Demon Sword Sect’s Undercover -
Chapter 358 - 358 357 Traveling Faithfully to Heaven
358: Chapter 357: Traveling Faithfully to Heaven 358: Chapter 357: Traveling Faithfully to Heaven In the sky, a black flag fluttered in the wind.
On the flag, three golden characters: “Xintianweng.”
This was the rule of leading the group, to demonstrate the nature and purpose of the team; otherwise, the sight of a dozen or even dozens of cultivators advancing might be mistaken for a pirate group attack.
Being a guide in the Lizhi Sea was a popular profession, but not just anyone could fill the role; one needed a license issued by the Jiedu Mansion of Lihai before they could operate, or else it was an unauthorized group, without the protection of the Jiedu Mansion.
Not every cultivator who came to the Lizhi Sea turned into a pirate or became an island master; many other professions existed, and there were those who insisted on relying on their own efforts to make a living.
To become a guide, there were several threshold conditions, such as having at least twenty years of experience in Lihai, being incredibly familiar with the sea conditions and areas, possessing a wide network of connections, being capable communicators, and more.
Besides, one must be a local from Mirage City, someone whose background was thoroughly known.
This was to prevent guides from harboring ulterior motives and leading their clients astray.
Having roots in the locality, one would consider the consequences of their actions, not daring to act recklessly.
The Xintianweng group, consisting of members from various parts of the continent, according to Old Cai, belonged to the southwest region, and he was the only one from there; the others were cultivators from the northwest, the north, and the northeast of the continent, and there were also two from the southeast region.
The Southeastern countries were adjacent to the Sky’s End Ocean, yet not many from there traveled to the Lizhi Sea.
Unlike ordinary people traveling in groups, the relationships among cultivators were more reserved; it was hard to see the kind of friendship that develops after just a few days of interaction, a few meals, or several drinking sessions together.
Although they were all part of one team, they still maintained a certain distance from each other, a characteristic of cultivators.
At their stage, making friends while traveling became very complicated, depending on each individual’s personality traits, their behavior in social settings, Daoist ideologies, etc.
Generally, cultivators were more reserved, with few possessing the generous and open-hearted temperament that if resemble, one would hardly make it back alive from an outing.
In the cultivation circles, countless traps abounded, impossible to guard against.
The Xintianweng team formed a V-formation in the sky, with Old Cai at the lead and the others in the wings of the formation; Hou Niao, having joined last, naturally took a position at the base of the wing.
While it was difficult to discern their Daoist affiliations on the island, once they took to the skies, it was a true case of the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, each displaying their divine skills.
Shuttle Boat, Ti Lan, Phoenix Feather, Eighteen-Foot Red Silk, Ghost Head, Bird, Bu Yao, Jade Belt, Peng Che, and now, a Flying Sword had been added.
All were spiritual artifacts; no one flew with their physical bodies.
This was a principle for long-distance travel, not to squander precious mana on mere travel, keeping abundant mana ready for battle was a safety precaution when outside.
Apart from Old Cai and Hou Niao, there were fifteen others in the team, and surprisingly, more than half were female cultivators, hence the colorful display during the V-formation flight.
Ti Lan Phoenix Feather, Red Silk Bu Yao, Jade Belt Peng Che, Cloud Mirage Red Cranes; once they took flight, it looked like a fashion show in the sky, quite a spectacular sight.
In comparison, the Sword Control Technique seemed quite mundane, not matching the speed and visual appeal of the others.
To ordinary mortals witnessing this, they would exclaim at the former: “Hey, there are immortals!”
For the latter, they would merely shout: “Oh, a shooting star.”
Kunxi preferred to join such a travel group, dictated by the different choices male and female cultivators make on the path of cultivation, with the interests and hobbies of Kunxi often focusing on alchemy, talisman crafting, Spirit Plant Formation Paths, and other directions oriented towards the cultivation of longevity.
Just like in the Quanzhen Sect, there are also female sword cultivators, but they are, after all, a minority.
Their next destination was Huan Cui Island, not for its lush greenery, but because the island produces Jade, named Dripping Jade, which is considered top-grade jade in the Cultivation World and has a wide range of applications, especially for those oriented towards enhancement.
Two days later, under the guidance of Old Cai, familiar with the route, they found Huan Cui Island, which from the sky, was merely a bald stone island, hardly a scenic beauty, but they were not there to sightsee, they were there to spend.
In a similar familiar manner, Old Cai led everyone to the original mining site of the Dripping Jade, where large and small chunks of raw Dripping Jade stone were scattered everywhere, some already cut open, others still unaltered.
This is the charm of Huan Cui Island, indeed, you can buy finished products of Dripping Jade in Mirage City, clearly priced according to color, quality, and rarity, but such transactions lack a certain amusement, hence the bet on raw stones at Huan Cui Island.
No blade cutting, just relying on eyesight and experience, one could also probe the interior by shaking it with mana, as long as you do not damage the raw stone or use artifacts, any method is permissible.
The bet was ultimately on whether there was jade in the stone?
What color?
What quality?
How much jade?
Were there any cracks or flaws?
Humans are a gambling species, regardless of gender, especially the Kunxi, who have little resistance to these vibrant, enticing objects.
Thus, a great deal of Spirit Stones was scattered, both to validate one’s judgment and for the allure of a bargain, far more enjoyable than dealing in those finished Dripping Jade products.
Over centuries, this industry on Huan Cui Island has grown to a considerable scale, establishing a strict process, attracting cultivators from all directions to come here and test their skills, making it an indispensable stop for travelers in the Lizhi Sea.
The guests have fun, the mine earns Spirit Stones, and the guides get a handsome commission; everyone gains, making it good business.
Of course, there are requirements regarding one’s Realm; those above the Golden Core Realm are not allowed to bet on stones here, because for them, it’s not gambling, but a sure thing.
The main participants are cultivators from the three Tongtian Realms, with those in the Tongxuan Realm paying the lowest tax, merely symbolic; cultivators in the God Sensing Realm face heavy taxes, and if a Natural Realm cultivator comes here to gamble on stones, the tax nearly equals the transaction price, designed to maintain fairness—after all, the higher the realm, the more adept one becomes at using mana, and the higher the success rate of stone gambling.
How could the mine possibly take such a loss for no reason?
The members of the Albatross Group all belonged to the lowest in the three Tongtian Realms, the Tongxuan Realm, where for them, the ability to see the internal structure of the raw stones was still vague and ambiguous, making it the most enjoyable phase.
Not far from the mine, there was a huge open-air shed, amassing countless raw stones like a small hill; among these raw stones, hundreds of cultivators were searching high and low.
The travel group was not limited to just the Albatross; numerous independent travelers also came here alone, creating a unique market.
Old Cai led the members to complete the formalities, his earnings this time were wholly dependent on the spending power of these group members.
Especially those women, for whom he had no hope for the male cultivators; after many years of leading groups, in terms of lavish spending, the male cultivators simply couldn’t compare to the female cultivators.
Especially that woman with the sword on her back.
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