Chapter 3
The books Yu Shuang brought back for Fei Xing were incredibly detailed.
They contained everything about the mortal nations, from their capitals down to the smallest villages, covering the local customs and traditions of every region. But compared to the mortal realm, the descriptions of the various sects and schools on the Carefree Sea captured Fei Xing's attention even more.
The supreme immortal sect of the myriad islands, the Eastern Emperor Immortal Sect.
The Abyssal Sword Sect, hidden in the deep sea, which uses swords to break all things.
The Mirror Flower Sect, which secludes itself from the world with layers of illusion.
The Heavenly Forst Sect, which cultivates in bitter austerity within the frigid southern ice sea.
The Green Lotus Immortal Sect, which heals the world, excels at crafting magical artifacts, and roams with immortal beasts.
Countless sects were scattered across the vast, boundless Carefree Sea, enough to make one's heart yearn and their imagination run wild.
At night, Fei Xing who was reclining on his bed, closed a book describing the Penglai Immortal Island. He got up and walked out of his small hut.
As the place closest to the mortal world, Penglai Immortal Island's uniqueness lay not only in the fact that it floated in the air. As the largest immortal island, it belonged to no single sect. Instead, it served as a public domain, welcoming all cultivators with impartiality.
The highly regarded Assembly of Immortals and various major competitions were all held on the island. Naturally, major treasure pavilions and immortal towers were also established there. On any given day, cultivators from all sects gathered on the island for sparring, trading, and exchanging information, making it the most bustling place on the entire Carefree Sea.
No wonder he had seen so much activity on the island when they passed by on their crane that day.
Fei Xing wasn't particularly drawn to the hustle and bustle, but after reading so many books about the world of cultivation, he had naturally developed some interest in it.
Unfortunately, these books only contained introductions to the differences and similarities between various cultivation paths, such as Immortal, Demonic, Sword, Dao, or Blissful cultivation. They did not contain any specific cultivation methods.
Moreover, cultivation required talent. According to the books, only one in ten thousand mortals possessed the aptitude for it.
He had eaten so many immortal fruits these past few days; he wondered if they would be of any help in his cultivation.
Fei Xing stretched his body. After mastering the Breathing Technique, his physique didn't look any different, but he could feel that it had become much stronger than before. He figured he could now run up walls and leap across rooftops with ease.
Perhaps he should ask Immortal Yu Shuang about it later?
Outside, large white crystals fell from the dark night sky covering the mountains and wilds.
From his books, Fei Xing learned that these falling things were called snow, a celestial phenomenon that occurred during winter.
Oh, so it was winter now.
He reached out his hand, and a snowflake landed on his palm, vanishing in an instant.
The snowflake melted, leaving behind a chill.
If I were to disappear, what would I leave behind?
A glimmer of warm light lit up at the corner of his eye. He turned his head to look toward Yu Shuang's hut and saw that its door was ajar. Uncharacteristically, Yu Shuang was not in secluded cultivation but standing at the doorway, watching the flying snow outside.
Her skin and clothes blended with the falling snow, making her long, dark hair particularly striking.
"Immortal."
Yu Shuang turned to look at the approaching Fei Xing, who had his hands folded and was bowing to her.
"What are you doing?"
Fei Xing raised his head and said, "Today, I read in a book about a customary greeting in the Taiyuan Nation, called a 'meeting ritual.' Since there was only a written description, I don't know if I did it correctly."
Yu Shuang shook her head. "Mortal etiquette is not necessary between us."
Fei Xing asked, puzzled, "But didn't you perform a greeting to that Immortal Sect Master before?"
Yu Shuang said, "The Sect Master is the leader of our sect and has also taught me immortal arts. I regard her as my master. You and I are not master and disciple, so it is not necessary."
Fei Xing became even more confused. "But didn't you also teach me the Breathing Technique?"
"It's not the same." Yu Shuang shook her head, then glanced at the white shirt Fei Xing was wearing. It was the same one she had given him when they first met on the coast.
Although it was still as white as new and without a single stain, having only one shirt after three months was rather shabby. This was something she had overlooked.
While she thought this, the words that came out of Yu Shuang's mouth were as cold as ever:
"Aren't you cold?"
Fei Xing blinked and shook his head.
"It seems you have already mastered the Breathing Technique."
"Mm."
Fei Xing nodded. Just as he was about to take the opportunity to ask if he could learn more advanced cultivation methods, the snow above his head suddenly changed direction. He saw a white crane flying through the night sky.
Before Fei Xing could get a clear look, a figure in white clothes descended with the snow.
A body like a long blade, eyes like swords, a spiritual serpent sword at her waist drinking demonic blood.
It was Immortal Guang Cha.
Guang Cha glanced at Fei Xing, her sharp gaze enough to make one feel timid, but Fei Xing was fearless. He figured that since Immortal Yu Shuang said he didn't need to greet her, he probably didn't need to greet Immortal Guang Cha either.
Guang Cha paid him no mind and turned to Yu Shuang, saying:
"Senior Sister, the Sect Master has ordered that we gather at the Pure Heart Hall in three days to discuss an important matter."
"An important matter?"
"I heard that the Eastern Emperor Immortal Sect will be holding the 'Plum Immortal Assembly' at the end of the year," Guang Cha said. "It's likely related to that."
