High above the Western Spirit River, the Azure Cloud Ark moved with steady, effortless grace.
At the forward edge of the upper deck stood Yun Yizhe.
Hands resting lightly on the polished railing, robes shifting softly in the high wind, he watched the world below.
The river stretched beyond the horizon.
Not a river in the mortal sense.
An inland sea.
Mist hovered above the water in long drifting sheets. Sunlight struck the currents and shattered into countless silver reflections, making the surface glow like liquid metal.
Across the vast water, islands scattered like broken jade fragments—some no larger than a fishing village, others large enough to hold forests and hills.
From this height, the Azure Cloud Ark floated far above ordinary travel lanes.
Its sails were filled with aligned spirit currents.
The formation arrays along the hull hummed quietly.
Stable.
Untouchable.
What happened below was another world entirely.
Far beneath the Ark, the river was alive with activity.
Loose cultivators skimmed across the water on small spirit boats and flying artifacts.
Some stood balanced on narrow boards or blades, gliding just above the current.
Everywhere, hunting was happening.
A spear flashed downward—
A massive fish burst from the water, scales glimmering.
One cultivator shouted in triumph as he dragged the creature toward his boat.
Another group cast spirit-thread nets into the current. The nets glowed briefly as they tightened around something struggling beneath the surface before dissolving back into threads of light.
Not all prey was ordinary.
Some creatures were rare enough to make several weeks of profit in a city.
Among the most sought after were:
Silverback Torrent Carp — long, muscular fish that swam against the strongest currents
Blue-Spine River Serpents — thin scaled beasts that could coil around small boats
Golden Crest Pike — aggressive predators prized for their spirit-rich flesh
Mistfin Gliders — rare fish capable of short leaps through the air
None of them were particularly valuable to major sects.
But for loose cultivators, even one successful catch could sell for a respectable amount in the trading cities further downriver.
Enough for supplies.
Enough for travel.
Enough to continue cultivation.
Down there, the hunting felt half survival, half sport.
Not all hunters were poor wanderers.
Several sect vessels hovered lower in the sky above the islands.
From them, younger disciples descended toward the water.
Their elders watched calmly from the decks above.
Training.
Practice.
The river beasts were dangerous enough to sharpen combat instincts but weak enough not to threaten experienced cultivators.
Yun watched as a group of three young disciples worked together.
One lured a Blue-Spine River Serpent toward the surface.
Another struck the water with a spirit-infused spear, forcing the creature upward.
The third finished it with a precise sword strike.
The serpent fell back into the river with a splash.
Their companions cheered loudly.
On the vessel above them, an elder nodded in quiet approval.
For them, the hunt was not about profit.
It was practice.
Skill.
Discipline.
Not far away, a loose cultivator struggled to haul a Silverback Torrent Carp into his small boat.
His movements were clumsy.
The fish nearly pulled him overboard.
From a nearby sect vessel, a few young disciples laughed openly.
One of them spoke loud enough for others to hear.
"Look at him."
Another snorted.
"Chasing scraps."
A third disciple added with thinly veiled disdain,
"If they spent half that effort cultivating instead of fishing, they might actually progress."
The loose cultivator ignored them.
He had likely heard worse before.
Slowly, carefully, he secured the massive fish to the side of his boat.
For him, that catch meant real money.
Real opportunity.
Up above, the disciples soon lost interest and returned to their own training.
Yun Yizhe watched everything in silence.
The shouting.
The competition.
The laughter.
The quiet determination of the lone cultivator securing his catch.
From the deck of the Azure Cloud Ark, it all felt distant.
Small.
At this altitude, their massive vessel continued forward without slowing.
Unlike the smaller ships below, the Azure fleet never needed to stop.
They did not anchor at the islands.
They did not hunt for supplies.
Their journey would continue uninterrupted.
But Yun's gaze lingered on the river below.
Not on the successful hunters.
Not on the arrogant disciples.
Instead—
On the difference between them.
A faint breeze passed across the deck.
His thoughts drifted quietly.
And it was at that moment…
That footsteps approached from behind.
Yun Yizhe stood at the edge of the upper deck, one hand resting lightly on the railing as he looked out over the endless stretch of the Western Spirit River.
Footsteps approached from behind.
A young woman in pale blue robes stopped a few paces away.
She bowed respectfully.
"Senior Yun."
Yun turned slightly.
