1357 A True Haven
Upon coming out of the lake, Lin Mu finally saw the place that was the Deep Sapphire Island.
“Whoa…” Lin Mu exclaimed as his eyes went wide.
The Deep Sapphire Island was just like its name. Sapphire lights glowed everywhere, whether it be the coral like trees or the large dome that covered the sky.
The sapphire light illuminated the entire area, allowing Lin Mu to see it clearly. Thousands of coral-like trees with glowing sapphire crystals surrounded the place he was at right now.
Past these coral like trees, Lin Mu saw a group of buildings made from various materials. Some were made of stone, some of wood, some of metals and some were made of corals as well.
There were motifs of the Haima clan carved on several towers that dotted the cityscape. These towers were nearly a kilometer tall in height, watching over everything.
~shua~
Lin Mu’s spirit sense spread to the maximum range, and still couldn’t reach the edge of the city.
“Just how big is this place?” Lin Mu wondered.
While breathing, Lin Mu could also feel dense water spirit Qi entering his body. It was a denser than any other place that Lin Mu had been to and he reckoned that it would be the same for the Water attribute Immortal Qi as well.
“This is truly a haven for the Haima tribe… Even the Water Dao Traces here are naturally present.” Lin Mu muttered, sensing several such traces around the coral like trees.
~RIPPLE~
Just as Lin Mu was about to go around though, he felt the lake beside him ripple.
“Ah! You’re here, Elder Niji.” Lin Mu said, seeing the man who was standing on top of the lake’s surface.
He didn’t make a splash like Lin Mu as he could simply stand on water.
“The others should be coming in a minute or so as well. We should wait for them.” Elder Niji said before stepping towards the shore.
“This place is amazing.” Lin Mu spoke. “It truly is a haven.”
“Indeed. There is a reason why Ancestor Muxuan built this island. The Sapphire Corals trees here are a natural treasure and can allow one to comprehend Water Dao Traces.” Elder Niji spoke.
“So that’s what they are called.” Lin Mu memorized.
“Not just that, but due to being this deep, the concentration of all water elemental Qis is high here. The Dome also has arrays that concentrate it further, by acting as a one-way gate. It allows Qi inside, but doesn’t let it escape.” Elder Niji explained.
“Mmm… And since there hasn’t been anyone here for a long time, the concentration has reached a very high level.” Lin Mu guessed.
“Actually, that’s wrong.” Elder Niji shook his head.
“Its wrong?” Lin Mu raised a brow.
“This is the normal concentration of Qi. It is set at this level by the array. The rest of the Qi that is accumulated will be stockpiled elsewhere.” Elder Niji replied. “You’ll see it later. I’ll show you around.”
“Alright.” Lin Mu nodded his head. “I’ll look forward to it.”
~ripple~ripple~ripple~
Soon, Lin Mu saw the rest of the people arrive.
The first to reach were the Haima tribe members who simply stood on the surface of the lake.
‘Now I know why there is a lake as a landing area… the Haima tribe members have no problem with it in the first place.’ Lin Mu realized.
~SPLASH~SPLASH~SPLASH~
But then the human members arrived, splashing into the lake and getting wet. Unlike Lin Mu, they didn’t have the armor of the Mortal Strengthening Scripture that kept him isolated from the outside elements and thus they were drenched.
It didn’t help that since they had been thrown into the Land of exile without any belongings, so the only clothes they had were on their backs.
“Ugh… it just had to be another lake…” the convicts were feeling cold.
Even if they were cultivators, one must not forget that the water her was rich in Qi. So even with their defenses, they would still feel cold on some level.
Thankfully, by the time everyone was out, Lin Mu ignited a fire to dry them all in a mere minute.
“This is truly marvelous…” Kunzi said with awe in his eyes.
Immortal Taegu and the rest had similar reactions now that they had dried themselves off.
“Come on, we’ll enter the city now.” Elder Niji said and guided them.
The bloodline memorizes the Haima tribe had obtained were rather detailed, and it was almost as if they had lived here for their lifetime.
They passed through the forest of Sapphire Coral Trees and the road beneath them changed. From the plain sand, it turned into paved limestone.
“So this is the true home of the Haima…” Lin Mu saw the buildings closely, finding them to be well maintained.
“Looks like the Formation arrays worked perfectly even now.” Elder Niji said with a hint of joy.
In front of them, a large gate stood. The gate was made out of solid rock and had hundreds of runes carved into it. Not just that, but there were two statues set on its two sides as well.
The statues were of a familiar beast too, the Great Ocean Hippocampus!
~RUMBLE~
And just when they entered through the large gate, the entire Deep Sapphire Island shook.
~DING~DING~DING~
A loud bell rung from the center of the city, as if welcoming them.
~SHUA~
A slew of lights appeared on the dome, showing down glittering particles on top of everyone.
“This… the city is happy?” Lin Mu could feel the emotion travel through the very air.
“This city is alive, after all.” Xukong spoke up.
“It’s alive?!” Lin Mu raised a brow.
“Didn’t you feel it? This entire city is a large Immortal artifact. Possibly one at the Peak of the Immortal realm.” Xukong replied. “It should have developed a spirit too…”
~HONG~
And just as Xukong said that, the lights on the dome gathered together and a figure began to appear.