Chapter 109: A Day Is a Year

"Do not be happy too soon. Unless you reach the Fen Shen stage, it is impossible for you to control it. Work hard! When that time comes, there will be even more important things I need you to complete for me." The Immortal Gongshu sighed, and his voice faded away. Lin Feng grabbed the Water Mirror Disk and drifted down.

"Wow, you succeeded! We finally have hope of going out to play!" Manqing cheered, clapping her small hands.

"Xiaoqing!" Shang Rong barked a cold reprimand.

Manqing stuck out her tongue, made a face, and ran to Lin Feng's side.

"Kid, although you were lucky enough to obtain the 'Water Mirror Disk,' the treasures of the Yinque Palace Immortal Abode are far more than just this one. If you want to obtain more, you will have to defeat me, Shang Rong!" the blue-haired man said coldly.

"Thank you for the reminder, Senior!" Lin Feng hurriedly bowed.

"Do not call me Senior," Shang Rong waved his hand and suddenly smiled. "If you do not die in the future, you will be the new master of the Yinque Palace. Since I do not wish to be trapped in the cultivation world forever, I will pass something on to you to give you an extra layer of protection. By the way, you may call me Shang Rong."

"Trapped here?" Lin Feng was puzzled. With his abilities, could he not even leave the Yinque Palace?

"There are some things you will understand in the future." Shang Rong seemed happier than he had ever been, his face bright with a radiant smile. With a flick of his finger, three silver needles stood before Lin Feng's eyes; their tips shimmered like golden light, about half a foot long, with an incomparable, chilling sharpness.

"These three Ice Core Silver Needles are refined from ice silver cores and ancient silkworm silk. Use one, and there is one less. Do not waste them unless it is a matter of life and death." Since even Shang Rong valued these treasures so highly, Lin Feng carefully tucked them away, thanking him repeatedly.

"From now on, you can decide for yourself whether to stay in the Yinque Palace to continue your cultivation or to leave. With the Water Mirror Disk, you are free to come and go as you please," said Shang Rong.

"Understood. I will familiarize myself with this immortal artifact first." After thinking for a moment, Lin Feng made up his mind and smiled at Shang Rong.

"Very well. Xiaoqing, do not disturb him. There will be plenty of opportunities later." Shang Rong nodded and walked away.

"Tell me the truth, are you just wanting to get out early to meet that girl in white?" Manqing teased, leaning in close to Lin Feng. He felt a wave of fragrance hit his face, and he hurriedly smiled awkwardly, waving his hands. "Miss Manqing, you joke. I..."

"Don't pretend. I could tell long ago; you two were exchanging looks. Hmph, trying to hide it from me..." Manqing made another face and ran off. Man Die and Man Xue shook their heads and drifted toward the garden.

Lin Feng was left between laughter and tears. He collected his thoughts, placed the Water Mirror Disk before him, and observed it closely. At a glance, the disk was merely a jade bowl for holding water, with nothing peculiar about its appearance. However, the water itself was extremely strange! He leaned his head over it and immediately saw himself, full of suspicion. At that moment, a powerful suction force seemed to pull him into the mirror, as if to tear him apart and swallow him whole.

"Ah!" Lin Feng slammed his eyes shut, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead as he gasped for breath. After a long while, he picked up the Water Mirror Disk again and carefully tilted it, discovering that although the water waves were crystal clear, they did not spill out. It was like liquid mercury, or perhaps like meat jelly made in winter—smooth, soft, and bright.

"I have to try it regardless." Having been unprepared the first time, he gathered his focus, cast aside all distracting thoughts, and looked deeply into the mirror.

Boom! His consciousness sea swayed violently. His awareness slipped out of his control, as if detached from his body. In that brief moment of disorientation, it felt as though he had entered a bottomless black abyss—dark and chillingly cold. This instant felt like it lasted for countless years; his consciousness wandered aimlessly through a vast, white, desolate world, unable to sense his body, unable to find his shell. He drifted and swayed, lost for a long time, struggling desperately in panic until he finally reached a new shore.

