Boarding the Giant Vessel

Jiao Yu'er glanced at Dongfang Yueming with a complicated expression, but ultimately turned around and silently boarded her family's large ship.

Seven days passed quietly.

On this day, the "Wave-Breaking Divine Vessel" bound for the Central Continent was about to set sail. The port was bustling with people, the atmosphere both exciting and tense.

Standing beneath the massive ship's railing, Dongfang Yueming bowed to Jiao Xiaotian and his daughter, who had come to see him off, and said, "Senior Jiao, Miss Jiao, thank you for your hospitality these past few days. Farewell."

Jiao Yu'er watched the tall figure about to depart, her lips moved, but in the end she just nodded silently without saying a word.

Without another word, Dongfang Yueming turned around and resolutely boarded the giant ship bound for the Central Continent.

"Sigh..." Jiao Xiaotian looked at his daughter's dejected expression and gently comforted her, "Yu'er, everyone has their own ambitions, there's no need to..."

"Father! I'm fine!" Jiao Yu'er interrupted her father, forced a smile, and turned to walk towards the Jiao Clan carriage, her back view showing a hint of loneliness.

Jiao Xiaotian watched his daughter's departing figure, shook his head helplessly, and sighed again.

Suddenly, a thought One Flash through his mind, and he remembered the name that Dongfang Yueming had mentioned a few days ago.

"The Love Palace... what kind of power is this? Why have I never heard of it before?" Jiao Xiaotian frowned, his heart filled with doubt. He had a feeling that this name might not be simple.

After a moment's thought, he stopped hesitating and turned to walk deeper into the Jiao Clan mansion. He decided to consult the family's elder, who was a highly knowledgeable and experienced cultivator at the Internal Force Realm and had been in seclusion for many years.

Upon arriving at the secret room where the elders were meditating, Jiao Xiaotian respectfully raised his questions.

The elder, who was sitting cross-legged on the futon, slowly opened his eyes. A hint of doubt flashed in his eyes. After pondering for a while, he frowned and said, "The Love Palace? I have cultivated for many years and traveled all over the world, but I have never heard of this name. Perhaps... it was just something that kid made up?"

Jiao Xiaotian, upon hearing this, also felt there was some truth to it. "Yes, perhaps he just didn't want to reveal his true origins and made it up on the spot." He thought to himself, "Never mind, he's just a passerby; no need to delve into it."

Just as Jiao Xiaotian was about to take his leave!

Boom!!!

An indescribable, terrifying aura, seemingly capable of crushing the heavens and earth, suddenly descended! The entire secret chamber trembled under this aura!

The elder of the Jiao Clan's expression changed drastically. He suddenly stood up from the prayer mat, his eyes filled with horror!

Jiao Xiaotian was so overwhelmed by this aura that he could barely breathe, and he was utterly terrified!

Immediately afterwards, an old and blurry figure appeared silently in the secret chamber! The newcomer had white hair and a youthful face, with eyes as deep as an abyss. He was none other than the pillar of the Jiao Clan who rarely appeared in public—the Grandmaster Realm ancestor!

The patriarch's gaze fell upon Jiao Xiaotian with an almost tangible intensity, his tone carrying a barely perceptible mix of excitement and tension as he asked in a deep voice, "Xiaotian, where... did you learn of the words ' Love Palace '?!"

Jiao Xiaotian was startled by the patriarch's sudden question and his barely suppressed emotions. He couldn't understand why the patriarch would react so strongly to the words "Love Palace." But he dared not be negligent and quickly recounted in detail his encounter with Dongfang Yueming and how the latter mentioned going to the Central Continent to find the people of the "Love Palace."

The old ancestor listened quietly, his deep eyes flickering with uncertain light, as if he were rapidly contemplating something. "A Blood Replacement Realm youth... who stumbled upon the name ' Love Palace '?"

He thought to himself, "Perhaps... it really is just a coincidence? This child should have no connection with that forbidden place."

Thinking of this, his imposing aura gradually subsided.

Jiao Xiaotian was increasingly alarmed! His ancestor was a supreme martial arts master! A mere stomp of his foot could shake the Great Han Dynasty! How could he be so concerned about an unknown "Love Palace"? And even more so about that young man named Dongfang Ri...

He tentatively added, "Ancestor, that Dongfang Ri, at such a young age, has already reached the Blood Replacement Realm, and his strength is unfathomable. He was able to single-handedly kill the high-level Sea Mortal Beast, the Fang Bone Shark, and even saved Yu'er's life. Before he left, he mentioned to me that he wanted a Qi Refining technique, but I felt that this was a precious thing and it was inconvenient to pass it on easily, so..."

