Chapter 280

Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW

From a distance, the massive ship already appeared enormous, but only upon stepping onto the deck did one truly grasp the meaning of the word “large”. Just one side of the ship was as wide as eight carriages lined up side by side. The bow and stern were even more spacious, with countless sailors bustling about without making the area feel crowded.

The ship’s cabin was located in the center, shaped like a multi-storied building. Sweeping it with his divine sense, Zhang Xiaohua discovered that it had a total of five floors. The two levels beneath the deck, in particular, were filled with even more sailors engaged in various tasks—far more than those seen above deck.

By now, everyone from the two smaller boats had boarded the giant ship, even bringing their horses along. Sailors led the animals away, guiding them into the ship’s hold for proper care.

Earlier, back at the mountain manor in Jingyue City, there had been no time for a proper conversation before Murong Jian had stirred up trouble. Then came the duels and the hurried escape—so much had happened in such a short span. Only Flood Dragon King and Xu Jiaotong had interacted much with Qin Shiyue. But now that they had finally arrived at their own domain and no longer had to worry about safety, the Flood Dragon Kings of the other two seas and the leaders of the Seven Waters eagerly gathered around to pledge their loyalty and concern.

Thinking back, the recent events had indeed been perilous. The group couldn’t help but feel lingering fear at how they had fallen into the trap of a mere naval brute. Even if they had wanted to intervene, they were powerless to do so. If not for the little servant boy beside them, the consequences would have been unimaginable. Because of this, some of the gang leaders also sought to strike up a conversation with Zhang Xiaohua. He did not reject their overtures, responding with a polite smile and engaging in idle chatter. However, when it came to his origins and background, he kept his lips sealed—who knew if they had been sent by Qin Shiyue to probe him in secret?

Although Zhang Xiaohua came from humble beginnings and lacked experience in the Jianghu, he was highly intelligent and had read many books, far beyond the knowledge of these rough and unrefined figures. Even when speaking offhandedly based on a few travelogues, he managed to leave them utterly dumbfounded. Moreover, he now viewed these people from the lofty perspective of the Immortal Dao, naturally giving rise to a sense of superiority. This presence occasionally surfaced in casual conversation. Before long, the people chatting with him—if not for his still somewhat weak martial arts and unfamiliarity with the Jianghu’s hidden affairs—might have mistaken him for an elite disciple nurtured by some great sect.

After some idle talk, the banquet inside the ship’s cabin was finally ready, and the group entered in an orderly fashion. Although Zhang Xiaohua had already swept the ship’s interior with his divine sense, he was still startled upon stepping inside. Not to mention that the cabin was twice the size of the mountain manor’s grand hall—the sheer opulence of its decorations, the coiling dragon pillars, and the ornate palace lanterns were all far beyond his expectations.

After taking their seats, the guests let loose, drinking and chatting freely. Though Xu Jiaotong was extremely reluctant to let Qin Shiyue drink too much, worried about his body after having been poisoned, she couldn’t bring herself to say it outright. She tried to hint at it several times, but Qin Shiyue failed to catch on, leaving her no choice but to sit to the side, watching anxiously. Fortunately, Ying Fei was perceptive—understanding the effects of the Detoxification Pill, he found an opportunity to whisper a few words to her. Only then did Xu Jiaotong’s worried expression ease, and she even happily shared a few cups with Qin Shiyue.

Everyone present was deeply skilled in internal martial arts, and with spirits high, the banquet seemed endless. Seeing that it was already late, Zhang Xiaohua did not dare linger at the feast for too long and found an opportunity to excuse himself.

Qin Shiyue and Ying Fei knew his problem well—besides, in the vastness of the open sea, where could he possibly run? Feeling reassured, they readily allowed him to leave. Before Zhang Xiaohua departed, Qin Shiyue even smiled and reassured him to rest well. Knowing that these words were sincere, Zhang Xiaohua expressed his gratitude before having a sailor escort him out of the cabin.

Zhang Xiaohua’s assigned room was on the second floor of the ship’s cabin, a space about the same size as the small house he had stayed in at Huanxi Manor. Upon entering, he took a careful look around, then swept the room with his divine sense. Finding nothing amiss, he carefully shut the door.

There were several windows in the room. Zhang Xiaohua casually pushed one open, and a gust of salty sea breeze rushed in. The night outside was already deep, filled with the sound of waves lapping against the ship’s hull. Darkness stretched in all directions, with only a few scattered lights in the distance, flickering like fireflies—tiny and barely visible. Looking even farther, the black waters and the dark sky seemed to merge into one, while the twinkling stars above were reflected upon the sea’s surface, making it impossible to distinguish where the sky ended and the ocean began.

Suddenly, Zhang Xiaohua was struck by an immense sense of loneliness, as if he were nothing more than a tiny ant in this boundless darkness, helpless against fate. But in the next instant, an overwhelming surge of ambition filled his chest, as though he were on the verge of bursting free. It was as if the darkness was not truly darkness, but rather held countless hidden colors within. He felt an urge to grasp and unravel the surface of this darkness, revealing the profound mysteries concealed within.

Letting out a sigh, Zhang Xiaohua withdrew from his thoughts. His path in the Immortal Dao had only just begun—perhaps, after cultivating for long enough, he would one day unravel the secrets of the world.

