Chapter 201: False Spirit Herb · Sky Migratory Bird

Chapter 201 False Spirit Herb · Sky Migratory Bird

Yu Cha Zhen Ren’s insistence on fishing with Xiao Chen wasn’t merely for leisure. Another critical reason was to evade the Fourth Stage Yao Beasts lurking in the Boundary Sea.

The sea teemed with spirit fish—so many that even with a one-in-ten-thousand chance of bloodline mutation, the resulting number of mutated spirit fish was innumerable. When their numbers grew vast enough, some inevitably underwent breakthroughs to the Fourth Stage, staking out vast swathes of the ocean as their domain.

According to Fu Hai Sect’s intelligence, such phenomena were alarmingly common. Identifying which waters harbored Fourth Stage Yao Beasts was among Fu Hai Sect’s most vital survival secrets. During thunderstorms, these colossal fish had to retreat, vacating their domains until the storm passed. Thus, Fu Hai Ship had to halt its journey, waiting for the beasts’ return before resuming travel. Otherwise, a mid-voyage encounter with a Fourth Stage predator would doom everyone aboard.

The ship drifted in place for three days until the storm-abated fish schools dispersed, finally allowing Fu Hai Ship to proceed. Previously skirting the storm’s edge, the vessel had sailed nearly straight. Now restored to its normal route, its path appeared from above as endless circling.

After two months of such navigation, the ship reached the Boundary Sea’s heart. Avoiding Fourth Stage beasts often forced detours spanning tens of thousands of kilometers. Yu Cha Zhen Ren, once leisurely, now worked tirelessly recalculating their course. With Xiao Chen left alone, he turned to studying the Introduction to Formation Dao.

Though formation cultivation was profound, grasping its basics wasn’t difficult. A first-tier formation’s influence rarely exceeded hundreds of meters. As a Golden Core Zhenren, Xiao Chen could effortlessly sense spiritual energy fluctuations across vast distances, aiding his comprehension of formations’ cosmic connections.

He occasionally paused for cultivation, refining his Nahuuo Talisman or Truth-Seeing Spirit Eye to refresh his mind. Days passed swiftly—over ten in a blink.

One day, after finishing a chapter, Xiao Chen leaned out the Yellow Pearwood window to rest his eyes. Suddenly, he spotted a massive water spout in the distance, about forty to fifty meters high, with white mist rising around it.

Upon closer inspection, the spout lay two to three hundred li away. The Boundary Sea’s openness made it visible despite the distance, suggesting the spout’s true height was hundreds of meters.

Surveying further, Xiao Chen noticed not one but seven or eight such spouts, each shrouded in thick white mist. The obscured centers sparked curiosity—could they hide something extraordinary?

Cultivators gathered on deck, buzzing with speculation. When the two Golden Core Zhenrens retreated to their pavilion, others seized the chance to enjoy the view.

“Fellow Cultivator Yan Long, come join me for a drink!” Yu Cha Zhen Ren strode in. “Past the Nine Heat Springs, we’ll be mostly safe. Time to relax with a toast!”

“Let me share a tale—how I dueled a wandering monk in Xilai Kingdom years ago. I guarantee you’ve never heard this one!”

“Buddhist monk,” Xiao Chen recalled from Dong You Ji. Though their sects were rare in Jingkong Sea, traveling monks occasionally spread teachings.

“Fellow Cultivator Yu Cha Trident, those distant spouts—are they the Nine Heat Springs?” Xiao Chen asked, curious. He’d grown suspicious after days studying formations, wondering if the mist concealed a hidden formation guarding ruins or a forbidden realm.

“Hmph, just oversized geysers,” Yu Cha Zhen Ren dismissed. “Eastern Territory’s True Monarchs investigated long ago. Turns out it’s just a Bing Fire Emanation Earth Vein—pure coincidence.”

“The real spectacle’s later. If we’d arrived two months later, the mist would’ve blanketed everything, turning this into a paradise of ethereal beauty.”

“Don’t think distance dulls the effect. A southern breeze could carry the fog here, swallowing thousands of kilometers.”

Having seen the phenomenon countless times, he found it mundane. Xiao Chen glanced back, the mystery now deflated.

He returned to his seat, noticing two spirit fruits on the table.

“Purple Striped Figs from Jingkong Sea, Fellow Cultivator Yan Long. Try one!”

“Third-tier spirit fruit?” Xiao Chen hesitated. “You’ve already shared so much spirit wine. I can’t accept these—please keep them.”

Privately, he wondered. Third-tier Spirit Herbs were rare treasures in southern domains. Even Haozhou’s proximity to Eastern Territory shouldn’t justify such extravagance.

“Haha! I knew you’d overthink it!” Yu Cha Zhen Ren chuckled. “Yes, Purple Striped Figs are third-tier fruits—but not what you’d call valuable.”

