Volume One: Youth Enters the World Chapter 80: Starsea Harbor

Within Winterfell, Fang Tian had already left the snowy mountains and settled at an inn. No one had discovered him on his way back. At this moment, he was gazing at the crystal cores of two adult Icecrown Serpents within the sword’s inner space, contemplating whether to use them immediately for another breakthrough. He sensed that consuming these two crystal cores might allow him to ascend yet another level.

It was only after being suppressed by that terrifying entity in the snowy mountains that Fang Tian truly understood the meaning of "there are always greater heights, and stronger people." Since the beginning of his cultivation, Fang Tian had mostly encountered cultivators similar to himself. Even when faced with stronger opponents, he felt little inferiority; with his superior movement skills, he could always retreat with ease if a battle went awry.

Yet that day had left a deep mark on his heart. Compared to such a being, he was like a mortal gazing up at a towering peak—so small and insignificant at the base of a mountain. The experience struck Fang Tian hard, kindling a fervent desire to grow stronger.

As he hesitated, Master Tian appeared by his side, instantly grasping Fang Tian’s thoughts. Glancing at the crystal core in Fang Tian’s hand, Master Tian advised, “Xiao Tian, you’ve already broken through two levels in succession. It’s best to stabilize your cultivation before attempting another breakthrough. Besides, you’ve spent too much time cultivating within the sword, and your physical age is slowly increasing. Haven’t you noticed how much more mature your appearance has become?”

“I know,” Fang Tian replied, “but I can’t shake the feeling that my current level is still not enough. When will I finally reach the realm where I can command the very forces of heaven and earth?”

Seeing that the events of that day had unsettled Fang Tian’s state of mind, Master Tian spoke with deep gravity, “I understand your feelings. This is precisely why I didn’t want to tell you about the higher stages of cultivation too soon. I hope you can calm your heart and not rush. Forcing a breakthrough in your present state will only end in disaster. Do you understand, Xiao Tian?”

Fang Tian fell into deep thought as he listened. He could not say Master Tian was wrong, but seeing his own weakness was hard to accept; his composure was shaken.

Master Tian did not disturb him further. Having said what needed to be said, the rest was up to Fang Tian to process. With a sweep of his robe, Master Tian left Fang Tian alone with his thoughts.

After a long while, Fang Tian slowly raised his head, set down the crystal core, and exhaled deeply. It seemed he had regained his calm.

Master Tian was right—he had indeed grown impatient. Others’ strength belonged to them alone; he should not lose his composure because of it. His own path must be traversed step by step. One day, he too would reach such heights.

Having resolved his thoughts, Fang Tian exited the sword’s inner space and reappeared in the outer world. For now, his priority was finding a way to participate in the Hundred Islands Assembly. If he remained trapped in the Northern Sands Archipelago, he might never reach the pinnacle of cultivation. Although the snowy mountains harbored beings of unimaginable power, he could hardly go and beg for discipleship—should he offend them, he might well lose his life.

For now, finding a way to join the Hundred Islands Assembly was the utmost priority.

Fang Tian left the inn. His next step was to leave the city and head toward Xinghai Port. From Lin Shuang, he had learned that every two months, a spirit ship laden with ice crystals would sail to other islands for trade. The Shen family, one of the four great clans, was responsible for the transport, overseeing commerce for the imperial dynasty.

Fang Tian planned to sneak aboard then. If he happened to run into Shen Xingfeng, all the better; given Shen Xingfeng’s relationship with Lin Shuang, Fang Tian might even be able to blend in openly. He could no longer remain on Ice Spirit Island—by now, he was surely wanted throughout the dynasty. As long as he refrained from reckless action, they should not be able to trace him; after all, he had changed his appearance and identity upon leaving Maple Leaf Town.

As for the spiritual energy traces left in Wufeng City, Master Tian had assured him there was no cause for concern. Those array formations that retained such traces would dissipate once cultivators left the city; only if the array remained active would the traces persist. This flaw made them easy to circumvent, especially for someone as proficient in arrays as Fang Tian. From Lin Shuang, he also learned that there was only one person in the entire dynasty capable of establishing arrays, a guest elder invited from another island, whose handiwork graced every city.

When entering Winterfell, Fang Tian had used special means to avoid suspicion, setting up a small array in his inn room to make it appear as if he had never left. When he ventured into the snowy mountains, he learned how to inscribe a warding array on himself from his array diagrams. Though it was a basic array, it was enough to fool Winterfell’s detection arrays. Oddly, he found no such array in the imperial capital, which puzzled him.

What he did not know was that the royal family believed the imperial capital was filled with experts, bolstered by the presence of the Hall of Enforcement, and saw no need for such measures. No one expected a cultivator would dare act so brazenly within the capital. After Fang Tian’s escapade, such precautions might be enacted, but by then, he was long gone. In truth, only a master of arrays could have bypassed such measures anyway.

It was partly luck that the lord of the dynasty happened to be in seclusion; otherwise, with the master’s power at the Spirit Seed realm, even Fang Tian’s considerable abilities would not have sufficed for escape. Perhaps the dynasty had grown complacent over the years, having never encountered someone like Fang Tian before.

Anyone else who attempted what Fang Tian had would surely have met a swift end. The reason he remained at large was simply that his emergence had been so sudden, with no one knowing where he came from. Tracking him was nearly impossible, especially since he was an expert in arrays.

Otherwise, a month would never have passed with Fang Tian strolling freely through Winterfell as if nothing had happened.

Strolling through the streets, Fang Tian happened to pass the bounty board and saw two familiar posters—one bearing his real name, the other his alias, Tian Yu. One had a laughably low reward, the other a sum so extravagant that even Fang Tian himself was tempted by the bounty.

After a brief glance, Fang Tian left Winterfell.

He recalled from a previous conversation with Lin Shuang that near Ice Spirit Island lay Greenwood Island, dominated by the Clear Creek Sect. Most residents of the island would choose to join Clear Creek Sect for cultivation, but entry required passing an entrance trial. Unlike the Zhao Dynasty, the sect did not rule the island directly. Each time the Hundred Islands Assembly convened, only the most promising disciples were chosen to participate. As long as one joined, there was a chance to attend, for the elders would lead their disciples by spirit ship to the Assembly.

Moreover, the spirit ship from Ice Spirit Island would pass by there. Fang Tian planned to use the spirit ship from Xinghai Port. With just over two months until the Assembly, time was short. Missing this chance would mean waiting another ten years, and the great powers only recruited the younger generation—this might well be Fang Tian’s only opportunity.

After several days of travel, Fang Tian finally arrived near Xinghai Port. Gazing at the boundless sea and feeling the occasional sea breeze, Fang Tian stretched out his arms, savoring the warmth. It was his first time at the seaside. Here, the chill had vanished, despite the proximity to the snowy mountains; there was not a trace of ice or snow. Barefoot, he walked along the sand, letting the waves occasionally wet the hem of his clothes. Spotting a small crab crawling ahead, Fang Tian picked it up and, with a thought, asked Master Tian, “Is this edible, Master?”

Even Master Tian, with his countless years of experience, was momentarily at a loss—Fang Tian’s curiosity about unfamiliar things was inexhaustible. Exasperated, Master Tian replied, “Yes, it’s edible. But Xiao Tian, have you forgotten what you’re supposed to be doing?”

“Of course not. I’m just a little curious, seeing such a grand scene for the first time.”

“Well, as long as you haven’t forgotten.”

Gazing at the port not far ahead, Fang Tian saw several massive spirit ships moored, with figures busily loading cargo on board. It seemed preparations for departure were underway—he was not too late after all.