Several days later, the Southern Border Western Regions, Luota Town.

Yuan Ming and Xi Ying stood side by side in front of a courtyard.

"This is the residence of Senior Xia Jie? It seems that he's not here," Xi Ying said, looking at the courtyard ahead.

Yuan Ming also frowned, his Divine Sense sweeping over the courtyard where Xia Jie lived, finding it empty with no one around. The tables and chairs were covered in a thick layer of dust, clearly, it had been uninhabited for a long time.

"Didn't Senior Xia Jie used to stay here before? Could it be that something happened over the past hundred years?" Yuan Ming thought to himself.

Over the past century, he had attempted possessing Xia Jie but never succeeded, either due to the significant gap between their Divine Soul realms or because Xia Jie, being the former owner of the Stealing Heaven Tripod, had a way to avoid Black Incense Possession.

Yuan Ming extended his Divine Sense to its utmost limit, yet still, no clues were to be found.

He left Luota Town with Xi Ying and soon arrived at Snake King Valley.

The situation in Snake King Valley remained unchanged; the spatial rift had completely disappeared, and the Demonic Qi that once lingered in the ruins of the Underground Palace had also completely dissipated.

Without the influence of the underground Demon Eye, the poisonous fog that once covered the valley's surface was nowhere to be seen, turning Snake King Valley into an ordinary valley.

"It seems Senior Xia Jie has indeed left. Let's go," Yuan Ming said with a sigh.

The two of them hurried to the outer sea and soon reached the island teeming with demon beasts and abundant in Spiritual Energy, where Wulu had been waiting for them for quite some time.

Over the years, Yuan Ming had stayed in contact with Wulu, who had been searching for traces of the Demon Clan spies to no avail, as if they had vanished into thin air.

Feeling bored with nothing to do and with no intention of lingering in the Yunhuang Continent, Wulu heard that Yuan Ming and Xi Ying were preparing to head to the Overseas World and decided to join them.

"Brother Yuan, Daoist Xi Ying, you've kept me waiting," Wulu said with a smile as he greeted the two.

Yuan Ming took a closer look at Wulu, his eyebrows slightly raising.

He noticed that while Wulu's Cultivation Realm hadn't changed much, still at the peak of the Late-stage Nascent Soul, the previously chaotic and mixed aura inside him had been refined and unified.

Even with Yuan Ming's eyesight, he found it somewhat hard to see through Wulu now, sensing that his aura was profound and gave the feeling of boundless potential.

"I was delayed by some affairs of the Double Moon Alliance," said Xi Ying.

"Since everyone is here, let's get started. I've been looking forward to the Overseas World," Wulu said eagerly.

Yuan Ming took out the Golden Jade Token that Hou Yi's Sun-shooting Bow had left them and crushed it in his hand.

The next instant, a humming sound emanated from the sky.

A torrent of golden light poured down from mid-air like a waterfall, enveloping Yuan Ming and the other two, startling the surrounding demon beasts into a panicked flight.

Suddenly, a surge of Space Power expanded and contracted, and the gathered golden waterfall swiftly rolled back.

The figures of Yuan Ming and the others vanished from the spot.

...

Golden Sunflower Island, Fire Essence Palace.

A streak of golden light descended, revealing the figures of Yuan Ming and his companions. The most up-to-date version is on *.

A golden longbow, emanating waves of sunlight-like golden light, gracefully hovered before them.

It was none other than Hou Yi's Sun-shooting Bow.

"It has been many years, Senior. I hope you've been well," Yuan Ming said with a bow.

With his current level of Cultivation, he was able to address Hou Yi's Sun-shooting Bow as an equal, but since they needed the bow's power to travel to the Overseas World and considering its long existence and significant background far beyond his own, it was appropriate to show respect.

"You all have made significant progress in your Cultivation, good. Have you come this time to travel to the Overseas World?" Hou Yi's Sun-shooting Bow circled around them with a smile.

"We appreciate the help, Senior," said Yuan Ming with a bow.

"No bother, but your timing is impeccable," said Hou Yi's Sun-shooting Bow.

"What do you mean, Senior?" asked Yuan Ming in surprise.

"If you had come any later, I might have had to break my promise. An anomaly is about to occur in the Overseas World soon, and the Wind Sea will become tumultuous for several hundred years. By then, even if I wanted to send you there, it would be impossible," explained Hou Yi's Sun-shooting Bow.

Hearing this, the faces of Yuan Ming and the others slightly changed.

"Fortunately, there is still time. Wait here, and I'll start the preparations for the journey," Hou Yi's Sun-shooting Bow continued.

"Hold on, Senior. We know nothing about the Overseas World, please advise us," Yuan Ming quickly interjected.

No matter how pressing the time, it didn't hinge on that very moment.

"Tell me, what would you like to know?" Hou Yi's Sun-shooting Bow asked.

"What risks shall we face on our journey to the Overseas World?" Yuan Ming promptly asked.

"How much do you know about the Overseas World?" Hou Yi's Sun-shooting Bow inquired.

"I've read about some in the classics, that place is home to many unheard-of demon beasts, massive in size, along with various large-scale natural disasters..." Yuan Ming briefly shared what he knew.

"What you're describing is only the encounter upon first entering the Overseas World. The true dangers are ten times more terrifying than what you've depicted," Hou Yi's Sun Shooting Bow remarked.

"Please enlighten me, Senior," Yuan Ming's expression turned solemn.

