Roaming the Four Seas: Chapter 133 - A Hundred Demons Born of Clouds

The sand table of Lingxi Island, resting upon an eight-immortal table, measures approximately three feet in length and one foot in width. Unlike the mundane sand tables of the mortal realm, the clouds and lanterns suspended in the air above it drift slowly, mirroring the real landscape in perfect detail. Tiny flags, barely an inch long, are planted wherever malevolent spirits are sensed. They are packed densely, filling the entire table.

Lingxi Island is shaped like a mountain, with edges that blur into chaos, making it truly a boundless land. The area activated and occupied by humans is roughly equivalent to two Danyang cities. With its multi-layered cloud terrain and sparse population, the island offers its inhabitants an incredibly vast space to live.

Channeling a newly grasped technique, the "Instant Sands of Flowing Flowers," Su Ye’s spiritual consciousness transformed into a gentle breeze, swirling and dancing across Lingxi Island. The heartstrings he tuned into revealed the number of malevolent spirits on the island with greater precision than the Wind Demon Bell. He counted the small flags: there were ninety-seven. The number of spirits capable of possessing human bodies was equivalent to this. Adding the three soul-demons Su Ye had already slain, the total was exactly one hundred. The number one hundred belongs to the element of water, indirectly pointing to the origin from which the soul-demons sprouted.

Mo Wuji, serving as the rotating Island Master, paced back and forth beside the sand table. Finally, unable to contain himself, he said, "Fellow Daoist Su, such a multitude of soul-demons is enough to turn the world upside down. We are only at the beginning of the Great Cycle of Destruction, and already there are so many... this calamity is bound to be immense."

Su Ye retracted his technique, feeling slightly faint. With his current cultivation level, forcibly manipulating the power of heaven and earth was quite a strain. To unleash the full might of the Divine Kingdom Refinement, the Myriad Forms and Laws, and the Instant Sands of Flowing Flowers, one must reach the Flying Cloud Realm. Forcing these techniques caused his energy sea to deplete, leading to a momentary darkness before his eyes.

"The Great Qian Demon-Suppressing Division is no longer under government jurisdiction. As a formidable force separate from the military, they have prepared in advance for the Great Cycle’s Demon Purge," Su Ye said, swallowing a Great Returning Pill and instantly recovering. "The current situation is far from optimistic."

Upon hearing this, Island Master Mo counted on his thick, stubby fingers, letting out a series of alarmed cries: "This is bad, bad, truly bad..."

"Senior Mo, have you calculated that something terrible is about to happen?"

"Fellow Daoist Su, you may not know this. The Three Thousand Worlds are an infinitely vast space, within which many human nations, including Great Qian, occupy only a limited area," the Island Master explained. "The unmapped primordial lands are the domain where immortals roam. Constrained by boundaries, even if two immortals clash with world-shattering techniques, it does not affect the mortal world in the slightest."

"Is Lingxi Island an aerial island built in imitation of the Three Thousand Worlds?" Su Ye asked, filled with wonder.

"Precisely because of this," the Island Master said with a proud smile, "the residents living here dare to call this place the Immortal Realm."

"The malevolent spirits of the mortal world originate from the Great Destruction of Heaven and Earth, sprouting endlessly from the darkness," Su Ye mused. "By that logic, the spirits on Lingxi Island..."

The Island Master seemed to awaken from a dream: "Could it be... that the very clouds supporting this island are the root of the spirits' birth?"

"Clouds are formed by water vapor, which perfectly corresponds to the number of soul-demons on the island... If there are no surprises, it is exactly as Senior Mo suggests."

"If we protect the clouds with a magic array, will the soul-demons automatically perish?"

"Malevolent spirits are also creatures derived from heaven and earth... they take form from qi and will not dissipate easily."

The Island Master slapped his forehead, cursing himself for being dim-witted. He immediately summoned the Cloud Spirit Boat to carry Su Ye to the place where the demonic energy was strongest.

