Chapter 399 - 209: The Three Sects Gather, the Grand Competition Is About to Begin

Chapter 399: Chapter 209: The Three Sects Gather, the Grand Competition Is About to Begin

Qin Huaiming’s fingers tightened slightly on the wine jug. He then asked, "So this war is inevitable?"

"The world has known peace for a long time. The old guard have all gone into seclusion to await their end, new blood is eager to rise, and there are others plotting to reach the Fourth Realm." Gu You took the wine jug back, tilted his head, and drained the last of the wine. "It’s the tide of the times, not something you or I can decide. Even within our own ranks, some are itching to make a name for themselves."

Qin Huaiming’s brow furrowed slightly. A brief silence fell over the hall, making the sound of the wind and the crashing waves outside seem much louder.

"Such troubled times..." After a long moment, he let out a heavy sigh. "It seems the only way to face whatever comes is to focus on increasing our strength, cultivating the next generation, and consolidating our own power from within."

"Precisely." Gu You tucked the empty wine jug into his robes, his devil-may-care smile returning. "So, Junior Brother, make sure you cultivate that precious disciple of yours well."

Qin Huaiming nodded firmly.

Meanwhile, Yang Wenqing led Lan Ying along a winding island path to a spacious observation deck built against a cliff on the eastern shore. The view was completely unobstructed, opening directly onto the vast, boundless azure sea. The sea breeze here was exceptionally strong, whipping at their robes and making them flutter loudly.

He stood at the edge of the deck, gazing at the churning waves crashing against the rocks below and the endless expanse of deep blue stretching to the horizon. His heart, stirred by his Martial Uncle’s words and the memory of the Star God Puppet, couldn’t help but wander to the vastness of the cosmos and the spectacular world that lay beyond.

He stood there quietly for a long moment. Suddenly, he felt a stir within him as the Five Yang Qi began to circulate briskly through his body.

In the next instant, the air around him rippled. His entire body lifted weightlessly from the ground, like a feather caught on a breeze, and drifted out from the observation deck over the surface of the sea. He had cast the Wind Manipulation Technique.

The sea wind was powerful, and Yang Wenqing’s flight was unsteady at first, forcing him to constantly adjust his Five Yang Qi. But as he relaxed his mind and blended into the wind, his movements gradually grew stable and fluid. Soon, he was like a true seabird, using the currents to rise and glide.

Lan Ying let out a joyful, clear cry. With a single flap of her wings, she easily caught up to Yang Wenqing and began to wheel around him. She would soar high into the sky one moment and skim the surface of the sea the next, her movements far more natural and nimble than his, as if demonstrating a higher mastery of the wind.

Man and owl soared freely between the azure sea and sky, riding the howling wind. The glittering waves below reflected their weaving figures. In that moment, the world felt immense, and his heart seemed to expand along with it.

Yang Wenqing felt the wind whistling past his ears and watched the deep, ever-changing sea below. With the constant companionship of the blue figure by his side, a rare sense of exhilaration and freedom swelled in his heart.

Yet amid this feeling of absolute openness and freedom, the image of the silver-gray Star God Puppet unintentionally flashed through his mind.

’What could the Outer Realm be like?’

He looked up at the sky...

A few thoughts surfaced quietly, like bubbles on the ocean, carrying with them an ineffable allure. It was a completely unknown domain, filled with infinite possibilities—a fatal temptation for any Cultivator with a curious and exploratory spirit.

But Yang Wenqing quickly shook his head, a self-mocking smile touching his lips as he forcibly banished these overly ambitious thoughts.

’What am I thinking...’

He was only at the Marrow Cleansing Fourth Transformation, just barely touching the threshold of Foundation Establishment. The Third Realm was even farther out of reach.

Exploring the Outer Realm was a privilege reserved for those who had reached the Fourth Realm. At his current level, he had to be extremely cautious just to leave the East Sea. Thinking about such things would only bring him needless anxiety.

He refocused his gaze on the surging waves and the vast sky before him, his state of mind gradually settling.

In truth, simply being able to walk the path of cultivation was a great blessing. If he successfully reached Foundation Establishment, he would gain a lifespan of several hundred years. If he were lucky enough to enter the Third Realm, he would live for nearly a millennium. Compared to the vast majority of mortals, who live for a few fleeting decades, this was already a heavenly stroke of fortune—a life won.

People always tended to fantasize about and worry over things that hadn’t happened yet—things that might never happen at all. These were delusions, the ’dust on the heart’ that a Cultivator must constantly wipe away. Yang Wenqing was keenly aware of this.

"What are you thinking about, Qingqing?"

Lan Ying sensed the subtle shift in his mood and flew over to hover in front of him, her sapphire eyes filled with curiosity.

Looking into the pure, innocent eyes before him, the last ripples of unease in Yang Wenqing’s heart—stirred by thoughts of the unknown—completely subsided. He reached out and gently stroked Lan Ying’s smooth little head, the soft warmth of her feathers brushing against his fingertips.

"It’s nothing,"

he said gently, not bothering to explain his complex and distant thoughts. Instead, he led her to a lower altitude. "I was just thinking how nice the wind is today. It’s a comfortable flight."

Lan Ying could sense his emotions but could hardly comprehend complex human ruminations on the future, cultivation realms, or the Outer Realm. At his words, she simply nuzzled his fingers happily, sensing that Qingqing’s mood had brightened again.

Then, controlling the wind, Yang Wenqing led Lan Ying back down to the observation deck.

Gazing at the line where sea met sky from the ground offered a completely different perspective. He lowered his head and looked at his hands. Right now, he needed to focus on the great competition between the Three Sects. As for the boundless starry sky and the unknown world, he would let them remain on the distant horizon for now.

...

「The next day.」

The morning light was as clear and bright as ever. High above the Southwest Sea Region, a Flying Shuttle of ancient design and a pale cyan hue descended, landing on a relatively flat platform built on a western mountain ridge.