Chapter 121: Unclaimed Island

Qin Ming and Wu Jiang left Qingxiadao, mounted a spiritual-light flying shuttle, and flew toward Tianhe Market.

On the way.

“Qin Daoist, I can’t fathom what that Qingxia Xianzi was thinking—this is utterly unexpected!” Wu Jiang said to Qin Ming with evident frustration.

Qin Ming smiled faintly. “No matter. Perhaps Miss Mo has her own reasons.”

“After all, I’m a complete stranger suddenly appearing—her caution is understandable.”

With that said.

Qin Ming took a small bag of spirit stones from his storage pouch and handed it to Wu Jiang. “These past days have been a burden on you, Wu Daoist, for introducing me to this place and making the trip—this is a small token of my gratitude. Please accept it.”

“Er, but I didn’t accomplish anything—how could I possibly accept your generosity, Brother Qin?” Wu Jiang stared at the spirit stone bag; he knew his limits, clearly aware of what to take and what not to.

At the same time, his impression of Qin Ming deepened considerably.

Qin Ming pressed the bag into Wu Jiang’s hand. “Wu Daoist, don’t be so formal—these spirit stones aren’t a gift with no strings.”

“Though the Qingxiadao matter fell through, that doesn’t mean there aren’t other spirit islands in the spiritual energy Archipelago.”

“Keep watching and inquiring for me. If you hear anything, notify me—I plan to stay here longer.”

Wu Jiang heard this and grinned, swiftly taking the bag, opening it to find exactly thirty spirit stones inside.

“If that’s the case, I won’t refuse—Qin Daoist, rest assured, I’ll do my best to gather more information.”

The two returned to Tianhe Market.

Qin Ming intended to probe the market, since such a gathering place for countless spiritual energy Archipelago cultivators.

Might yield unexpected gains.

Wu Jiang took his leave, using his own channels to gather information on other islands.

Another half-month passed.

Qin Ming still found nothing.

He was poring over a copy of *Geographical Records of the spiritual energy Archipelago*.

Then Wu Jiang brought good news.

“No wonder he’s a local expert—he got word on a spirit island this fast.” Qin Ming mused.

Wu Jiang entered Qin Ming’s inn room, face alight with excitement. “Qin Daoist, I’ve got good news!”

“Two days ago, the Seventy-Two Islands’ Loose Alliance discovered another small unclaimed island in Jibei—inside lies a second-rank middle-grade spirit vein.”

“So far, only members of the Loose Alliance know this—no one else has been informed.”

“The Seventy-Two Islands’ Loose Alliance plans to publicly auction it soon to determine ownership.”

At these words, Qin Ming’s eyes lit up. “Truly?”

“I haven’t failed you—it’s true,” Wu Jiang chuckled, clearly certain of the information.

Qin Ming frowned slightly. “Who exactly is this Seventy-Two Islands’ Loose Alliance?”

“Not a major power—just a loose, temporary alliance of Qi Refining families and itinerant cultivators who control a few small spirit islands in the spiritual energy Archipelago.”

“My Wu family is part of it.”

“Its main purpose is to counter the Zhao family among the Seven Great Clans, preventing them from picking us off one by one.”

“Thankfully, for decades, both sides have coexisted peacefully—no wars have broken out. The situation remains stable.”

“Even among members of the Loose Alliance, feuds are common, and mutual attacks happen frequently.”

“But as long as no conflict arises with the Zhao family, all is well.”

Qin Ming nodded.

In short, this Loose Alliance was a makeshift coalition of minor forces in the spiritual energy Archipelago, formed solely to guard against the Zhao family.

“Qin Daoist, the spirit island auction begins at noon tomorrow—any itinerant cultivator may attend.”

“The auction will be held directly on the spirit island itself.”

“I’ll take you there tomorrow.”

Qin Ming smiled, nodding in satisfaction. “Thank you, Wu Daoist.”

Though Wu Jiang’s cultivation was merely average, he radiated a sharp, resourceful energy.

Qin Ming’s opinion of him improved slightly.

“Heh! It’s nothing—I took your spirit stones, after all. This is just a small favor.” Wu Jiang replied with a grin.

The next day.

Under Wu Jiang’s guidance, Qin Ming left Tianhe Market and flew northward.