He leaned in, grinning. “Guess how much one sells for?”

“Let me hint: it’s not expensive.”

Southern cultivators, shaped by scarcity, often marveled at Eastern Territory’s abundance—a reaction Yu Cha Zhen Ren relished.

“If it’s cheap… a thousand spirit stones?” Xiao Chen ventured. “A thousand for a single fruit?”

“A thousand buys a box,” Yu Cha Zhen Ren revealed. “Ten fruits for a thousand stones!”

Seeing Xiao Chen’s confusion, he explained: “I was baffled too! How could third-tier fruits be so cheap? Turns out Eastern Territory’s full of False Spirit Herbs.”

“Take Purple Striped Figs. They’re specialty crops from Ziwen Island, where a Fourth Stage spirit spring naturally irrigates ordinary figs, infusing them with spiritual energy.”

“Eat one for flavor, and it rivals true third-tier fruits. But for cultivation? Useless. Better to absorb spirit stones directly. Five words sum them up: All style, no substance.”

He added, "Fellow Cultivator Yan Long, when you reach Jingkong Sea, always verify Spirit Herb authenticity. Many hawkers peddle fakes. Stick to time-honored shops like Ten Thousand Immortal Pavilion or Chang Xing Workshop. Prices are higher, but quality’s guaranteed."

Xiao Chen recognized both names from travelogues—praised for variety but notorious for inflated prices, typically 20-30% above market.

Boom!

A sudden crash echoed—a spiritual vessel striking something. Xiao Chen’s spiritual sense surged ahead, revealing a kilometers-long Ice Wall rising from the sea. From behind it, Ice Cones arced toward Fu Hai Ship, shattering against its Mana Barrier.

His spiritual sense pierced the meter-thick Ice Wall, sensing thousands of sea creatures below. The front ranks—over a thousand fish—radiated Foundation Building Stage energy. The rest, though weaker, bombarded the ship’s formation with Ice Cones, draining its spirit stones.

Alarms blared as cultivators rushed to reinforce the formation. Xiao Chen stood, ready to act.

“Fellow Cultivator Yan Long, no need. Just a probe,” Yu Cha Zhen Ren said calmly. “The real threat—the Third Stage icefish—is hiding. Let’s drink.”

He poured another bowl.

A blue glow flared from Fu Hai Ship’s mast. The vessel surged forward, shattering the Ice Wall. Attempts to rebuild it failed utterly. Soon, the icefish swarm fell behind.

“Most Third Stage fish avoid risks,” Yu Cha Zhen Ren resumed. “They’ll only chase prey if starving or arrogant enough to think they can swallow Fu Hai Ship whole.”

“Speaking of arrogance—this tale’s sixty years old. I was in Xilai Kingdom, buying supplies for my sect. Just finished a deal when an old monk in a star-embroidered crimson kasaya paraded by with young monks in moon-white robes.”

“The old fellow looked benevolent, but I recognized him instantly—no saint, I assure you…”

Boom!

The story halted as Fu Hai Ship lurched violently, Zhen Hai Pavilion trembling thrice over. Ahead loomed an even vaster Ice Wall, blocking their path.

From all directions, icefish launched Ice Cones, Ice Arrows, water blades, and water spears in a relentless storm.

A shadow stretching a hundred meters in length glided through the sea, circling the Fu Hai Ship in spirals.

Xiao Chen’s spiritual sense plunged into the water and immediately encountered another icy spiritual presence. A frigid chill swept over his consciousness like a biting gale, causing him to instinctively recoil.

There was no doubt now—this was a third-stage icefish, and it had already targeted the Fu Hai Ship.

“Damn it, it’s asking for death!” Yu Cha Zhen Ren slammed the table, rising abruptly. “Fellow cultivator, wait a moment while I deal with this beast.”

With that, he strode onto the deck.

Xiao Chen didn’t linger in the cabin either. He followed to observe the situation firsthand.

First, he wanted to be ready in case of emergencies. Second, he was eager to witness the legendary Three-Toothed Sea-Piercing Jade Fork’s power potency in action.

Yet he saw Yu Cha Zhen Ren pat his storage bag and withdraw four small flags. Three were ochre-yellow, inscribed with cryptic eight-character talismanic scripts, while the fourth gleamed golden, bearing a painted cloud-piercing sword.

He arranged them methodically before him, and the flags emitted glowing auras, hovering midair. Glowing runes flickered, resonating with the formation flags hanging from the mast.

Yu Cha Zhen Ren then extended his right hand, fingers together like a sword, and pointed at the golden flag. “Rise!”

Above the Fu Hai Ship, radiant light converged into a golden light technique sword spanning forty meters. With a sharp turn, he thrust his hand toward the sea, roaring, “Strike!”

The sword surged downward, targeting the icefish beneath the waves.

