"On a ship?"
Gu Qingfeng pointed at a Xuantian Great Vessel moored nearby and asked, "Are you from this ship?"
"No, we're not from this one."
Lei Lie pointed at another Xuantian Great Vessel in the distance and said, "We're from that ship over there."
"Where is your ship headed?"
"To the Lingluo Heavenly Domain."
"Lingluo Heavenly Domain?"
Gu Qingfeng took out his star chart and checked, discovering that the direction to the Lingluo Heavenly Domain was right on the route to the Qianji Heavenly Domain. He smiled and asked, "When does your great vessel depart?"
"Today. As soon as everyone is aboard, we set sail immediately."
"Well now, isn't that perfect timing."
Old Huang and Lei Lie were both a bit confused, unsure what Gu Qingfeng meant by 'perfect timing.'
"I was just looking for a great vessel to take me to the Qianji Heavenly Domain."
Hearing this, Lei Lie was overjoyed. "It really is perfect! The Qianji Heavenly Domain is three Heavenly Domains away from the Lingluo Heavenly Domain, but they're in the same direction. Once you reach Lingluo, you can just take another vessel to Qianji."
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go."
"Fellow Daoist, please!"
Learning that Gu Qingfeng would be traveling on the same vessel for the foreseeable future filled Lei Lie with immense delight. He had a peculiar flaw: he hated owing favors. If he did owe one, he couldn't eat or sleep properly. If not for this, after Gu Qingfeng had left earlier, he wouldn't have searched everywhere for him just to repay the debt.
Beyond that, he was also a man who loved making friends. He had friends from the immortal dao, the Buddha dao, even the demonic dao and the monstrous dao. Suspecting that Gu Qingfeng might be a legendary Upper One, or perhaps an ancient great power, Lei Lie naturally wished to get to know him.
Boarding a Xuantian Great Vessel required payment of a fee.
And it was not a small fee.
As for how many Immortal Stones it cost to travel from the Jinyang Heavenly Domain to the Lingluo Heavenly Domain, Gu Qingfeng didn't know, because Lei Lie paid the fare for him.
Following Lei Lie aboard the great vessel and entering the ship dock, Gu Qingfeng was startled by the scene inside.
The moment he stepped into the dock, it was like stepping into a resplendent palace.
White jade pillars stood at the four corners, the walls carved from white stone bricks. The ceiling beams were made of fragrant sandalwood, the lamps were crystal jade, the curtains were strung with pearls, and the pillar bases were forged from black gold. A massive luminous pearl, shining like a bright moon, hung from the center of the domed ceiling. The floor was paved with white jade, inlaid with golden pearls.
It was the very picture of opulence.
This was no mere ship dock; it was a luxurious palace!
Not that Gu Qingfeng was some country bumpkin who had never seen the world. He had seen plenty of picturesque grotto-heavens and magnificent palaces.
He just hadn't expected a Xuantian Great Vessel used for ferrying passengers to be so extravagantly decorated.
As he followed Lei Lie deeper inside, he had to admit, the dock was damn huge. And from what Lei Lie was saying, it seemed the ship had everything: quiet rooms for cultivation, taverns for drinking, gambling dens, hot springs for bathing, and even courtesans to accompany you for meals, drinks, and... companionship.
This couldn't help but make Gu Qingfeng sigh.
He sighed at how, with the revival of all things, the abundant spiritual energy, and the rich resources of the Present-Ancient Era, modern cultivators were getting better and better at enjoying themselves.
Wasn't it enough to indulge in the Trading World? Did a voyage on a great vessel also have to have every conceivable amenity?
What the hell were they cultivating for then? Might as well spend every day drowning in wine and dreams.
However.
A sigh was just a sigh.
Sighing didn't mean he disliked it. On the contrary, Gu Qingfeng genuinely liked this luxurious Xuantian Great Vessel from the bottom of his heart.
Moreover.
If he had known earlier that Xuantian Great Vessels had everything inside, he would never have foolishly traversed the Great Desolate alone, lonely and cold.
Traveling aboard a Xuantian Great Vessel, sipping fine wine, listening to music—now that was true freedom!
"Fellow Daoist, do you enjoy a good drink?"
"Of course. No wine, no joy."
"Ah?
Hahahahaha!
Now I've truly met a fellow spirit! To be honest, I too find no joy without wine. If I don't drink a dozen or two dozen jars a day, I feel utterly restless."
Lei Lie laughed heartily. "Here's the plan, Fellow Daoist. I'll first take you to your resting quarters, and later we'll head to Chunman Tower for a proper drink. We must drink until we're thoroughly drunk!"
"Excellent!"
"Hehe!
Old Huang, you must join us as well."
"Then this old man won't stand on ceremony."
The ship dock was vast.
Vast as a palace, vast as a grotto-heaven.
Lei Lie had specially booked the most luxurious inner residence for Gu Qingfeng. Inside were many quiet rooms: some for cultivation, some for rest, some for alchemy, some for artifact refining, and some for array crafting—truly everything one could need.
After showing Gu Qingfeng around the residence, Lei Lie called out a bunch of his brothers, then led Gu Qingfeng straight to Chunman Tower.
Chunman Tower was a place for drinking and enjoying music, and arguably the liveliest spot aboard the Xuantian Great Vessel.
It was almost always packed to the brim.
However.
Lei Lie was not short on funds. From the day he boarded, he had directly reserved a private room at Chunman Tower. During his time on the ship, he and his brothers had been living it up, eating the finest food and drinking the best wine, leading a truly delightful life.
Lei Lie was clearly a man who valued loyalty and friendship. Upon arriving at Chunman Tower, he and his brothers raised their cups in salute, kneeling on one knee to thank Gu Qingfeng for his lifesaving grace. He was also exceedingly forthright; to show his respect, he downed a full nine jars of wine in one go, without even pausing for breath.
Gu Qingfeng was also a man who loved wine, deeply so—a true connoisseur who found no joy without it.
As the saying goes, a thousand cups are too few when drinking with a close friend.
Although Lei Lie wasn't his close friend, or even a friend yet, drinking was all about the atmosphere. When the atmosphere was right, the wine naturally tasted better and spirits rose higher. Gu Qingfeng was no exception. Perhaps it was because he had been drinking alone for so long, or perhaps because his long, arduous journey through the Great Desolate had been so utterly dull, but today, meeting such a straightforward and generous fellow as Lei Lie put Gu Qingfeng in a very cheerful mood. The wine jars at his feet emptied one after another.
"Satisfying! Truly satisfying! It's been so long since I've drunk so heartily! Hahahaha!"
After downing a dozen or two dozen jars, Lei Lie ripped off his upper garment, revealing a powerfully built, muscular torso. He stood up, wiped his mouth, and said excitedly, "Fellow Daoist, if only I'd met you earlier! You have no idea, none of my little brothers here can hold their liquor. A few jars and they're done for. Every time I'm just getting started, these guys are already finished. But you, Fellow Daoist, you've downed over a dozen jars and look completely unfazed. Your capacity for wine is truly extraordinary! Hahahaha!"