Xiao Yifeng retrieved a handful of silver and offered it to the old woman.
The elderly hostess waved her hands repeatedly, pushing the money back. "Child, keep your silver. What use does an old woman have for this? You two staying here, adding a bit of life to this empty house and chatting with me... that is payment enough. I am already grateful."
The old woman was incredibly warm and hospitable. As she led them back to her modest brick-and-tile home, the villagers they passed greeted them with friendly nods. A gaggle of children trailed behind, staring at the two cultivator guests with wide, curious eyes.
Her home was just as she had described—empty.
She lived alone. Her children were grown and had moved to the city for work, rarely returning even once a year.
Despite living alone, she kept a lively yard full of chickens and ducks. Over Su Miaoqing’s polite protests, the old woman insisted on slaughtering a plump hen for their dinner. Though advanced in age, she was nimble, bustling about the kitchen with an energy that made the two young cultivators feel guilty for sitting idle.
Dinner was a cheerful affair. The old woman was chatty, and Su Miaoqing proved surprisingly adept at charming her, keeping the conversation flowing with laughter.
Xiao Yifeng watched them, relieved. He had worried this pampered little princess from the sect might show some "princess airs" in such a rustic setting, but she adapted perfectly.
After the meal, Xiao Yifeng took the initiative to clean up the dishes, while Su Miaoqing stayed at the table to keep the old woman company.
"Young lady, you are truly fortunate," the old woman said, watching Xiao Yifeng work with a benevolent smile. "These days, it's rare to find a man willing to do housework."
Su Miaoqing blinked, then hurriedly waved her hands. "Grandma, you've misunderstood! We aren't... we aren't in that kind of relationship. He is my Junior Brother."
The old woman gave them a skeptical, knowing look. "Don't try to fool me just because my eyes are dim with age. I haven't gone blind yet. I've seen plenty of young couples like you—running away together because your parents didn't agree to the match."
Su Miaoqing didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She spent a good while trying to explain, but the old woman merely patted her hand and launched into a matchmaking pitch, praising Xiao Yifeng as a "good, reliable lad."
When Xiao Yifeng returned from the kitchen, he found Su Miaoqing’s face flushed a deep crimson. With his cultivator's hearing, he had heard every word, but he wisely pretended ignorance to spare her the embarrassment.
Early the next morning, the duo bid farewell.
The old woman walked them to the edge of the village, reluctant to see them go, repeatedly urging them to visit her again if they were ever in the area.
Once out of sight, they summoned their flying swords and soared into the sky.
Before they vanished into the clouds, Xiao Yifeng made a subtle flick of his wrist. A precious Longevity Pill dropped silently into the old woman's well, dissolving instantly. At the same time, he sent a gentle stream of spiritual energy into her body, secretly cleansing her meridians and strengthening her constitution.
It was a silent repayment for a night of kindness.
Riding the wind and breaking the waves, the two flew over the ocean, heading toward the coordinates marked on the treasure map. Xiao Yifeng held a compass in one hand, constantly adjusting their bearing.
They flew for an entire day.
Initially, Su Miaoqing was amazed by the vastness of the ocean, but as the hours dragged on, her expression shifted from wonder to boredom.
The sea was endless. Blue water, blue sky. Everywhere she looked, it was the same monotonous horizon. Without Xiao Yifeng by her side to break the silence, she felt she might have gone mad from the isolation.
Xiao Yifeng appeared to be studying the map, but in reality, he was navigating based on the memories of his past life.
Night fell, and they had yet to reach their destination.
Xiao Yifeng retrieved a small, exquisite model ship from his Storage Bag and tossed it onto the water.
Splash.
Upon hitting the surface, the palm-sized model expanded rapidly, transforming into a sturdy two-deck vessel that bobbed gently on the waves.
It looked similar to the transport ship Elder Liu Hanyan had used for the new disciples, though much smaller. They had purchased it at a nearby cultivation market specifically for this overseas expedition.
