Xietan is a coastal town that boasts one of the three great ports of the Human Realm.
The port sustains Xietan’s prosperity, and it is this same wealth that has nurtured noble, prestigious clans like the Xie Family. The deep blue sea lies just within reach, while the mechanical structures on the shore grow smaller and more distant with every passing moment. The cultivators have been assigned rooms on the ship by the Xie Family, leaving the mortals to gather together on the deck.
Li Li stands at the railing, gazing out at the endless horizon. This is her first time seeing the ocean since arriving in this world. The humid air rushes into her nostrils, and for the first time in three years, Li Li feels as though she is truly alive.
The mortals who have come to take on this mercenary task are mostly here in groups, huddled together in twos and threes, whispering to one another.
"Did you hear? Some sort of incredibly important figure seems to be on this ship."
"I hadn't heard, but I saw it. When I boarded, there were so many master cultivators checking everyone over."
"Does that mean we won't have a chance at all this time?"
"Don't be a fool. Even without those masters, someone like you wouldn't be able to finish the task anyway. We’re mostly here to broaden our horizons at the Inverted Sea. This is the Inverted Sea, after all!"
Li Li rests her fingers on the railing, eyes lowered in contemplation. She has been to the Inverted Sea before; that was a year ago. Back then, Liu Qing had not yet returned to the Dichen Sect. As a core disciple, she had represented the sect at the wedding of an elder from a sect in the inner world of the Inverted Sea.
The Inverted Sea is just as its name suggests. Above the water is the "outer world" where Li Li currently stands, and beneath the sea lies the "inner world," home to various monster clans. The waters are teeming with unawakened, primal beasts. When a high-level beast carelessly turns over, it can trigger massive, thousand-foot waves that surge into the sky, forming gigantic whirlpools amidst a deafening roar that changes the very complexion of the sky and earth.
They haven't reached the waters of the Inverted Sea yet, but she must find a way to get inside the cabin. Her old injuries have not yet healed; in her current condition, staying outside is merely acting as bait for those cultivators to lure out their prey.
"Make way, please, move aside."
The chaotic crowd parts to clear a path. A squad of well-trained men in black stops before Li Li. The leader bows respectfully, his tone deferential: "Miss Li, my master would like a word with you."
*How convenient—someone brings a pillow just as I’m getting sleepy.*
The corners of Li Li’s mouth curl up, her eyes crinkling into a smile. "Please, lead the way, young master."
The mortals on the deck watch as Li Li enters the cabin, the envious whispers trailing off behind the closing door. The men in black bring her directly to the second level. It is visibly much more refined than the first, adorned with intricate carvings and elegant porcelain, while rare Tilan flowers on the windowsill release a faint, lingering fragrance.
It seems the person who summoned her is indeed one of the "big shots" the others were talking about.
Smoke rises from an incense burner, drifting in the breeze toward the folding screen in the room. A figure is vaguely visible behind it.
"It has been a long time, Miss Li."
The voice is gentle and warm, like water flowing over a cold mountain spring, with a unique, refined cadence to every word. Li Li stands in the center of the room, raising an eyebrow toward the screen. Since she dared to come in, she was certain that this noble person did not know her. Moreover, she prides herself on a good memory; there is no reason she would not remember such a distinct voice.
The man seems to guess her thoughts, letting out a soft chuckle before continuing: "I was fortunate enough to see you at the Immortal Sect Tournament three years ago. My status was insignificant then, so it is only natural that you would not remember me... *cough, cough*..."
Li Li sits in the chair a maidservant has brought over, lowering her lids to observe her surroundings discreetly. The Immortal Sect Tournament is open to spectators regardless of race or social standing, but only one entity could possibly pull off a display of power like this: the Human Race imperial family.
She takes the teacup handed to her and gently blows away the floating tea leaves. "The Human Race imperial family. You must be the Crown Prince who was officially invested just last year, right?" Her voice is calm, yet her tone is exceptionally certain.
The only heir to the throne, the crown prince of a different surname, Song Ji.
The heavy screen is moved aside, revealing the face of the prince, who has rarely been seen in public since his investiture. Li Li’s gaze, which had been wandering, stops dead on his face. His features look like cobalt blue shadows on an undried oil painting—cold, isolated, and revealing a faint, sickly frailty, truly a crane standing amidst a frozen pool.
"*Cough, cough.*"
The man who looks like a portrait suddenly coughs twice, waking Li Li from her stupor. She lowers her eyes, looking away, her voice remaining indifferent. "I have long heard that Your Highness’s health is poor. Have you had the people from the Medicine Pavilion look at you?"
Song Ji curls his pale, thin lips, leaving the question unanswered. "I appreciate your concern, Miss Li. But what brings you here?"
Li Li sets down her teacup and meets Song Ji’s eyes directly, also ignoring his question. "Doesn't that just go to show how destined we are to meet?"
A hint of a smile appears in Song Ji’s brow, though his eyes remain undisturbed as a still lake. He gestures to the guards behind him. "My aunt told me you are well-versed in mechanical principles. I happen to have a problem that has troubled me for some time, and I would like to ask for your assistance."
"Naturally, I will not treat you unfairly. Should you ever find yourself in trouble in the future, I will certainly do my utmost to assist you."
Li Li beams, her previously cold and rigid demeanor softening in an instant. This prince is a shrewd man with a heart of seven apertures; it seems he is making a promise, but in reality, he is making her owe him a favor while she is currently in a desperate predicament.
Li Li takes the hand-drawn design draft from the guard. As expected, it is an extremely simple problem. Just as she is about to speak to "enlighten" him, she feels a sudden sense of weightlessness, as if the world is spinning.
The ship is entering the waters of the Inverted Sea.
The Inverted Sea merges with the ordinary sea of the outer world. The entrance is a transparent barrier, invisible to the naked eye, but once crossed, it leads to an entirely different world. Through the clear window, the changes outside are visible in vivid detail. The clear sky and white clouds vanish, replaced by dim, sunless clouds, and the calm surface of the sea becomes turbulent and violent. In the distance, massive fish, like the giant Kunpeng of legend, thrash in the water, inciting a natural urge to retreat.
A young man in brocade robes rushes in and joins the guards in surrounding Song Ji, his expression filled with concern. "Your Highness, are you alright?"
Song Ji covers his mouth to cough, whispering in a low voice, "I am fine, Young Master Xie, please do not worry."
Xie Qi breathes a sigh of relief, then casts a suspicious look toward Li Li, his tone uncertain. "Your Highness, who is this?"
"Miss Li is a guest of the Prince, invited specifically to review these mechanical drawings," one of the guards behind Song Ji explains.
Xie Qi pauses, his movements imperceptible, before nodding in realization. "Oh, how thoughtless of me. I didn't realize the Prince’s guest was a mortal. I shall go and prepare a room of high standing for her at once."
He comes and goes just as quickly.
Li Li shifts her gaze from the outside back to the drawing, casually pointing out a few places that need adjustment. Song Ji nods repeatedly, as if truly enlightened.
"Since Your Highness said you would do your utmost to help, I do have an unasked-for request."
"Please, speak freely."
"I require a Spirit-Condensing Pill."
...
As soon as Li Li steps out of the room, she swallows the Spirit-Condensing Pill she just received. A warm current courses through her meridians, the cracks in her cultivation base slowly mending under the effect of the pill.
With it comes the return of her five senses.
She clearly hears a familiar voice saying, with toxic malice: "Go! I don't care what you have to do—that woman surnamed Li must die today!"