At dawn, Tao Qian left the younger ones at the Cliff Sea Pavilion.
He himself then rode his Evasion Light, identified his bearings, and headed straight for the Silk Cave of Red Sleeve Immortal Island, about three hundred li away, which indeed wasn't far.
As for the words "Silk Cave," which should have surprised Tao Qian, he had long since become accustomed to such oddities.
This world and the previous one had too many connections that were similar yet different.
Just as there is a Demon City in this realm, but it is not the Demon City of the other realm—its name's origin is beyond comparison by tens of thousands of miles.
If Tao Qian had to investigate the origins of every familiar term he heard, he would have long been too busy to manage.
Despite this, when Tao Qian set off for the Red Sleeve Immortal Island, he couldn't help but mutter in his heart, "Silk Cave Mansion, Spider Immortal... I hope that Aunt Spider, considering Fairy Yunhua's face, will merely give me a few pointers instead of binding me with spider silk, hanging me up, and disguising it as 'an Immortal pointing the way.'"
Just after Tao Qian finished his complaint, his Evasion Light shot out for over a hundred li.
Suddenly, he saw a brilliantly colorful mist of clouds appear ahead, rising up. At first glance, it took up some space but didn't touch Tao Qian's Evasion Light.
But unexpectedly, just as he neared it, the misty clouds blew open like a steamer lid being lifted, rapidly expanding and enveloping everything tightly in all directions.
Tao Qian was also caught within it before he could discern what was happening.
He saw waves after waves, strands upon strands, pieces upon pieces of an intensely fragrant aroma crazily penetrating into his body through every pore.
In that instant, Tao Qian only felt he had smelled countless fragrances of the world: the thousands of meaty scents were just one kind, followed by the fragrance of flowers, fruits, and trees, and then there was the aroma of fine wine and beautiful women... so many scents mixed together, yet strangely non-conflicting, making one's limbs go numb, craving to breathe in more.
If ordinary mortals or common cultivators were trapped in it, they'd undoubtedly become drowsy and sinking into it, unable to escape.
But now Tao Qian had his No-leak Body, and his mind instantly recalled the Record: "Assaulted by the Great Desire Fragrance Cloud..."
He didn't need his Abnormal Soul to do anything, simply let out a low shout, and he broke free from the influence of the Fragrant Cloud.
Tao Qian didn't want to investigate the source of the Fragrant Cloud, lest it cause some trouble and delay his quest for guidance at the Silk Cave Mansion.
He turned around, ready to ride his Evasion Light away.
Unfortunately, at that very moment, he saw a flash of brilliance below the Fragrant Cloud, and then Tao Qian felt that he had been caught by some Forbidden Technique, and was directly transported beneath the Fragrant Cloud, inside an Immortal Island that opened his eyes wide.
At this moment, Tao Qian felt himself standing atop an Immortal Island that seemed to exist only in fantasy.
Various substantial mists of fragrant air wafted and drifted all around.
Directly in front of him was a hill made entirely out of yeast, from which flowed a green stream emitting a tantalizing aroma of wine, forming a pond at the bottom of the hill, and a lake beyond, surrounded by a dense forest. However, what hung from the branches and vines in the forest were not leaves, but pieces of meat, unmistakably aromatic to their core.
Tao Qian glanced over and the words "Wine Pool Meat Forest" instantly sprung to mind.
While he felt startled deep down, he quickly looked around.
Fortunately, soon Tao Qian relaxed, as his eyes did not reflect any sight of torture instruments such as branding pots and scorpion basins.
Looking past this welcome setup, Tao Qian saw many sceneries belonging to those of the Immortal kind, tiers of deep pavilions and lofty halls, rows of Pearl Palaces, with many figures indulging themselves within.
There were humans, as well as other species, or even Alien Ghosts, and Tao Qian even saw creatures like the Joyful Demons, demons from the Outer Realm.
If such diverse species were gathered in the external world, brains would be bashed into mush.
There would be an overwhelming density of hostility.
However, eerily enough, in this place, Tao Qian couldn't sense even a trace of hostility.
What he could feel was an atmosphere rich with joy and indulgence.
Tao Qian had previously witnessed similar "scenes" in the workshop of the Great Sect called Joyful Pavilion in Southern Yue. But to him, the so-called joy of Joyful Pavilion was just superficial; not to mention true Ultimate Happiness, they hadn't even achieved a small genuine joy.
But it was different here.
Standing for just a breath or two, Tao Qian faintly felt a certain kind of joy, the true meaning of Ultimate Happiness.
Even a strange premonition arose: "If I now let go of my concerns and join in, it would not adversely affect my Dao Path, my Cultivation."
No sooner had this premonition emerged than Tao Qian crushed it.
He gave a salute towards the welcoming Wine Pool Meat Forest, and then said:
"I do not know which esteemed elder's Daoist Field this is. Tao Qian is just passing through with pressing matters and is unable to delay. I must visit the Red Sleeve Immortal Island. I will surely visit another day and ask for your forgiveness."
After speaking, Tao Qian bowed and turned to leave.
Just then, a sigh echoed in this place.
With a flash of brilliance, the previously empty Wine Pool Meat Forest now had, as if by direct teleportation, a grand procession appear: there were formidable and sturdy servants and guards, as well as enchantingly beautiful slave girls and maids, all surrounding the middle where stood a Dragon Chariot.
Atop the Dragon Chariot, a middle-aged Daoist lay reclined.
He was dressed in a loosely worn Daoist robe, casually open to reveal his plump belly, and on his head, he wore a crown only an Emperor could wear. His physique was muscular, yet his face was greasy, as if he had indulged in excess, with dark circles under his eyes, giving the impression he could drop dead at any moment.
As soon as the peculiar Daoist appeared, he addressed Tao Qian: