Perilous Riverways

Yang Fan sat cross-legged in what could only be described as a lavish chamber, the sounds of footsteps echoing as guests boarded the grand vessel. The **Heavenly Vessel** soon teemed with life, bustling with cultivators. Half of them opted for the communal quarters, while only a select few, each with their unique motivations, chose the solitude of single rooms or luxury suites.

Despite the enchantments securing his lavish quarters, Yang Fan remained uneasy. Inside, he layered an additional barrier: a network of ethereal green filigree seamlessly melded into the room, invisible yet vigilant—a unique alert ward from the **Xian Hong Jue**. Even the keenest of spiritual senses would struggle to detect it without raising his awareness.

As a **Qi Refinement Stage** cultivator, Yang Fan was typically at the mercy of higher-tier practitioners. Yet he was clearly an exception. With eyes closed, he began to channel the **Withered Wood Technique**, striving to regulate his aura. However, no matter how he adjusted his breath, that peculiar natural affinity could not be wholly suppressed. Only by achieving complete focus, merging mind and spirit while turning a deaf ear to the world outside, could he truly retract that innate charisma that seemed to radiate from his very being.

With a deep sigh, beads of sweat forming on his brow, he admitted defeat in wholly stifling that essence. "I can only restrain it as much as I can…" he lamented, for to diminish it to the level of an ordinary mortal would render him incapable of healing the wounded cultivators he was destined to encounter.

Suddenly, the thought of the enigmatic "**Fairy Yun**" flitted through his mind. Her cultivation was profound, sharing a similar aura that effortlessly evoked goodwill from anyone who laid eyes upon her, even causing male cultivators to fall head over heels at first glance. "Perhaps she too grapples with such burdens; no wonder she adorns herself with a veil…" 

Inspiration struck him like a bolt of lightning. **Veils! Masks! Disguise Techniques!** 

Yet he pondered, "Most common disguises are inadequate against the keen eyes of cultivators." He frowned, acutely aware that his patients typically matched or exceeded his own level of cultivation.

"Hmmm… perhaps a visit to **Xiu Yu Pavilion** will yield tools and artifacts to assist me in this endeavor," he resolved, a sense of relief washing over him. **Xiu Yu Pavilion** was known to be a vibrant hub for cultivators, a marketplace abundant with artifacts, elixirs, materials, and rare oddities.

Exhaling lightly, Yang Fan's brow relaxed. He stepped out of his opulent room, seeking to inquire about the vessel's arrival time at **Xiu Yu Pavilion**. At the same time, curiosity about the treacherous **Qingjiang River** stirred within him, recalling tales of its dangers and the lurking beasts within its depths.

As he walked across the deck, the brisk breeze tousling his hair, he reached the railing and gazed out at the expansive river, which stretched into the shadowy embrace of the mountain gorges. Despite the size of the **Heavenly Vessel**, it seemed minuscule against the backdrop of the river's vastness.

Before long, the vessel approached a tumultuous and serpentine stretch of water where the current surged ferociously, plunging at a steep forty-five-degree angle. Any ordinary boat entering this realm would surely face destruction. 

With a thunderous crash, the **Heavenly Vessel** plunged forward like a mountain, sending towering waves crashing, splashing some of the river's water onto Yang Fan. The coolness was sharp yet invigorating, igniting a fierce passion within him.

After this harrowing descent, the waters below became somewhat calmer, though treacherous rocks remained scattered throughout the riverbed. Just having survived the steep drop didn't guarantee safety against these perilous obstacles, which could easily spell disaster for any vessel unprepared.

As if responding to the impending danger, the surface of the **Heavenly Vessel** shimmered with a dreamlike blue glow, its speed diminishing as it navigated the rocky terrain. Even when lightly brushing against a few small rocks, the sturdy hull, protected by its wards, barely shivered.

Upon traversing the treacherous region, the scenery ahead transformed dramatically. The vessel entered a serene valley, where nature flourished in tranquil beauty. The water sparkled like crystal, and the jagged cliffs rose majestically on either side, cloaked in dense emerald foliage. Occasionally, the sweet song of birds echoed from the silent mountains, offering a balm to the spirit.

At this moment, numerous cultivators emerged from the communal quarters and private rooms, their gazes drawn toward the ethereal landscape veiled in the night's embrace. 

In such an expansive, almost otherworldly nocturne, Yang Fan once more found himself entranced, merging with the environment—the flowing waters, the verdant grasses, the darting fish, the towering mountains, the resilient pines, the weathered stones… All of it reflected vividly in his mind, as if he were adrift in a dream.

The vital mist of life within him ebbed and flowed like silken threads, extending beyond his physical form to resonate harmoniously with the life force permeating the surrounding space. 

In that instant, his senses expanded, amplifying tenfold. Within a radius of a hundred miles, he perceived the life forces of the river—faint yet discernible. This was a sublime realm, a transcendent union with nature itself.

Yet Yang Fan merely grazed the edges of this ephemeral dreamscape through the uniqueness of his cultivation. He felt the nascent harmony between the life mist within him and the surrounding vitality forge an unspoken "bridge." 

Immersed in this sublime state, he feared any slip would pull him back into the mundane world.

At the same time, the river and its surroundings began to stir. 

Plants within the river leaned toward the **Heavenly Vessel**, reaching out with tendrils that conveyed a silent song, a melody unheard by human ears. Yet, through that mysterious bridge, Yang Fan could sense their joyous exuberance.

Not just the plants, but the rocks beneath the river and the foliage clinging to the cliffs also emitted subtle signals. 

**Splash! Splash!** 

The aquatic life below stirred, schools of fish congregating toward the vessel, their movements like a tidal wave. Initially, a solitary fish leaped from the depths, but as moments passed, their numbers multiplied exponentially.

**Splash! Splash! Splash!** 

Two… three… ten… a hundred… 

Within moments, the aquatic congregation grew into a staggering throng. The shimmering mass around the **Heavenly Vessel** danced and arched, as if performing a natural ballet, embodying the very philosophy of life.

"Look!" 

A chorus of astonished gasps erupted from the cultivators on deck. 

At that moment, the number of fish around the **Heavenly Vessel** surged further. 

A thousand… ten thousand… 

The sheer volume was enough to invoke awe and trepidation. 

To the untrained eye, the dazzling array shimmered like silver in the water, an ethereal sight that left hearts racing. Yet to Yang Fan, it was as if he saw a multitude of jubilant children frolicking, and he too felt an unrestrained joy blossom within him.

In this supreme state, his aura blended seamlessly with the environment, rendering him an almost invisible presence. It felt as though he was always meant to stand there, perfectly ordinary in every way.

**Splash!** 

At that moment, a silvery arc, spanning over a dozen zhang, burst forth from the depths. 

It was a colossal fish, an oppressive aura radiating from its being. 

"**Demon Beast!**" 

Shock rippled through the cultivators aboard the **Heavenly Vessel**.

Yet surrounding the vessel came waves of even more formidable presences, creatures of all kinds—beasts of the river, be they fish, crustaceans, or serpentine entities—each emerging, their combined aura potent enough to instill fear in even the highest-ranking human cultivators.

The five men aboard had already made their way to the deck.

Li Yue Shuang exclaimed in alarm, "What is happening? Is the **River God** of Qingjiang about to strike against us?"

"Such divine entities do not exist in this world. Only the elusive **Demon King** of the deep could command such power," Yuan Lao sighed, a hint of dread shadowing his eyes.

"What then shall we do?" **Xing Lao Er** questioned, anxiety rippling through the gathered cultivators.

Yuan Lao took a deep breath, a calmness settling over him as he spoke softly, "We must leave it to fate."