Three days later.

In the cave, everything calmed down.

Shen Lian's aura was radiating outward, and his third level of foundation building was becoming more stable.

The expanded Dantian sea will make the flowing spiritual liquid thinner and will be able to accommodate more spiritual power.

As his eyes opened and closed, a gleam of light flashed, ripples surged in the sea of ​​​​divine thoughts, and divine thoughts spread out like a tide.

Eight hundred feet... nine hundred feet... one thousand feet... one thousand and one hundred feet...

One thousand one hundred and fifty feet... one thousand one hundred and seventy feet...

Only after he had sensed the entire island did he feel the end of the divine consciousness he had released.

One thousand one hundred and eighty-three feet! It was three hundred feet more than when he was at the second level of foundation building.

An ordinary foundation-building cultivator would be delighted if he could advance a small realm and gain a hundred feet.

"Close to 1,200 feet. I wonder how it compares to the fake Dan cultivator."

Slowly withdrawing his spiritual thoughts, Shen Lian began to think.

After a short pause, he took out the nautical chart and took a look at it, then put it away again soon after.

It's useless to watch it.

He is lost now.

What can be confirmed at present is that once we leave the central waters of the Wanxing Sea, the free spiritual energy of heaven and earth around us can prove it.

Keep running! The farther away from the Xuanhai Sect's sphere of influence, the better.

On the shore of the island, Shen Lian's body flashed with spiritual light and he jumped into the water with a splash. From the outside, he looked like a swimming fish, heading towards the deep water.

…

A few days later, Shen Lian came across a small island where ordinary people lived. With a little thought, he figured out his current location.

He was still within the Xuanhai Sect's sphere of influence, but he had already reached the edge of the area. The spiritual energy in this area was relatively thin, and most of the people living on the islands were mortals.

It’s about three thousand miles by sea to get to the nearest island where monks live.

In the world of immortal cultivation, many of the territories between sects do not border each other. Instead, a part of the area is separated as a buffer zone, which also helps to maintain harmony between the two sects.

This is the case with the Xuanhai Sect and the Xuanshi Sect. After all, one is a righteous sect and the other is a demonic sect, they are naturally opposed. If a fight breaks out, they can kill each other first to cool down their anger. Maybe once the anger is extinguished, the fire will be put out and they can live in harmony again.

To reach the territory of the Xuanshi Sect, one needs to pass through a buffer area, the Qiushan Island Alliance.

This island alliance was formed by several small foundation-building families, similar to the previous Chiba Island Alliance.

Shen Lian was not planning to stay in the Qiushan Island Alliance, so he decided to enter the Xuanshi Sect's territory first.

…

One month later.

On the sea, a huge treasure ship that was thirty feet high was moving quickly across the water, breaking through the huge waves.

The entire treasure ship has nine floors, like a moving giant beast.

At the highest point of the treasure ship, the "corpse" flag was fluttering. This was a passenger treasure ship of the Xuanshi Sect.

In a room on the seventh floor of the treasure ship.

Shen Lian sat cross-legged on a bed made of Xuanyin wood, with wisps of green smoke burning in the incense burner in front of him.

Sitting cross-legged opposite the window, you can just see the endless ocean of sea sponges.

Starting from that nameless island and crossing the territory of Qiushan Island Alliance, he happened to encounter the treasure ship of the Xuanshi Sect.

Unlike other sects, the Xuanshi Sect does not restrict the spirit ships of major forces in its territory, but the transportation of treasure ships on the water is all done by the Xuanshi Sect itself.

There was a Xuanshi Sect member at the sixth level of foundation building on the treasure ship, and there was also a corpse puppet at a similar level.

In fact, it doesn’t matter whether there are foundation-building cultivators in charge or not. No one dares to hijack the Xuanshi Sect’s treasure ship on the Xuanshi Sect’s territory.

Except for the siren that you encounter by chance.

Getting up from the bed, Shen Lian walked to the window. He did not look for a spirit ship to board, because the people on the long-distance spirit ship were all fake Dan monks.

