Chapter 193: Seven Stars Association

Chapter 193: Chapter 193: Seven Stars Association

The Youxian Sea was not just a single, unbroken expanse of water.

Instead, it was dotted with many islands.

Most of these islands were occupied by Cultivators. Without their permission, no one could set foot on them, or even approach them.

Doing so was considered a provocation, and the Island Master had the right to kill any trespassers on sight.

And who granted them this right? An extremely powerful organization, of course.

Seven massive islands were scattered across the Youxian Sea, all of them under the control of a single power.

This power was known as the Seven Stars Association.

The seven islands were named Tanlang, Jumen, Lucun, Wenqu, Lianzhen, Wuqu, and Pojun.

Each of the seven main islands governed the smaller islands in its vicinity, and each was home to at least two Golden Core Cultivators.

The Seven Stars Association controlled the entire Youxian Sea and all the islands within it.

Only with the Seven Stars Association’s approval could one claim an island and its surrounding waters, earning the right to develop them.

As for this approval... well, of course, it involved paying Spirit Stones, and then making an annual tribute payment on top of that.

An Island Master’s domain—their island and a designated area of the surrounding sea—was inviolable. If an Island Master were to be killed, the Seven Stars Association would hunt down the murderer and execute them.

This was the extent of Jiang Xu’s knowledge.

Shen Ji had previously explained the details and warnings for each of these routes to Jiang Xu.

But Shen Ji had never been there herself, so her knowledge was purely from books. Jiang Xu would have to find out what it was really like on his own.

’Wait, I’m not even trying to get to the Demon Spirit State right now. What am I worrying about this for?’

The only reason Jiang Xu wanted to get a clear look at the surrounding terrain was to check for danger. He needed to know if he’d stumbled into the territory of a major power or some forbidden area.

After confirming that the area wasn’t dangerous—he could barely even find a few Demon Beasts—Jiang Xu finally relaxed. He focused on caring for Zong Ziqi and waiting for him to awaken.

...

"It’s been ten days already! How can you sleep this much!?"

Jiang Xu was on the verge of a breakdown.

Ten days had passed since Zong Ziqi’s condition had started to improve.

Every day for those ten days, Jiang Xu had painstakingly poured his Healing Magical Power into Zong Ziqi’s body.

Zong Ziqi’s body was, for the most part, almost completely healed.

And it was "for the most part" for a reason.

Even though Jiang Xu felt that Zong Ziqi was fine, he just wouldn’t wake up, no matter how many times Jiang Xu called his name.

Jiang Xu had even given Zong Ziqi a dozen hard slaps across the face, but he remained completely still, as if he were in a vegetative state.

’This shouldn’t be happening. How many days did I spend treating him? Was it even three? Logically, that isn’t enough time for something like this to happen. So why is it like this now?’

Jiang Xu mulled it over for an entire day before finally settling on one possible answer.

While the man’s body was fine, his spirit must have been just as severely exhausted.

The world is a sea of suffering; the body is a boat, and the soul is the person sailing it.

Before, Zong Ziqi’s body had been severely damaged, meaning the boat’s hull was broken and its passenger, the soul, was battered.

Now that the boat was repaired, the soul aboard it was also gradually healing itself.

But without any assistance, Zong Ziqi’s recovery seemed to be incredibly slow, and his consciousness remained dormant.

’I have a few leftover Elixirs here.’

Jiang Xu took out the Bone Marrow Cleansing and Spirit Condensing Pill and the Profound Celestial Pill.

Jiang Xu had consumed both bottles of Elixirs until only a single pill of each type remained.

Jiang Xu had been saving them for an emergency.

But now was the time.

Jiang Xu pried open Zong Ziqi’s mouth, placed the pills inside, and waited for a reaction.

The moment the pills were inside, Jiang Xu saw Zong Ziqi’s previously serene face suddenly contort, as if from some powerful stimulus.

A moment later, Zong Ziqi shot up with a cry of "AH!" He frantically looked around, and upon seeing Jiang Xu, he grabbed his hands fiercely.

"You... You’re really not dead?!"

"The one and only. Did you think you were saved by a Ghost Cultivator?"

Zong Ziqi squeezed Jiang Xu’s hand. Only after confirming that it was solid did he finally accept the reality of the situation.

It was no wonder Zong Ziqi had to be so sure.

After all, his entire goal for the past three years had been to avenge Jiang Xu.

If Jiang Xu wasn’t really dead, did that mean his struggles for the past three years had been for nothing?

Of course, Zong Ziqi wasn’t about to wish Jiang Xu dead just because of that.

"Brother Jiang, if you’ve been fine, why haven’t I seen any sign of you for the past three years? You never answered the messages I sent with my Communication Pearl, either."

Jiang Xu explained that he had been busy in seclusion for the past three years.

"Then those three years of seclusion were definitely worth it. To think you could save me from those three villains... Even another version of me at my absolute peak couldn’t have done that. What Realm have you reached now?"

The admiration in Zong Ziqi’s voice was genuine.

Zong Ziqi had fought those three for over a week and knew firsthand just how formidable they were.

Even without his Soul-Calling Banner, Young Master Ghost was incredibly difficult to handle with his Ghostly Techniques alone.

Then there was Young Master Yellow Springs. He had a small vial, a Magical Artifact, that contained a pool of the Water of the Yellow Springs—a truly insidious and evil liquid.

If a Magical Artifact touched it, its Spiritual Light would diminish instantly. If it touched flesh, one’s consciousness would scatter.

And Wuji Fairy from the Yin Yang Annihilation Sect... her Magic was exceptionally tricky. She even used a secret technique from her Sect called Infinite Yin and Yang.

She could block any attack and then reflect it back with equal force.

It wasn’t that Zong Ziqi hadn’t found opportunities to counterattack, but she blocked his every move. She was infuriatingly difficult to deal with.

Zong Ziqi was astounded that Jiang Xu had reached such a level.

"What Realm? I’m still at Qi Cultivation," Jiang Xu answered honestly. "I got a Foundation Establishment Pill, but I haven’t taken it yet."

"Qi... Cultivation..."

Zong Ziqi was plunged into a deep state of self-doubt.

’Does being a Body Cultivator really have no future?’

’I’m a Body Cultivator who reached the Foundation Establishment Realm, yet I’m no match for a Magic Cultivator at the Qi Cultivation stage...’

’Hasn’t all my Cultivation been for nothing?’

Jiang Xu could see what Zong Ziqi was thinking and clapped him on the shoulder.

"Don’t be discouraged. People are different. Even if you hadn’t chosen the path of a Body Cultivator, you still wouldn’t be able to compare to me."

Jiang Xu’s pat sent a fresh wave of soreness through Zong Ziqi’s newly recovered body.

But the soreness also made Zong Ziqi realize something was off.

’Shouldn’t my body have collapsed long ago?’

Zong Ziqi looked inward, inspecting his own body. He discovered that while it still had significant problems, he was clearly no longer in mortal danger.