Chapter 368: Ling Bie Island

After a short while, the middle-aged scholar and Leng Rumei, along with dozens of disciples, left Taiyi Pavilion.

Soon after, they appeared in a spacious hall containing over a dozen teleportation arrays. Some people were teleporting in, while others were teleporting out.

"We are going to Lingbie Market, fifty people," a Taiyi Immortal Sect disciple stated, taking out a heavy green storage pouch and handing it to the guard overseeing the teleportation array.

After confirming the number, the guard respectfully said, "For the large teleportation array, ten people can teleport at a time." Wang Mingren quickly followed nine fellow disciples onto the array. The guard affixed a shimmering silver talisman to each of them before casting a spell upon the teleportation array.

"Buzz!" A thick, dazzling pillar of light emanated from the teleportation array beneath their feet, engulfing Wang Mingren and the others.

After a dizzying sensation, Wang Mingren and the nine other disciples found themselves in an even more spacious hall.

As it was Wang Mingren's first time using a large teleportation array, he felt somewhat disoriented.

"Hurry down, the next group is about to teleport!" the guard urged, ushering Wang Mingren and the others away from the array.

Leng Rumei and the rest of the group soon teleported over, and Wang Mingren curiously surveyed his surroundings.

A commotion could be heard from outside the hall, with faint sounds of hawkers calling out their wares.

The middle-aged scholar and Leng Rumei led Wang Mingren and the others outside. The streets were bustling with people, creating a lively atmosphere.

The language of the South Sea differed from that of the Eastern Barren Lands, but the Taiyi Immortal Sect had already trained the disciples bound for the South Sea, so normal communication posed no problems.

The South Sea had a much earlier history of development than the Eastern Barren Lands, and its commerce flourished.

Before departing, Wang Mingren had reviewed information about the South Sea.

The South Sea bordered the vast ocean, characterized by numerous islands and relatively little landmass.

Lingbie Island, shaped like a spiritual turtle (lingbie), was named after it and belonged to the Coral Sea Domain.

The Coral Sea Domain contained tens of millions of islands, with Lingbie Island being just one medium-sized island.

In the South Sea, islands were categorized into four types based on their size and cultivation resources: miniature, small, medium, and large.

Miniature islands were those with a circumference of less than 100 li. Small islands ranged from 100 li to less than 500 li, while medium islands were those exceeding 1,000 li but less than 1,500 li.

Lingbie Island measured 1,342 li in length and 832 li in width. It boasted a high-grade third-tier spiritual vein and was overseen by a Nascent Soul cultivator.

A market town, named Lingbie Market, was established on Lingbie Island. Lingbie Market was one of the four large market towns in the Coral Sea Domain, rich in cultivation resources and frequented by numerous cultivators.

As Wang Mingren walked forward, he observed the pedestrians on the street.

Most of the cultivators on the streets were at the Foundation Establishment stage, with one or two Core Formation cultivators also visible.

Most of the cultivators on the street were human, but there were also tall, colorful-skinned beastkin.

Wang Mingren had consulted the records beforehand and knew that the South Sea was home to many different races, with the beastkin being a relatively common one.

Beastkin were individually immensely powerful, and with minimal cultivation, they became body cultivators. Strictly speaking, beastkin had human blood flowing through their veins, and their relationship with humans was generally good.

Fifteen minutes later, Leng Rumei and her group stopped at the entrance of a magnificent palace.

The three large characters "Taiyi Palace" were prominently displayed. This served as both the residence for Taiyi Immortal Sect disciples and the place for distributing tasks. Taiyi Immortal Sect disciples were seen entering and exiting frequently.

The interior of the palace was extraordinarily luxurious and very spacious.

In the center, there were two green wooden tables, in front of which long queues had formed. Two steward disciples were distributing tasks to the Taiyi Immortal Sect disciples.

The middle-aged scholar and Leng Rumei did not linger in the main hall and went directly to the fourth floor.

