Star Martial Soaring Cloud

In early December, deep winter had arrived.

A chill swept across the land like a tidal wave, the north wind howled, and water froze instantly.

Dongji Island, an inconspicuous little island, is located in the sea hundreds of kilometers away from Yuhang.

There is only one small fishing town on the island, with about a hundred households living there, who have made a living by fishing for generations.

This place is remote and barren, so much so that even pirates don't bother to visit it.

It wasn't that they were unwilling to plunder, but rather that they simply couldn't extract any profit from it.

Today the wind and waves are more turbulent than usual. Under the hazy sky, the waves surge and crash against the jagged rocks on the shore, sending sprays of water several meters high into the air.

Before dawn, a young boy was already running along the beach.

He was about ten years old, thin as a bamboo pole, with dark and rough skin from years of exposure to the sea breeze.

Barefoot on the cold sand, braving the biting wind, they resolutely rushed towards the surging tide.

The seawater washed over my ankles, soaked past my knees, and reached my thighs, the chill penetrating to the bone, feeling like countless tiny needles piercing my skin.

His lips were frozen purple, and his teeth were chattering, but he didn't stop for a second.

"Brother Zhou Qian, if I persist like this for a few years, will I become a master like you?"

The boy's voice trembled, but his tone held an unwavering determination and fervent longing.

He gazed at the faintly visible figure on the sea, his eyes filled with reverence; that was the form he so desperately wanted to reach.

"Splash—"

A lithe figure suddenly leaped out from the waves.

The man had dark skin, and in the dark, inky sea, he was almost unnoticeable unless you looked closely.

He wore only shorts and a rope around his neck. His muscles were clearly defined, like rocks that had been washed by the sea for thousands of years, exuding a powerful sense of strength.

"Erdan, I just turned twenty this year, and I've been doing this every day for fifteen years." Zhou Qian wiped the salty seawater from his face, grinning to reveal a set of white teeth. "What, scared?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he plunged into the deep sea again, splashing up tiny waves.

His skin was dark, his face weathered, his chapped lips were particularly noticeable from the seawater, and his hands were covered with thick, calloused skin.

If he hadn't revealed his age himself, no one would have believed he was only twenty. His aged face made him look like he was over thirty.

"I'm not afraid!" Erdan shouted at the sea, "I'm going to rescue my sister! I just regret not meeting you and Brother Xie An sooner!"

When he said this, Erdan's eyes shone brightly, and even the surging, boundless sea in front of him seemed to become small at this moment.

"Xie Zhen and I already promised you we would rescue your sister." Zhou Qian's head surfaced again, spitting out a mouthful of salty seawater. "You don't trust that idiot Xie Zhen, but you don't trust me?"

"I want to do my part too!" Erdan clenched his fist and waved it vigorously, both to encourage himself and to prove his sincerity to Zhou Qian. "By the way, Brother Zhou Qian, why do you always call Brother Xie An 'Xie Zhen'?"

"Didn't you see that idiot spends all his time practically living with arrays?" Zhou Qian rolled his eyes, his tone full of disdain, but a faint smile played on his lips. "I even suspect that he'll marry an array someday. Xie Zhen is my special nickname for him; it's a bond between men. You'll understand when you grow up."

"Would it feel more intimate if I called him 'Brother Zhen' from now on?" Erdan blinked, looking serious.

"You're a promising young man, haha!" Zhou Qian nodded in satisfaction.

"Brother Zhou, be careful!" Erdan's expression changed drastically. He pointed to the sea, "There seems to be a shark... no, there's someone drifting towards us!"

Zhou Qian suddenly turned around and looked in the direction Erdan was pointing.

On the vast, gray-black sea, a figure floated up and down with the waves, drifting slowly towards the shore. His clothes were tattered and torn, like a clump of weeds soaked in seawater.

"It's those damned pirates again!" Erdan cursed under his breath, already used to the wounded and dead that often drifted ashore.

He ran quickly toward the figure, his thin feet slipping on the wet rocks, nearly falling several times, but he never stopped.

"Erdan, don't be reckless!" Fearing that the boy might be in danger, Zhou Qian leaped out of the sea and quickly overtook Erdan, rushing to the side of the drowning man.

The man floated face up on the sea, his robes tattered, his skin a mix of blue and purple, covered with tiny wounds of varying sizes.