“Huaa~!”

Water erupted violently, sending twin tidal waves crashing. Before the golden light technique sword even descended, its sword qi cleaved the seawater around the icefish, pinning its position and denying it the chance to use the ocean for defense.

“Puchi!”

The blade pierced flesh, and a jet of deep-blue blood spurted from the icefish, scattering hundreds of scales. The beast thrashed in agony, its tail whipping as it dove deeper, fleeing for its life.

Xiao Chen had already prepared his incantation, but after a moment’s thought, he let the icefish escape. Though defeating it would be straightforward, he saw no need to provoke further complications.

The True Yang Fire Dragon’s power was too conspicuous, especially amidst all this seawater. Worse, it might attract more third-stage sea creatures or even a Fourth-stage great beast—far too risky.

Once he established himself in the Eastern Territory, there would be ample opportunities to acquire third-stage yao beast meat. No need to rush.

“Fellow Cultivator Yan Long,” Yu Cha Zhen Ren called, retracting the formation flags with a hand seal. “What did you think of my grand golden light technique sword array’s power? Does it meet your standards?”

This sword array originated from the Eastern Territory, modified and permanently installed on the Fu Hai Ship specifically for hunting sea beasts.

Xiao Chen silently assessed it. The array’s strength felt comparable to a Golden Core Zhen Ren’s full-force strike.

Nodding, he replied, “Truly impressive. It rivals a fellow cultivator who’s mastered sword arts.”

Estimating its power, it was roughly a tenth of the True Yang Fire Dragon’s might—insufficient against a Niejing Zhen Ren but more than enough for a Guijiao Zhen Ren.

If the Spirit Origin Sect had possessed such a formidable sword array, the Xunmei Mountain debacle might have been avoided.

“Hahahaha!”

Yu Cha Zhen Ren’s face lit up at the praise. “I knew it—you’re a true connoisseur, Fellow Cultivator!”

“With this formation and my Yu Cha Trident, ordinary fish swarms won’t threaten us.”

As the icefish fled, the Ice Wall, deprived of true mana, shattered. The Fu Hai Ship sailed through effortlessly, resuming its course toward the Eastern Territory.

Yu Cha Zhen Ren claimed fish swarms posed no threat. Events soon proved him right.

Over the next month, they encountered another swarm, which the grand golden light technique sword array easily dispersed.

Thanks to a thunderstorm saving time, the voyage neared its end.

Yet when only 25,000 kilometers remained, they collided with a Sky-Crossing Bird Flock.

“Damn it, just a few days away!” Yu Cha Zhen Ren’s brow furrowed as he stared at the three circling giants above, clearly at a loss.

Sky-Crossing Birds dwell by the sea, feasting on fish. These Spirit Birds possess potent bloodlines, naturally maturing into third-stage yao beasts equivalent to Golden Core Zhen Rens.

Born attuned to wind, they could unleash devastating Raging Winds to attack prey.

In essence, the Fu Hai Ship was now besieged by three wind-element Golden Core cultivators.

“Fortunately, we’re near the Jin Xia Sect’s territory. We can call for reinforcements.” Yu Cha Zhen Ren pulled out a delicate compass, activating it at a specific frequency.

He’d tried deploying the grand golden light technique sword array, but against the Sky Du Bird’s speed and power, its effectiveness plummeted. The sword beams were either evaded or shattered by Raging Winds.

His prized Yu Cha Trident faced the same issue—it excelled against water-type yao beasts but struggled against wind-element foes.

“Sigh~!”

After fruitless efforts, Yu Cha Zhen Ren sighed. “Why did we have to run into Sky Migratory Birds, and multiple ones at that?”

He stole a glance at Xiao Chen, watching his reaction.

He’d already demonstrated every possible countermeasure in front of Xiao Chen, with little success. Over the past days, he’d also subtly hinted at the Yu Cha Trident’s limitations against aerial threats during drinking sessions.

Surely, Xiao Chen would offer help now?

He’d laid the groundwork meticulously. No suspicion should arise.

The Jin Xia Sect's plan was indeed a premeditated ambush, carefully orchestrated to lure Xiao Chen into action and reveal his true strength. They sought to assess his potential for recruitment, ensuring they made wise investments in cultivating talent. By deploying domesticated Sky-Crossing Birds, the sect could gauge Xiao Chen's abilities in a real battle without raising suspicions.

Yu Cha Zhen Ren played his part, hinting at potential yao beast encounters and subtly emphasizing the limitations of his Yu Cha Trident against aerial threats. When the Sky-Crossing Birds appeared, he feigned reluctance, suggesting they wait for reinforcements. This allowed Xiao Chen to take the initiative and showcase his power.