The Plum Immortal Assembly was a grand meeting held by the Eastern Emperor Immortal Sect two hundred years ago to encourage the younger generation to spar and strive for improvement. Now, all sects could send their juniors to participate, and it had become a major event for the entire cultivation world, held on Penglai Immortal Island.
However, in recent decades, demonic cultivators had run rampant, wreaking havoc upon the world. The Carefree Sea had also experienced several upheavals, and the Plum Immortal Assembly had not been held for many years.
Yu Shuang said, "What does the Plum Immortal Assembly have to do with us?"
Opening the Senses, Contemplating the Mind, Life Essence, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Spirit Transformation, Divine Power, Great Ascension.
Among the eight realms of the immortal path, only juniors who had been cultivating for less than ten years and remained in the first two realms, Opening the Senses and Contemplating the Mind, were eligible to participate in the Plum Immortal Assembly. Yu Shuang, Guang Cha, and their peers were already at the Golden Core and Nascent Soul realms.
"Presumably, an elder must accompany them," Guang Cha said, gazing at the flying snow in the distant sky, her emotions unclear. "We've also reached that age."
Fei Xing really wanted to ask how old they were, but the books said not to interrupt others' conversations, so he didn't ask.
"Understood." Yu Shuang seemed unconcerned.
The two of them chatted a bit more about sect matters.
"I'm leaving."
After finishing her business, Guang Cha nimbly leaped onto the white crane beside her and departed.
Before leaving, she glanced at Fei Xing again, who was building a snowman.
"Fei Xing."
Hearing Immortal Yu Shuang call his name, Fei Xing immediately went over.
Yu Shuang glanced at the snow rabbit in his hands, figuring he had probably molded it according to a method he read about in a book.
During this time, Fei Xing would frequently tinker with things from the mortal world. Fortunately, he didn't like to move around much and didn't run all over the island all day, otherwise, Yu Shuang would have had no peace.
"For the next few nights, I will be in 'Sword Sense Introspection,' which means... in short, it will be as if I'm asleep at night. So, do not wander around at night. If you get into danger, I will not be able to sense it. If an outsider trespasses on the island and triggers the arrays, I will naturally awaken."
Fei Xing nodded.
Yu Shuang thought for a moment and added, "In three days, I have to go to the sect. If I have to travel far, I will take you to the sect and give you a room. The Sect Master will arrange the rest."
Fei Xing said, "I feel I can stay here by myself."
"If I do not return for several years, who will give you immortal fruits? And how will you leave the island?"
Yu Shuang waved her hand, and several clean white clothes fell into Fei Xing's hands. She reminded him:
"Although you have learned the Breathing Technique, you are still a mortal of flesh and blood and not immune to all illnesses."
With that, she turned and went back into her room.
Fei Xing looked at the clothes in his hands and felt that Immortal Yu Shuang had a point.
It seemed he really had to learn the art of cultivation. Otherwise, if he wanted to leave the island on his own... he would have to build a boat.
By the way, did any of those books mention the art of shipbuilding?
Which was harder, building a ship or cultivating immortality?
Fei Xing thought about this as he walked back to his small hut. He returned to his bed, pondered for a moment, and opened another book.
Ah…
He had forgotten to ask the Immortal about cultivation methods again.
Fei Xing sat up, remembering that she would to be... sleeping for the next few nights.
Never mind, he would ask tomorrow.
...
He didn't know how much time had passed when a speck of red light suddenly appeared in Fei Xing's vision.
Everything around him was pitch black. Fei Xing stared intently for a long time before finally making out what seemed to be the outline of a flower bud.
The next moment, the bud suddenly bloomed, and a brilliant red flower appeared abruptly before Fei Xing.
Fei Xing opened his eyes.
The open book lay beside him. The snow outside the window had already accumulated two or three inches thick. It was now the dead of night.
He had fallen asleep at some point.
So it was a dream.
He hadn't read anything about flowers today.
Fei Xing rubbed his head groggily, and his eyes suddenly snapped open.
Beneath his white clothes, his chest was emitting a series of red glows!
He pulled open his clothes to look. The light was in the shape of a flower bud, and its location was right at his heart!
He remembered that a book describing a battle between two armies had mentioned that the human heart was a vital point. A small injury there, like being stabbed with a knife, would mean death.
Why is my heart glowing?!
A few drops of cold sweat seeped from Fei Xing's temples. He took a deep breath, calmed himself down, and got out of bed to stretch.
His body felt normal, but the glow on his chest was still flickering.
Was this an illness or a normal phenomenon?
He had never read any medical books about human physiology and health, and the knowledge in his mind could not solve his current situation.
The heavy snow was still falling outside. Fei Xing walked out of his room, came to the front of Yu Shuang's hut, pushed the door open, and approached Yu Shuang's jade bed. Just as he was about to speak, he saw—
Her hair like wind and mist, cascading down her waist. Her slender, soft hands folded over her abdomen.
Lips as if painted red, eyebrows like willow tree. Skin as white as snow, envied even by goddesses.
On the bed, Immortal Yu Shuang had her eyes tightly shut, breathing quietly and evenly.
Fei Xing remembered that Immortal Yu Shuang had said she would be in Sword Comprehension.
Something seemed to have happened to him.
But she was asleep now.