The girl straightened and spoke clearly.
"Junior Bai Zhiyan, daughter of the Silverstream Bai Clan Leader, greets Senior."
Yun studied her for a brief moment.
The name was familiar. The Silverstream Bai Clan controlled several river trade routes not far from Azure Balance Pavilion's territory. A strong clan, though still beneath the Pavilion.
Yun nodded lightly.
"Junior Sister Wei. There is no need to be so formal. Call me Senior Brother Yun. We are of the same generation."
The formality in her posture relaxed slightly.
"Yes… Senior Brother Yun."
She stepped beside him, leaving a respectful distance between them.
For a short while they simply looked out over the river.
"It is my honor to meet you, Senior Brother."
Yun glanced back toward the river.
"Hmm.."
Bai Zhiyan stood beside the railing after introducing herself.Her posture was respectful but not stiff.
She looked toward the vast river for a moment before speaking again.
"Senior Brother Yun… many people from the younger generation have been hoping to meet you during this journey."
Yun glanced at her briefly.
"Oh? Why is that?"
Bai Zhiyan smiled faintly.
"You might not pay attention to it, but you're quite famous among us."
Yun raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Famous for what?"
Bai Zhiyan answered without hesitation.
"For breaking through to Golden Core before the age of a hundred."
She continued calmly.
"In this entire region, there are only a few people of our generation who have managed that."
She paused slightly before adding,
"Your name is often mentioned together with the younger geniuses of the three great sects."
Yun looked back toward the river.
His expression barely changed.
"People like to talk."
Bai Zhiyan shook her head gently.
"It's more than that."
She rested one hand lightly on the railing.
"Most of us are still struggling in Foundation Establishment. Seeing someone from our own generation reach Golden Core… it gives people something to aim for."
Yun watched the movement of the river currents below.
After a moment he said,
"Early or late doesn't matter that much."
Bai Zhiyan turned toward him.
"Most cultivators wouldn't agree with that."
Yun shrugged slightly.
"Foundation matters more than timing."
Bai Zhiyan nodded thoughtfully.
"That's what my father always says as well."
Below them, a group of loose cultivators shouted as they tried to drag a massive river fish onto their boat.
For a moment both of them watched the scene in silence.
For a short while the two of them simply watched the river traffic.
Below, the loose cultivators finally managed to haul the enormous fish onto their boat. Loud cheers broke out as several of them struggled to keep the thrashing creature from slipping back into the water.
Bai Zhiyan smiled faintly at the sight.
Nearby, a group of young cultivators had been sitting around a low table, passing the time with small cups of spirit wine and idle conversation.
One of them suddenly froze.
"…Golden Core before a hundred?"
The young man slowly turned his head toward the railing.
He stared at Yun for a moment.
Then his eyes widened.
"Wait… wait a second…"
He abruptly stood up, nearly knocking over his chair.
The others at the table looked up in confusion.
"Hey, what's wrong with you?"
Instead of answering, the young man hurried over toward the railing. He stopped a few paces away and quickly cupped his fists.
"Senior Brother… forgive the interruption."
Yun looked at him calmly.
The young cultivator spoke quickly, clearly excited.
"Senior Brother… are you Yun Yizhe from Azure Balance Pavilion?"
"I am."
The young man inhaled sharply.
"Ah! I knew it!"
He immediately bowed again.
"Junior Chen Yongnian of the Clear Current Sect greets Senior Brother Yun!"
He straightened up, eyes practically shining.
"I've heard about you for years, Senior Brother! Everyone talks about it. Breaking through to Golden Core before a hundred… in our sect the elders mention it whenever they lecture us about diligence."
He gestured vaguely toward the river.
"Actually, the first time I heard your name was three years ago during a regional gathering. One of the elders from the Ironridge Sect mentioned you while talking about the younger generation."
He shook his head with amazement.
"They said your name is already spoken together with the prodigies of the three great sects."
Bai Zhiyan watched the young man with mild amusement.
Chen Yongnian clearly had no intention of stopping.
"To be honest, most of us thought it was exaggerated at first."
He scratched the back of his head.
"You know how rumors are. Sometimes a Foundation Establishment cultivator becomes a 'peerless genius' after traveling through three taverns."
He laughed sheepishly.
"But later more people started confirming it."
He pointed slightly at Yun.
