Chapter 5 ; Leaving the Eastern Domain
Shen Ming stood upon a ridge, looking out at the distance which stretched toward the horizon. Behind him lay the deep woods and twisting trails he had walked along, a step at a time, farther from Shen Clan's territory. Before him, it was an open world, uncharted, endless, and full of possibility. In his heart, he felt equal measures of terror and elation. For the first time in his life, he was free.
The nearer he flew to the east, a salty sea smell released into the air. The Eastern Region was known for being directly adjacent to the mythic Eastern Sea, a hub of commerce and piracy, where sea-faring cultivators, merchants, and adventurers flocked in their droves. The stories of her great port cities and the eerie ships which came out of nowhere and vanished into nothingness had sent Shen Ming's imagination into frenzies as a child.
After weeks of walking, Shen Ming finally reached Horizon's End, the biggest city on the Eastern Coast. The city was a wonder, with towering walls carved full of protective formations that glowed feebly under the sun's setting rays. Gaping gates welcomed an unending tide of people—cultivators with mighty weapons, merchants leading caravans overflowing with foreign goods, and families looking forward to a fresh start.
Shen Ming stood out like a sore thumb amidst the crowd. His simple, tattered robes and the bundle carried over his shoulder marked him as an outsider. Yet, excitement was bubbling up inside of him. Here, far removed from the confines of his clan, he was in a place where no one knew his name and more importantly his past.
He walked through the city gates, and his eyes widened in wonder at this city's inner beauty. Wide streets lined stalls selling everything from spiritual herbs to beast pelts and even rarer cultivation manuals. Towering pagodas house sect representatives and auction houses, while inns and taverns bustled with life. Air was filled with the chatter of a hundred languages, the clinking of coins, and the buzzing of spiritual energy.
In the heart of the city stood Void Harbor, a massive platform where the fabled void ships docked. These ships traversed not only the seas but the very fabric of space-the pride of the Eastern Coast. Their sails shimmered with formation energy, and their hulls were reinforced with material said to hail from other realms.
"I have to get on one of those," Shen Ming whispered, stunned. The idea of crossing the expanse, leaving this soil behind, and moving into the unknown was both terrifying and exhilarating. First, though, he had to get on board.
Shen Ming spent the next few days gathering information. He learned that void ships were more than mere vessels; they were powerful artifacts operated by Void Navigators - masters of spatial manipulation. Passage aboard these ships wasn't cheap, especially for someone without connections or significant cultivation strength.
One evening, he found himself in a bustling tavern near the Void Harbor, surrounded by sailors and cultivators swapping stories of their journeys. A grizzled, one-armed man—a retired Navigator—leaned toward Shen Ming with a knowing look as he sipped from a mug of strong wine.
"Young one," the man said, his voice gruff but not unkind, "you've got that look in your eye—the look of someone trying to escape something."
Shen Ming blinked in surprise. "I am seeking a way on to a void ship," he admitted. "Do you know how I might gain passage?
The man chuckled. "Passage isn't cheap, boy. Unless you've got spirit stones to spare or a rare artifact to trade, you'll have to earn your way aboard. Crews are always looking for hands to assist with maintenance or defend against void beasts. But let me warn you—life on those ships isn't for the faint of heart."
Shen Ming thought about this man. He had nothing- neither wealth nor any precious artifacts about him- but determination and a growing desire to prove himself. "How do I apply?" he asked.
The old man grinned, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Talk to the dockmasters. They'll point you in the right direction. Just be ready to prove your worth."
The next morning Shen Ming stood in the presence of one of the largest ships moored at Void Harbor—it was called the Azure Voyager, its name carved into the hull in a flowing and elegant script. The formation seemed alive; the surface, covered with latticework patterns, pulsed faintly with energy as dozens of crew members worked busily to prepare for departure.
Dockmaster looked Shen Ming up and down like one looking for a grain of salt in the desert. "We do not accept charity cases," said the dockmaster grimly. "What can you offer?"
Shen Ming took a deep breath. "I can offer two Earth-grade weapons as payment."
The dockmaster's eyes widened further, this time with surprise. "That may well be enough to give you a place in the lowest class. Believe me, it will be a long and uncomfortable journey. Where are you headed?
".The Western Domain." Shen Ming replied, his voice steady.
The dockmaster nodded slowly. "That's a long journey. For the Western Domain, you'd typically need a Heaven-ranked weapon or something of equivalent value for even the most basic accommodations."
Shen Ming's heart fell, but he stiffened his shoulders. "I can only offer these two Earth-grade weapons. Will you accept them?"
The dockmaster's gaze softened slightly. She could tell by his worn clothes and determined look that he was likely an abandoned son or runaway from a clan. "Fine," she said with a sigh. "You'll travel at the lowest rank, but you'll need to earn your keep as a deckhand."
"When do we depart?" Shen Ming asked, relieved yet anxious. He knew he'd need food and other provisions for the long journey ahead.
"Four days from now," the dockmaster replied. "Prepare yourself and don't be late."
Shen Ming surrendered his Earth-grade weapons for a travel token. For the following days, he labored to collect provisions, stuffing everything inside his storage ring to last him for months.
....
Four days passed, and Shen Ming stepped onto the deck of the Azure Voyager, his heart pounding in anticipation. The ship's sails shimmered because they sucked in ambient spiritual energy, and the formation-covered hull seemed to come alive. With the ship slowly ascending, the land far beneath gave way to the endless, swirling void-an expanse of darkness with a speckle of gleaming lights, as if starlight could be touched.
The crew was motley with seasoned Navigators, fierce warriors, and young adventurers like Shen Ming, to whose drudgeries he was soon assigned scrubbing decks, hauling supplies, and keeping the ship's formations up. Though the work was brutal, Shen Ming found purpose in his labors because every chore edged him closer to his aim of making a new path.
One night, standing on the deck, looking out into the void, there appeared an older crew member, who talked to him: "Isn't it beautiful?" he mused, a hint of wistfulness creeping into his voice. "But don't let its beauty fool you. Void is a dangerous place: beasts that can tear through formations, spatial storms that could swallow a ship whole. You'll see it all if you sail long enough.
Shen Ming nodded, his gaze unwavering. "Danger or not, I want to see what's out there. I want to know what lies beyond the horizon."
The man chuckled, clapping Shen Ming on the shoulder. "You've got spirit, kid. Just make sure you don't lose it."
....
As days turned into weeks and weeks into months, Shen Ming's initial awe of the void gave way to a quiet determination. For every laborious chore, every endless night of staring into the darkness, he gained strength. He finally understood that his journey was not to run from his past but to discover who he was and what stood for something in this world. The flower the old man had given him stayed tucked safe in his pouch, always reminding him of the lesson he had learned: Be kind to others and to the world, if necessary.
One evening the ship's Navigator gathered the crew on the deck. "We are getting close to our destination," he proclaimed. "The port city of Sea's Embrace, one of the most prosperous hubs in the Western Region. Prepare yourselves-this is only the beginning."
Shen Ming felt a premonition as the Navigator continued talking. He'd traveled tens of thousands of miles; he'd crossed into the void; and he'd faced countless challenges to get up to this point. Yet, he knew that so far, his journey was not over.
As the shimmering lights of Sea's Embrace came into view on the horizon, Shen Ming clenched his fists, his determination stronger than ever. Whatever it was that awaited him, trials, enemies, or opportunities, he would meet it head-on. For the first time in this life, he felt truly alive, ready to carve his place in the vast, boundless world.