After collecting the spirit stones, a cultivator riding a flying boat arrived as expected to lead Nan Zhi and her companions aboard.
As they drew closer, the scenery on the massive tower ship became clearer. The bow was hidden in the clouds, making it difficult to see clearly.
A large Bodhi pattern was carved onto the stern, a symbol that could be recognized from afar as the mark of the Wuwei Sect.
Every ten meters along the gunwale sat a bronze Vermilion Bird head, their feathers so detailed they seemed ready to take flight at any moment.
Each Vermilion Bird held a bright pearl in its beak, and from the end of each pearl hung an incredibly thick black iron chain. Up close, they radiated a bone chilling cold, and as the clouds and mist collided with them, a layer of white frost formed on their surface.
Most peculiar of all was that this treasure ship had no sails. Instead, two massive chains of the same material, as thick as mountain ranges, were attached to giant whales, which pulled the vessel forward like oxen pulling a cart.
“Mistress, Mistress, look! There are so many spirits just like me!”
The deck was crowded with people. Mountain spirits, monsters, cultivators, and demons bustled about. Hongluo watched from a distance, clutching Nan Zhi’s arm and letting out a soft cry of wonder.
“I’ve only ever heard stories about how prosperous the immortal realm is, but I never imagined there would be such a—huge treasure ship, with so many spirits and immortals on it! If I could stay on this beautiful ship for the rest of my life, I’d be happy to!”
The child’s innocent words drew chuckles from the surrounding crowd.
No one mocked them for being provincial. Most were kind and good natured jests. The female cultivator leading the way even gave a thin smile.
“Little hedgehog, this isn't the immortal realm. The immortals are still in the Nine Heavens, above the heavenly pillars. The Nine Heavens are so vast and boundless that this treasure ship is like a tiny mustard seed in comparison.”
Since this was not the mortal realm, everyone passing by possessed cultivation and could naturally see through Hongluo’s true form as a hedgehog.
“We come from a small place and have never seen such a magnificent treasure ship, nor have we ever been to the Rakshasa Sea Market. We’ve long heard that the Wuwei Sect has deep foundations and many talents, and seeing it today proves the rumors true.”
Nan Zhi pulled Hongluo closer and asked with a smile, “Fellow Taoist, may I ask what kind of spirit beasts those are? To think they can fly over the Wuwang Sea where not even a goose feather can float.”
“Those are Kunpeng whale hybrids specially bred by our sect. They are a unique species of the Wuwang Sea, born from Kunpeng and deep sea whales.”
“This species is naturally capable of flying over the Wuwang Sea and can pull objects a hundred times their own weight. Pulling this tower ship is a simple task for them.”
The female cultivator was young and also at the Foundation Establishment stage. Hearing Nan Zhi’s praise, her smile widened, and she intentionally slowed the flying boat to explain further.
“Since this is your first time boarding, you should know the taboos of this ship. Otherwise, if you break the rules, you will be kicked off.”
With that, the female cultivator began to list them one by one.
Flying with swords or magic treasures was strictly forbidden on the ship.
Private vendettas were not allowed. Any fighting had to take place in the arena, where life and death were not regulated. If there was a blood feud, as long as both parties entered the arena and signed a life and death contract, the Wuwei Sect would not interfere even if they skinned each other alive.
This ship was called the Splendid Platform. If a cultivator damaged any property on the ship, they would have to pay a high price in compensation. If they couldn't afford it, they would naturally have to sell themselves into slavery until the debt was cleared.
“Not only that, but everything you could need is available on the ship: food, clothing, jewelry, and pills. There are some people who are born on the Splendid Platform and die on the Splendid Platform, never having stepped off it in their entire lives.”
Seeing that the three of them were women, the female cultivator added one more piece of advice.
“The ship is a melting pot of all sorts of people, mostly from the twelve nations of the four directions. Some foreign races have strange temperaments and are fond of fighting. Be careful not to provoke them to avoid headaches.”
“Thank you for the advice, fellow Taoist. We will keep it in mind.”
