48: Thousand Star Island, parting ways

"Lu Tao, accompany little friend Su for a look around. I'm heading back to the cabin to rest."

After giving the instruction, Senior Wu Haiya stood up and walked toward the cabin.

"Yes, Junior Martial Uncle."

Lu Tao chuckled and agreed.

Once Senior Wu Haiya entered the cabin, Su Ling breathed a sigh of relief and began to observe his surroundings.

"Don't mind him. You've been bedridden this whole time. Since the weather is nice today, Junior Martial Uncle told me to bring you out to get some sun."

Seeing this, Lu Tao helped Su Ling up and walked to the ship's railing to explain.

"How could I? I can't thank you enough."

Su Ling shook his head and said seriously.

"Since you're from another plane, you might not know that the Yaoxing Sea is teeming with Yao Beasts. We're only three days away from Thousand Star Island, so high-level Yao Beasts are relatively rare here."

Changing the subject, Lu Tao pointed at a school of flying fish jumping several miles away and introduced them, "Those are Rank Two Flying Feather Fish Yao. In the Outer Sea, they wouldn't even be enough to fill the gaps between a Great Yao's teeth."

Su Ling nodded slightly and asked curiously, "Just how many islands are there in the Canglang Plane?"

"No one knows the exact number, but within the territory of Thousand Star Island alone, there are 1,800 islands."

Lu Tao shrugged. "Yet Thousand Star Island is merely a Prefecture under the jurisdiction of the Vast Sea Imperial Dynasty."

"Brother Lu, both you and Senior Wu are Cultivators. Forgive my presumption, but may I ask which Sect you belong to?"

Su Ling composed himself and asked in a low voice.

Lu Tao lifted his chin with a look of pride. "Hehe, we're from the Bitao Sect. The Vast Sea Imperial Dynasty is exactly the Imperial Dynasty under our Sect's jurisdiction."

"Impressive, as expected of a great Sect!"

Su Ling gave a thumbs-up and praised.

No wonder they didn't care for his ten thousand year jade marrow.

Founding a Sect and establishing an Imperial Dynasty were the exclusive domains of the True Immortal realm.

He had heard some of these things during his time with Yun Qingluan.

Despite Lu Tao already having reached Core Formation, his actual age might even be younger than Su Ling's!

This was the terrifying power of a great Sect's resources.

From Lu Tao, Su Ling learned a great deal about the Canglang Plane.

In turn, Lu Tao heard many stories about the Underground World from Su Ling.

These were all novelties to him, and he seemed very interested.

The two chatted for a while, enjoying each other's company.

It wasn't until two hours later, when Su Ling showed signs of fatigue, that Lu Tao took his leave.

Sitting cross-legged at the bow, Su Ling circulated the Nine Nether Secret Record and began to meditate to recover his mana.

Perhaps due to experiencing the spatial turbulence, his strength had actually dropped to the Early Foundation Establishment Stage.

However, the refinement of his mana was comparable to the Late Foundation Establishment Stage.

Su Ling didn't think this was necessarily a bad thing.

Regardless, his Qi Sea hadn't shrunk; he only needed to continue refining mana to fill it back up.

When that happened, he would naturally recover his Middle Foundation Establishment Stage cultivation.

Furthermore, the concentration of Spiritual Qi in the Canglang Plane was superior to that of the Cuiye Plane.

This significantly accelerated Su Ling's recovery... Three days later, Su Ling and Lu Tao stood together at the bow, looking ahead.

On the island dozens of miles away, various strangely shaped giant sea vessels could be seen docked at the harbor.

"There are ships traveling between the major islands all year round. Large treasure ships like these are Magic Treasures specifically used for carrying passengers and cargo."

Lu Tao pointed at a menacing ship that was three or four miles high and explained, "Its main body is made from the carcass of at least a Rank Five sea beast."

The bow of the ship was strikingly shaped like the head of a super sea turtle.

There were other large ships resembling sharks, rays, and giant whales.

In the far distance, another ship resembling a sailfish was riding the wind and waves toward them.

As they approached the harbor, Senior Wu Haiya emerged from the cabin, and the sea-breaking boat rose directly from the sea, flying toward the center of the island.

Half an hour later, the sea-breaking boat landed at the gate of a towering city.

