For more than ten months, Xu Lin drifted across the sea with his father, visiting Penglai, Fangzhang, Yingzhou, and many other nameless islands in succession.
Xu Lin followed his father onto each island, searching alongside the soldiers for valuable natural treasures.
Since few people truly possessed the expertise to recognize such a vast array of rare materials, all the items found were brought to Xu Fu, who would personally inspect them to pick out what was useful.
Standing inside the ship's cabin with a stern expression, Xu Fu meticulously examined every single material, a bright glint flashing in his eyes.
These precious resources would become the key to his concoction of the Elixir of Immortality.
Upon cross-referencing his notes, Xu Fu realized that all the necessary ingredients were basically gathered, lacking only a single main component.
Consequently, Xu Fu and his fleet set sail for a mysterious expanse of ocean.
That sea area was known as the Sea of Netherworld, rumored to be a passage connecting to another world.
It was said to conceal endless treasures and mystical powers, while simultaneously harboring boundless perils.
According to legend, many brave navigators and explorers had attempted to explore this sea in the past, but without exception, they had all vanished within it, never to return—though nobody knew where these legends had originated.
The final main ingredient needed for the Elixir of Immortality was merely part of his theoretical formula; it was called the Purple Nether Stone, which legend claimed could only be found near the entrance to Hell.
However, no one knew the exact location of this entrance to Hell, leaving him with no choice but to try his luck in this most hazardous of seas.
After sailing for several days, Xu Fu's fleet finally reached the edge of this mysterious expanse of water.
At that moment, the sea surface was as calm as a mirror, with sunlight spilling across it and casting a dazzling reflection.
Yet, a sense of unease welled up in Xu Fu's heart, as if something terrifying were lurking within the waters.
Was it merely a psychological effect on his part, or something else entirely?
As the fleet ventured deeper into the sea, the surrounding environment began to change.
The previously calm surface grew turbulent and choppy, and the sky gradually darkened, as though a violent storm were imminent.
Xu Fu ordered the crew to heighten their vigilance and prepare for any potential dangers.
Yet, as the fleet pushed onward, the anticipated perils failed to materialize. In the distant distance, Xu Lin spotted the outlines of several islands emerging at the edge of the sea—eight larger islands in total.
As the fleet drew closer, hundreds of smaller islets came into view for everyone on board. The fleet slowly approached the largest of the islands.
Everyone was captivated by the stunning scenery before them: miles of azure waves, with unfamiliar trees growing along the shore bearing fruit the size of a human head.
Several of these fruits grew clustered together, hanging straight down in a greenish hue. We may call them fruits for now, as no one had ever seen this strange tree before, and thus nobody knew what they ought to be called.
Disembarking from the ship, Xu Lin followed his father onto this uncharted island.
Xu Lin asked, "Father, have we come to the wrong place? Doesn't legend say the Sea of Netherworld is fraught with danger at every turn, and that no one who comes here ever leaves alive? Why is it like this? Where is there even a hint of danger?" Xu Fu wore a similarly bewildered expression. After pondering for a moment, he said to Xu Lin, "It's possible we took a wrong turn and ended up in the wrong place. Of course, it's also possible that the legends misled everyone and this isn't a dangerous place at all. After all, they are only legends, and no one truly understands this realm. Since we're already here, we might as well make ourselves at home. Let's first survey the island, see if any other dangers actually exist, examine the island's basic layout, and find out if anyone else is here, or if the Purple Nether Stone we need is truly present."
With a solemn expression, Xu Fu immediately instructed the accompanying deputy commander, "General Li, please dispatch men to scout the surrounding area. Check primarily for the presence of the Purple Nether Stone, whether anyone else is on the island, and if there are any hazards."
General Li was slightly startled, but then nodded resolutely and said, "Understood. I will send men to scout immediately."
Li Xin was a renowned and fierce general of the Qin State.
If one were to rank the many military commanders of Qin, he could undoubtedly squeeze into the top ten.
Having followed the Qin Emperor through countless campaigns in the north and south, he had repeatedly achieved extraordinary merit.
In the nineteenth year of the Qin Emperor, he and General Wang Jian joined forces to conquer the Zhao State in a single stroke; in the twenty-first year, he inflicted a crushing defeat on Crown Prince Dan by the banks of the Yi River; and by the twenty-sixth year, operating alongside General Wang Ben, he finally annihilated the Qi State.
Furthermore, Li Xin's archery and horsemanship were preeminent. He was exceptionally skilled at training cavalry units, and his tactical acumen was such that even Li Mu, who was likewise adept at cavalry warfare, could not help but praise him as an outstanding commander.
Moreover, the Qin Emperor held him in deep trust. Before their departure, the Emperor had summoned Li Xin in private to task him with keeping watch over Xu Fu.
If this endeavor failed, the Qin Emperor had no more time to wait for him.
If the concoction succeeded, Li Xin was to strictly protect Xu Fu, bringing the Elixir of Immortality back even if it cost him his life.
If Xu Fu succeeded in refining it but harbored other intentions, he was to be executed on the spot, after which Li Xin would bring the elixir back alone—especially since Li Xin's entire family still resided in the imperial capital.
Though Xu Fu nominally commanded the expedition, Li Xin was the true master of the mission.
Consequently, a delicate dynamic existed between them. Believing Xu Fu possessed some inkling of this, Li Xin turned and waved a hand to signal his men to disperse, setting about the execution of Xu Fu's orders.