"Then someone said you formed your Golden Core before reaching a hundred years old."
He leaned in a little, lowering his voice as if sharing an important secret.
"And then someone else said your foundation was extremely solid too."
Chen Yongnian shook his head again.
"That's when everyone started paying attention."
He sighed dramatically.
"Meanwhile most of us are still stuck trying to stabilize our Foundation Establishment."
Bai Zhiyan spoke lightly.
"For most cultivators that's already good progress."
Chen Yongnian nodded immediately.
"Of course, of course. That's true."
Then he added with a grin,
"But it's still hard not to compare when someone like Senior Brother Yun is around."
He looked back at Yun again.
"Actually, I was wondering something for a long time."
He hesitated briefly.
"Senior Brother… when you advanced to Golden Core, did it feel very different?"
Before Yun could answer, Chen Yongnian suddenly continued.
"And was there a phenomenon? I heard sometimes lightning gathers or spiritual tides appear."
He raised both hands enthusiastically.
"One elder told us that when true geniuses break through, the surrounding spiritual energy can even form visible currents!"
He blinked.
"Did that happen to you?"
Behind him, the cultivators at the table had stopped pretending not to listen.
One of them whispered quietly.
"That's really Yun Yizhe?"
Another nodded slowly.
"I think so."
Chen Yongnian meanwhile continued talking, completely unaware of how long he had been rambling.
"To be honest, meeting someone like Senior Brother Yun in person is quite surprising. Most people from our generation only hear about these things from elders."
He laughed awkwardly.
"Usually they use your name to scold us."
He deepened his voice in imitation.
"'Look at Yun Yizhe! He formed a Golden Core before a hundred. What have you been doing?'"
Bai Zhiyan covered a small smile.
Chen Yongnian sighed dramatically.
"So naturally everyone in our sect knows your name."
He looked at Yun again with obvious admiration.
"Meeting you here is actually quite exciting."
Behind him, several more disciples on the deck had begun to glance over curiously.
The quiet conversation near the railing was slowly becoming the center of attention.
Chen Yongnian was still speaking enthusiastically when another voice suddenly cut in from behind the small crowd.
"Senior Brother Yun!"
The voice was loud enough that several nearby cultivators turned their heads.
A tall young man in bright crimson robes approached quickly from the other side of the deck. His movements were smooth, but his expression carried an eager smile that felt slightly forced.
He cupped his fists deeply.
"Junior Zhang Jian greets Senior Brother Yun."
Before anyone could respond, Zhang Jian straightened and looked around the gathering disciples with a knowing expression.
"I didn't expect to encounter Senior Brother Yun on this ship. What fortune!"
Chen Yongnian blinked in surprise.
"You know Senior Brother Yun?"
Zhang Jian smiled knowingly.
"Of course."
He gestured slightly toward Yun as if presenting him to the surrounding cultivators.
"Most people only know about his reputation among the younger generation."
He lowered his voice slightly, though loud enough for the nearby disciples to hear.
"But not everyone knows his story."
A few more disciples drifted closer.
Some leaned against the railing while pretending to watch the river.
Others quietly gathered behind Chen Yongnian.
Chen Yongnian blinked.
"There's a story?"
Zhang Jian nodded slowly, clearly enjoying the attention gathering around him.
"Senior Brother Yun didn't grow up inside a sect like most of us."
Several listeners exchanged surprised looks.
"What do you mean?"
Zhang Jian folded his arms.
"His father was originally from a well-known cultivation clan."
That immediately caught everyone's attention.
"A clan cultivator?"
Chen Yongnian leaned forward.
Zhang Jian nodded.
"Not just any member either. I heard he was considered one of the most talented disciples of his generation."
Murmurs spread through the nearby listeners.
"Then why would his son grow up outside the sect world?"
Zhang Jian smiled faintly.
"Because of a woman."
Several disciples blinked.
"A woman?"
He continued slowly, clearly enjoying telling the story.
"During his travels, Senior Brother Yun's father fell in love with a mortal woman."
Chen Yongnian stared.
"A mortal?"
Zhang Jian nodded.
"Eventually the clan learned about it."
He paused before continuing.
"They arranged a marriage for him with a cultivator from another clan. A political alliance."
A few cultivators in the crowd nodded knowingly. That kind of thing was common among powerful families.
"But he refused."
Zhang Jian spread his hands slightly.
"The clan elders forced him to make a choice."
