The Consciousness of the Weak

Yi Feng tiptoed onto the flying boat with quiet discretion.

The three others were still deep in meditation, almost as if they were on the verge of enlightenment.

Their composed and steady demeanor suited him just fine.

As long as he had a chance to slack off, he didn’t care whether they were meditating or doing something else.

A lingering trace of tea fragrance still danced on his lips, so Yi Feng decided to match the atmosphere. He casually sat down on the flying boat, mimicking the posture of the experts in meditation, looking every bit like a clock-in, clock-out office worker.

The flying boat sped forward once more, and soon, the world around them was swallowed by darkness.

Two days flashed by in an instant.

The boat never stopped for even a moment, hurtling through the Black Domain for an immeasurable distance.

This eerie, pitch-black expanse seemed boundless, and as they ventured deeper, the black mist grew denser, making it nearly impossible to see beyond a hundred meters.

Even a Saint would struggle to discern the path ahead.

The Black Domain was a silent, endless night, with only the chilling wind whistling past their ears. No ordinary creatures could be seen, nor was there a single trace of greenery.

The world was barren, the thick fog as dark as ink.

The only things visible were the faint, shifting silhouettes of colossal shadows within the mist—some like rocs soaring past, others like phantoms flickering in and out of sight. Their forms were indistinct, and an unsettling sense of the unknown hung in the air.

Finally, the flying boat came to a halt midair.

The three starfarers began weaving hand seals, their bodies enveloped in a faint glow that formed a thin barrier, shielding them from the oppressive black mist.

The leading woman, her expression unusually solemn, opened her clear eyes and spoke.

"The mist here is too dense. We’ll rest briefly."

"The pressure of this realm is extraordinary. The flying boat’s energy consumption is too high to continue without replenishment. Our own reserves are also dwindling. We must enter the Void-Serenity State to conserve our strength."

At her words, the pale-faced young man to her left frowned.

"The Void-Serenity State?"

"My lady, if we enter that state, we’ll preserve our energy, but we’ll also be as good as dead—completely defenseless..."

The leading woman didn’t respond, as if his concern wasn’t worth addressing.

Seeing this, the middle-aged man on the right spoke gravely.

"He’s right."

"Entering the Void-Serenity State is a last resort. But within this Black Domain, we’re constantly expending energy just to resist the mist’s influence. If this continues, our reserves will be depleted."

"This mist is unnatural. Even my treasures can’t replenish our energy—it’s as if the laws of this realm suppress it. Our only choice is to conserve what we have."

"We don’t know what lies ahead. We can’t afford carelessness. My lady’s suggestion is sound. Even if it’s just a brief respite, entering the Void-Serenity State is necessary."

Hearing such solemn reasoning, the young man could only nod, beads of sweat forming at his temples.

This black mist was too bizarre—caution was unquestionably wise.

Yet the thought of entering the Void-Serenity State in such an unknown place still unsettled him.

"My lady speaks wisely."

"But if we enter that state and demonic creatures appear, we’ll have no means to defend ourselves. If the flying boat is damaged, we’ll never return to Lanxing."

This finally seemed to carry some weight. The leading woman glanced at him from the corner of her eye.

"Then we’ll take turns. One of us must remain vigilant and cannot enter the Void-Serenity State."

The two men exchanged a silent look, their eyes firm with resolve.

Both seemed ready to shoulder the responsibility of standing guard, the atmosphere growing tense as if a great enemy approached.

Yi Feng had watched and listened to it all.

Yet he felt utterly lost, unable to immerse himself in their grave mood.

The flying boat had stopped again—this was the third time already.

Was the Black Domain really that terrifying?

Constant energy drain, no way to replenish it—was the impact really that severe?

Baffled, Yi Feng quietly checked his own condition... and found nothing amiss!

He probed his surroundings again but still felt no pressure from the black mist.

At worst, visibility was just a bit low.

Honestly, it wasn’t even as bad as the smog in his past life.

And yet they were talking about massive energy depletion...

He felt perfectly fine—not even drowsy. All he’d done was sit around, meditate, and sleep. His meals hadn’t even fully digested, and his appetite seemed smaller.

Where was this so-called depletion?

Watching the three of them act so seriously, Yi Feng was completely bewildered.

Maybe they were telling the truth. After all, these people had backgrounds and knowledge far beyond his. They wouldn’t exaggerate. If something really was wrong, he’d be lucky to drop dead right here in the Black Domain.

As for conserving energy—he didn’t know how, and he certainly didn’t need to.

Frankly, Yi Feng would be thrilled to keel over from exhaustion on the spot.

After a moment’s thought, seeing the two men locked in a silent standoff with no resolution in sight, Yi Feng simply turned to them.

"How about I keep watch?"

The question made all three turn to him.

Even the usually aloof woman’s clear eyes flickered with surprise.

She had originally intended to assign this very task to Yi Feng.

After all, he was merely a Half-Saint—the weakest among them. Pushing forward would be pointless, so it was only logical for him to stand guard while the three of them conserved their strength.

It was the most reasonable arrangement, the correct choice.

Any one of them was infinitely more capable than Yi Feng. Preserving their power for the journey ahead was unquestionably the right move.

But she hadn’t expected Yi Feng to volunteer.

Understanding the reasoning was one thing, but willingly sacrificing for the greater good was another. Such self-awareness and magnanimity were rare.

Even if his cultivation was lacking, this level of insight and composure already placed him above the masses. He deserved a second glance.

A trace of warmth softened the woman’s gaze, her tone gentler than usual.

"That would be best."

"You’ll stand guard for us. If any danger arises—if powerful demons appear—you must alert me immediately."

Yi Feng nodded and stood, stretching his limbs as he paced the deck, looking almost eager.

After days of nothing but eating and sleeping, he was thoroughly bored.

As for alerting her...

Well, that depended on what actually happened.

Seeing his earnest demeanor, the woman felt slightly reassured.

The other two paid him little mind. To them, Yi Feng’s offer was only natural—the expected behavior of a weakling. At least he had some sense.

If trouble did arise, it would still fall to the lady and themselves to handle it.

In this terrifying Black Domain, Yi Feng’s worth began and ended with this small service.

Even if he was lucky enough to earn a brief moment of the lady’s attention, it came at the cost of risking his life. And even then, being noticed by her was the greatest honor he’d ever receive. Nothing in his future would surpass it.

Such a minor character wasn’t worth further consideration.

As the woman began weaving intricate hand seals, the other two closed their eyes and entered the Void-Serenity State, withdrawing all awareness.

Their auras faded almost completely, their bodies encased in a faint, barely perceptible glow amidst the oppressive black mist.

The entire flying boat...

Only Yi Feng wandered alone, devoid of Dao power like an ordinary mortal.