The treasure ship is moving at a slower speed, but this is already the territory of the Xuanshi Sect, far away from the Ao Shi Immortal City.

After being promoted to the third level of foundation building, the spirituality hidden in the shell in the body is still being released continuously and being absorbed by the Five Elements Spirit Puppet.

Shen Lian clearly sensed that the aura of the Five Elements Spirit Puppet was about to surpass his.

It's not the five-in-one spirit puppet, but each of the spirit puppets of gold, wood, water, fire and earth, whose aura is almost approaching the third level of foundation building.

When the treasure ship arrived, he needed to find a place to calm down and reinforce the spirit puppet patterns of the Five Elements Spirit Puppet.

Spirituality is constantly emerging from the shell, and no one knows how much is hidden inside.

Shen Lian did not rush to investigate, as he was afraid of causing unnecessary trouble. Anyway, as long as spiritual energy came out, the Five Elements Spirit Puppet would absorb it, and there would be a time when all the spiritual energy would be sucked dry.

A few days later, Xuanshui Island.

"Fellow Daoists, we have arrived at Xuanshui Island."

Voices mixed with whistling winds were heard on the treasure ship. Fortunately, the monks on the treasure ship were already accustomed to it.

Different from the evil demon cultivators from other regions, the Xuanshi Sect is a role model among the side sects.

Helping with family inheritance, protecting the safety of the sea, opening up shipping routes to connect large and small islands, the sect's business is thriving.

The contemporary leader of the Xuanshi Sect, Yinmei Zhenren, personally fought off the Black Cliff Demon who was wreaking havoc in the Xuanshi Sect's territory and protected the peace of the sea.

Reputation, the best.

In addition to the more gloomy winds, what else is not sunny in the Xuanshi Sect's sea area? Shen Lian, who got off the treasure ship, caught a lot of conversations between the cultivators. He was a little dazed, wondering if he had come to the wrong place.

You call this a side door?

What about the Xuanhai Sect that secretly pushed millions of mortals to fight? Xuanshui Island was a second-level fairy city. Treasure ships were moored at the dock. In the distance, a towering black pagoda was burning with flames.

This fire can be seen clearly even from hundreds of miles away.

There is such a fire tower on every island of the Xuanshi Sect, which is said to be used to guide people.

Shen Lian looked at the fire tower and looked at the monks coming and going around it. It was a prosperous scene.

Is this the Demon Sect's territory? "Senior, do you need a guide?"

The moment Shen Lian hesitated, a skinny young man came quickly from a distance, and behind him a corpse puppet in a loose robe was jumping closely.

"Um?"

Shen Lian took a glance and saw that he was at the third level of Qi training.

There are about four layers of corpse puppets.

Seeing that Shen Lian did not refuse, his eyes swept over the corpse puppet behind him, and Du Shengyun added nonchalantly: "Senior, this is the legacy my father left me, my grandfather."

“…”

Shen Lian glanced into the distance and found that in the direction of the pier, there were dozens of monks who looked similar to the young man in front of him, all looking for new monks who had arrived on the island to promote themselves.

These monks all have their own characteristics. They are not very powerful. Some of them are followed by corpse puppets, while others are strange-looking creatures.

Seeing Shen Lian looking into the distance, Du Shengyun hurriedly said, "Senior, those people want ten spirit stones a day, I only want eight, not five."

Shen Lian raised his eyebrows.

There is only one piece of wasteland.

However, seeing that even his grandfather had brought his ancestral remains with him to make a living, he didn't care about three or five spirit stones.

"Take me around first."

"Okay, please take a seat, senior."

Du Shengyun made a hand gesture and the corpse puppet behind him jumped in front of Shen Lian and pretended to squat.

There are two pieces of thick animal skins as pads on the shoulders.

This grandfather is now a grandson to his grandson.

Shen Lian walked around the corpse puppet and walked quickly towards the city in the distance.

Du Shengyun didn't care and quickly ran to Shen Lian to guide him along the way.

