The flying boat was unlike anything Xiao Chen or Qing Lian had ever imagined.
It was a hundred zhang long, carved from ancient spirit wood that glowed faintly azure. Intricate formations etched its surface, pulsing with soft light. It floated silently above the testing plain, casting no shadow, as though the air itself cradled it.
Twenty-three new disciples from Yellow Dust Star stood in awe below — most outer disciples with average roots, a few mid-grade like Qing Lian, and one unprecedented monster like Xiao Chen.
Elder Han addressed them one final time.
"Board the boat. Once we leave this mortal star, there is no return for decades, perhaps centuries. Sever worldly ties in your heart. The path of immortality is long and cruel."
Xiao Chen glanced back at Willow Leaf Village in the distance — a tiny cluster of mud huts under yellow dust. Little Fatty waved frantically from the crowd. Old Lady Wang wiped tears.
Qing Lian squeezed his hand briefly. "We'll come back stronger… and help them."
He nodded.
Li Wei stood apart, face dark. His high-grade earth roots had earned him outer disciple status, but Xiao Chen's treatment overshadowed everything. The orphan he had dismissed now stood at the very center of attention.
As the disciples boarded via a light bridge, Li Wei muttered to a companion, "That trash got lucky with some freak root. In the sect, real talent and background matter. He'll learn his place soon."
The companion, another outer disciple from the county town, smirked. "Young Master Li, with your father's connections to the sect's deacon, that village boy won't dare breathe loudly."
They boarded last.
The boat rose smoothly, piercing clouds in moments. Yellow Dust Star shrank below until it became a pale orb, then vanished entirely.
Inside the boat's main hall, new disciples sat cross-legged on jade mats. Spiritual energy here was dozens of times richer than on the mortal star — breathing alone felt refreshing.
A female immortal in azure robes, one of the three recruiters, began instruction.
"I am Deaconess Mu. During this month-long journey to Azure Cloud Realm, you will learn basic breathing technique and sense spiritual energy. Those who condense even a single strand into your meridians before arrival will receive a low-grade spirit stone reward."
Excited murmurs spread.
Qing Lian sat beside Xiao Chen, eyes shining. "Chen-ge, we're really doing it."
He smiled gently. "Yes. Together."
But when he closed his eyes and tried the breathing rhythm Deaconess Mu taught, something strange happened.
The surrounding spiritual energy did not enter slowly.
It surged.
Like rivers flowing into the sea, strands rushed toward him wildly, drawn by the Primordial Chaos Bead. Black mist faintly swirled inside his dantian, devouring and refining the energy at terrifying speed.
In less than an hour, he had condensed nine full strands — equivalent to peak Body Forging 9th layer.
He quickly suppressed it, opening his eyes in alarm.
Qing Lian noticed his expression. "What's wrong?"
He leaned close and whispered, "The energy… it's coming too fast. I'm afraid others will notice."
She glanced around worriedly. Most disciples were struggling to sense even a wisp.
Li Wei, sitting a few rows ahead, had managed one thin strand and was already looking smug.
Days passed on the boat.
Qing Lian worked diligently, condensing three strands by the tenth day — excellent progress for water roots.
Xiao Chen pretended to struggle, only showing two strands outwardly while secretly reaching early Spirit Vein stage.
One evening, as disciples rested on the deck watching star rivers streak past, Li Wei approached with two lackeys.
"Village boy," he said loudly enough for others to hear. "Your freak root seems useless now. Can't even keep up with a proper young lady."
Some outer disciples chuckled.
Qing Lian's face flushed angrily. "Mind your own progress, Young Master Li."
Li Wei smiled coldly. "Qing Lian, in the sect, status matters. Outer disciples like us must know whom to befriend… and whom to avoid offending."
He glanced meaningfully at Xiao Chen.
Xiao Chen met his gaze calmly. "The Dao is fair. Strength will speak eventually."
Li Wei laughed. "Big words from trash. We'll see."
He left, but the tension lingered.
That night, in the quiet meditation chamber assigned to inner disciples (Xiao Chen had a private room), Qing Lian knocked softly.
He opened the door. "Can't sleep?"
She slipped inside, face worried. "Li Wei… he won't let this go. I heard him talking to his friends — his uncle is an outer deacon in the sect."
Xiao Chen pulled her into a gentle embrace — the first since their kiss beneath the willow.
"Don't worry. I won't let anyone bully you."
She rested her head against his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat.
"I know. But… be careful. The immortal world seems more dangerous than the village."
He tilted her chin up softly.
Their second kiss was longer, deeper — filled with unspoken promises and the sweetness of young love amidst uncertainty.
When they parted, she smiled shyly. "For courage."
He laughed quietly. "Then I'll need a lot more courage on this journey."
Outside the porthole, endless stars flew past.
But deep within the flying boat's formation core, Elder Han examined a monitoring jade slip, brow furrowed.
"That boy's absorption rate… even when suppressed, it's abnormal. Chaos roots truly live up to legend. I must report this to the sect master upon return."
A faint heavenly tribulation cloud, invisible to all, trailed far behind the boat — observing silently.
The first small twists of fate were already turning.