Chapter 729: Small Trouble

Feeling it, Qin Sang discovered the Thunder Cocoon was very stable and could be safely stored in his Qi Sea without fear of explosion.

However, the outcome of the mutation was unknown; it could be good or bad. He might gain new divine abilities, or his existing bloodline abilities could be affected, rendering them useless. Fortunately, this type of mutation usually didn't affect the final transformation. Since the Tianmu Butterfly actively devoured it, and it was a rare thunder power, the final result shouldn't be too bad.

"Will it gain thunder abilities and become a Thunder Butterfly?" Qin Sang was very much looking forward to it.

The thundercloud above the cave still lingered, but the most essential white mist had already been consumed by the Tianmu Butterfly. Qin Sang looked around, confirmed there were no omissions, collected the Feitian Night Yaksha, and returned the way he came.

After leaving Hongye Island, things were much more relaxed. Qin Sang returned to Luying Island. After waiting for a merchant ship, he boarded it and headed straight for his chosen base – Wuyuan Island.

Wuyuan Island actually consisted of five small islands, not far from each other. Cultivators simply named them after the five elements – for example, Jinyuan (Gold Element), Muyuan (Wood Element), and so on – collectively calling them Wuyuan Islands. The cultivators on the five islands supported each other and managed to establish a foothold in that sea area.

Cultivators separated themselves onto the five islands because beast tides frequently occurred here. Following the strategy of a cunning rabbit having three burrows, if one island was attacked by a beast tide, cultivators from the other islands could go to assist, and once the beast tide dispersed, they would seize the opportunity to reclaim it. It sounded quite dangerous, but according to the merchant association's understanding, the cultivators on Wuyuan Island were very skilled at dealing with beast tides. The casualties from each tide were not as severe as imagined, and many cultivators were willing to stay on Wuyuan Island.

The long journey by ship. Qin Sang cultivated while observing the Tianmu Butterfly's changes daily. The Tianmu Butterfly was his vital spirit insect-gu, and despite the obstruction of the Thunder Cocoon, he could still vaguely sense its state. The thunder power on its wings became increasingly concentrated. Following this trend, it might truly mutate into a Thunder Butterfly. However, the Tianmu Butterfly showed no signs of waking up. It seemed the mutation process would likely be very long.

Jinyuan Island.

Qin Sang stepped off the ship and looked surprised at the unique scenery on the island. Jinyuan Island was quite large, but it was mostly wilderness. The area enclosed by stones along the island's shore was called a city, but it was more like a village. The town consisted entirely of simple houses built from stacked stones and wooden planks, and its two intersecting wide main roads appeared exceptionally rough. Most striking were a dozen stone pillars outside the town, each six or seven zhang tall and thick enough for two people to embrace, covered in densely carved runes.

"Are these stone pillars the island's protective formation?" Qin Sang was somewhat speechless. The island's protective formation was surprisingly crude and conspicuously erected there. The stone pillars were not made of special spiritual materials, just ordinary stones, slightly harder than common ones. Once the formation was activated, it certainly wouldn't last long. It was likely that before the demonic beasts could even break through the formation, the pillars themselves would disintegrate. Clearly, the cultivators on the island had long prepared to flee.

There were many people on the town's streets, indicating that the conflict between the two races had not significantly affected this place. Qin Sang tightened his cloak, walked quickly into the town, soon found the Qiongyu Merchant Association's shop, took out his token, and stepped inside.

Inside the shop, there was only an old man at the Foundation Establishment stage, who enthusiastically came forward to greet him, "Senior, what kind of beast hides do you wish to sell? Our small shop guarantees a high purchase price..."

Hearing this, Qin Sang frowned and merely showed his token. The old man paused slightly, then was overjoyed, and quickly bowed, "So it is Senior Qingfeng! Please forgive this old man's poor eyesight; I pay my respects, Senior!"

"Rise!" Qin Sang indifferently raised a hand, looking around the shop. He noticed that the shelves were uniformly stocked with various beast hides, with no other magic tools, elixirs, or similar items.