Two hours later.

A yellowish island appeared in their line of sight.

Around them, the sky teemed with cultivators riding flying magic treasures, darting past them.

All clearly headed for the spirit island.

The spirit island resembled a solitary yellow gem embedded in the emerald waves of Wangyue Lake.

Wangyue Lake stretched for thousands of hectares, its waters merging seamlessly with the sky, lush and picturesque.

On the island, strange peaks and peculiar rocks stood in unique splendor.

When Qin Ming and Wu Jiang arrived.

Thousands of cultivators had already gathered on a wide open space on the island, awaiting the auction’s start.

Yet most were merely spectators.

After all, very few itinerant cultivators possessed the wealth to bid for an entire spirit island.

After arriving, Qin Ming noticed the island’s vegetation was far sparser than on other islands.

Likely due to its northern location—the climate was colder.

Even the highest peak to the north had formed a small glacier. The island’s total area was slightly smaller than Qingxiadao.

All rocks and mountains here were a dull yellow hue, their ridges steep and jagged.

The so-called second-rank middle-grade spirit vein was confined to just a few dozen mu around the main peak.

The rest were branches of first-rank and second-rank low-grade spirit veins.

No other islands surrounded it.

If attacked, other families in the spiritual energy Archipelago would be unable to reach it in time.

Pure isolation.

Given this geography and the scattered distribution of spirit veins, no wonder the Seventy-Two Islands’ Loose Alliance wanted to auction it.

Otherwise, a second-rank spirit vein island alone would never fall to low-ranking itinerant cultivators.

In truth, this spirit island was far worse than advertised—even inferior to some first-rank spirit islands in the central regions of the spiritual energy Archipelago.

Its value had plummeted.

Yet the moment Qin Ming stepped onto the island, he scooped up a handful of spirit soil, studied it, and instantly dozens of second-rank spirit plants suited to this climate and soil appeared in his mind.

…

At the first hour of noon.

A golden-robed old man with white hair and a youthful face appeared before them, radiating the spiritual pressure of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

“Hem!”

“Ladies and gentlemen, I am Li Yuanqing, Vice-Chairman of the Seventy-Two Islands’ Loose Alliance. Please quiet down—the auction is now beginning.”

“All who wish to participate, please take your seats at the chairs ahead.”

As Li Yuanqing spoke, he infused his voice with spiritual power, his booming words echoing across the entire island.

Combined with the spiritual pressure of a Foundation Establishment elder, the thousands of Qi Refining cultivators present fell instantly silent.

No one dared speak out of turn.

Qin Ming looked and saw hundreds of chairs arranged in a row near the front of the open space.

He nodded to Wu Jiang, then leapt lightly onto one of the chairs.

Soon after.

More cultivators with interest in the island gradually took their seats.

The Seventy-Two Islands’ Loose Alliance imposed few formal rules.

Seeing no more cultivators join, Li Yuanqing declared:

“Spirit island auction begins!”

“The winner will gain full ownership of this spirit island.”

“Starting bid: eight thousand spirit stones. Each raise must be at least one thousand spirit stones!”

At these words, many cultivators hesitated.

After all, among itinerant cultivators, few families possessed such wealth.

Yet some families began bidding.

“I bid eight thousand spirit stones!”

“I bid nine thousand!”

“Ten thousand spirit stones!”

“!!!”

“Twelve thousand!”

“??? ”

“Fifteen thousand spirit stones.”

«!!!???»

……

The auction site was thick with tension.

The atmosphere had reached its peak.

The onlookers murmured in astonishment; these bids might represent sums they would strive for years to amass.

«Eighteen thousand.»

«Eighteen thousand once!»

«Eighteen thousand twice!»

Just as everyone believed the ownership of the island was about to be settled.

«Twenty thousand!» A thin, elderly man in the crowd calmly announced the figure.

Boom! The crowd erupted in shock.

All eyes turned toward him.

Qin Ming sighed helplessly; he hadn’t expected the bidding for Lingdao to be so fierce.

He was considering whether to raise his bid.

At that moment.

A mocking voice drifted down from the sky.

«Oh? So lively?»

«Why didn’t anyone notify the Zhao family?»

(End of Chapter)