"Go down and save him!" Prince Lian, upon seeing someone fall into the water, refused to stand by without helping.
Among his men, there were skilled experts. With agile movements, they quickly descended to the base of the cliff and carried the 'body' back up.
The person's face was as pale as white jade, adorned in a Nine Palace Eight Trigrams Robe.
This person was none other than Song Lin, washed ashore by the sea.
"Is he dead?" Prince Lian observed the unresponsive Song Lin before glancing at his subordinate. "Bury him."
"Your Highness, wait."
A middle-aged man dressed in hemp garments and wearing an ancient, peculiar high crown stepped forward from the crowd.
"Your Highness, this man might not be mortal!" The middle-aged man said with excitement.
"What do you mean?" Prince Lian asked curiously.
The man's name was Shangqiu Zixu. A native of Weii Country, he enjoyed herding cattle and playing the flute. Despite being eighty years old, he still appeared youthful. Prince Lian, having heard of his mystical reputation, sought him out for guidance. Shangqiu Zixu claimed his longevity came from drinking cold springs when thirsty and eating wild herbs when hungry.
Prince Lian, seeing his strange talents, had taken him in as a retainer.
For this reason, Prince Lian held some trust in him.
"This person doesn't lack breath; instead, his breath is extremely long. He must be a Qi Cultivator who has entered the Divine Breath Realm!" Shangqiu Zixu exclaimed in awe.
The hallmark of the Divine Breath Realm is breath—prolonged like a thread of fine silk, ethereal yet continuous, almost imperceptible but undoubtedly present. Heart and breath intertwine in an endless embrace, the essence of a Divine Breath Qi Cultivator's mastery.
"So that's how it is." Prince Lian examined Song Lin closely and found it to be true.
"It seems the immortal encountered some difficulty. Men, carry the immortal on your back."
"Cough, cough!"
At that moment, Song Lin finally stirred and opened his eyes slowly.
"He's awake! He's awake!"
"This humble one greets the Immortal Master!"
Shangqiu Zixu bowed deeply in respect.
Seeing the crowd around him and glancing at the nearby coastline and his wet body, Song Lin quickly deduced what had happened.
Fortunately, his wooden sword was still at his side; otherwise, the loss would have been serious.
"Was it you who saved me?" Song Lin looked toward Prince Lian. By observing the subtle deference of others, he guessed this person to be their leader.
"Indeed. Why was the Immortal Master in the sea?" Prince Lian asked in puzzlement.
"Ah, I was cultivating on Penglai when the Thousand-year-old Demon Flood Dragon crossed its tribulation. I calculated that the flood dragon might wreak havoc on the mortal world, so I fought it for three hundred rounds and retrieved the Jiao-Dragon's Thousand-Year Dragon Pearl..."
Song Lin spun a tale off the top of his head with ease.
As he spoke, he pulled out the Three Yang Fire Sword.
Whoosh!
The Fire Sword ignited in crimson flames.
The temperature rose, drying Song Lin's clothes instantly.
He then recited the Blood Stopping Spell and gently pointed. The scratches on his skin caused by rocks healed instantly.
In no time, Song Lin transformed from a drenched Taoist into a graceful, imposing figure.
The group, having never witnessed such feats, was dumbfounded, believing wholeheartedly in his claim of slaying a flood dragon.
"So... will the Immortal Master return to Immortal Island Penglai?"
"No, Penglai is elusive. For now, I shall wander the mortal world," Song Lin replied with a smile.
"Would the Immortal Master be willing to join us? I am Ying Lian of Qin Country..."
Song Lin agreed to accompany them.
Through their conversations, Song Lin learned it was the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Period.
Upon further discussion, Song Lin realized that this Prince Lian was quite renowned. Prince Lian's father was Qin Linggong and his granduncle was Qin Jiangong.
If his guess was correct, Prince Lian would one day become Qin Xiangong.
And his son, Qu Liang, would famously become Qin Xiaogong, the ruler who instigated Shangyang's legalist reforms.
Song Lin had not expected to find himself in such a tumultuous and storied era.
Seeing Prince Lian's reverence toward him, Song Lin's mind began to churn with ideas.
He could leverage the power of an entire nation to help locate the Immortal Island.