Chen Yongnian asked quietly,
"His clan… or the woman?"
Zhang Jian nodded.
"Exactly."
The surrounding cultivators had gone completely silent now.
Zhang Jian continued.
"He chose the woman."
A few girls in the crowd gasped softly.
"He left the clan behind and never returned."
Chen Yongnian shook his head in disbelief.
Someone behind him muttered,
"A hero abandoning his clan for love…"
Another cultivator chuckled quietly.
"And the son grows up to become a genius."
Zhang Jian nodded toward Yun.
"Exactly."
He continued the story.
"After leaving his clan, Senior Brother Yun's father lived as a loose cultivator."
"Senior Brother Yun grew up outside the cultivation world for many years."
Chen Yongnian frowned slightly.
"Then when did he start cultivating?"
Zhang Jian raised two fingers again.
"Twenty."
Several people reacted at once.
"Twenty?!"
"That's incredibly late!"
Zhang Jian nodded.
"He only began cultivating seriously around that time."
"But his progress was astonishing."
Chen Yongnian leaned closer again.
"How fast?"
Zhang Jian answered confidently.
"He broke through to Foundation Establishment around forty."
A few disciples gasped.
"That's only twenty years of cultivation!"
Zhang Jian continued smoothly.
"After that he joined Azure Balance Pavilion."
"From there his reputation started spreading."
By now the small group around the railing had grown into a noticeable crowd.
Some cultivators looked at Yun with admiration.
Others whispered among themselves.
Several young women were openly watching him now.
One of them whispered softly to her friend,
"His father left a powerful clan for love…"
Her friend smiled faintly.
"And he still became this strong."
Another girl murmured,
"That sounds like the beginning of a legendary story."
Not everyone reacted the same way.
A young cultivator standing at the edge of the crowd muttered quietly to his companion,
"He started that late and still surpassed so many people…"
His friend sighed.
"Some people really are favored by heaven."
His friend muttered bitterly,
"Or maybe heaven just enjoys mocking the rest of us."
Meanwhile Chen Yongnian simply stared at Yun with shining eyes.
"Senior Brother Yun… your life really sounds like something from a heroic tale."
Some of the younger cultivators looked at Yun with clear admiration.
Others seemed thoughtful.
A few simply stared in silence.
Among them, several young women glanced toward him from time to time.
The discussion gradually grew louder as more people joined the conversation.
But at the center of it all, Yun remained quiet.
He listened for a short while, then his gaze drifted across the deck.
Most of them were talking about him as if he were not standing right there.
His expression showed a faint trace of fatigue.
Beside him, Bai Zhiyan noticed it.
She had been quietly watching him the entire time.
When the crowd's attention shifted toward Zhang Jian again, Yun took a step away from the railing.
Then another.
Slowly and without drawing attention, he slipped away from the gathering.
Bai Zhiyan noticed immediately.
For a moment she hesitated.
Her eyes followed his retreating figure.
A faint color rose to her cheeks.
She quickly looked away when someone nearby turned toward her, pretending to watch the river instead.
But a moment later, she glanced back again.
By then Yun had already disappeared toward the quieter part of the deck.
The discussion behind her continued.
Stories.
Speculation.
Admiration.
Even jealousy.
Long after Yun himself had left.
The next day.
A sudden shout broke the morning quiet.
"Land!"
The word spread quickly across the deck.
"Land?"
"Where?"
People rushed toward the railings.
Far in the distance, faint shapes had appeared through the morning haze.
Mountains.
After weeks of traveling along the endless river, the sight stirred excitement throughout the ship.
Below them, the smaller boats reacted first.
Cheers erupted from the loose cultivators as several vessels began steering toward the distant shoreline.
Thin trails of smoke rose from settlements near the foothills.
For the smaller ships, land meant rest.
Food.
Supplies.
Trade.
And solid ground after weeks on the water.
Chen Yongnian leaned over the railing, eyes lighting up.
"Finally!"
Several nearby cultivators laughed in relief.
But the massive Azure Cloud Ark did not slow.
Its formation arrays hummed steadily as the great vessel continued gliding forward.
Yun stood alone near the bow of the ship.
His gaze rested on the distant mountains.
Their jagged peaks stretched across the horizon like the edge of a blade.
The Windscar Mountains.
And the journey ahead had only just begun.
End of Chapter 77