Zhi Xuan nodded slightly, meticulously absorbing the information provided by the rugged cultivators. He realized that the Sea of Verdant Winds was not merely a tempest; it was a natural phenomenon driven by Laws that transcended the ordinary element of Wind, likely intertwined with the Extreme Ice Laws of the Northern Continent interacting with the atmospheric currents.

  "The Wind Phoenix Ship," Zhi Xuan murmured. He was well aware that such artifacts were costly, but he did not lack Spiritual Stones. The issue was not the expense, but rather the fact that the vessel only traversed half the distance. This reinforced his suspicion: the point further into the sea was where the destructive power of the Wind reached its absolute zenith.

  Zhi Xuan raised his cup toward Li Han and Feng Ya, his face returning to a relaxed expression that contrasted with his striking appearance, which was clearly not that of a novice cultivator.

  "I thank you both for the warning, fellow Daoists," Zhi Xuan said, taking a sip of the brew. The Wind Wine was sharp, its essence immediately resonating with his Pure Lightning Law, granting him an initial sensation of the wild and untethered nature of the Wind. "It seems we must seek out this Wind Phoenix Ship. Where might I find the vessel? Or, more precisely, Jing Zi?"

  Li Han, now more comfortable with Zhi Xuan's calm and generous demeanor—though he viewed Zhi Xuan as somewhat naive since he appeared to be a mere Five Elements practitioner who had just begun his journey—pointed toward the rear of the teahouse.

  "Jing Zi maintains her base behind the main docks. You will see the most powerful Wind-Warding Formation in this harbor; that belongs to her," Li Han explained. He sipped his wine, eyeing Zhi Xuan with a lingering trace of curiosity. "But listen, Zhang Shui. Jing Zi is a woman who once traveled to the Yao Gu Plains. She is highly demanding, not just regarding the price, but regarding temperament. If you show the slightest discouragement or disrespect, she will cast you out even if you offer her the entire wealth of your storage bag."

  The elder man chimed in by suddenly slamming the table, causing Ao Sheng, who sat at Zhi Xuan's side, to startle. The old man let out a long belch, a wide grin spreading across his face as the alcohol began to take hold.

  "Yes, that is true," the old man grunted half-drunkenly, also gesturing toward the back of the building. "I heard she was once a disciple of the Sky Leaf Sacred Pavilion. She went to the Xing Luo Plains because she was satisfied with her time as a disciple and returned here because she missed her homeland."

  "Senior brother is right! I have heard that as well," the younger man exclaimed, draining another cup of wine. "Jing Zi once said that the Sky Leaf Sacred Pavilion is one of the few factions capable of contending with the Nine Ancient Clans. Their cultivation techniques are so secretive they are considered equal to the Ancient Clans themselves."

  Zhi Xuan merely offered a thin smile, showing no emotion toward the rumors regarding Jing Zi's background. The Sky Leaf Sacred Pavilion—a name unfamiliar to him, as the Ancient Heaven Memory Legacy did not record every mortal faction.

  However, the claim of contending with the Nine Ancient Clans was likely an exaggeration, though it suggested a sturdy foundation, perhaps equivalent to the Thousand Heavens Sect. Regardless, information regarding the route and Jing Zi's character was far more valuable than the origins of her sect.

  He thanked the two cultivators with a small nod and placed several low-grade Spiritual Stones on the table, which were met with satisfied smiles from Li Han and Feng Ya. He rose, leading Ao Sheng out of the warm teahouse and back into the biting cold of the harbor winds.

  "The Sky Leaf Sacred Pavilion," Ao Sheng muttered, having digested the whispers. "Senior Zhi Xuan, if she hails from such a powerful faction, she might possess potent Wind-Warding Artifacts that are hidden from our sight."

  Zhi Xuan nodded, stepping firmly against the piercing gusts. "Naturally. And she did not return here for a mere respite. She manages the Wind Phoenix Ship, which means she holds the path to the Sea of Verdant Winds. She seeks profit, or perhaps she is simply a woman who enjoys her life."

  They walked toward the main docks. The air there was much denser and harsher, with defensive formations emitting a dim glow to withstand the atmospheric pressure. In a corner of the docks, they spotted a small, sturdy fortress constructed from blocks of obsidian stone.

  The formations surrounding the fortress were indeed the most powerful in the Port of Flying Jade, radiating a stable Earth Law that locked down the wild winds. The gate was guarded by a middle-aged female cultivator with a full Five Elements aura, wielding a short spear inscribed with Wind Runes.

