Star Martial Soaring Cloud

Among the many places in China known for their fireworks displays, there's Zhongyun City, renowned for its spectacular fireworks, the exotic Hexi Corridor, and Nanjing, the ancient capital of six dynasties. But if we're talking about the most talked-about place in June, it has to be Yuhang, the pearl of the eastern coast.

Yuhang was originally a small fishing village on the East China Sea. Its transformation into a first-class metropolis in the Nine Provinces owes much to the arrival of the Demon Island.

Three hundred years ago, the Demon Island first appeared in Yuhang, causing a stir and attracting the attention of thousands. The entire Kyushu was in a frenzy, with everyone flocking to it.

At that time, the Daqing Dynasty was in power, and the Daqing emperor visited Yuhang six times. He spent a lot of money to dig the Grand Canal, connecting the north and south, and supplemented it with several wide post roads, making Yuhang a transportation hub in all directions.

Since then, countless mysterious tales have arisen here: poets and writers gather here to compose poems and compete in elegance; countless cultivators practice swordsmanship and martial arts here, leaving behind many legends of immortals reaching for the moon and ascending to heaven.

After a brief reunion with his senior fellow apprentice Li Guang, Wang Xiao arrived in this land today.

Before he had even set foot in Yuhang City, he could already sense the extraordinary nature of this place—it was destined to be a place of great upheaval and change.

Half a day's journey from Yuhang, the number of pedestrians along the way suddenly increased, many strange beasts galloped like lightning, and many cultivators flew through the air, creating a lively and extraordinary scene.

Watching the cultivators coming and going, Wang Xiao sighed inwardly, "It seems my senior brother was right. I'm afraid most of the cultivators below the Dragon Gate Divine Realm from all over the Nine Provinces will come. The allure of Demon Island is indeed immense!"

However, only five hundred cultivators are qualified to enter the Demon Island. They are all the top talents among the younger generation of various families and forces. They must win through layers of competition to obtain the qualification to enter the island.

However, the descendants of Qixing Mountain can secure a spot simply by virtue of the name "Qixing".

Wang Xiao has now achieved some success.

When they parted, his senior brother Li Guang asked him which of the eight elements of heaven and earth he was most sensitive to and what kind of supernatural power he planned to cultivate in the future.

Wang Xiao smiled slightly and replied, "The eight elemental divine powers of heaven and earth can be cultivated, yet none of them are truly essential!"

At this moment, he was completely clueless about the eight elemental supernatural powers. His only thought was to complete the Five Elements Body Refinement as soon as possible—the Heart Refinement with the Fire of the Mortal World was completed, and there were still four elements to be cultivated.

His idea was simple: supernatural powers are my own body, and I am the supernatural power.

The closer Wang Xiao got to Yuhang, the more peculiar the city seemed.

Although he was heading towards a bustling metropolis, the scenery along the way made him feel as if he had stepped into a pure land.

The roadside is lined with lush vegetation, making it impossible to feel the changing seasons—it should be the height of summer, but there is no heat at all. Instead, a warm breeze caresses the face, as if it were springtime, and the spring water gurgles, filling the air with a sense of comfort.

The air was thick with spiritual energy, so rich it seemed to permeate everything. Nourished by this energy, the ancient trees along the roadside grew tall and majestic, reaching dozens of feet in height, resembling small mountains. Their gnarled branches stretched like dragons across the sky, blocking out the sun.

"The Demon Island is so wondrous! No wonder cultivators are fighting tooth and nail to enter the island to cultivate. Even if they can't enter the Demon Island, they still take advantage of its arrival to absorb spiritual energy in Yuhang to cultivate!" Wang Xiao thought to himself.

Throughout history, countless legends have circulated about the Demon Island, and despite consulting various historical records, people have never been able to ascertain its origins.

The origins of the Demon Island are lost to time; all that is known is that it appears once every hundred years, staying in Kyushu for a year to absorb the essence of heaven and earth and the essence of the sun and moon.

Countless cultivators throughout history have explored the island, and although they have failed to unravel the mystery of its origin, they have finally figured out how to enter it.

Once upon a time, a powerful cultivator at the Divine Realm whose lifespan was nearing its end tried to force his way into the Demon Island in search of a chance to survive. However, he triggered the island's restrictions, which in turn attracted thunder from the heavens. The powerful cultivator was reduced to ashes and ceased to exist.

As the cultivators continued their investigation, they finally discovered that the Demon Island was surrounded by countless restrictions, similar to the Eight Emperors' Decree. The higher the cultivation level of a cultivator, the more severe the suppression, making it more difficult for them to enter. However, cultivators at the Fish Leap Realm could enter the island without any damage, and even ordinary people without any cultivation could step into it unscathed.

Upon entering the Demon Island, the group confirmed their earlier suspicions—it was indeed a treasure trove for cultivation. The spiritual energy on the island was far more abundant than that of the Nine Provinces, and countless rare and precious materials, spiritual beasts, and exotic insects lurked within; a year of cultivation here was comparable to ten or even a hundred years of arduous training in the Nine Provinces.

