"The Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly had just begun, when Spiritual Tablet Island, along with Bai Yin Immortal, vanished without a trace."
This fragmented Record sparked a gleam in Tao Qian's eyes.
The lifetime of a Cultivator from the Cavernous Mystery Realm!
The entire island, all of it?
Needless to say, Tao Qian was intrigued.
There was such a big island in the Absolute Immortal Sea?
In a flash of thought, Tao Qian's form drifted, landing right before that tree, in front of that immortal.
He then bowed his hands respectfully toward the tree-perched Bai Yin Immortal, saying,
"Disciple Tao Qian, a student of Duobao True Monarch, was sent here to gather spiritual materials, and has the honor of meeting the immortal."
Though Tao Qian believed his manners were impeccable, little did he expect.
The Bai Yin Immortal coiled around the tree, upon hearing his greeting, didn't even lift her head.
Still lazily sprawled out, then Tao Qian heard a very faint and listless voice that was oddly pleasant to the ears, seeping into them.
Just two sentences, four words.
If there were a mirror before Tao Qian, it would show his face full of question marks.
In his perception, there was nothing amiss with Bai Yin Immortal's energy, no sign of injury.
Moreover, in the indifferent voice, Tao Qian heard no dissatisfaction.
What Tao Qian discerned was a kind of "indifference" towards all living beings, an equal disinterest, a sort of desolation and sorrow that cared for no change in the world.
He had a premonition: even if his master, Duobao True Monarch, were to come here and greet Bai Yin Immortal, the reply would likely be these four words.
Upon hearing this, Tao Qian scratched his head and thought for a while before finding a somewhat precise term from a previous life to describe Bai Yin Immortal before him.
The aura, actions, and voice of this immortal were imbued with the utmost sense of loss.
For a moment, it even seemed to infect Tao Qian, making him unintentionally bow his head, ready to obediently leave.
Fortunately, his interest prevailed in the end, as his eyes coveted the stone tablets on the island.
After several thoughts flashed through his mind, Tao Qian teleported once more in front of Bai Yin Immortal.
It just so happened that the immortal, perhaps tired of lying down, leisurely shifted positions.
Her long robe consequently opened, providing an ephemeral glimpse of beauty that startled Tao Qian into quickly lowering his gaze, eyes to nose, nose to heart.
He took out the Absolute Immortal Token, then naively asked,
"Immortal, when I came here, my Aunt Yunhua mentioned that with the Absolute Immortal Token, one could set foot on any unforbidden island within this sea area."
"I wonder if your island counts, and if I, the disciple, may go up and have a look?"
Although Tao Qian's acting was passable, he had barely finished speaking before locking eyes with a pair of cold, serpent-like pupils.
Those eyes clearly conveyed a message: You find your own treasures, and don't bother me.
She could have said it, but she did not bother.
After glimpsing Tao Qian, the ground beneath her, the isle, and the stone tablets on the island all began to blur.
The island blended together, as if it were a great Magical Treasure capable of movement.
In the blink of an eye, it reappeared hundreds of miles away.
Logically, after being rejected, Tao Qian should have obediently gone to search for treasures.
But inexplicably, whether due to the warning of his own abnormal Soul or a whim of the Taishang Treasure No-leak Body, a reminder arose within him: the departing Spiritual Tablet Island was an opportunity not to be missed, a beneficial circumstance.
With these hints, how could Tao Qian not know what to do?
"Magical Treasures I may lack, but whether in the next few days or in the future, there will be many chances to obtain them."
"Only this Spiritual Tablet Island, filled with the lives of stronger Elders and Cultivators of Cavernous Mystery, is extremely rare and unique."
"To find such worldly goods is easy, but the experience of predecessors is truly scarce, especially in such abundance."
"If I miss this occasion, I'll have to wait for the next Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly."
"Having stumbled upon it, how could I let it go?"
As these thoughts flashed by, Tao Qian moved immediately.
And so, what followed!
A peculiar scene arose within the Absolute Immortal Sea: a special island called "Spiritual Tablet Island," moving on its path, followed at a leisurely pace by a youthful Daoist who seemed enthralled by the chase.
During this, Tao Qian thoroughly observed how Spiritual Tablet Island operated.
Each time the island neared another under Great Prohibition, a new Spiritual Tablet would emerge upon leaving.
Initially, Tao Qian thought it would be the Mutated Elders who dictated their stories for Bai Yin Immortal to inscribe.
But in reality, all the Spiritual Tablets were personally carved by the Mutated Elders themselves.
"I wonder if that Alcohol and Meat Uncle has inscribed a tablet for himself."
"And what would those Elders without hope of vying write on theirs?"
As these thoughts darted through Tao Qian's mind, an hour had come to pass after a day.
During this day, Tao Qian had been to many places with Spiritual Tablet Island.
In the process, he hadn't ceased to pester Bai Yin Immortal.
Of course, each time he did his utmost to remain earnest and respectful, only to be rejected time and again, but the progress was in the lengthening sentences in their dialogues.
At this moment, ahead of him, Spiritual Tablet Island had left another prohibited island, and indeed a new Spiritual Tablet had appeared.
According to previous routine, the island would move again towards the next forbidden island.
But unexpectedly, a mishap occurred.
A scene that had occurred a day ago was replicated today.
Spiritual Tablet Island collided against the opposite direction, and quite abruptly, brought Tao Qian into close contact with the cliff with a single horn, the withered tree, and Bai Yin Immortal on the tree.
Moreover, it was a literal close contact.
Struck by an island, Tao Qian couldn't avoid it at all.