Journey East to Seek Immortal Isle, Sleeve Envelops All Things Born

Within the Wuzhuang Temple of Longevity Mountain, the Daoist atmosphere was harmonious; the Wood Qi and the essence of the Innate Earthen Origin mingled in a dense mist, as if the place were a pure land unto itself.

In the center of the courtyard, the Nine-Clawed Golden Dragon continued to inhale and exhale Merit Profound Yellow Qi, the Four Symbols Plantain Tree swayed without wind, and the seven precious gourds on the vine emitted a hazy, profound aura.

The newly initiated Immortal Crane and the descendants of Sacred Beasts each performed their duties, adding a touch of vitality to this ancient Daoist temple.

Zhenyuanzi and Fellow Daoist Hongyun sat opposite each other beneath the Four Symbols Plantain Tree. After a series of major events—climbing the summit of Buzhou Mountain, collecting the Gourd Vine, and preaching in the West—this rare moment of tranquility felt all the more precious.

In a corner of the courtyard, the Black Tortoise lay quietly, its aura connected to the earth as it contemplated the Way of Transformation.

The Ink Kirin carefully tended to the spiritual plants in the herb garden at the back of the mountain, its dark scales gleaming with a faint luster under the sunlight.

The Nine-Headed Lion stood guard before the mountain gate, its nine pairs of eyes scanning the surroundings with vigilance.

However, Zhenyuanzi felt a stirring in his heart. With his cultivation already at the Peak Great Luo Golden Immortal realm, he vaguely sensed that his Way of the Great Earth had touched upon an invisible barrier.

Quiet cultivation within his own dojo was no longer sufficient to trigger that final transformation.

That morning, as the first rays of dawn pierced the clouds and spilled onto the scales of the Nine-Clawed Golden Dragon in the courtyard, refracting ten thousand rays of golden light, Zhenyuanzi slowly opened his eyes. A flash of mountain and river veins seemed to pass through his gaze.

He looked toward Hongyun, who was currently contemplating the Four Symbols Profound Method, and spoke calmly:

"Fellow Daoist Hongyun, my heart has been stirred. I wish to enter the Primordial Land once more and walk upon the earth to experience the flow of the earth veins and the fundamental essence of all living things, so that I may further my Great Dao."

Hearing this, Hongyun awoke from his meditation, no surprise on his face.

He knew well that his friend was the embodiment of the earth; while secluded cultivation was important, walking the Primordial Land and personally sensing the breath and pulse of the earth was an indispensable part of their practice.

He smiled freely, his crimson Daoist robe fluttering like drifting clouds: "Since your Great Dao points this way, you should naturally follow it. Everything in the mountain will be looked after by this poor daoist and Yuanjun, so you may depart with peace of mind."

Zhenyuanzi slightly nodded, saying nothing further. Having interacted for countless epochs, they were already in mutual understanding and had no need for excessive formalities. He rose, his gait steady as a shifting mountain, and walked slowly out through the gate of Wuzhuang Temple.

The Nine-Headed Lion guarding the gate lowered its nine heads respectfully, watching its Master depart; the Immortal Crane patrolling the clouds let out a clear, resonant cry as if in farewell; even the Black Tortoise in the corner of the courtyard lifted its head slightly, watching that simple, unadorned figure gradually drift away.

Having left the blessed land of Longevity Mountain, Zhenyuanzi did not employ any great supernatural powers like Shrink Ground to Inches or traversing the void.

With a slight movement of his mind, the vast, abyssal aura that would have commanded awe from any ordinary Great Luo Golden Immortal was completely retracted, like a giant whale diving into the sea, returning to simplicity.

At this moment, he appeared as nothing more than an ordinary traveler wandering the world, dressed in an inconspicuous earthy-yellow robe, his aura peaceful, blending into the myriad beings of the Primordial Land without appearing the least bit out of place.

His goal was clear: the vast and boundless East Sea.

According to memories from later generations, there were three hidden immortal islands upon the East Sea, formed from Chaos Fragments. They were worlds unto themselves, containing Innate Spiritual Mechanism, and surely harbored Innate Spiritual Treasures or spiritual roots. Such opportunities might prove highly useful for his future path, so he naturally had to go and investigate.

However, Zhenyuanzi was in no rush to reach his destination.

Since he had set out in the name of "experiencing the Way of the Great Earth," he truly immersed his body and mind in the embrace of the Primordial Land.

He abandoned the path of flying through the clouds, placing his feet firmly upon the vast and ancient soil.