A briny scent drifted into his nostrils, and waves crashed against the shore. He stood on the beach, the Water Mirror Disk silently hovering beside him, flashing with cold light.

"Is this the Tan Sea or the Li Sea?" Before him, the azure waves surged to the sky. He was certain this was not the Juesha Sea. In the distance, several fishing boats were heading out to sea against the morning sun.

"I wonder how many days I spent in the Yinque Palace. My master should have finished his secluded cultivation by now." Putting away the Water Mirror Disk, he walked toward a small village on the island. To avoid causing a scene, he also hid the Moyan Sword within his Xuanheng Jade Talisman.

Crossing the beach, a group of fishing children carrying baskets appeared before him. In the distance, scattered green huts dotted the landscape. The children, bare-bottomed and busy picking up shells, shouted, "A stranger is coming! A stranger is coming!"

Lin Feng smiled slightly. Surrounded by the children, he was led to the village. Several elders walked toward him with the agility of flying arrows, their hands crossed over their chests. They performed a local greeting and smilingly welcomed Lin Feng into the village.

"Is the honored guest from the Shenzhou mainland? I am Ji Jiugong, the elder of the Ji Family Village on Xiaotu Island." The old man’s face was thin and dark; his robes were old but clean and tidy, lacking the fishy smell carried by the children.

"How did Elder Ji know I came from the mainland?" Lin Feng laughed.

Ji Jiugong stroked his beard and smiled as they walked. "Xiaotu Island is ten thousand miles away from the mainland. No boats from other islands have arrived this morning. Judging by your attire, I dared to make that assumption. The honored guest likely came from above, did he not?"

Ji Jiugong pointed toward the sky, his smile mysterious.

"Hmm? How did you know?" Lin Feng was startled. He used his Heaven Eye Technique to scan the elder, and realizing Ji Jiugong was not a cultivator, he felt relieved.

"When I was young, I once encountered a Taoist descending on a cloud, so I knew that legends of the immortals in this world were not false. Observing you, you do not seem like an ordinary mortal; your appearance and demeanor are extraordinary. You must undoubtedly be of the immortal lineage," Ji Jiugong laughed.

"I see. You truly have remarkable insight. To tell you the truth, I am a practitioner of the Tao, but I am not an immortal." Lin Feng and the elders stepped into the village and sat cross-legged on a mat woven from rushes. The Ji Family Village occupied only about a dozen acres, with over a dozen circular huts built from wood and large palm-leaf fronds. It was simple and natural. Women and girls sat in the center of the village mending fishing nets and sorting palm fruits and pomelos, while the elderly and children lived in serene contentment. Accustomed to the lives of their ancestors, every face beamed with a satisfied smile.

"Qi'er, quickly bring some tea and fruit for our guest!" Ji Jiugong called out toward the wooden hut behind him.

"Coming, Grandfather!" A crisp, bright voice replied from the hut, sounding like that of a seven or eight-year-old girl.

"Elder, which islands must one pass through to get from here to the mainland? Is this the Tan Sea or the Li Sea?" Listening to the sound of the tide in his ears, Lin Feng sat on the mat and felt a sudden sense of inner peace.

"Haha, you may call me Jiugong. Traveling from here to the mainland is no easy feat. I do not know what lies beyond a thousand miles of sea, but this Li Sea is relatively calm, with few hurricanes or wild waves. If you wish to set sail, there is White Sand Island two hundred miles to the north. Merchant ships often pass by there, and for a few taels of silver, you can catch a ride." Ji Jiugong looked at the other elders, who all nodded in agreement.

"White Sand Island..." Lin Feng noted the name. Just then, a little girl emerged from the wooden hut, carrying a wooden tray with fruit and tea, which she served to the guest and the elders. She was very well-behaved and sensible.

The girl wore her hair in two braids and was dressed in a faded pink dress.

"Jiugong, is this your granddaughter?" Lin Feng asked with a smile.

"Haha, indeed. Qi'er, aren't you going to greet our guest?" The old man’s face was full of smiles, his dark wrinkles piled up like a withered old elm tree.

