Chapter 386: with translation of chapter title

A few Snow People noticed Yan Buji's doubt, smiled and explained: "Comrade Yan, you need not worry about anything. Where the Alliance exists, it is the Otherworldly Race's big family seeking help within the Winter Ocean to resist the demon race's forces, and the Snow People have always been doing this. For example, the sea area of the Merfolk here—no demon race can see it either, right?"

"Oh, I see."

We only handle the demon race's troubles; everything else we ignore.

But if it's just like that, it's still acceptable.

"Naturally, everyone's troubles differ, and the Snow People cannot cover everything, so the Elder Ancestor signals us. Each year we set aside a month to invite the various officials to the Qianmu Snow Mountain dojo. When everyone has difficulties, we gather manpower and effort, and there's always a way to solve them. As for internal Alliance affairs, if the Snow People have a request of you, they naturally won't press you as the Alliance leader; it's an equal transaction, and they won't interfere with your internal matters," Snow Qing said with a smile.

It seems the Snow People are not an overbearing race; rather, they are overly gentle.

Yan Buji nodded: "So that means if I have any needs, I can go to Qianmu Snow Mountain each year to converse with the present companions?"

"That's right."

Yan Buji nodded: "Very well, the Dragon People are willing to join the Otherworldly Race Alliance."

"Comrade Yan, could you be the decision‑maker?" the few Snow People were surprised at this moment, looking at Yan Buji.

Presumably they didn't consider Yan Buji's status as the Dragon People's king; the other party agreed on the spot, but what if the Dragon People's experts refuse?

Wouldn't that be a hollow celebration?

Yan Buji laughed: "Since the Dragon People's elders chose me, I naturally have authority over these matters. What kind of crop does the Snow People wish to plant in the Boundless Abyss?"

Snow Qing said with a smile: "Later we will go personally to negotiate with Comrade Yan; if possible, can we later go with you to the Boundless Abyss?"

"Naturally, that's possible."

"Then that's good."

To be honest, after talking for so long Yan Buji didn't detect any contemptuous thoughts or attitudes from these Snow People, and the conditions they offered were quite reasonable, with no hint of coercion.

Moreover, as long as we help the Snow People plant a certain crop, we can join the Otherworldly Race Alliance without offering tributes; that's indeed a good thing.

Anyway, the Dragon People aren't short of people; resources are provided by the Snow People, and Yan Buji's side only handles daily planting and harvesting. If a real problem arises…

…we would still need someone to keep a close watch.

Yan Buji thought and decided that it would be better to have Wang Man handle the liaison.

Soon after, Yan Buji left the Golden Light Coral Realm.

A day later, a few Snow People arrived at Snow Island, and seeing the platform gradually being built in the sky above the island's center, they looked astonished: "The Dragon People have such skilled artisans?"

"Trivial matters, not worth mentioning. The city is newly founded and a bit crude; please don't disdain it."

"Comrade Yan, you are modest."

Yan Buji personally ushered the few inside, closed the door, and then began the conversation.

"I suppose Comrade Yan also has many questions, such as why we treat the Dragon People with such favor," Snow Qing said with a smile.

Yan Buji asked in puzzlement: "Did the Snow People ever have contact with my Dragon People's predecessors?"

Snow Rou nodded: "Comrade Yan may not know, but the Elder Ancestor once traveled the Five Realms with a Dragon Person, and that Dragon Person later vanished; the Elder has found it hard to forget."

"Is that so?" Yan Buji looked puzzled.

What era was that?

"The Elder once said that the Dragon People were… placed to survive in the Boundless Abyss, and the main reason we came out this time is to find a way into the Boundless Abyss. But we didn't expect the Dragon People to actually emerge, so we took the opportunity to present this condition to you."

"Is that so…?" Yan Buji pondered, not quite clear what the Snow People intend to do in the Boundless Abyss.

"Regarding the crop to be planted, it's actually a second‑transformation Spiritual Material called 'Shui Zhen', a new type of Spiritual Material our Snow People have developed, with great utility. However, after trying many methods, we haven't obtained sufficient yield. The Elder said the environment of the Boundless Abyss should be ideal for this Spiritual Material's growth, which is why we were sent to search."

Snow Qing laughed: "Comrade Yan need not worry about anything else; we will fully inform you of the methods of planting and harvesting Shui Zhen. As for how you arrange us, we will not interfere. However, for the first batch of Shui Zhen planting we need to send people over to demonstrate, to avoid improper planting…"

Yan Buji nodded: "That's no problem; I wonder when…"

"If you don't mind, we will stay here for a while. Once the other races send the Shui Zhen seeds over, we can begin," Snow Rou said with a smile.

"Sure, the Dragon People welcome …"

"Hmm, then that's settled. Speaking of which, three months from now the annual Alliance conference will convene; regardless of whether you have time, as a newly joined member I think I must ask you to attend, to understand the current state of the Winter Ocean's races."

"No problem."

"Of course…" Snow Qing looked at Yan Buji: "Regarding the planting of Shui Zhen, please keep it confidential from others, at least don't let them know about the Dragon People's preferential treatment."

Yan Buji raised an eyebrow and laughed: "I won't tell anyone about this."

"That's good."

Snow Rou looked at Yan Buji and asked: "By the way, Comrade Yan, are you a Martial Dao cultivator? I see the aura on you is all Martial Dao True Origin."

"Yes, what's up?"

"I've heard Martial Dao has long been cut off, unable to break through the Nascent Soul stage; except for that thing… could it be that you also know of it?"

"Hmm?"

Yan Buji, with a puzzled look, asked: "What thing?"

"You don't know?" Snow Rou, surprised, said: "I thought you knew the aberrant zone of the Winter Ocean was about to open."

Aberrant zone?

What connection can Martial Dao have with the aberrant zone?

Yan Buji, looking bewildered, asked: "Is there something in the aberrant zone that…"

"It's the Origin Seed." Snow Qing smiled: "But that's also a legend; it's said the Origin Seed is an extraordinary treasure, even saints covet it, and supposedly one exists in the Winter Ocean's aberrant zone."

Origin Seed?!

Yan Buji's pupils contracted; he had heard about this from the Heavenly Demon King before.

The Origin Seed appears to be the key to achieving Dao, but ancient warriors felt that using the Origin Seed to breakthrough was like a cultivator using a human Golden Core to break through the Foundation Establishment Stage—a rapid method that restricts growth—so they didn't plan to use it, and thus Magical Cultivation overtook them.

But according to them, the aberrant zone actually contains an Origin Seed?

"Do you mean the Origin Seed originates from the aberrant zone?"

"There is such a claim, but our Elder Ancestor isn't very clear; it's said that the known Origin Seeds seem to come from the aberrant zone, and the rest is uncertain," Snow Qing said.

Yan Buji lowered his head and pondered carefully for a long time.

I understand!