Chapter Eight: The Yuanjia Cave Abode

As the Sea God of the Western Sea, she naturally bore responsibility for the countless creatures beneath the waves. Seeing her sincere dedication, Yang Nan developed a certain respect for this diligent deity.

This Sea-Calming Divine Iron, of course, was no Sun Wukong’s golden cudgel, but a sacred iron imbued with water-calming powers. Yang Nan, puzzled, asked, “Since the Yuanjia Cave is a hidden sanctuary untouched for thousands of years, how has it come to be discovered today?”

Long Yao sighed, “The Yuanjia Cave was originally an island—an enormous tortoise shell that Yuanjia, after achieving human form, shed and refined. The shell stretches several dozen miles, covered with soil and rocks, hiding its true nature and resembling a small island. It was nearly impossible to detect until a few disciples of the Demon Sect engaged in a fierce battle on the island. One of them, a master wielding supreme divine power, struck with a sword that cut through a thousand feet of earth, revealing the original tortoise shell beneath.

Once the shell was exposed, the concealed Demon Saint’s sanctuary below could no longer be hidden. The divine stele and numerous treasures radiated dazzling light into the sky, attracting many cultivators. Fortunately, Yuanjia’s protective seals held them back; otherwise, those cultivators would have stormed inside long ago.”

Fang Qingyan noticed Long Yao’s brow furrowing with concern. She gently said to Yang Nan, “Husband, if the Yuanjia Cave’s defenses fall and countless calamities ensue, please help Long Yao, sister of mine.”

Yang Nan nodded. “Long Daoist, have you sought aid from the dragons of the Dragon Palace? Though dragons are rare in the Western Sea, I’ve heard there are over ten Dragon Kings at the grandmaster or venerated level. With their support, who would dare act recklessly here?” Naturally, the vast Western Sea could not have only Long Yao as a true dragon. Yang Nan wondered why she sought help from an outsider rather than her own kin.

Long Yao smiled bitterly, “Since the demon star tore across the heavens, the celestial gods have ascended to the higher realms, leaving the mortal world’s spirits and monsters unchecked. Sea monsters have frequently stirred trouble. My siblings and uncles number about a dozen, but each manages vast stretches of the sea and cannot spare time to come here.” She casually recounted the changes in the world over the past decade.

Since the demon star’s arrival, the heavens have trembled. Many powerful cultivators have ascended, while demons, ghosts, and sects have flooded the mortal realm. Even the vassal kings of more than ten continents have allied with various sects. The world now teems with humans, ghosts, and monsters, each tribe ruling its own domain and warring amongst themselves in chaos. Even in the Western Sea, numerous monsters commit havoc on the surface. One dragon alone could hardly maintain order.

“Clearly, the emergence of the demon star has emboldened all manner of spirits and monsters. The mountain and sea gods who once governed them now struggle beyond their strength...” Yang Nan mused. When the Pure King Li Hao had two grandmasters assisting him, it showed how much the cultivation world had already merged with the mortal realm. Nodding with newfound understanding, Yang Nan inquired about those trying to break into the Demon Saint’s sanctuary.

Besides demon sect disciples, many from Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian sects were present. Though each harbored different ambitions, they united in trying to break the seals, fiercely assaulting the island’s defenses. For them to clash among themselves, the seals would have to be shattered first.

Having grasped the situation, Yang Nan smiled, “Though this Sea-Calming Divine Iron only calms the sea, Yuanjia must have left other treasures as well. When the cultivators scramble in chaos, we can seize the divine iron and store it safely in the Western Sea Dragon Palace. Then we will have no worries.”

Long Yao nodded; this was precisely her plan. It was unlikely they could kill all the treasure-seekers, but taking only the divine iron might be feasible.

What Long Yao sought was neither difficult nor easy, and Yang Nan readily agreed. With this matter settled, Qingyan’s favor was repaid, leaving both parties free of obligations and resolving a lingering concern.

Seeing Yang Nan’s consent, Long Yao was overjoyed. She ordered her maidens to serve rare delicacies from the sea and treat him well. Yang Nan then released the myriad monsters held within the Realm Ring. Old Crab, who had long dominated the ocean floor, was awestruck by the vast underwater spectacle.

After food and drink, Long Yao led Yang Nan on a tour of the underwater palace, filled with countless treasures. Since she needed his assistance, she allowed him to choose freely. Yang Nan, neither affirming nor declining, wandered through the palace multiple times until he suddenly noticed a cluster of crimson and golden items ahead. Curious, he asked, “Long Daoist, what are these? They seem so marvelous.”

Long Yao smiled, “These are Water Silk Robes of the sea, fine as hair and woven into armor that resists blades and fire alike—truly rare treasures. They grow easily wherever there is water; in places of spiritual springs, their growth is even faster.”

Yang Nan had no desire to craft armor but recalled the Heavenly Rainbow Boat manual given by his master, Immortal Buxu. If refined properly, the boat could freely traverse sky and sea, its form elegant and function multifaceted. The Water Silk Robes could serve well as the hull.

Upon hearing this, Long Yao’s curiosity was piqued. She summoned several clam maidens, instructing them to harvest long strands of Water Silk Robes to prepare for his use.

