In the night sky, full of stars, a ship sailed steadily toward its destination.
Bai Tian stood at the helm, intently staring at the vast ocean ahead. There was an excited glint in his eyes — perhaps stirred by the journey itself, or perhaps by the anticipation of what lay ahead.
Suddenly, Bai Tian heard a sharp, slicing, almost ghostly sound. His instincts kicked in, and he shouted,"Everyone, monster!"
Only then did he turn around and look carefully. He saw something rapidly approaching the ship, faint flashes of light flickering around it. Behind him, footsteps sounded across the deck — the crew had woken up.
"It should be a Thunderscale Serpent," someone from the crowd muttered.
An agreeing voice followed — Elder Jiang.
"Indeed. Thunderscale Serpents are often seen in this part of the ocean. Because of how fast they are, some of them can easily slip past the navy patrols," Elder Jiang explained.
The Thunderscale Serpent was a Tier 2 water monster, one of the fastest of its kind. Since there were no inhabited islands in this region, the naval patrols weren't as strict. As a result, these monsters often roamed these waters.
In fact, most shipwrecks in this area were caused by Thunderscale Serpents. That was why the Seven Azure Alliance had made it a rule: only Tier 1 ships carrying at least one late-stage Meridian Opening cultivator were permitted to voyage through these waters.
After his explanation, Elder Jiang turned to Uncle Xiao and spoke,"Since we have Supervisor Xiao here, it shouldn't be too difficult to deal with this monster."
Everyone visibly relaxed at those words. Most of the passengers were experienced in long-distance voyages and knew the dangers well. Only a few, including Bai Tian, were on their first.
Yet instead of fear, Bai Tian felt excitement. His dream was to become a ship commander in the navy — this kind of battle was part of his future.
He knew there were only two late-stage Meridian Opening cultivators on Mistveil Island: his Uncle Xiao, and Senior Fang. It was rare for a Tier 3 island to have even one cultivator at that level, let alone two.
Senior Fang was head of the island guard and typically took charge during voyages. When Uncle Xiao had to leave the island, Senior Fang would stay behind to manage local affairs.
Bai Tian turned and saw his Uncle Xiao holding a long spear — more than five feet in length, with a massive spearhead — standing at the front of the ship.
The flickering lights came closer, now only a hundred meters away. A sudden, air-splitting sound echoed across the deck, followed by a flash of blinding light.
Then, an eerie silence fell.
Moments later, Bai Tian saw Uncle Xiao, wet from seawater, climbing back aboard. The older man paused, glanced at Bai Tian for a brief moment, and smiled.
"The Thunderscale Serpent is dead," he announced."Help me drag it onto the ship."
Only then did everyone snap out of their daze.
"I've seen this many times, but Supervisor Xiao still fascinates me," said Elder Jiang.
Uncle Meng beside him nodded."Cultivation truly is heaven defying. It amazes me how we humans can fight against such colossal and powerful sea monsters."
After a while, a massive, ten-foot-long serpent was hauled onto the deck. Though water monsters weren't edible, the corpse of a Thunderscale Serpent was highly valuable even without its core.
Its scales and fangs were prized materials for crafting armor and weapons, while its blood was an essential ingredient in concoctions.
Afterward, the crew and passengers gathered around, chatting and laughing. Nobody returned to sleep — with only half a day left before reaching Misty Rain Island, excitement hung in the air.
Bai Tian, Uncle Xiao, Elder Jiang, and Uncle Meng sat together off to one side. The three elders talked amongst themselves while Bai Tian sat quietly, still thinking about that blinding strike.
"I've never seen Uncle Xiao use his full strength in a real fight," Bai Tian reflected. "This is the first time I've witnessed it."
But doubts still lingered in his mind.
He wasn't sure if he'd ever be able to cultivate. He knew a little more about cultivation than common folk — after all, Granny Yu was a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
She once told him,"Everyone can absorb and sense astral energy, but people have different levels of affinity. Even someone with low talent can cultivate; it just takes them a long time to gather enough energy to open a meridian."
If that were true, Bai Tian wouldn't have been so worried — but there was a problem.
"But my father… he was the exception," Bai Tian thought grimly.
Granny Yu had said his father was unique — he had no compatibility with astral energy at all. His grandfather had even taken him to Greenwood Academy in Starflow Island to have him tested. He was the only person in the recorded history of the Seven Azure Alliance to receive a result of zero compatibility.
The memory gave Bai Tian a headache. He sighed.
"My talent is the only thing standing between me and my dream of becoming a ship commander."
At that moment, the three elders noticed his mood. Uncle Xiao asked,"What's wrong, Little Tian?"
"Nothing, Uncle Xiao. I'm just excited about the journey. I didn't sleep much last night," Bai Tian replied with a forced smile.
"You should get proper rest. Sleep is important at your age," Uncle Xiao advised. The other two elders nodded in agreement.