***

Guan Xiong is a blacksmith specializing in heavy spiritual treasures. Possessing mediocre aptitude, he makes a living on the island through sheer effort and sweat. His private residence atop the clouds mirrors his personality: a grand, spacious courtyard devoid of superfluous decoration. The black double doors feature copper knockers of an exceptionally archaic style.

"Are you certain that the strongest soul-demon is hiding in Guan Xiong’s home?" Island Master Mo and Su Ye had first met at the Lantern Pavilion. Guan Xiong had been there too, drinking and watching the dance. If a spirit had possessed him, Su Ye would never have let it pass.

"Rest assured, Island Master. My senses cannot be wrong."

Su Ye raised his hand to grasp the door knocker and tapped gently. *Pat, pat.* Footsteps approached. With a creak, the wide wooden door opened. Guan Xiong’s bloodshot eyes scanned upward from the floor. Seeing Su Ye dressed in his scholarly robes, he grabbed his wrist: "I am truly a fool; I had completely forgotten about you."

Island Master Mo scolded him: "You were chatting together just last night; how could you have forgotten today?"

Guan Xiong’s face was filled with bitterness: "This morning, my daughter tried to take her own life for no reason. I was terrified and rushed to stop her..."

"What happened next?" Su Ye pressed.

"She fell into a coma and her high fever would not break," Guan Xiong said urgently. "Let us not talk here; come with me to see my daughter."

The Island Master reminded him: "Guan Xiong, loosen your grip; do not offend our distinguished guest."

Guan Xiong hurriedly released Su Ye’s wrist. Unable to spare time for apologies, he led the two visitors through a courtyard piled with dozens of spirit-grade forging cauldrons. After passing through two moon gates, they entered a courtyard where medicinal herbs were grown. Following a stone path, they reached a simply furnished bedroom.

On a pear-wood daybed lay a girl of thirteen or fourteen. A woman of indeterminate age sat beside her, clutching her daughter’s small hand with immense anxiety. After hearing Guan Xiong’s account, Su Ye had assumed the soul-demon was possessing the girl, but one glance told him he had been too presumptuous.

The pear-wood daybed was the true dwelling of the soul-demon. The disadvantage was that it could not steal a human soul at will, but the advantage was its concealment, making it difficult for cultivators to detect. Had it not been for his sensitive heartstrings, Su Ye would not have noticed anything amiss with the daybed.

Guan Xiong cupped his hands in a salute, respectfully pleading: "Fellow Daoist Su, you are an alchemist; I hope you can examine my daughter."

The Island Master retorted irritably: "You boorish man, when will you ever learn to be clever... I invited Fellow Daoist Su to subdue demons; is there any need for your redundant requests?"

Guan Xiong hung his head: "The Island Master is right to rebuke me."

Mistress Guan stood up, her eyes red and swollen from crying as she looked at Su Ye: "Fellow Daoist Su, please, you must save my daughter. She is our only precious child; if something were to happen to her..."

"Quiet!" the Island Master snapped. "Stand aside and do not disturb Fellow Daoist Su’s work."

Mistress Guan immediately pressed her lips tight, making not a sound, her knuckles turning white as she gripped her hands together. Su Ye knew she was still worried about her unconscious daughter and offered a word of comfort: "It is no matter... once she takes my pill, she will wake up very soon."

The Island Master waved his hand: "You two go out first... I will call you back in once Huan’er wakes up."

Guan Xiong bowed: "Fellow Daoist Su, I entrust my daughter to you."

Su Ye nodded. Guan Xiong led his wife out of the bedroom.

The Island Master whispered: "Have you found the spirit?"

Su Ye looked back at the Island Master, signaling with his eyes. The Island Master understood.

Su Ye adopted a tone of regret: "Forgive my incompetence, but I have found no signs of a malevolent spirit here... I will feed the girl a few pills and leave the rest to fate."

The heartstrings suddenly vibrated violently. The malevolent spirit had revealed its position.

The Island Master saw Su Ye clench the hand behind his back and immediately summoned an Immortal-grade Five Elements Talisman, pressing it onto his own slender back. The rest, he knew, he could leave entirely to Su Ye.