Yang Nan saw her fascination and welcomed the idea. He himself lacked a suitable mount. Though the Great Peng King was swift, it could not carry many. The Heavenly Rainbow Boat could be large or small, and if well made, could carry thousands.

Taking the Water Silk Robes, Yang Nan began refining them with his Yin Sha True Fire. The silk, already flexible, became even tougher after the fire’s blessing. He gathered Qingyan and her three daughters, numerous demon soldiers, and palace maidens to weave the bow, hull, cabin, and deck.

Thousands labored together, but Yang Nan alone wielded the refining fire. Despite his grandmaster status, the strain was immense. He taught the True Fire Heart Refining Technique to Chiyang, Golden-Top Great Peng, Old Crab, and Huang Shan to assist in the process.

Merely shaping the boat was insufficient. Yang Nan drew countless spirit stones and spirit iron from the Realm Ring, using his magic to transform them into spiritual resin and coat the hull thoroughly. Only then, following the Heavenly Rainbow Boat’s schematic, did he set various protective formations. The grueling work lasted half a month before the boat took shape.

However, Yang Nan saw the boat had only an outer shell without a frame, making it unsuitable for heavy use. He sighed quietly.

Long Yao presented several dozen exquisite bones and spirit irons from the sea to form the frame, but even then, the boat was not a top-tier treasure. When Yang Nan activated it, the boat flew smoothly in all directions but looked somewhat inferior. Still, such materials were rare, so this had to suffice.

Lacking rare heavenly materials to power the formations, the boat relied solely on Yang Nan’s spiritual energy. Without a formation master, no other solution came to mind.

The Heavenly Rainbow Boat shimmered with iridescent light, dazzling and impressive in flight.

Yang Nan placed the boat on the lake within the Realm Ring and shook his head with a smile. “The hull is good, but without spirit wood and divine iron for the frame, nor enemy-defeating techniques, this Heavenly Rainbow Boat remains flawed—only a temporary mount.” A treasure unable to harm foes was still a useless tool in his eyes.

Long Yao was enchanted by the boat’s beauty and immediately wished for Yang Nan to craft one for her too. He agreed, but now was not the time. Scouts reported that over the past half month, the seals of the Yuanjia Cave had nearly been destroyed. Within days, the sanctuary would be breached.

Yang Nan summoned the boat, loaded the demon soldiers aboard, and headed toward a circular island in the Western Sea. Long Yao, treading on clouds, followed closely. Above the island, they saw a crowd unleashing their powers and brandishing treasures to bombard the water. The island’s rocks scattered wildly under the onslaught, arcs of colorful light appearing and fading as the protective barriers broke down.

Yang Nan focused and saw the island slowly rising as the protective lights shattered—soon, the sanctuary would be open!

Long Yao’s expression grew tense as she gazed down at the crowd. “The Demon, Taoist, and Buddhist sects are all here, along with many grandmaster-level monsters of the Western Sea. Yang Daoist, I fear if we go down, we will be outmatched.”

Most monsters below were at the master level, but many were grandmasters. Combined with sect cultivators, the crowd was overwhelming. Though Yang Nan had numbers, victory in a battle was not guaranteed.

Yang Nan smiled calmly. “We do not wish to fight. We’ll take the divine iron and leave. With the Golden-Top Great Peng protecting me, we’ll come and go swiftly. I will go down first; Princess, please watch from above. If things go awry, assist me then.”

Long Yao nodded reluctantly. Yang Nan retrieved the Heavenly Rainbow Boat and summoned the Great Peng, descending from the clouds to the island.

The cultivators were numerous and diverse. Upon seeing Yang Nan, a demon cultivator sneered, “Here comes a freeloader! Friends, the sanctuary isn’t open yet, and many lurk in the shadows nearby. How about we all ally, demons and others alike, advancing and retreating together?”

Seeing their hostility, Yang Nan smiled. “Fellow Daoists, no need for suspicion. I am merely curious about this saint’s sanctuary and wish to follow you inside for a look. I will take nothing from within.”

Several Demon Sect disciples, noting his Taoist robes, scoffed, “Your so-called righteous sects are always deceitful. Not taking anything? Surely you intend to seize everything!”

As the sanctuary’s seals neared collapse, various sects readied their treasures for battle, and a chaotic fight seemed imminent.

Yang Nan smiled without replying and summoned the Unyielding Yin Wheel, manifesting a crescent-shaped shadow. The Shadow Eclipse weapon appeared like a fierce black serpent, its sharp edges terrifying all who saw it.

The demon cultivators recoiled in fear. The weapon shrank into a small black snake that writhed gently in Yang Nan’s hand. He stroked it and raised his brow with a smile. “I do not seek conflict. If you doubt me, I will enter last. How about that?”

The demon cultivators nodded unconsciously—better not to offend a powerful cultivator showing both strength and restraint.

“Kunlun Soldier Sect?” Several soldiers from the military sect approached with delight, eyes fixed on the crescent mark on Yang Nan’s brow, their faces breaking into smiles.

Their leader bowed, “So you are a fellow Kunlun disciple. I am Xiu Yuan of the Immortal Sword Sect. Why not join forces for mutual protection?”