Zhou Qian gently dragged the person to the shore, checked their breathing, and then touched their neck to feel their pulse.

"He's still breathing; he can still be saved." Zhou Qian breathed a sigh of relief, then turned to Erdan and instructed, "I'll give you some medicinal herbs; go to the town's pharmacy and get them right away. I'll take this person back to our base first."

After saying that, he took off the money pouch that was hanging close to his body, took out a few pieces of silver and handed it over.

It turned out that what he was hanging around his neck was a money bag, which was tightly tied with a thick hemp rope and he never took it off, even when he was swimming in the sea.

"Brother Zhou, you also know medicine?" Erdan took the silver coins, his admiration growing stronger.

"Experience is the best teacher, hurry back." Zhou Qian waved his hand, bent down to carry the person, and strode towards the depths of the island.

When Wang Xiao woke up, it was already December 10th.

Three days have passed since he was rescued.

It had been almost a month since he left the Demon Island and was swept into the void turbulence.

Slowly opening her eyes, she saw a tender face and a pair of bright, curious eyes.

"You're awake?" The boy grinned, revealing his uneven teeth. "I saved you! My name is Erdan. You're alright now. Rest assured and don't be afraid of the pirates."

"Thank you..." Wang Xiao opened his mouth with difficulty, wanting to express his gratitude, but his throat felt as if it were blocked by a heavy object, and he could not utter a complete sentence even with all his strength.

My throat feels sore and weak, my vocal cords are tight and dry, and the faint sounds I make are barely audible even to myself.

Every exertion resulted in aches and pains all over my body, which was extremely exhausting.

He could only convey goodwill with his eyes, and he slightly curled the corners of his lips, managing to force a faint smile.

He smiled bitterly to himself: He couldn't even speak properly, so how could he say he was alright?

"Erdan, do not disturb this young master's rest." A steady voice came from the doorway. "He is currently weak and exhausted, and should not exert himself."

"Oh!" Erdan stuck out his tongue, skipped and hopped out the door, then poked his head back in at the threshold. "I'll come see you again when you're feeling better!"

Before he could finish speaking, he had already disappeared.

Wang Xiao looked in the direction of the sound.

A dark-skinned young man stood at the door, wearing a coarse cloth short jacket that revealed his strong and muscular arms; it was Zhou Qian.

"My name is Zhou Qian, a镖师 (bodyguard/escort). I have come to Dongji Island to wipe out the pirates causing trouble in the area." Zhou Qian walked to the bedside, calmly pulled over a wooden chair and sat down. "My partner Xie An is in the courtyard. Xie An, come in and say hello."

"What is it?" A muffled reply came from the courtyard.

"I'm letting you in!" Zhou Qian raised his voice slightly, a hint of embarrassment flashing across his face.

He turned to Wang Xiao and lowered his voice to explain, "Please excuse my rudeness. Once my friend is engrossed in studying formations, he becomes completely oblivious to everything else."

As soon as he finished speaking, a slender figure slowly walked in from the doorway.

Wang Xiao looked up and sized him up. This person was half a head shorter than Zhou Qian, with a rather thin build, messy hair that hadn't been combed in a long time, and ink stains on his cheeks.

Wearing a faded old robe that revealed his thin, slender forearms, he clutched a wooden plaque engraved with intricate patterns in his hand. As he walked, his gaze remained fixed on the plaque, and he nearly tripped over the threshold.

"Nice to meet you." Xie An finally raised his eyes, glanced at Wang Xiao indifferently, and nodded slightly after a moment. "Focus on recovering from your injuries. Don't worry about other trivial matters."

After saying that, he lowered his head again and stared at the wooden plaque, muttering to himself, seemingly trying to deduce some kind of formation.

Wang Xiao could tell at a glance that the two were both cultivators at the peak of the Fish Leap realm, which explained why they were dressed like this even in the dead of winter.

The two acted openly and honestly, showing no fear of their own dubious identities, and had never even inquired about his background or name. This confidence must have come from their cultivation level.

At this moment, his cultivation was completely suppressed, his physical body was severely injured, his spiritual sense was weak, and his vital energy was exhausted. His condition was not even as good as that of an ordinary mortal.