After walking two steps forward, Shen Lian saw a lot of corpse puppets carrying people, which was a characteristic of this place.

"Yes, it's sold in the Wanshi Pavilion... oh no, it's sold in the Wanling Pavilion."

"Take me to see it."

Under the leadership of Du Shengyun, Shen Lian walked into Xuanshui City.

In the middle of the city, there is a river that runs across the entire city, winding for dozens of miles. There are various buildings on both sides of the river bank, and you can also see casual cultivators setting up stalls on the river bank.

"Senior, the Wanling Pavilion is on the river island in the middle of the Xuanshui River. You can also take a bamboo raft. Ten spirit stones can cross the entire Xuanshui City."

"My legs are down. I don't like water."

Shen Lian didn't even look at Du Shengyun and walked along the road along the river.

After escaping from Ao Shi Immortal City, he soaked in the water for so long. In addition to being promoted to the third level of foundation building, he also had a deeper understanding of water escape.

We arrived at Wanling Pavilion, a huge and antique palace standing in the middle of the river.

The palace was dozens of feet high and was surrounded by extremely thick giant trees that extended into the river.

Under the eaves carved with dragons and painted with phoenixes, the two characters "Wanling" sparkled brightly.

"Senior, I will wait here."

He picked up his grandfather and stood him in a special stone trough outside the stone path by the river. Du Shengyun also stood by the roadside.

Shen Lian stepped on his heels and flew down along the water surface onto the large wooden platform outside the Wanling Pavilion.

As soon as it fell, a voice rang in my ears.

"You are a distinguished guest. Please take a seat."

The voice came from the third floor of the palace. Shen Lian nodded, flew up and went straight to the third floor.

Du Shengyun, who was waiting by the river, was stunned when he saw Shen Lian flying into the third floor.

"On the third floor, Senior Zhu... Senior Zhuji..."

He thought it was the Qi training stage.

Suddenly, Du Shengyun leaned towards the corpse puppet beside him.

"Grandpa, did you see that? My grandson has made great progress and is leading the way for Senior Foundation Building. It's a pity that Senior Foundation Building didn't ride..."

…

As soon as he landed on the third floor, a pair of tall female cultivators wearing black and white robes appeared in front of Shen Lian.

Their faces are pretty and graceful, with a faint red mole between their eyebrows. Their identical faces can't help but make people think of some impure things.

"Senior, I'm Yun Fei."

"Senior, I'm Yu Fei."

After the two women bowed slightly, they wanted to get closer to Shen Lian, but were blocked by invisible spiritual power.

"senior……"

“It’s really realistic.”

Shen Lian nodded and walked between the two women.

Then, the two women behind him flashed with spiritual light and turned into black and white lights, flying over Shen Lian and rushing into the room.

A faint fragrance permeated the room, and the tables, chairs, beds, and screens were all made of second-level Xuanling wood.

In the middle of the house, there is a spiritual spring emitting gurgling spiritual energy.

On the wide bed beside, a small square table was placed in the middle. On the left side of the table, a female cultivator wearing a black robe and with a face as white as if stuck in a flour jar was looking at Shen Lian.

The two female cultivators named Yu Fei and Yun Fei before shrunk into five-inch-wide figurines. They were sitting on the small square table, bowing to Shen Lian again.

"I am the head of Wanling Pavilion, Shi Xiuxia. I don't think I am familiar with you, fellow Taoist."

"I have traveled far and wide and have just arrived at your place."

Shen Lian's expression quickly subsided and he bowed to the female cultivator.

There was a human-shaped mark embroidered on the female cultivator’s black robe, which was the emblem of the Xuanshi Sect.

"Don't blame me, fellow Daoist. Recently, the old demon Black Cliff has been causing a lot of trouble in Xuanhai Sect. The sect has issued an order that any Foundation Establishment cultivators who have recently passed by need to be carefully identified."

"Black Cliff Old Demon?"

Shen Lian looked surprised.

"That's right. This old demon has come out again. He caused havoc in the three great immortal cities under the Xuanhai Sect and stole the earth spirit that the Xuanhai Sect had nurtured for hundreds of years."

