After a long flight across the turbulent skies of the Eastern Continent, we finally arrived at a place known as Marine City, a quiet settlement nestled near the great and elusive Marine Sect.
Yun Sha stood at the bow of our ship and looked down. "This is Marine City."
I squinted at the serene landscape. "So this is Marine City…"
Feng Xuan leaned over the railing, a frown forming. "But why is it so quiet down there? This place feels… dead."
Yun Sha narrowed her eyes. "Something must've happened here."
We descended into the city, our footsteps echoing against stone-paved streets. There were few people—merchants shuttering their stalls early, guards standing idle but tense. The usual bustle of a sect-adjacent city was absent.
We entered an inn that looked cleaner than most, yet carried the weight of silence within its walls. Only a few travelers were seated, speaking in hushed tones.
Feng Xuan stepped forward and called out to the workers at the counter. "Hey. Why's the whole city so quiet?"
A young worker stepped forward, glancing around before whispering, "A girl fell from the sky a few days ago… completely encased in crystal. The Marine Sect took her."
A second worker, older and with a cautious air, added, "They say the crystal was unlike anything from this world. Even the elders of Marine Sect couldn't break it. Now it's being held in their sacred vault."
I stepped closer. "How do you know all this?"
The first worker glanced toward the kitchen. "One of the sect disciples comes here often. He talked too much while drinking."
Yun Sha nodded. "Alright. Then we'll be staying the night—book three rooms."
"Of course," the worker replied.
Mu Lingyao and Feng Xuan retired to their rooms, choosing to cultivate while we waited for the right time to act. Yun Sha and I went to ours.
Inside, I sat on the bed and muttered, "A girl falling from the sky… encased in crystal. That sounds insane."
Yun Sha crossed her arms. "It's not impossible… especially if she came from the Red Empire."
My eyes narrowed. "Red Empire? What's that?"
She stared at me like I was some back-alley rogue. "Are you really from this world?"
I coughed awkwardly. "I am… just not big on general knowledge."
She sighed and explained, "This world is divided into two great powers: the Blue Empire, which we are currently in, and the Red Empire, across the Storm Sea."
My brows furrowed. "I thought the world was just four continents?"
I paused, then muttered to myself: "Damn it… this bastard Zhen Huan only knew about the four continents? Why the hell did I get stuck in his body?"
Yun Sha laughed softly. "That's basic information, you know."
"Tell me more," I said, sitting up straighter.
"In the Blue Empire, cultivators can only reach the Soul Transformation realm. No one can ascend beyond that."
"What?" I frowned. "Why?"
"Because the Blue Empire's spiritual energy has weakened over time. No one knows why."
I fell silent, but my thoughts surged.
Could it be because my swords—each sealed across different lands—are draining the energy? Is this world being shaped around me?
Yun Sha tilted her head. "What are you thinking?"
"Nothing," I said with a grin. "So… if I go to the Red Empire, I can break through past Soul Transformation?"
"Yes. That's what most top-tier cultivators do after reaching their peak—they cross the sea to the Red Empire. It's said the spiritual energy there is still rich and untamed."
"They allow that?"
"Of course," Yun Sha said, smiling. "The two empires are allies, not enemies."
I stood up and walked toward her. "Alright, enough world history."
She looked at me, puzzled. "What do you mean?"
I leaned close. "Let's put all that aside and have some… fun."
Her cheeks turned pink. "W-what kind of fun…?"
I pulled her gently onto the bed and whispered, "You know exactly what kind."
And in the quiet sanctuary of that inn room, beneath flickering spirit lamps and the faint hum of distant spiritual currents, we let the night carry us away into passion