Due to his body tempering cultivation, Wang Xiao's skin was incredibly fair. Although he had bruises, swelling, and minor abrasions on his body, any discerning cultivator could tell at a glance that they were all bumps and bruises caused by drifting at sea.

With no fluctuations in cultivation level, fair and delicate skin, and no signs of sun exposure, Zhou Qian and Xie An both regarded him as a young master from a noble family or a merchant who had been robbed by pirates and had miraculously drifted ashore.

"We won't disturb your rest any longer. Just call us if you need anything." Zhou Qian stood up, patted Xie An on the shoulder, and said, "See you later, Xie Zhen."

Xie An looked up, his face expressionless, and calmly corrected him: "My name is Xie An."

"I know." Zhou Qian grinned and walked away without looking back.

After the two left, the cabin returned to silence.

Wang Xiao lay on the bed, carefully observing his surroundings.

This is a small, simple wooden hut with walls made of rough wooden planks, the gaps filled with dry grass and mud to block the wind.

The windows were small, and the light streaming into the room was dim and soft.

The interior was furnished very simply, with only a wooden bed, a wooden table, two wooden chairs, and a simple stove.

Fishing nets and harpoons were piled up in the corner, and the air was filled with a faint, salty smell of the sea breeze.

Simple and unpretentious, yet clean and tidy, exuding a rare warmth.

Wang Xiao withdrew his gaze and began to carefully examine his own injuries.

The situation was extremely bad.

He tried to extend his divine sense outwards, but his divine sense could only cover a small area of ​​the wooden bed beneath him. He couldn't even fully perceive the entire wooden house, let alone the scenery outside.

The body surface appears intact, with no fatal wounds, and the limbs can move normally, but the internal injuries are already numerous.

The bones were cracked in many places, the muscles were torn over a large area, and the internal organs were damaged to varying degrees.

Only the sliver of life remaining from the "Dead Tree Comes Back to Life" secret technique within his body, like needle and thread, barely stitched together the cracks all over his body, thus protecting him from physical collapse.

Is this the power of the collapse of the void?

That's absolutely terrifying.

What worries him even more is that "the withered tree has come back to life" has completely stopped operating.

More accurately, it had been operating at overcapacity for too long, completely exhausting its energy and forcing it into hibernation.

The sea of ​​primordial energy within his body was almost solidified. The once vast and boundless ocean of primordial energy had now become a stagnant pool, with a thin barrier condensing on its surface.

The Jianmu tree has lost its former glory; its branches and leaves are drooping and withered, and its leaves are dull and lifeless. The entire sacred tree is on the verge of withering and decaying.

Wang Xiao's heart sank for a moment, but she did not panic.

He closed his eyes and concentrated, trying to communicate with the primordial energy between heaven and earth.

Fortunately, it's still feasible.

The subtle primordial energy between heaven and earth seemed to sense something, and strands of it gathered from all directions, slowly seeping into the body through the pores of the skin.

The absorption rate is extremely slow, like a dry and cracked riverbed receiving a light spring rain—weak but persistent. At least, there is a source of fresh water.

He deliberately concealed his aura, not allowing even the slightest fluctuation of his vital energy to leak out.

Zhou Qian and Xie An were both cultivators at the peak of the Fish Leap stage, and they had some sense of Yuan Qi. Once they noticed something unusual, it would only cause trouble and disputes.

The next steps are clear: first, dissolve the solidified sea of ​​primordial energy, then slowly revive the life force of the Jianmu tree, and finally wait for the "Dead Tree Comes Back to Life" secret technique to be reawakened and put into operation.

Based on the current recovery rate, it will take at least seven days to return to peak condition.

Wang Xiao guided the free-flowing vital energy to circulate through his body for several cycles. After confirming that there were no major problems, he slowly calmed his mind.

The body tempering technique circulated autonomously, and lying quietly on the bed helped him clear his chaotic thoughts.

The trip to the Demon Island, with its many secrets and shocks, left a deep impression on him.

The confrontation between maritime and terrestrial civilizations, the unfinished epic of Donghuang Ge, the tragic suppression of the True Dragon for hundreds of years, the bloody and tearful past of the ancestors of Liudao Island being massacred, and the unwavering guardianship of auspicious beasts and ghostly soldiers until death...

Each and every item was heavy and scorching.

