Mountain Venerable and Sea Immortal

The stone house was cold and desolate, the walls were chilly, and even the light filtering through the thin windows had a bleak, grayish-white tinge.

Su Lingyue sat slumped against one side of the square table, her body swaying precariously, unable to straighten her back any longer. The bone demon's chilling, corrosive poisonous markings, black with a hint of blue, coiled around her bones like an evil python, climbing along the blood vessels of her shoulders and neck, and had already spread to the side of her jaw, a horrifying sight.

The toxins entered her veins, corroding her blood and marrow. Her skin was sometimes cold and sometimes stiff, her inner spiritual energy was collapsing like sand, and her dantian and qi sea were withering away. Yunxi had been expending her life energy to forcefully suppress the poison for days, but she could only barely keep the poison from spreading to her heart. She could not eradicate the root of the poison, nor suppress its spread. If she delayed any longer, the poison would eventually invade her heart meridians and extinguish her soul lamp.

Su Lingyue forced her eyes open, her gaze dull and lifeless, her breath so weak she could barely breathe, yet she still gritted her teeth and pleaded, "The sect is in turmoil right now... there's no need for me to brave the perilous Water Moon Realm alone. It's not worth it."

Lin Yan stood before him, his expression as firm as iron, each word carrying immense weight: "We stand shoulder to shoulder as fellow disciples, bound by life and death. You shielded Laoshan from poison and shed blood, and I will brave the swamp to retrieve medicine for you. I will save you; wait patiently for my return."

With that, Lin Yan and Yun Xi, dressed in simple blue robes, headed straight for Shuiyue Pavilion.

An hour later, the entire view of Shuiyue Pavilion came into view.

A vast expanse of misty water stretches across the land, with thousands of lakes linked together and countless islands floating on the waves. A boundless expanse of water mist blankets the land, connecting heaven and earth. The water vapor, like smoke and gauze, or like a heavy prison, obscures the sky and the sun, isolating the world from the mortal realm.

At first glance, it resembles a paradise on earth, serene and secluded, so quiet that there is no sign of fighting or strife.

But Lin Yan's gaze darkened slightly, and he saw it clearly.

Beneath this seemingly gentle expanse of misty waters lies a hidden, winding waterway; around the island, layers of barriers coil, concealing deadly dangers. Water serves as walls, mist as arrays, and the lake as a boundary—it appears to be a paradise, but in reality, every step is fraught with peril. Those unfamiliar with the waterways who rashly enter will only be trapped in the misty array, forever lost in the mire, never to escape. His heart stirred slightly, and he sensed the surging of the spiritual veins beneath the earth.

The water veins here are secretly connected to the spiritual veins of the back mountain of Laoshan, sharing the same spiritual energy and exchanging auras. It is precisely because of this that traveling by water is far faster and more secretive than by land.

The road ahead is shrouded in mist and water, like standing in a dragon's den or a tiger's lair.

Before long, Lin Yan and Yun Xi crossed the water and arrived at the ferry crossing outside the Water Moon Pavilion. At that moment, four water-clad guards blocked their way with their boats. Their water blades were frosty, their spiritual power was gathering, and their expressions were as cold and stern as iron.

"The Water Moon Pavilion is closed off and the entire continent is sealed off. No one from outside the sects is allowed to enter. Laoshan disciples, please leave immediately!"

As the two were pondering how to enter the pavilion, a small boat suddenly drifted in from the depths of the misty waters.

Standing on the boat was a young woman in white, her clothes draped in a light veil. Her features were gentle and refined, her temperament as pure as a lotus emerging from water, untouched by worldly dust. She was none other than Shuiyue Qingyao, the first disciple personally taught by Su Wanli, the master of Shuiyue Pavilion.

Qingyao recognized Lin Yan at a glance, and was slightly surprised. She immediately urged the boat forward and said to the guards in a deep voice, "These two are old friends I invited. They are not outsiders from other sects. You may all leave."

The guards dared not disobey the Pavilion Master's chief disciple, so they had no choice but to sheathe their weapons, withdraw from the formation, and retreat to the waterway.

