Chapter 736: Spiritual Vein

Learning that Lu Yang and the others were disciples of the Five Elements Sect, many factions, besides the Three Heroes of Fangshan Island, extended olive branches, hoping to visit their territories; some even hinted at marriage alliances by offering their daughters.

By contrast, Lu Yang and the others felt that the Three Heroes of Fangshan Island were more reliable.

Upon arriving at Fangshan Island, Lu Yang discovered that the so-called Fangshan Island was not a single island, but the name for an archipelago, with countless small islands surrounding the main island like stars.

According to the Three Heroes, the main island of Fangshan possessed a top-tier fourth-grade spirit vein, which many Nascent Soul cultivators coveted. Legend had it that a rare heavenly treasure was hidden beneath the spirit vein, though this was merely a legend, as no one had ever seen it.

Spirit veins were also a specialty of the East Sea, of which Lu Yang had heard. A first-grade spirit vein allowed Qi Refining cultivators to cultivate, a second-grade spirit vein allowed Foundation Establishment cultivators, and so on.

Spirit veins of the same grade could be further divided into three tiers: upper, middle, and lower.

A top-tier fourth-grade spirit vein was the best Nascent Soul cultivators could hope for.

The Three Heroes were the masters of Fangshan Island. Numerous families, rogue cultivators, and countless mortals were affiliated with them, totaling over a million inhabitants. Mortals worked from sunrise to sunset, primarily serving to provide new cultivation talents. Early Qi Refining cultivators had various roles, such as being spiritual farmers or cultivating spirit grains.

Fangshan Island resembled a small kingdom, which greatly surprised Lu Yang and the others.

"Masters," the maidservants had been waiting on Fangshan Island early for the Three Heroes' return.

The maidservants were carefully selected and trained by the families on Fangshan Island and were all quite attractive.

Grandmaster Yan, the eldest of the Three Heroes, invited the five to the main hall and had a maidservant bring tea.

"Wait a moment," Lu Yang called out, stopping the maidservant. This made Grandmaster Yan nervous, thinking he had offended Lu Yang in some way.

Lu Yang shielded his identity jade token with his hand, as it bore the inscription "Dao Seeking Sect," which he couldn't let Grandmaster Yan see.

"Please brew this instead; we're more accustomed to drinking this," Lu Yang said with a smile, handing the maidservant a packet of tea.

Grandmaster Yan's pupils contracted as he smelled the tea's aroma. "This is..."

"Enlightenment Tea?"

"It really is Enlightenment Tea?!"

"Oh? Grandmaster Yan, have you had it before?"

Grandmaster Yan was hardly qualified to drink such tea. He had once been fortunate enough to attend a banquet hosted by several Integration stage cultivators, where one grand cultivator mysteriously took out a treasure: Enlightenment Tea.

Even the other Integration stage cultivators present wanted some, but he refused to give it. Only after much pleading did he finally brew a pot for everyone to share.

The packet Lu Yang brought out, let alone brewing a single pot, was more than enough to brew a whole basinful.

Lu Yang was not short on Enlightenment Tea. Not to mention other sources, there was an Enlightenment Tea Tree King in the medicinal garden. The Enlightenment Tea his senior sister drank was plucked from this Tree King, and given Lu Yang's relationship with the Little Medicine Kings, getting a few packets of Enlightenment Tea was effortless.

This was even without considering the Immortal Fairy's innate ability to suppress spiritual plants.

Once the Enlightenment Tea was brewed, the Three Heroes, as if consuming an immortal elixir, carefully lifted their teacups and drank.

The aroma was even richer than the Enlightenment Tea served at the banquet!

Grandmaster Yan's gaze towards Lu Yang and the others held a newfound reverence.

"Grandmaster Yan, could you please introduce us to the various powers in the East Sea?" Lu Yang wanted to match them with the markings on his map.

Feeling indebted, Grandmaster Yan was forthright. "The East Sea can be divided into two major powers: the Sea Race and the Human Race. The Sea Race has ten supreme and powerful races: the Dragon Race, the Kunpeng Race, the Kui Race... These races all have Tribulation Transcending stage Demon Emperors. The Dragon Race, in particular, has unfathomable foundations, and it's unknown how many Tribulation Transcending cultivators they possess. It's said that the old Dragon Emperor has lived for nine thousand years."

