Chapter 1630: Natural Allies

“Borrowing people?” Lu Ye was slightly startled, but quickly realized, “Does that mean your side already has a target?”

They had been in the Myriad Phenomenology Sea for over half a month. After all this time, the Four Directions Star System had clearly found a suitable target and was preparing to act.

Kang Cheng nodded, “Yes, we have. We’re preparing to attack that spirit island. To prevent a shortage of personnel, we hope you fellow cultivators can offer some assistance. Of course, we won’t ask for your help in vain.”

Lu Ye pondered for a moment. The cultivators from the Three Realms and the Four Directions Star System had come together, and in the future, if any more Three Realms cultivators wished to come to the Myriad Phenomenology Sea, Wuding would be the only path. Therefore, Kang Cheng coming to ask for assistance was naturally not a big deal.

After thinking, Lu Ye asked, “Which medium-grade spirit island are you planning to attack?”

Kang Cheng chuckled, “For now, we’re not targeting a medium-grade spirit island. Although we haven’t been here long, we’ve found intricate connections between many spirit islands, especially the medium-grade ones, most of which have their own allies. Before we’re confident we can firmly establish ourselves on a medium-grade spirit island, we plan to test the waters with a low-grade one.”

When Kang Cheng said he wanted to “borrow people,” he certainly wasn't referring to Star Constellation cultivators, but Moon Splendor cultivators.

According to the rules of the Myriad Phenomenology Sea, no single force participating in a conflict can have more than five Moon Splendor cultivators. The Four Directions Star System already had four late-stage Moon Splendor cultivators, so there was one remaining slot. Borrowing one more from their side would make it exactly five.

However, given the overall strength of the Four Directions Star System, a mere low-grade spirit island could be easily taken. There was absolutely no need to come here to borrow people.

This wasn't asking for help; it was offering a benefit.

Kang Cheng continued, “A low-grade spirit island is not our ultimate goal. When the opportunity arises, we will capture a medium-grade spirit island. At that time, the low-grade spirit island can be handed over to you to manage.”

This was indeed a significant benefit.

For cultivators from the Three Realms, with their current foundation, having a low-grade spirit island would be excellent. Among the many forces in the Myriad Phenomenology Sea, how many actually owned their own spirit islands?

Even the lowest-grade spirit island was better than a barren island like Three Realms Island, because cultivators could save a significant amount of spirit jade by cultivating there.

The Four Directions Star System's decision was clearly due to Lu Ye. Perhaps Luo Xie had told them something before his departure, or it was their own initiative.

Luan Xiao'e evidently grasped this point, so she remained silent, simply watching Lu Ye and waiting for him to make a decision.

Lu Ye pondered for a while before finally speaking, “Fellow Daoist Kang, I appreciate your kind intentions. However, the Three Realms cannot compare to your side. Even if we were to occupy that low-grade spirit island in the future, with our current foundation, we might not be able to defend it.”

Kang Cheng said, “We can help you.”

“I have no doubt about that. But as you said, many forces in the Myriad Phenomenology Sea have intricate connections. While your side can help us, others might also have allies. Forces capable of occupying medium-grade spirit islands are not something our Three Realms cultivators can contend with at present.”

Kang Cheng mused for a moment and generally understood Lu Ye's meaning.

If the Four Directions Star System were to capture a medium-grade spirit island in the future, and its original owners felt they couldn't retaliate directly, they would naturally target the Three Realms cultivators who were associated with the Four Directions Star System. At that time, they would certainly be attacked.

However, this point was not easy to state explicitly.

“It seems we didn’t consider everything thoroughly,” Kang Cheng said, having understood Lu Ye’s implications.

“Nevertheless, thank you very much for your kind offer.”

“It’s only right. Without you, the Four Directions Star System wouldn’t be what it is today. Senior Brother Luo instructed us before he left that if the Three Realms ever need assistance, we must not refuse. In the future, if you have any requests, please remember to send a message and let us know.”

Kang Cheng specifically mentioned sending a message, clearly indicating that in the future, cultivators from the Four Directions Star System would not publicly associate with the Three Realms, to avoid implicating them.

Kang Cheng soon departed.

Lu Ye watched him go. Although the Four Directions Star System's offer was indeed well-intentioned, he might have accepted it if he didn't possess the Minor Star Constellation Palace. But since he did, a mere low-grade spirit island held little appeal for him. It was just difficult to make his disinterest too obvious. Otherwise, with a slight adjustment to the Minor Star Constellation Palace's power, he could transform Three Realms Island into a low-grade spirit island in less than ten days.

As for Kang Cheng thinking Lu Ye feared the Three Realms being implicated, Lu Ye genuinely hadn't considered that. Three Realms Island was bound to become active in the future and would certainly attract attention. When Three Realms Island transformed into a high-grade spirit island or even a top-grade one, it would be hard to say who might implicate whom.

After giving a few instructions to Luan Xiao'e and Tang Jun, Lu Ye turned and headed towards his living quarters.

His allocated living quarters were in the best area of Three Realms Island. This area was quite spacious, yet it only contained three residential buildings in total, each belonging to one of the three island masters.

Lu Ye's quarters were in the center. The building itself was quite large, complete with various side halls, easily accommodating dozens of people, let alone just him.

He found a room, entered it, picked up his conch shell, and blew it. Calculating the time, it was time for his agreed meeting with Yan Miao.

Although it had been previously confirmed that the conch's imprint could be carried on the cold jade tablet, whether this method would actually work still needed to be verified.