"Hello, big brother!" Qi'er gave a shy smile and bowed slightly, causing everyone to laugh heartily.

"Hello, little sister!" Lin Feng was delighted. He genuinely liked the clever little girl and wanted to give her something, but he had nothing suitable on hand. His mind shifted, and he smiled, "Do you like floral dresses, Qi'er? Would you like me to bring you one tomorrow?"

"Yes! Thank you, big brother!" Qi'er clapped her hands, but then suddenly felt embarrassed, lowering her head and not daring to look at her grandfather.

Ji Jiugong pretended to be angry. "Qi'er, it is not polite to ask for things from guests! Let this be the last time. Go pick some starfruit; we will keep our honored guest for a meal."

"I know, Grandfather." Qi'er dashed into the hut and then scurried away like a gust of wind.

"Jiugong, there is no need for a meal. Thank you all for your hospitality, but I will head to White Sand Island first and visit again upon my return." Lin Feng stood up, his mind made up.

"This... very well. I shall await your return..." Before Ji Jiugong could finish his sentence, he saw Lin Feng's brows knit together. In the blink of an eye, the man had vanished.

"Where did he go? Where did he go?" The elders were startled and spun around, failing to see that Lin Feng had already flashed out of the village and was standing proudly on the beach.

"Come out! Stop hiding!" He faced the sea, the Moyan Sword in hand, his expression calm. When he entered the Ji Family Village, he had sensed something amiss. Just now, he had secretly probed the area with his spiritual sense, confirming that an uninvited guest was lurking in the water.

"Boom!" A massive wave exploded like a thunderclap as a giant crab brandished claws a yard long, emerging from the sea.

The villagers, who had rushed over upon hearing the noise, were left dumbstruck. They had fished their entire lives but had never seen such a massive crab! Its blue-black shell was as large as a millstone, and with its six-foot-long claws, it was as big as a wooden hut.

"Cultivator, who are you?" What shocked the villagers even more was that the crab could speak, its two eyes rolling incessantly.

"A monster! A monster..." The villagers fled in the blink of an eye, leaving only Ji Jiugong trembling as he watched from afar.

"Who I am is none of your concern. You were skulking around here; what is it you want?" Lin Feng asked with a smile.

"I am acting under the orders of our Village Chief to strictly monitor outsiders on Xiaotu Island. Tell me the truth, or I will capture you and take you to the Black Shark Village for the Chief to decide your fate!" The giant blue crab waved its claws, clicking them open and shut repeatedly in a show of force.

"Black Shark Village? I have never heard of it. What is your relationship with the Shark King Jiao?" Lin Feng asked, his expression unruffled.

Although the crab was large, its spiritual pressure was far inferior to that of the Golden-Fur Lion or the Brocade Dragon Carp. Lin Feng was fully confident he could kill it.

"The Shark King Jiao is not someone you can address so casually! Hmph? I might as well tell you—our Village Chief is the Shark King's third son. State your origins immediately!" A fierce light flashed in the giant crab's eyes as it transformed into human form. It held a trident, wore coral armor, and had blue hair and a black face, which suited its true nature.

"Oh? The Third Prince of the Shark King? Interesting. I am Lin Feng, I just happened to arrive..." He was about to weave a lie to get past this, but unexpectedly, the crab's eyes glinted, and it burst into a loud laugh. "You are Lin Feng? I, Pi Qing, have such good luck! Hand over the immortal artifact, and I will spare your life!"

"What did you say!" Lin Feng was shocked. Countless thoughts flooded his mind. He had only just left the Yinque Palace—how could a small, newly transformed demon cultivator know he possessed an immortal artifact? Was it one of the last four people who spread the news? Impossible! Everyone left the immortal abode one after another; even if the news spread fast, it shouldn't have reached this level. It was strange—too strange!

"I said hand over the immortal artifact, and I will spare you!" The blue-faced Pi Qing couldn't help but reveal a triumphant smile.

"Handing it over is not impossible. But first, tell me: who said I had an immortal artifact?" Although his mind was racing, Lin Feng feigned a relaxed demeanor. He tucked the Moyan Sword into his storage pouch and stood with his hands behind his back, looking calm.

