty years old, spoke up to stop the boy's question.

He was Xie Yu, a cultivator with a low-grade water-wood spiritual root. Though not exceptionally gifted, he was a steady and reliable cultivator.

"Brother Xie Yu, it's alright." Qing Chen waved his hand, indicating he didn't mind the boy's question.

He was already gone; Qing Chen had no habit of feigning deep affection.

Qing Chen wasn't thinking about the woman in red, nor about his second aunt and the others.

He was thinking about why Ningxuan Sect would go to such lengths to travel to Juexian Island every thirty years.

Just for these ten or so newly initiated disciples? Absolutely not.

The path of immortality is vast, the path of humanity is insignificant.

Having lived two lives, Qing Chen's mind was no longer that of a twenty-year-old.

The mortal world is fleeting.

The path to immortality is at his feet; just move forward. The past is merely experience, not a burden.

Qingchen turned to Xie Yu and asked, "Brother Xie Yu, what unique insights do you have about the path of cultivation?"

Xie Yu smiled slightly, a hint of world-weariness in his eyes:

"The path of cultivation is not something that can be achieved in a day, a year, or even ten years. It requires perseverance and, more importantly, an unwavering heart.

Although I am not exceptionally gifted, possessing only a low-grade spiritual root, I still hope to go far on this path.

However, Brother Qing and my disciple here have quite good talents, both possessing mid-grade spiritual roots. I think we have a bright future on our path to immortality, haha."

As he spoke, he patted his disciple Yue Ting's head beside him.

Hearing Xie Yu's words, Qingchen wasn't particularly interested.

What is cultivation? It's about stealing! Stealing money, food, and cultivation furnaces—anything useful is destined for me!

Hearing his master praise him, Yue Ting smiled憨厚ly and replied, "I'll listen to my master. If he says cultivating immortality is good, I'll cultivate it diligently."

His eyes shone with boundless longing for the world of cultivation.

Hearing the conversation of these three, the young man Ding Buxing joined in.

He gazed resolutely into the distance, his tone filled with ambition: "My father said that cultivating immortality allows one to move mountains and fill seas, to fly and escape the earth. Once I've achieved mastery, I'll return and make my father live for another two hundred years!"

However, the arrogant young woman Xue Yubing beside her scoffed dismissively.

A disdainful smile curled at the corner of her lips as she mocked:

"Live for another two hundred years, aren't you afraid of spouting nonsense? The path of cultivation?

For me, it's a piece of cake.

I possess a superior-grade wind spirit root, exceptional talent, how can you people compare?"

Xie Yu smiled faintly upon hearing this, unwilling to argue with Xue Yubing.

Ding Buxing nodded in agreement, saying, "Brother Xie is absolutely right. The path of cultivation is long and arduous; what we need is unwavering determination and indomitable will. Talent is important, but character is even more crucial."

These people who spoke were from the seven kingdoms who had boarded the ship with Qing Chen.

Xie Yu was about thirty years old, with a composed face. He possessed a low-grade water and wood spirit root. Although not exceptionally talented, he was very steady.

After meeting Qing Chen, Xie Yu and Qing Chen chatted amiably, developing a sense of affinity.

The disciple, Yue Ting, was a simple and honest young man, only fifteen years old, with a mid-grade wood spiritual root. His face still held a youthful innocence, but his eyes sparkled with boundless longing for the world of cultivation.

The arrogant girl was named Xue Yubing, sixteen years old, with a beautiful face and a graceful figure.

She possessed a high-grade wind spiritual root, making her the most talented among them.

However, she was arrogant, always showing disdain for others, as if the whole world should revolve around her.

The ambitious young man beside her was named Ding Buxing, about eighteen years old, with a mid-grade fire spiritual root.

Because their countries were allies, the group had become somewhat familiar with each other after several days of interaction.

Just as they were talking, the immortal ship suddenly encountered the waves.

With a loud "bang," Qing Chen thought the ship had hit a reef.

However, a thunderous shout resounded through the sky: "Senior Brother Gu, it's a late-stage first-tier Crimson Chained Sea Serpent!"

First-tier demonic beasts are at the Qi Refining stage, second-tier at the Foundation Establishment stage, third-tier at the Core Formation stage, and above that is the fourth-tier, known as the Transformation stage Great Demonic Beast.

The voice carried a hint of surprise and fighting spirit, as if encountering not danger, but a rare trial.

Upon hearing this, Senior Brother Gu's brows flashed with a sharp glint.

"Good! We didn't find the sect, and this mission just happened to run into this beast—it's fate! Take this!" Before the words were even finished, he had already attacked.

Qing Chen swore he had never seen such a thick snake before. It was incredibly thick!

The Crimson Chained Sea Serpent was over seven or eight zhang long, as thick as a large water vat, its entire body crimson, its scales like iron, radiating a ferocious aura.

Senior Brother Gu casually drew his sword, and a cold light flashed from the scabbard behind him. A sword beam shot out like a meteor, heading straight for the Crimson Chain Sea Serpent.

The sword gleamed in the sunlight, its sharpness fully revealed.

The Crimson Chain Sea Serpent sensed the danger. Its crimson eyes flashed with ferocity, and it lashed its iron-like tail, attempting to shatter the flying sword.

However, Senior Brother Gu's sword flashed, deftly dodging the sea serpent's attack.

The sea serpent roared angrily, its long tail lashing out, trying to destroy the harassing flying sword.

But Senior Brother Gu's swordsmanship was exquisite; his flying sword moved as nimbly as a dragon, relentlessly pursuing the sea serpent no matter how much it struggled.

In an instant, sword light and serpent shadows clashed on the sea surface, the battle fierce.

After a fierce struggle, Senior Brother Gu found an opening, intending to deliver a fatal blow to the sea serpent.

At the critical moment, the sea serpent spewed out a jet of dark light to block the attack.

Senior Brother Gu's flying sword was incredibly powerful; with a flash of light, the dark light was instantly shattered, dissipating into black rays.

The flying sword moved like lightning, precisely piercing the sea serpent's vital spot.

The sea serpent let out a miserable cry, its massive body stiffening as it slowly sank to the bottom of the sea, motionless once more.

The sea returned to calm, leaving only the people on the immortal ship in awe.