More importantly, the Demon Island possesses the essential item for advancing to the Dragon Gate Divine Realm—the Immortal Epiphyllum Flower.

Various noble families have tried to bring the Immortal Epiphyllum flower out of the Demon Island, but they have found that this flower can only survive for a hundred years in Kyushu and cannot reproduce.

Left with no other choice, the various factions had to enter the island every hundred years to harvest the fruit or collect it to refine it into Dragon Gate Pills.

Even more remarkably, none of the fish-leaping cultivators who entered the Demon Island succeeded in reaching the Dragon Gate Divine Realm.

It possesses the necessary items for breaking through realms, yet it prevents you from doing so, as if the Demon Island were a pure land prepared for cultivators who leap into the realm.

Therefore, each time the Demon Island descends, it is a grand gathering for cultivators across the Nine Provinces.

Initially, various forces fought openly and covertly for control of this precious land, resulting in over a thousand large and small battles.

Ultimately, the various factions reached a consensus to seek common ground while reserving differences, share the resources of the Demon Island, and designate it as a training ground for the younger generation of each sect.

Led by the Imperial Court, major powers across the Nine Provinces selected disciples to enter the island and wage war on the Demon Island.

Standing beneath the walls of Yuhang, Wang Xiao finally witnessed this legendary metropolis firsthand, and his face was filled with astonishment as he looked around.

The city wall is magnificent and imposing, like a dragon lying horizontally, stretching endlessly.

The city gate, towering over 100 meters high, stands like a giant, exuding majesty. The oppressive feeling it evokes is almost suffocating, yet within this oppressive atmosphere, one inexplicably feels a sense of goodwill.

The wide streets are lined with willow trees, their branches hanging down like ribbons; the Grand Canal, like a green jade belt, winds through the city, its waters sparkling and shimmering in the sunlight, a truly breathtaking sight.

On the lake, hundreds of boats raced against each other, and thousands of sails competed for position. Merchant ships and tourist boats shuttled back and forth, creating a bustling and lively scene.

Wang Xiao looked into the distance but couldn't see the other end of the city wall. He secretly estimated that if he didn't fly through the air, it would take several days to walk across the city.

The streets were lined with palaces and temples, and the ancient streets were wide. Restaurants, gambling dens and teahouses were all available, and they were extremely luxurious. Mortals and cultivators mingled together without any barriers.

The crowds were dense, but it didn't feel crowded.

Men, women, young and old, all kinds of people, and many different races: there are foreigners with golden hair and blue eyes, people from the Central Plains with black hair and yellow skin, strange tribes with green and purple hair, and even tall and strong barbarians with animal ears.

The main streets were bustling with people. Merchants from the south, herbalists and hunters from the northern plains, and wandering monks from the southern border all traveled through this famous city of the continent with their own purposes.

"This is Yuhang City. It truly is an eye-opener!" Wang Xiao strolled around the city, his heart filled with emotion.

"Look! Those are disciples of the Arctic Immortal Palace!" Suddenly, a commotion arose from the crowd. A group of dozens of people slowly walked into the center of the street, all dressed in simple blue robes, yet exuding an otherworldly and ethereal aura.

"It seems the rumors were true after all!"

"What rumor?"

"Rumor has it that all the disciples of the Arctic Immortal Palace are exceptionally handsome, the men as elegant as jade, and the women as beautiful as flowers. Seeing them today, I can confirm that their reputation is well-deserved!"

"What's the use of being good-looking?" someone scoffed.

"Do you think they're just pretty faces? The Arctic Immortal Palace is one of the ten greatest powers in the Nine Provinces!"

"The Ten Great Powers of Kyushu?"

"Look at you, an outsider, you don't even know this!" someone explained, "Fengyuxuan, Zhongzhou Xuanyuan Family, Dongbin Haoqi Pavilion, Xumi Sect, Xihuang Ziqi Mansion, Kunlun Cave Heaven, Nanjiang Nishang Immortal Palace, Qingcheng Sword Mountain, Beiyuan Yanyi Palace, and Beiji Immortal Palace—these ten families are the ten most revered sects among cultivators of the Nine Provinces!"

"Hmph, so what if they're one of the top ten powers? I don't see anything special about them!"

"Nothing special? Are you joking, brother?" the man scoffed. "Look at the two at the front, both at the peak of the Fish Leap cultivation level, yet they're only twenty years old. It takes an ordinary person at least forty or fifty years to reach the peak of the Fish Leap. Do you think everyone is the military genius Li Guang?"

With the arrival of the Demon Island imminent, the city of Yuhang was in turmoil as various powerful forces arrived one after another. Just then, a thunderclap resounded throughout the land, causing the entire city of Yuhang to tremble!

"What is that sound?!"

The entire city's inhabitants and cultivators were alarmed. Dark clouds rapidly gathered in the sky, lightning flashed and thunder roared, and strange phenomena suddenly appeared in the world—the Demon Island was finally about to descend!

