Volume 1, Chapter 44: Same Foundation, Such a Huge Gap?

Desolation stretched as far as the eye could see.

Corpses were scattered everywhere.

The lingering traces of seawater were ubiquitous.

Invasions by sea monsters were not uncommon in the Northern Domain, but they usually took place on smaller islands where powerful cultivators were scarce and defensive formations were easier to breach. After plundering a wave of resources and consuming a wave of human lives, the invaders would quickly retreat to avoid being intercepted by human reinforcements.

The Starfall Archipelago, however, was different.

Though composed of a cluster of small and medium-sized islands, its unique geographical location placed it right at the boundary between the inner and outer reaches of the sea. Cultivators traveling north and south were accustomed to stopping and trading here, making commerce exceptionally prosperous. Major merchant guilds and prominent sects had all dispatched formidable experts to garrison the area.

By no means was it an ideal target for invasion.

Yet, the invasion had happened regardless.

Furthermore, it had obliterated the islands' defenses with astonishing speed. Casualties across the various islands were countless, leaving nearly everything reduced to ruins.

To put it mildly, a disaster of this scale was exceedingly rare across the entire Northern Domain over the past few years—enough to shake the vast majority of its powers.

……

Fewer than one in ten survived.

The overwhelming majority were left clinging to a single breath, silently swallowing medicinal pills or circulating secret techniques to forcibly prolong their lives, hoping against hope for reinforcements.

This was the instinct of cultivators trapped in absolute despair. Even if they had no friends and had contacted no one capable of helping them—and even though, in most cases, what awaited them in the end was not a savior, but a butcher's blade—they still felt compelled to try.

What if...

What if they happened to encounter a kind-hearted passerby?

As long as there was a glimmer of hope, how could anyone simply give up?

Staying alive mattered more than anything else.

……

Zhou Ping was one of these survivors.

Originally, he had been an inner sect elder of the Breaking Sea Sect, one of the five major sects of the Starfall Archipelago. His cultivation had reached the early Nascent Soul stage. With formidable strength and a profound foundation, he would have found it impossible to survive this catastrophe otherwise.

Yet, his condition was far worse than most.

Because of his cultivation level, when the war broke out, he had been one of the primary targets upon whom the demon race focused their firepower. If not for a life-saving talisman left behind by a Deity Transformation expert that he had fortuitously acquired in his early years, he would undoubtedly have perished long ago.

Even so, death was not far off.

His injuries were severe. The medicinal pills, magic treasures, and even his storage pouch had been nearly entirely destroyed in that battle. The spiritual Qi remaining within his meridians was pitifully scarce; he could barely manage to walk, let alone take flight.

If no one came to save him, he was virtually destined to wait for death here.

……

Just then, flying boats appeared in the sky, approaching the Starfall Archipelago in formation.

Though severely injured, Zhou Ping's eyesight remained sharp. At a glance, he recognized that these vessels belonged to two distinct factions.

One fleet flew banners reading [Langya Charity Foundation], while the other hoisted banners bearing [Penglai Cloud Sea Foundation]!

A trace of pleasant surprise surfaced on his face.

He was well aware of the two newly emerged factions in the Northern Domain that operated under the banner of charity with the mission of aiding those in peril. He had heard that shortly after a small island in the Qingyun Archipelago fell victim to a demonic scourge, one of these foundations had dispatched personnel to rescue a great number of people.

As a seasoned veteran of the cultivation world, Zhou Ping had witnessed too much human fickleness, bitter rivalries, and sudden betrayals. He had long understood just how dark and dangerous the cultivation realm truly was. Naturally, he did not believe that any major faction in this world could be so noble as to dedicate themselves purely to saving lives as the legends claimed.

Such tales were mostly exaggerated and untruthful hype.

Their true purpose was undoubtedly to turn a profit, seeing as they were backed by the four major merchant guilds!

However, none of that mattered to Zhou Ping.

Even if it was somewhat pretentious, as long as these people could save him, pull him up from the brink, and let him live, that was enough!

Even if it required paying a certain price, it would be entirely worth it!

……

Before long, one figure after another swept down from the flying boats.

Zhou Ping clearly observed that those who descended from the Langya Foundation's boats were all clad in white. Moving with utmost swiftness and without the slightest delay, they headed straight for the areas most severely affected by the disaster to commence rescue operations immediately.

In contrast, the personnel from the Penglai Cloud Sea Foundation were a mixed bag, proceeding at a leisurely pace. Upon landing, they frowned as they swept their gazes over the tragic scene, uttering a few unpleasant and sarcastic remarks before finally, with evident reluctance, beginning to administer aid at a snail's pace.

Zhou Ping was fortunate. Two opposing rescue groups arrived simultaneously in his sector.

"Pardon me, we claimed this area first!" A young man from the Penglai Cloud Sea Foundation crossed his arms, blocking the path of the Langya Foundation group.

"You!"

"Orders from above: minimize conflict, saving lives takes priority!"

Someone from the Langya Foundation wanted to retort, but was dissuaded by a mature man leading their group. Leading his subordinates, he turned around and headed toward another location instead.

Watching this, Zhou Ping thought to himself that a foundation jointly established by the three major merchant guilds was indeed far more formidable than one founded by the Langya Guild alone. Its financial resources and methods were likely much stronger as well!

His joy deepened.

With such strong backing, the probability of his injuries being suppressed and healed increased exponentially.

……

"How are you holding up? Are you alright?"

"Save... save me!"

"Don't worry, you'll be fine. Here... swallow this healing pill first!"

"..."

Not far away, a conversation drifted over between a young maiden from the Langya Foundation and a disaster-stricken cultivator.

Her voice was exceptionally gentle. Perhaps due to the extraordinary circumstances of the moment, it stirred a ripple in Zhou Ping's heart, which had remained unmoved for centuries.

He couldn't help but look over.

He saw the young maiden in white extract an orange-yellow medicinal pill and feed it to a Foundation Establishment rogue cultivator.

"Jade Void Pill?"

Zhou Ping was immensely astonished. This was an exceedingly renowned healing pill; not only was it quite expensive, but its miraculous efficacy was astounding. Ordinary rogue cultivators could not afford it in daily life.

A pleasant surprise welled up within him.

If he could ingest such a pill himself, his injuries could be brought under control much better than he had imagined, saving him a tremendous amount of effort during his subsequent recovery.

If even the material aid provided by the Langya Foundation was this generous, what kind of supreme elixirs could the Penglai Cloud Sea Foundation—jointly established by the three major merchant guilds—pull out?

He licked his dry lips.

For the first time, he thought that these charitable foundations were truly a magnificent blessing!

Which living bodhisattva had ever come up with such an idea?

……

Before long, a disciple of Penglai Cloud Sea responsible for this zone arrived before him. Crouching down slowly, he frowned as he inspected Zhou Ping's injuries, the corners of his mouth curling into an ambiguous smile.

"Senior... your injuries are not light!"

"Cough, cough, apologies for the trouble!"

The Penglai Cloud Sea disciple slowly produced two pitch-black medicinal pills and extended them toward Zhou Ping's lips.

Instantly, a faint odor of scorched vegetation wafted into Zhou Ping's nostrils.

His brow furrowed sharply.

What on earth is this?