Volume One: The Celestial Palace Amidst the Clouds Chapter Sixty-Two: The Siege

Chapter Sixty-Two: Besieged

The endless blue ocean stretched as far as the eye could see, waves surging turbulently, the surface anything but calm—yet nothing extraordinary seemed to occur. The sudden appearance of a city wall, a hundred fathoms high, encircling the heart-shaped island would strike anyone as strange, but no one could quite put a finger on what was amiss.

Zhou Hao was deeply shaken. He glanced once more at the four vivid crimson characters emblazoned upon the golden wall. Clearly, “Impregnable Fortress” was the name inscribed—a title rich with implication, instantly conjuring images of a bastion built to repel invaders.

But if it was meant for defense, where was the enemy?

“Impregnable Fortress…” Zhou Hao murmured, pondering in silence.

“If the people from Rain Lake are drawn to this place, then there must be something here that lures them—some great fortune, I’m sure. But now the entire island is encircled by a golden wall; what could that mean?” No matter how he turned it over in his mind, Zhou Hao found no answer.

Nearby, Su Qing, dressed in white and ethereal as ever, watched Zhou Hao lost in thought. Noticing the furrow in his brow, she finally spoke. “Zhou Hao, right now all four great factions are searching this island for fortune. But they have one advantage over us—do you know what it is?”

“Hm? What advantage?” Zhou Hao asked, startled.

“The Dragon-Seeking Map,” Su Qing answered.

“The Dragon-Seeking Map? Isn’t that a treasure-hunting formation? But only those above the rank of Great Immortal can forge such a miraculous artifact! It is said to reveal the world’s hidden fortunes and locate supreme dragon veins and spiritual roots. How would the four great factions possess it?” Zhou Hao’s confusion was evident.

“My master told me so—she was once a member of the four great factions,” Su Qing replied, drawing a deep, uneven breath.

“What did you say? Elder Li… she was one of them?” Zhou Hao could hardly keep his jaw from dropping.

It was a shocking revelation.

“That’s right, but it was many years ago. Even then, my master never committed pointless slaughter, and that I can swear to.” Su Qing, as if afraid Zhou Hao would think less of her master, hurried to explain.

Zhou Hao shook his head, his tone solemn. “I’m not so narrow-minded. I admit, I was surprised. I don’t know what Elder Li was like in the past, but one thing is certain—she is a good elder and an even better teacher, to have raised such an outstanding disciple as you.”

“Zhou Hao… thank you.” Su Qing looked at him and nodded gently.

“But… I’m curious,” Zhou Hao suddenly said, narrowing his eyes as if reappraising Su Qing.

“Cu-curious about what?” Su Qing stammered, her cheeks flushing under Zhou Hao’s unreserved gaze.

“Why did you share your master’s secret with me? Even when I asked about the Dragon-Seeking Map, you didn’t have to mention her,” Zhou Hao asked, fixing his eyes on Su Qing.

“It isn’t really a secret. The Palace Lord and elders all know. It’s just not something to boast about, so naturally it isn’t shared. I told you because… because…” Su Qing’s eyes darted evasively, avoiding his gaze.

“Because of what?” Zhou Hao pressed.

“Because I…” Su Qing faltered, then lowered her head and said nothing.

“Forget it, if you’d rather not say, I won’t ask.” Zhou Hao couldn’t help but laugh at Su Qing’s bashfulness. After all, this was the aloof fairy idolized by all the disciples of the Sixteen Immortal Palace—when had she ever worn such an expression? No matter what, Zhou Hao felt certain he was the first to see it.

“But the Dragon-Seeking Map… how did the four great factions come by it? Could it be they have a Great Immortal among them?” Zhou Hao wondered.

“Not quite. According to my master, the four sect leaders are all peak Late Celestial Immortals, their power unfathomable. They each cultivate only one path—wind, rain, thunder, or fire. When united, their strength rivals that of a Great Immortal. The Dragon-Seeking Map was forged by combining their powers,” Su Qing explained.

“No way! Four people together can contend with a Great Immortal? Isn’t it said that an entire realm’s difference is as vast as heaven and earth, an unbridgeable chasm? That seems… rather far-fetched!” Zhou Hao couldn’t help but protest.

“You’re right. A gap of one great realm is insurmountable, no matter the numbers. Even hundreds or thousands of Late Celestial Immortals couldn’t defeat a single Early Great Immortal. But the four sect leaders are not to be judged by common standards. Their cultivation is singular—they pursue only one path, purely and unwaveringly. This makes their immortal foundations far sturdier than those who dabble in many arts—ten, perhaps a hundred times more so. Moreover, wind, rain, thunder, and fire are the very roots of heaven and earth. Mastering even one assures great achievement, but combining all four is unimaginably terrifying. Even chaos itself was born from earth, water, wind, and fire—primordial forces of creation, wielding unfathomable power,” Su Qing elaborated.

“There is some sense in your words,” Zhou Hao admitted after reflection. “The four sect leaders must be truly formidable. And their disciples all cultivate only a single path—clearly, they value the purity of such cultivation.”

“Yes, exactly. All the four great factions’ disciples train exclusively in their unique art. Compared to disciples of the Sixteen Immortal Palace, their foundations are frighteningly solid. In contests of equal rank, the four great factions usually prevail over us. That is the true reason—the singular path is overwhelmingly strong,” Su Qing replied with a wry smile.

“The singular path, is it… But only a true contest will decide who is stronger!” Zhou Hao clenched his fist.

As an outstanding disciple of the Sixteen Immortal Palace, Zhou Hao had witnessed firsthand the arrogance and overbearing nature of the four great factions’ disciples. They treated the Immortal Palace with condescension, as if naturally superior. It rankled him deeply—he would not, could not, lose to them.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Suddenly, as Zhou Hao and Su Qing prepared to leave the golden wall, a series of explosive booms echoed across the distant sea.