They rested for the night, the gentle rocking of the ocean lulling them to sleep.
The next morning, refreshed and energized, they stowed the ship and resumed their flight.
Although the ship was comfortable, it burned through Spirit Stones at an alarming rate and moved far too slowly. For cultivators of their level, Sword Riding was the only efficient way to travel.
They flew for another two days and one night before finally reaching the location marked on the map.
They hovered in the air, staring down.
Below them lay the central region of the Bohai Sea. Just like everywhere else, it was nothing but azure sky and white-capped waves.
There was no island. Not even a rock.
Su Miaoqing looked at Xiao Yifeng, confusion written all over her face. "Xiao Feng... what is going on? There's nothing here. Could that relic map be a fake?"
Xiao Yifeng frowned. He knew the map wasn't fake—he had drawn it himself based on his past life's knowledge. The island relic should be right here.
Did I come too early? Has the island not surfaced yet?
"It's possible there is a slight deviation in the location," Xiao Yifeng suggested, hiding his own doubts. "Let's search the surrounding waters."
"Alright." Su Miaoqing nodded. They had come too far to give up easily.
They began to fly in widening circles, scanning the ocean surface for hours.
Nothing.
Not a single landmass broke the endless monotony of the waves.
As night fell again, they brought out the flying ship and set it on the water to rest. After discussing the matter, they decided to search for two more days. If the island still did not appear, they would admit defeat and return to the mainland.
The next day, they split up to cover more ground.
They scoured the ocean from dawn until dusk.
That evening, Xiao Yifeng returned to their agreed meeting place and set down the flying ship. Not long afterward, Su Miaoqing landed on the deck, her shoulders slumped and her face full of disappointment.
"Xiao Feng, I guess finding immortal ruins isn't that simple," she sighed, collapsing onto a deck chair. "Natural treasures... if they were easy to find, everyone would have them."
She wasn't truly heartbroken over the lost treasure; she was just disappointed that her grand adventure had turned into a boring flight over empty water.
"Senior Sister, perhaps our opportunity hasn't arrived yet," Xiao Yifeng said with a bitter smile, looking up at the sky. "Though... does the weather look strange to you?"
Su Miaoqing stepped out of the cabin and looked up. The sky, which had been clear moments ago, was rapidly filling with heavy, oppressive clouds.
"That is strange," she muttered. "How did it get so dark so quickly? The weather at sea really is unpredictable."
Unable to make sense of it, they shrugged it off and retired to their cabins to rest.
In the dead of night.
BOOM!
A deafening crack of thunder shook the ship.
The wind began to howl like a banshee, and torrential rain hammered against the hull. The calm sea instantly turned violent, tossing the small vessel back and forth like a toy.
Xiao Yifeng rushed out, channeling his Qi to stabilize the ship against the churning waves. Su Miaoqing followed, stumbling as the deck pitched beneath her feet.
"What is happening?!"
They looked out into the darkness and gasped.
Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled as the sea churned violently. Towering waves rose one after another beneath the fierce wind and pouring rain.
The sea and sky had merged into a single, pitch-black void.
Even as cultivators, the sheer violence of nature's wrath was awe-inspiring and terrifying. Su Miaoqing’s face went pale as she gripped the railing, her knuckles white.
"The waves are getting higher!" Xiao Yifeng shouted over the roar of the storm.
Suddenly, Su Miaoqing squinted, pointing a trembling finger into the deep darkness ahead.
"Xiao Feng! Look! What is that?" Her voice pitched up in fear. "There's... there's an island floating towards us!"
Xiao Yifeng focused his gaze, piercing through the curtain of rain.
His heart skipped a beat.
In the distance, a massive, oppressive shadow was drifting through the storm. It blocked out the lightning, a black void moving against the chaotic waves.
The outline was unmistakable. It was a giant island.
But that was impossible. Islands were rooted to the ocean floor. They didn't drift with the current.
They stared in stunned silence as the colossal mass bore down on them, drifting silently through the thunderous storm.