Chapter 394 - 364: Returning to Chixia

Chapter 394: Chapter 364: Returning to Chixia

Chu Mu’s eyes narrowed and he came to a sudden halt.

He turned to look at the man again, still not saying a word.

"Fellow Daoist, you have an Identity Token. Any Marketplace you stay in will have a record of your visit."

"Since you’ve come to Crescent Island, there is naturally a record of that as well..."

the man explained in a low voice.

Chu Mu glanced down at the Identity Token hanging from his waist. His earlier suspicion was now undoubtedly confirmed by the man’s words.

"So, Crescent Island leaks the information of Cultivators entering and leaving the Outer Sea?"

Chu Mu asked slowly, his tone flat.

"Correct."

The man nodded. "It’s no secret. Anyone who spends a few years on Crescent Island will eventually find out."

"It’s a semi-public business. I’ve been on Crescent Island for decades, and it’s always been this way..."

"Fine. Give me an estimate. I don’t need Spirit Stones. I’ll take Secret Techniques instead. Also, prepare a copy of the information on Cultivators entering and leaving Crescent Island for me,"

Chu Mu glanced at the Identity Token at his waist again, pondered for a moment, then handed over a stack of Storage Talismans without any more questions.

"Alright, Fellow Daoist, please follow me."

Overjoyed, the man led Chu Mu a few hundred meters down the street until a shop with a sign hanging high above—Four Seas Trading House—came into view.

"Fellow Daoist, please."

Reaching the storefront, the man gestured with his hand.

"Besides purchasing all kinds of Spiritual Materials, our trading house also deals in Talismans and Spiritual Artifacts. Fellow Daoist, please have a look. If anything catches your eye, we can deduct it from the total value later."

The man explained with a chuckle. After serving Spirit Tea and Spiritual Food, he excused himself and took Chu Mu’s stack of Storage Talismans behind the counter to appraise their contents.

Chu Mu sipped his Spirit Wine, examining the Spiritual Artifacts and Talismans on the shop’s shelves with considerable interest.

Chu Mu vaguely recalled the boundless silence beyond the Spatial Rift in the East Lake Secret Realm all those years ago. It had made him wonder what kind of world lay on the other side, and what sort of civilization might have been born within it.

In the past, the answer had been quite vague to him.

But after more than a decade in the Vast Sea, the answer seemed to have become much clearer.

The Vast Sea made it clear that a difference in living environment resulted in a world of difference in reality.

In the Great Chu Cultivation Immortal World, the Immortal Dao flourished while other paths were nearly extinct. The resources of the Great Chu region had been almost completely developed and brought under control.

The Cultivation Immortal Realm there was built upon the prosperity and development of the Immortal Dao.

But in the Vast Sea Cultivation Immortal World, with its boundless waters and endless Demon Beasts, the environment had given rise to a civilization... completely different from that of Great Chu.

The Cultivation System, and everything that revolved around it, was centered on Demons.

One could easily imagine that the desolate, silent world beyond the rift must also have developed a corresponding Cultivation System, one revolving around that terrifying and malevolent True Demon Qi.

’Judging by the evil and chaotic nature of that True Demon Qi, such a Cultivation Realm would likely be far more disordered and chaotic than even the Vast Sea Cultivation Immortal World.’

Suddenly, Chu Mu couldn’t help but think of his previous deal.

The deal with that Residual Soul—or rather, with that True Demon.

According to their fifty-year pact, he was supposed to make a trip to the unknown Great Heng Immortal Cultivation Immortal World.

That vial of Bloodline Essence was still sitting in his Storage Ring.

’Great Chu and the Vast Sea are separated by just a river, yet they are almost two different worlds. What would the distant Great Heng Immortal Cultivation Immortal World be like?’

So many years had passed since the fifty-year pact was made; the deadline was no longer far off.

"Fellow Daoist, what kind of Secret Techniques are you looking for?"

Just as Chu Mu’s thoughts were wandering, the man seemed to have finished his appraisal. He walked out from behind the counter holding a Jade Scroll, which he handed to Chu Mu before asking his question.

"Alchemy, Artifact Refining, or any research notes on bloodlines will do," Chu Mu replied casually as he took the Jade Scroll.

"Alright, please wait a moment, Fellow Daoist."

The man pointed to the Jade Scroll. "This Jade Scroll contains the information of all Cultivators who have entered or exited Crescent Island in the last twenty years. You can make a copy, Fellow Daoist."

Chu Mu nodded and extended his Divine Sense into the Jade Scroll.

It was just as he had suspected. The Jade Scroll contained detailed information on Cultivators entering and leaving Crescent Island, including the time of their arrival and departure, their appearance, and even their Cultivation level.

And his own information was recorded with startling accuracy.

His arrival on Crescent Island over ten years ago, his return today, the times of entry and exit, his cultivation aura, surveillance recordings, and even his background and origins were all clearly noted.

After browsing for a moment and confirming the facts, Chu Mu couldn’t be bothered to look further. He casually made a copy and tossed the Jade Scroll onto the table.

’With such detailed information available, it’s no wonder I was repeatedly ambushed on my way back to Crescent Island, despite revealing my Cultivation and trying to intimidate others.’

After all, he had come to Crescent Island alone, his Cultivation was only at the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment, and he was clearly marked as being from Great Chu, with no backing...

And according to the records in this Jade Scroll, most Foundation Establishment Cultivators who came to Crescent Island traveled in groups of at least two or three, with some groups as large as seven or eight.

