Avatar of the Sky and Sea

Qin Ran had been soaking in the seawater for a long, long time.

So long that he himself had forgotten exactly how much time had passed.

When he began to ponder this, he knew it was time to leave the sea and return to shore.

Qin Ran wasn’t soaking in the sea because he enjoyed seawater baths, nor because he couldn’t leave. The reason was simple—he just needed a quiet place to clear his mind.

The battle at Dragon Whale Island had made him realize he had overestimated himself.

It wasn’t that his strength wasn’t enough to dominate Dragon Whale Island, but rather that his mental state wasn’t as unshakable as he had imagined.

He had believed that even if the Divine Essence Condensation granted him immense power, he wouldn’t lose control of his mind. At worst, he might become a bit reckless, more aggressive, or bloodthirsty—but never lose his rationality or consciousness.

Yet… in the end, he had lost all reason, consumed by the power, descending into madness.

In that state, he was no longer himself—just a slave to the power.

He needed to calm down, to retreat into seclusion for a while.

The vast, boundless sea, where he drifted freely with the waves, was the perfect place for contemplation and cultivation.

He floated on the water, sometimes meditating on the Surging Tides Visualization Method to strengthen his spirit. A stronger spirit meant better control over his power.

Other times, he pulled out books from Mr. Zhai’s storage ring—which he had conveniently taken—erasing the previous owner’s mark with his formidable spirit and refining it as his own.

Occasionally, he played with the sea creatures that swam by—white whales, dolphins.

And sometimes, he simply lay still on the surface, admiring the ocean’s beauty.

He had witnessed sunrises and sunsets over the sea, the seamless blend of sky and water on clear days, towering waterspouts connecting heaven and earth, and even deep-sea monsters with tentacles thicker than a man’s height…

Now, as he began to wonder just how long he had been adrift, he knew—it was time to leave.

The very fact that he was asking this question meant his mind had reached a certain stability, that he could now master his power. It also meant he was ready to move on.

The body changes, the mind follows, and thoughts shift accordingly.

Realizing this, Qin Ran immediately oriented himself, adjusting his course to speed toward the small island where he had first arrived in the Tianlan Sea Region.

His first destination wasn’t out of blind obedience to his original mission, but simply because…

Before boarding Tie Ruonan’s ship, he had left a spiritual mark on that desolate island.

Back then, he had thought that once he understood this world better, he would return to develop the island, ensuring a safe landing point when his true form arrived.

Now, that mark served as his spiritual anchor, guiding him through the open sea so he wouldn’t lose his way.

After his long seclusion, he had fully absorbed the Dragon Whale essence from the island’s ruler, deepened his practice with the Surging Tides Visualization Method, and gained greater control over the Divine Essence Condensation. His strength had grown immensely.

He wasn’t sure exactly how powerful he was now, but when he pushed his speed to the limit, it took him only seven or eight days to return to the initial island.

Walking slowly across the island, Qin Ran reflected on how drastically his state of mind had changed since his first arrival.

Back then, newly arrived in the Tianlan Sea Region, he had been filled with fear, confusion, doubt, and worry. Now, armed with strength and knowledge of this world, he could stand firm here.

The contrast left him with complex emotions.

After circling the island and finding nothing unusual, he returned to the spot where he had first landed. Standing on the beach, he gazed at the endless sea, then closed his eyes to calculate his next direction.

While refining pills for the Dragon Whale Island’s ruler, he had unrestricted access to the lord’s library, where he studied numerous maps—especially those of the Tianlan Sea Region.

Now, recalling those maps, he pinpointed the location of this desolate island and compared it to other landmarks, judging distances and positions.

The nearest inhabited islands were two: Dragon Whale Island, a day’s sail away, and Demon Island, Dragon Whale’s sworn enemy, located in the opposite direction and also about a day’s journey.

Dragon Whale Island was best avoided. Regardless of whether the island’s people were good or evil, friendly or hostile toward him, Qin Ran had already caused them enough suffering. He couldn’t bring himself to trouble them further.

If he needed materials to develop his island, Demon Island was the only option left.

After determining the direction, distance, and estimated travel time, he plunged back into the sea, activating the Flowing Water Technique to speed toward Demon Island.

Though the distance was considerable, the spiritual mark on the desolate island served as his anchor, allowing him to maintain a straight path. If he drifted too far off course, he could always correct it, recalculate, and find his way back.

Eventually, he reached Demon Island.

Compared to Dragon Whale Island, which resembled an aristocratic fiefdom with its noble governance, Demon Island was more like a pirate den—crude and lawless.

There was a water fortress, a city behind it, and people within, but everything looked primitive. Clothing was minimal and simple, the overall aesthetic one of brutal efficiency.

It was the kind of place where if someone took a liking to you, they’d just knock you out and drag you home.

Qin Ran, dressed neatly upon arrival, stood out immediately. As he entered the city, many eyes turned his way.

He hurried to a clothing vendor, changed into local attire, and only then did the stares lessen.

With that settled, he began exploring the city, searching for formation materials and construction supplies to develop his nameless island.

After several days of shopping, his storage ring was packed with materials. But since construction supplies took up too much space, he had to make multiple trips—ferrying batches to the island, using them, then returning to Demon Island for more.

After two or three rounds, he was nearly done. But his frequent comings and goings had drawn attention.

This time, while purchasing furniture, he had just stepped out of a shop when five burly men blocked his path.

The leader glared coldly. "You’re Li Feiyu?"

Li Feiyu?

His eyes narrowed. That was the identity he had used on Dragon Whale Island. How could anyone here know it?

"No, I am Ye Fan," he replied.

"Cut the act! Someone wants to see you!" the leader barked. "Come with us—"

See him? Not "kill," "capture," or some other verb? Who was behind this?

"Who wants to see me?" Qin Ran asked.

"That’s not for you to know!"

With that, the men lost patience and reached out to grab him.