The surging waves rose dozens of fathoms high, some even taller than a hundred. Zhou Hao and the others saw a silver-white line racing across the sea toward the heart-shaped island, trailed by continuous detonations as if something awe-inspiring surged beneath the waves, ready to break the surface at any moment.

“Is that… a sea beast?” Zhou Hao and Su Qing had already climbed atop the wall; from here, they had an unimpeded view.

Behind the silver line, an enormous shadow emerged—a monstrous creature whose gaping maw comprised four-fifths of its massive body, a mouth a kilometer wide bristling with knife-like teeth. At the slightest motion, it churned the ocean into wild torrents and towering waves.

Then another behemoth surfaced—this one with eight tentacles, each as thick as a mountain range. It was a gray-brown octopus, vaster than any mountain.

One after another, gigantic sea beasts appeared behind the silver wave, each one a colossus, monsters that seemed like gods of the sea. Their target was none other than the seemingly insignificant heart-shaped island.

“Good heavens, help! This isn’t some immortal’s abode—it’s a world of monsters!” The turtle was so terrified its soul nearly left its body. Limbs and tail retracted inside its shell, only half its head peeked out, trembling as it watched the overwhelming spectacle.

“It’s fine, don’t be afraid. I think this is just the moment for the golden wall to reveal its power. Let’s see how ‘impregnable’ it truly is!” Zhou Hao, far from fearful, felt an inexplicable anticipation.

“Zhou Hao, you mean… this wall was built to defend against these sea beasts?” Su Qing asked with a smile.

“Exactly! I’d been wondering why a golden wall would suddenly surround the island, with ‘Impregnable Fortress’ inscribed above. It had to be to keep out the sea creatures. Looks like I was right!” Zhou Hao said with pride.

“Oh no, they’re coming so fast! They—they—they’re here!” the turtle shrieked, finally retreating entirely into its black shell.

Buzz!

On the sea, beneath the wall.

The silver line emitted a humming sound, as a tangible silver shockwave surged toward the golden wall. Yet the moment it touched the wall, it was instantly absorbed.

Roar!

A sea beast as large as a mountain let out a thunderous bellow, shaking the very air. Waterspouts—hundreds, perhaps thousands—twisted skyward, a terrifying scene.

The sea beasts had become the protagonists of heaven and earth. The sky over the ocean was shrouded in endless storm clouds; lightning danced within them, the sea recoiled heavenward, and the beasts’ fury seemed to shake the world.

At this moment, the heart-shaped island was like a lone leaf, at the mercy of the storm, ever on the verge of being swallowed by the tempest.

Hiss!

Just as the sea beasts lunged for the island, the golden wall erupted in radiant light, dazzling as the rising sun. Wherever the golden light fell, all was illuminated. The beasts, blinded, could not force their eyes open. In an instant, the light transformed into power, hurling the monsters hundreds of fathoms back.

But this only enraged them further. Roaring and flailing, they drove their vast bodies to assault the island. Behind them, mountainous waves battered the golden wall. In the face of such fury, it seemed impossible that the island could hold.

Boom!

The beast with the cavernous maw opened wide, ready to swallow not just a wall, but a mountain itself. Yet its fangs shattered to fragments, and when it smashed its monstrous head against the wall, the result was the same: the wall remained untouched, but fresh blood gushed from the beast’s scalp, and Zhou Hao clearly heard the sound of its skull fracturing.

Whoosh!

The gray-brown octopus struck as well, its tentacles thick and hard as steel. Each lash against the wall rang with metallic resonance, a ceaseless clangor. Zhou Hao and Su Qing, standing atop the wall, were forced to retreat to the safety within.

Inside the wall, the world was as tranquil as a paradise, untouched by the chaos raging outside.

The gates were sealed, sea beasts roared and thrashed outside, their howls shaking heaven and earth, eclipsing sun and moon. The ocean had become a realm of death, yet not the faintest disturbance breached the golden wall. It truly lived up to its name.

The assault raged for a long time. When Zhou Hao returned to the battlements, the ground outside was littered with corpses, the air thick with the stench of blood, the wall spattered red, and the nearby sea dyed crimson.

One could only imagine how brutal the siege had been.

A while later, the waves parted again. The surviving sea beasts reappeared, some covered in wounds, others missing limbs—all victims of the wall’s automatic defenses.

Zhou Hao prepared to retreat, but realized the beasts were not attacking. Instead, they circled the island, low rumbles in their throats, breathing heavily as they gazed at the wall that matched their own height. Fear had entered their eyes. Finally, they simply observed, making no move to attack.

“Well, if you can’t break in, you’ll just surround us? Fine, go ahead—let’s see if you can breach this wall!” Zhou Hao mocked their efforts.

Su Qing joined him on the wall, frowning as she studied the circling beasts. After a long silence, she said, “Zhou Hao, don’t you think these sea beasts must have some special reason for attacking the heart-shaped island?”

“A special reason? You mean… they want the immortal’s fortune too!” Zhou Hao’s eyes went wide, nearly cursing aloud.

“Damn it! As if contending with the four great factions wasn’t enough, now even these monsters want a share!”

Su Qing nodded, agreeing with his assessment. “The sea beasts can’t break in for now. They’re likely strategizing a new assault. We should seize this opportunity to seek out the fortune ourselves—no more time to waste. If we can’t find it here, we’ll try elsewhere. There’s no sense in clinging to a single tree.”

“You’re right. Let’s search the island’s central region—if there’s any immortal fortune, it’s likely to be there. I imagine the four great factions will gather there too.” Zhou Hao turned his gaze toward the distant mountains.

—End of Chapter—