Chapter 107: The Sea Spirit Beast

"Ah!" Master Qingxu felt an extraordinary sense of relief washing over his entire body. He let out a long, unburdened breath and, unable to contain his immense joy, exclaimed, "I’ve broken through! I’ve finally broken through the bottleneck!"

With those words, he rose to his feet and dashed rapidly toward the exit.

When Master Qingxu had first entered the secret chamber, Yan Chixia, Bai Xiaoyue, Tu Xiaomeng, and Song Ta'er had all been waiting outside, their eight eyes fixed unblinkingly on the chamber door.

Time slipped away quietly. A quarter of an hour passed, then two, then three, yet there was no sign of Master Qingxu emerging. The four companions grew increasingly tense, standing in anxious silence. Yan Chixia, in particular, kept his lips pressed tightly together, his palms sweating, as he silently prayed for his master.

Suddenly, Master Qingxu flew out from the chamber. Seeing him, the four of them immediately exhaled in relief.

"Master, how did it go?" Before his feet had even touched the ground, Yan Chixia, Bai Xiaoyue, Tu Xiaomeng, and Song Ta'er asked in unison, unable to contain their impatience.

Master Qingxu landed before them, stood steady, and beamed with delight. "It is done! Danzi, Mingzi, Congzi, Chizi—your master has broken through the bottleneck and attained the realm of a 'Loose Immortal'!"

Upon hearing this, the four were overjoyed.

"That's wonderful! Master is a 'Loose Immortal' now!"
"Master is so impressive!"
"Master is truly amazing!"
"Master, congratulations on reaching the realm of a 'Loose Immortal'!"

Just as they finished speaking, a shimmer appeared before them, and Fairy Jiuxiao and She Mei'er materialized. Master Qingxu and his disciples greeted the two newcomers with great enthusiasm.

After exchanging pleasantries, Fairy Jiuxiao smiled faintly at Master Qingxu. "Qingxuzi, you truly did not disappoint me. My congratulations!"

"Many thanks, Immortal Jiuxiao!" Master Qingxu replied with profound respect. "That I could break through the bottleneck and enter the realm of a 'Loose Immortal' today is entirely due to your immense support! I am eternally grateful and will never forget this kindness. Should you have any commands in the future, pray tell; I shall act with lightning speed and give my utmost."

"Good," Fairy Jiuxiao nodded. "Qingxuzi, I have come personally today for two reasons: first, to congratulate you on your advancement, and second, because I intend to join forces with you for a task of great importance."

"Oh?" Master Qingxu’s spirit stirred. He suspected what she might be referring to, yet asked, "What is your instruction, Immortal? I am all ears."

Fairy Jiuxiao glanced around to ensure they were alone, and even projected her divine sense for several miles to be certain. Still cautious, she waved her hand to cast a "Vajra Barrier," shielding everyone present within it. Lowering her voice, she said, "Qingxuzi, I have recently discovered an ancient ruin and wish to invite you to explore it with me to acquire cultivation resources. Would you be interested?"

"Indeed!" Master Qingxu’s eyes brightened. "I am honored by your regard... I am at your disposal. May I ask when we shall depart?"

"In three months," Fairy Jiuxiao replied. Seeing his confusion, she explained, "Qingxuzi, you may not know this, but the ruin is located on a remote island in the East Sea known as the 'Mysterious Island.' It remains hidden beneath the vast ocean for most of the year. Only in mid-March, when the spring flowers bloom and the spring tides arrive on the night of the full moon, does the sea level drop low enough for the island to reveal itself for a few hours."

"I see," Master Qingxu said, suddenly enlightened. "That is perfect; it gives me time to make thorough preparations."

"Indeed," Fairy Jiuxiao nodded. "You must be well-prepared. I have been to the Mysterious Island more than once. The seal on those ruins is no trivial matter—it is a dual-layered seal, further reinforced by a 'Sea Soul Cloak' for protection."

"Immortal, what is a 'Sea Soul Cloak'?" Tu Xiaomeng couldn't help but ask.

Fairy Jiuxiao looked at her and answered, "The 'Sea Soul Cloak' is the transparent shell shed by a 'Sea Soul Beast.' Its texture is exceptionally tough and flexible, making it an essential raw material for forging magical artifacts. The 'Wish-Granting Divine Boat' and the 'Heavenly Veil of Shadows' I forged both contain significant amounts of this material."

"Oh," Tu Xiaomeng persisted, "and what is a 'Sea Soul Beast'?"

"Hehe," Fairy Jiuxiao gazed at Tu Xiaomeng with genuine fondness. "Tu Xiaomeng, I find you quite adorable; your personality reminds me of myself when I was young, full of curiosity about the world. You are a promising student. The 'Sea Soul Beast' is a monstrous creature of the deep ocean. It is massive and fierce, the true hegemon of the sea; even the Ink Dragon, king of the oceans, would steer clear of it. Its cultivation is innate—a newborn Sea Soul Beast possesses the power of the first rank. Every hundred years, its soul power increases by one rank, up to the ninth. As it levels up, it sheds a layer of its shell and its body doubles in size. A ninth-rank Sea Soul Beast is not only gargantuan, but its soul energy is equivalent to the true power of a human 'True Immortal'!"

"Ah!" She Mei'er exclaimed in shock. "That powerful? Master, are there Sea Soul Beasts on the Mysterious Island?"

"It is hard to say," Fairy Jiuxiao replied, her gaze shifting to She Mei'er. "Though they dwell in the deep sea, they do wander at times."

"I see," She Mei'er nodded. "Master, I hope you don't run into one!"

"No," Fairy Jiuxiao said, her gaze softening as she looked at She Mei'er’s exquisite face. "Mei'er, it will not be 'you'—it will be 'us'."

"What?" She Mei'er blinked, then beamed with surprise. "'Us'? Does Master mean you will bring me along to the Mysterious Island?"

"Exactly," Fairy Jiuxiao said solemnly. "Mei'er, on the fifteenth of March, I shall bring you, and Qingxuzi will bring Yan Chixia. We shall go together so that you two may gain some experience."

Yan Chixia was overwhelmed with excitement. "That is wonderful! Thank you, Immortal, for your guidance!"

"Think nothing of it, Yan Chixia," Fairy Jiuxiao replied. She gestured, and a small golden gourd flew from her storage space, hovering above her palm. "Qingxuzi, you have just entered the 'Loose Immortal' realm, and Yan Chixia and my Mei'er have just reached the 'Golden Core' stage. You all need to take 'Foundation-Solidifying Pills.' I spent yesterday refining thirty of them. This gourd contains twenty; take one each today, and then one every three days until they are consumed."

"Many thanks for your concern, Immortal!" Master Qingxu said gratefully, reaching out to catch the gourd as it drifted toward him.

Seeing this, Fairy Jiuxiao said, "I shall not disturb you further. Farewell." She dispelled the Vajra Barrier with a wave of her hand and departed from Qingxu Temple using the "Breeze Dispersion" escape technique.