Pi Qing shrugged and laughed triumphantly, "You are sensible. This news spread throughout the Four Seas half a month ago. As for who said it, I do not know. Hand the artifact over to my Village Chief quickly; if he is pleased, he might even reward you with some spirit stones or treasures."

"Oh, I see. Since your Chief is the son of the Shark King, I suppose I should present the treasure to him personally to show my respect, right?" Lin Feng said with a smile.

"Present it personally?" Pi Qing paused, his eyes rolling around as he replied, "Very well, let's go! The Chief is waiting for our report!"

Lin Feng breathed a quiet sigh of relief and walked over with a smile, while secretly channeling his Flame Heart Fire, preparing to kill the creature in one strike!

Pi Qing gripped his trident, but a cruel sneer flashed across his mouth. As soon as Lin Feng walked within ten feet, Pi Qing suddenly reverted to his true form, raising his giant claws and snapping them toward him!

*Clack!* As the crab claws slammed shut, years of moss and sand sprayed everywhere. The saw-toothed edges of the pincers shimmered with golden light, moving with astonishing speed.

One should not underestimate this crab. Even a rabbit will bite when cornered, let alone a giant imperial crab that had cultivated for hundreds of years! Pi Qing had intended to use a ruse; as long as he killed Lin Feng and retrieved the immortal artifact, he could hide in his secret cave. Even if the Chief, Xi Lingbo, investigated personally, it would be difficult to find a small crab in the hundred thousand miles of the Li Sea. He had even thought of a way to abandon his shell to escape after destroying the evidence. Heh heh, once he refined and understood the immortal artifact, he would surely become a king among the Four Seas!

Pi Qing's scheme was clever and vicious, but he had miscalculated one thing: the depth of Lin Feng's power. Both men had the same intent to kill, and their first moves were lethal. As the giant claws struck, the Heaven-Heart White Flame roared out. Lin Feng flickered, leaving a trail of afterimages as he leaped into the air.

*Boom!* Pi Qing failed his strike and hurriedly dove into the sea to extinguish the flames on his body. A massive wave crashed over him, leaving Lin Feng soaked.

"You want to kill me? Then I will take your life first!" Pi Qing rolled in the water, transformed back into human form, and thrust his trident straight at Lin Feng.

Although this low-grade spiritual weapon made of refined purple copper was nothing to a cultivator, it was a precious artifact that Pi Qing had worked very hard to obtain. The ocean was full of spirit materials, but there were few experts among demon cultivators skilled in refining, and it was quite difficult for those of lower status to acquire a decent artifact.

"I'll roast you, crab!" Amidst the rolling heat waves, the seawater instantly vaporized. The two great waves were split apart by Lin Feng's Prison Fire Wind-Chasing Fan, roaring as they crashed to the sides. Pi Qing let out a shriek as he flew into the air, already turned into a human-shaped torch!

*Pow!* The Moyan Sword followed up, cleaving the burning lump of charcoal in two!

Since he had decided to kill him, he would use his strongest methods; he could not leave any potential threats behind.

The waves washed away Pi Qing's remains. Lin Feng took out the Water Mirror Disk and entered the Yinque Palace once more. He needed to clarify one thing: how long he had actually spent in the immortal abode.

"Eh? Why are you back?" Manqing’s face brightened instantly.

"Miss Manqing, I would like to ask: how long have I been in the Yinque Palace?" Lin Feng asked urgently.

The scene blurred, and Shang Rong’s stern figure stood before Lin Feng. "One day in the Yinque Palace is one year in the outside world; one hour is one month. Counting from the moment you entered, exactly four hours have passed."

"What! Does that mean four months have already passed?" Lin Feng was horrified.

"Indeed. Practicing here for one day is equivalent to one year outside. As the saying goes, there is a gain for every loss. Time will not change to suit your will," Shang Rong said indifferently.

"Oh no!" Lin Feng suddenly realized that while he was talking here, time outside was slipping away!