After another night of cultivation, Lu Bingxuan advanced from the fourth to the fifth level of Qi Refinement. His dantian and meridians were now brimming with spiritual energy, flowing ceaselessly like a mighty river.
Following a quick freshening up, he stepped out to the Moon Sea. The surface was shrouded in a mist that wasn't mere water vapor but the result of concentrated spiritual energy—a spectacle that seemed almost otherworldly.
As he gazed at the endless sea, a problem dawned on him: he had no way to cross it. Neither his mysterious master nor Mingxu had mentioned anything about traversing the Moon Sea.
Reflecting on the bottle of fasting pills he'd received, a thought struck him. Am I supposed to wait until I reach Foundation Establishment to deal with this?
Extending his hand, Lu Bingxuan's spiritual energy resonated with the water, causing the surface to ripple and boil as if alive. He stepped forward, his feet steady on the water's surface.
This feat wasn't due to any profound technique—it was simply brute force, enabled by his water spiritual root. For cultivators with other spiritual roots, maintaining balance on the water would cost significantly more energy.
Though Lu Bingxuan had the reserves to walk across the Moon Sea and could even meditate mid-journey to replenish his energy, the sheer distance made the task daunting. He estimated he could break through to Foundation Establishment in the time it would take him to walk across.
"What now? Should I just go back and keep cultivating?" Lu Bingxuan frowned, his situation seemingly stuck.
Just then, a disturbance in the distant waters caught his eye. The sea began to churn, and a black dorsal fin emerged, slicing through the waves like a blade. Soon, a massive creature broke the surface—a black-and-white orca, at least ten meters long.
"Wait, is that… an orca?!" Lu Bingxuan exclaimed.
The sight of the majestic animal, much larger than any orca he'd seen in his previous life, surprised him. Must be the abundant spiritual energy in this world. No limits on growth, he mused.
True to Mingxu's words, the token he carried ensured that the orca showed no hostility. Instead, it opened its mouth, emitting a series of odd clicks and whistles.
Lu Bingxuan blinked, somehow understanding its meaning: "Hop on, bro. Where to?"
"Uh… do you know where Qixia Island is?" Lu Bingxuan asked hesitantly.
Qixia Island was the largest island in the Water Lineage's domain, serving as a hub for tasks like receiving monthly resources or accepting sect missions. It was also the main transit point to other domains, making it ideal for gathering information.
The orca nodded enthusiastically, slapping the water with its fins as if urging him to climb aboard.
"Are you… reliable?" Lu Bingxuan asked warily, unsure about the idea of riding the massive creature. Though he wouldn't drown if he fell, the thought of such embarrassment deterred him.
The orca seemed offended, chattering indignantly. From its gestures and tone, Lu Bingxuan inferred its meaning: I'm a pro. If I flipped, how could I maintain my reputation here? Trust me, I'm rock solid!
"Well… alright, I'll trust you this time. May you live a long and peaceful life, good orca," Lu Bingxuan said with a wry smile.
With a nod, he walked across the water toward the orca. Before he could climb, a suction force pulled him onto its back, positioning him securely against its dorsal fin—like a convenient backrest.
"…This orca's cultivation is higher than mine," Lu Bingxuan muttered as realization hit. The suction force was beyond his ability to resist.
The orca spun around, about to dive under the water, but then reconsidered and stayed on the surface, speeding toward Qixia Island instead.
The sudden acceleration was breathtaking. Lu Bingxuan barely had time to shout before the orca took off like a high-speed train. The Seventh Pavilion quickly vanished from view, and his collar flapped wildly in the wind.
Were it not for the strong suction keeping him in place, Lu Bingxuan suspected he'd already have been thrown off. He used his spiritual energy to form a protective barrier around himself, stabilizing his position.
Thankfully, the Water Lineage robes were water-resistant, sparing him the indignity of being soaked by the sea spray.
As they sped across the sea, Lu Bingxuan noticed the spiritual energy in the area was far less concentrated than near his pavilion—only about 10% as dense. While still rich by ordinary standards, it explained why the islands atop spiritual veins were so vital for cultivation.
Before long, several other dorsal fins appeared nearby. Four or five more orcas joined in, swimming alongside.
Lu Bingxuan could hear them communicating in their peculiar language. His mount seemed to be boasting about something, its chatter filled with a triumphant tone.
Amused, Lu Bingxuan remembered a fun fact from his past life: to orcas, humans might appear as adorable as cats and dogs do to humans. Watching their behavior now, he couldn't help but think it might be true.
With their combined efforts, the orcas increased their speed even further, employing some mysterious technique to propel themselves. The thrill of the ride was addictive, and Lu Bingxuan found himself unexpectedly enjoying the experience.
However, their playful nature soon revealed itself. Along the way, the orcas began slapping unsuspecting sunbathing fish and turtles into the air with their tails.
Noticing Lu Bingxuan's gaze, they seemed to turn it into a competition, trying to outdo each other in height and style. The chatter that followed was filled with taunts and jabs, their banter as sharp as Lu Bingxuan's own wit.
In addition to the sea creatures, Lu Bingxuan spotted several flying boats traversing the sky. These boats likely catered to disciples unable to cross the sea on their own, shuttling between various islands.
Watching them, Lu Bingxuan marveled at the vibrant and interconnected life within the Moon Sea. Despite the system's absurd challenges, he couldn't deny that this world offered its own kind of charm—and plenty of opportunities for adventure.