What was that place? Who was she? And he… this ‘Bodhi Divine Wood’ that the foolish pig spoke of… who was he?
Whoever he was, he had to survive… just to see her again.
Fan Yue opened his eyes, his gaze ablaze with fiery determination.
* * *
In the outer seas east of the mainland, spanning thousands of miles, ancient sayings claimed it to be the origin of the old immortal traces.
On the vast sea, seabirds soared and fish and turtles frolicked, with a thousand islands dotting the surface. Rainbows stretched from the horizon, and at the center was an island shaped like a mystical turtle, with peaks rising and bamboo forests encircling it. Peach blossoms bloomed across the island, and at its heart, a flaming maple forest stood. Scattered amidst the trees were dozens of grand halls—this was the Eastern Sea’s premier island, Miao Miao Island.
It was spring, and peach blossoms were in full bloom. The outer island paths were blanketed in fallen petals, their fragrance filling the air. Four or five female disciples, dressed in flowing white dresses, walked by, each carrying baskets filled with white porcelain bottles that sloshed with fragrant wine.
“Did you hear? Senior Brother Chong Zhao defeated the octopus and is returning!” exclaimed Er Lan, a second-generation disciple with shining eyes, her voice hushed but filled with excitement.
“Really?” Er Lian was taken aback. “I heard a hundred-year-old octopus had been wreaking havoc along the coast recently. Many commoners burned incense, praying for Miao Miao Island to eliminate the monster. The master sent a few senior brothers to take care of it, but the creature was so ferocious that the brothers returned injured. Only then did the master call for Senior Brother Chong Zhao, who’d been in secluded cultivation. Now he’s returned in just three days—he must have made great progress in his training. Maybe he’s even ascended to become an Immortal Lord by now!”
Though many pursued the path of cultivation, not all achieved immortality. Only by reaching the rank of Immortal Lord could one be considered a true immortal and respected as part of the immortal clan. Miao Miao Island, though not a major sect, was a famous haven in the Eastern Sea’s realm of immortals, a peaceful sanctuary cherished by the people.
“Then we must celebrate for Senior Brother properly!”
“Senior Brother has Senior Sister Er Yun by his side; he has no need for you to fuss over him. Besides, he’s always so distant and formal, close to no one except her,” Er Lian muttered.
“That’s not true. Don’t forget that there’s that disciple from the outer sect who works in the herb dispensary. He’s always taken care of her. I heard they go way back, childhood friends even,” Er Lan said with a hint of jealousy.
“That girl? Clinging to Senior Brother Chong Zhao like that, how delusional!” Er Lian scowled. “If not for the master’s favor towards Senior Brother Chong Zhao, allowing her to stay in the herb dispensary, she wouldn’t even qualify to set foot on Miao Miao Island!”
“Enough, Er Lian. Let’s not waste our energy on someone like her. Let’s think of a way to celebrate for Senior Brother…” Just as Er Lan finished speaking, two beams of immortal light, one blue and one red, cut across the sky, heading straight for the main hall amidst the maple trees.
“It’s Senior Brother and Senior Sister! They’ve returned! Let’s hurry back!” Er Lian smiled, turning into streaks of immortal light along with the other disciples as they chased after the pair.
Amidst the flowers in the peach grove, silence returned. Upon closer listening, a faint snoring could be heard within the dense foliage. A young boy lay sprawled out on a tree branch, a large leaf covering his face as he slept soundly.
Suddenly, a massive caterpillar fell from the tree, landing squarely on his face. The boy awoke with a start, falling to the ground with a loud thud.
“Ow!”
The cry was not soft and delicate, but rather aged. A large turtle stood below, legs grounded, turning to look at the boy sprawled across its shell. “Get up, you silly girl! My old back can’t take this!”
“Oh, please. Your shell is tougher than the seaside rocks. I couldn’t possibly break it.”
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