Just as he was about to ask, he suddenly heard the angry voices of the Wang sisters from outside the hall. The Wang sisters: the elder sister was Wang Shi, and the younger sister was Wang Xiang. The younger sister's voice was sharper; it was indeed the younger sister who was speaking.

"Sister, that rogue was so rude! How dare he humiliate you to your face? When Daoist Master arrives, we must make him regret it..." Wang Xiang stamped her feet as she walked, muttering curses.

Her elder sister, Wang Shi, sternly admonished her, "Mind your words! That person is a cultivator at the mid-Core Formation stage. Don't speak carelessly, lest someone with ulterior motives hear it and cause trouble for the Daoist Master."

Wang Xiang looked aggrieved. "Not only did this person publicly humiliate us, he also tried to lay hands on us. Are we just going to let it go?"

"Someone with such high cultivation certainly isn't driven by lust. His humiliation of us is actually for the benefit of Wuyuan Island. Let's endure it for now and discuss it when Daoist Master returns. Don't let a moment's impulse ruin important matters..." Wang Shi spoke persuasively.

As they spoke, the two women entered the shop. Seeing Qin Sang, they both showed signs of surprise and delight. The two women were about to bow when Qin Sang stopped them, saying calmly, "Daoist Friend Wang, who was it that just humiliated you?"

Wang Shi glanced at her younger sister, suppressing her with her eyes, and said, "Daoist Master, please don't listen to Wang Xiang's nonsense. I merely went to discuss business with several major merchant associations of the Eastern Pole Alliance and had a minor dispute with Daoist Friend Cui Ji."

"It's not that simple, is it? Since it concerns our merchant association's business, you don't need to tolerate it." Qin Sang looked at Wang Xiang, "You tell me, who is Cui Ji, and what happened?"

Wang Shi looked helpless. Named by Qin Sang, Wang Xiang, who had been bursting with frustration, finally spoke freely, chattering on and on. Qin Sang thus learned the full story.

Cui Ji was originally an overseer sent by the Nine Stars Guild to manage affairs on Wuyuan Island. Qin Sang was no stranger to the Nine Stars Guild; he had traveled on their multi-decked ship when he first arrived in the Demonic Sea. The Nine Stars Guild was immensely powerful, holding a crucial position within the Eastern Pole Alliance.

After Cui Ji arrived on Wuyuan Island, he proved to be troublesome. He gathered the merchant associations of the Eastern Pole Alliance on the island and decreed that all other powers must conduct their buying and selling according to his demands. The Qiongyu Merchant Association, for instance, had originally only assigned a few Foundation Establishment cultivators, making them weak and severely suppressed. This was why Qin Sang had seen only beast hides in the shop.

Qin Sang didn't get angry; instead, he smiled. "A mere mid-Core Formation cultivator can lord it over everyone here?"

The old man replied helplessly, "Senior, you don't know the situation. There are a few seniors on Wuyuan Island whose cultivation is higher than Cui Ji's, but this man is simply flaunting the Nine Stars Guild's power. They fear the Eastern Pole Alliance and don't wish to offend him. Furthermore, Cui Ji knows how to bully subordinates and flatter superiors; he won't actively provoke them, allowing them to coexist peacefully. The forces of the Western Gloom Alliance and the Northern Star Alliance are similar to our Eastern Pole Alliance. The three major merchant alliances have divided their respective spheres of influence on Wuyuan Island and do not interfere with each other. Wuyuan Island's status is not as important as larger islands, and the overseers sent by our various merchant associations are not as strong as Cui Ji, so they can only suppress their anger and not speak out..."

"It seems Cui Ji heard the news and wants to give us a 'show of strength'. I knew Old Zou and Overseer Ran wouldn't be so kind as to let me cultivate peacefully. Thankfully, they didn't send me to deal with a late-stage expert..." Qin Sang shook his head, sat down, and said, "Tell me more about this Cui Ji."