Chapter 68

This is a difficult situation, thought the Third True Person: Lin Fan has feelings for Shangguan Feixue and desires Yang Xuerao. It's normal for feelings to turn into desire, but it's not certain that desire can turn into feelings. No, Lin Fan cannot propose, and it's inappropriate for him to continue working on the array with Yang Xuerao. Yang Xuerao doesn't seem to dislike Lin Fan, and if they act improperly without him marrying her, it would ruin her reputation. Moreover, Lin Fan has just completed his foundation building and is looking for the path to the Golden Core. At this time, indulging in desires would be very detrimental to his cultivation.

The Third True Person said, "Lin Fan, ten days from now, the Eastern Sea's Riding the Wind True Person will celebrate his hundredth birthday on Jiao Island. He and I have a good relationship, and I planned to go personally, but since we are working on the array, I cannot leave. You will take the gift to him on my behalf."

Lin Fan asked, "A hundredth birthday celebration?" Usually, a celebration is held at three hundred years old.

"None of your business," the Third True Person said. "Prepare yourself and leave immediately."

"Immediately? So urgent?"

"That's settled," the Third True Person decided firmly.

"Are you going to the Eastern Sea now?" Yang Xuerao was taken aback. She wasn't sure if she liked Lin Fan, but she knew she didn't dislike him. In her unease, she hoped for more time to be together, but she didn't expect Lin Fan to leave. The purple bamboo forest only opens for five days; would she have to wait another five years? But Yang Xuerao only had a slight fondness. She was naturally generous: "Be careful on your journey. I've heard there are many demonic beasts in the Eastern Sea."

"Farewell!" A man's memory of love is stored in the woman's appearance and laughter. The memory of desire, however, is only stored in certain parts and moments. The Third True Person, being experienced, knew that forgetting love is hard, but forgetting desire is very easy. Indeed, once Lin Fan left Qingyun Mountain, his heart no longer felt the turmoil it did in the cold pond.

Lin Fan's departure left Wu'er waiting for five days, feeling extremely disappointed. Later, she learned that he had been sent to the Eastern Sea, not because of a love interest or other reasons, and her heart was at ease. After the purple bamboo forest closed, Wu'er officially became a disciple of the Extermination True Person, becoming a junior sister to Ye Wushuang.

...

The Eastern Sea is vast, with countless immortal mountains. The Eastern Sea and the Southern Sea are the favorite places for cultivators and itinerant practitioners, though they don't compare to the blessed lands of Qingyun Mountain and the Purple Flute Hall, they are still excellent places.

Riding the Wind True Person is not actually a True Person. He was once a disciple of Qingyun Sect, and after achieving success in his cultivation, he found an immortal island in the Eastern Sea. He reported to the sect leader and left Qingyun Sect to become an itinerant practitioner. After cultivating for several decades in the Eastern Sea, he encountered several maritime disasters and rescued some people, some of whom stayed on the island and became his disciples. Currently, Jiao Island has about twenty to thirty people.

There is also a famous sect in the Eastern Sea, Penglai Mountain. However, Penglai Mountain never goes to the mainland, even during the great battle against the evil path three hundred years ago, they provided no support. The Daoist sects are divided into two types: one is the Orthodox Unity Sect like Qingyun Sect, which does not prohibit marriage and children, and the other is the Complete Perfection Sect of Penglai Mountain, which not only prohibits marriage and children but also only eats vegetarian food. Penglai Mountain cuts off lust to seek truth, practicing the Pure and Tranquil Alchemy alone. In comparison, Qingyun Sect and the Purple Flute Hall have a more secular atmosphere.

Not only Penglai Mountain, but the Complete Perfection Sect also exists in the Twelve Continents. However, during the great battle against the evil path, they did not join the alliance of the righteous and the demonic. As the Third True Person put it, they are more ethereal but also more selfish. However, they are different from solitary cultivators. The disciples of Penglai Mountain control their desires and cut off lust, rather than being naturally without lust.

Lin Fan got lost. The Eastern Sea is not like the mainland, where there are reference points. Looking around, all he saw was the vast sea, and he could only rely on the Big Dipper at night to navigate. With the surrounding sea, there was nothing to borrow force from, so he had to expend true qi to stay in the air and wait for nightfall to proceed. Fortunately, he met four Penglai disciples at dawn.

Penglai Mountain is in the southeast, while Jiao Island is in the northeast. Lin Fan knew he was lost when he saw the Penglai disciples. Reluctantly, he approached. The two male and two female Penglai disciples stopped when they saw Lin Fan flying over. The leading man held a duster, which he placed on his left arm and greeted first: "May the layman be well." The Complete Perfection Sect does not recognize the Orthodox Unity Sect as monks, only calling them laymen, not Daoist brothers. The most obvious difference is that the Complete Perfection Sect only uses their Daoist names, without personal names. In contrast, the Orthodox Unity Sect has both Daoist names and personal names.

"Salutations to the four Daoists. I am a disciple of Qingyun Sect, heading to Jiao Island, but I got lost in the storm."

The leading man took a small object from his sleeve and placed it in his palm. It was a chariot with a needle: "This is a compass (there are records of compasses from the time of the battle between Chiyou and the Yellow Emperor). The layman can use it to navigate." He gently pushed it, and the compass slowly flew into Lin Fan's hand.

"Thank you." Lin Fan bowed.

"May you have boundless longevity and blessings!" The four Penglai disciples returned the greeting and then left.

According to records, these four should be patrol guards, so Penglai Mountain is not far away. Why do they need patrol guards? Because the sea is vast, and the deep sea is filled with fierce demonic beasts, some of which are thousands of years old. However, the more powerful the demonic beast, the farther they stay from the mainland and islands, residing in the deep sea. But some demonic beasts still harass the coastal areas.

Besides demonic beasts, the sea is also filled with various treasures. For example, pearls produced by thousand-year-old clams have their own spirit and can absorb the essence of the sun and moon, transforming into various forms. Even cultivators fear the sea. Once, four high-ranking cultivators set out to sea to explore its boundaries, but after entering the deep sea, they disappeared without a trace. It was rumored that they met immortals in the sea and achieved immortality, and their disciples also set out to sea to search for them, but none returned.

Lin Fan used the Big Dipper, the Evening Star, and the compass to locate Jiao Island and flew there. Halfway through, the weather suddenly changed, with lightning and thunder, and a sudden storm. Lin Fan wanted to fly above the clouds, but the black clouds were thick and dense, with lightning and thunder within. He tried to fly into the clouds, but a bolt of lightning struck, and he quickly dodged, not daring to try again.

Lin Fan flew low, hoping the storm would pass quickly, but the black clouds grew thicker, and the lightning and thunder intensified, waiting to strike.

Just as Lin Fan was puzzled, a bolt of lightning as thick as a man struck the sea, causing the water to surge in all directions. The lightning penetrated the sea without any hindrance. A mournful cry echoed, and a dragon, a hundred feet long, emerged from the water ten zhang away from Lin Fan, roaring at the storm clouds with its fangs bared.

Lin Fan quickly turned his bamboo sword, and a web of lightning descended from the storm clouds, covering several acres. Lin Fan knew it was bad and tried to ascend. Suddenly, numerous water columns shot up, colliding with the lightning web and pushing it back into the storm clouds.

Dozens of lightning bolts attacked the dragon, and a blue aura enveloped the dragon's body. Although Lin Fan was far from the dragon, he was pushed back by the protective true qi. The dragon's protective aura split into dozens of streams to counter the lightning. When they met, the lightning and the aura dissipated. The dragon stood proudly in the sea, continuing to roar at the storm clouds.

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