Li Yuan followed the deep-sea octopus through the absolute darkness.
The convoy of sea creatures grew in number as they moved. Transparent shrimp moved in an orderly formation, like an honor guard. Small fish swam in rhythmic patterns, creating a stream of sparkling bioluminescent light that looked like a river of stars in the darkness.
Through the water communication, Li Yuan felt a subdued excitement from these creatures. They didn't often get visitors from more extreme depths, and Li Yuan's peaceful presence had triggered a deep curiosity.
After moving for several hours—a time difficult to measure in this eternal darkness—Li Yuan began to feel something surprising through his Ganjing sensing.
An incredible concentration of life.
Not just a few scattered creatures, but a large and organized community. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of creatures living in a relatively small area.
"What is that?" Li Yuan asked through gentle water vibrations.
His guide octopus responded with a complex bioluminescent pattern, followed by expressive tentacle movements. The message Li Yuan received made his eyes widen in astonishment.
"Home. Community. Gathering place."
And then Li Yuan saw it.
Before him, in the deep-sea darkness, lay a sight he had never imagined. A city—not in the sense of man-made structures, but a stunning organic community of deep-sea creatures.
Hundreds of octopuses of various sizes had made their homes around a strange rock formation. They had arranged rocks and sediment to create small shelters, each one customized to individual needs. Some larger octopuses had vast territories with multiple rooms, while smaller ones clustered in intimate groups.
But the most amazing thing was the light.
Each octopus had a unique bioluminescent ability, and when hundreds of them gathered in one area, the effect was like a city lit by thousands of color-changing lights. The light patterns moved across the colony, creating waves of beautiful and hypnotic illumination.
"This is impossible," Li Yuan whispered in awe.
He had read about octopus colonies in the memories stored in his Memory Understanding, but what he saw now far surpassed anything that had ever been documented. This wasn't just an aggregation of creatures that happened to live near each other—this was a genuine society, with a complex social structure.
His guide octopus approached Li Yuan and sent a more detailed message.
"We learned to live together. One is not strong enough to survive in these depths. Together, we protect, share food, teach the young ones."
Li Yuan observed more closely. It was true, there was a clear division of labor in this community. Some larger octopuses patrolled the perimeter, clearly acting as guards. Others appeared to be sharing food—organic remnants that had sunk from higher levels. There was a special area where young octopi gathered, seemingly being educated by elders.
"How long has this community existed?" Li Yuan asked.
"Many generations. The grandparents of our grandparents were already here. We pass down knowledge—where to find food, how to avoid predators, how to communicate with the water."
Li Yuan felt a profound respect for this achievement. In such a hostile environment, where individual survival was extremely challenging, these creatures had developed a sustainable and thriving society.
As Li Yuan and his entourage approached the colony, the activity began to change. The octopuses noticed their arrival, and waves of bioluminescent communication started to spread through the community. Not alarm or distress—but curiosity and greeting.
Some elder octopuses approached. They were significantly larger than Li Yuan's guides, with tentacles scarred by years of survival in the deep sea. But their movements were graceful and their intelligent eyes showed wisdom accumulated through decades of experience.
The communication that followed was extraordinarily complex for Li Yuan to follow. Multiple layers of bioluminescent patterns, chemical signals, water movements, and tentacle gestures created a rich and nuanced conversation. Li Yuan could only catch fragments through his Water Understanding.
"A visitor from the deep below."
"Never seen before."
"Peaceful. Different. Not a fish, not an octopus. What is it?"
"Can communicate through water. Respectful."
Finally, one of the elders approached Li Yuan directly. This creature was clearly very old—its skin was paler, its movements slightly slower, but the intelligence in its eyes was sharp and assessing.
Through a complex combination of signals, this elder communicated directly with Li Yuan.
"Welcome, deep visitor. We are curious about your nature. You are not a creature we know, but the water speaks well of you. What do you seek at our level?"
Li Yuan considered how to answer. Truthfulness was important, but an explanation of spiritual cultivation and immortality would be difficult to convey.
"I am traveling from the deep to the surface. Learning about how life exists at different levels. I am amazed by the community you have built here."
"Ah," the elder responded. "You are a wanderer. We understand. The ocean is vast, with many mysteries. We also learn from the travelers who occasionally pass through."
"How did you manage to build a society like this?"
The elder showed evident pride. "Trial and error across many generations. Our ancestors discovered that survival was more possible in groups. We developed ways to share resources, protect each other, and pass knowledge to the young ones."
"But octopi are usually solitary creatures."
"At surface levels, yes. But here, solitary life is a death sentence. The environment forces adaptation. We adapted not just biologically, but socially."
Li Yuan spent hours observing and learning from this community. He saw how they organized food distribution, how young octopi were taught hunting techniques, how disputes were resolved through a combination of displays and elder mediation.
The most impressive thing was their communication system. Beyond individual bioluminescent patterns, they had developed group displays where the entire community could participate in coordinated light shows that conveyed complex information about threats, opportunities, or celebrations.
"We call this 'singing with light'," the elder explained when Li Yuan expressed fascination with the phenomenon. "It's a way for the entire community to speak as one voice."
As a demonstration, the elder initiated a sequence that was amazing for Li Yuan to witness. Starting with a single pattern from the elder, waves of coordinated bioluminescence spread through the entire colony. Hundreds of octopi participated in a choreographed display that told a story—about the discovery of a new food source, about a successful defense against a predator, about the celebration of new births in the community.
"Incredible," Li Yuan murmured, truly awed by the sophistication of this social structure.
"Have you learned something from our visit?" the elder asked.
"Yes. I learned that intelligence and cooperation can flourish even in the most challenging conditions. That community is a strength, even for creatures that are naturally solitary."
"That is good wisdom for a traveling wanderer. We hope your journey to the surface is safe and educational."
Li Yuan felt a deep gratitude for the hospitality and insights this community had given him. "Thank you for sharing your home with me. I will carry the memory of this place and the lessons I learned here."
As a farewell gesture, the entire colony participated in a farewell light display—a wave of coordinated bioluminescence that was beautiful and moving. The message was clear: safe travels and welcome to return anytime.
As Li Yuan prepared to continue his ascent, he reflected on what he had just witnessed. In the most extreme environment on the planet, life not only survived but created art, society, and meaning. This community had achieved something remarkable—a sustainable civilization that was in harmony with their environment.
Li Yuan continued his journey to the surface with a deeper understanding of resilience, adaptability, and the power of cooperation. The lessons from the octopus city would remain with him as a reminder that even in the most challenging circumstances, intelligence and compassion can create something beautiful and lasting.