The Jie Sect Relocates to Jin'ao Island

The Jie Sect disciples, led by Sect Master Tongtian, arrived at Jin'ao Island. This island sat in the East Sea, right next to the Human Race's Tianyuan City. Ever since they moved here, Liu Bai and the other humans had been overjoyed, constantly running off to Tianyuan City whenever they had free time!

As for the other Jie Sect disciples, most were beings of non-human origin who had attained the Dao. After Liu Bai emerged from seclusion and discussed it with Sect Master Tongtian, they decided to keep only those of good conduct as formal Jie Sect disciples. The rest were registered as nominal disciples, subject to an assessment every thousand years—those who failed were expelled! This preserved the Jie Sect's founding principle of seizing a thread of hope for all beings, while also maintaining the sect's purity.

The first assessment had just concluded, leaving the Jie Sect with only a hundred formal disciples.

Chief Senior Disciple: Liu Bai

The Ten Great Disciples, in order, were:

Daoist Duobao, Holy Mother Gui Ling, Holy Mother Jin Ling, Holy Mother Wudang, Yunxiao, Qiongxiao, Bixiao, Zhao Gongming, Immortal Wuyun, and Immortal Luoxuan of the Flames.

The rest were mostly ordinary true disciples.

As for asking about Immortal Chang Er Ding Guang and the others? Sorry, they were deemed unqualified in the very first round and personally escorted off Jin'ao Island by over a dozen human disciples!

Anyway, no one ever saw them again. If asked, the answer was simply that they'd been sent away!

Outside Jin'ao Island, countless smaller islands dotted the sea like scattered stars. Though none could match Jin'ao Island with its resident Sage, they were exceptionally tranquil.

The East Sea wind carried a salty, damp spiritual energy, brushing over three small islands arranged in a triangle. The islands boasted rugged rock formations and ancient, gnarled trees. Millennia-old vines hung from the cliffs, adorned with luminous spirit fruits. The seawater around the islands was crystal clear, revealing colorful coral and darting spirit fish.

Yunxiao gazed at the mist-wreathed islands below. With a light wave of her hand, a pale cyan Dao resonance scattered over the central, largest island. A gentle spiritual light rose, enveloping the island in even deeper serenity. "This island sits at the center with the richest spiritual energy. It shall be my Yunxiao's Cave Abode."

Qiongxiao, calm by nature, fixed her gaze on the left island. Its steep cliffs concealed natural caves, and a faint flow of Five Elements energy could be sensed. She nodded. "The left island's treacherous terrain is perfect for setting up formations. I'll establish my residence here and complete the fragments of the Nine-Bend Yellow River Formation, to protect this region."

Bixiao could no longer contain herself. With a flicker, she landed on the right island, her toes brushing a meadow of purple immortal flowers, sending a flock of rainbow-winged spirit butterflies fluttering. "The right island has lush flowers and this spirit spring—it's perfect for me!"

She clapped her hands with a laugh, then casually drew the Golden Flood Dragon Scissors from her sleeve. With a light toss, the scissors transformed into two beams of golden light, carving graceful arcs across the island. In an instant, they opened up an exquisite cave dwelling, with a jade pavilion before it. A babbling spring flowed into a clear pool beneath the pavilion, reflecting the blue sky and white clouds—elegant and refined.

Before her words faded, Yunxiao and Qiongxiao had already landed beside her on beams of escaping light. The three sisters exchanged smiles and simultaneously raised their hands, releasing their innate spiritual lights. The three beams wove together in the air, forming a Three Talents Barrier that tightly connected the three small islands. Above the barrier, faint projections of Yunxiao's Primal Chaos Golden Dipper, Qiongxiao's Plain Cloud Scarf, and Bixiao's Golden Flood Dragon Scissors swirled, protecting the Three Immortals Island's Dao field while resonating with the nearby Jin'ao Island, their Dao rhythms interlinked.

One day, Zhao Gongming came to find the three sisters: "You three have found a fine place. The spiritual energy here is abundant, and with the East Sea coast at your back and Tianyuan City nearby, it's an excellent location."

"Yes, yes! Eldest Brother, I was just thinking of visiting the human city. I've always heard Senior Brother Liu Bai talk about how bustling human cities are—now I can finally see for myself!" Bixiao said cheerfully to Zhao Gongming.

Zhao Gongming laughed heartily at this. Raising his hand, he summoned a auspicious cloud to carry them all. "In that case, I'll accompany you three sisters on a trip. Let's see what mysteries this Tianyuan City holds that has Senior Brother Liu Bai so fond of it." As he spoke, the cloud beneath his feet transformed into a streak of light, skimming over the East Sea's blue waves and arriving outside Tianyuan City in an instant.

Before they even landed, they saw a majestic city spanning the coast. Its walls, forged from ten-thousand-year Mysterious Iron mixed with East Sea spiritual mud, towered a thousand zhang high. The surface was covered in defensive formations inscribed by human cultivators, their spiritual light filtering even the salty mist carried by the sea breeze into clarity.

