The sea beast before them was three to four zhang in length, covered in blue-green scales with sharp, tiny teeth and a pair of large, swollen eyes, making it look extremely ferocious. Most striking were the pair of curved, bony spikes beneath its gills, adding to its menacing appearance.
Han Li lowered his stance and carefully examined the sea beast’s corpse several times. Suddenly, a flash of green light appeared as a sword beam sliced the body cleanly in half. With a wave of his hand, a dark, clumped object flew into his palm. Without hesitation, he brought it to his nose and inhaled lightly—a peculiar, pungent scent mixed with a faint fragrance reached him.
“It really is a Xinya Beast,” Han Li muttered, tossing the object aside with a strange expression.
“Xinya Beast?” Zi Ling was taken aback, exchanging a glance with Mei Ning. Both women wore puzzled expressions—neither had ever heard of such a creature.
“Of course, you wouldn’t know of this sea beast. It’s a unique deep-sea creature found only here, not in the Chaotic Star Sea,” Han Li explained with a faint smile, noticing their confusion.
“From the way you speak, Brother Han, does this mean we’re no longer in the Chaotic Star Sea?” Zi Ling frowned slightly, her tone serious.
“Indeed, we are not. Though I’ve never been to this sea before, I’ve heard of it. If I’m not mistaken, this should be the Boundless Sea.” Han Li scanned the murky waters with a bitter smile before gazing up at the sky, lost in thought.
“Boundless Sea!” The name was completely unfamiliar to them.
“Brother Han seems to know something about this sea. Could you enlighten us?” Zi Ling asked gently after a moment of contemplation.
“Of course,” Han Li replied, shaking off his thoughts.
“The Boundless Sea is what the people of the South Sky call it. As the name suggests, no one has ever found its boundaries. It…” Han Li calmly recounted the legends surrounding the Boundless Sea, speaking in detail while privately pondering long-buried questions of his own.
“From what you say, the Boundless Sea lies at the northern edge of this so-called South Sky region, and it’s not only scarce in fish and shrimp but also lacks islands,” Zi Ling remarked in surprise.
“Exactly. The worst part is that without islands, we can’t determine our exact location or how far we are from the South Sky’s mainland,” Han Li said calmly, rubbing his nose.
At this, the two women exchanged uneasy glances.
“Regardless, we won’t have to worry about lacking spirit stones for now. We should head south and hope we’re not too far from land,” Han Li decided firmly.
“That’s all we can do. Let’s hope fortune favors us,” Zi Ling agreed with a resigned sigh, her jade-like face showing a trace of helplessness. Mei Ning naturally had no objections.
After confirming their direction, the three set off southward.
Days later, Mei Ning and Zi Ling fully accepted Han Li’s judgment. Just as he had said, they encountered no islands along the way, and the sea was eerily lifeless, save for a few ferocious sea beasts—no trace of demonic creatures.
This strange phenomenon left the two women astonished.
Perhaps due to their shared hardships, the three got along exceptionally well, chatting and laughing along the journey. Even Han Li, faced with the company of two stunning beauties, occasionally found his heart stirred.
Yet, upon arriving in the Boundless Sea, another woman’s icy visage surfaced in his mind—Nangong Wan. He wondered how she, the Moon Veil Sect disciple with whom he had once shared an intimate bond, was faring. The mere thought of her evoked a tangled mix of emotions—longing, tenderness, frustration—so complex he couldn’t quite define them.
After three to four months of continuous flight, a sliver of green finally appeared on the distant horizon. Overjoyed, their hearts finally at ease, they eagerly sped toward the mainland.
Xi Country was the northernmost nation in the South Sky region, slightly smaller than Han Li’s homeland of Yue Country—only about two-thirds its size. Divided into seven prefectures, Min Prefecture bordered the Boundless Sea and was the largest among them. Fengri City served as both the prefecture’s capital and its largest urban center.
Now, Han Li sat with Mei Ning and Zi Ling in a private room of a seaside tavern in Min Prefecture, conversing softly.
“Brother Han, no wonder you speak the local tongue—you’re originally from the South Sky! You’ve kept this from us for so long,” Zi Ling teased, shooting him a playful glare.
Earlier, Han Li had briefly revealed his origins, surprising the two women. However, given his familiarity with the Boundless Sea, they had already suspected as much and didn’t show excessive shock.
“There wasn’t much to say. I ended up in the Chaotic Star Sea by accident and never expected to return to the South Sky so soon,” Han Li replied with a light chuckle, seemingly in good spirits.
“Since you’re the local here, you must treat us properly!” Zi Ling joked, her lips curving into a smile. To avoid unwanted attention, she had reverted to the plain appearance she’d first shown Han Li. Yet, having seen her true beauty, he still found her every gesture captivating.
“Ha! I was actually fleeing pursuers when I ended up in the Chaotic Star Sea and lost contact with my sect long ago. Hardly a proper host. But I’ve prepared these jade slips for you—translations of the South Sky’s language and script. Since you won’t be returning to the Chaotic Star Sea anytime soon, learning them will be useful.” Han Li handed over two white jade slips he had crafted overnight.
“Thank you, Brother Han!” Zi Ling accepted them with a grin.
Mei Ning also murmured her gratitude softly.
“Now, what are your plans? I intend to gather information on the South Sky’s changes over the past century before finding a secluded place to cultivate in seclusion. I feel I’ve reached the peak of late Core Formation and should start preparing for Nascent Soul formation.” Han Li sipped his tea, subtly observing the women’s reactions.
“I’ve only recently formed my Golden Core and need time to stabilize my cultivation. I’ll also seek a quiet place to train. What about you, Sister Mei Ning?” Zi Ling asked, her eyes glinting.
“I… I don’t know. At mid Foundation Establishment, my chances of forming a Core are slim unless I find some miraculous elixir. Otherwise, I might have to become a concubine to a high-ranking cultivator. Perhaps dual cultivation could help me form a Golden Core…” Mei Ning hesitated, her words startling both Han Li and Zi Ling.
“A concubine? That’s too demeaning! How could you?” Zi Ling shook her head in disapproval.
Han Li frowned but remained silent.
“A concubine’s status isn’t much better than a cultivation furnace. If you encounter a wicked high-ranking cultivator, they might even treat you as one, draining your essence. It’s far too risky.”
Mei Ning bit her lip, her face shadowed with resignation.
“If you truly wish to pursue dual cultivation, at least choose someone trustworthy. Someone like Brother Han—he’s reliable and wouldn’t mistreat you,” Zi Ling suddenly suggested with a playful smile, her eyes twinkling.
Han Li blinked in surprise but quickly composed himself, rubbing his nose. Mei Ning gasped, her face flushing crimson, yet she lowered her head without protest.
Given Han Li’s late Core Formation cultivation and his impending attempt at Nascent Soul formation, coupled with his character—revealed through their shared trials—she trusted him implicitly. Even as a concubine, she would be content.
For a beautiful female cultivator like her, attaching herself to a powerful male cultivator was inevitable in the ruthless world of cultivation—especially now that her brother was gone, leaving her vulnerable to abduction and torment.
With Zi Ling’s words, the atmosphere in the private room grew thick with unspoken tension.
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