Unexpected Gain, Setting Sail

Chapter 132 Unexpected Gain, Setting Sail

"By the way, Han Li, I heard from Changfeng that you want to venture out to the outer seas?"

After chatting about everyday family matters and relationship issues, Master Lu finally got to the main topic.

Upon hearing this, Han Li's spirits lifted, but he showed no outward expression, simply nodding calmly.
"Yes, Master. I only managed to form my core after exhausting all my resources. If I want my cultivation to continue to advance rapidly, the best way is to go to the outer sea and try my luck."

"Han Li, are you planning to kill demons and hunt for their cores for a high reward?"

Master Lu suddenly chimed in.

His expression was very serious:

"Have you thought this through? The Outer Sea is not peaceful; the dangers there are several times greater than those in the Inner Sea."

"Sect Master, I am not good at fighting, and my family's resources are almost depleted. I also lack the time and spirit stones to prepare a natal magic weapon. Under these circumstances, how could I dare to kill demons and hunt for pills?"

When high-level human cultivators hunt deep-sea monsters, the deep-sea monsters will not let the humans go unpunished.

After all, humans need the inner cores of high-level demonic beasts, and demonic beasts especially love the golden cores of humans.

The two are actually mutually exclusive.

"Then why did you still go?"

The three of them were immediately puzzled.

"Master, Sect Leader, Senior Brother, it's like this..."

"I overheard by chance that the Star Palace has been exploring the outer seas. If we cultivators can provide valuable intelligence to the Star Palace, once verified, we're guaranteed a high reward. I figured the interests of the Inner Star Sea are almost entirely divided among the major powers, while the Outer Star Sea is where mid-tier sects like our White Water Sword Sect can rise to prominence; it's the future of the Star Sea cultivation world. I fear it won't be long before the Outer Sea becomes a battleground for various powers..."

"In that case, we might as well go ahead and find out what's going on, and make some arrangements as well."

After a pause, Han Li continued:
"If I can complete the Star Palace exploration mission and obtain personal rewards, and at the same time, plan a better foothold for the White Water Sword Sect in the outer sea in advance, wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?"

As they spoke, he handed over a storage bag.

The bag was full of materials for setting up the formation.

It is a tool for setting up the Inverted Five Elements Formation and several other formations.

Judging from the quantity of materials used in the formation, it's almost enough to build a very sturdy base.

"this…"

Master Lu was astonished.

Master Lu was deeply moved by this.

No one expected Han Li's starting point to be so high.
"Okay, okay, you're so thoughtful."

Although their primary motivation is for their own benefit, a disciple who still cares about the sect while doing so is exactly what they want.

The more closely the two examined the array-setting tools, the more moved they became.

Standing to the side, Senior Brother Lu Changfeng secretly admired him.

He hadn't thought that far ahead.

"Han Li, when do you plan to set off?"

Master Lu pondered for a moment before asking.

"I will purchase some more materials and make more preparations before setting off."

Han Li retrieved the storage bag containing a large number of array-setting tools and various array-setting materials.

In recent years, besides cultivation, he also studied Xin Ruyin's insights on array formations in his spare time, gaining a lot. In particular, he recently obtained the storage bag of the young master of Qingyang Sect, which contained a dazzling array of array-setting materials and tools.

This amount of material alone would be worth tens of thousands of spirit stones in the Chaotic Star Sea.

Clearly, Master Sanyang is not only a powerful cultivator in the mid-Nascent Soul stage, but also a grandmaster of array formations. He not only wants to pass on his cultivation techniques to the young sect leader, but also hopes that his successor will inherit everything about array formations.

The preparations were undeniably thorough.

As a result, he got all the benefits.

Of course.

He couldn't possibly have produced those array-setting tools.

What he showed was what he had just purchased in the last ten days or so.

After all, he will soon be going to the outer sea to explore the traces of Biling Island, so he must make preparations in time to avoid wasting a lot of time due to some oversight.

"Han Li, since you are interested in exploring the outer sea, I, your senior uncle, will not stop you. You can take this."

