Chapter 326: with translation of chapter title

Tu Tu looked at the Threefold Transformation Spirit Pill in his hand and fell silent.

"Is there any problem with the medicine, Island Lord?" Yan Buji asked.

"You sure hide it well, Daoist." Tu Tu implied, after taking the spirit pill he threw the Jiao Beast Inner Pill over.

"Since you, Daoist, have such ability, you really shouldn't stay on such a small Heart Moon Island." Tu Tu laughed.

Yan Buji looked at him, nodding slightly: "Is this the custom of the Dongxing Sea Region?"

"I just don't want to lose talent. Everyone aspires to a better life, so who would develop an unprosperous place?" Tu Tu said.

Just empty, high-sounding words.

However, Yan Buji doesn't dislike such people; if their positions were swapped, he would also use a different method to retain a talent.

However, this person's methods are a bit more direct.

Yan Buji clasped his hands: "Then thank you, Island Lord; I, the poor Daoist, take my leave."

"Wait, if you still need anything, Daoist, you can go to Heavenly Pivot Island in the Seven Star Linked Ring Islands, where a large trade fair is being held; perhaps you'll find what you seek." Tu Tu laughed.

"Thank you for the information, Island Lord."

Yan Buji turned and left, departing Heart Moon Island safely.

After a while.

Tu Tu frowned at the spirit pill in his hand: "Impossible, with insufficient medicinal potency he still managed to refine it—could he be more than just a Threefold Transformation Alchemist?"

But his strength is only around Foundation Establishment Stage; no matter how, he couldn't possibly be a Fourfold Transformation Alchemist, right?

Upon seeing the spirit pill, Tu Tu knew this Daoist Yuejin likely had a significant background; he wasn't just an outsider cultivator who suddenly appeared in the Dongxing Sea Region, he had indeed been investigated.

That can only mean he has other intentions.

Tu Tu sighed: "When will the Sea-Heaven Alliance's task be considered done? I have to hand over so much spiritual material, or exchange it for spirit pills—where would all these resources come from?"

It was hard to find an alchemist, but it turned out he had considerable background, making Tu Tu dare not seize him directly.

Of course, capturing him directly would pose too great a risk; although he knows my intentions, we haven't openly broken ties yet, which is enough for now.

If the opportunity arises, I'll apologize after he shines brightly.

If that time never comes, I'll just consider having hired an alchemist to help refine pills.

All things considered, Tu Tu doesn't lose out; having obtained the spirit pill, a single Threefold Transformation Jiao Pill is actually not very valuable to him—the key is still a Poison Jiao Inner Pill, whose effect is minuscule.

Being able to exchange for a Threefold Transformation Spirit Pill is at least not a loss for him.

Meanwhile.

After leaving Heart Moon Island, Yan Buji pondered what had happened.

"It seems there are many ways to recruit talent; I previously underestimated these high-ranking individuals."

"How so?"

Yan Buji laughed: "You see, although Island Lord Tu Tu's words and actions carry a sense of using status and power to overwhelm others, it's not excessive. Perhaps he's also wary of my background, but at least he kept his promise— isn't that so? For those in power, being able to keep a promise is already quite good."

"You're still speaking up for him?" Long Wen Lu gave a strange look.

"Such people live long."

Yan Buji held the Jiao Beast Inner Pill, observing this dark green inner pill exuding a strong foul odor, and asked: "Senior, can you remove the toxicity inside?"

"No need; go gather some spiritual material, and I'll help you refine a Dragon Blood Pill— that should resolve your incomplete draconic transformation." Long Wen Lu said.

"Alright."

After flying for a long time, Yan Buji flew roughly over three months above the sea before reaching the outer sea from the Twenty-Eight Mansions Island.

Most of the human settlements in the Dongxing Sea Region are located in the outer sea, where the islands are scattered like stars and chessboards, and most of them possess spiritual veins.

Speaking of which, the Dongxing Sea Region seems to lack a complete continent; I heard that in ancient times the Dongxing Sea Region originally had a continent adjoining the Nan Ting Mountain Region, but for some unknown reason the continent of the Dongxing Sea Region was completely shattered, turning into scattered drifting islands, or the land sank into the ocean.

After countless years of recuperation, the establishment of the Sea-Heaven Alliance, which united all factions, thereby using the Turbulent Sea as a divide, formed the inner sea and outer sea as two distinctly different worlds.

"Speaking of this, if you have time, go due west to find a place called the Hall of Inquiry into the Void; that's where the former leader used to reside." Long Wen Lu said.

"Senior Lin? Could it have already been taken over by someone?"

"Hard to say, but before leaving the Dongxing Sea Region, the leader set up a seal; besides me, probably no one knows how to open it."

"Alright, if you have time, go take a look."

The Dongxing Sea Region is so vast; Yan Buji must first travel widely and also fabricate an identity background for himself, so he can enter the sight of those high-ranking individuals.

Perhaps.... the Hall of Inquiry into the Void is a good place.

If Yan Buji could enter the residence of the sage disciples and then walk out before others, wouldn't he then have a backing?

Then he wouldn't have to worry about being accused of obscure origins.

Interacting with people is like this; not knowing the other's status makes true equal exchange difficult, and in the cultivation world, where strength comes first, the importance of a backing goes without saying.

After a few more days, Yan Buji traveled among various islands and finally arrived at Heavenly Pivot Island within the Seven Star Linked Ring Islands.

Upon arrival, he saw a large number of cultivators gathered on the island; this island is dozens of times larger than Heart Moon Island, its border roughly comparable to that of the Nan Ting Mountain Region.

But no matter how large the island, it's still just an island.

Thus the buildings on the island appear extremely crowded, the end unseen; the surrounding crowds surge, and there are still many cultivators from the Dongxing Sea Region, many of whom carry heavy bloodlust and killing intent—most likely they are cultivators honing themselves within the Turbulent Sea.

However, the roads are quite wide; as Yan Buji approached, he saw some cultivators setting up stalls in the park, and there were also many patrolling cultivators nearby.

"Are those the Sea-Heaven Alliance's guard unit?"

Yan Buji looked over; they were all Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators, marching forward with imposing presence, and nobody dared to block them.

After a while.

Yan Buji first found an inn to stay; the trade fair is said to last a year, and only half a year has passed, so the cultivators who heard the news and rushed here will only increase.

Therefore, these days Yan Buji plans to first refine some pills to exchange for spiritual stones, then search for the spiritual materials needed for the Dragon Blood Pill.

Such a grand trade fair is something even Yan Buji has never experienced before.

In the coming period of time.

After Yan Buji refined a batch of second-turn spirit pills, he went to check the market, confirmed the price of his spirit pills, and then went out to sell them.

In just two or three days, Yan Buji exchanged the spirit pills he had for 100,000 spiritual stones as reserves, and began to look for the spiritual materials needed for the Dragon Blood Pill.

To be honest, alchemists really make money; if you don't count costs and consumption, and with good luck and a high success rate, this is practically a profiteering trade.

A bottle of twelve second-turn spirit pills can fetch around 15,000 to 20,000 spiritual stones even if the effect is mediocre; after deducting Yan Buji's own refining cost and loss, each bottle nets at least 10,000 spiritual stones.

This is still due to prices being somewhat lower during the trade fair; on ordinary days, one would estimate earning even more.

"Perhaps I should also refine some spirit pills with excellent effects to use as bargaining chips in trade." Yan Buji thought, recalled the formula, and began refining a second-turn spirit pill called the 'Ningxin Pill'.