Chapter 114: The Azure Tide Quells the Sea, Entering the Eternal Light

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Jade green and fiery red, the tides surged and swelled.

The Dragon Maiden and Qing Hong sat amidst clusters of vibrant coral. Patiently, he imparted to her the secret method of refining the Jade Tide Pearl.

This entire refining technique, which Qing Hong called the "Twenty-Four Heavenly Sea-Calming Spirit Formula," was a treasure forging incantation he had calculated over many years. By using this formula to construct talismanic array diagrams and gathering some spirit pearls, one could easily forge a Jade Tide Pearl.

“I see now, it’s refined using pearls?” The Dragon Maiden suddenly understood after hearing the method. “Moreover, the twenty-four pearls combined resemble the ocean’s tides, capable of summoning clouds and rain. It truly suits our Dragon Clan’s use.”

After pondering, the Dragon Maiden had an idea. “Friend, this treasure refining incantation suits our Dragon Clan well. Why not present it to the Dragon Palace? You could take advantage of the opportunity to gain some benefits.”

“If you are willing, feel free to use it. As for benefits, forget it,” Qing Hong replied with feigned generosity, testing the Dragon Maiden’s character.

She immediately shook her head. Though she was extravagant in many ways, she was prudent in this matter. “Our Dragon Clan has rules about taking your immortal sect’s treasure refining incantations. By right, we must exchange something in return.”

The Dragon Clan was not skilled in creating magical treasures and relied heavily on the creativity of overseas immortal sects. Thus, a special symbiotic relationship had formed: the Dragon Clan protected the refining practitioners, who in turn aided the Dragon Clan’s treasure forging. To encourage the practitioners, whenever a new treasure was born, the Dragon Clan would buy the refining method at a high price and forbid practitioners from sharing it with others.

Year after year, the Dragon Clan used materials from the sea to forge treasures for the Dragon Palace. Then, these treasures were traded to scattered immortals in exchange for more refining methods. This prolonged effort greatly enriched the Dragon Palace’s foundation. While the demon clans faced devastation, the Dragon Clan flourished alone, leading the aquatic races overseas, rivaling the great holy palaces.

The Dragon Maiden explained these rules, then added, “Of course, to prevent this formula from bringing you harm later, we can modify it a bit—adjust the array diagram slightly to avoid weaknesses that could be exploited against your treasures.”

Qing Hong smiled silently. His Jade Tide Pearl corresponded to the twenty-four solar terms, imbued with the profound energies of merit and mystery, and the twenty-four diagrams of the Eight Views—a path impossible to replicate. Teaching the Dragon Maiden was merely sharing a method leaning towards controlling seawater. Even if given away, it wouldn’t harm him.

After all, the Eight Views’ twenty-four diagrams were his unique mastery. Replacing the Jade Tide Pearl’s array diagram with these twenty-four charts was inevitable.

Yet, he did not mind concealing his true hand when the Dragon Maiden requested modifications. So, he revised the formula, synthesizing the entire set of twenty-four Jade Tide Pearls into a single “Sea-Calming Pearl.”

"Sea-Calming? Not bad, that’s a fine name!" The Dragon Maiden clapped her hands in approval. "We, the Dragon Clan, guard the vast seas. This pearl is for our use and fits perfectly with the name Sea-Calming. From now on, let this formula be called the ‘Heavenly Dragon Sea-Calming Art.’"

With that, the Dragon Maiden began to sketch the array diagram according to the “Heavenly Dragon Sea-Calming Art.”

The array diagram is the soul of a magical treasure; the countless functions of treasures stem from the unique designs of their array diagrams.

Qing Hong’s Jade Tide Pearl’s diagram favored water control, rain summoning, tide manipulation, and formation tactics. After revision, the “Heavenly Dragon Sea-Calming Art” removed the functions of transformation and formation deployment. The remaining space was redesigned with spiritual seals related to sea calming and water control, fitting the name.

Without transformation arts, the pearl could no longer serve as various treasures like Qing Hong’s original. Without formation tactics, it couldn’t deploy arrays for defense. But this loss was also a gain—losing those two functions enhanced the Sea-Calming Pearl’s effectiveness in “water control and sea calming.”

To protect the Dragon Maiden, Qing Hong used his power to inscribe dense tadpole-like script in her hands, which then condensed into a three-foot-long azure dragon that circled her.

This little dragon was the array diagram within the Sea-Calming Pearl. As it moved, the surrounding sea calmed, waves settled, all subdued by the array diagram in the Dragon Maiden’s hands.

Now that the soul was formed, naturally a suitable body was needed.

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The Dragon Maiden’s nature was eager, and she immediately pulled Qing Hong into the sea to collect pearls.

However, the Eastern Sea was vast and full of treasures, but the nearshore area where they were had few precious items. Though the Dragon Maiden dug up dozens of ancient clam pearls centuries old, she treated them like dirt and stones, tossing them aside.

Qing Hong examined them; most were of poor quality, at best similar to his Jade Tide Pearl. But the Jade Tide Pearl’s value lay in the complete set of twenty-four, all sharing the same origin, incomparable to these fragmented treasures.

The Dragon Maiden was disheartened. Qing Hong smiled and comforted her, “I heard the Dragon Palace holds many rare treasures. Why not go back and take a look? Besides, the pearl you have…”

“This belongs to the Dragon Palace; I dare not take it without permission. As for treasures in the palace…” The Dragon Maiden frowned and sighed, “Though my parents are nobles of the Dragon Palace, they wouldn’t give me precious treasures privately—there are several elder brothers above me.”

Being young, the Dragon Maiden had little claim to the family’s treasures and so had to make her own way.

“This kind of treasure requires clam pearls and conch treasures to refine. Surely you have somewhere to find them? Like clam farms or conch reefs?”