Shen Lian came here to buy information about the old demon, but he didn't expect to hear it before he even opened his mouth.

He was discussing the dangers of another demon cultivator with a demon cultivator, and the two of them were criticizing each other in unison. The scene was a bit weird and hard to describe.

He also realized that it was a bit deliberate to inquire about the information related to the old demon and the Xuanhai Sect, even if it was mixed with other information.

"I have been traveling between various islands for the past few days and have not paid attention to these things."

Xiang Xiuxia didn't care about Shen Lian's words. She specifically invited Shen Lian to go to the third floor because there was a special formation in Wanling Pavilion that could sense demonic and evil spirits, and Shen Lian didn't have either of these two types of auras.

"I wonder what spiritual item you need when you come to my Wanling Pavilion?"

"Is there any Xuanling Jade Marrow?"

"No."

"What about the raw Xuanling Jadeite? Small pieces are also fine."

Wanling Pavilion not only sells information, but is also a complex that integrates a restaurant and a spiritual object pavilion.

"Sorry, not really."

Xiang Xiuxia gave Shen Lian an apologetic smile, but her pale face looked a little creepy.

"I need a detailed nautical chart of this sea area."

“This one has it.”

Xiang Xiuxia nodded, flicked her finger and the black raindrops on the wooden table flew up and floated out of the room.

The white Yunfei flew up and started to make and boil tea.

"Senior, please."

Yun Fei delicately brought the tea to Shen Lian.

Shen Lian was also very curious about the young woman in front of him. He was an expert in puppets and could tell at a glance that this woman was not a pure puppet, nor a corpse puppet.

It is so flexible and much stronger than ordinary puppets. If it can be developed and mass-produced, it will benefit many fellow Taoists.

Xiang Xiuxia didn't care about Shen Lian observing her two corpse spirits. This was a secret method of the Xuanshi Sect, which had great limitations and could not be learned by just looking at it for a few times.

After looking for a few times, Shen Lian withdrew his gaze. He could have a few more maids like this vivid and lifelike. It would be too unromantic to always let Dahei do the refining of pills, talismans and tea in the future.

"Daoyou, what else do you need?"

"I am planning to go to the South China Sea in a few days. I wonder if your pavilion has any strange news or information related to the South China Sea?"

Since he couldn't openly inquire about Xuanhai Sect and the Black Cliff Demon, Shen Lian simply changed another route.

The Black Cliff Demon was only powerful in the Wanxing Sea. He went directly to the fairy city of the Yuanying Sect in the South Sea to do business. Could the Golden Core Demon also go to the fairy city of the Yuanying Sect? The reason for saying this is that the Wanxing Sea is at the southernmost part of the South Sea, too far away, and there is an uninhabited ocean area in the middle.

This makes the Wanxing Sea, which clearly belongs to the South China Sea, seem somewhat independent, and the connections between them are not very close, like an enclave.

When the cultivators of Wanxinghai were narrating, they subconsciously referred to the far northern region as the South China Sea.

The Xuanshi Sect is located in the northeast of the central waters of the Wanxing Sea. From here, go north through the uninhabited ocean in the north and you will enter the South China Sea.

Not long after, the nautical charts and intelligence that Shen Lian needed were brought over.

The divine consciousness casually immersed itself in the intelligence, and some brief information emerged.

"In the South Sea, True Man Xiyue of Qingyue Valley has achieved a breakthrough to the Great Perfection of the Golden Core."

"A third-level demon beast transformed into a heavenly tribulation appeared in the Jingxuan Sea area of ​​the South China Sea. It is suspected to be a high-level demon python transformed into a dragon."

…

"The True Lord Xuanshan of Taiyi Sect and the True Lord Yueyin of Xuanyin Sect joined forces to fight against the True Lord Ziyang at the border of Wanshan Region and Nanhai Region. The True Lord Ziyang's body was completely destroyed and only his Nascent Soul remained. He escaped and his whereabouts are unknown again."

(End of this chapter)