The plan's success hinged on Xiao Chen's willingness to engage, and the sect took care to ensure he felt no pressure or doubt. By keeping the ambush location within a psychological threshold for Golden Core cultivators, they created an environment where Xiao Chen would feel secure and act without hesitation.

The performance was nearly flawless, with Yu Cha Zhen Ren even improvising when Xiao Chen didn't immediately offer help. The staged "rescue" scene and the vibrating compass added layers of authenticity, ensuring Xiao Chen had no reason to suspect foul play.

In the end, Xiao Chen's display of power was beyond Yu Cha Zhen Ren's expectations, rivaling even the Jin Xia Sect elders. This revelation left him in awe, realizing he had encountered a cultivator of extraordinary might.

The goal was simple: lure Xiao Chen into action, exposing his strength and techniques during battle.

The Jin Xia Sect meant no real harm—they merely wanted a Strength Assessment to evaluate his potential and decide whether to recruit him ashore.

After all, acquiring a Golden Core cultivator required hefty resources and future investments. The Jin Xia Sect, despite its wealth, couldn’t afford to chase every opportunity. They sought only Nascent Soul Formation candidates or elite enforcers, not opportunistic meddlers.

Normal methods couldn’t gauge a stranger’s true abilities. Thus, the Jin Xia Sect deployed their domesticated Sky Crossing Birds.

What better way to test a cultivator’s might than a battle?

To ensure this plan—and avoid Xiao Chen’s suspicion—the Jin Xia Sect collaborated with Yu Cha Zhen Ren.

From the moment they boarded, Yu Cha Zhen Ren had hinted at potential yao beast encounters, urging Xiao Chen to intervene.

Subtle stories along the way emphasized the Yu Cha Trident’s ineffectiveness against Sky-Soaring Birds.

Finally, they staged the compass “rescue” scene.

In reality, no reinforcements would come.

The final touch was ensuring Yu Cha Zhen Ren never directly asked Xiao Chen for help, letting him volunteer instead.

Even the most cunning person suspects others’ motives, not their own actions.

This plan, refined over generations, even accounted for the ambush location.

The 25,000-kilometer distance was the psychological threshold for Golden Core cultivators. Beyond it, tension might spark paranoia.

But so close to shore, with safety assured and reinforcements supposedly en route, cultivators would feel no pressure—no room for doubt.

The plan unfolded smoothly.

Xiao Chen gazed at the Sky-Crossing Birds circling above and asked, “Fellow Cultivator Yu Cha, shall we activate the formation and deal with these aerial yao beasts directly?”

He wanted to conserve spirit stones, considering Yu Cha Zhen Ren’s hospitality and frequent feasts.

"This... Well, three Sky Birds against the two of us might be challenging", Yu Cha Zhen Ren pretended to hesitate. "Outnumbered, we risk making mistakes. Why not wait for the Jin Xia Sect's arrival?"

In truth, he faced no real danger—the Sky-Crossing Birds recognized him. But Golden Core cultivators naturally hesitated at being outnumbered. To maintain the charade, he had to show hesitation.

“Alright,” Xiao Chen nodded. “Then we’ll wait.”

If Yu Cha Zhen Ren feared injury, so be it. To Xiao Chen, fighting or watching was equally trivial.

To others, 25,000 kilometers was distant. To him, it was a few hours’ journey.

Hmm? Yu Cha Zhen Ren blinked, startled. Was that it?

Thankfully, the performance had a backup plan.

Soon, his compass vibrated, its glow pulsing.

Yu Cha Zhen Ren theatrically checked the signal, then grimaced. “Bad news! The Jin Xia Sect cultivators encountered fish swarms en route—they won’t arrive soon.”

“Worse, more swarms are converging here. Staying is perilous.” He turned to Xiao Chen, voice laced with hesitation, gravity, and just the right unease. “Fellow Cultivator Yan Long, we’ll have to take our chances.”

“Alright,” Xiao Chen nodded again. “Then we’ll take our chances.”

He’d observed the Sky-crossing Birds for a while—they seemed unremarkable.

Seizing a gap in their Raging Winds, the defensive formation flickered, and the two soared from the ship.

“Fellow Cultivator Yan Long, I’ll handle the left and center birds. You just pin down the right one.”

Yu Cha Zhen Ren recited his lines, but as the three Sky Crossing Birds dove, they abruptly turned and fled mid-air.

What? What’s happening?

Before he could react, a colossal fire dragon, unforgettable in its grandeur, surged after them.

In an instant, the three Sky-Crossing Birds became charred, plummeting from the sky.

Is this a new Golden Core cultivator? Yu Cha Zhen Ren gaped, stunned beyond belief. This power rivaled the Jin Xia Sect elders he’d seen before.

In a century on the Boundary Sea, he’d encountered many Golden Core Zhen Rens bound for the Eastern Territory.

By strength, Xiao Chen was unquestionably the mightiest.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end