With every step he took, he sensed his surroundings with his Innate Earthen Origin. The moment his soles touched the earth, endless information flowed into his heart like streams merging into the sea:

The slow, creeping movement of magma deep underground, like the scorching blood of the earth; the bubbling flow of spiritual energy in the earth veins, like crisscrossing meridians;

The breathing of the mountains and rivers, the sighs of the valleys, and even the most minute tremors caused by billions of tiny creatures moving underground or through the meadows... all of this together constituted the grand and complex rhythmic life of the Primordial Land.

He walked through primeval forests where ancient trees towered and the greenery was so lush it seemed to drip, the leaves accumulated over billions of years rustling softly beneath his feet, the scent of damp soil mixed with the fragrance of grass and trees refreshing his spirit.

Passing through a deep valley, Zhenyuanzi encountered a group of strange beasts.

They were shaped like sheep but possessed nine tails and four ears, with eyes growing on their backs—these were the "Bo Xi" recorded in the later Classic of Mountains and Seas.

These creatures were timid and cautious, hiding in rock crevices the moment they saw a stranger.

Observing that their aura was pure and free from worldly strife, Zhenyuanzi did not disturb them and let them be. Deep in the valley, he also discovered several rare "Dan Wood" trees, their leaves like grain, their fruit as large as melons, with red markings and black veins; eating them could ward off fire.

He trekked across the desolate and vast Gobi Desert of the West, where the wind whipped the sand, feeling the resilience and stillness of the earth in such extreme environments.

The scorching sun baked the cracked earth, and the gale-force winds whipped up yellow sand, scraping against the rock walls like knives and leaving the marks of time.

Here, he experienced the other side of the earth's "Great Virtue Carrying Things"—that silent, stoic endurance through the weathering of ages.

Beneath this seemingly dead-silent Gobi, he sensed that faint spiritual energy still flowed through the earth veins, nourishing a few unique creatures.

In an oasis within the Gobi, he discovered a few "Zheng."

They were shaped like red leopards with five tails and one horn, and their cries sounded like the clashing of stones.

These exotic beasts were drinking water in the oasis; seeing Zhenyuanzi approach, they immediately raised their five tails in alert, letting out low, warning growls.

Sensing the pure Five Elements Qi upon them, Zhenyuanzi slightly nodded and took a detour. In the center of the oasis grew a peculiar "Sha Tang Tree," shaped like a crabapple tree with yellow flowers and red fruit; eating it could prevent drowning.

He also paused by the side of a roaring, surging river, watching the muddy waves rise to the sky and crash against the banks, feeling how water had shaped and altered the landscape of the earth over billions of years, contemplating the mutual generation and restraint between the flexibility of "water" and the bearing of "earth," their Daoist auras intermingling.

On the pebble beach by the river, he found some "Yu Pei," which could ward off miasma when worn. These jade stones were shaped like amber, with what seemed to be flowing water rippling within them.

In the river, "Ran Yi Fish" swam about—fish-bodied with snake heads and six legs, their eyes like horse ears; eating them could ward off evil. These ancient relics swam leisurely in the water, completely unaware that in later generations, they would be on the verge of extinction.

Deeper still, there were schools of "He Luo Fish," with one head and ten bodies, their cries like barking dogs; eating them could cure swellings.

Along the way, he did not merely contemplate heaven and earth; he also carefully observed the survival and evolution of the myriad beings of the Primordial Land.

Not long after the opening of the world, the spiritual energy between heaven and earth was extremely abundant, nourishing countless exotic beasts and spiritual plants that would be considered "rare treasures" in later generations.

Many of these creatures had ancient, simple forms and pure auras, containing unique Origin Power. Yet, in the vague understanding Zhenyuanzi possessed from later generations, the vast majority of them seemed destined to fade away in some future cataclysm, eventually becoming legends or even vanishing entirely into the River of Time.

As this thought arose, a ripple stirred in Zhenyuanzi's heart.

He was the Lord of the Earth, in charge of the Book of the Earth, and his fate was inextricably linked with the Primordial Land.

These living beings are part of the Primordial World; their extinction, in a sense, represents a loss and a flaw in the origin of the earth itself.

Even though his Dao heart is as firm as a rock, he cannot help but feel a trace of compassion—the reluctance to see the living die—along with the sense of responsibility that comes with being a guardian of the earth.

"Since we have met, it is a matter of destined affinity," Zhenyuanzi thinks silently.

