Chapter 331 - 294: Xiao Jin Island

Chapter 331: Chapter 294: Xiao Jin Island

The moment of silence was like a taut string, resonating within the cabin. The air seemed to freeze, and the only sound was the gentle lapping of waves against the hull.

After several seconds, Master Fatty took a deep breath. He stared intently at Jiang Xu, his smile gone and replaced by a serious expression.

In a low voice, he asked Jiang Xu where he had heard of such a place, adding that it wasn’t somewhere ordinary people could learn about.

Jiang Xu was vague, telling Master Fatty that he had learned the location from a friend on the island and claiming he wanted to go there to find them.

Upon hearing this, Master Fatty shook his head with a grave expression, solemnly warning Jiang Xu against going to that place.

Facing Jiang Xu’s eager and questioning gaze, Master Fatty was initially hesitant.

But after Jiang Xu offered a few Middle Grade Spirit Stones as payment, Master Fatty sighed and began to tell him the truth.

Master Fatty explained that his reason for stopping Jiang Xu wasn’t because the island itself was particularly dangerous.

In fact, all forms of conflict were strictly forbidden on the island. Any Cultivator who violated this rule would be seen as provoking the Seven Stars Association and would be severely punished. In terms of public order, Xiao Jin Island was quite safe.

The real danger, however, came not from physical harm, but from the island’s special nature.

It turned out the island’s name was "Xiao Jin Island."

From the name alone, one could guess that this was the largest consumer hub in the area around Wenqu Island, specifically designed to attract all sorts of Cultivators to spend and entertain themselves, often squandering fortunes.

Xiao Jin Island was filled with all kinds of gambling dens, brothels, and luxurious entertainment, making it dangerously easy for people to become addicted, lose their minds, and waste vast amounts of wealth and Cultivation.

Many Cultivators had been bankrupted overnight there, ending up deeply in debt and falling into an endless abyss.

Master Fatty was worried that if Jiang Xu went to Xiao Jin Island, he might get sucked into this bottomless pit of consumption, which would not only be detrimental to his Cultivation but could even endanger his life.

Xiao Jin Island’s reputation in the Youxian Sea was immense.

It was in no way inferior to Peach Blossom Valley on Greed Wolf Island, which was famous for its extravagance. One could even say the two were ranked among the top underground entertainment venues in this sea.

The mysterious island was like a massive magnet, drawing in countless Cultivators seeking thrills and pleasure, allowing their wealth and Cultivation to be wildly consumed.

The island’s entertainment facilities were numerous and varied; nothing was too strange to be found there.

Brothels and gambling dens were just the basic offerings.

The gambling games within were rich and diverse, ranging from simple finger-guessing games and dice to complex auctions of Magical Treasures and materials. Even the egg-gambling that Jiang Xu had previously experienced was just the tip of the iceberg.

On Xiao Jin Island, you could find even more thrilling and seductive games, enough to let someone win the world in a single night or lose their entire fortune in an instant.

In addition, Xiao Jin Island also had a slave market. The goods traded there included both ordinary mortal slaves and Cultivator slaves with lower Cultivation.

As long as you had enough Spirit Stones in your pocket, there was almost nothing you couldn’t buy.

Even a Cultivator at Foundation Establishment Perfection, as long as they hadn’t reached the Golden Core Realm, could potentially be reduced to a commodity to be bought and sold here.

As long as a slave was put up for sale, despite their tragic fate, their origins were guaranteed to be "clean," ensuring that buyers wouldn’t face any additional trouble after the purchase.

Behind every slave waiting to be sold, there was a bitter story.

Some had committed unforgivable mistakes in their families and voluntarily became servants to atone for their sins or to protect their kin, thereby washing away the stain of their past.

Other slaves were members of families that had served for generations.

Their ancestors for three generations or even longer had been servants to major powers. For them, servitude was both destiny and a way of life.

Their loyalty and obedience had been passed down through generations, deeply ingrained in their bloodline.

Another portion consisted of spoils of war from conflicts between major powers. These Cultivators or mortals were unfortunately captured, becoming the property of the victors. After being screened and tamed, they were put on the market, awaiting selection by new masters.

