Chapter 417 - 384: Going Out to Sea

Chapter 417: Chapter 384: Going Out to Sea

Three days later, a small, quaint and refined Flying Boat departed from the Chixia Island port.

Aboard the Flying Boat, Chu Mu and Fu Song sat in the cabin, a table spread before them with wine and dishes.

"This Flying Boat of yours is truly impressive, Fellow Daoist."

"Our alliance’s Yun Xiao Flying Boats are best-sellers throughout the Vast Sea. But aside from being larger, I’m afraid they can’t compare to yours in any other aspect."

"Pill and Artifact Dual Proficiency... your reputation is truly well-deserved..."

Fu Song sipped his Spirit Wine, sizing up the Flying Boat with great interest.

"Why aren’t we taking a Teleportation Array directly to the Outer Sea?"

Chu Mu changed the subject, asking casually.

’A Teleportation Array is naturally the most convenient way to reach the Outer Sea.’

Yet, when he’d gone to the Yun Xiao Trading House, Fu Song had told him they would have to leave Chixia, assemble on an island northwest of Chixia Island, and then take a Yun Xiao Flying Boat to the Outer Sea...

"This matter is a top secret of our Yun Xiao Trading House. If we took a Teleportation Array to the Outer Sea, wouldn’t everyone find out?"

Fu Song said teasingly, seemingly unconcerned.

Chu Mu smiled and didn’t ask any further.

’He had experienced this kind of thing firsthand.’

’An Identity Token would inevitably leave a trace upon arriving at any Marketplace in the Vast Sea Cultivation Immortal World.’

’Although the Yun Xiao Business Alliance was a top-tier business alliance in the Vast Sea, it was only one of them.’

’Above them was the Chen Family, which ruled over the entire Vast Sea Cultivation Immortal World from on high. There were also quite a few powers no weaker than the Yun Xiao Business Alliance.’

’And while the Vast Sea Chen Family ruled the entire Vast Sea, their position was more symbolic—that of a... sovereign over all.’

’Judging by the mixed bag of characters in Chixia City, it was clear the Chen Family didn’t directly enter the fray to seize profits like the clan forces in the Great Chu Cultivation Immortal World did.’

’Instead, they distributed the profits and then sat back to collect tribute from the major powers.’

’This model of rule was somewhat similar to the former Longevity Sect.’

’Only, the Longevity Sect had clearly overplayed its hand.’

’But the Chen Family of the Vast Sea still maintained a firm grip over the region.’

’In the Cultivation Immortal Realm, there was a saying: "All are ants below the Golden Core." In the Vast Sea, however, the rumor was: "All are ants below the Chen Family."’

’This rumor wasn’t unfounded. As far as he knew, in the tens of thousands of years the Chen Family had ruled the Vast Sea, no other power had ever produced a Nascent Soul Cultivator.’

’Today, in the Vast Sea Cultivation Immortal World, the most powerful figures among the major business alliances under the Chen Family were all just Golden Core True Masters.’

’Of course, this might only be what was visible on the surface. He had no way of knowing what went on in the shadows.’

’Still, it was undoubtedly telling.’

’After all, in tens of thousands of years, could it be that among the countless Cultivators of the Vast Sea, everyone besides the Chen Family Cultivators was a fool?’

’Obviously not. Absolutely not!’

’The reason was abundantly clear.’

’Fu Song’s cautious behavior now made sense.’

"Fellow Daoist, you are so breathtakingly talented. It’s just a pity you’re not a native Cultivator of our Vast Sea."

Amid their lighthearted conversation, Fu Song suddenly sighed with emotion.

"If you were a native Cultivator of the Vast Sea, I’m afraid you would have taken the Chen surname long ago."

Fu Song chuckled. "The Chen Family has always been thirsting for talent. If you were a native Cultivator, you would surely possess the bloodline."

"With your Pill and Artifact Dual Proficiency, the Chen Family’s Dragon Transformation Pool would surely open its doors wide for you. You’d only need to stay inside for a day for your bloodline to undergo Dragon Transformation, and you would become a core disciple of the Chen Family."

"From then on, your rise would be meteoric, your future limitless..."

Chu Mu was slightly taken aback; this was the first time he had ever heard of such a thing.

After a moment, Chu Mu asked with some hesitation, "If they do that, isn’t the Chen Family afraid..."

