Cultivation: When you take things to the extreme - Chapter 504

Chapter 504: Chapter 308: Visitors

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As a cultivator of the Marginal Path at the Return to Void stage, Chen Yanqi’s studies were extensive and varied. In addition to the most basic cultivation techniques and fire-related divine powers, he also mastered the Hundred Arts of Cultivation—particularly artifact and elixir skills, having reached the Fifth Rank Realm.

After sorting through it all, Xu Yang found that aside from some ancient methods that were too damaged to comprehend, the most valuable was Chen Yanqi’s lifebond technique—the Nine Dragons True Scripture!

This was a fire-attribute cultivation technique that integrated many aspects into a cohesive system, which included cultivation skills, art skills, divine powers, treasured strategies, and formation principles. The cultivation technique could reach as high as the Seventh Rank Integration Realm, and the treasured strategies and formation principles could reach the Sixth Rank.

This was a legacy second only to Mahayana Skills within the Marginal Path sects.

As a Return to Void cultivator, how could Chen Yanqi possess an Integration Skill?

Was it an ancestral inheritance, or had he achieved it through his own extraordinary talent and ingenuity?

Neither!

The Nine Dragons True Scripture could reach Integration because someone had sponsored him.

Great Sun Immortal Sect!

In the Southern Sea, there had long been rumors that Lingbao Island had murky ties with the Righteous Path and Immortal Sects of the Central Plains.

Reality proved that where there’s smoke, there’s fire!

Lingbao Island was indeed related to the Righteous Path of the Central Plains, being a hidden force of one of the six schools of Taoism, the Great Sun Immortal Sect of the Southern Sea.

Therefore, Chen Yanqi received support from the Great Sun Immortal Sect.

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The Great Sun Immortal Sect, a holy land of the Northern Domain, centered its core practices around the “Great Sun Scorches Sky Immortal Scripture.” The Great Sun Immortal Sect imparted part of this scripture to Chen Yanqi, which he integrated into his Nine Dragons True Scripture, thereby elevating it to Integration Skill status.

Therefore, the Nine Dragons True Scripture should rightly be called the “Great Sun Nine Dragons Scripture,” with most of its cultivating skills, divine magic, treasured strategies, and formation principles coming from the Great Sun Immortal Sect.

This was a pleasant surprise for Xu Yang as well. Although he hadn’t obtained the Big Dipper Pivot Technique from Tianshu Sect, the Great Sun Nine Dragons Scripture was nearly as good. If passed back to the World of Dao and Law, it would undoubtedly benefit the development of the Scholar’s Palace.

That was pretty much the extent of Chen Yanqi’s wealth.

There were also some magical treasures and spiritual treasures, but they were merely icing on the cake—either to be reforged or thrown into the Sky-reaching Tower of White Jade Capital as rewards for competition, incentives to motivate others; in any case, they all had their uses.

But the gains from this battle were not limited to these. There was also the foundation that was Lingbao Island.

However, there was no rush to deal with this. Xu Yang picked up a jade slip and started to examine the Great Sun Nine Dragons Scripture.

…

Three days later.

Bright Moon’s radiance shone down, landing outside Lingbao Island and revealing a figure with a graceful immortal’s appearance, striking and beautiful.

It was…

“Lu Mingyu of Bright Moon Pavilion, here to pay respects, wonders if Xuanyuan might grant her an audience?”

The visitor announced herself, her beautiful eyes surveying the spiritual island.

A moment later, a Spirit Light flew out, transforming into a little boy dressed in a Daoist robe, holding a horsetail whisk, and greeted her with a smile, “My master invites the fairy to visit the island.”

Lu Mingyu smiled gently and graciously responded, “Then I shall trouble the fairy child to lead the way.”

“Please, fairy!”

Gui Sanqian smiled and led her into the island.

Three days had passed since the great battle, and all traces had disappeared. Now, Lingbao Island was serene and silent—the bustling artifact refining workshops had also ceased operations.

Lu Mingyu noted this silently as she followed Gui Sanqian, quickly arriving at the Essence of Fire Hall at the heart of Lingbao Island.

Upon entering the hall, she was greeted by a man: “The name of Fairy Mingyu has long been known to me, and seeing you in person today does not disappoint.”

“You’re too kind, fellow Daoist,” Lu Mingyu said with a charming smile. “Compared to you, who shattered the Nine Dragons with astonishing swordsmanship, Mingyu’s humble name is naught but a grain in the vast sea—not worth mentioning!”