Although Xiao Jin Island was famous for its thriving gray-market industries, it wasn’t limited to just such transactions.

The island also had a series of legitimate commercial establishments, such as the Duo Bao Pavilion, Spiritual Food Shop, and Immortal Music Pavilion.

They provided the Cultivators on and around the island with daily necessities and services.

These places might seem ordinary, but in reality, many of the goods they sold had complicated origins and shady dealings behind them.

In the Youxian Sea, there was no shortage of Pirate Gangs that lived by robbery.

Their actions were vicious, landing them on the Seven Stars Association’s blacklist. They couldn’t set foot on any of the main islands, and even the islands surrounding the main ones had closed their doors to them.

But these pirates also yearned to advance their Cultivation and pursue a high-quality life. The treasures and resources they plundered needed to be converted into Spirit Stones for their own Cultivation needs.

Although Xiao Jin Island was under the protection of the Seven Stars Association, it showed a special kind of acceptance toward these ostracized pirates.

It not only became an important channel for pirates to fence their stolen goods but also provided various entertainment venues and services, allowing these people who lived in the shadows to find a moment of peace and pleasure.

To some extent, Xiao Jin Island was the hub of the Youxian Sea’s pirate economy.

It provided the soil for more than half of the pirate population to survive and thrive, forming a subtle symbiotic relationship.

Finally, Master Fatty reminded Jiang Xu one last time to stay away from Xiao Jin Island.

Don’t get cocky, thinking you can just satisfy your curiosity and leave.

Xiao Jin Island has countless tricks up its sleeve. They’re not afraid of you coming; as long as you set foot there, what happens next will be completely out of your control.

That place is like a giant maze. Once you step inside, it’s like walking into an elaborate trap. From then on, every step is fraught with danger, and every move could spiral beyond your expectations and control.

Xiao Jin Island was home to many Cultivators of extraordinary Cultivation who specialized in laying schemes and setting traps.

Every one of these Cultivators was an expert at using Magic and cunning to construct all sorts of enticing gambling games, business deals, or other forms of traps.

The moment a new visitor set foot on the island, they became the focus of countless pairs of eyes.

The Lookouts, known as "Wind Generals," were like invisible tentacles, silently wrapped around the entire island, closely monitoring every newcomer.

These Wind Generals were extremely sharp, not only quick to catch a stranger’s aura and tracks.

They could also accurately collect and assess a visitor’s vital information—by observing their words and actions, analyzing their reactions to the environment, and other subtle details.

This included, but was not limited to, their status, Cultivation strength, and of course, the most critical factor—their wealth.

Once a target was confirmed, this intelligence would be swiftly relayed to the "True Generals" of Xiao Jin Island.

They were the core figures who truly manipulated the rules of the game, using their superb Thousand Techniques and strategic skills to tailor all sorts of scams for each target.

These people were like experienced fishermen, weaving clever and tight nets, patiently waiting for their prey to step into the preset traps.

If one carelessly walked into a scheme laid by these people, the consequences were often unimaginable.

In mild cases, one would lose their entire fortune, going from fabulously wealthy to utterly destitute in an instant.

In severe cases, one would lose their freedom, or even their life.

Because those who fell deep into the trap would often, in their desperation, sign contracts and become tradable slaves on Xiao Jin Island, forever losing themselves to the control of others.

After listening to Master Fatty’s detailed description, Jiang Xu couldn’t hide the shock and helplessness on his face.

He couldn’t help but give a bitter smile, his heart in turmoil.

Compared to returning to Lu Cun Island, Xiao Jin Island seemed more like a den of vipers. Going there to find someone and bring them out successfully would undoubtedly be fraught with difficulties.

Although Jiang Xu had the Concealing Breath Spell to hide his aura and the Thousand-Faced Illusion Body to change his appearance.

In a place like Xiao Jin Island, these advantages would probably be difficult to fully utilize.

Because the experts gathered on Xiao Jin Island, especially the "True Generals" who excelled at setting traps and reading people, were all ruthless and deeply cunning characters.