Chapter 5: The Blessed Land of Earthly Immortals, the Art of Water Manipulation!-From Servant to Saint: The Path to Enlightenment(The mountains rise high beneath a small, distant moon.)

As for the Earth Immortal, Divine Immortal, Human Immortal, and Ghost Immortal—Earth Immortals cultivate blessed lands, Divine Immortals cultivate incense offerings, Human Immortals cultivate the Dao, and Ghost Immortals cultivate reincarnation.

The earliest Celestial Emperor of the Heavenly Court attained the Dao as an Earth Immortal, and the legacy he left behind is naturally the inheritance of the Earth Immortal path. After refining the Celestial Emperor’s Divine Seal, the bearer would receive the boon of a blessed land. Such a blessed land is a domain formed by gathering the five elements—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—within which the host may wield the laws of these elements.

However, as it stood now, the Celestial Emperor’s Divine Seal had only barely begun to repair itself, and the land of fortune that Shen Yan obtained was limited to a mere one-zhang radius around him. Moreover, when the Divine Seal was condensing the five elements to form this domain, only the water element’s spiritual energy was sufficient, causing an imbalance. As a result, within this fledgling blessed land, only the law of water was established.

Yet even with only the law of water, Shen Yan had acquired the power to command water. To wield the other elemental laws within his blessed land, he would need to supply the corresponding attributes, ensuring the balance of the five elements.

Despite these limitations, Shen Yan’s heart was filled with excitement. As the host of the Celestial Emperor’s Divine Seal, he could now effortlessly control any water source within a one-zhang radius—be it seawater, rain, or even mist, all bent to his will.

Aside from the blessing of the domain, Shen Yan discovered another unique ability of the Celestial Emperor’s Divine Seal. As long as the innate purple qi within the seal was sufficient, it could not only heal his wounds but also accelerate his cultivation. This explained why his injuries had always healed so quickly over the years.

“So this is the kind of miraculous fortune storytellers speak of? But what exactly is this innate purple qi, and how does one obtain it?” Shen Yan’s eyes shone with exhilaration. Thinking of the legends he’d heard, his body couldn’t help but tremble. If the knowledge in his mind was true, he now possessed the means to break free from a life of servitude!

“But after traversing countless realms, the Celestial Emperor’s Divine Seal is in tatters. To repair itself, the seal absorbed treasures from my body that occasionally contained innate purple qi, resulting in the cold poison that afflicts me now.”

“Now that it’s only restored its most basic functions and already granted me mastery over water, if it were fully restored, wouldn’t I ascend to immortality?”

In the span of a short time, Shen Yan’s life had been turned upside down. If not for the lingering changes in his body, he would have thought it all a dream.

“The Celestial Emperor’s Divine Seal is my chance to change my fate, my only hope to destroy the Yang family and avenge my parents!” A cold light flashed in Shen Yan’s eyes. The hatred of his parents’ murder, the bitterness of his own enslavement—these were scores he would never forget!

Taking a deep breath, Shen Yan thought to himself, “Now, what matters most is to fully comprehend the water mastery bestowed by this blessed land. That will mark the beginning of my revenge!”

Without delay, he acted. With a mere thought, he found he could command every droplet of seawater within a one-zhang radius as easily as moving his own limbs. A wave of his arm sent ripples across the once-calm surface, nearly capsizing the fishing boat beneath him.

“Let’s try it in the water.”

Thrilled by his experimentation, Shen Yan stripped down to his underclothes and plunged into the sea. The moment he entered the water, he realized he could breathe freely, as naturally as on land. Not only that, but he could move through the water as easily as if he walked on solid ground.

The more he explored his new power, the more deeply he understood: this secret must never be revealed. With such an ability, he would never again fear the perils of the sea, and could harvest its countless treasures at will.

Jinzhou Bay stretched for a thousand li, teeming with innumerable sea creatures and rare treasures hidden beneath the waves. Yet all of these required fishermen to risk their lives for a chance to obtain. The sea gave life to countless fishermen, yet each year it claimed just as many lives. No matter how skilled a swimmer, even the most seasoned fisherfolk could meet disaster.

But now, with the Celestial Emperor’s Divine Seal, all the waters of the world were his to command. The dangers of the sea would no longer threaten him. As long as he acted with caution, everything within Jinzhou Bay would be his for the taking.

Resolved, he vowed to keep the secret of the Divine Seal forever. Surviving in the devious world of the Duke’s residence had taught him all too well the treachery of the human heart. Though still young, he understood the ancient warning: “A man’s wealth is his own undoing.”

If anyone discovered his unique powers, there would be no end to his troubles. Six years in the Yang household had shown him too many disappearances, all born from deceit and ambition.

Seeing that the day was still young, Shen Yan decided to further familiarize himself with his newfound mastery. The surrounding seawater, the mist above the waves, the droplets cast up by the surf—all became his playthings. After much experimentation, as dusk approached, Shen Yan remembered he still needed to provide a golden-eyed silver carp within three years. He set off, riding the waves and guiding his fishing boat around Jinzhou Bay.

Now the entire bay felt no different than his own backyard. As the boat skimmed over the waves, fish leapt from the water, only to be sent splashing back down by the water at his command. While searching for the golden-eyed silver carp, he continued honing his control over the waters.

“Now that I possess the power to take revenge, it is time to put my plans in motion.” Watching a fish struggle in the surf, Shen Yan’s lips curled into a faint smile. “First, I’ll catch a golden-eyed silver carp to appease Miss Yang, but before that, I’ll deal with that steward Liu.”

His mind raced as he tapped his fingers on the side of the boat, his gaze sharpening. “That man has always been at odds with me, and has tried to do me harm more than once. Now that I’ve dragged him into trouble, he’ll only become more vindictive.”

He touched the scars from recent beatings, his murderous intent growing ever hotter. Steward Liu was notorious for his greed and cruelty, constantly berating and exploiting his subordinates. Shen Yan had long loathed him. In the past, restrained by his own weakness, he could do nothing. But now, ending Liu’s life would be the simplest of tasks.

Mingyue’s demand that he provide a golden-eyed silver carp within three years gave Liu the perfect excuse to drive him relentlessly into the sea—or torment him for the smallest imagined offense.

“There’s no point in guarding against a villain forever; strike first, lest you be struck. Vengeance should not be delayed—leaving him alive is to leave a hidden threat. Tonight, I’ll be rid of him once and for all!”