Between the Nine Heavens and Nine Earths lay the Primordial Great Land, vast as a planetary system.
This realm, shaped like a celestial sphere atop a terrestrial plane, had, in its easternmost reaches, a boundless, misty ocean.
The Hanhai Sect, one of the ten great sects of the Primordial Great Land, was established here.
Chen Luo leaned casually against the doorframe of his Six-Dragon Golden Chariot. This divine vessel naturally generated a spiritual energy barrier, deflecting the sharp, piercing winds.
As for Linglong, the nominal buyer of the chariot and Chen Luo's current companion, she had already retreated inside. After all, compared to Miaoyu, who was at the Ascended Immortal realm, Linglong, merely at the Dao Path realm, found it difficult to maintain composure when in Chen Luo's presence for too long.
Now back in the carriage, Linglong recalled their recent conversation and found it rather peculiar:
"How strange. Chen Gongzi is only at the third stage of the Dao Path, yet when conversing with Sister Yu, he maintained an attitude of equality. Neither Sister Yu nor I felt anything amiss?"
After some thought, Chen Luo's image resurfaced in Linglong's mind, causing the young princess to blush and shake her head:
"No, no, I mustn't think too much. Perhaps it's like this attraction of his; Chen Gongzi's composure is simply innate."
"Yes, when we return, I must ask Mother for a treasure to stabilize my mind, otherwise, I won't be able to converse normally with Chen Gongzi."
Setting aside the thoughts of young Linglong, Chen Luo was captivated by the scenery before him.
The Six-Dragon Golden Chariot soared high above, and the vast expanse of emerald waves below, bathed in the morning sun, seemed to shimmer with starlight. Amidst such beauty, the marine life also appeared to awaken with the dawn.
As they flew deeper into the Hanhai, the sea's surface gradually became adorned with vibrant colors.
*Whoosh!*
Schools of flying fish, with wings sprouting from them, burst forth from beneath the emerald waves. In groups of hundreds, they leaped and danced amidst the spray, forming rainbow-like arches in the sunlight over the cerulean sea.
With flames igniting beneath its dragon heads and its four hooves treading the void, the chariot left trails of azure fire. These fiery streaks wove through the rainbow arches, as if the entire ocean were welcoming Chen Luo's arrival.
"Woooo~~~"
Suddenly, a long, drawn-out cry echoed from beneath the sea, a sound distant and ancient, as if it had journeyed from primordial times.
The next moment! A colossal, circular wave erupted from the depths of the vast Hanhai!
As the spray dispersed, a magnificent whale, as large as an island, surfaced. Amidst its prolonged whale song, the fountain on its back spouted high into the heavens.
The whale's appearance seemed to be a signal. The Six-Dragon Golden Chariot, previously soaring in the sky, descended directly onto the whale's back.
As the Six-Dragon Golden Chariot docked on the whale's back, an even longer whale song resonated from the sea.
The leaping flying fish around them became more rapid. In an instant, countless rainbow halos seemed to be reflected upon the island that was the whale.
The scene was dreamlike.
However, Chen Luo merely glanced at it before shifting his gaze forward. For, accompanying the prolonged whale song, a magnificent silhouette was faintly emerging on the vast, boundless ocean before him!
"Interesting. Is this the Hanhai Sect?"
Vast spatial forces surged ahead. The whale's song acted as a signal, summoning a grand structure.
First appeared a colossal stone archway, large enough for ten island-sized whales to pass through side-by-side. Atop the archway, golden characters proclaimed: "Hanhai Sect"!
The whale slowly moved its body, carrying its small master towards home.
The moment the whale passed through the massive archway, the scenery before Chen Luo's eyes abruptly changed.
The whale carrying the dragon chariot suddenly appeared in a vast expanse of white mist. Deep within the fog, countless melodies seemed to be playing and singing.
The giant whale continued its journey. After a moment, the mist dissipated, and the whale emerged onto a calm, mirror-like expanse of azure sea.
And before him, the true visage of the Hanhai Sect unfolded before Chen Luo's eyes!
Countless mountains and pavilions hung suspended above the azure sea. Waterfalls flowed upwards from the sea towards the mountains in the sky. With these逆流 (nìliú - reverse flowing) waterfalls, billions of spiritual light-emitting fish traversed the mountains out of thin air.
Upon these shimmering fish, Chen Luo heard the songs of countless beings – the history of the demon race, the lives of countless demons.
"In the beginning, there was the Dao. Heaven and Earth were not yet divided. The Heavenly Dao, in its mercy, gave birth to the demon race..."
"In the primeval world, mountains and seas were boundless. Ten thousand demons existed, prospering the land..."
Yet, beneath these songs, the Hanhai Sect's headquarters appeared unexpectedly deserted.
However, Chen Luo could sense that within the suspended mountains and pavilions, many beings were observing him.
Within the sect's council hall, dozens of beings at the Ascended Immortal realm were examining the youth on the spiritual energy screen with curious gazes.
"Is this the man from Princess Linglong's letter?"
"When I read the princess's previous message, I thought she was exaggerating. I never imagined such a person could truly exist in this world?"
"Indeed, this man's appearance is not due to any charm technique, yet it is more captivating than any charm technique. Fortunately, we heeded the princess's words and had the younger disciples below the Ascended Immortal realm retreat first."
"Alas! Although he doesn't have beautiful large pincers, I, Old Xie, find him quite pleasing to the eye. I really wish he were my son-in-law!"
If Chen Luo were present, he might have felt as though he had stumbled into a gathering of demons.
And indeed, that was largely the case. Of the dozens of Ascended Immortals present, very few resembled humans. Most had human bodies but the heads of fish, shrimp, or crabs, giving them a rather bizarre appearance.
For instance, Old Xie, who wished for a son-in-law, sported a crab's head.
"Pah! What good thoughts are you having, you old crab! This is someone the princess fancies!"
"Hmph, hmph, I'm just thinking aloud. Besides, aren't all of you staring with eyes practically popping out?"
"Ahem, speaking of which, wasn't I initially told he was merely a cultivation cauldron? Why would the princess suddenly send a message asking us to treat him with guest etiquette?"
A male Ascended Immortal with a normal human appearance asked, with some doubt, towards the center of the hall.
The other Ascended Immortals quieted down upon hearing the man's question, indicating their shared interest in this matter.
The woman in opulent robes at the very center of the hall, gazing at the youth looking around within the spiritual energy barrier, spoke with a somewhat complex tone:
"Linglong did not elaborate, but there is no need for us to probe further."
"Linglong has her own thoughts, and her time is running out. If this young man can bring her some happiness, then what harm is there in us treating him with guest etiquette?"
Upon hearing this, the Ascended Immortals present turned their gazes towards the Six-Dragon Golden Chariot, which had ascended into the sky once more and was flying towards the floating islands, their expressions becoming complex.
Even Ascended Immortals were not omnipotent.