The treasures left by the Taoists of Penglai were plentiful, especially the mysterious bronze mirror.
Finding a small island amidst a vast ocean was nearly impossible on his own.
Furthermore, there was much in the Pre-Qin era waiting to be discovered—efforts that far exceeded his individual abilities.
If he could gain powerful Taoist Skills from the Pre-Qin times, it would greatly benefit his pursuit of a stable position within the dharma altar warehouse and his future task of crossing the Three Tribulations.
Riding a fine steed, Song Lin rode alongside Prince Lian.
"Dare I ask, Immortal Master, how many years have you been cultivating?"
"I've nearly forgotten, but there is a parasol tree at my door, and I've watched its autumn leaves fall more than three hundred times."
"Does that mean you've lived over three hundred years?" Prince Lian exclaimed in astonishment.
By his side was Shangqiu Zixu, who had been sticking to him like glue ever since.
Apparently, this man was also a cultivator.
"I am no cultivator. Originally, I was a cowherd on Yunmeng Mountain in Weii Country. I accidentally stumbled upon an inscription on a rock wall, which detailed the Eating Grass Guiding Skill. That is how I gained my Taoist Realm," Shangqiu Zixu said.
Shangqiu Zixu did not know spells. At best, he was an Abnormal Soldier.
"Yunmeng Mountain..." Song Lin muttered to himself. Hearing the name, he thought of someone—Ghost Valley Master.
Yunmeng Mountain was the Ghost Valley Master's training ground. Perhaps this too was an opportunity.
Clip-clop-clop!
Suddenly, the chaotic sound of hooves broke the air from the front.
A group of bandits in ragged attire emerged from the mountain slopes on either side. These bandits were equipped with military-grade weapons and armor, likely of Qin origin.
"Not good, an ambush!"
Eighteen Qin Iron Cavalry surrounded the three tightly.
"Your Highness, their numbers are overwhelming. We'll hold them off and protect your retreat!"
The personal attendant was prepared for death. The others showed no fear.
These men were Prince Lian's loyal death soldiers, unafraid to perish.
"Damn it! This must be the work of Little Master Qin's Lady. Despicable! When I return to my country, she will pay with her life!"
Prince Lian cursed angrily. Little Master Qin's Lady was none other than the mother of the current monarch, a manipulative demon controlling the court.
"No need to panic!"
At this moment, Song Lin stepped forward to calm them down and produced a green pearl.
The group instilled with faith in the Immortal Master's words, fell silent.
The bandits approached closer and closer. Suddenly, the green pearl exhaled a toxic green miasma.
The miasma spread across a hundred zhang.
The bandits, venturing into the mist, succumbed instantly, no matter how sharp their weapons or how sturdy their armor. Even minimal inhalation led to immediate, fatal collapse. Skin exposed to the miasma rotted and festered.
"Ahhh!!"
Dozens of bandits died instantly, leaving the survivors wailing and rolling on the ground, clawing at themselves with bloodied nails.
Terrified by such a grim display, the remaining bandits fled in utter chaos.
"The Immortal Master is truly magnificent!"
Prince Lian was struck by a mix of awe and fear. Although the Immortal Master appeared otherworldly, his methods were ruthlessly decisive. Thankfully, he had not offended the Immortal.
Shangqiu Zixu, gazing at the green pearl, assumed it was none other than the Thousand-Year Dragon Pearl.
Indeed, mortals stood no chance before an Immortal.
Upon returning to the city, Prince Lian gathered his family members to pay their respects.
That night, Prince Lian knelt before Song Lin's door, beseeching the Immortal Master to protect him on his journey back to his homeland. He promised that upon ascension to the throne, he would treat the Immortal with the reverence reserved for State Preceptors, pledging anything in return.
Song Lin graciously accepted.
Under the moonlight, Prince Lian cut open his palm, pointed his sword to the sky, and swore to the Heavenly Destiny Mysterious Bird.
"Henceforth, all future descendants of Great Qin shall revere the Immortal Master as their teacher. We shall prosper or perish together! The Mystic Bird bears witness!"
Neither Prince Lian nor Song Lin could have imagined how deeply this oath would entangle Song Lin with the Qin nation and its succeeding rulers.
At that moment, the Karma Gauge increased to 0.5%.
Song Lin seemed lost in thought.