Chapter 487: External Aid

After all, there are also many cultivators in Dongxing City within the Heavenly Spirit Realm who came here to avoid the war in the Dongxing Sea Region; since the Nine Heavens Five Regions Great Merchant Association has made its business so big, could it now be trying to get in on the war for profit?

Nangong Fan chuckled and said: "After all, the chaos in the Dongxing Sea Region is nothing more than internal strife; rather than wasting their own strength, after a series of considerations they decided to invite outside help, and you few should be able to understand that, right?"

The three nodded; that was understandable.

Whether it's the Sun and Moon Palace or other aristocratic clans and sects, aren't they all fighting for fame and profit?

"Nowadays, the Sun and Moon Palace is declining, but its foundation remains deep. Although it no longer has a Great Vehicle Stage cultivator holding the fort, its base not only possesses the Eight Revolutions Immortal Formation that even Great Vehicle Stage cultivators find hard to break, but also the Ascending Light Sect's sect-protecting treasure, the Nine Revolutions Immortal Accumulation Nine Splendors Return to Origin Diagram; if used without regard for cost, even a Great Vehicle Stage cultivator could be killed off a few."

Hiss!

Yan Buji took a deep breath; is this the foundation of a sect that governs a region?

Truly terrifying.

"So although the Dongxing Sea Region is chaotic now, it hasn't yet reached the point where each side wages war against the other; moreover, to prevent this from happening, the Sun and Moon Palace has made concessions, planning to open an Abnormal Region and send cultivators from all sides to seize the Sect Master's seal left there by the Ascending Light Sect back then, so they can jointly contend for the future ruler of the Dongxing Sea Region!"

"An Abnormal Region?!" Wu Qian and Long Zhou's eyes lit up, their bodies slightly trembling, as if there were some extraordinary treasure inside the Abnormal Region.

Yan Buji frowned: "Although the Abnormal Region is said to be dangerous, how could the mighty Ascending Light Sect of old have lost such a treasure as the Sect Master's seal there?"

"This Abnormal Region is different from the others in the Dongxing Sea Region; it lies near the place where a sage attained the Dao long ago! However, because the Abnormal Region spreads at a terrifying speed, its range now completely surrounds that sage's enlightenment ground. The benefits of that sage's enlightenment ground need no further explanation—even a Great Vehicle Stage cultivator would desperately seek the sage's lingering resonance there. The sect master of the Ascending Light Sect back then had reached the Tribulation Crossing Stage, and it's said he even survived three million-tribulation ordeals, yet he still perished there. Although dangerous, the allure of that sage's enlightenment ground is just that great." Nangong Fan laughed.

Wu Qian furrowed his brows: "In that case, for us Nascent Soul cultivators to go there wouldn't that be seeking death?"

"Eh, it's not that simple. If you all are willing to join a faction, you'll get a chance to enter the Abnormal Region to explore. Back then, the Ascending Light Sect mobilized its whole strength to enter that enlightenment ground, and although it also caused the later Sea-Heaven Alliance's split, who knows how many treasures left by its cultivators remain inside? Besides, the Abnormal Region also produces Abnormal Variation Source Stones; if luck is good and you find a treasure storing the sage's lingering resonance, that would be a direct ascent to heaven!"

Upon hearing this, Wu Qian and Long Zhou's hearts pounded.

Although they have been stuck at the Nascent Soul Stage for a long time, as Nangong Fan said, the Abnormal Region indeed holds many treasures; besides, the Abnormal Material on Abnormal Beasts is also a high-value item.

Moreover, the Abnormal Variation Source Stone, a treasure capable of sealing items for tens of millions of years, could also yield astonishing riches.

The key is that sage's enlightenment ground....

"Xu Mou wants to ask, how many people will go into that Abnormal Region, and what will their approximate strength be?"

Wu Qian and Long Zhou also reacted.

Indeed, any Spirit Transformation Stage cultivator could pass; who knows what dangers they might encounter upon entering.

Abnormal Beasts are one aspect, but we must also be wary of the other cultivators entering together.

"You can rest assured on this point: within the first six months of the Abnormal Region's opening, only Nascent Soul Stage cultivators may enter; after one year, Spirit Transformation Stage cultivators may; after three years, Unity Dao Stage cultivators may." Nangong Fan said.