"Enough." The old ancestor waved his hand, interrupting Jiao Xiaotian. He pondered for a moment, then suddenly flipped his wrist, revealing a palm-sized, strangely colored, red silk that seemed to be burning with flames in his palm. The silk was of a special material, faintly emitting an indescribable mysterious aura.

"Give this to that young man named Dongfang Ri." The patriarch handed the red silk to Jiao Xiaotian, his tone calm yet carrying an unquestionable air.

"This... Ancestor?!" Jiao Xiaotian was stunned! This red silk was clearly no ordinary item, and the Ancestor was actually going to give it to a complete stranger?!

The elder at the Internal Force Realm beside them was even more astonished! The Love Palace! What exactly is this Love Palace?! Why would Grandmaster ancestor treat it with such seriousness?!

The old ancestor didn't explain, he just glanced at the two of them indifferently.

Jiao Xiaotian quickly composed himself and respectfully accepted the red silk. "Yes, Ancestor! This junior will take care of it immediately!"

After Jiao Xiaotian hurriedly left, the Internal Force Realm elder finally couldn't suppress his curiosity and wanted to ask a question.

The old ancestor seemed to see through his thoughts, closed his eyes, and said calmly, "Some things are better left unknown than known. What happened today should be kept to yourself and not revealed to others."

Upon hearing this, the elder was startled and quickly bowed in agreement, no longer daring to harbor any further inquiries.

Meanwhile, Jiao Xiaotian, carrying the strange red silk, hurried towards the port, his mind in turmoil.

"Why does the Ancestor value an outsider so much? Even going so far as to bestow such a treasure upon him? What secrets are hidden in the words ' Love Palace '?"

He was completely baffled.

Soon, Jiao Xiaotian boarded the "Wave-Breaking Divine Vessel," which resembled a mountain.

At this moment, Dongfang Yueming was not in the room, but was looking around on the spacious deck.

He secretly estimated to himself, "This ship is teeming with powerful individuals, their auras are incredibly diverse. Martial artists below the Bone Forging Realm are almost nonexistent, while those at the Marrow Cleansing Realm and Blood Replacement Realm are plentiful. There are even... quite a few Qi Refining Realm experts with long, powerful auras that can draw upon the spiritual energy of heaven and earth!"

This ship itself is a mobile miniature society, where the law of the strong prevails is fully embodied.

The surrounding crowd noticed Dongfang Yueming's young face, but most only glanced at him casually and didn't pay much attention. However, when Jiao Xiaotian walked straight towards Dongfang Yueming, he immediately attracted the attention of many people.

"Hey? Isn't that Jiao Xiaotian from the Jiao Clan? What's he doing here?"

What did he want with that young man?

Dongfang Yueming also saw Jiao Xiaotian return, and a hint of curiosity appeared in her eyes.

"Dongfang." Jiao Xiaotian approached, a polite smile on his face.

"Senior Jiao," Dongfang Yueming returned the greeting with a cupped hand.

Those around them, seeing this, began to whisper and speculate about the relationship between the two.

Jiao Xiaotian ignored the stares of others and said to Dongfang Yueming, "There are too many people around here. May I speak to you privately?"

Dongfang Yueming hesitated for a moment, then nodded. He led Jiao Xiaotian across the deck and into the cabin.

The interior of this giant ship was strictly hierarchical, with luxurious rooms in the upper level, clearly prepared for the Qi Refining Realm experts. The lower level, where Dongfang Yueming was located, had a slightly less luxurious environment and was inhabited by the Blood Replacement Realm and Marrow Cleansing Realm martial artists.

I found my room and pushed the door open.

"Please come in, Senior Jiao."

After the door closed, Jiao Xiaotian took out the burning red silk from his pocket and handed it to Dongfang Yueming.

"What is this?" Dongfang Yueming took the silk. It felt warm and smooth to the touch, yet it seemed to contain a burning power, which made him curious.

"This item... was specially entrusted to me by an elder of my Jiao Clan to be given to you, young friend," Jiao Xiaotian said, carefully choosing his words. "That elder said that this item is destined for you, and he hopes you will cherish it in the future." He did not mention his ancestor, but spoke vaguely.

Dongfang Yueming looked at the red silk in her hand, then at Jiao Xiaotian, her mind filled with doubts. She was about to ask him a question.

Jiao Xiaotian seemed unwilling to say more, and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture to Dongfang Yueming: "Now that the goods have been delivered, I won't bother you any longer. Young friend, take care on your journey!"

After saying that, he turned and left quickly, leaving Dongfang Yueming alone, staring at the strange piece of silk in deep thought.