It quickly shrank to the size of a palm and was stored away in Senior Wu Haiya's Storage Ring.

Arriving at the city gate covered by a defensive grand array, Senior Wu Haiya tossed out a jade tablet before the guards could even speak.

"So it is an Immortal from the upper Sect. Please forgive our lack of a proper welcome."

The leading Nascent Soul Cultivator hurriedly stood up, ran to Senior Wu Haiya's side with the jade tablet in hand, and bowed. "We welcome the Immortal to the island."

"No need for formalities."

Senior Wu Haiya took back the jade tablet and stepped into the passage reserved within the grand array.

Lu Tao chuckled and pulled Su Ling along.

Only after the three had disappeared did the Nascent Soul Cultivator breathe a sigh of relief and straighten up.

Thousand Star Island belongs to the Vast Sea Imperial Dynasty. The arrival of a Spirit Transformation Cultivator from the Bitao Sect must be reported to the City Lord.

Soon, a message was sent to the City Lord of Thousand Star City via a communication talisman.

The entire Thousand Star Island covers an area of over a thousand miles.

Thousand Star City is located in the center, spanning about a hundred miles. It isn't just inhabited by Cultivators; many Mortals live there as well.

However, only Cultivators are allowed into the even more central Inner City.

Flight was prohibited within the city, but that didn't apply to Senior Wu Haiya of the Soul Transformation Stage.

He directly controlled a flying Yao Beast and took the two of them to the Inner City, where they found a restaurant to sit down.

"Little friend Su, we have important matters to attend to."

Once the food and wine were served, Senior Wu Haiya raised his cup and smiled. "The customs of Thousand Star Island are pleasant, and the surrounding resources are abundant, making it very suitable for you to practice here... After this meal, we shall part ways."

Cultivators can practice inedia, and mundane food rarely appeals to them.

However, this spread of food and wine was prepared from various Yao Beasts and spiritual plants, offering many benefits to Cultivators.

Su Ling raised his cup and said respectfully, "I will never forget your life-saving grace, Senior. If there is an opportunity in the future, I will surely repay this debt!"

He had long anticipated this parting.

Lu Tao was innocent and didn't have much of a guard against others.

But as a Soul Transformation expert, Senior Wu Haiya had seen far too much of the world's schemes and deceits.

Even though Su Ling had been very cautious, Senior Wu Haiya always harbored some suspicions toward him.

However, Senior Wu Haiya was truly a kind-hearted person. Since he had saved Su Ling, he wouldn't strike him down just because of a sliver of doubt.

This made Su Ling, who had spent seven years in the Xuanming Sect, feel grateful and know his place.

He wouldn't take advantage of the situation to make the excessive request of following them to the Bitao Sect.

"Your sentiment is enough; don't dwell on it too much."

Senior Wu Haiya nodded with satisfaction and drained his cup of spiritual wine.

Lu Tao looked reluctant beside them but managed to suppress the urge to ask Su Ling to stay.

The meal couldn't exactly be called a joyous occasion for all.

But Su Ling ate quite contentedly.

After all, it was a treat from a Spirit Transformation Cultivator, so the quality of all the dishes was top-notch.

As they parted, Lu Tao said with some reluctance, "Brother Su, if you have time in the future, come visit me at the Bitao Sect."

"I certainly will!"

Su Ling chuckled and patted him on the shoulder.

The Bitao Sect is located on Biao Island, which is also where the Vast Sea Imperial City is situated.

From here, at the flight speed of Senior Wu Haiya's sea-breaking boat, it would take at least three years.

Of course, taking a teleportation array would be a different story.

The three parted in front of the restaurant. Senior Wu Haiya led Lu Tao, who kept looking back, and flew straight toward the center of Thousand Star City.

Su Ling took a deep breath and looked around at the unfamiliar yet novel surroundings.

"First, I'll find a market to trade those Yao Beast Materials!"

His tens of thousands of Spirit Stones were all gone, but the Yao Beast Materials he had collected earlier were still with him.

As long as he found a market, he could always exchange them for some Spirit Stones.

Straightening his robes, Su Ling excitedly set off in another direction.

Having escaped the environment of the Xuanming Sect, where his life was constantly at risk,

Su Ling now felt a sense of liberation, like a bird released into the vast sky.