Mortal Alchemy

An endless expanse of clear blue waves stretched across the sea.

A white jade flying boat sped through the water.

A young Daoist in black robes stood on the deck.

In the distance, a gray sea storm blotted out the sky, and terrifying currents swirled around, forming a vortex like a bottomless pit.

Compared to the vastness of the heavens and the sea, humans were insignificant.

“This is the Spirit Tide Storm?” Chen Ping murmured, gazing at the immense sea storm, a sense of trepidation washing over him.

“Beyond this Spirit Tide Storm lie the Immortal cultivation realms of the other great domains?”

“I wonder how far away they are…”

They had already traveled forty thousand miles from the Shattered Star Bazaar to reach this point, and still hadn't arrived at the Spirit Tide's location.

Moreover, Nan Yun had chosen a single direction, heading straight ahead while avoiding the territories of major powers.

“It truly is boundless…”

Nan Yun, dressed in flamboyant and alluring attire, stood beside Chen Ping.

Chen Ping couldn't help but ask curiously, “Daoist Friend Nan Yun, which direction are we exploring for medicinal herbs?”

Nan Yun giggled and pointed southeast, “There should be some islands born from the Spirit Tide in that direction.”

“This journey won't be over in a few months; it might take two or three years.”

Chen Ping nodded slowly. He had suspected as much from the large amount of supplies he purchased from the Wandering Wind Scholar, so he was well prepared.

Chen Ping asked, “Then why aren't we heading southeast right now?”

Nan Yun replied, “It seems Daoist Tang is exploring the Spirit Tide for the first time. The major powers eat the meat, and we just drink the soup.”

“If we get too close, we'll easily be dragged in as cannon fodder, or even slaves.”

“Every year, many explorers die in the Spirit Tide, which is why there haven't been many people on this Jade Wave Sea for thousands of years.”

“The new cultivators can't keep up with the rate of death.”

Chen Ping felt a chill in his heart, but he also found it normal.

The cultivators of the Jade Wave Sea didn't have many rules; it was a simple case of the strong preying on the weak.

Chen Ping said, “I understand.”

Nan Yun continued to explain to Chen Ping, “This exploration of the Spirit Tide is divided into several large fan-shaped areas. Those are for the top-tier Golden Core True people of the three major powers. We avoid those areas and can only explore the scraps on the edges.”

“They seek Golden Core resources, even Nascent Soul resources.”

“We little shrimp seek daily cultivation resources, so there's no need to take risks.”

Chen Ping nodded. This Nan Yun might appear flirtatious on the outside, but she was very clever on the inside. Otherwise, a lone female cultivator would have been devoured long ago, leaving no bones behind.

Three days passed, and Nan Yun changed direction, heading southeast, preparing to take action.

The Wandering Wind Scholar and Hundred Flowers Granny also came out of seclusion and onto the deck.

From now on, danger could strike at any moment.

“Hmm?” Nan Yun's eyes lit up, and she giggled, “It's a ship from the Immortal Merchant Alliance. We can hitch a ride and exchange information.”

Chen Ping was also interested in the large merchant forces of this Jade Wave Sea.

Directly ahead, there was a huge sky-ship, hundreds of feet long and extremely wide, probably capable of accommodating hundreds or even thousands of cultivators.

The closer they got to the sky-ship, the more cultivators and flying boats they saw.

Half a day later, they arrived near the sky-ship. Nan Yun said, “The three Daoist friends wait on the flying boat for a moment. I'll go exchange some information and we'll set off later.”

They all nodded.

Then Nan Yun flew alone onto the sky-ship.

On the deck, only Chen Ping, the Wandering Wind Scholar, and the Hundred Flowers Granny remained.

After waiting for a short while, the Wandering Wind Scholar suddenly spoke:

“…People from the Star Cluster Sect are here. It seems Daoist Friend Nan Yun is going to run into trouble.”

A look of doubt appeared in Chen Ping's eyes.

He saw a young male cultivator in luxurious clothes standing on an extremely exquisite flying boat, his expression arrogant.

The Wandering Wind Scholar explained:

“This person is the direct descendant of a Golden Core Elder of the Star Cluster Sect, named Mo Xing. He is fond of women and has pursued Daoist Friend Nan Yun before, causing some trouble.”

“Hmm? The madmen from the Sea God Cult are here too. This is very troublesome…”

Chen Ping glanced around and saw many cultivators on a large ship, but even more were slaves. Many Qi Refining cultivators had collars around their necks, their faces filled with despair and numbness.

Even some Foundation Establishment cultivators had been reduced to slaves.

“Sea God Cult?” Chen Ping asked, puzzled.

He had been in the Shattered Star Bazaar for some time, but he had never heard of the Sea God Cult.

The Wandering Wind Scholar explained, “The Sea God Cult is a group of madmen who worship gods and capture people everywhere to be slaves, working for them.”

“They are very evil and have only risen in the last few decades. People who don't explore the Spirit Tide don't even know about this force.”

“It's very troublesome to encounter them.”

Chen Ping nodded.

The Hundred Flowers Granny remained silent, speaking very little.

After a while, the Wandering Wind Scholar's words seemed to come true.

Nan Yun fled from the sky-ship, her face pale, her clothes torn, revealing much of her alluring figure.

Mo Xing chased after her with a greedy look on his face, still holding a corner of Nan Yun's clothes in his hand.

She flew back to her flying boat and hid behind Chen Ping.

“?”

Chen Ping's face darkened.

“Ahahaha, Nan Yun, why run away in such a panic? Why not explore the pleasures of joy with this young master? I'll definitely make you happy!” Mo Xing flew over with a lewd smile.

Nan Yun hid behind Chen Ping, her face flushed, and said in a delicate voice:

“Young Master Mo, please forgive me for refusing. This servant already has someone she is in love with.”

Her hot and seductive body pressed tightly against Chen Ping's back, making the posture look somewhat ambiguous.

The Wandering Wind Scholar and the Hundred Flowers Granny immediately looked at Chen Ping with playful eyes, not intending to help.

Mo Xing sized up Chen Ping, his lewd smile not fading, and said in a cold tone:

“Hand over Nan Yun, and I'll spare you. You dare touch a woman I've taken a fancy to?”

Chen Ping frowned, “This Nan Yun is using me as a shield.”

He was needlessly provoking Mo Xing.

But he still needed to search for resources and contact the Wandering Wind Scholar, so he couldn't fall out with this Nan Yun.

Chen Ping's face was cold as he spat out a single word to Mo Xing:

“Scram!”

Nan Yun and the others' expressions changed slightly. This Ronghai cultivator was truly tough.

“Courting death!”

Mo Xing's face changed drastically, and he was furious. He raised his hand and unleashed a powerful burst of magic power.

Chen Ping raised his hand and grabbed it, extinguishing his magical attack.

The others' expressions changed slightly. This Ronghai cultivator had such pure spiritual power.

“Hmph!” Mo Xing's face darkened, “So you have some strength. No wonder you dare to oppose this young master!”

“Die!”

He immediately took out a mirror-type second-order magic weapon and blasted it towards Chen Ping.

A beam of white light shot straight towards him!

Chen Ping's eyes turned cold, revealing killing intent.

His spatial ring flashed, and he summoned the Azure Cloud Sword, casually slashing out a sword qi.

He extinguished the white light, and the remaining power of the sword qi continued to advance, directly striking Mo Xing.

“Bang—”

A muffled explosion sounded, and Mo Xing staggered backward, his face somewhat unsightly, but he was not seriously injured.

The Daoist robe on his body was tattered, revealing a second-order defensive armor-type magic weapon underneath.

This scene shocked Nan Yun and the others.