Li Su contemplated the North Sea, where the sea clans once launched their attacks. It appeared that Liu Xinyue was getting ready to journey to the North Sea in search of something valuable. The Water Moon Sect specialized in water-based techniques, so treasures or rare ocean items would greatly benefit Liu Xinyue. Li Su had already committed to accompany her. Furthermore, it wouldn’t take more than a couple of months so it wouldn’t disrupt anything important. Plus, it was a chance for Li Su to explore the North Sea.
The crystal coffin containing the mermaid remained undisturbed in a special storage pouch. Over the past dozen years, the crystal coffin had not moved. Li Su had placed the mermaid in a separate storage pouch and added some small seals on the outside if she showed any signs of activity. This way, if the mermaid did exhibit any movement, Li Su could detect it immediately.
The flying boat continued its journey towards the Peak of Hopeful Immortality. Li Su had improved the flying boat, significantly boosting its speed. Before long, the flying boat passed through the Mangkang Mountains and returned to the Li Residence. The spiritual energy around the current Li Residence was incredibly dense. The Spirit Gathering Array that Li Su had set up had proven highly effective. With the opening of the Mangkang Mountains, the array’s effectiveness had increased substantially.
As Li Su’s expertise in array formations grew, he reconfigured the Spirit Gathering Array to enhance efficiency. The entire Li family enjoyed a continuous rise in spiritual energy density. Li Su’s concubines had no issues with their cultivation. For foundational cultivation concubines like Li Su, who had given birth to a few children, had more time on their hands. The pills concocted by Li Su also aided them in their cultivation. Whenever they completed their cultivation, and Li Su was at home, he would spend time with them.
Upon their return to the Li Residence, the Holy Maiden of the Mystic Moon expressed her intention to return to the Demon Palace for a while. Li Su agreed without questioning her motives, as the Demon Palace held many mysteries, and the tribulations faced by demonic cultivators during breakthroughs were formidable.
“In some time, there will be a Demon Ritual in the Demon Palace. I plan to gather more power. I’ll trade the Demon’s Dust Pills you gave me for something else,” she explained. Li Su returned her Devil’s Needles and the bell, now transformed into low-grade magical treasures, eliciting her gratitude.
Mystic Moon bid farewell to Li Su the next day and headed for the Demon Palace. Li Su’s pace of taking concubines had finally slowed down. He began to focus on cultivating the land he already owned. Many Nascent Soul cultivators in Luo were relieved to see that Li Su had ceased taking concubines frequently, as it allowed them to return to the Northern Region.
Many Nascent Soul cultivators gradually returned to the Northern Region, where the spiritual energy was still denser than at the Peak of Hopeful Immortality. It would likely take several more decades for the spiritual energy density at the Peak to catch up with that of the Northern Region. After all, Li Su had only partially dismantled the magnetic barrier, not completely removing it.
A year swiftly passed. Although Li Su didn’t take many new concubines during this time, his spiritual descendants had still increased by nearly ten.
Li Su’s regular descendants had reached almost 290,000, approaching 300,000.
“Liu Xinyue Taoist, greetings.”
One day, on a towering mountain peak that reached the clouds, Li Su met with Liu Xinyue. She was alone, and a smile adorned her face when she saw Li Su arriving as promised. It was during this smile that one could most clearly see the difference between her and Liu Xinshui. Liu Xinshui’s smile was modest and elegant, radiating subtle beauty, while Liu Xinyue’s showcased a row of pristine white teeth, giving off a refreshing and delightful feeling.
“Taoist Li, please come aboard my flying vessel.”
Li Su then stored his flying vessel and boarded Liu Xinyue’s. The flying vessel headed north.
“You won’t find any pure-blooded sea clans in the North Sea. Many sea creatures and cultivators with less-than-ideal spiritual talents come to the North Sea to hunt them for cultivation resources,” Liu Xinyue explained as they traveled.
The North Sea was extensive, with an endless coastline stretching for thousands of miles along the border with the Northern Region.
On the shores of the North Sea stood a celestial city known as Linhai City. Most cultivators in Linhai City came there to hunt sea creatures. Sea creatures in the open ocean could be quite formidable, so places like the Peak of Hopeful Immortality rarely had cultivators venturing into the sea.
However, the waters near Linhai City were relatively mild, not particularly deep, and had various formations on some islands. If cultivators were in danger, they could seek refuge within these formations.
Sea creatures hunted near Linhai City could be sold there in exchange for spirit stones and elixirs, creating a complete industry. Additionally, Linhai City had a Nascent Soul cultivator who didn’t belong to any immortal sect. This Nascent Soul cultivator was the only independent Nascent Soul cultivator in the Northern Region. Linhai City had been established by this Nascent Soul cultivator and had nearly two thousand years of history, making it quite ancient.
This Nascent Soul cultivator rarely left the North Sea and remained mysterious, never getting involved in Northern Region affairs. Nobody knew the extent of their true power. However, there was a time when a mid-stage fourth-order sea creature attacked, and this Nascent Soul cultivator defeated it. Their strength was likely at the later stages of Nascent Soul cultivation. Due to the distance and the fact that the Nascent Soul cultivator in Linhai City followed the rules, no one from the immortal sects in the Northern Region bothered to interfere.