Volume 1, Chapter 54 – Cloudsea Spirit Vessel

Xiao Minghai nodded and said solemnly,

“Senior’s insight is keen. This junior has come for three reasons. First, to congratulate the Immortal Palace on opening its gates to recruit disciples and ushering in the beginning of a flourishing age.”

“Second, to express my boundless gratitude that Ya’er has been accepted into the Immortal Palace. As for the third…”

He paused, took out an ancient-looking jade box from his sleeve, and presented it with both hands.

The instant the jade box opened, a vast aura of water-attributed spiritual energy mingled with profound Dao resonance and spread throughout the room.

Inside the box, resting quietly upon a piece of brocade, was a pearl the size of a pigeon’s egg. Its entire body was deep blue, and within it, waves seemed to surge while stars rose and sank.

“The supreme treasure of the Great Yan imperial family, the Pearl Lost in the Vast Sea!”

A knowledgeable Liu family elder sucked in a sharp breath.

“This pearl was obtained by this junior in my early years. It is an earth-rank mid-grade magical treasure and a supreme treasure for water-attributed cultivators.”

Xiao Minghai’s voice was earnest.

“This junior is willing to offer this treasure, together with the complete loyalty of the Xiao clan of the Great Yan Dynasty, and humbly requests permission to place ourselves under Yaochi Immortal Palace. From this day forward, we shall follow the Immortal Palace’s lead and harbor no disloyalty whatsoever!”

The moment those words were spoken, the room fell silent.

Everyone present felt their hearts pound as they stared at Xiao Minghai in disbelief.

A founding ancestor at the peak of Spirit Transformation actually intended to bring an entire dynasty under the command of a sect that had only just begun to make its name known?

A trace of surprise also flashed through Yun Yun’s eyes, but she quickly regained her composure.

She did not immediately accept the jade box. Instead, she looked at Xiao Minghai and slowly asked,

“Do you understand what it means to ‘pledge allegiance’?”

“Have you truly thought this through?”

Xiao Minghai cupped his fists in salute, his expression filled with determination.

“This junior firmly believes that the Immortal Palace’s future will surpass all imagination.”

“Even if dangers lie ahead, the Xiao clan is willing to follow the Immortal Palace and weather every storm alongside it!”

His words rang with conviction, and his gaze was unwavering. He had clearly considered the matter thoroughly.

Yun Yun remained silent for a moment before suddenly smiling faintly.

“I cannot make the decision on this matter. It must be reported to the Palace Master for her judgment.”

With a light flick of her finger, a streak of spiritual light vanished into the void. She was clearly sending a message to Gu Han.

Meanwhile, in the main hall of Yaochi Immortal Palace.

Gu Han withdrew her divine sense from Qingyang City. The scene within the water mirror, Xiao Minghai respectfully presenting his treasure and requesting allegiance, together with the message Yun Yun had sent back, was clearly imprinted in her mind.

“Allegiance? The entire Great Yan Dynasty?”

Gu Han lightly tapped her fingers against the edge of the cloud bed, an amused glint flashing through her eyes.

“This Xiao Minghai is certainly decisive, and… very clever.”

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[Ding! Request for allegiance from an outside power detected! Analyzing…]

[Great Yan Dynasty: A medium-sized dynasty on the frontier of the Southern Region. Its territory spans approximately three million li. It possesses four Spirit Transformation cultivators. Its national strength is acceptable, but its foundations are weak.]

[Analysis of motives for allegiance: Fear of the Immortal Palace’s might, 40%; seeking a powerful backer, 35%; wagering on the Immortal Palace’s future, 25%.]

[System recommendation: How could a top-tier supreme Dao lineage not have a few underlings to run errands and handle menial tasks? Affiliated powers are extensions of a sect’s influence and also one of its sources of disciples!]

[Friendly reminder: Accepting this allegiance carries greater symbolic significance than practical resource benefits. However, it will help quickly stabilize the frontier of the Southern Region and create a favorable environment for the Immortal Palace’s future development.]

“Oh? Even you recommend accepting them?”

Gu Han raised an eyebrow. “I thought you would find them too weak.”

[Host, that is not so! Even the weakest dynasty still possesses a population, territory, and resources. Besides, even a mosquito’s leg is still meat!]

[Accepting the Great Yan Dynasty’s allegiance can be regarded as a successful ‘integration of powers’ and will serve as an example for attracting more vassals in the future.]

[Mission triggered: Accept the first affiliated power!]

[Mission objective: Formally accept the Great Yan Dynasty’s allegiance.]