As he spoke, Sect Leader Lu handed over a jade slip and dozens of sea charts.

"This is?"

Han Li blinked.

"The jade slip contains information about the explorations of the outer seas by our ancestors of the White Water Sword Sect, while the sea charts are about dozens of monster islands..."

Master Lu offered a casual explanation.

"Thank you, Master Master."

Han Li accepted the jade slip and sea chart with both hands, quickly thanked them, and looked very happy.

In reality, however, I was quite disappointed.

It seems that these two are quite wary of him, and they have no intention of telling him that the true mastermind of the White Water Sword Sect is the Star Palace.

...

After seeing the two off.

Han Li then took a deep breath to calm himself down:

"These two are indeed holding back a lot from me!"

"Is it because I haven't been in the sect for long and they don't know me well enough, so they don't trust me?"

Also.

To avoid being investigated by the White Water Sword Sect and to prevent his cultivation speed from attracting attention and finding a suitable excuse, he specifically applied to come to Tianxing City to cultivate after reaching the Foundation Establishment stage.

Because they had very little contact, the sect's higher-ups naturally became wary of him.

"What a pity, what a pity..."

"Those two clearly had high expectations of me."

"Unfortunately, I joined the sect a little too late."

"If I had joined the White Water Sword Sect when I first arrived in the Chaotic Star Sea, things would have been much better."

"Back then, I was too impatient, too hasty in order to send the Demon Core clone to form its core..."

One wrong step.

This affected all subsequent plans.

"But back then, in a completely unfamiliar new environment, I really needed a Core Formation stage fighter. Otherwise, I wouldn't feel safe at all."

Putting aside his disappointment, Han Li examined the jade slip and the sea chart.

next moment.

He was stunned.

He was overjoyed.

"Good good..."

OK!

He was so pleased for two reasons. First, the pile of nautical charts contained information about Silver Shark Island and the surrounding waters. Second, and more importantly, the jade slip described tens of thousands of medium-sized islands, each over a hundred miles in size, in the outer seas.

There are also dozens of large islands, each spanning over a thousand miles.

For example, thirty million miles north of Silver Shark Island, there is a large island that is several thousand miles long, and another giant island that is tens of thousands of miles long.

Both islands are inhabited by a large number of high-level monsters.

The former, in particular, has even been recorded as having appeared as a demon cultivator in human form.

The giant island behind it, though larger in size and also teeming with high-level demonic beasts, seemed to be largely ignored. Records of it were mostly summarized with terms like "exposed rocks" and "scarce resources."

"Is one Thunder Sky Island and the other Azure Spirit Island?"

"Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful..."

He thought that something had gone wrong with the White Water Sword Sect, and that he wouldn't be able to use this route to find clues about Thunder Sky Island and Azure Spirit Island.

But then things took an unexpected turn.

It was only then that he realized he might have overcomplicated things.

Then he spoke of the White Water Sword Sect.

As a branch of the Star Palace, even if it's impossible to share all the detailed information about the outer seas, it can still obtain most of the general information. For example, the distribution of some medium to large islands.

In this way, when the high-level cultivators of the White Water Sword Sect went to the outer sea, they wouldn't be running around blindly like headless flies.

And he.

There is no need for detailed information about the many islands in the outer sea.

He only wanted news of the large island thousands of miles north of Silver Shark Island, or even the giant islands thousands of miles away.

That's it.

Among them, there must be Thunder Sky Island and Azure Spirit Island.

The method for selecting the two islands is also quite simple.

One is the distance between the two islands.

The two islands are only about two to three million miles apart, no more than that distance.

And the larger one is further north.

Another piece of evidence is that on Biling Island further north, many places are barren. In contrast, Leikong Island, which is further south, is full of life and produces many kinds of spiritual herbs that even Nascent Soul cultivators covet.

Once you can pinpoint the two islands from big data and determine their approximate locations, getting there won't be too difficult.

