Not long after spotting the flying boats, a large island came into view. It bustled with activity: figures soared through the air, some riding flying swords or discs, others moving by sheer spiritual light if their cultivation was advanced enough.
Lu Bingxuan wasn't the only one riding an orca. Many disciples from nearby islands, still unable to master artifact flight, also used orcas to reach Qixia Island. For those who couldn't catch a scheduled flying boat, the orcas were a convenient alternative.
Once he disembarked, the orca called out to him twice, a clear message: "Call me again if you need a ride."
Now that Lu Bingxuan was closer, the island's name made perfect sense. Because of the array formations enveloping it, inscriptions shimmered like layers of glowing clouds, casting a radiance resembling a perpetual sunset.
In this dimension, there was no actual sun; the cycle of day and night was maintained artificially for the Moon Sea beasts. For cultivators, who often substituted sleep with meditation, natural light was unnecessary.
Disciples on the island wore a variety of clothing. The sect wasn't strict about attire for everyday activities; only formal events required uniforms.
As Lu Bingxuan wandered through the island, he soon spotted a familiar face—Liu Minghui, the steward who had brought him to Changsheng Dao Sect.
Eager to capitalize on Liu Minghui's connections, Lu Bingxuan walked over. Seeing him approach, Liu Minghui quickly excused himself from his conversation and turned to greet him with an expression that shifted from surprise to flattery.
Gone was the scruffy street rat from before; dressed in sect robes, with his physique refined by Qi Refinement, Lu Bingxuan now exuded a polished aura.
"Greetings, Daozi! To what do I owe the honor? Forgive my earlier ignorance—how could someone as wise and dashing as you ever be mistaken for a mere mortal?"
Daozi, meaning "Son of the Dao," was a title used for sequence disciples, particularly those of lower cultivation. Though it denoted respect, it was still more casual than addressing someone as "Senior Brother."
"Wait, stop right there," Lu Bingxuan interrupted, feeling a chill at Liu Minghui's obsequious tone. His skin crawled. "Can you go back to being the cocky guy you were yesterday? I liked that better."
"Oh, my esteemed Daozi, if that is your wish, of course!"
Liu Minghui straightened his posture, his expression hardening into a composed and unyielding mask. "Liu Minghui, at your service. What can I do for you? I happen to have some decent connections in the Water Lineage."
"That's more like it," Lu Bingxuan nodded, finally rid of his goosebumps.
"Daozi seems satisfied, but what brings you out here so soon?" Liu Minghui asked curiously. "Usually, disciples wait until they've reached Foundation Establishment before venturing out."
"Uh… there are orcas in the Moon Sea, aren't there?" Lu Bingxuan replied, his tone making it sound obvious.
"Ah, that makes sense," Liu Minghui nodded knowingly. "Still, the Fire Lineage's Heavenly Root disciple, Xiao Yi, has already entered seclusion. Daozi, I'd suggest caution even at Qi Refinement Fifth Layer."
The mention of Xiao Yi caught Lu Bingxuan off guard. "Wait, he's already gone into seclusion? Isn't that a bit overkill?"
"Well, he's taking it seriously. While you're talented, don't underestimate him," Liu Minghui said. As a Middle Root cultivator who had taken months to reach Qi Refinement Fifth Layer, he couldn't help but feel envious of Lu Bingxuan's rapid progress.
Lu Bingxuan scratched his head. "Alright, no big deal. I came to ask about someone anyway. Do you know anything about Luo Lingmiao?"
The question made Liu Minghui freeze, his eyes widening as he drew a sharp breath. "Daozi… you're going after Xiao Yi's fiancée? That's ruthless!"
"Wait, what?" Lu Bingxuan was stunned. The system's penchant for creating chaos was reaching new heights.
"You didn't know? Luo Lingmiao has a Superior Water Root and recently joined Elder Wuyun's tutelage. She arrived after the White Jade Platform test, so you wouldn't have seen her.
"But the key detail is that she's the third princess of the Taiyan Dynasty, and Xiao Yi is the third prince of the Tianyan Dynasty…"
"So, they're engaged," Lu Bingxuan interjected, already piecing together the situation.
"Exactly!" Liu Minghui nodded, impressed. "If you steal her from him, his state of mind will collapse. That's a next-level psychological attack—truly brilliant!"
"Enough with the flattery. Go handle your business and leave me be for now," Lu Bingxuan said, cutting off the overzealous praise.
"Of course, Daozi. Let's exchange contact information first." Liu Minghui pulled out his identity token, and Lu Bingxuan followed suit, realizing they were syncing their tokens for future communication.
With a mischievous glint in his eye, Liu Minghui handed Lu Bingxuan a jade slip. "Here's some info on Luo Lingmiao. Use it wisely, Daozi."
Before Lu Bingxuan could react, Liu Minghui retreated with a conspiratorial thumbs-up, leaving him holding the jade slip.
Sighing, Lu Bingxuan looked out over the Moon Sea, feeling a mix of exasperation and resignation. "System, you really know how to pick them."
He reviewed the jade slip's contents, and the first image projected into his mind was a lifelike portrait of Luo Lingmiao.
The tall, elegant young woman had an hourglass figure and wore a sky-blue dress. Her long black hair was adorned with gold accessories, cascading down her back. Her features were stunning, with a cold, aloof expression that added to her allure—a textbook ice queen.
The accompanying text revealed the following:
Name: Luo Lingmiao
Status: Third Princess of the Taiyan Dynasty
Attributes: Superior Water Root, ranked third on the Rouge List (a ranking of beauty compiled after each Ascension Conference).
Engagement: Betrothed to Xiao Yi, third prince of the Tianyan Dynasty. She appears resistant to the arrangement.
Residence: Wuyun Island, under Elder Wuyun's tutelage.
Lu Bingxuan chuckled bitterly as he scrolled further. The jade slip even included her precise height, approximate measurements, and other shockingly detailed information.
"Liu Minghui, you absolute genius," he muttered. "How the hell did you get all this?"