Bai Tian relented and went below deck, though he wasn't feeling the least bit sleepy.
Uncle Xiao watched him go, and his expression turned thoughtful.
"Hopefully… you won't have the same condition as your father," he muttered quietly.
He knew Bai Tian well — the boy was confident, perhaps even a little arrogant. Everyone Bai Tian had grown up around had been geniuses, dragon amongst men.
His grandfather and Granny Yu were both powerful Foundation Establishment cultivators, and Granny Yu once said his great-grandmother might have been the strongest woman in the history of the Seven Alliances.
Even his father, despite having no cultivation talent, had been just a little weaker than Great Circle cultivators.
From a young age, Bai Tian had been different — hardworking, disciplined, and understanding beyond his years. That was why Uncle Xiao had suggested he join the crew's fishing trips — to give him a sense of accomplishment.
...
Bai Tian didn't sleep for long. He knew they would be reaching Misty Rain Island soon. The only reason he had forced himself to rest last night was to keep his body in good condition.
When he came back on deck, the others were still gathered there, though the atmosphere was now quiet and serene. In the corner, Uncle Xiao was meditating in the rising sun.
"Uncle Xiao is cultivating even on the ship. Indeed, the path of cultivation is filled with hardship," Bai Tian thought to himself, watching the still figure of Uncle Xiao seated cross-legged at the stern. "It's a reminder that I should work even harder once I formally start cultivating at Greenwood Academy."
With that thought lingering in his mind, Bai Tian made his way over to Uncle Meng and Elder Jiang, who were seated beneath the shade of the ship's upper deck. The two elders were quietly sipping tea, occasionally exchanging a word or two as the ship swayed gently on the waves.
Bai Tian quietly took a seat beside them, mindful not to disturb their peace.
Uncle Meng noticed him and gave a slight nod.
"Excited for Misty Rain City, boy?" he asked with a faint smile.
Bai Tian grinned.
"I've heard stories since I was little, Uncle Meng. I want to see it all with my own eyes."
After a while, the color of the sea ahead began to change. Bai Tian turned and saw a massive landmass emerging on the horizon. Even from a great distance, it was clear this place was many times larger than Mistveil Island. It was, after all, a sovereign island, home to over a millions of people.
As the ship drew closer, he saw the bustling harbor — countless ships of all sizes docked along the shore. Bai Tian's gaze was drawn to the largest warship, where a deep blue banner fluttered in the wind. A white crane soared over crashing waves, mist curling around its wings.
It was the emblem of Misty Rain Island.
As their ship sailed into the harbor, Bai Tian felt his heart race with excitement. Misty Rain Island was nothing like Mistveil. Here, towering walls surrounded the harbor city, with rows of tall buildings constructed from stone and wood. Dozens of ships docked in perfect formation along the vast piers, ranging from small merchant vessels to colossal warships bearing the emblem of Misty Rain Island.
Seagulls circled overhead, their cries mixing with the clatter of sailors unloading crates and merchants shouting prices. The harbor was alive — a chaotic, vibrant contrast to the quiet mornings of Mistveil.
"Secure the ropes! Drop anchor!" came the shout from the ship's boatswain.
With practiced efficiency, the crew leapt into action. Thick ropes were thrown to waiting dockhands, who fastened them to large iron moorings. The anchor splashed into the water with a deep, echoing sound, and the ship finally came to a gentle halt.
Bai Tian leaned against the railing, his eyes wide. He'd imagined this moment so many times — arriving at Misty Rain Island, the heart of Misty region.
"It's bigger than I thought," he murmured.
Uncle Xiao appeared beside him, a small grin on his face.
"Feeling overwhelmed?" he asked.
Bai Tian chuckled, shaking his head.
"Not overwhelmed. Excited."
"Good," Uncle Xiao replied. "We'll be staying in the city for a few days. It'll be a good chance for you to see how a real sovereign island runs. You'll learn more here in one week than you have in the past year."
Bai Tian's eyes lit up.
"Really?"
"Of course," Uncle Xiao laughed. "Come on. Grab your things — we'll be leaving the ship soon. I need to make arrangement for that Thunderscale Serpent corpse, while you can spend the day exploring the city."
"Wait, I can go alone?" Bai Tian asked, surprised.
"You're not a child anymore," Uncle Xiao said, clapping a hand on his shoulder. "Just stay within the outer city. The inner city is off-limits to outsiders without a permit. If you run into trouble, find a city guard and show them this."
He handed Bai Tian a small jade token engraved with the character for 'Zhao'.
"Anyone who sees this will not cause trouble for you," he added.
Bai Tian gripped the token tightly, feeling its cool surface.
"I'll be careful."
"Good. Once you're done, meet me at the Azure Lantern Inn by sunset. It's near the southern market street — you can ask around."
Bai Tian nodded eagerly and rushed below deck to gather his things.