However, without that general location, and only relying on the information in the book that "Biling Island is located at the northernmost point of Silver Shark Island," it is no exaggeration to say that it would take him at least forty or fifty years to find the right place!

It may even take longer.

After all, there are at least 30 million miles between Biling Island and Leikong Island.

Even if a Core Formation cultivator were to fly at full speed day and night, it would still take at least nine months.

This is under the premise that you know the general location, are not directionally challenged, and do not deviate significantly from the intended direction.

thus.

It's easy to imagine just how vast the sea area north of Silver Shark Island has been explored.

Even if we only focus on exploring one-tenth of the tail end of a fan-shaped area spanning over 30 million miles, it would still be an enormous undertaking.

This demonstrates just how important the extraterrestrial intelligence provided by the White Water Sword Sect truly was.

Without intelligence, it would take decades to find it.

According to intelligence, it will take at most two years.

Master Lu and the sect leader were a great help this time.

"Next, all we need to do is bid for a dragon-type demon core for Xiao Liu, and everything will be ready...!"

...

Inside Lu Changfeng's cave on the thirtieth floor of the sacred mountain.

Master Lu and Sect Leader Lu sat facing each other.

Just as Lu Changfeng was making tea for the two elders, Master Lu suddenly spoke:

"Brother, why did you change your mind at the last minute? Why didn't you tell Han Li about the relationship between our White Water Sword Sect and the Holy Sect? If you had explained this relationship, that kid would have trusted the sect even more and would have been more loyal and proactive."

Upon hearing this, the sect leader initially tapped his knuckles on the table before shaking his head and explaining:

"No, it's not the right time yet."

"Huh? When will that be?"

"Third brother, don't be hasty, don't act on emotion. I know you admire that kid very much, but recently, things haven't been very peaceful in Inner Star Sea. You should have noticed that, right?"

"Yes, many mid-level sects have either been wiped out or their high-level cultivators have been controlled by demonic cultivators. Clearly, some old guys are getting restless and want to cause trouble."

Master Lu nodded slowly, his expression grave. "Then, have you ever thought about why the whereabouts of those high-level cultivators from various sects are exposed, leading to repeated attacks?"

"There must be a mole within the organization leaking the movements of its higher-ups..."

Master Lu said with great certainty, then realized something and his expression changed slightly:

"Wait, brother, do you suspect Han Li?"

"No, I'm not doubting him, but being vigilant, trying my best to avoid making mistakes."

Sect Leader Lu waved his hand:
"If he remains without any problems after this special period, then I was overthinking it. It's not too late to tell him about the relationship between our White Water Sword Sect and the Holy Palace then. But if he really has problems, and we rush to expose the sect's connection with the Holy Palace, it will harm more than two thousand people in the sect and damage our families. If we ruin those two masters' millennium plan, then you and I will be more than worth dying for."

"Third brother, you must think carefully about the pros and cons involved."

The sect leader spoke earnestly.

Master Lu lowered his head, seemingly lost in thought.

In other words.

It wasn't that Han Li's plan had a major flaw or revealed a weakness.

Rather, it's because the situation is changing too rapidly.

At this moment, the Chaotic Star Sea was turbulent with undercurrents and fraught with danger.

Apart from moderately neutral forces like the White Water Sword Sect, many forces that were originally closer to the Star Palace have been infiltrated, turned against, and controlled by both the righteous and demonic paths.

The Reverse Star Alliance had actually been in the making for some time, but it was still secretly accumulating power and trying to eliminate the Star Palace's influence outside of Tianxing City.

It's just that the truth hasn't been revealed yet.

Xinggong had also noticed the undercurrent that was aimed directly at them.

Unfortunately, the two saints were in seclusion cultivating the Yuan Magnetic Divine Light and had no way to escape the ten thousand miles of Tianxing City. Therefore, the Nascent Soul stage leaders of the Star Palace dared not make any rash moves, otherwise they might run into the two late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators, Liu Dao Ji Sheng and Wan San Gu.

The forces of good and evil are testing each other inch by inch.