[Mission reward: One earth-rank high-grade flying magical treasure, the ‘Cloudsea Spirit Vessel’!]

[Note: This vessel is approximately one hundred zhang long and can travel one hundred thousand li per day. It comes with its own defensive formation, is both comfortable and luxurious, and is the ideal choice for transporting disciples and long-distance travel!]

“Cloudsea Spirit Vessel? Earth-rank high-grade? And a flying magical treasure?”

Gu Han’s eyes lit up. This reward had arrived at exactly the right time!

She had been worrying about how to bring the more than one hundred newly recruited disciples from Qingyang City back to Yaochi Immortal Palace.

She could hardly have Yun Yun wrap them all in spiritual power and fly them back, or make Fushan reveal his true form and serve as the “transportation captain,” could she?

That would be far too lacking in style.

This spirit vessel was truly like sending charcoal in the snow. No, it was like delivering a pillow the moment she grew sleepy!

“System, is this spirit vessel… large enough? Can it carry everyone?”

Gu Han asked for confirmation.

[Rest assured, Host! The Cloudsea Spirit Vessel contains a spatial formation. Forget a little over one hundred people, even more than a thousand would fit with room to spare!]

[It is absolutely a powerful tool for displaying the Immortal Palace’s strength while increasing the new disciples’ sense of belonging and admiration!]

“Good!”

Gu Han no longer hesitated. She had made her decision.

With a slight movement of her will, her clear and ethereal voice seemed to penetrate the barriers of countless mountains and rivers, directly resounding inside the quiet room of the Liu Residence in Qingyang City.

It entered the ears of Yun Yun, Xiao Minghai, Liu Ruyan, Xiao Ya, and the others with perfect clarity.

“Yun Yun.”

“Palace Master.”

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Yun Yun immediately turned slightly to the side to show that she was listening.

“I am aware of the Great Yan Dynasty’s intentions.”

Gu Han’s voice was calm and unruffled, yet it carried an unquestionable authority that instantly sent Xiao Minghai’s heart into his throat.

“Since the Great Yan Dynasty possesses such sincerity, I grant its request.”

“From this day forward, the Great Yan Dynasty may become an affiliated power of the Immortal Palace. You shall receive our protection in the future.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Minghai’s immense joy instantly swept away his earlier unease. He hurriedly bowed deeply once again.

“I, Xiao Minghai, on behalf of the entire Xiao clan, kowtow in gratitude for the Palace Master’s grace! We shall pledge our lives in loyalty and never harbor a second heart!”

“As for the Pearl Lost in the Vast Sea…”

Gu Han’s voice paused slightly.

Xiao Minghai’s heart tightened, thinking that she considered the treasure beneath her notice.

Then he heard Gu Han continue,

“Since this is a supreme treasure of your imperial family, take it back.”

“Yaochi Immortal Palace has no shortage of a single earth-rank artifact. Your loyalty is more precious than any treasure.”

Her words were magnanimous and made the Immortal Palace’s foundations appear even more unfathomable.

Xiao Minghai felt both moved and ashamed. He hurriedly said,

“The Palace Master’s profound grace shall forever remain engraved in Minghai’s heart! However, my wish to present this treasure is sincere. Palace Master, please…”

“There is no need to say more.”

Gu Han interrupted him.

“Take the item back. It will be enough for you to handle your duties diligently in the future.”

[Ding! Mission ‘Accept the First Affiliated Power’ completed!]

[Reward distributed: The earth-rank high-grade flying magical treasure, Cloudsea Spirit Vessel, has been deposited in the System Warehouse!]

[Additional reward: Because the Host handled the matter appropriately and displayed the Immortal Palace’s bearing, an additional 3,000 Master Dao Points have been awarded! Current Master Dao Points: 20,650.]

The corners of Gu Han’s lips rose slightly. With a thought, the Cloudsea Spirit Vessel appeared within her perception.

It was the model of a massive vessel with a streamlined body that emitted a faint silver-white glow.

Although it was only a model, she could already sense the vast spatial power and exquisite formation patterns contained within it.

“Perfect. We can use this vessel to bring back the new disciples.”

Gu Han swept her gaze across the Immortal Palace. Her divine sense instantly locked onto Gu Luoli, who was playing with A-Yao.

“Luoli.”

Hearing her Master’s voice transmission, Gu Luoli hurriedly bowed respectfully toward the main hall.

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“Master! This disciple is here.”

“Come to the main hall.”

“Yes!”