"I cannot reverse the grand trend of the world at this moment, but by preserving a few sparks in the smallest of places, perhaps I can fulfill the causality between myself and this heaven and earth."

With his mind made up, he proceeds on his journey with a newfound attentiveness.

Deep within a swamp shrouded in seven-colored toxic miasma all year round, he discovers a pair of strange beasts called "Yu Li," which resemble qilin but possess deer antlers and are covered in crystalline jade scales.

They feed on the unique spirit fungus of the swamp and can inhale toxic miasma to convert it into pure spiritual energy; their inner cores possess the miraculous effect of neutralizing all poisons and regenerating dead flesh. In the memories of later generations, this beast was hunted to extinction due to its magical properties.

Zhenyuanzi flicks his sleeves, and a gentle yet irresistible force instantly envelops the area, moving the panicked Yu Li and the small patch of swamp ecosystem they inhabit into his Sleeve Universe, completely intact. The swamp also grows "Mi Gu Trees," which look like grain with black veins and flowers that shine in all directions; wearing them prevents one from losing their way.

Traveling to a crimson mountain range where not a blade of grass grows, he finds "Yong Birds" nesting in the mountains.

They resemble owls, with human faces, four eyes, and ears; their cries can trigger subterranean fires.

Seeing that these strange birds coexist with the earth fire and possess great spirituality, Zhenyuanzi collects a pair and creates a valley filled with earth fire for them within his sleeve space.

The mountain also grows "Di Wu Trees," which resemble peppers with red fruits that can ward off evil.

At the peak of a snow-capped mountain rarely visited by humans, he finds a small tree only a foot tall, carved as if from ice crystal, with snow patterns naturally congealed on its leaves: the "Snow Soul Wood."

This wood emits an extreme cold, yet it nourishes the soul and stabilizes the Primordial Spirit; it is a supreme treasure for those practicing ice-attribute techniques or those with damaged souls.

Likewise, it would become impossible to find in the future.

Zhenyuanzi carefully manipulates the earth veins to move the Snow Soul Wood and the Ten Thousand Year Profound Ice surrounding its roots into his sleeve.

Near the snow line, he also discovers some "White Apes," which look like apes with white heads and red feet; their appearance heralds great war, but these apes are currently playing in the snow, completely unaware that their existence portends disaster.

On the summit of the snow mountain, "Zhu Jian" also roam; they resemble leopards with long tails, human heads, cow ears, and a single eye, and they are adept at whistling.

These strange beasts leave deep footprints in the snow, and seeing that they are exceptionally fierce yet born of Heaven and Earth Creation, Zhenyuanzi collects a pair.

Even more surprisingly, he discovers a group of "Cold Howl Birds" in an ice cave; they resemble chickens with white heads and rat feet, capable of warding off the cold.

He also encounters a strange creature called the "Illusion Light Butterfly," whose wings refract light as they flutter, creating hazy illusions; when they dance in groups, they can even trigger small-scale Space Ripples.

They are beautiful yet fragile, with extremely high requirements for their living environment.

Zhenyuanzi does not disturb them, but quietly relocates an entire patch of forest—where hundreds of Illusion Light Butterflies reside and their only food source, "Moonlight Moss," grows—into his Sleeve Universe. This forest also contains several "Wen Jing Trees," which resemble pears with red veins; eating them cures deafness.

In a deep bamboo forest, Zhenyuanzi discovers the "Imperial Platform Chess" recorded in the later Classic of Mountains and Seas.

These five-colored stones are scattered throughout the forest, shaped like quail eggs and emitting a warm, gentle luster.

According to records, these stones were used by gods to play chess, and wearing them prevents one from being bewitched.

Seeing that they contain a small amount of Innate Five Elements Qi, Zhenyuanzi collects tens of thousands of them to nourish in his sleeve.

The bamboo forest is also home to some "Xing Xing," which resemble monkeys with white ears; they walk like humans and eating them makes one run fast.

Passing by a crystal-clear stream, he sees "Wanyao Fish" playing in the water.

They resemble carp, with fish bodies and bird wings, blue patterns, white heads, and red beaks; they often travel from the West Sea to the East Sea, flying at night.

These spirit fish are not afraid of people and curiously approach him.

Seeing that they are lively and cute, Zhenyuanzi collects a school and creates a water area in his sleeve space for them to inhabit. By the stream also grows "Huai Wood," which resembles the ailanthus tree with melon-like fruit; eating it prevents forgetfulness.