Above the city gate, the three characters "Tianyuan City" were cast from Primordial Gold energy, with dragon qi faintly coiling between the strokes—a personal calligraphy piece from the Dragon King of the East Sea when the Dragon Clan allied with the Human Race. The city gate was thronged with people: human commoners in plain linen clothes with steady auras, and occasionally Sea Clan beings in human form passing by. They brushed past each other without disturbance, showing a familiar ease.

"What a magnificent city!" Qiongxiao's gaze swept over the wall's formations, her voice soft with admiration. "This formation subtly incorporates the Primordial Eight Trigrams and blends in the Dragon Clan's water-element power. Its defensive strength would be hard for even an ordinary Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal to breach."

Bixiao could no longer hold back. Leaping off the auspicious cloud, she dashed into the city. The moment she crossed the gate, she was captivated by the street scene.

Shops lined both sides in close array. The fragrance of osmanthus wine from taverns mingled with the scent of spirit herbs from medicine shops. A fabric store displayed colorful brocade woven from Shark Silk, while a blacksmith's shop rang with the clang of hammering. Sparks flew as a long blade infused with Primordial Gold spiritual energy took shape, drawing cheers from the gathered human youths.

Among the human cultivators on the street were many young men with still-immature faces, yet their auras had already reached the Heavenly Immortal Realm. They wore standard-issue swords at their waists, walked with steady steps, and their eyes held a resolve far beyond their years.

"Three junior sisters, Junior Brother Zhao Gongming." A warm voice came from behind. Liu Bai, clad in a plain white Daoist robe, stood smiling at a street corner, accompanied by several human cultivators in blue academy uniforms. "I didn't expect to see you here today. So, how do you find our human city? Quite bustling, isn't it, haha!"

Zhao Gongming stepped forward to greet him with a smile. "Senior Brother Liu Bai didn't deceive us. We were persuaded by Junior Sister Bixiao to come and witness Tianyuan City's prosperity."

Liu Bai nodded with a smile and led them deeper into the city. "Tianyuan City owes its current state to City Lord Su Bai, who established three academies here long ago. They teach the Dao of civil and martial arts, as well as the hundred crafts.

Human children enter the academies at age ten to begin cultivation. By adulthood, they can attain the Heavenly Immortal Realm and naturally comprehend at least one law—whether controlling water, commanding fire, or mastering earth—all abilities suited to their innate talents.

Through the academies' systematic training, they can better master their own strength and chart their path forward!"

As they spoke, they arrived before a sprawling courtyard. Above the gate hung a plaque reading "Tianyuan Dao Academy." From within came the sound of reading aloud, mixed with the breathing rhythms of cultivators in meditation.

Through the open gate, they saw hundreds of young cultivators drilling in formation. At their head, a human cultivator held a long sword, each move infused with exquisite Sword Dao laws. The youths followed closely, their cultivation still shallow but their forms already disciplined. Qiongxiao's eyes flickered. She murmured, "Teaching the Dao on such a scale... the Human Race's foundation is indeed profound."

"That's not all." Liu Bai pointed to another courtyard beside the academy. "That's the Artifact Refining Academy. Human craftsmen collaborate with several Dragon Clan artisans skilled in artifact forging, blending Dragon Clan techniques with human craftsmanship. The artifacts they produce may not match Senior Brother Duobao's treasures, but they are durable and practical. They're not only used by human cultivators but also traded with the Demon Race and Sea Clan."

Bixiao was watching with great interest when a distant bell tolled through the city. After three rings, the bustling street fell silent. Human commoners calmly retreated to the sides, while the young cultivators from the academy drew their artifacts and, led by their teachers, rushed toward the city's east. A glint of amusement appeared in Liu Bai's eyes. "What perfect timing, junior sisters and junior brother. Today happens to be the centennial Sea Beast Tide."

"Sea Beast Tide?" Zhao Gongming raised an eyebrow. "Are the sea beasts of the deep East Sea causing trouble?"

"Not exactly." Liu Bai led them toward the Tide Watching Platform on the city's east side, explaining as they walked. "These sea beasts lack intelligence. They are the residual bloodlines of ancient Fierce Beasts, dwelling in the East Sea's abyss. Every hundred years, they ride the tidal forces onto the shallows. They are ferocious by nature, with the strongest reaching the Primordial Unity Golden Immortal Realm. The Dragon Clan can intimidate the deep-sea races but cannot control these mindless beasts. The Human Race needed a training ground, so they made an agreement with the Dragon Clan to preserve the Sea Beast Tide, allowing their youths to temper their Dao hearts and hone their divine abilities here."

As he spoke, they ascended the Tide Watching Platform. Below lay a wide bay, its waters now churning with towering waves. Countless dark shapes writhed in the sea, their fierce auras rushing in on the wind. Bixiao focused her gaze and saw the sea beasts in all their varied forms: some were like Giant Tooth Sharks, a hundred zhang long with teeth gleaming coldly; others resembled giant octopuses, their tentacles whipping up sprays of water; still others bore stone armor like giant turtles, but with the ferocious patterns of ancient Fierce Beasts, each impact raising waves several zhang high.