Gu Luoli did not dare delay. She scooped up the confused A-Yao and quickly made her way toward the main hall.

After entering the main hall, Gu Luoli set A-Yao down and bowed respectfully.

“Master.”

Gu Han inclined her head slightly and turned her palm upward.

An exquisite flying vessel model, entirely silver-white and roughly the size of a palm, rose into the air. It emitted faint spiritual light and spatial fluctuations.

“This is the Cloudsea Spirit Vessel, an earth-rank high-grade flying magical treasure.”

Gu Han’s voice was calm.

“It contains an internal space and can travel one hundred thousand li per day. It is more than capable of carrying all the new disciples recruited this time.”

She looked at Gu Luoli.

“Luoli, take this vessel to the Liu family in Qingyang City and deliver it to Deputy Palace Master Yun.”

“Assist her in bringing the newly recruited disciples safely back to the Immortal Palace.”

Gu Luoli hurriedly accepted the small vessel with both hands. It felt warm and smooth to the touch, yet she could sense the vast spiritual and spatial power contained within it.

Shaken by the imposing manner with which her Master casually produced an earth-rank high-grade magical treasure, she replied respectfully,

“This disciple accepts the order! I will personally deliver it to the Deputy Palace Master.”

With that, she turned and headed toward the doors.

“The journey is long. Your Master will send you part of the way.”

Gu Han suddenly spoke, stopping her.

Gu Luoli turned around and looked at her Master in confusion. Was Master going to personally take her there?

Under Gu Luoli’s puzzled gaze, Gu Han extended her right hand and lightly drew it across the empty space before Gu Luoli.

The movement was casual, as though she were brushing aside a hanging curtain of pearls.

Riiip!

Without the slightest warning, a pitch-black fissure was torn open in the air directly before Gu Luoli!

Silver spatial turbulence flowed along the edges of the fissure, emitting faint but heart-palpitating hissing sounds. Its interior was immeasurably deep, as though it led to an unknown shore.

Violent spatial power faintly seeped from the fissure, yet an invisible force firmly confined it to an area only about a foot around the opening, preventing even the slightest trace from escaping.

It displayed the spellcaster’s exquisitely precise control.

Tearing space apart… with her bare hand?!

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Gu Luoli’s pupils contracted sharply, and her heart nearly stopped!

She knew that her Master’s cultivation was heaven-defying and unfathomable.

Even so, witnessing this terrifying method of casually tearing space apart with her own eyes still left her utterly overwhelmed!

This was no ordinary technique of shrinking the earth into inches or spatial transference. It was the most fundamental control and application of the laws of space!

Just what realm had Master reached?

The peak of Mahayana? A mighty Tribulation Transcendence expert? Or perhaps the legendary…

“This passage leads directly to the inner courtyard of the Liu Residence in Qingyang City.”

Gu Han’s voice pulled her from her shock. Her tone remained calm.

“Go. After meeting up with Yun Yun and the others, simply return together aboard the spirit vessel.”

Gu Luoli drew a deep breath, suppressed the turbulent waves in her heart, and bowed deeply to Gu Han.

“Thank you, Master!”

Without further hesitation, she tightened her grip on the Cloudsea Spirit Vessel and stepped into the pitch-black spatial fissure.

Her figure was instantly swallowed by the darkness. The fissure then slowly closed, as though it had never appeared.

Peace returned to the hall.

“Master-Mother is so amazing!”

A-Yao, who had been standing nearby with wide eyes as she watched everything unfold, finally reacted.

She clapped her little hands and bounced beside Gu Han’s legs, her small face filled with excitement and admiration.

“With one little rip, you sent Third Junior Sister away! A-Yao wants to learn too! Master-Mother, teach A-Yao!”

Gu Han lowered her head and looked at her own reflection in A-Yao’s pure eyes.

Faced with that undisguised affection and yearning, gentle ripples spread across the usually tranquil lake of her heart.

She bent down, scooped the soft little girl into her arms, and kissed her pink cheek, which carried a faint milky fragrance.

Her voice was gentler than it had ever been.

“All right. When A-Yao grows a little older and her cultivation becomes a little higher, Master will teach you. How does that sound?”

“For now, A-Yao must first build a strong foundation and practice the Primordial Unity Immortal Scripture very well.”

“Mm!”

A-Yao nodded vigorously, wrapped her little arms around Gu Han’s neck, and nuzzled against her dependently.

“A-Yao will cultivate hard! In the future, A-Yao will become as powerful as Master-Mother!”

“Good. Master will wait for that day.”