"There are three major crises in the Overseas World, namely Whale Calamity, Wind Sea, and Demon Song. These three crises are respectively located in the three major zones of the outer sea, which are the unavoidable routes to the Overseas World. The Whale Calamity is in the first zone, where countless giant whales live, capable of swallowing the sky and the earth, with strength that is immense. Mature individuals are comparable in power to those at the Returning to Void Stage. If you're unlucky enough to encounter them, whether you fly to the sky, burrow into the earth, or conceal your tracks, you cannot escape and can only struggle for survival inside a whale's mouth," Hou Yi's Sun Shooting Bow explained.

Returning to Void Stage? The faces of the three, Yuan Ming, changed at once.

They've heard Hou Yi's Sun Shooting Bow continue to explain:

"If you're lucky enough to pass through this region and arrive at the Second Sea Zone, you'll enter the Wind Sea, where fierce winds that obscure the skies rage all year round. So powerful that not only people, even ordinary Spiritual Treasures can be destroyed."

"Is the turmoil you spoke of referring to this, Senior?" Wulu interjected.

"Humph, it's the Wind Sea indeed, but if it were an actual Wind Sea Storm, there'd be no point in going. Even a Returning to Void Cultivator would be courting death," Hou Yi's Sun Shooting Bow scoffed coldly.

Wulu chuckled dryly and said no more.

"The Demon Song in the third zone refers to a kind of evil creature that inhabits this sea area, adept at using their singing to entrance passing cultivators. Once one hears their bewitching songs, it is said that even a Spoken Witch Soul Cultivator cannot resist and will fall into an illusion, becoming a meal for these creatures," after Hou Yi's Sun Shooting Bow finished explaining this, he hung silently in front of the three, as if watching them.

After hearing all this, the expression of Yuan Ming and his companions became very grave.

"If we get past these three crises, can we reach the Overseas World?" Xi Ying asked.

"I do not know," said Hou Yi's Sun Shooting Bow.

"You don't know?" Yuan Ming furrowed his brows.

"These three dangers are recorded in the classics left by the Three Immortals. I've never been there before, so as to whether the Overseas World lies beyond these three perilous places, the classics don't say, and I don't know either," Hou Yi's Sun Shooting Bow said.

The expressions of Yuan Ming and the others stiffened.

"I have made the dangers of the Overseas World clear. It is up to you whether you go or not, there's still time to back out," Hou Yi's Sun Shooting Bow spoke.

Yuan Ming, Xi Ying, and Wulu exchanged glances and smiled slightly; none of them retreated.

"Good, such courage is worthy of traveling to the Overseas World," Hou Yi's Sun Shooting Bow laughed heartily.

"Senior, when do we set off?" Yuan Ming asked.

Hou Yi's Sun Shooting Bow was silent for a moment, then said, "It's not about sending you away. I, the Great Wilderness Star River Pearl, and Qiong Yun will also accompany you to the Overseas World."

Upon hearing this, surprise showed on the faces of Yuan Ming and the others.

"Qiong Yun? Is she here?" Yuan Ming feigned astonishment.

Of course, he knew that Qiong Yun was here all along; the Black Incense Possession Divine Power couldn't be revealed.

"Qiong Yun, bearing the bloodline of the Azure Sea's Blue Whale King, can make our breakthrough of the Whale Calamity much easier," Hou Yi's Sun Shooting Bow said.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Ming's brow furrowed slightly. He knew that Hou Yi's Sun Shooting Bow had sheltered Qiong Yun on the Three Immortals Island, but he did not know why, and now it seemed he had his answer.

"Senior, when you left Qiong Yun on the Three Immortals Island, could it be that you were preparing for this day? Did you always plan to go to the Overseas World?" Yuan Ming asked with a frown.

"That's right. When I left her here, it was to help her awaken the bloodline of the Azure Sea's Blue Whale King in preparation for traveling to the Overseas World. However, we only plan to overcome the Whale Calamity to take some items before returning," Hou Yi's Sun Shooting Bow did not hide the truth and openly admitted it.

"Senior is quite frank," Yuan Ming said with a light chuckle.

"Now, wait here a while; I will go and call someone, then we can set off together." Having said that, Hou Yi's Sun Shooting Bow did not continue the conversation and left the three behind, turning into a golden light and departing.

Shortly after, he returned with Qiong Yun and a girl in a silver dress.

The instant they saw them, the gazes of Yuan Ming and his companions were unavoidably drawn to the girl in the silver dress.

Especially Xi Ying and Yuan Ming, who, upon feeling the faint fluctuations coming from her body, both of their eyes changed subtly, and after exchanging a look, they confirmed that the girl in the silver dress was indeed the Artifact Spirit of the Great Wilderness Star River Pearl.

The Great Wilderness Star River Pearl had become the size of a fist, concealed within the body of the girl in the silver dress.

"Brother Yuan, it's been a long time. Oh! Your cultivation..." Qiong Yun called out joyfully and then, sensing the unfathomable mana emanating from Yuan Ming, her expression changed dramatically.

"Daoist Qiong Yun," Yuan Ming greeted her with a clasped fist.

"What about Long Chong? Didn't he come with you?" Qiong Yun quickly recovered her composure and inquired.

"We are here to head to the Overseas World. Brother Long is unaware and did not come with us," Yuan Ming replied.

Disappointment flickered in Qiong Yun's eyes upon hearing that.

"Rest assured, Daoist Qiong Yun. If it's fated, you will meet again. The bond between you and him is destined, and there's no way you could be separated," Yuan Ming smiled as he spoke.

"Tch, who has a destined relationship with him?" Qiong Yun spat out, slightly embarrassed.

"Alright, there's no time to delay; we must set out immediately," just as Qiong Yun was about to protest, Hou Yi's Sun Shooting Bow interrupted her.

With that, his gaze fell on the girl in the silver dress.