Thunder rumbled and dark clouds hung like ink; even the thick black curtain could not conceal this earth-shattering anomaly.

"The Demon Island has finally arrived..." Many people were overjoyed. They had gathered in Yuhang and had been waiting for this moment.

"Has it finally arrived?" Wang Xiao looked up at the sky, his eyes filled with determination and anticipation.

At this moment, the thunder grew louder, and the dark clouds rolled and surged at a speed visible to the naked eye, quickly covering the entire sky.

Occasionally, a bright flash of lightning would rip across the sky, turning the world a ghastly white.

But as the dark clouds grew thicker, even the lightning that crisscrossed the sky was swallowed up, and the world was plunged into complete darkness.

Endless darkness descended like a curtain of death, and an extremely oppressive atmosphere permeated the air, pressing down on everyone's hearts like a thousand-pound boulder. A chilling sense of terror swept across the world.

Amidst the churning dark clouds and endless blackness, a point of white light suddenly appeared, and an enormous sphere loomed in and out of sight on the horizon, undulating in the distance.

The sphere exuded the weight of history and the vicissitudes of time, as if it came from the very beginning of time, before the creation of the world. With its appearance, an enormous vortex suddenly formed in the sky, spinning at high speed, swallowing up the dark clouds in the blink of an eye like a whale swallowing its prey.

The sky suddenly brightened—not with the brightness of sunshine, but with an eerie, unsettling light.

The Demon Island has finally revealed its "true face".

Inside the sphere, divine light shone in countless rays, dazzling like a rainbow. Golden waves could be vaguely seen surging and crashing, accompanied by bursts of lightning and thunder. Giant waves were towering on the sea surface, staging a violent tsunami.

Above the golden ocean, phantoms of gods and demons, ghosts and spirits, appeared, both eerie and sacred.

Deep in the ocean, a solitary island stands silently, exuding an indescribable desolation and loneliness.

"Look! That's Li Guang, the God of War of Kyushu!"

"Senior Brother Li Guang!" Wang Xiao was both surprised and delighted. He never expected that the one in charge of activating the island entry formation would be his senior brother.

"Is it really General Li Guang?"

"I'd only ever heard of it before, but today I finally get to see it for myself!"

The crowd buzzed with discussion, their eyes filled with unspeakable admiration.

Li Guang, who was suspended in the air, did not say much. Instead, he used his fingers as a brush to carve intricate runes and arrays in the void.

His fingertips touched the void, producing a crackling sound. His expression was extremely focused, and countless Dao patterns were deeply imprinted on the void, profound and obscure, incomprehensible to anyone.

"What level of cultivation does General Li Guang possess? He opened the dimensional gate directly using the void as an array without needing an altar!"

"This...this is unheard of!" Everyone was so shocked they couldn't speak.

A moment later, the array patterns carved by Li Guang suddenly shone brightly, as if they had come to life, trembling and shimmering with spiritual light.

Strange chanting suddenly rang out in the sky, sometimes sounding like the low chanting of gods and Buddhas, and sometimes like the sinister laughter of demons from the netherworld, extremely eerie.

As the chanting ended, the world changed color, and a deafening thunderclap shook the universe! The void twisted violently and collapsed continuously, and then a dark portal suddenly opened—the Domain Gate had been successfully opened!

"Prepare to enter the island!" Li Guang's voice echoed in all directions. "All prodigies, infuse your vital energy into your tokens, and the formation will guide you to the island. Remember, your landing point will be random upon arrival; please be careful!"

With a flash of light, Wang Xiao felt his body lighten and was gently pulled into the array leading to the Demon Island. "Miss Mulan? Why is she here too?" Just before his body completely disappeared into the void, Wang Xiao unexpectedly caught a glimpse of Mulan in the crowd.

When Wang Xiao opened his eyes again, he found himself in a vast golden ocean.

The golden waves surged and rolled, one after another, creating a magnificent spectacle.

But beneath the surface of the sea lies a chilling sight—countless blood-stained bone claws dance in the water, sometimes surfacing, sometimes disappearing beneath.

"What's going on? I've been teleported to the surface of the ocean?" Wang Xiao looked around, seeing nothing but a vast golden sea. He was filled with doubt and surprise. "I haven't even learned to fly yet, so how can I be hovering in the air?"

"Amitabha..." Suddenly, an ancient and deep Buddhist voice resounded in the golden ocean. The voice was solemn and sacred, coming from the distant horizon, as if transcending land and time, vast and melodious.

"Who? Who's speaking?" Wang Xiao's heart tightened, and she gasped.

"Amitabha Buddha..." Immediately afterwards, an ancient and simple Taoist voice rang out.

Wang Xiao looked in the direction of the sound, but couldn't see a single person. Just then, everything went black, and a dizzying sensation swept over him.

As the discomfort of the distorted space subsided, he found himself on solid ground, and the salty sea breeze, carrying a rich fragrance of grass and trees, wafted towards him.

Looking up, a vast and desolate scene I had never seen before came into view—this was now the Demon Island.