“Millennial clams have long gained sentience. If they serve the Dragon Palace willingly, how can I face taking their lives to seize their treasures?” The Dragon Maiden shook her head, looking distressed.

The Dragon Palace ruled the vast seas as overlord, with strict principles. Millennial spirits possessed intelligence, unlike ordinary fish and shrimp. A ruler would not lightly harm their subjects.

“And what about the conch in your hand?” Qing Hong pointed to the conch. “That conch doesn’t seem ordinary.”

It shimmered with a spiritual glow and bore mysterious patterns of the boundless sea, showing at least a thousand years of refinement.

“To refine this kind of pearl, you’d need a matching treasure. If your conch contains a core pearl or inner elixir, that would be ideal. After all, Sea-Calming Pearls are vulnerable to treasures like clam shells and conches.”

Hearing this, the Dragon Maiden’s eyes brightened suddenly. “Ah—you’ve reminded me! This conch washed into the Dragon Domain from the Black Sea decades ago. It’s said to be left by a thousand-year-old conch spirit. If I can find its core elixir, that would be perfect.”

The boundless sea stretched endlessly, its territory larger than Xuanzheng Prefecture. The Dragon Palace ruled this vast realm, dividing it into the Nearshore Dragon Domain and the Black Sea’s three layers.

The Nearshore lay close to the mainland, where the Eastern Demon Cult and several immortal sects had settled. Apart from protecting coastal residents, the Dragon Clan did not interfere much in Nearshore affairs.

However, there was a restriction. Sea dwellers could fish for shrimp and fish nearshore but were forbidden from fishing within the Dragon Domain. The Dragon Domain was the Dragon Clan’s grazing ground, not to be lightly trespassed by mortals. It was home mostly to dragons in cultivation; before they achieved enlightenment, they were vulnerable to mortal fishing. Therefore, only some refining practitioners could cultivate on the islands within the Dragon Domain.

Deeper into the Dragon Domain, near the feng shui barriers, whirlpools and storms raged—this was the Black Sea. Even the Dragon Elders dared not approach easily. Storms and lightning constantly shrouded the area, with divine waters surging like the birth of the world’s atmosphere. Only high-level earth immortals dared to explore.

Currently, the Dragon Maiden and Qing Hong were near the Dragon Domain’s Nearshore, still accessible to mortals—not truly overseas.

“Something drifting out from the Black Sea?” Qing Hong asked in surprise. “The Black Sea is said to be a death zone, not even dragons dare approach easily?”

“That’s right. Usually, dragons avoid it. But many rebellious water spirits and monsters cultivate there,” the Dragon Maiden replied, struck by Qing Hong’s reminder.

Indeed, the Nearshore had few treasures, and the Dragon Domain’s treasures were out of reach for a young dragon like her. But the Black Sea was different—it was beyond the Dragon Clan’s full control. It was home to deep-sea monsters and aquatic demons cultivating there. Those who failed to ascend to the Celestial Realm would die and dissolve in the Black Sea. Their remnants often drifted into the Dragon Domain and were used by the Dragon Palace to forge treasures. So, the Black Sea certainly held clam pearls and conch treasures.

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“But the Black Sea is perilous. My older brothers would never help me. My parents wouldn’t let me go either,” the Dragon Maiden thought, her gaze falling on Qing Hong.

“This immortal seems trustworthy, and he shared the refining formula with me. Maybe I can trust him? Perhaps he can take me to the Black Sea?”

Yet, the Dragon Maiden was naive. Had she known Qing Hong’s usual conduct, she would never have followed him.

Just because he gave her the formula didn’t mean he could be trusted.

Following Ji Feichen’s earlier tactics, he might first hand over the formula to lure her in, then lead her to a secluded place to kill her, blaming the Black Sea’s dangers. No one could say otherwise.

However, Qing Hong now appeared with a kindly face, little malice in his heart, seemingly sincere in befriending the Dragon Maiden.

Still, he had no intention of helping her find treasures. The Black Sea was extremely dangerous, near the boundary of heaven and earth. Divine waters surged constantly; even Qing Hong struggled to protect himself there.

So, he politely declined, “I’m heading to Changguang Island to meet like-minded people. If you want to find someone to seek treasures, why not go there? Perhaps someone will be curious.”

Originally, Qing Hong sought guidance but this invitation turned into a joint journey, lessening the debt he owed.

The Dragon Maiden trusted him, nodding firmly. “Very well, let’s go to Changguang Island. It’s a place where many refining practitioners cultivate; maybe we’ll find something. If we can find a core pearl in the sea market, that would be ideal.”

Thus, the Dragon Maiden led Qing Hong toward Changguang Island.

Overseas refining practitioners lived on the sea islands above the Dragon Domain. Changguang Island was one of the prominent locations. Scattered Immortal Chang Wansheng, a deeply accomplished earth immortal, was the island’s lord. These days, he and fellow practitioners consulted with Lady Chen to calculate the destiny of the refining sect lineage.

As Qing Hong approached Changguang Island, on a whim, he said to Lady Chen, “Lady, is this Central Plains visitor the one you mentioned?”

“Yes,” she nodded after divining. “I did not expect him to arrive so quickly.”

Suddenly, an immortal spoke, “Recently, the fierce winds sealed heaven and earth; we couldn’t probe the depths of those events. Why not take this chance to test the mettle of this Yunxiao Pavilion successor?”

Hearing this, the assembly’s spirits stirred.

Not long ago, a mysterious figure arrived in Xuanzheng Prefecture, obscuring the skies, leaving everyone unable to investigate. The matter ended unresolved, allowing Qing Hong to narrowly escape disaster. Now, the immortals wanted to see what he was truly capable of. So, after discussion, they secretly set traps outside Changguang Island.