Dongbo Xueying sat cross-legged in the wilderness, gazing up at the colossal ship hovering high in the sky. Two banners fluttered atop the vessel, each bearing distinct characters. Though he only understood the spoken language of this world and not its written script, the moment he saw those characters, their meanings became instantly clear to him.
Evidently, at profound levels of cultivation, even written words carried boundless mysteries.
One banner bore the characters for “Junshan,” while the other read “Yufeng.”
“What an eerie method of detection,” Dongbo Xueying mused as the cold-eyed elder on the ship opened a third eye on his forehead, its emerald gaze sweeping downward. He felt as though he were being laid bare—though his mastery of the Illusory Realm of the Void remained unaffected. Had he wished, he could have concealed his strength entirely. Yet he chose to reveal a portion of it.
He kept his soul prowess somewhat hidden, but there was no need to mask his physical power. Whether it was the savage avian creature or the guards and experts aboard the ship—including the cold-eyed elder—nearly all of them possessed formidable physiques. The elder’s bodily aura, for instance, surpassed even his own!
Whoosh!
Six figures descended from the ship. Leading them was the cold-eyed elder, followed by five armored warriors.
The elder regarded Dongbo Xueying with a faint smile. “We are of the Yufeng Clan of Junshan. Seeing you alone in this desolate land, and seemingly grievously wounded with unhealed injuries, our young mistress has kindly offered to assist you. Would you care to accompany us to Junshan City?”
“Struggling against relentless dangers, I would naturally welcome an escape,” Dongbo Xueying replied, having already risen to his feet. He needed a quiet, secure place to cultivate and swiftly enhance his strength. Moreover, integrating into this world’s community of powerhouses would grant him deeper insights into its workings.
“What is your name, and where do you hail from?” the elder inquired.
“I am Feixue, a wanderer with no fixed abode,” Dongbo Xueying answered politely.
The elder nodded slightly. “Understandable. Ascenders like you originate from lower realms. You may address me as Steward Yun. Now, follow me.”
With that, Steward Yun and the five warriors soared back toward the ship. Dongbo Xueying promptly followed.
Upon boarding, a young woman in pale blue robes greeted him with bright, curious eyes. “I am Yufeng Qingyin,” she said with a smile. “Steward Yun mentioned you’re an ascender?”
Dongbo Xueying chuckled inwardly.
Ascender? What in the world was that?
Steward Yun had also referred to him as such earlier, leaving him utterly baffled. Now faced with this noblewoman’s question, he could only respond with a noncommittal smile.
“This is our Third Young Mistress,” Steward Yun interjected, his cold gaze piercing. “It was by her order that we rescued you.”
“Feixue thanks the Third Young Mistress for her lifesaving grace,” Dongbo Xueying said promptly.
“It was nothing,” Yufeng Qingyin waved off, her curiosity undimmed. “I’ve heard ascenders’ homelands are utterly different from our Divine Realm. Could you tell me about yours? I’ve always been fascinated, but we can’t descend to lower realms.”
“Cough, cough—” Dongbo Xueying suddenly convulsed, his face flushing as blood trickled from his lips.
Time to play the injured card!
He dared not answer. His ignorance about “ascenders” and the “Divine Realm” left him vulnerable. A single misstep could unravel everything. This group clearly had significant backing—perhaps even means to communicate with their clan. Exposure now might spell disaster.
Better to lay low and assimilate quietly.
“You’re hurt! Do you need assistance?” Yufeng Qingyin turned to Steward Yun. “Can you help treat his injuries?”
“His wounds are peculiar. I can’t fully discern them, only that his body struggles to suppress them,” Steward Yun admitted.
“It’s fine,” Dongbo Xueying interjected. “I haven’t been able to focus on healing amidst constant danger. Given a safe place and time, I can recover.”
Powerful cultivators typically possessed immense vitality and recovery. His claim was plausible.
“Then rest well,” Yufeng Qingyin urged. “Steward Yun, arrange quarters for him immediately.”
“At once, Young Mistress.”
—
The door creaked as Steward Yun ushered Dongbo Xueying into a modest cabin. “This is yours,” he said coolly. “A word of caution: the Young Mistress is kind-hearted, unlike you ascenders who claw your way up through cunning. Attempt no schemes. She might be deceived, but I won’t be. Cross the Yufeng Clan, and your death will be gruesome. Understood?”
“Steward Yun, the Young Mistress saved my life. I owe her gratitude, not betrayal,” Dongbo Xueying assured.
“Betrayal is common. Remember my warning.” With a final icy glare, Steward Yun departed.
Alone at last, Dongbo Xueying exhaled in relief.
Entering this world at his most vulnerable and ignorant was perilous. One misstep could unleash a storm of enemies.
“Those who brave the forbidden ‘Fang Corridor’ are sent here by Yuan as a final gamble. This place cannot be ordinary,” he reflected. “At the very least, it must harbor threats to even a perfected Imperial-level ‘Paragon.'”
For now, caution was paramount.
—
Aboard the ship, Dongbo Xueying refrained from memory-searching to avoid detection. Instead, he employed subtle illusions to foster goodwill, coaxing information from crewmates. Gradually, he pieced together the truth about “ascenders.”
“So this world is the Divine Realm,” he realized. “Countless lesser realms exist below, their mightiest ascending here.”
“Brother Feixue,” a bored guard chatted by the railing, “you’re the first ascender I’ve met! Legends say many ascend, but scattered across the vast Divine Realm, they’re rare. Without Steward Yun’s ‘Jade Radiance Divine Eye’ detecting your lack of Primordial Chaos Godblood, we’d never have known!”
“I owe Steward Yun my passage,” Dongbo Xueying smiled, mentally noting “Primordial Chaos Godblood.”
No Godblood meant ascender status? Then did all natives possess it? Was this “Primordial Chaos God” a living or deceased supreme being? If alive, this world’s implications were staggering.
“Thank the Young Mistress,” the guard added. “Her kindness moved Steward Yun to scrutinize you.”
Dongbo Xueying nodded, absorbing every clue. The game of survival had only just begun.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage