"Hahaha... To think such a unique being exists in this world... When you ascend to greatness, be sure to visit my 'Abyssal Court' as my guest!"
The voice of the Blue Water Giant echoed across the hundred-mile radius, reverberating with an overwhelming pressure that scattered all the gathered beasts and aquatic creatures in the river.
Everyone aboard the "Heavenly Vessel" was utterly stunned, paralyzed by fear, unable to speak or move.
Even Yang Fan, though usually composed, was now filled with astonishment. Staring at the colossal Blue Water Giant hovering in the sky like a deity, he found it hard to breathe. His formidable willpower was barely enough to keep him standing in place.
With a crashing sound, the Blue Water Giant shattered in the next moment, dissolving into a torrent of waves that merged back into the waters of the "Clear River."
Everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief, and the sound of bodies collapsing to the deck filled the air. Unable to withstand the immense pressure, they now lay sprawled on the ground, gasping for breath.
"Master Yuan," Xie Lao Er asked, still trembling with fear, "Who was that Blue Water Giant? What kind of divine being possesses such power and authority, able to command thousands of beasts?"
Those who had recovered turned their gazes toward Yuan Lao, awaiting an explanation.
Yuan Lao, seated cross-legged, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth before speaking with some hesitation, "That Blue Water Giant wasn't a true entity or even a projection of the real one. I suspect all of this is orchestrated by the mysterious demon king of the 'Clear River'."
A mysterious demon king?
The gathered cultivators were all taken aback.
The Clear River stretched thousands of miles with countless tributaries, making it the largest river system in the Yu Yang Kingdom. According to ancient texts, in the deepest part of the "Clear River," there resided a mysterious demon king, the true ruler of this vast river domain. His power was said to be unfathomable, a being as elusive as a dragon.
Even the three great factions of Yu Yang Kingdom—Qing Yuan Sect, Demon Sun Sect, and Worry-Free Valley—held this entity in deep reverence.
For thousands of years, not just in Yu Yang Kingdom, but across the vast Eastern Victory Continent, human cultivators had maintained dominance over the demon tribes. Yet, to fully eradicate the demons was impossible, a task complicated by internal strife among the human sects and the tenacity of the demon forces.
The Eastern Victory Continent was vast and diverse, and the situation varied from region to region, making it difficult to sum up in a few words.
In the Yu Yang Kingdom, however, humans and demons had been at peace for nearly a millennium, with no major conflicts. It was rumored that the higher-ups on both sides had reached some secret agreements...
"But the Blue Water Giant's actions toward us were too strange. And the parting words it spoke are just as perplexing."
"'To think such a unique being exists in this world... When you ascend to greatness, be sure to visit my 'Abyssal Court' as my guest!'"
"Who was the Blue Water Giant speaking to?"
"It must have some deeper meaning..."
The cultivators began to murmur among themselves, but no one could draw any convincing conclusions.
Yang Fan had just emerged from that transcendent state, his face still reflecting the shock of what he'd experienced.
Unlike those around him, however, his spirit felt clear and invigorated, his soul's strength magnified several times over. His comprehension and cultivation had reached an unimaginable level.
With a thought, Yang Fan extended his spiritual awareness, covering a radius of one mile.
"This..."
His face lit up with surprise and joy—his spiritual perception could now extend beyond his body!
Cultivation in the immortal path was divided into nine realms, with the first three—Qi Refinement, Spirit Consolidation, and Foundation Establishment—being the most basic.
In the Qi Refinement stage, spiritual energy is accumulated and refined, but the cultivator's spiritual awareness remains internal and cannot extend beyond the body. To study the techniques and methods encoded within jade slips, Qi Refinement cultivators had to press the slips against their foreheads to absorb the knowledge.
This meant that before the Spirit Consolidation stage, a cultivator's spiritual awareness was confined to their body, used primarily to resist external pressures and spiritual probes.