  "We seek Jing Zi, owner of the Wind Phoenix Ship," Zhi Xuan spoke in a calm and respectful voice, his tone devoid of any arrogance. He displayed the demeanor of a polite and humble Five Elements cultivator—exactly as he had presented himself when facing high-realm practitioners.

  The female guard surveyed Zhi Xuan from head to toe, her weary face etched with vigilance. "Does this Young Master wish to cross the sea? The fee for passage on the Wind Phoenix Ship is exceedingly high, and our mistress does not accept payment in low-grade Spiritual Stones."

  "We are aware of the customs, Daoist," Zhi Xuan replied, producing a storage pouch. He did not open it immediately but allowed the pouch to throb with the essence of high-grade Spiritual Stones. "We do not seek a discount; we seek safe passage. I am certain a fitting price will make Mistress Jing Zi willing to spare her time."

  The female cultivator sensed the fluctuations of the high-grade stones, and her eyes flickered. The resonance was more than enough for a single journey. Her wariness eased slightly.

  "Follow me. Mistress Jing Zi is inspecting the ship in the hangar," she said, signaling for them to follow.

  They entered the formation-fortress. Inside, the atmosphere was far more tranquil; the Wind-Warding Formations were exceptionally effective. They walked past a courtyard filled with various flying artifacts reinforced with runes and defensive arrays.

  In the center of a vast, open hangar lay the Wind Phoenix Ship. The artifact was no ordinary wooden vessel; it possessed a maroon-colored spiritual steel hull shaped like a phoenix in flight, sleek and aerodynamic. Its entire surface was covered in intricate Wind Runes that emitted a controlled Wind Law—orderly rather than chaotic—a testament to high-level formation expertise.

  Beside the ship stood a slender, mature woman clad in sky-blue silk robes that contrasted sharply with the obsidian backdrop. Her black hair was tied high, and her face radiated a sharp intelligence.

  She brushed the surface of the hull with her palm, as if communicating with the artifact. Her aura was stable at the Soul Transformation realm, exceedingly high, yet it felt distinct; it felt as though she could flow with the wind itself.

  "Mistress Jing Zi," the guard called in a low voice. "Two guests wish to board the Wind Phoenix Ship."

  Jing Zi turned. Her eyes, light gray like morning mist, regarded Zhi Xuan and Ao Sheng with chilling composure. Her gaze held no greed like that of a common merchant, but rather a calm and professional measurement.

  "The standard fee," Jing Zi said without preamble, her voice clear and firm, like a bell echoing in a gale. "Two hundred high-grade Spiritual Stones for a two-day journey to the designated boundary."

  Ao Sheng flinched slightly. Two hundred high-grade Spiritual Stones was a significant fortune, whether or not it equated to the dangers hidden within the Sea of Verdant Winds.

  Zhi Xuan, conversely, remained unmoved. He stepped forward, waving his hand to place the pouch containing two hundred high-grade Spiritual Stones upon a nearby wooden storage chest. The scent of wealth filled the hangar, surprising both Jing Zi and the guard due to Zhi Xuan's directness.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  "We seek more than just a ride, Mistress Jing Zi," Zhi Xuan said calmly, his tone polite yet authoritative. "We seek security. I hope you can deliver me to the hill mentioned by the people in the teahouse."

  Jing Zi did not immediately take the stones. She stared at Zhi Xuan, her light gray eyes narrowing slightly as she gauged the youth before her. She had seen thousands of haughty cultivators, but Zhi Xuan was different. He was polite, yet beneath that calm lay a cold authority—like a blade of ice wrapped in silk.

  "I know the hill you speak of," Jing Zi replied, her voice softening slightly, though the firmness of a Soul Transformation cultivator remained. "It is the Sky Mist Hill. I usually escort cultivators seeking resources on the small islands surrounding it. Prepare yourselves for tonight."

  Zhi Xuan gave a small nod. "We shall be ready, Mistress Jing Zi. Pray, grant us a private cultivation room until the time of departure," Zhi Xuan replied. He had no more time to waste; his goal was clear. He wished to arrive at Sky Mist Hill, cross into the most extreme zone, and face the Wind Blade Storm head-on.

  Jing Zi, impressed by Zhi Xuan's efficiency and wealth, nodded. She directed her guard, the full Five Elements cultivator, to lead them. "Take them to the Cultivation Chamber. Ensure there are no disturbances."