In a valley filled with Strange Flowers and Exotic Herbs, Zhenyuanzi encounters the "Qin Yuan." They resemble bees as large as mandarin ducks; stinging birds or beasts kills them, and stinging trees causes them to wither.

Though these fierce creatures are poisonous, they are also born of Heaven and Earth Creation; Zhenyuanzi carefully avoids their stingers and collects some to place in a specially designated toxic area within his sleeve. The valley also contains "Jia Guo Trees," which resemble peaches with square stems; eating them prevents fatigue.

There are countless such examples.

There is the "Yong He," which lacks intelligence but possesses immense strength, is covered in fur, and has horns; it resembles an ape with red eyes, a red beak, and a yellow body, and its appearance brings great terror to the land.

There is the "Melodious Sound Bird," which resembles a lark but has a seven-colored tail, and whose song can soothe the mind.

There is the "Suan Yu," which hides in earth fire and lava, feeds on refined gold, and has an indestructible shell; it resembles a snake with four wings, six eyes, and three feet.

And there is the "Qiu Fu," which resembles a crow with three heads and six tails; it is fond of laughing, and wearing it prevents one from being disliked, while also warding off evil.

In a marsh, he also discovers the "Xuan Gui," which resembles a turtle with a bird's head and a snake's tail; its sound is like wood splitting, and wearing it prevents deafness.

Deep in the dense forest, he encounters the "Li Li," which resembles a pig with spurs; its appearance signifies that the county will have many earthworks. On the plains, he sees the "Zhu Bird," which resembles an owl with human hands; its sound is like a groan, and its appearance signifies that the county will have many exiled scholars.

Zhenyuanzi is not without his choices.

He mostly collects those that are full of spirituality, have unique origins, but in his vague perception, seem to have a "short destiny," or are extremely sensitive to environmental changes and prone to extinction.

He is not a saint who distributes mercy indiscriminately; he has his own principles in his actions.

These living beings are collected by his great divine power of the Sleeve Universe, not imprisoned.

Within the space of his sleeve, relying on his profound understanding of the Earth Law and the power of the Book of the Earth, he simulates and recreates the most suitable primitive living environment for each species—where there should be swamps, there are swamps; where there should be snow mountains, there are snow mountains; where there should be forests, there are forests—and draws in the external spiritual energy to continuously inject it, maintaining their life cycles.

In a sense, these living beings have gained a "Noah's Ark" within Zhenyuanzi's Sleeve Universe, unaffected by the external Calamity Qi and war. While they lose the possibility of freely migrating across the vast Primordial World, they are able to continue their lineage in a protected state, avoiding the fate of extinction.

"Although they have lost their freedom, they have gained the opportunity to continue their race." This is a matter of gain and loss, difficult to define simply.

Zhenyuanzi travels eastward, his steps calm and unhurried, occasionally stopping to perceive the Great Earth Pulse, and occasionally reaching out to collect those "destined" rare creatures.

Within his Sleeve Universe, it is gradually evolving into a miniature, all-encompassing biological atlas of the Primordial World—a "Museum of All Things" that belongs solely to him.

He did not deliberately pursue speed, but given his level of cultivation, even at a walking pace, his speed far exceeded the flight of an ordinary Golden Immortal.

Thus, not knowing how many winters and summers had passed, having crossed endless mountains and rivers and traversed a small half of the Primordial Continent, the salty, fishy sea breeze finally rushed toward his face; the vast, boundless East Sea, with its ten thousand acres of azure waves, was already visible in the distance.

Standing upon the reefs of the coastline, gazing out at the water and sky merging into one, a boundless expanse of blue, a trace of solemnity finally appeared on the simple and unadorned face of Zhenyuanzi. The land was his domain, while this vast ocean was a completely different world.

Searching for the elusive and untraceable Three Immortal Islands, with their obscured heavenly secrets, was absolutely not an easy task.

Along the shore, he saw some Ling Yu swimming in the water, shaped like fish but with human faces, complete with hands and feet; in the sky flew a few Zun Birds, shaped like owls but with red feet, straight beaks, yellow patterns, and white heads.

Among the reefs crawled Zhu Bi Fish, shaped like lungs with eyes and six legs, often spitting out pearls. These marine creatures were completely different from land-dwelling beings, carrying the unique, mysterious aura of the Great Sea.

He adjusted his breathing slightly, bringing his Own State to its peak, and then stepped out, setting foot upon the surging waves.

The aura around his body became increasingly restrained, yet his divine sense, like an invisible spider web, began to spread cautiously and firmly toward this unknown azure kingdom.