As the light boat docked, Shuiyue Qingyao stepped forward slowly, her gaze falling on Lin Yan. She sighed softly, "So it was you. We parted ways at Guixu Sea Port, never imagining we'd meet again in my Shuiyue Yanze."

Lin Yan's mind flashed, recalling their brief encounter at the Haikou ferry a few months ago. He immediately cupped his hands in greeting: "I apologize for my rudeness, I didn't recognize Fellow Daoist Qingyao at first. My visit is truly out of necessity. My fellow disciple is afflicted with the Bone Demon's Corroding Bone Poison, and only your esteemed Medicine Island's Pure Soul Water Heart Lotus can remove the poison and restore her pulse. There is no other way."

Upon hearing this, Qingyao's expression changed slightly. She subconsciously glanced around at the misty surroundings and lowered her voice: "Do you know that Medicine Island is a forbidden area of ​​our Pavilion, with strict restrictions, and outsiders are never allowed to set foot there? Moreover, the two factions within the Pavilion are currently fighting, and the situation is tense. If members of other sects were to appear, it would be a catastrophe."

"I know this is extremely difficult," Lin Yan said calmly, "but the poison is already close to my heart. Every day that drags on increases the danger. I really have no other choice."

Qingyao remained silent for a moment, then gently bit her lip and sighed softly, "We've only met once, and I shouldn't have taken this great risk. But if I turn a blind eye, my conscience won't be at peace."

She looked up, her tone serious: "I can take you there, but you must promise me three things."

First, once you arrive on the island, follow my instructions and do not act on your own.

Second, once you take the lotus, leave immediately and do not linger for even a moment.

Third, you must never reveal that I led you in, otherwise both my master and I will be doomed.

Lin Yan nodded solemnly: "I am already deeply grateful for your kindness. I will abide by all three agreements and will never break them."

Seeing his earnest expression, Qingyao realized he didn't seem like a wicked person, and finally made up her mind: "Alright. The main gate and the main road are heavily guarded, so we can't go there. I'll lead you through the old secret passage in the middle of the lake, avoiding everyone's eyes and ears, and quietly sneak into the medicine island."

"But remember, Medicine Island is guarded by Elder Shui Xuan, who is Shui Ning Shuang's confidant and harbors deep hostility towards Laoshan. If he sees us, none of the three of us will be able to escape."

Lin Yan said in a deep voice, "I understand."

The three of them said no more and boarded the boat together.

A small boat glided through the vast expanse of misty waves, disappearing into layers of fog, avoiding the bustling main pavilion area and instead taking a secluded and hidden waterway. The Water Moon Pavilion is a network of interconnected islands and water formations, easily confusing outsiders. Only Qingyao, familiar with the secret passages, skillfully navigated the winding paths, avoiding numerous barriers and patrols, silently approaching the depths of the lake.

Upon reaching the heart of the land, Qingyao pointed to a solitary spiritual island. The island was filled with the steaming spiritual energy, fragrant immortal herbs, and gurgling spiritual springs.

"The Medicine Island Secret Realm lies ahead."

"The Pure Soul Lotus grows in the Soul Spring of the Island."

"Remember to collect the loot and leave immediately. Under no circumstances should you disturb the island's elders, especially Elder Shui Xuan. He is a confidant of Shui Ning Shuang and Tie Gan, and he has always targeted Laoshan. If you run into him, he will definitely make things difficult for you and pester you relentlessly, showing absolutely no mercy."

Lin Yan's gaze was deep and focused. The spirit tortoise Xuan Cang on his shoulder lay low on guard, while the inkstone and Dingyuan Pearl concealed their spiritual energy, ready to unleash their power.

"I already know."

Before the words were even finished, the mist on the lake suddenly tightened, and a dark shadow seemed to flash across the distant island. Undercurrents surged beneath the ripples, and even the spiritual energy in the air carried a tense chill. The three of them were traveling on the water in their boat, and before they even landed on the island, an invisible sense of oppression had already overwhelmed them.