  Zhi Xuan and Ao Sheng were immediately led to a cultivation room in the deepest part of the fortress. The room was small but equipped with a potent spiritual isolation formation and, more importantly, a perfect Wind-Warding array.

  Ao Sheng, still reeling from the cost, whispered to Zhi Xuan once they were inside, "Senior, two hundred high-grade Spiritual Stones... that could buy a Heaven-grade artifact. You gave it away so easily?"

  Zhi Xuan sat cross-legged upon a meditation mat, his expression returning to its usual calm. He was not surprised by Ao Sheng's shock. "Mortal wealth is but a tool, Golden Dragon. Safety and the time to forge one's Dao are priceless. We avoid the worst of the Wind Blade Storm, and Jing Zi is a Soul Transformation cultivator. It is a fair price."

  Zhi Xuan waved his hand, producing ten Divine Black Jade Stones and immediately shattering them, absorbing their essence to begin his meditation. He was preparing himself for a journey that would be jarring if he were not ready for such a ferocious Wind Law. He closed his eyes, allowing the pure and rich essence of the Divine Black Jade to seep into his Sea of Consciousness.

  Within the Sea of Consciousness, Zhi Xuan opened his eyes once more and approached the Tree of Life. He sharpened his divine sense to observe the chaos pearl housing the Kun Peng fetus, considering that this was a Sea, the very origin of the Kun. He turned his gaze toward Ruo Xianxue, who was busy inspecting her fingernails.

  "Great Saint," Zhi Xuan called calmly, intending to discuss something of importance. "This sea will not trigger the Kun Peng, will it? It is Wind meeting the Ocean, much like the nature of the Kun Peng itself."

  Ruo Xianxue looked up, her Sun and Moon dual pupils observing Zhi Xuan with feigned boredom. She flicked her nine tails slightly, letting the Darkness Runes covering them pulse slowly.

  "You overestimate an embryo, Devil," Ruo Xianxue hissed, her voice filled with condescension. "The Kun Peng, though primordial, is now but a fetus suppressed by my runes. It will not be triggered by a mortal Wind and Sea, regardless of how fierce that Wind Blade storm might be. A storm capable of disturbing a Kun Peng is one that carries incredibly potent Immortal Energy. It is not like the Golden Dragon or the Heavenly Moth; it requires immense energy to be born."

  Ruo Xianxue rose and drifted toward Zhi Xuan, coming to a halt before him. "Rest easy. The Kun Peng now is merely a fetus, not its true self, even though you and I struggled to suppress it then. If it were the Kun Peng that lived in my era, your Sea of Consciousness would not be able to contain it."

  Ruo Xianxue exhaled softly and turned, drifting back to sit upon a branch of the Tree of Life, crossing her legs like a devil looking down upon all things. "When I formed my spiritual body, my memories recovered slightly. I took the time to observe that fetus, finding that the Great Emperor Hua who took that chaos pearl from the Forbidden Plains did not take the same Kun Peng. The Kun Peng within that chaos pearl can be called the child of the Kun Peng."

  "The child of the Kun Peng," Zhi Xuan repeated, narrowing his spiritual eyes as he processed this new information. Although the fetus was but an offspring, the fact that it still radiated such primordial Water and Wind Laws—and was even able to share an Extreme Ice enlightenment that nearly tore his Sea of Consciousness apart—showed how terrifying this Divine Beast truly was.

  "Correct," Ruo Xianxue replied, raising her hand again to look at her nails. "My nine tails were capable of capturing the Kun Peng of my own era. Thus, I can say it is not the same Kun Peng after observing it for some time."

  "So, even as an offspring, the blood of a Divine Beast is still extraordinary," Zhi Xuan murmured spiritually, a chill running through him. This was a reminder of how precious that chaos pearl was and how immense the battle the Great Emperor Hua must have faced to obtain it, even if it was only the fetus of an offspring.

  "Do not forget the Nine Heavens Bead," Ruo Xianxue spoke once more, revealing her palm which held the beads. "There is still one figure locked within. He is locked here with me; the others dissolved themselves because they did not wish to be sealed. Now, only one figure remains."

  Zhi Xuan shifted his spiritual gaze from the Kun Peng fetus, focusing now on the Nine Heavens Bead in Ruo Xianxue's palm. The bead, shrouded in an incredibly potent Sealing aura, pulsed slowly. The newly revealed information felt like an earthquake shaking the foundation of his knowledge.

