Demon Sword Sect’s Undercover
Chapter 362 - 362 361 The Bamboo Island Agreement

362: Chapter 361: The Bamboo Island Agreement 362: Chapter 361: The Bamboo Island Agreement The bet on stones, after all, was more of a jest.

These people all came from various Daoist factions across Jinxiu, seeking thrills and making friends was part of their journey, especially among disciples from major countries and sects, who represented their future connections that could prove useful any day.

As the group that had formed traveled together for an increasingly long time, they gradually shed their initial reserve and became easier to get along with.

True loners, dedicated and solitary cultivators, would not join any travel group.

Hou Niao once again became an outsider, as he had turned down several fairies’ requests and subsequently fell out of favor with them, which naturally led to the disdain of a few Flower Protectors in the group who invariably favored the fairies; now, the cultivators from the Red Kestrel travel group were added to the mix.

Of course, it was merely a cold shoulder and nothing more serious.

Lao Cai and the guide from the Red Kestrel Conquest Team whispered to each other for a while before coming back to solicit everyone’s opinion,

“Fellow Daoists, I’ve just had a word with the Red Kestrel team.

Since everyone is interested in continuing the contest, we might as well adjust our itinerary and go to Bamboo Island first.

The Red Kestrel Team has invited us to accompany them.

I reckon since we all are acquainted and come from across the Continent, there shouldn’t be an issue with traveling together?

However, the route chosen by our Albatross group should depend on all of you.

It’s completely up to you whether you wish to join or not, may I know if anyone objects?”

Lao Cai was very shrewd, knowing that if he asked who was willing, more than half might be reluctant to express themselves; but if he asked if anyone was opposed, it was unlikely that anyone would want to speak up and become a target of displeasure, especially since many cultivators from big sects on the Continent were within the Red Kestrel group.

This was human nature: to steer a group, you don’t need everyone’s agreement, just the approval of a quarter to a third is sufficient, as most people are indifferent or apathetic.

As he expected, no one objected; even though a few female cultivators were somewhat reluctant, they went along with it seeing other female cultivators’ approval, and as for a few male cultivators, they simply followed the fairies’ preferences.

Their reluctance was mainly for the sake of peace and quiet, not because of any safety concerns.

Thus, the Albatross and the Red Kestrel formed a large group, leaving Huan Cui Island to rise in the air.

The Red Kestrel group was larger, forming a big V-formation, while the Albatross followed in a smaller V-formation, presenting quite a spectacular sight in flight.

In Hou Niao’s view, if they could unify their flying artifacts, it would look even more impressive—like all riding on flying swords or everyone flying with their physical bodies.

This assortment of individual artifacts made for a very disorganized sight, with dozens of cultivators but not two artifacts alike.

With such a group, no one would bother them.

But in Hou Niao’s view, while impressive, it meant that they would not encounter any adventures or challenges.

The destination was Bamboo Island, a seven-day journey ahead.

………

Fifteen hundred miles out on the continental shelf lies a beautiful, verdant island known as Bamboo Island.

Although not too far from the coastline, it is very distant from Mirage City, so it’s not conspicuous on the sea map.

Yet it is a very unique island, so different from the thousands of isles near the Lizhi Sea, that it has become one of the most popular must-visit holy lands for cultivators who travel from afar.

Bamboo Island is one of the very few that Jiedu Mansion acknowledges as a private island in the Lizhi Sea, not because the Island Master is powerful, but because the Island Master is unique, giving a nameless deserted isle its own name, turning it into one of the numerous shining pearls on the Lizhi Sea.

Bamboo Island is also the only island in the Lizhi Sea where the ecosystem has been altered.

Just a century ago, it was covered in volcanic ash, devoid of mineral resources, and without any marine resources nearby, making not even pirates willing to stop by this deserted island.

But a woman named Kun changed all that.

She brought greenery to the deserted island, planting Rouge Bamboo for decades on end, forming the lush and vibrant Bamboo Island seen today.

Rouge Bamboo, a rare spirit plant with many applications in artifact making, is a very common auxiliary material for artifact creation; this plant has high environmental demands, making it difficult to grow on the continent and challenging to shape, yet it somehow flourished unexpectedly on Bamboo Island.

Many people tried to plant Rouge Bamboo on nearby islands, hoping for rich rewards, but none succeeded.

Only then did they realize that the soil Rouge Bamboo truly relied on was the thick volcanic ash from the deserted island.

Such conditions are irreplicable, hence crafting the legend of Bamboo Island.

It is a mid-sized island spanning across dozens of miles, with the highest terrain in the north being the volcano’s crater which has been dormant for over a century with no eruptions.

However, smoke billows from the crater all year round, reminding everyone that it is an active volcano that could erupt at any time.

It is also because of the subterranean energy activity that constant clouds shroud the island, providing ample rainfall, creating a perfect environment for the growth of green plants like Rouge Bamboo.

Many factors are indispensable, and you can’t just recreate Bamboo Island’s conditions on any random isle.

The terrain of Bamboo Island, with the volcanic ash sediment gradually lowering from north to south, becomes flatter; large swathes of the Bamboo Sea envelop the island, with scattered ponds and hollows forming an interesting contrast.

There are also modest amounts of crops, which are necessary for the survival of humans on the island.

If the requirements aren’t too high, it’s entirely possible to be self-sufficient.

There are humans living on the island, all of whom are relatives, disciples, and descendants of the Island Master over the past century.

Outsiders are not accepted here, as an increase in the population would mean more farmland and more bamboo being cut down, which goes against the original intention of founding the island.

Hence, the number of people on Bamboo Island is strictly controlled.

If they are cultivators, no need to worry about them over-reproducing, for cultivation itself strips humans of their reproductive capabilities—in the eyes of Heavenly Dao, wanting both longevity and numerous descendants is insatiable greed!

If they are regular mortals, the day they marry is the day they leave Bamboo Island.

This ensures that the island’s population stays below a hundred, also a number that can be self-sufficient.

Among these hundred people, over half are cultivators, starting from Pulse, Energy Induction, Essence Building, Fasting, Bridge Connection, all the way up to the most accomplished Bamboo Island Master and her direct disciples.

At the southernmost tip of Bamboo Island, opposite the crater, lies a complex of buildings entirely constructed from bamboo, known as the prestigious Sea Bamboo Palace.

Without any additional decoration, the buildings bear the natural color of Rouge Bamboo, a verdant green with a hint of rouge red; if one looks down from the sky, it’s impossible to distinguish between the Bamboo Sea and the building complex, as if they merge into one.

The master of Sea Bamboo Palace, the Palace Master, is also the Island Master of Bamboo Island; her real name long forgotten, everyone simply calls her Lady Bamboo.

……Flowing elegance beneath the woods, taken to the pillowside.

Ice skin is pure by nature, jade bone naturally cool.

It’s best to be open-hearted, for righteousness is always strong.

A constant companion in the scorching summer, day and night, unforgettable.