Chapter 88

When the sea is calm, it resembles an elegant and refined lady, with nothing in sight but the pure sea blue. Anyone immersed in such a moving scene would feel as if their soul had merged with the vast, boundless sea, transcending the heavens and earth.

Chen Lian stood on a wooden board floating in the seawater, but he did not drift with the waves; instead, he headed straight toward Qingxuan.

The seawater is divided into yin and yang currents, which exchange and cause the water to flow.

Chen Lian firmly grasped the dynamic force during the exchange of yin and yang. With just a little assistance, he could control the wooden board and cross the ocean.

This was not a supernatural power but a result of understanding the surrounding environment. The difference between humans and beasts lies in the ability to utilize the power of nature, creating tools. For example, even if a person cannot swim, they can use a boat, which is a skill of utilizing external objects, not a dependence on the outside world but the use of one's wisdom.

The Buddhist scriptures speak of the true path, cutting off烦恼 (troubles), and the wisdom attained is supreme. With wisdom, one has boundless supernatural powers, moving freely in the three realms, unbound by the five elements and the eight trigrams.

Chen Lian did not deeply ponder this supreme wisdom but had a general direction. He continued to practice methodically and steadily.

Even without the next level of cultivation techniques, it did not mean his cultivation would stagnate.

He could explore the path of talismans, control primordial energy, observe the flight paths of birds, feel the leisurely movements of fish beneath his feet, and sense the direction of the wind and the formation of hidden currents when cold and warm waters meet.

Cultivation is everywhere, not confined to a mountain or a body of water.

Chen Lian's most valuable cultivation wealth was the information from the information explosion era of his previous life. No era has ever received more information and impact than the internet age.

With just an internet cable and a device, one can exchange ideas with millions of people, which does not directly benefit cultivation but breaks and reforms one's understanding repeatedly.

This has a similar effect to breakthroughs in cultivation, and Chen Lian has always been both practicing and thinking.

The *Shangqing Lingbao Ziran Suoxin Dingshen Zhenjie* (True Explanation of the Supreme Clarity Spirit Treasure's Natural Locking of the Heart and Stabilizing the Spirit) provided him with a solid foundation, like a great mathematician who must have an incredibly strong memory to remember various numbers and formulas.

A great cultivator must have a spirit that can keenly perceive all things.

Chen Lian's expression changed slightly, and suddenly, he heard a wondrous song, a melody that did not belong to the human world. Behind him, waves began to rise, which was against the laws of nature, as he had no prior warning of the sudden appearance of the waves.

His robe billowed, and he wanted to mobilize the primordial energy of heaven and earth to ride the wind and break through the waves.

However, the primordial energy that had been closely connected to him now seemed like a stranger, not responding to his call and concentrating in a certain direction.

Without much thought, he was suddenly hit by the waves, and the wooden board beneath his feet shattered into pieces.

He was also swept into the depths of the waves, falling into a silent hidden current.

******

When Chen Lian opened his eyes, he found himself drenched and standing on an island.

He saw a towering water column in the distance, beneath which lay a huge, smooth black rock, like a small island several acres in size.

The massive black rock rose and fell, causing huge waves to crash against the shore.

Water began to rise around Chen Lian's feet again.

He still heard the strange song, and Chen Lian quickly realized that the huge black rock was actually the back of a massive creature, and the water column was spewed by it.

The song might be the sea monster's breathing.

More terrifyingly, with the sea monster's song, the nearby primordial energy gathered toward it, allowing it to absorb and release.

With such a massive body, the amount of primordial energy it absorbed and released was enormous. Even at a lower realm, its destructive power exceeded Chen Lian's by ten to a hundred times.

This sea monster was somewhat similar to a whale, perhaps a whale that knew how to cultivate.

Chen Lian did not rashly return to the sea, and the magic power within his body fluctuated slightly with the sea monster's song.

He decided to temporarily avoid it and wait for the sea monster to leave before making any plans.

Entering the island, the scenery was quite pleasant, with the fragrance of flowers filling the air.

There was only one type of flower, each with exactly five colors. The trees were exceptionally tall, and as Chen Lian walked deeper, the sea monster's song was blocked by the forest, and the resonance with the primordial energy of heaven and earth returned.

The sea monster's song was undoubtedly a more profound and sophisticated way of interacting with primordial energy than what Chen Lian currently understood in the path of talismans.

If not for the lack of understanding, Chen Lian would have wanted to study it thoroughly.

However, he found that even though the sea monster was not fully understood, the island itself seemed to be not so simple.

He had not seen any traces of other humans or even animal paw prints where he had walked.

Despite the blooming flowers, there were no butterflies or bees, and the entire forest had an eerie silence.

In the distance, a tree caught Chen Lian's attention. Its trunk was so thick that it would take over a dozen people to encircle it.

Suddenly, a soft and delicate voice, like the warbling of a yellowthroat, filled with a lazy charm, came from the flower bed. Before he saw the person, he already felt a great affinity.

"Is the young master also here to admire the flowers, just like me?"

Chen Lian did not move rashly, turning his head toward the source of the voice. A beautiful woman in a colorful robe walked gracefully from the depths of the flower bed. Her features were flawless, with no discernible flaws. He had seen such a woman before, the first time being Xin Shisiniang.

Unlike Xin Shisiniang, who had a cold and proud demeanor, this woman was alluring and captivating. Her curves were nearly perfect, making it hard to look away from her.

A strand of her black hair occasionally fell onto her snow-white neck, adding to her allure.

The woman boldly looked at Chen Lian, seemingly very interested in the handsome and refined young man before her.

She was slightly taller than an average woman but shorter than Chen Lian. Her alluring body emitted a subtle fragrance, neither like the scent of flowers nor like perfume, but it seeped into Chen Lian's nose.

His usually calm eyes showed a ripple, and to be honest, a flame of desire ignited in Chen Lian's heart.

He did not rush to dispel the desire but smiled and said, "Where are you from, miss?"

The woman's eyes sparkled, never leaving Chen Lian's face, and she smiled charmingly, "I am a concubine of the Sea Lord. He went to visit a friend elsewhere, and I saw the flowers blooming beautifully here, so I did not want to follow him. I waited here, feeling bored, and unexpectedly met such a distinguished person. I couldn't help but come out to meet you. If I have been too forward, please do not blame me."

If a man had said this to a woman, it would be normal, but coming from her, it had a deliberate flirtatious tone.

PS: Thank you for the 588 rewards from Canglong Qiwu, Gucangmen, Xiaoxun, Yijie Jiangshan, Zao Hua Zhi Zhu, Shuyou 151122220328724, and Xiaomao.

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