"Why?"

"It is said the Sun and Moon Palace used a special seal, layered and reinforced, which not only can limit the Abnormal Region's spread but also prevent high-level cultivators from intruding. However, that Abnormal Region is extremely dangerous; even Seven/Eight Revolutions Abnormal Beasts could appear." Nangong Fan said.

Now, Wu Qian and Long Zhou fell completely silent.

Nangong Fan ignored them, merely looking at Yan Buji and saying: "How about it, Daoist Xu, are you willing to make the trip?"

Yan Buji pondered: "If I, Xu Mou, were to go, could I only enter as a devoted offering?"

"That is natural."

"Hmm, although one will be labeled, after entering, what one does is still up to oneself, right?"

"But after all, it's someone else's territory; after going there, one must still be careful of the host's people...."

"I will go." Wu Qian rose to his feet and said solemnly.

A flash of surprise crossed Nangong Fan's eyes: "Daoist Wu, have you decided?"

To be frank, Nangong Fan had received orders from above this time, and he also knew that the number of people he could invite was not large.

People like Wu Qian and Long Zhou, old slickers, are unlikely to risk their lives to explore.

But Wu Qian's solemnity still left Nangong Fan quite surprised.

"I've lingered too long at the early Nascent Soul Stage; if I can't break through, I only have two or three hundred years of lifespan left. While my strength hasn't fully waned, I should give it a shot." Wu Qian took a deep breath and made his decision.

Long Zhou stretched out his hand and sighed helplessly: "In that case, then I won't go."

Yan Buji nodded: "Then I'll go with Brother Wu."

Nangong Fan smiled: "Good, since you two are willing to go, meet me outside Dongxing City in half a month, and I'll lead you there."

"Thank you for the trouble." Yan Buji and Wu Qian clasped their hands; Nangong Fan returned the gesture and then left.

Afterward, the three sat down again.

Long Zhou looked at Wu Qian: "Brother Wu, you must be careful this time; we all know what force stands behind Nangong Fan—don't end up becoming someone else's blade."

Wu Qian gave a wry smile: "With my meager strength I can't be a blade; at most I can help block a blade for someone."

Saying that, Wu Qian looked at Yan Buji: "I think Nangong Fan came this time especially to invite Brother Xu."

Yan Buji thought for a moment and shook his head: "Not necessarily; I suspect the force behind Nangong Fan is the Nine Heavens Five Regions Great Merchant Association."

"Yeah, what of it?"

"If so, their now assisting the Sun and Moon Palace must mean they've obtained some accurate intelligence; a shrewd merchant wouldn't bet on one side in an unstable situation, but would instead curry favor with both to profit." Yan Buji said lightly.

Long Zhou furrowed his brow in thought and said: "Brother Xu makes sense; if the Great Merchant Association is placing such a bet, doesn't that mean they're certain the Sun and Moon Palace side will win this contest for supremacy?"

For a moment the three couldn't clarify the reasoning, then Wu Qian suddenly said: "What if... the Great Merchant Association is merely doing the work of invitation and recommendation? They haven't placed a bet on either side, and given how many people they have, who knows which side the cultivators they invite will end up on?"

That also makes sense.

Yan Buji nodded: "Brother Wu's words are probably the truth; perhaps the Great Merchant Association merely views this struggle between the Sun and Moon Palace and other forces as a business activity. They have wide influence in the Heavenly Spirit Realm and aren't afraid of trouble. There's no need to personally intervene and help; a good merchant shouldn't meddle in the power struggles of the five regions."

Because this is not mundane; merchants of low status can only seek their own development by bribing court officials with money. The Nine Heavens Five Regions Great Merchant Association itself is a huge conglomerate of interests; frankly, aside from lacking a fixed base and being limited to activity in the Heavenly Spirit Realm, its members surely come from all corners of the world, and there may even be cultivators of the Sun and Moon Palace among them.

Thus, the Great Merchant Association wants to ensure its trade activities aren't affected and cannot remain completely aloof. Of course, getting personally involved is also extremely risky; one might be purged by the eventual victor, so maintaining a stance of being neither too close nor too distant is best.