Chapter Thirty-Two: Setting Sail (Part One)

Jiang Feng gazed intently at the Nine Heavens Steel Blade for quite some time. Its entire body gleamed silver-white; it was the very weapon wielded by the ancient God of Destruction, Xing Tian, at the dawn of his existence. The blade stretched two zhang in length, its edge curved like a crescent moon, sharp as a cold star, the shaft carved with a hundred entwined dragons. When brandished, it seemed as if it could shatter the Silver River itself—a true overlord among spears.

“What a spear, truly magnificent,” Jiang Feng exclaimed.

The old man of Destiny regarded Jiang Feng, and indeed, at this moment, Jiang Feng exuded the imposing aura of a ruler. To wield such an ancient divine artifact so naturally—perhaps, the old man thought, he had found his successor at last.

“My disciple, didn’t I tell you to leave quickly? Why have you returned?” Though his words sounded like a reproach, his tone was gentle, like a stream flowing softly over stones.

Jiang Feng scratched his head in embarrassment. “Master, I sensed something was wrong while I was still on the sea, so I brought him back with me. But when I returned and saw all the dead fish and birds floating in the river, I knew at once that something must have happened to you. In my panic, I stumbled into the boundary you set. If I hadn’t been clever enough to break free, I might never have seen you again. Master, why don’t you trust your disciple? Why did you try to send me away?”

The old man chuckled. “I never meant to drive you away—it was merely a test for you. Enough of that, you must be tired. Later, I’ll cook with my own hands to celebrate your progress in cultivation.”

The two of them, chatting and laughing, returned to the small wooden cabin. Jiang Feng replayed the battle he had just experienced in his mind, unable to shake the sense that it had all been a dream—something unreal. The divine beast still nestled by his side; he stroked its head in gratitude, a silent understanding having formed between them.

Before long, the old man brought out some simple dishes and wine—gone were the medicinal broths of old. He declared that Jiang Feng no longer needed them, and tonight, they would drink until they could drink no more. Having won a great victory and obtained the Nine Heavens Steel Blade, Jiang Feng was as giddy as a young deer.

The old man of Destiny recounted tales of his own cultivation and the reasons he had secluded himself on this island. Jiang Feng gradually came to understand the loneliness that comes with standing above others, and his respect for his master deepened.

The old man hinted at wishing to keep Jiang Feng by his side, but admitted that now was not the right time. Jiang Feng’s heart lay across the sea, on the far-off continent. If ever he found himself at a dead end, the old man—a self-professed wretched old fool—would be happy to spend the rest of his days with him.

Jiang Feng couldn’t help but feel that his master truly understood the workings of fate. Yet the old man remained so enigmatic, he could never quite fathom him. After a few rounds of drinks, Jiang Feng retired to find a place to sleep.

The sky was studded with stars, the moon radiant among them—a moment of pure beauty. That night, Jiang Feng dreamed again of being swept away to another place, a place where he could attain the strength and love he sought all his life, even avenge his grievances. Yet Jiang Feng remained optimistic; since his rebirth, he had long become accustomed to the world’s strangeness.

The next morning, Jiang Feng rose early, bid farewell to his master, and, with the divine beast in tow, boarded his little boat. The old man seemed on the verge of saying something more, but Jiang Feng stopped him. “Destiny cannot be revealed, Master. Let me walk my own path from now on.”

The old man turned and vanished swiftly at the edge of the sea. Jiang Feng slowly pushed his boat away from the mysterious island, longing to return to the Jiang clan and show his worth, determined to make those who once trampled him pay their due.

The sea remained calm as ever. Jiang Feng and the divine beast had been adrift for two days, and still there was nothing but endless ocean in sight. He grew a little frustrated—when would he find a way out of this vast expanse? Yet he was not anxious, instead enjoying the leisure and playing with the divine beast on deck.

Suddenly, a strange rumbling echoed between heaven and earth—a sound both ominous and frightening, enough to make the divine beast nervously flap its wings and warn him to be cautious.

“Damn it, why do strange things keep happening here?” Grumbling, Jiang Feng gripped the Nine Heavens Steel Blade and prepared for battle.

Standing at the bow, he heard only the eerie sound, saw nothing unusual. He grew uneasy but dared not let down his guard. After all, he was at sea, and legends told of many sacred beasts that dwelled here; a single misstep could send him into unknown danger.

The sound persisted, drawing ever nearer. The divine beast, now terrified, fled into the cabin. Seeing its fear, Jiang Feng’s heart pounded—clearly, this was an adversary unlike any he had faced before. This time, it seemed, disaster was unavoidable.

As he pondered, the sea’s surface suddenly rose, as if something massive was about to emerge. Jiang Feng readied himself for combat, and soon enough, a creature appeared from the depths—a monster, dragon-like yet not a dragon, stretching dozens of meters, hideously ugly, drooling as it fixed its gaze on him. Jiang Feng was shocked. On land, he could have fought it for some time, but at sea, the beast had the advantage.

He wondered why such monsters would appear in the sea, but there was no time to think. The creature began spewing water spheres at him. Jiang Feng managed to fend off a few, but his boat was already badly damaged, water seeping in. He was at a loss, the divine beast cowering behind him, wings beating in panic.

The monster, seeing Jiang Feng unable to fight back, attacked even more ferociously, hurling water spheres with increasing force, leaving Jiang Feng scrambling desperately to evade. Then, with a flick of its long tail, it smashed the boat to pieces, and both Jiang Feng and the divine beast plunged into the water. Jiang Feng refused to accept defeat. He burst from the water, leapt onto the monster’s head, and grappled with it.

He adopted a dragon-rider’s stance, straddling the creature’s head as it thrashed and struggled. Knowing that none of his mystical techniques would avail him now, Jiang Feng gripped the Nine Heavens Steel Blade and stabbed again and again into the monster’s skull. The creature howled in pain and writhed violently. Exhaustion threatened to overwhelm Jiang Feng—if he fell into the water now, he knew it would be his end.

Driven by sheer willpower, he clung to the monster as it bucked and tossed. Several times, he nearly lost his grip, but managed to seize hold of its iron-hard hide and pull himself back. Clutching tight, he stabbed furiously with the blade. After repeated assaults, the beast could bear no more. With an enraged roar, it renewed its attack.

The battle reached a fever pitch—one misstep from either side could spell defeat. After a few more thrusts, the monster suddenly exploded with a thunderous bang. Jiang Feng, standing atop its head, was flung violently through the air, drained of all strength, clutching the Nine Heavens Steel Blade as he plummeted into the sea.

In the water, utterly spent, Jiang Feng believed himself doomed. He closed his eyes, surrendering to fate. Yet in his fading consciousness, he felt the divine beast beside him, ceaselessly nudging him, refusing to let him go.