Leaning against the window, feeling the wind on his face, Zhang Xiaohua felt an indescribable comfort. Suddenly, his thoughts turned to his Qinggong technique. He could now float slightly—once he mastered it, would he be able to soar through the skies like the wind itself? However, he doubted that the third layer of Piaomiao Step alone could bring him to such a level. If he could somehow obtain the later layers of the technique, how incredible would that be? Unfortunately, even the three layers he had now had only been acquired by saving Ou Yan’s life. Who knew how many more layers there were—and what price he would have to pay to obtain them? Ou Peng’s life?

Zhang Xiaohua chuckled at himself—how could that possibly happen?

Immediately, his thoughts shifted to his Earth Escape Technique. Unlike other techniques, this one seemed to have no set levels. If he cultivated it to its peak, would it produce miraculous effects? A faint smile appeared on his lips as he recalled his initial misunderstanding—he had once thought that the Earth Escape Technique was merely about digging tunnels underground. That was laughable indeed. But judging by how the technique was recorded, it was undoubtedly an Immortal Dao method. How could such a technique be compared to mere petty tricks of thieves? Perhaps it truly allowed one to move freely through the earth itself.

Just as Zhang Xiaohua was about to begin comprehending the Earth Escape Technique, a thought struck him—he hadn’t practiced the Big Dipper Divine Fist in a long time. Wouldn’t this be the perfect time to do so, while no one was watching? Sweeping his divine sense around, he confirmed that there was no one on the second floor, and the feast in the lower deck was still ongoing. Feeling reassured, he went through a full set of the Big Dipper Fist. When the long-missed warmth surged through his bones, tempering them once more, he finally stopped. The comfort he felt was indescribable. If not for the limited time, he would have loved to practice all three levels of the Big Dipper Divine Fist as well.

After finishing his practice, Zhang Xiaohua decided against studying the Earth Escape Technique for now. The night was deep, and he had a feeling that sleep would soon claim him. Taking out two Yuan Stones from his robes, he clutched them tightly and assumed the Five Hearts Toward Heaven posture, absorbing the Yuan Qi of Heaven and Earth. As the Qi began to flow into his body, his divine sense left his form, spreading across the sea’s surface and guiding the surrounding energy.

To his surprise, the Yuan Qi above the sea was abundant—more so than even in the medicinal fields. Though he didn’t understand why, he still continued drawing it in. Strangely, this Qi felt different from that of the land. There was a faint liveliness to it, along with a subtle moisture, as if carrying the ebb and flow of the ocean itself. When this Qi entered his body and was tempered by his meridians, it further enhanced their flexibility and resilience.

Just as he was pondering this, midnight arrived. In an instant, Zhang Xiaohua fell into deep sleep—so suddenly that he didn’t even recall his divine sense. Normally, during regular sleep, his divine sense would naturally return to his body. But this time, his slumber was governed by the mysterious twinkling force, leaving his divine sense outside. As this force filled his dreamscape, a faint glow enveloped his surroundings. The starlight from the night sky continued to pour down, but now, on this vast and open sea, even more of it seemed to be drawn toward him. His divine sense increased its pull, continuously channeling the Yuan Qi into his body. The surrounding sea area replenished the energy in an unending cycle, while the Yuan Stones in his hands released their Qi at nearly ten times the usual rate, surging into his meridians.

As the hours passed, the starlight surrounding Zhang Xiaohua grew denser. At first, it had been nearly invisible, a transparent shimmer, but now it had condensed into a faint, milky-white radiance—extremely thin, like moonlight draped over his body. However, the moon itself had long since set, resting on the other side of the massive ship, far from his cabin’s window.

The glow persisted for several moments before the twinkling within Zhang Xiaohua’s dream altered its rhythm once again. After a few pulsations, the surrounding milky-white light was drawn back into his body, restoring the original thin veil of nearly imperceptible starlight. Yet, its density remained unchanged, its flickering now steady and regulated. Whether this state was a form of advancement or not, he had no way of knowing.

And so, the night passed with Zhang Xiaohua immersed in cultivation, just as the revelry within the ship’s cabin continued through the dark hours. It was only when the distant horizon began to lighten, revealing a sliver of dawn’s pale glow, that the banquet slowly drew to a close. The gathered experts, having drunk and laughed through the night, only briefly tidied themselves before returning to their quarters to sit in meditation, regulating their internal energy.

At the meeting point of sea and sky, the darkness first gave way to clarity, then to a deepening red hue. That crimson glow steadily intensified, as though it were igniting the heavens. Then, in a sudden burst, a fiery thread leaped from the ocean’s edge—the rising sun’s first flame. On the deck of the great ship, Qin Shiyue, Ying Fei, and the leaders of the Three Seas and Seven Waters Faction stood along the railing, watching the spectacle unfold over the endless sea. They pointed at the horizon, exchanging laughter as they admired the sunrise.

At that very moment, within his second-floor cabin, Zhang Xiaohua’s eyes snapped open. His gaze was fixed upon the window, through which the sun’s first rays shone directly into his deep, fathomless eyes. In that instant, something within him seemed to ignite. Unbidden, his True Qi surged wildly through his meridians, its flickering rhythm accelerating. The rate at which he absorbed Yuan Qi from the Yuan Stones in his hands multiplied several times over.

The sheer influx of energy fueled the tempering of his True Qi, refining it at an unprecedented pace. Yet, Zhang Xiaohua remained still, his eyes wide open, locked onto the rising sun. That thin wisp of fire seemed to imprint itself into his pupils, flickering in unison with his breath, resonating with the distant dawn.
✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦
Orluros’s Vault of Secrets: If you liked the chapter feel free to donate 🙂 and if you find any errors in the translation please mention them in the comments here or in discord