But now, after this moment of epiphany, washed by the vast life force of the heavens and earth, Yang Fan's soul power had surged severalfold. In a brief span of time, he had broken through Qi Refinement and entered the Spirit Consolidation realm.
At this moment, his spiritual sense enveloped a full mile, far surpassing the strength he had when he was in the early Spirit Consolidation stage back in Yang Fortress.
"My spiritual awareness... it's far beyond early Spirit Consolidation. I've reached the late Spirit Consolidation stage!"
Yang Fan could hardly contain his excitement at the realization. His spiritual sense was now on par with that of late-stage Spirit Consolidation cultivators.
As someone who had once reached the Spirit Consolidation stage, Yang Fan understood well the advantages of a powerful spiritual sense.
First, it allowed for more precise control over magical artifacts, increasing their power.
Second, it enabled the coveted ability of sword flight.
Third, it made it easier to conceal one's cultivation from others.
Most importantly, it vastly expanded the range of perception, allowing a cultivator to detect threats and respond in advance.
In essence, spiritual awareness was an extension of the senses. While an ordinary person's senses were confined to their body, a cultivator could extend theirs outward.
According to what Yang Fan knew, some legendary masters could extend their spiritual awareness across tens of thousands of miles, capable of summoning storms with a mere thought. Their powers were boundless.
"You're quite the fearless one. With so many beasts surrounding us, you still dared to stand by the railing. Weren't you afraid of death?"
At that moment, Li Yue Shuang approached, her face pale, looking at Yang Fan with concern.
Yang Fan smiled faintly, "Those beasts clearly had no hostile intentions. If they had meant to attack us, no one on this 'Heavenly Vessel' would have survived, whether we stood by the rail or hid in the cabin. There's no difference."
"You..."
Li Yue Shuang was momentarily speechless, unable to refute Yang Fan's logic.
Indeed, though it was true in theory, how many could truly remain calm and fearless in such a situation?
When faced with the real threat of death, any living being would feel fear. Even the desire to cling to life for just a moment longer could make one hesitant to act.
"By the way, Miss Li," Yang Fan asked, "When will this 'Heavenly Vessel' arrive at 'Elegant Jade Pavilion'? This is my first time traveling by water."
"It should arrive after the fourth watch. At dawn, we'll pick up another group of cultivators for the return trip to the riverbank. Every night we depart, and by noon the next day, we're back. The Heavenly Vessel makes one round trip per day."
Li Yue Shuang answered without hesitation, clearly familiar with the routine.
Yang Fan nodded. The "Heavenly Vessel" wasn't the only boat traveling to the "Elegant Jade Pavilion," and with one trip a day, the earnings—hundreds of spirit stones—would be substantial.
"Though with today's strange events, there may be some delays. But we should still reach 'Elegant Jade Pavilion' by the fifth watch at the latest."
"As long as we arrive safely, that's all I ask. I certainly won't be taking the water route again after this," Yang Fan chuckled. The events of earlier had been enough to jeopardize everyone's lives, and the other cultivators likely shared his sentiments, hoping to arrive at the "Elegant Jade Pavilion" in one piece.
"In truth, there's never been any trouble before. Today was just an accident..."
Li Yue Shuang's cheeks flushed slightly as she tried to explain.
Yang Fan smiled but remained silent. He was elated, having gained the spiritual awareness of a late-stage Spirit Consolidation cultivator. Not only could he now easily wield magical instruments, but he also possessed the ability to fly by sword—there was no need for him to travel by water anymore.
Li Yue Shuang, unaware of the reason for his change of heart, felt a sense of loss upon hearing Yang Fan wouldn't take the water route again.
As the two conversed, a cold voice interrupted them.
"Yue Shuang, is this the 'alchemist' you mentioned?"
Yang Fan's heightened senses immediately detected a hostile gaze even before turning around.
A young man dressed in luxurious robes approached, a slight smirk on his lips.
He was none other than Huang Lao Liu, the sixth of the seven brothers on the "Heavenly Vessel."