Nan Zhi spoke her thanks. Before they parted, she intended to give the female cultivator a bottle of pills, but the other woman caught her hand and declined with a gentle smile.
“I don't know why, but I felt a strange sense of kinship and affinity the moment I saw you, so I couldn't help but say a few extra words.”
“My surname is Xue, and my given name is Huan. If you encounter any difficulties on the ship, just come to the thirteenth level to find me.”
“My surname is Ma, and I am the ninth in my family, so everyone calls me Ma Jiu. These are my companions, Qu Wan and Hongluo.”
Nan Zhi took the opportunity to give her aliases.
“It is truly good fortune to meet such a warm hearted person like Taoist Xue upon our arrival at your sect’s Splendid Platform. Once I’ve settled in in a couple of days, I will certainly visit you to discuss pills and the Dao.”
Xue Huan nodded, steered the flying boat onto the deck, and after a few more pleasantries, they went their separate ways.
...
The Splendid Platform was truly bustling, with people crowding the deck like a rising tide.
Xue Huan was right; the ship was mostly populated by foreign races, making human cultivators seem like the outliers.
A woman with fish scales on her face and a slender waist walked past, leading three children with fish heads and human bodies. They appeared to be from the Sea Nation.
A hunched, white haired old man with a bird nest on his head left black, greasy footprints with every step. He was likely from the Black Crow Nation.
Then there were the tall and ferocious people of the Yaksha Nation. Covered in long hair, with teeth like rows of halberds and eyes that flashed like twin lamps, they looked like wild beasts as they walked by with their upper bodies bare.
These Yakshas mostly wore only pants or skirts to cover their lower halves. Regardless of gender, a string of perfectly round bright pearls hung across their chests.
The larger the Yaksha, the more pearls they wore, and the rounder and fuller the gems were.
“Why are you staring at me like that?! You human cultivator, do you want to steal my bone tuzi?!”
A few Yakshas carrying tridents passed by Nan Zhi. Noticing their gaze, one with a hideous, massive face leaned in, snarling to frighten Hongluo.
“Keep looking, and I’ll gouge your eyes out, grind them on a stone, and feed them to the crabs!”
“Fellow Taoist, the child only looked at you because she thought you looked majestic. Why resort to scaring her?”
Nan Zhi shielded Hongluo and Wanniang behind her, her voice sinking.
“I’ve heard that the Yakshas of the southern seas are tall and fierce, capable of tearing apart wild deer with their claws, and that they love the bright pearls of deep sea clams. Men and women alike, they rejoice at the thought of battle.”
“If you are intentionally looking for trouble, there’s no need to use a child as an excuse. We can go to the Life and Death Arena, sign the contract, and have a proper fight.”
The Yaksha stood a full half body taller than Nan Zhi. It froze for a moment, clearly not expecting this female cultivator to be so bold.
It bared its teeth, its lamp like eyes peering down. Just as it was about to speak, it saw Nan Zhi looking back without a hint of fear, and a strange sense of closeness suddenly welled up in its heart.
The other Yakshas felt the same way.
They looked at each other, clearly confused by what was happening to them.
This human cultivator’s voice was so pleasant to hear.
Oh my, look at those eyes, they really look like eyes. The nose is a nose, and the mouth is a mouth.
They had never seen a human cultivator who looked so pleasing to the eye.
She was like a black pearl spat out by a giant clam on the seabed.
She even smelled good.
Like coastal rocks after a fresh rain, warmed by the sun, with the salty and sharp scent of the sea breeze.
It was the same feeling of satisfaction and joy as lying lazily on a rock after a massive rainstorm, doing nothing but pulling a fat worm out of a crevice and taking a bite.
“You... you... me... me...”
The lead Yaksha, who wore over fifty pearls around his neck, scratched his head. He looked at the wary Nan Zhi and, after a long silence, squeezed his throat to make his voice softer, blunting his words.
“You look real striking... The Life and Death Arena is no good, people die easily there. If you want to let off some steam, how about I just stand still and let you hack me once?”
Rate on N.U.