"Below these ten supreme races are races like the Dragon-Horse Race, the Mirage Race, the Ao Race, the Merman Race, the Yaksha Race, the Dragon-Human Race, and so on. These sea races are all overseen by Integration stage Great Demon Kings."

"Further down, there are countless other races, such as the Sea Spider Race and the Spirit Fish Race. These races have cultivators at the Spirit Transformation stage, but it's unknown if they have Void Refinement cultivators."

In the East Sea, cultivators who reach the Void Refinement stage tend to keep a very low profile, concealing news of their breakthrough to avoid enemies discovering their cultivation level and seeking them out.

"Compared to the Sea Race, the Human Race is relatively weaker. To protect themselves, they formed the East Sea Cultivator Alliance. The three immortal islands of Penglai, Fangzhang, and Yingzhou spearheaded the alliance's formation and are also the three most influential powers within the alliance. They all have Tribulation Transcending stage ancestors overseeing them, serving as the Alliance Leader and Deputy Alliance Leaders."

"Powers within the alliance that have Integration stage cultivators include..."

"The threshold for joining the alliance is the Foundation Establishment stage; these individuals are considered ordinary members. Upon reaching the Golden Core stage, they are regarded as senior members."

"We three brothers are deacons in the alliance. Above us are hall masters, elders, and so on."

After this introduction, Lu Yang had a basic understanding of the East Sea powers. He thought: "Your East Sea has so many ranks, and after all these divisions, even your Alliance Leader wouldn't qualify as one of the Four Imperials in our Heavenly Court Sect."

Grandmaster Yan took the opportunity during their conversation to ask questions about cultivation.

They were actually a bit embarrassed. They had initially intended to bring out good items to entertain them and exchange for cultivation insights. But once Lu Yang produced the Enlightenment Tea, none of their treasures seemed worthwhile.

That single packet of tea could buy several Fangshan Islands.

They could only shamelessly ask.

Although the Nascent Souls cultivated by Lu Yang and the others were peculiar, they were still quite knowledgeable about traditional cultivation methods. Cultivation problems that had troubled the Three Heroes for decades were easily clarified by Lu Yang with just a few words, resolving the issues with ease and filling the Three Heroes with admiration.

The only difficult question was asked by Grandmaster Yan: "How should one utilize a Nascent Soul in combat?"

Lu Yang pondered. He himself was still being beaten by the Invincible Nascent Soul. Meng Jingzhou's dual Nascent Souls were unprecedented. Man Gu's Ancestor-Manifesting Nascent Soul clearly offered no reference value. Li Haoran's Corpse-Splitting Nascent Soul wasn't much better.

All things considered, only Tao Yaoye's Nascent Soul was reliable.

"Oh, that reminds me," Meng Jingzhou asked, "we have lived in the Central Continent for a long time and have never seen a spirit vein. I wonder if Grandmaster Yan could satisfy our curiosity?"

Of the five, only Li Haoran had seen a spirit vein, relying on his memories from a past life.

"That's easily arranged," Grandmaster Yan replied with a smile.

Generally, a spirit vein was the lifeblood of an island and a forbidden area, not to be shown to outsiders.

But since Lu Yang had produced Enlightenment Tea, they could no longer be considered outsiders.

"This way, please."

The Three Heroes personally led the way, inviting the five into a cave. The Three Heroes lit lamps, illuminating the path ahead.

The cave was winding. The further they went, the more they felt the change in spiritual energy concentration. After about ten minutes of walking, the cave gradually brightened, becoming even brighter than the lamps held by the Three Heroes.

"We've arrived."

The Three Heroes extinguished their lamps and gestured for them to proceed.

Before them lay a pool of clear, azure spring water. The spring was protected by a formation. The water radiated a gentle spiritual aura. It flowed through underground channels to various parts of Fangshan Island. The branching veins extending from the spring formed second and third-grade spirit veins.

Suddenly, the ground shook. The spirit vein boiled, and abundant spiritual energy burst through the grand formation. Emerald ripples spread across the sky.

Grandmaster Yan's expression changed. "A celestial phenomenon! A heavenly treasure is about to appear!"

Lu Yang quickly raised his hand, asserting his innocence: "This has nothing to do with me."