The Star Palace side, on the other hand, has been making concessions step by step.

During this sensitive and delicate period, it's best for the White Water Sword Sect to play it safe, not seeking merit but avoiding mistakes, lest they be wiped out by the undercurrents lurking in the shadows.

"Brother, do you think it's really a good idea to send that kid to the dangerous open sea?"

"You, you haven't really taught me much, so how come you've developed some feelings for me?"

The sect leader smiled.

"He treats Changfeng very well. Even after he reached the Core Formation stage, he still treated us with the respect due to a disciple, showing no signs of arrogance or conceit. Such a well-mannered and respectful young talent is hard to find. Although he has only been in the sect for a short time and has received little cultivation from the sect, he still remembers the insignificant favors he received when he was at the Foundation Establishment stage. After reaching the Core Formation stage, he has been thinking about strengthening the sect and seeking mutual benefit. Such character, magnanimity, and vision are extremely rare."

After Master Lu finished speaking, the sect leader fell silent.

After a moment's thought, he nodded in strong agreement:
"Indeed, he is a talented individual. It would be a real pity if he were to perish in the outer seas. Why don't you use the merit points accumulated by our sect over the years to ask the Holy Palace for a high-quality magic weapon that has not yet been refined, and give it to him for self-defense?"

"No, it's too expensive."

Master Lu immediately waved his hand:
"Giving him a magic weapon now would inevitably make the sect appear subservient in his presence. It would be better to wait until he experiences some setbacks in the outer seas and realizes his true worth. Only then can we show our good intentions and the sect's concern for him, which would be more effective in winning people's hearts."

"Third brother, you've improved."

The sect leader was very pleased.

"Brother, I still have a long way to go to catch up with you."

Lu Changfeng, listening nearby, was deeply moved: "..."

Older gingers are more spicy.

However, this time, the old ginger might not be spicy enough.

It will be at least fifty years before someone returns...

The situation fifty years from now is beyond the prediction and control of these two individuals.

...

For the remaining day or two, Han Li continued his sweep through Tianxing City.

On the way back to the sacred mountain, I met Yanli:
"How is the collection of magical artifacts, metal items, spirit insect larvae, and eggs progressing?"

“My lord, I have collected another piece of metal scraps the size of a fist. As for spirit insects, I have found over a thousand eggs of green fireflies and silver blood moths. However, most of them are dead eggs.”

A spirit beast pouch was placed in front of Han Li.

He took the examination and nodded in satisfaction:
"I'm going to the outer sea, which should take more than fifty years. So, you and Yuan Yao will have to go into seclusion to try and break through to the Core Formation stage. Don't be lazy, condense your Golden Core as soon as possible, the higher your cultivation level, the better."

After he formed his core, he had already prepared the necessary elixirs for cultivation and placed them in his forty-eighth level cave.

As long as the two women don't slack off after forming their cores, with the remaining decades and a large number of high-quality or even rare pills suitable for core cultivators, they have a good chance of reaching the mid-stage of core formation.

"My lord, please be careful in everything you do."

Yanli pursed her lips and said.

"Ah."

The auction took place as scheduled.

The price of a level-six dragon's demon core has been inflated to 23,000 spirit stones.

When a beast tide swept across the outer seas over a hundred years later, and demon cores became extremely difficult to obtain, this price was not expensive at all; in fact, it could be considered very cheap. After all, its value was comparable to that of an ordinary level seven demon beast inner core.

But nowadays, it would be considered a high price to fetch 23,000.

of course.

Another reason for such a high price is that this dragon core is not from a mixed-blood dragon, but from a pure-blooded black dragon.

The black dragon is considered rare even among all dragon species.

Like other dragons such as the Poisonous Dragon, the Blazing Fire Dragon, the Crimson Fire Dragon, the Golden Dragon, and the Ice Dragon, it possesses far greater potential than hybrid dragons like the Cockscomb Dragon. A hybrid, level-six Cockscomb Dragon's inner core is worth at most 15,000 spirit stones. That's the difference.

