Who Let Him Cultivate?!

Facing Old Ma's speedy journey, the crew could only stare blankly, letting Old Ma overtake them.

Such a big boat, even if they were to burn Spirit Stones desperately, could not possibly overtake Old Ma.

Unless they invited a Transcendance Tribulation Stage Cultivator to carry the boat and run across the sea.

Old Ma completely ignored the three big boats, his four hooves churning rapidly, even occasionally letting out joyful neighs.

The dragon horse race was located on the southern side of the East Sea, and after leaving the port, Old Ma headed straight south.

Ming City's port is three hundred miles away from the East Sea, which lies within the territory of Great Xia, but Great Xia finds it inconvenient to manage this three hundred mile wide sea, as they can't issue exit documents on the sea surface. Great Xia only sends Cultivators to patrol the sea periodically.

After running three hundred miles, a mist rose off the sea surface, making the direction unclear.

Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou felt a sense of déjà vu at this scene; when they went to the Demon Territory, they encountered a similar situation, only reaching the Demon Territory after passing through the fog.

Old Ma was very familiar with the mist, and could reach the East Sea even with his eyes closed.

"It seems that mists have been set up in all four directions, east, west, south, and north," Meng Jingzhou guessed, "but what's the purpose?"

"It must be that they don't want ordinary people to know they live inside a huge box," Lu Yang said. For now, the mist didn't seem to have any disadvantages.

"Box? What are you two talking about?" Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou's discussion wasn't hidden, and Tao Yaoye and the others heard it all.

Out of the three, only Li Haoran retained memories from a past life and wore an expression as if he already knew, while Tao Yaoye and Man Gu had never left Great Xia and had never experienced passing through the mist.

"It's like this, according to the research Old Meng and I have done, the Four Ancient Immortals refined the stars into six continents, turning the world into the shape of a box..."

Tao Yaoye and Man Gu were extremely surprised after listening, as they had never imagined the world to be completely different from what they thought – they had been living inside a vast, boundless box all along.

Man Gu was more excited than surprised; he knew that venturing out with Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou would broaden his horizons, "So the Ancient Nameless One finally has a name?"

Man Gu remembered when he first joined the Eternity Sect, the Rudder Master introduced them to the stars refined by the Ancient Nameless One.

Li Haoran also became unsettled, as Qin Haoran's memories didn't mention the stars refined by the Four Ancient Immortals.

While the five of them were talking, Old Ma had already led them across the mist to reach the East Sea, docking at an island.

"If this island hasn't changed its name, then it should still be called Cloud Gathering Island. This is where nearby Cultivators gather. We'll meet here on this island two months later," Old Ma spoke once again in human language.

This had been agreed upon beforehand. Old Ma was going home to visit relatives and obviously couldn't take Lu Yang and the others with him.

The purpose of the Lu Yang group's visit to the East Sea was to see the world, not to meet Old Ma's relatives.

Therefore, before they set off, they'd agreed to split up after reaching the East Sea and then regroup at a certain place before returning to the Seek Dao Sect.

"Farewell, Old Ma."

The five said their goodbyes and waved to Old Ma.

After getting off the carriage, they were greeted by the sea breeze, an atmosphere they could never experience in Great Xia.

"Where to now?"

"None of us have ever been to the East Sea, let's get a map of the East Sea first, or maybe, Junior Brother Li, could you draw us a map of the East Sea?"

Li Haoran appeared troubled and sighed, "It has been a hundred years since Qin Haoran last visited the East Sea, and you know this place is the East Sea, not Great Xia."

"So?"

"So even if Great Powers fight and turn the sea upside down, it won't go back to how it was. The Sea Clan fights over territories, which leads to changes in possession, and hence, the map of the East Sea changes too. Only Cultivators who live in the East Sea year-round know what its map looks like now."

"The concept of territory is strong among the Sea Clan. I could indeed draw a map from a hundred years ago, but what was a safe route a hundred years ago doesn't mean it's safe now. You wouldn't want to be flying along and then get shot down by the Sea Clan, right?"

"That does sound a bit troublesome, but it's not a big problem. Didn't Old Ma say so? This Cloud Gathering Island is a gathering place for East Sea Cultivators. There should definitely be a map here."

"Right, it's a good opportunity to make contact with the East Sea Cultivators."

