The three Supreme Sigil Generals dealt with the fragments of Zhang Yi's spiritual consciousness but did not descend onto the floating island. Instead, they dispersed, heading in three different directions.
Ji Xia understood that this was the true purpose of the Da Fu Kingdom dispatching three powerful spirit masters here. With such an extraordinary floating island suddenly appearing, how could Da Fu, as the dominant force within a radius of ten thousand miles, not explore it to uncover its secrets?
Thus, Ji Xia and his two companions also chose not to rest. Under the moonlight, they wandered the island, hoping to discover clues about the island's mysteries.
Unfortunately, after two hours of searching, they found nothing.
Unwittingly, they arrived at the edge of the floating island. Looking down, Ji Xia saw an ink-black abyss. Even under the faint moonlight, the massive shadow of the island obscured everything below.
"Huh? The tide of beasts seems to have retreated," Ji Xia observed.
Golden suns glimmered in Ji Xia's eyes as he peered toward the ground from the edge of the island.
The land below was deserted, save for overlapping footprints of massive, diverse beasts. The sand of the wasteland had been compacted by the immense weight of the creatures, with deep cracks etched into the underlying soil and rocks.
"This wasteland, already sparse in vegetation, now shows no trace of green after this tide of beasts," Ji Xia mused, feeling a pang of sorrow.
He thought back to the peculiar multicolored demon cat. If he hadn't leaped onto its back at the start, he would likely have been trampled to death by the frenzied beasts.
"That multicolored demon cat must be immensely powerful. Just one glance from it froze my blood entirely. Even the Great Snow Mountain and the Great Sun Spirit Suppression Furnace within me were suppressed without any reaction!"
Ji Xia silently reflected, "Thankfully, the floating island appeared just in time. If it had been delayed by even a few breaths, that cat might not have eaten me, but its oppressive aura would have crushed me to death."
Fan Zhu noticed Ji Xia deep in thought at the island's edge and spoke up:
"Brother Qin Ji, rest assured. Once the three Supreme Sigil Generals finish exploring the floating island, they'll take us back. No need to worry about the beast tide."
Ji Xia shook his head. "The beast tide has already dispersed."
Fan Zhu walked to the edge, peering below but seeing only darkness. She turned to Ji Xia, noting the radiant suns in his eyes, and thought:
"Brother Qin Ji seems to have studied a wide range of disciplines. He even knows spirit-sight techniques, enabling him to observe the situation below despite the darkness."
Zhao Wu, hearing Ji Xia's words, exclaimed in delight:
"That's excellent news! Such a massive beast tide, if enraged and out of control, could force even the three Supreme Sigil Generals to flee in panic."
"Indeed. While we were being pursued, I saw a human figure transform into a majestic lion!" Fan Zhu's brows furrowed with unease. "A creature capable of shapeshifting must have already formed a Spiritual Palace!"
"A Spiritual Palace…" Zhao Wu murmured in awe. "How powerful must that be?"
Ji Xia, intrigued, asked, "Brother Zhao Wu, does the Da Fu Kingdom have any Spiritual Palace cultivators?"
"Of course!"
Before Zhao Wu could answer, Fan Zhu confidently interjected, her face alight with reverence:
"Our Da Fu ruler is a mighty cultivator who has formed three Spiritual Palaces!"
Ji Xia was stunned. "So Da Fu truly possesses Spiritual Palace cultivators."
He considered asking Fan Zhu about the meaning of the "three Spiritual Palaces" but decided against it, mindful of his supposed background as a descendant of a powerful lineage. Asking such a basic question would seem suspicious.
Two more hours passed. Fan Zhu lit a bonfire, and the three of them rested and meditated by its glow.
Ji Xia felt the Great Sun Spirit Suppression Furnace and the Jupiter Lord's Dharma Image within his Great Snow Mountain and thought to himself:
"My strength is steadily increasing, yet my cultivation remains stuck at the Ninth Heaven, unable to breach the celestial barrier."
