306: Chapter 306 Azure Spring, Azure Palace Master

Chu Sheng was soaking in the milky white spring water, his spiritual power slowly circulating within his body.

The cracks in his Dao Palace were healing, the fragments of his Dantian were reforming, and his cultivation was recovering bit by bit.

He closed his eyes, sensing the changes in his body, and finally felt a bit more at ease.

Just as he was about to enter deep meditation, a voice came from above the cave wall, carrying a hint of vigilance.

"Who is in this seat's Biluo Spring?"

Chu Sheng opened his eyes abruptly, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

A middle-aged woman stood at the cave entrance, looking down at him.

She wore a dark green robe, her hair coiled into a bun, with delicate features and a few fine lines at the corners of her eyes; she looked to be in her forties.

Her cultivation was roughly at the Spirit Nurturing Late Stage, but her eyes were sharp, like an eagle's.

She watched Chu Sheng soaking in the spring water, her brows furrowing, her tone unfriendly.

"This seat is asking you a question, who are you?"

Chu Sheng stood up from the spring water, a shock of spiritual power vibrating across his body, scattering the water droplets, and he put his Dao robe back on.

"Junior Nie Zhang, while following a fleet across the sea, accidentally fell into the Boundless Sea. I was washed here by the currents and mistakenly intruded into Senior's Immortal Cave; I hope Senior will forgive me."

His voice was sincere, and his face still bore the fear of having just survived a disaster.

The middle-aged woman stared at him for a moment, her gaze shifting from his face to his Dao robe, then to the sword hilt at his waist, a flash of imperceptible light passing through her eyes.

Her attitude changed suddenly.

"So that's how it is. The Boundless Sea is extremely dangerous; for you to have floated here alive, you are truly lucky."

She walked down the stone steps to the edge of the spring, a look of concern on her face.

"You have been soaking in this seat's spring water for so long, you must have consumed quite a bit of spiritual power, right? Come, come, this seat has some sea beast meat here; you should fill your stomach first and recover some strength."

She took a piece of roasted sea beast meat from her Storage Pouch, wrapped it in a lotus leaf, and handed it to Chu Sheng.

The scent of meat overflowed, its color golden; it looked truly tempting.

Chu Sheng looked at the meat but did not take it.

He thought to himself: This is too much of a coincidence. He had just finished soaking in the spring water, and she appeared, her attitude doing a one-hundred-and-eighty-degree turn, questioning him and then offering meat.

A Cultivator living alone in the depths of the Boundless Sea, being this enthusiastic towards a complete stranger?

When things are abnormal, there must be a demon at play.

His Divine Sense quietly swept over the meat, and indeed, he sensed extremely faint spiritual power fluctuations within the texture of the meat.

That was not the aura of the meat itself; it had been added on.

Colorless and odorless, mixed into the sea beast meat; if not for his sharp Divine Sense, he would never have discovered it.

The corners of Chu Sheng's mouth curled up slightly, but he quickly suppressed it.

He took the meat, took a bite, chewed, and swallowed it.

"Many thanks, Senior. This Junior is extremely grateful."

The middle-aged woman watched him eat the meat, her smile growing even wider, and the light in her eyes becoming even brighter.

Chu Sheng took a few more bites, then suddenly his expression changed, the meat in his hand dropped to the ground, and his body swayed a few times.

"Sen... Senior... this meat..."

Before he could finish his sentence, he fell to the ground, his eyes closed, his breathing weak.

The middle-aged woman watched him fall, waited a few breaths, and confirming he was not moving, finally revealed her true colors.

The smile on her face vanished instantly, replaced by a look of Greed and a triumphant sneer.

"Hmph, still a bit too naive."

She crouched down and reached out to grab the zhu xian sword at Chu Sheng's waist.

"This sword is not bad; this seat happens to be lacking a handy Magic Treasure."

Just as her hand touched the hilt, a sharp Sword Qi suddenly erupted from the sword.

Her fingers were flicked away, the web between her thumb and index finger went numb, and she was forced back three steps.

Chu Sheng opened his eyes.

He stood up from the ground, brushed the dust off his body, his expression normal; where was there any trace of being poisoned?

