In my dream of returning to the Tang Dynasty, I snatched Wu Zetian from my lap.

Besides the Ōtomo clan, led by Chishima, half of the elite troops here were under the management of the Han Prince's Mansion, with twelve officers responsible for training and commanding them. This was essentially a thorn in Li Yuanchang's side.

It wasn't that he didn't trust Chishima. Although Chishima was a woman who clung to powerful figures and wanted to climb the social ladder, she was the most loyal among this group.

He did this simply to create a check on power, to establish a balance and rules.

August 1st.

Li Yuanchang has officially set sail again, and this voyage, which had been put on hold for half a year, has finally begun.

Chishima personally led a group of high-ranking officials from the Otomo family to see them off.

"Your Highness, please be careful on the road."

"When Your Highness returns, the Thousand Islands will be there to welcome you home."

Li Yuanchang smiled and gently touched Qiandao's beautiful face, patting it lightly: "Okay, I'll leave this to you."

"You must assist them well and not make any mistakes."

He glanced at Ishihara Sato and the others.

"Hi!!"

Everyone bowed deeply, showing utmost respect.

In just over six months, Li Yuanchang became like a god here, earning respect and trust.

This was not only due to the prestige of unifying the south, but also because Li Yuanchang brought them all kinds of goods from the sea, which directly changed the living environment of the entire south.

This was almost the work of a saint, and the islanders worshipped him, with some even building sculptures of him in secret.

After a brief exchange, Li Yuanchang quickly boarded the treasure ship, set sail, and began the final leg of his journey in the East China Sea.

This time, he was well-prepared, not only in terms of supplies but also in terms of the weather.

This journey involved ten consecutive days on the boundless sea. Without the aid of monsoon winds, the treasure ship's speed was not particularly fast.

The journey was calm and uneventful, but also deserted.

However, with Bae Hyun and Myungri on board, Lee Won-chang was probably on a sea vacation.

The journey began on the thirteenth day.

That morning, the treasure ship rocked on the sea.

Deep inside the cabin, on the couch, the bedding arched into a mound, from which came groans, which were muffled by the creaking of the ship.

A slender hand reached out and gripped the edge of the boat tightly, its knuckles turning white, as if it were enduring something.

Sudden.

A burst of excitement and shouts erupted from the deck outside: "We're here! We're here!!"

"call!"

Li Yuanchang lifted his head from under the covers and exhaled a large breath of stale air.

Akari's hair was disheveled, and her eyes were unfocused.

"There seems to be quite a commotion outside. I'll go take a look. You rest for a while."

Akari nodded and fell into a deep sleep.

Li Yuanchang quickly dressed and rushed out, just in time to meet Guo Chao, who was already in an uproar on the deck.

"Your Highness, we've arrived! It seems we've arrived!" Ji'an exclaimed excitedly.

Li Yuanchang was startled and rushed forward. He saw a large number of seagulls flying over the horizon, and a small island with a pointed top was vaguely emerging in the mist.

At that moment, the sun rose, and the island was gradually illuminated by golden light.

The simultaneous appearance and fusion of the two wonders—the golden sunrise over the mountains and the misty sea of ​​fairy islands—was almost divine!

"what!"

The crowd on deck erupted in uproar, all staring intently.

Many crew members even knelt down on the spot and worshipped in the direction of the fairy island.

In the 7th century, when the climate and environment were completely unpolluted, such a spectacle was comparable to a masterpiece of later AI—mysterious, profound, and magnificent beyond human comprehension.

"I finally understand why, ever since the time of Qin Shi Huang, the Penglai Immortal Island in the East Sea has been so highly sought after and deified."

"Such a spectacle, even in the 21st century, would be considered a divine intervention by some."

Li Yuanchang muttered to himself in a voice only he could hear, his gaze somewhat shaken.

Indeed...it really does resemble a place where immortals live. In an era that believed in gods, it's no wonder that so many people spread the word that there were immortals here.

Many sailors must have witnessed this scene.

Coming to his senses, Li Yuanchang shouted with high spirits, "Raise the sails, accelerate!!"

"yes!!"

A deafening chorus of shouts erupted from the deck.

The helmsman and crew were all in high spirits.

First, we can now visit the fairy island; second, the mission is about to be completed, and we can return.

Having been away from the Central Plains for so long, everyone is eager to return home.

Under orders, the two treasure ships sped forward at full speed, unleashing astonishing speed.

Even with the concerted efforts of hundreds of people, they managed to travel for a full hour, but they still couldn't reach that vaguely visible fairy island!

Moreover, judging from the distance to the naked eye, it seems that the two sides always maintain the same distance, just like being trapped in a maze. No matter how fast the treasure ship accelerates, even though people can see it with the naked eye, they just can't get close.

This shocked and puzzled the crew, who believed it to be the magic of the gods.

But Li Yuanchang didn't believe in such magic. He guessed that it was probably a mirror image formed by sunlight and the sea surface under certain specific conditions.

The two sides are actually quite far apart, but due to certain optical effects, they appear to be almost there.

This was also confirmed by Ji'an, who had encountered a similar situation when he first arrived at the Immortal Island.

It was so close, yet the journey took a whole day.

It was this phenomenon, which the ancients could not explain, that kept the legend of Penglai Island alive for thousands of years.

Of course, we cannot rule out the possibility that it is a mirage.

However, since Ji'an had been there, it meant that the island did indeed exist, so Li Yuanchang was not in a hurry. He reassured the crew while patiently sailing on.

The fairy island that appeared at the edge of the horizon was finally reached by all the sailors of the division, who exerted all their strength until dusk in the afternoon!

The treasure ship glided across the silent sea and landed on this legendary land.

Everyone was extremely quiet, not daring to make a sound, and landed with a sense of pilgrimage.

boom!

Li Yuanchang was the first to jump off the wooden plank, stepping onto the wet ground that smelled of seafood.

At this moment, the fog over the entire island dissipated, and its outline finally became visible.

Stripped of the effects of light and shadow, this is not actually a celestial palace on a cloud, but a real, solid piece of land.

This island is even smaller than Tsushima Island, but its shape is even more bizarre, resembling a mountain standing in the depths of the ocean!

The mountain is rugged and steep, much higher than that of ordinary islands, and covered with sharp rocks, moss, green vines, and various desert trees that have disappeared in later generations, making it very difficult to climb.

Damp and cold, mysterious, quiet, and primitive are the absolute defining characteristics of this place.

"Is that so?" Li Yuanchang looked at Ji'an.

Ji'an looked around and finally confirmed, "Your Highness, this is it. Although I didn't land from this side, I'm certain this is the place!"

Li Yuanchang exhaled a breath of stale air. In a sense, his mission was complete once he set foot on this place.

As for elixirs and immortals, that depends on fate.

"All crew members, stay ashore and guard the ship. Do not wander off."

"The guards split into three groups, armed with ropes, and searched the island from different directions. They were to raise a flag and report immediately upon finding anyone."

"We need to get back here before dark!"

"yes!"