“Fairy, you are being modest,” Xu Yang replied with a smile, inviting her to be seated. “As someone from afar, I am not familiar with the customs here. Though by my modest abilities, I have gained a place to settle on this island, establishing a footing in the Southern Sea will still require the support of many fellow Daoists. Bright Moon Pavilion is one of the Ten Sects of the Southern Sea, known for its beauty as the Bright Moon Land’s End. I hope for your kind assistance in the future.”

With such words from Xu Yang, Lu Mingyu smiled even more: “You are truly the one being modest, fellow Daoist!”

Despite saying so, she was inwardly on guard.

It was not difficult for a cultivator to act appropriately in social situations, but for a sword cultivator to handle interpersonal subtleties with such sophistication was somewhat disconcerting.

The most dangerous moment with a sword was not when it showed its edge, but when it was hidden in its sheath. Those sword cultivators who grimaced all day long, quick to draw their swords at the slightest disagreement, contentious with the world, might not be the lowest in Sword Dao, but they were certainly easier to deal with than those who resembled a light breeze and a passing cloud, leaving no traces and showing no edge.

Lu Mingyu made her mental calculations.

Xu Yang gave a faint smile as if seeing through it all but only said, “Fairy has come today presumably for matters concerning Lingbao Island?”

“Indeed!”

Seeing Xu Yang get straight to the point, Lu Mingyu was forthright: “My Bright Moon Pavilion conducts commerce throughout the world, and as one of the three major commerce guilds of the Southern Sea, we have had many dealings with Lingbao Island, now a great refining sect of the Southern Sea. Now that you have taken over this island, fellow Daoist, may I know if we can continue to cooperate in the future?”

“Of course!”

Xu Yang said with an easy smile: “This island is uniquely blessed as a treasure trove for artifact refining; there’s no reason to waste such gifts. However, as a sword cultivator, I am also slightly versed in the method of equipment refinement, but my affinity is towards refining sword artifacts. As for other magic artifacts, I’m afraid they may be harder to supply. How does Bright Moon Pavilion feel about this?”

“Hmm!?”

Lu Mingyu’s gaze sharpened, and after looking at Xu Yang for a moment, she said: “With your sword cultivation prowess, the sword artifacts you refine must be of superior grade. Bright Moon Pavilion naturally welcomes such items.”

“Then that is settled,” Xu Yang replied pleasingly.

Xu Yang nodded and said, “I am fond of swords and love to practice the art of the sword. Thus, in addition to selling Sword Artifacts, I will also be purchasing all kinds of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, and Spiritual Objects of wonder to forge Sword Artifacts. I hope the Bright Moon Pavilion can provide substantial support.”

“Naturally, Bright Moon Pavilion puts commerce first, valuing harmony greatly. In these business dealings, we will certainly have mutually beneficial relations with you.”

Lu Mingyu smiled cleverly, without giving anything away.

And so, half a day later…

“Immortal maiden, take care on your journey.”

“Fellow Daoist, please return safely.”

Only after they were three hundred li away from the island did the two reluctantly part ways.

During the return trip, Lu Mingyu’s brows were deeply furrowed.

What had they discussed to wear away half a day?

It was all idle chatter, essentially without substance.

Although they did agree on one thing, confirming that Lingbao Island—no, Ten Thousand Swords Pavilion—would collaborate with the Bright Moon Commerce Guild on Sword Artifacts, it was of no real significance.

Her main purpose for coming today was to test this person.

And the result of this test…

Lingbao Island was a Great Refinement Sect, and its Magic Artifacts accounted for nearly a fifth of the Southern Sea’s Artifact Refining market. Yet this person insisted on going against the grain, only refining Sword Artifacts, excluding all others, effectively conceding the rest of the Magic Artifact market, ultimately leading to a drop in share to less than ten percent.

Such an action represented an attitude, conceding benefits to seek a footing for oneself.

After demonstrating weakness by ceding profits, and with the strength to shatter Nine Dragons, it was unlikely anyone in the Southern Sea would make things difficult for him again.

So was he genuinely intending to establish a foothold in the Southern Sea?

But why would a Righteous Path Grand Cultivator, a master of both Sword Dao and formations, want to take root in the Southern Sea?

What was the reason behind it, what was he plotting?

Without a clue, she found it incomprehensible.

In the end…

“Forget it, regardless of his intentions, for now, he is harmless. Let’s just wait and see.”

“This person has shown weakness and given up benefits, and with the strength he showed prior by breaking the Nine Dragons formation, it’s unlikely anyone in the Southern Sea will make things difficult for him again.”