The zhu xian sword was already unsheathed, its tip pressed against the middle-aged woman's throat.

"Who exactly are you? What tricks are you trying to play?" His voice was not loud, but very cold.

The middle-aged woman's expression changed drastically, looking at the sword tip pressed against her throat, fine sweat breaking out on her forehead.

She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but nothing came out.

Chu Sheng looked at her, and the sword in his hand pushed forward another inch.

"Speak."

The middle-aged woman's legs began to tremble.

Her cultivation was at the Spirit Nurturing Late Stage, which was considered quite good in the Boundless Sea, but in front of Chu Sheng, she didn't even have the qualification to fight back.

She gritted her teeth, as if having made some decision, and then spoke.

"This seat... this seat is the guardian of this Biluo Spring. By the order of my Master, I am here to guard the spirit spring."

"Master?" Chu Sheng's brows furrowed, "Who is your Master?"

The middle-aged woman hesitated for a moment and did not speak.

The sword in Chu Sheng's hand pushed forward another inch; the sword tip pierced her skin, and a drop of blood flowed down her neck.

Her body froze, and she hurriedly spoke.

"Don't kill me! I'll talk! I'll talk!"

She swallowed her saliva, her voice trembling.

"My Master... is the Palace Master of Biluo Palace. This island, this sea area, are all the territory of Biluo Palace. This seat is merely following orders to guard the spirit spring here, waiting for a fated person to arrive."

"A fated person?" Chu Sheng's brows furrowed even deeper, "What fated person?"

The middle-aged woman said: "Master said that anyone who can break through the Boundless Sea and find the Biluo Spring must be extraordinary. If I encounter such a person, I am to keep him and take him to Biluo Palace."

Chu Sheng was silent for a moment.

His gaze swept across the middle-aged woman's face, as if discerning the truth or falsehood of her words.

Her expression was very fearful, not like she was lying.

But Chu Sheng didn't quite believe it.

A Cultivator at the Spirit Nurturing Late Stage, having lived for decades in the extremely dangerous Boundless Sea, how could she be so easily frightened out of her wits?

Behind this, there must be other intentions.

He withdrew the zhu xian sword, but the sword did not return to its sheath, just hanging by his side.

"If your Master wants to see me, why didn't they come personally?"

The middle-aged woman's gaze flickered.

"Master... Master is currently in seclusion to Cultivate, unable to come personally. That is why they asked this seat to wait here."

Chu Sheng looked at her flickering eyes, and in his heart, he already understood seven or eight parts of it.

He was not in a hurry to expose her, just smiled.

"Good. Then take me to see your Master."

The middle-aged woman was stunned for a moment, seemingly not having expected him to agree so readily.

But she quickly reacted and hurriedly nodded.

"Good, good, this seat will take you there right now."

She turned and walked towards the outside of the cave.

Chu Sheng followed behind her, the distance neither too far nor too close, just enough to strike in time if she tried any tricks.

The two walked out of the cave entrance, and the sunlight outside was somewhat blinding.

The middle-aged woman pointed to the sea in the distance, where there was a larger island, much bigger than the one Chu Sheng had seen before, with the outlines of palaces vaguely visible.

"Biluo Palace is right there. Master is already waiting for you."

Chu Sheng looked at that island, and a strange feeling welled up in his heart.

He always felt that this matter was not that simple.

A Biluo Palace living alone in the depths of the Boundless Sea, a spirit spring guardian, a Master waiting for a "fated person".

It was too coincidental.

He touched the zhu xian sword at his waist, feeling the warmth radiating from the sword body.

No matter what was ahead, he would not retreat.

He had nothing left to lose.

Old Grandfather was gone, his Dao Companions' lives were uncertain, and Arrogance was still waiting for him outside.

He only had one life, but this life, he would use to do many things.

Chu Sheng took a step, followed the middle-aged woman, and walked towards that island.

The sea breeze whistled in his ears, and the waves churned beneath his feet.

He did not know what would be waiting for him ahead.

But he had a premonition.

On that island, there was a greater secret.

And that secret might change his destiny.

Or it might take his life.