"My spiritual essence has reached its peak in both quantity and quality. I can't even fathom the limits of how much the Great Sun Spirit Suppression Furnace and Jupiter bloodline can enhance my cultivation."
He sighed in frustration. The Great Sun Spirit Suppression Furnace still held vast amounts of golden spiritual essence from the Taicang Kingdom's decree, yet his Great Snow Mountain was already saturated.
"With my Ninth Heaven cultivation, my spiritual essence surpasses even Zhao Wu and Fan Zhu, both in the second level of Divine Abilities. Yet I can't refine more essence or even use the essence stored in the furnace."
"Every day, apart from meditating on the celestial barrier, I study the Celestial Veil Chart, the Jupiter Prison Sword, the Sky Cang Seal, and other techniques from the Taicang archives. Beyond that, I absorb spiritual essence into the furnace, preparing for the day I break through."
"Breaking into Divine Abilities is the first step toward transcending mortality. It brings heavenly phenomena in celebration. The deeper the foundation, the grander the phenomenon. Ji Qianqing and Bo Xian both had auspicious clouds appear when they ascended. I wonder what spectacle my breakthrough will bring?"
As Ji Xia pondered, the three spirit masters descended from the sky, their expressions devoid of excitement. Ji Xia realized that, like him, they had found nothing.
"We're returning to Da Fu to report. Qin Ji, what are your plans?" asked Sang Yang, one of the spirit masters, with a smile.
Before Ji Xia could respond, Zhao Wu answered eagerly, "Supreme Sigil General, Qin Ji plans to return with us to Da Fu to experience its grandeur!"
Sang Yang considered for a moment before nodding. "Very well. We Da Fu people are hospitable. It'll be good for Qin Ji to make some friends among our youth."
Ji Xia grinned, revealing his white teeth. "The general is right. In Da Xia, we have so few people. I have no siblings to play with, so this is a good opportunity to make new friends."
Suddenly, three tombs rose from the ground in the distance and floated through the air, suspended above the group.
Ji Xia's expression grew somber as he looked at Ji Xiu's tomb. "Although we barely spoke, I witnessed his heroic final stand against Zhang Yi. Brother Ji Xiu was a true hero, fearless in the face of death. It's a shame I couldn't befriend him."
The usually cold-faced Ji Ning softened. She thought, "This Qin Ji, with his mysterious background, is also a kind-hearted youth. But poor Ji Xiu, taken so young on his first trial..."
She forced a smile and produced a token, which floated toward Ji Xia. "For avenging my nephew, the Fu Ji Clan, one of the foremost noble houses in Da Fu, will welcome you as an honored guest should you visit."
Ji Xia sighed, pocketing the token. "A memento, then. I, Qin Ji, am sentimental. I won't visit the Fu Ji estate lest I be reminded of Ji Xiu's noble sacrifice."
Ji Ning felt even more sorrow at her nephew's loss. With a sigh, she handed Ji Xia a jade key engraved with intricate sigils.
"This token grants you access to an estate our clan owns in the Xiongjing District of Shuyang Palace. Consider it our gratitude. It'll give you a place to stay when you first arrive in Da Fu."
Zhao Wu and Fan Zhu exchanged glances, their faces stiff with disbelief as Ji Xia shamelessly accepted the key with a bright "Thank you, Aunt Ning!"
The group departed, leaving the island behind. Yet, amidst cracked earth, a glimmering fragment of spiritual consciousness rose—a record of Zhang Yi's battle with the Da Fu cultivators and Ji Xia.
This fragment, unlike the others captured by Yue Ze's Sigil Eye, emitted a hazy white glow and began to drift away from the island.
Suddenly, the ground swelled, revealing a small black hole. Dozens of glowing eyes appeared within, and an immense suction force erupted.
The fragment resisted in vain as it was drawn into the black hole, followed by the sound of chewing. The glowing eyes blinked shut, and the ground returned to stillness.