The soldiers acted swiftly, gripping their weapons as they cautiously walked in all directions across the island, keeping a sharp eye on their surroundings.
Xu Fu stood quietly, his gaze following the retreating figures of the soldiers until they vanished from sight.
Though his face remained largely expressionless, his heart was filled with anticipation and anxiety.
He prayed silently that this adventure would successfully yield the Purple Nether Stone and allow them a safe return to Qin.
Turning around to look at his son Xu Lin beside him, a trace of tenderness and guilt flashed in Xu Fu's eyes.
"Liner," he said softly, "accompany your father for a walk to see if we can discover anything." Xu Lin nodded and followed his father into the distance.
"Father, if we successfully complete the task assigned by the Qin Emperor this time, he will surely shower our Xu Clan with generous rewards. I wish to ask for your permission to take a wife; I wonder what you think of this, Father?"
"It's the daughter of the Sun family from West Street, isn't it?"
"Ah, Father, you knew all along!" Xu Lin said with a look of utter astonishment.
"You rascal," Xu Fu laughed heartily. "Your father isn't senile yet. You go to see her almost every day—how could I not know? I've met the girl myself; she is indeed lovely, and from what others say, she is quite talented as well. A very suitable match."
"Then Father approves?"
"Naturally."
Inwardly, Xu Lin was overjoyed. The hardest hurdle had been cleared; now, once the Elixir of Immortality was successfully refined, the Qin Emperor would surely value the Xu Clan, whose status would rise naturally, leaving them with no fear that the Sun family would refuse.
Chatting as they walked, the father and son proceeded further along the beach.
Xu Fu stopped from time to time to scrutinize the surrounding environment, searching for clues that might hide the Purple Nether Stone.
Xu Lin followed closely behind his father, fixing his gaze intently on everything around them as if trying to catch the slightest change.
The sea breeze gently caressed their faces, bringing a trace of salty dampness.
The waves crashed against the shore, producing a crisp and pleasant sound.
Immersed in this tranquil and mysterious atmosphere, Xu Fu and Xu Lin felt the power and charm of nature.
As they crossed a stretch of sand, they left behind a trail of uneven footprints.
Abruptly, Xu Fu halted and stared down at the ground, having seemingly discovered something.
Curious, Xu Lin stepped forward and saw some peculiar colored markings on the earth.
Squatting down, Xu Fu gently touched the markings with his fingers, lost in thought.
"These colors look familiar..." he muttered softly. "Could this be the clue we've been looking for?" Mimicking his father, Xu Lin crouched down for a closer look.
He tried to decipher the meaning of the colored markings, but for the moment could draw no definitive conclusion.
Standing up, Xu Fu cast his gaze back toward the distance.
After a moment of contemplation, he said, "Perhaps these colored markings are connected in some way to the Purple Nether Stone. Let's keep going and see if we can find more clues." Nodding without hesitation, Xu Lin followed his father's pace.
Continuing forward, the father and son walked further and further until they reached the base of a volcano, where they discovered that the colored markings converged all the way up the mountain.
Xu Fu said to his son, "Liner, go quickly and fetch General Li, and have him bring men here."
Hearing this, Xu Lin hastily answered, "Yes," and turned to run back along the path they had come.
A short while later, General Li Xin arrived at the head of a large contingent of soldiers. Xu Fu said to him, "We may be on the verge of finding the Purple Nether Stone."
"Splendid!" Li Xin shouted, his face beaming with excitement.
"What should we do now?" Li Xin asked.
"Divide off a portion of the men to follow me along the colored markings. Once we find it, we'll regroup at the foot of the mountain," Xu Fu replied.
With a wave of Li Xin's hand, a dozen or so men stepped forward and accompanied Xu Fu up the mountain to search for the Purple Nether Stone.
"It really is the Purple Nether Stone! We've succeeded, we've succeeded! And there are even two of them! Haha... At last, we can concoct the Elixir of Immortality!" Xu Fu shouted exultantly. Heaven does not disappoint those who put in the effort.
Xu Fu then led the party back down the mountain. Reaching the foothills, he happened to encounter Li Xin, who had just returned. Xu Fu immediately told him, "General Li, the materials I require are now fully prepared. We shall rest today while I adjust my spirit to its optimal state, and tomorrow we shall begin the refining."
The next day.
"What is the meaning of this? Why are so many substances refusing to fuse?" Standing before the alchemy furnace, Xu Fu furrowed his brow, his face etched with anxiety and bewilderment.
Clutching a bamboo slip recording the alchemical formula and steps, he flipped through it repeatedly, trying to pinpoint the source of the problem.
"Father, could it be that the temperature isn't high enough?" Xu Lin walked up to his father and asked softly as he gazed at the blazing flames within the furnace.
Shaking his head, Xu Fu replied in a heavy tone, "This is already the highest temperature we can achieve. If we raise it any further, it's bound to trigger an explosion with consequences too dreadful to contemplate."
After a moment of silence, a sudden flash of inspiration crossed Xu Lin's eyes. Pointing toward a towering volcano in the distance, he said excitedly, "Father, there is subterranean fire beneath that volcano. It should be able to reach the temperature you need. Why don't we head up the mountain to refine it? That just might solve this dilemma."
Xu Fu looked in the direction of his son's gaze, his heart stirring. Subterranean fire was an immensely powerful source of heat; its temperature was high enough to melt steel.
If they could harness subterranean fire to refine the elixir, success might genuinely be within reach.
Yet, ascending the mountain also carried immense risks; once an accident occurred, the consequences would be incalculable.