Chapter Sixty-One: You and I Meet Upon the Midnight Sea

The moment Jin Fan Feizhou flipped the red slip, she knew trouble was upon them. She felt a tremendous suction rising from the depths, clearly the work of that one-horned wrath shark, intent on swallowing her and Chen Zaizhi whole.

Yet even in such dire straits, she did not lose her composure. Cultivators with a water spiritual root possessed innate advantages in the vast sea. Taking a deep breath, she shot out from the water, forming hand seals, and with sheer force, pulled Jin Fan Feizhou up from the waves despite the strong current.

Accustomed to training in the Boundless Sea, both she and Chen Zaizhi had water-repellent arrays woven into their clothing, keeping them from being drenched and uncomfortable. Still, this did little to prevent the icy seawater from seeping in at the collar, cuffs, and hem. Her hair was soaked through, bangs plastered to her face.

They were now close to the glaciers, and the water was frigid beyond measure. In just an instant, she felt as if a layer of ice had formed from head to toe.

Water splashed everywhere as Chen Zaizhi leapt onto the boat after her.

Facing the biting wind, she called out loudly, “Junior Brother Chen, are you alright?”

“I’m fine!” Chen Zaizhi answered quickly.

For over a year, her dealings with Chen Zaizhi had been polite but distant, never once treating him poorly. Over time, he had grown used to her cool, indifferent manner.

Only then did they think of their senior brother, only to see Ding Chunxue standing calmly in midair, not a drop of water on him, hands tucked into his sleeves, smiling as he watched the spectacle. Seeing his juniors frozen stiff, he reminded them, “Careful, it’s coming again!”

Even before his words faded, the massive head of the wrath shark thrashed in the water, stirring up an even more ferocious wave.

This time, Hongjian had learned her lesson and would not fall for the same trick twice. Steering the boat like an arrow, she darted through a gap beneath the wave, skimming just above the long, sharp horn atop the shark’s head. Her palm itched with the thought, “If only I’d formed my foundation, I’d pluck that eyesore of a horn right off!”

Wrath sharks were true to their name—quick to anger. Ding Chunxue, eager for amusement, suppressed his golden core aura, so the beast felt no fear of the two uninitiated juniors. Having failed twice, it chased their boat relentlessly.

The sea in this area was thrown into turmoil, thunderous roars echoing for miles—especially clear in the stillness of the night.

Hongjian and Chen Zaizhi took their positions. Ding Chunxue, floating above, focused on casting recovery spells for the pair. Suddenly, he frowned, glanced into the distance, and in a flash appeared before the wrath shark.

The beast was caught off guard by the sudden proximity. With a swift motion, it lowered its head and lunged at Ding Chunxue with its razor-sharp horn, only for him to reach out and seize it.

Though not specialized in offensive spells, Ding Chunxue was a golden core cultivator; subduing a low-level monster that hadn’t even formed its demon core was child’s play. His palm glowed briefly, too fast for Hongjian to see, and the horn separated cleanly from the shark. Without a sound, the beast sank into the sea, leaving the waters calm.

At that moment, Chen Zaizhi, who was steering the boat, paused in bewilderment, unsure what had just occurred.

Ding Chunxue landed back on the boat, his voice grave. “Someone’s coming.”

At a time and place like this, there was no doubt—it wouldn’t be ordinary folk.

Hongjian, previously too focused, only now realized, thanks to Ding Chunxue’s warning, that another vessel was rapidly approaching.

“Huh, why has it gone quiet?” someone called out from across the water, a young man’s voice carrying clearly in the night.

“Let’s see which sect these cultivators belong to—maybe we know them,” another replied, suggesting multiple people on the approaching boat.

Ding Chunxue, his spiritual sense keen, had already investigated the newcomers as they drew near, but the result left him puzzled. “Six qi-refining apprentices who haven’t even formed their foundation?” How could they dare venture here unprotected? He suspected there might be someone even stronger hidden aboard and his expression grew wary.

The other vessel rapidly closed to within a hundred yards, close enough for Ding Chunxue to make out its silhouette in the darkness, his concern deepening.

Their boat was much larger than Jin Fan Feizhou, yet it glided swiftly without need for spiritual power. Hitched to the prow was a spirit beast whose long neck rose above the waves, resembling a giant goose from afar, wings sprouting from its sides. With each beat, it propelled the boat smoothly across the sea.

Ding Chunxue recognized it at once—a Celestial King Goose. Rare and formidable, its power rivaled that of a golden core cultivator, and taming one was no small feat. For someone to use it as a mere draft animal, only one name came to mind: Xing Wuyá.

A voice called out from the opposing boat, “May I ask who is cultivating here?”

Though it was only a qi-refining apprentice who spoke, Ding Chunxue, suspecting ties to the formidable Xing Wuyá, dared not be arrogant. He replied courteously, “Ding Chunxue of Pill Cliff Sect.”

“Pill Cliff Sect?” the other exclaimed in delight, then turned to someone beside him. “See, I said we might run into acquaintances.”

Ding Chunxue and his companions were at a loss, but the other boat drew closer, lanterns soon illuminating its deck.

Onboard were six youths—five boys and a girl—all about the same age as Chen Zaizhi and Hongjian. One, presumably the one spoken to earlier, stepped forward and greeted them warmly. “How wonderful, to meet fellow disciples out here. I am Xie Yaofei of Splendid Peak,” he said, pulling another boy to the bow. “This is Leng Yu. We haven’t been in the sect long, so we don’t know all the elders by face. Please don’t take offense.”

In truth, before he even introduced himself, Hongjian had already recognized Qi Xiuning and, further back, Shi Qingxiang among them the instant the lanterns were lit.

Who would have thought, after more than a year apart, they would meet again by chance on this vast sea.

Ding Chunxue was momentarily surprised, then understanding dawned. When the three Nascent Souls took in disciples at Pill Cliff Sect, he had been in seclusion attempting his golden core breakthrough, so he’d only heard of, but never met, the two young disciples taken by Elder Jin.

In terms of seniority, Elder Jin was the sect master’s martial uncle, and his disciples were of the same generation as the grand-elders’ disciples. Though Ding Chunxue’s cultivation far surpassed theirs, he could hardly expect to be addressed as “senior” or “elder brother,” nor did he wish to call these unfamiliar youths “little grand-uncle.” Feeling a touch awkward, he simply nodded and introduced himself, “I am Yan Changqing’s chief disciple of Late Tide Peak. Tonight, I am here training with my junior brother and sister. Is there something you need?”

Xie Yaofei scratched his head sheepishly. “We’re also training in these waters and heard a commotion, so we came to check. Sorry for the intrusion.” He turned to his companions. “Shall we continue?”