Fortunately, the outcome wasn't too bad.

He survived, so Xiao He, Su Qinhe, and the others must be safe and sound, and should have already arrived safely in Yuhang.

The subsequent events on Demon Island and the whereabouts of everyone can only be investigated slowly after their injuries have healed.

Right now, he needs to sort out the doubts in his mind.

Everything happened too quickly, and he never had time to properly process it.

What tremendous changes occurred in Kyushu fifty years ago?

Why did the unfinished Donghuang Song disappear into thin air?

Is it transcendence and ascension to a higher realm, or is there another hidden story?

Wang Xiao absolutely refused to believe that Donghuang had fallen.

Even after being suppressed for hundreds of years, the true dragon still survived, and even after the primordial spirit of the queen was destroyed, she was able to be reborn by borrowing another body.

The strength of the Eastern Emperor far surpasses that of the other two. If others can survive, how could he perish?

But the facts are clear: Donghuang has vanished without a trace, and his name has been erased along with him.

Who orchestrated all of this?

Could it be that Donghuang himself did this on purpose?

Besides, why did the Great Qian Dynasty tolerate the continued existence of the Ai Xin family?

Is it really just as Yan Zixi said, that it's only because of teaching and nurturing people and the need to preserve the family's cultural heritage?

This reason, upon closer examination, is riddled with flaws.

Ai Xin's family are remnants of the Daqing Dynasty, the instigators of the Dragon Slaying Plan, and could even be considered spies planted in Kyushu by the maritime civilization.

The Great Qian court could not possibly be completely unaware of this, yet it chose to turn a blind eye and allow it to take root and multiply; there must be a conspiracy behind it.

What does it mean that Zhenlong said, "After Donghuang reshaped the cultivation system, the advancement to the Dragon Gate Divine Realm does not require the Immortal Ephemeral Flower"?

The elders of the sect never mentioned it, and even top sects with profound foundations like Fengyuxuan and Haoqige were completely unaware of it.

Has the cultivation methods of Kyushu truly regressed?

Or has the true dragon been asleep for too long, causing its memory to become distorted?

Thinking of the true dragon, Wang Xiao felt a pang of sadness and bitterness.

Without the help of a true dragon, the consequences for the Demon Island would be unimaginable.

He suppressed his emotions and quickly used his divine sense to examine the contents of the cellar.

The Dragon Balls are still there.

The fist-sized golden pearl lay quietly in the corner of the cellar, with a small dragon slowly swimming inside, its golden light clear and its spirit still intact.

But what should be done with this Dragon Ball in the future? Where should it be placed after being brought back to Kyushu? It can't be carried around with it forever, can it?

For the Immortal Ephemeral Flower to take root and survive in the land of Kyushu, it must rely on the nourishment of pure dragon energy, and this Dragon Pearl is the only treasure in the world that can continuously supply dragon energy.

Wang Xiao pondered for a moment, putting aside his complicated thoughts for the time being, deciding to deal with everything after he had fully recovered.

Once my injuries have healed and all matters here have been settled, the first thing I will do is return to Seven Star Mountain.

I found my master and asked him all my questions.

All of this secrecy must be closely related to Qixing Mountain.

The Seven Star Sword is the best evidence. Why did Donghuang's sword fall into his master's hands?

What is the connection between Master and Donghuang?

No wonder Kung Pao Chicken was so interested in the Seven Star Sword back then.

It perished on Lishan Mountain, and after escaping its predicament, it wanted to return to Qixing Mountain to find out the truth.

Fearing retaliation from Ai Xin's family, they ultimately chose to go to Dongbin.

At the Purple Qi Pavilion, Senior Brother Li Guang again made excuses about Demon Island and said he would talk about it later.

In the past, he once thought that he had succeeded in the blood sacrifice during the battle of Lishan, but now, looking back, he realized that he did not have that ability at all.

Phoenix blood sacrifice, true dragon blood sacrifice, layers of hidden secrets...

What earth-shattering secret is sealed within the Seven Star Sword?

"Where is the Seven Star Sword?" Wang Xiao's heart skipped a beat.

Just as he was critically injured and on the verge of death, his consciousness was collapsing and his body and mind were severely damaged, he only realized at this moment that his Seven Star Sword was nowhere to be found.