"Fellow Daoist, this is the inner core of the sixth-level Ink Dragon that you won in the auction."

In the back-end trading area, a Core Formation cultivator arrived with a smile, carrying some items.

Both parties were satisfied with the exchange of spirit stones and demon cores.

After obtaining the demon core, Han Li immediately left the auction house.

They turned back to the Holy Mountain and headed straight for the fiftieth floor, showing no intention of lingering in Tianxing City any longer.

That is the location of the Starry Sky Palace.

It is the location of the Star Palace's external teleportation array.

"Fellow Daoist, would you like to be teleported?"

A white-robed Core Formation stage cultivator from the Star Palace asked calmly.

"Silver Shark Island, teleport only to me."

"Seven hundred spirit stones."

"it is good."

Han Li promptly gave the spirit stones, and even gave an extra seven hundred. In other words, he gave one thousand fourteen. Not a single stone more, not a single stone less.
"Fellow Daoist, if someone is following me, please inform them that I have gone to Ningcui Island."

Silver Shark Island is located in the northern part of the Outer Star Sea.

Ningcui Island is in the south.

If someone actually follows us, that'll get interesting.

He did this because he was just trying to be safe from any eventuality.

It's always good to be prepared.

Beside the teleportation array, the Core Formation stage cultivator from the Star Palace, responsible for teleportation to the outer sea, narrowed his eyes to slits:

"Easy to say, easy to say."

These spirit stones are easy to earn.

It does not violate the rules of the Holy Palace.

"Fellow Daoist, please come this way."

"Good work."

"This is a teleportation talisman..."

"Thank you."

A few breaths later, the teleportation light shone, then quickly went out again.

Less than thirty breaths after the teleportation light went out, two burly figures entered the Starry Sky Palace together.

Both of them were in the mid-stage of Core Formation.

"Fellow Daoist Zhang, it's been a long time..."

"Would you two like to be teleported?" the white-robed cultivator interrupted decisively.

"Fellow Daoist Zhang, did someone borrow the teleportation array to go to the outer sea earlier?"

One of the two offered one hundred spirit stones, but the Core Formation cultivator from the Star Palace did not accept it. Instead, he gave a straightforward response:
There is one person.

"Where has he gone?"

"Ningcui Island".

"Thank you very much, Brother Zhang. I will definitely repay you handsomely later." What a worthless empty promise.

"You're welcome... Shall we teleport now?"

"of course."

"Where?"

"Naturally, it is Ningcui Island."

The teleportation light quickly shone again, then rapidly receded.

However, the exact location of this teleportation is vastly different from the location of the previous teleportation.

Time flew by, and after a hundred or so breaths...

The two who had just teleported away returned to the Starry Sky Palace with grim expressions. They then teleported back from Emerald Island:

“Fellow Daoist Zhang, that person clearly did not go to Ningcui Island.”

"No? Then I must have remembered wrong."

"you…"

"Oh dear, I remember now, that fellow Daoist went to Silver Shark Island in the far north." Xinggong said with a grin, "Gentlemen, do you still want to teleport? This time I'm sure I'm not mistaken."

"Fellow Daoist Zhang, why bother?"

"If you take someone's money, you're just doing their bidding."

The white-robed cultivator put away his smile and said seriously.

“We gave it to them before.”

One of the two said angrily.

Upon hearing this, the white-robed cultivator from the Star Palace's expression hardened:
"Hmph, I didn't take anything without permission, so don't talk nonsense."

He's a man who values ​​rules the most.

Unless someone adds money.

Or the cost is higher.

Of the two mid-stage Core Formation cultivators, the other immediately understood the implied meaning:
"I understand, sigh."

"Brother, what does the guy surnamed Zhang mean?"

"That person gave us more than we did at the beginning."

"Ah? Heh, I see. What a pity, what a pity, the fat sheep that was already in our mouths..."

"Would you two like to teleport again?"

The white-robed cultivator from the Star Palace spoke again with a smile.

"No."

Can't catch up.

(End of this chapter)