  "One more figure," Zhi Xuan repeated, his tone flat yet full of caution. He knew the Nine Heavens Bead was an Ancient Artifact used by the Forbidden Plains to seal exceedingly powerful entities. Ruo Xianxue herself was an Ancient Saint Devil who had been sealed. The other entity still surviving within the bead, after the others chose to dissolve themselves, must be a figure no less grand or terrifying than the Nine-Tailed Darkness Fox.

  "Who remains there, Great Saint?" Zhi Xuan asked, his voice carrying a demand. He had to know what other dangers lurked within his Sea of Consciousness, alongside the Devil Seed, Ruo Xianxue, and the Kun Peng fetus.

  Ruo Xianxue smiled thinly—a smile reflecting boundless and dangerous knowledge. Being one of the first to awaken from the Nine Heavens Bead, she had undoubtedly consumed the other figures who dissolved themselves upon awakening.

  "A Heavenly God," Ruo Xianxue whispered, her words sounding like the sigh of a wind from a deep abyss of time. "A figure who was once merely a low-tier God in the Heavens, but one day colluded with the Nine Heavens Sage Monkey. He fought against Heaven itself but hated the Forbidden Plains because they annihilated his soul. Fortunately, a sliver of his soul escaped into the River of Time until he sealed himself here."

  Zhi Xuan fell silent. His vast Sea of Consciousness, which should have been his spiritual fortress, now felt like a vessel holding too many primordial entities. The Devil Seed hungry for ruin, the cunning and powerful Nine-Tailed Darkness Fox, the Kun Peng fetus holding the ultimate Wind and Water Laws, and now, a Sky God who chose to be sealed. This was a grand menagerie of Ancient Heritage.

  "A Heavenly God," Zhi Xuan repeated, his tone now cold, reflecting his fast-moving spiritual thoughts. "Allied with the Nine Heavens Sage Monkey... an entity even more complicated than yourself, Great Saint."

  Ruo Xianxue exhaled, waving her hand as the Nine Heavens Bead vanished into the Sea of Consciousness. She returned to her arrogant seated position, her Sun and Moon gaze showing infinite boredom.

  "Of course. That Sage Monkey was a powerful figure among all I knew. His strength alone was comparable to the Forbidden Plains, but his stupidity led to his fall," Ruo Xianxue hissed. "And that Heavenly God—he did not fall to the Path of Devils or the Path of Demons. Rather, it was because he dreamed of becoming the Heavenly Emperor."

  "A Heavenly God who dreamed of becoming the Heavenly Emperor," Zhi Xuan murmured spiritually, a profound weariness enveloping his Primary Soul.

  It was as if every new piece of information Ruo Xianxue revealed added an infinite burden. He had to struggle in the mortal realm to find resources, face arrogant cultivators, and evade empires, while within his Sea of Consciousness, he was nursing a Devil, an ancient Dragon, and now a God with grand ambitions.

  He immediately waved his spiritual hand, refusing to drown in the grand tale that felt so burdensome, yet he also felt a mounting irritation at considering himself a mere vessel—as if he were filled with absurd figures and hiding them like he was nursing mortal infants.

  "Are you two infants?" Zhi Xuan asked in a flat voice, the frustration mounting on his face. "I have enough with you and the others, and now there is a Heavenly God who ambitions to be the Emperor? Why not have a Bull that wants to eat the Heavenly Dao inside my body as well?"

  Ruo Xianxue shifted her celestial gaze toward Zhi Xuan, her expression filled with wonder. That soft, mocking laugh echoed again in the Sea of Consciousness, but this time it contained a hint of genuine amusement.

  "A Bull?" Ruo Xianxue repeated, her voice sounding like clinking crystal bells. "You underestimate the Nine Heavens, Devil. There is a Bull that carries the Palace of the Flame God on its back, which has achieved a Dao far higher than the Heavenly God you mentioned. However, no, there is no Bull within your Sea of Consciousness. Only a God, a Dragon, a Moth, a Kun Peng, a Fox, and your own pathetic self."

  Zhi Xuan snorted, his irritation unabated. He did not care if he might be confused by all the ancient figures who previously considered him 'That Person.' However, being compared to a pen of primordial beasts was infuriating.

  "I indeed wish to step over Heaven and Earth to become the strongest," Zhi Xuan hissed, his face flushing with anger as he pointed at Ruo Xianxue, the Nine Heavens Bead, Xiao Die who was still in the midst of human transformation, and the Kun Peng pearl one by one. "But not by having you all treat me like a nanny!"