’If I were in the business of robbing people, I’d target myself too.’

A soft target like him was a rarity in the Outer Sea, at least according to these records.

’However, selling this identity information seems to be the real business with no overhead...’

Chu Mu’s expression turned a little strange. The Cultivators outside the island who engaged in murder and robbery needed detailed information to identify their targets.

The trading houses on the island clearly needed detailed information as well, to acquire Spiritual Materials and expand their business channels.

And what did it cost the ones leaking all this information?

"Cats have their ways, and rats have theirs..."

Chu Mu chuckled softly. It seemed to be the same everywhere.

It was true in Great Chu, and it was true here in the Vast Sea.

"Fellow Daoist, here are the Pill and Artifact Books our house has collected, along with some detailed explanations of bloodlines..."

At that moment, the man hurried over and handed a Storage Talisman to Chu Mu.

Inside the Storage Talisman, over a hundred Jade Scrolls were neatly arranged. Chu Mu’s Divine Sense swept through them, quickly scanning the information recorded on each one.

The Merchant Shopkeeper, meanwhile, watched Chu Mu with some trepidation.

Having been stationed on Crescent Island for decades, he knew better than anyone what a chaotic mess the world outside the island was.

This Cultivator before him had gone to the Outer Sea alone for over ten years, and not only had his Cultivation increased, but he had also returned completely unscathed.

He couldn’t afford to provoke such a ruthless individual.

"Fine, this will do."

After a moment, Chu Mu seemed to finish his inspection. He casually picked up a cup of Spirit Wine, drained it in one gulp, and stood up straight.

"If you have any Spiritual Materials to sell in the future, Fellow Daoist, feel free to contact me. I guarantee a fair price."

Seeing this, the man quickly handed over a Sound Transmission Order, speaking with a smile.

"Alright."

Chu Mu casually took the Sound Transmission Order and tossed it into his Storage Space.

By the time he walked out of the shop, the sky had already grown dark. On the empty street, hanging lamps lit up one after another. Their pale, fluorescent glow, like moonlight hanging high in the night sky, illuminated the street but also added a touch of coldness.

Chu Mu idly toyed with the Jade Scroll containing the identity information as he strolled slowly down the street, clearly lost in thought.

After wandering aimlessly for more than an hour, Chu Mu seemed to finally come back to his senses.

He paused briefly, glanced at the majestic Stone Hall atop Shi Mountain, and after a moment’s thought, started walking, leading Wangcai toward it.

Entering the Teleportation Array again, Chu Mu was now familiar with the process. In the blink of an eye, he had crossed hundreds of thousands of miles.

The surroundings were no longer the cold silence of a lonely island in the Outer Sea, but a clamorous din of human voices.

He looked outside the hall to a brightly lit, bustling scene of fantastical sights and crowds.

After more than a decade, he had returned to Chixia.

As he walked out of the Teleportation Hall and was about to leave, another shout came from not far away.

Chu Mu followed the sound and saw a group of Cultivators at the bottom of the hall’s steps, craning their necks to look at the exit. Their expressions and mannerisms were no different from the Merchant Shopkeepers waiting at the port on Crescent Island.

"Senior, this junior is the Shopkeeper of Baisan Trading House..."

"Senior..."

The moment he stopped, several Cultivators immediately swarmed him.

"Senior, this junior is from Hundred Treasures Pavilion..."

"Enough. You’re too late."

Chu Mu waved his hand dismissively. Seeing this, the Cultivators immediately and obediently shut their mouths.

Chu Mu took a few steps, then seemed to realize something belatedly. He stopped short and turned back to one of the Cultivators. "Did you just say you’re the Shopkeeper of Hundred Treasures Pavilion?"

"Reporting to Senior, this junior is an employee of Hundred Treasures Pavilion. I am here on the Shopkeeper’s orders to purchase Demon Beast Spiritual Materials."

The man froze for a second before answering respectfully.

Chu Mu raised an eyebrow, a hint of doubt in his voice. "What is your Shopkeeper’s name?"

"The Shopkeeper’s surname is Chang. This junior doesn’t know much else..."

’Surname Chang...’

Chu Mu’s expression was odd. "Your Hundred Treasures Pavilion isn’t a local trading house from the Vast Sea, is it?"

The man hesitated, but quickly explained, "This... this junior isn’t sure. I only recently joined the trading house..."

Chu Mu pondered for a moment, then asked, "Where is your trading house located?"

"Reporting to Senior, it’s on Jinghua Street in the north of the city."

Chu Mu frowned. He searched his memory; as he recalled, there was no trading house named Hundred Treasures Pavilion on Jinghua Street.

"Was your trading house established recently?"

The man immediately replied, "Reporting to Senior, yes... it was established nine years ago."

’Nine years ago...’

Chu Mu was lost in thought. Nine years ago, he was still Demon Hunting in the Vast Sea...

After a moment of contemplation, he glanced at the respectful man, then leaped into the air. A crimson Tunneling Light streaked across the sky, disappearing from everyone’s sight within a few breaths.

The man stared blankly at the empty sky, still seeming a bit bewildered.

"What are you spacing out for? Hurry up and send a transmission to your shopkeeper."

Just then, a peer standing nearby clapped the man on the shoulder. "That Senior is probably an old acquaintance of your shopkeeper. Why else would he ask all that...?"

"Right, right, right."

As if waking from a dream, the man hastily pulled out a Sound Transmission Talisman and sent a message...

...