It would be best if it worked, as it would make his future visits to the Star Constellation Palace much more convenient.

The conch sounded, the portal opened, and Lu Ye stepped inside.

As he passed through the portal, Lu Ye's brows rose. Before him was no longer the familiar entrance to the Heavenly Conch Hall, but an area of vacuum.

He turned his head and saw the ancient Star Constellation Palace before his eyes. To one side, Yan Miao waited with several members of the Merfolk tribe, including Bai Lu.

Besides her and Yan Miao, there were two other merfolk, a male and a female, both apparently preparing for their Moon Splendor advancement this time.

At that moment, the cold jade tablet lay before Yan Miao, and the portal was on it.

This vacuum environment was not created by Yan Miao, but by the power of a golden conch shell. Bai Lu held the conch, and golden light rippled from it, pushing away the seawater and transforming the area where they stood into a vacuum.

The Merfolk tribe had indeed thought of everything. Without the power of this conch, the cold jade tablet would surely be corroded by the Myriad Phenomenology Sea's waters, and it was uncertain whether the conch imprint Lu Ye left on it would still exist.

Everyone greeted Lu Ye, and Yan Miao said, “Thank you for your trouble, young friend.”

Lu Ye nodded, wasted no words, and approached the Star Constellation Palace, reaching out to push the door.

The merfolk watched curiously, as they had already tried before Lu Ye arrived. Yet, even someone as powerful as Yan Miao couldn't budge the Star Constellation Palace door by an inch.

Now, under their gaze, Lu Ye appeared to use very little effort, yet he actually pushed open the temple’s great door!

Yan Miao's eyes gleamed with surprise. She immediately understood that Lu Ye was indeed the one chosen by the divine temple; otherwise, there was no reason he could open the door so easily.

If that was the case, then the ancestral teachings were correct: those favored by the divine temple definitely had the ability to resolve the curse poison afflicting their Merfolk branch!

As the great door opened, everyone rushed inside.

Lu Ye entered only after everyone else was inside.

Strangely, the portal, which appeared on the cold jade tablet, followed them inside when Yan Miao carried the tablet in!

Lu Ye had expected the portal to remain outside.

Apart from Bai Lu, the other three merfolk were entering the Star Constellation Palace for the first time. They naturally looked around curiously. Unfortunately, there was nothing new or surprising to see inside, apart from an ancient stone tablet in the very center.

“Grand Elder,” Lu Ye began, “rumor has it that the Star Constellation Palace provides immense assistance for cultivators advancing to Moon Splendor, but I’m unsure of the specific method. The Princess and the others will have to figure that out themselves.”

Bai Lu smiled faintly, “I’ve already learned about it from You Ling. I naturally know what to do, so you can rest assured.”

Lu Ye was surprised; he had forgotten about You Ling. Although the Star Constellation Palace she entered was merely a projection, it likely retained some of the palace’s divine effects. It was certainly best that Bai Lu had learned the details from her beforehand.

Yan Miao said, “Young friend, if you have other matters, you may leave now. Just return later to escort them out. I will stay here to guard them.”

Lu Ye didn't have any pressing matters, but since the portal’s duration was limited, he couldn’t actually stay.

“Then I wish the three of you a smooth and successful advancement. May you all be Moon Splendor cultivators when we meet again!” Lu Ye offered a blessing, arranged the next meeting time with Yan Miao, and then departed through the portal.

He genuinely wanted to observe how Star Constellations advanced to Moon Splendor. Such a close-up opportunity was rare. As he was currently in the late Star Constellation stage, he would eventually undergo this step, and observing it would certainly be beneficial for learning.

When Lu Ye returned, only a short while had passed—about the time it takes to steep a cup of tea. The Three Realms cultivators hadn’t even noticed his departure.

The changes at Peerless Island made him alert. When he had been there previously, Peerless Island’s foundation was actually very weak, as Tang Jun was the only Moon Splendor cultivator from beginning to end. If not for Chu Shen’s background attracting so many forces to reside there, it would have been conquered long ago.

However, when Peerless Island later ascended to a top-grade spirit island, Chu Shen’s background no longer held sway.

Now, Three Realms Island did have two Moon Splendor cultivators and nearly five hundred Star Constellation cultivators, but such a force was truly insignificant in the Myriad Phenomenology Sea. When Three Realms Island eventually became active, if it only transformed into a low-grade spirit island, that would be one thing. But if it became a medium-grade spirit island, this level of strength would be utterly insufficient.

Relying on the Four Directions Star System was unreliable; they also planned to cause trouble and would surely offend others. While relying on them, it would also attract the attention of their enemies.

Therefore, Three Realms Island still needed allies! Not to mention the Star Constellation level, the Moon Splendor level was ultimately still lacking.

But where could one find allies in such a place?

Lu Ye thought long and hard and could only come up with one direction: the Merfolk tribe was the most natural ally!

Individuals like Yan Miao, with cultivation near the peak of the late Moon Splendor stage, were no less capable than Luan Xiao'e. If they could contribute at crucial moments, the safety of Three Realms Island would not be a concern.

The Merfolk tribe, moreover, had quite a few Moon Splendor cultivators. Several of their Grand Elders were all in the late Moon Splendor stage. The biggest issue with this branch of the tribe was the absence of a Sunlit cultivator.

Unfortunately, due to the curse poison, the Merfolk tribe couldn’t operate outside the Myriad Phenomenology Sea, making them ultimately unreliable.