After a discussion among the five of them, and considering Daoist Buyu's widespread fame, combined with the fact Uncle Ba only mentioned having a friend in the Dragon Palace and not how many enemies they might have, it seemed reasonable to assume that aside from Ao Ran of the Dragon Palace, everyone else could be an enemy.

The five donned black cloaks, with Lu Yang, Meng Jingzhou, Tao Yaoye, and Man Gu altering their appearances before they felt safe to set foot on the island.

Li Haoran didn't need to change his appearance. Lu Yang and the others had often carried out tasks outside, and their names were well-known, so they could be recognized. Li Haoran, on the other hand, had barely left the Seek Dao Sect and was unknown to others.

"We come from a prestigious sect, so even if we don't flaunt ourselves when we go out, we shouldn't be sneaking around like this, should we?" Meng Jingzhou lamented helplessly.

It was only after they landed on the island that Meng Jingzhou realized their attire was actually common among East Sea cultivators, most of whom wore black robes.

According to Uncle Ba, East Sea cultivators always had some issue clinging to them, hence they were always cautious in their conduct. If their deeds were to be judged in Great Xia, they would face at least a three-year sentence at minimum.

"If someone came to East Sea to sell clothes, they could lose a fortune," Meng Jingzhou clicked his tongue, dismissing the prospect of a business opportunity with sharp negation.

Lu Yang cast a glance at Meng Jingzhou: "East Sea cultivators aren't as bizarre as you imagine, they just wear a black cloak over their clothes, not like flashers who wear nothing but a black cloak."

"It looks like we're in a market district, but the cultivation levels of these cultivators..."

Lu Yang swept the area with his Spiritual Sense, observed the vast expanse of the island, and the market occupying most of it, bustling with cultivators, yet he was astonished to find not a single one at the Foundation Establishment Stage.

The highest Cultivation Level among them was at the late stage of Qi Refinement.

Oh, that's not right, they should be called Qi Refinement Ninth Level Consummation.

"What's there to fear if their cultivation is low? We're here to seek a map, not to pick a fight," Lu Yang remarked.

"Excuse me, fellow daoist, do you have a map of the East Sea here?" Meng Jingzhou approached and casually grabbed a passerby who looked hurried.

The passerby, not expecting to be suddenly accosted by Meng Jingzhou, quickly shook off his hand: "If you want to buy a map, go to the Treasure Pavilion, why bother me!"

With that, the passerby quickened his pace and left Meng Jingzhou behind.

"I was only asking for directions; no need to be so cautious," Meng Jingzhou grumbled.

Li Haoran, who had some experience in this matter, said, "In East Sea, maps are considered important commodities, not everyone will tell you where to find them. Let's just head to the Treasure Pavilion as he suggested."

"Very well."

The Treasure Pavilion was the largest store in the market district of the Cloud Gathering Island, and one of the two Qi Refinement Ninth Level Consummation cultivators Lu Yang detected with his Spiritual Sense was stationed there.

"What can I get for you, guests? To be honest, our Treasure Pavilion has all kinds of treasures. Magic artifacts, Talismans, Array Method diagrams, contemplation diagrams..." said the manager of the Treasure Pavilion with a faint air of pride.

Their Pavilion Master was a Half Step Foundation Establishment Stage Great Power, who had possessed a damaged Foundation Establishment Level Spirit Treasure, making him the foremost person below the Foundation Establishment Stage!

"Do you have maps?"

"Yes, of course."

"We'll take your best map, marked with safe sea areas," said Lu Yang decisively.

"Alright," the manager ordered a disciple to fetch a wooden box from the storeroom.

"Thank you for your patronage, that will be ten Spirit Stones."

Meng Jingzhou casually took out ten Spirit Stones without even blinking, his lavishness startling the manager.

Could it be that this person was a Great Cultivator at the seventh level of Qi Refinement?

After Meng Jingzhou opened the map, the four leaned in to examine it.

They found that the map was indeed a map, but it only covered a radius of twenty miles at sea, documenting dangerous locations that belonged to unheard-of races.

Xiao Ling Fish Tribe, highest cultivation at the eighth level of Qi Refinement, dangerous!

Sea Bull Tribe, highest cultivation at the ninth level of Qi Refinement, dangerous!

Ink-Black Octopus Tribe, the old ancestor suspected of breaking through the Qi Refinement Stage, extremely dangerous!