He stopped mid-sentence. Seeing the smile on Fu Song’s face, Chu Mu seemed to realize something. He gave a self-deprecating laugh and swallowed the rest of his words.

’In this Cultivation Immortal Realm, no contract or oath could be trusted. The only reliable thing was self-interest.’

’Any power in the Cultivation Immortal Realm would have numerous restrictions for its members, but these restrictions were limited to those below the Golden Core Realm.’

’Even at the Longevity Sect, only disciples in the Qi Cultivation and Foundation Establishment Realms were bound by the constraints of a Divine Contract.’

’The reason for this was undoubtedly simple.’

’After all, in any power, a Golden Core True Master was a lofty being, an existence supported by countless Cultivators who risked life and limb.’

’Upon entering the Golden Core Realm, one’s status underwent a world-shaking transformation.’

’To use a theory from his past life, it was a transition from the exploited to the exploiter.’

’Having risked life and limb to finally make that leap, enjoying the support of countless others, why would one betray their sect?’

’Even if some did, they would be an absolute minority.’

’And with the Chen Family’s resources, dealing with them would undoubtedly be a simple matter.’

"We’re here."

Just then, Fu Song suddenly looked out the window, pointing to a desolate island not far away.

"Fellow Daoist, land on that island. We’ll switch to our alliance’s Yun Xiao Flying Boat."

"Alright."

With a flicker of Chu Mu’s thought, the Flying Boat changed direction and soon landed on the desolate island.

Only after landing on the desolate island did Chu Mu finally see the Yun Xiao Flying Boat, which had been concealed by an Illusion Array.

The Flying Boat was nearly a hundred yards long. Its body was a pale blue, close to the color of the sea. It wasn’t a traditional, boat-shaped Flying Boat, but rather a long, slender, almost completely enclosed shuttle.

"Fellow Daoist Chu, please."

Fu Song gestured with his hand. Chu Mu smiled, and the two of them, one after the other, stepped aboard the Yun Xiao Flying Boat.

The Flying Boat was nearly a hundred yards long and several yards wide. Upon entering, the first thing he saw was an extremely spacious reception hall. To one side of the hall was a corridor that extended to the stern, flanked by what were clearly individual rooms.

"This journey to the Outer Sea will probably take more than half a year. We’ll also be picking up a few other Fellow Daoists along the way. There are thirty meditation chambers on the Flying Boat. If you wish to engage in Cultivation, Fellow Daoist, feel free to pick any one you like."

"I still have to pilot the Flying Boat, so I must take my leave for now."

"No problem. This is my first time on such a large Flying Boat. I should take a good look around."

"Hahaha, alright. Feel free to look around, Fellow Daoist. No need to hold back, as long as you don’t take the Flying Boat apart."

After some friendly banter, Fu Song hurried away.

Chu Mu, however, began to wander around the Flying Boat with great interest. The internal layout wasn’t his main focus; it was just halls and rooms separated by Array Prohibitions, nothing particularly remarkable.

What he observed were the materials used for the Flying Boat and its Array Prohibition Patterns. Refining a large Flying Boat was no simple task.

Putting aside the consumption of Spiritual Materials, just laying down the Array Prohibition Patterns was a massive undertaking.

After a tour, Chu Mu had a general understanding of this Yun Xiao Flying Boat.

’It was obvious that this Yun Xiao Flying Boat, much like the Jingmen Artifact Hall of the past, was the product of an assembly line—or rather, a collaboration between many Artifact Refiners.’

’Just from a cursory glance at the visible Array Prohibition Patterns on the Flying Boat, he could identify more than ten different styles.’

’The smelting of the hull was also of uneven quality. Although the differences weren’t huge, to the eyes of an Artifact Refining Master like him, even the smallest disparity was perfectly clear.’

However, the Flying Boat’s hull was enormous, allowing for a wide variety of Array Prohibitions to be laid. With layers upon layers of these Array Prohibitions, the Flying Boat’s Concealment and Flying speed were quite commendable.

Having satisfied his curiosity with a tour and with nothing else to do, Chu Mu casually picked a meditation chamber to settle in for the time being, continuing his unfinished work on improving the Celestial Bull Pill Recipe.

Lost in such focus, time flew by.

The Flying Boat traveled onward, stopping several times along the way. The once-empty Yun Xiao Flying Boat gradually started to fill with people...

...