Time flowed on.
The three of them traveled through the skies.
Beneath their feet stretched endless drifting clouds; above their heads loomed a boundless expanse of deep azure.
Below them lay a vast, limitless sea.
The sea was as calm as an enormous sapphire. Now and then, flying fish leaped from the water, drawing silvery arcs beneath the sunlight before swiftly plunging back down, scattering fine sprays of foam.
The ocean separated every continent from the others.
Like an abyss deliberately left behind by the Creator, it allowed all things in the world to grow and wither on their own, never connecting with one another.
As they walked, Ye Lin spotted a vast cluster of islands below.
The archipelago appeared at the point where sea and sky met. At first, it was merely several blurry black dots, but as they drew closer, the dots gradually expanded into an unbroken stretch of land.
Across the distant sea lay countless densely scattered islands—large ones like crouching oxen, small ones like chess pieces—arranged in orderly disarray amid the emerald waves.
Together, these islands resembled a Bagua Formation Diagram when viewed from above.
"Hmm, I'm tired from walking. Let's go down and rest awhile."
Seeing the islands below, Su Tao's thoughts stirred. He stretched lazily and spoke with a smile.
This was his first time traveling far from home, so naturally he wanted to take a good look around.
His voice carried a touch of languor and anticipation, like a child who had finally gotten to go on a spring outing.
Ye Lin nodded, his gaze still fixed on the Bagua-shaped islands.
Su Qing stood beside her father. The sea breeze lifted the loose strands before her forehead, and she gently brushed them aside, her eyes reflecting the outlines of the islands below.
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