“But on the side of the Central Plains Righteous Path, Chen Yanqi was an undercover agent of the Great Sun Immortal Sect, and Lingbao Island was a major channel for the Great Sun Immortal Sect to profit from the Southern Sea. Now that this person has killed Chen Yanqi, cutting off the supply to the Great Sun Immortal Sect, it’s unlikely they will let this go so easily.”

“I wonder how he will handle it?”

With these doubts in mind, Lu Mingyu turned back to look and saw the thousands of swords rising from Lingbao Island, forming a Five Directions Sword Formation that sealed the heavens and locked the earth.

“Great Sun Immortal Sect?”

“Ha!”

On Lingbao Island, Xu Yang laughed, completely unconcerned.

His main objective now was to settle in the Southern Sea and develop steadily in order to grow larger.

To achieve this goal, he had to address two issues.

The first was the difficulty of the Southern Sea. With dragons crossing the river and snakes claiming their turf, conflicts of interest were bound to arise.

Although the cultivators of the Southern Sea, all belonging to the Marginal Path, were average in combat, not his match, there were still several imposing figures among the big sects of the Marginal Path, including prestigious Integration Mahayana figures. If conflicts were too severe, it would be detrimental to his development.

Therefore, he temporarily ceded profits, giving up part of Lingbao Island’s share in the Artifact market to integrate into the Cultivation Realm of the Southern Sea.

As for whether the cultivators of the Southern Sea would suspect him of being an undercover agent from the Central Plains Righteous Path and unite to expel him… that was out of the question.

What you think the Southern Sea cultivators would say: “We are the Marginal Path; we occupy the Southern Sea; we oppose the Central Plains. As soon as Righteous Path adversaries encroach, we will unite and resist the enemy at all costs!”

What the actual Southern Sea cultivators would say: “It’s an honor for us of the Marginal Path to be hounds for the Immortal Sect Sacred Lands!”

If that weren’t the case, how could Chen Yanqi, a hound of the Great Sun Immortal Sect, gain a foothold in the Southern Sea, managing Lingbao Island successfully?

Expecting unity from the Marginal Path and concerted effort from the Left Hand Path was unrealistic. Even the big sects were thoroughly infiltrated, and towards the open and covert repression and bullying from the Central Plains Righteous Path and Immortal Sect Sacred Lands, they had long adopted an attitude of utter submission. So long as things didn’t go too far, they didn’t care at all.

Now, he was demonstrating weakness while also using both kindness and power, which should enable him to achieve a period of peace and grow stronger.

This was the first difficulty of the Southern Sea. The second challenge was the difficulty presented by the Central Plains Righteous Path.

Great Sun Immortal Sect!

Strike the dog, but watch the master. Chen Yanqi, as an undercover disciple of the Great Sun Immortal Sect, managed Lingbao Island, which devoured wealth. Each year, the contributions to the Great Sun Immortal Sect were innumerable. Now, having been killed and the island seized, how could the Great Sun Immortal Sect not react?

They surely would, but for Xu Yang, it was of no consequence.

The Immortal Sect Sacred Lands primarily focused on managing the Northern Domain and the Central Plains. Regarding the remote areas, so long as no figure like the “Master of the Marginal Path” emerged to unite the wild lands and establish a significant threat like a Left Hand Path great church, they would not interfere with the affairs of the wild lands and the Marginal Path.

Therefore, their reaction would most likely be to send another dog to fight with him.

The profits from Lingbao Island were substantial in the Southern Sea but insignificant to the Immortal Sect Sacred Lands of the Central Plains. Not to mention Mahayana, even an Integration figure would not be deemed worthy of the disturbance, with a priority so low it couldn’t be lower.

Thus, this challenge wasn’t much of a challenge after all. The Mahayana True Immortals of the Great Sun Immortal Sect would never risk increasing their karmic burden and burdening future Thunder Tribulations for such trifling issues by coming to the Southern Sea looking for trouble with him.

As for Integration figures, even if a great power exceptionally came to him, he could easily just walk away.

This was also why he had taken action on Lingbao Island: first, the profit was substantial enough to be worth a single battle, and second, it was an opportunity to test the Immortal Sect Sacred Lands’ attitude towards the Southern Sea.

Of course, Ten Thousand Swords Pavilion on Lingbao Island could only serve as a façade in plain view. White Jade Capital would have to find another place to settle, it couldn’t be exposed under the scrutiny of those Immortal Sect Sacred Lands, even though the chance of them taking direct action was extremely low.