The fourth floor was elegantly furnished with sandalwood furniture, and several landscape paintings adorned the walls.

A ruddy-faced old man in white robes sat by a tea table, engrossed in an ancient book.

"Senior Brother Mo, what a fine mood you're in!" the middle-aged scholar said with a smile as he approached.

The white-robed old man put down his book, a sincere smile appearing on his face. "Junior Brother Yang, Junior Sister Leng, you've finally arrived! Martial Uncle Li was asking about you recently!"

"This is your Martial Uncle Mo Yishan. Hurry and pay your respects to Martial Uncle Mo."

"Disciples pay their respects to Martial Uncle Mo," the disciples said in unison, their expressions respectful.

Mo Yishan nodded and said, "You've had a long journey. There's something I must remind you: the South Sea is not like the Eastern Barren Lands. While it's rich in cultivation resources, it's also much more chaotic. Even disciples of our Taiyi Immortal Sect, let alone those from the Four Seas Sect, can meet with misfortune here. Try not to go out alone, and never flaunt your wealth. Do your tasks diligently. The spiritual energy here is abundant, and cultivation resources are plentiful, so cultivating here will be much faster than within the sect.

"On the surface, this Lingbie Market appears to be a joint venture between our Taiyi Immortal Sect and the Four Seas Sect. In reality, the Four Seas Sect is merely a nominal partner; our Taiyi Immortal Sect controls the market. Your safety is guaranteed on Lingbie Island, but once you leave it, things become unpredictable. Every year, several disciples mysteriously disappear. Take this as a warning. For now, rest well for the night; your assignments will be arranged tomorrow."

"Yes, disciples obey your command."

Mo Yishan took out a palm-sized blue seashell and cast a spell upon it. The seashell's surface illuminated with countless blue runes as he said, "Martial Nephew Song, send some people over to arrange accommodations for the sect's newly arrived disciples."

"Yes, Martial Uncle Mo."

Soon after, over a dozen steward disciples came up and led Wang Mingren and the others away.

The steward disciple arranged a stone room for Wang Mingren, measuring over ten zhang in size, complete with a small spirit-gathering array, making the spiritual energy abundant.

"Who among you wishes to go out and explore? In teams of ten, we can take you around." Having just arrived at Lingbie Market and only having read about it in texts, Wang Mingren was more than eager for a fellow disciple to accompany him.

Wang Mingren and nine other disciples followed a senior disciple named Li Xin out of Taiyi Palace.

As Li Xin led the way, he introduced them to the situation in the Coral Sea Domain.

The Four Seas Sect was the controller of the Coral Sea Domain. Besides the Taiyi Immortal Sect, there were three major powers in the Coral Sea Domain: the Cold Flame Sect, the Sky Sea Pavilion, and Yellow Dragon Island.

The Coral Sea Domain was rich in demonic beast resources. There were tens of thousands of known islands alone, plus many unknown ones.

Cultivators frequently formed teams to hunt demonic beasts, and incidents of murder and treasure appropriation often occurred. Even disciples of the Taiyi Immortal Sect had been ambushed and killed.

Lingbie Island primarily dealt with the acquisition and sale of demonic beast materials. Most of the Taiyi Immortal Sect disciples' tasks involved patrolling the market. Their duties were simple, operated on a rotation system, and did not interfere with their cultivation.

"Senior Brother Li, you mentioned that this place is rich in demonic beast resources. Have there ever been fourth-tier demonic beasts? There won't be a beast tide, will there?" a disciple casually asked.

Li Xin smiled slightly and replied, "To be frank, Junior Brother Liu, the Coral Sea Domain has indeed seen fourth-tier demonic beasts and experienced beast tides. However, demonic beasts of the fourth tier and above can transform into human form. They have an agreement with our human race's high-level cultivators not to instigate beast tides. With a Nascent Soul Ancestor guarding the island, beast tides triggered by third-tier demonic beasts are nothing to fear."