Chapter 488: with translation of chapter title

Yan Buji agreed to go, mainly due to two considerations.

First, although he says he currently lacks no resources temporarily, what if after advancing to the Golden Core stage his resources run short?

He can't keep making money by fighting to the death in the arena, can he?

Besides, he still needs to study alchemy; upon reaching Golden Core he must also cultivate the Earth Fiend Divine Ability. Studying the beast armor and such is also a safeguard for future strength.

In short, Yan Buji currently needs no resources because his room for improvement does not lie on the Martial Dao path.

His strength comes from the Martial and Law Dual Cultivation granted by the Flower Pattern Mystic Technique, giving him many more means than ordinary cultivators, so he has various countermeasures when facing many insoluble troubles.

Second, fighting to the death in the arena currently does not let him quickly accumulate Dao Marks; entering the Odd Region will inevitably involve combat, which likewise can advance his Martial Dao.

Six months is enough for him to fight in the Odd Region and, incidentally, search for treasure.

As for Wu Qian?

Yan Buji thought that after entering, if he fought alone he might still have some trouble, but with Wu Qian present he wouldn't be singled out.

After all, a lone wolf still carries risk.

Moreover, if he were purely treasure hunting, any conflict with others would surely draw him into combat. The Odd Region is already dangerous; in a short time he unlikely could settle a fight, and if it attracted further danger, it would be even more troublesome.

If there are many people, the other side would likely consider whether to start a war; such collective action could also avoid some unnecessary trouble.

"Brother Xu, this time going to the Odd Region, it's all up to you," Wu Qian laughed.

"No problem; if there's anything, I will definitely help."

"The premise is that it won't affect me."

Yan Buji didn't know what conditions would be upon entering the Odd Region; if it were again a random teleport like entering a secret realm, then it would come down to luck and strength.

"In that case, I'll go prepare first," Wu Qian said, rose, and left the Martial Association.

Yan Buji stroked his chin, then went out and ordered his gathered disciples to pay attention to news within Eastern Star City these days.

Upon learning Yan Buji would leave, Wang Qiangsheng suddenly said, "Master, are you also going to that Odd Region this time?"

"Has the news reached you all?" Yan Buji smiled: "What's being said in the city?"

Wang Qiangsheng frowned and whispered, "I heard that the people of Sun and Moon Palace originally wanted to invite experts from the Merchant Guild to assist, but later it turned into seeing who would obtain the Ascendant Bright Sect Sect Master's seal within the Odd Region; whoever gets it becomes the new authority of the Dongxing Sea Region."

Yan Buji nodded, then suddenly thought of something: "You mean the people from Sun and Moon Palace previously came to find the Merchant Guild's people?"

"That's how the rumor goes among the folk."

That explains it.

It seems Wu Qian's statement is correct; the Merchant Guild did not choose to back the Sun and Moon Palace, but merely offered symbolic external aid, and also provided options for other forces.

Whether other forces participate is up to them; just having an attitude is enough.

"Besides, Master, regarding the matter you had me investigate, I've roughly found some clues," Wang Qiangsheng said.

"Who is it?"

"Based on the movements of those martial cultivators in the association, I discovered that the people behind them seem to be from Cloud Tower. Cloud Tower's cooperation with the arena is greater than ours, and they also provide many death-fighting cultivators. Master, your recent undefeated record in the arena likely drew their attention."

Yan Buji furrowed his brows: "Although my Master and the Martial Association have been developing rapidly, Cloud Tower is no minor force; could the development of the Martial Association and my own progress have affected them?"

Wang Qiangsheng thought for a moment, then fell into contemplation.

Suddenly, Wang Qiangsheng thought of something, his eyes lighting up: "Master, have you heard of the black-market odds?"

"Black-market odds? You mean the opening bets of those underground gambling houses?" Yan Buji said.

"Yes, although I haven't looked into it, I've heard that your odds on the black market were previously quite high; although they've dropped now, those who bet against you might still hold a grudge."

"That's not likely." Yan Buji waved his hand: "Winning or losing is normal; they study my fighting methods in each match to devise countermeasures. If it were just about manipulating the odds, I'd have won all my previous bouts, so they should have given up by now. But you also saw the recent death match—they're still targeting me."

Wang Qiangsheng scratched his head: "Then... it couldn't be that you've provoked the people of Cloud Tower, could it? Do you have a grudge against them?"

"I've only been in Eastern Star City for a year and a half; where would I get the chance to feud with them? Even if the Martial Association's development affected their interests, attacking me alone wouldn't hinder the Martial Association's development... So, does someone from Cloud Tower truly bear a grudge against me?"

Yan Buji thought it over; the more he spoke, the more he felt as if he had a grudge against someone from Cloud Tower.

But how many enemies does he have in the Dongxing Sea Region?

The only two, Song Ziyue and Song Xing, also died inside the Penglai Pavilion; as for the Otherworldly Race side, he has now reached Nascent Soul, so no one would travel far to trouble him.

Could it be the Raging Current Sea side?

There aren't many here who bear him a grudge; most are merely entangled over interests. Such targeting—could he have inadvertently killed relatives or friends of someone from Cloud Tower?

Yan Buji shook his head; when you're out and about, killing many people, you lose track of who your enemies are.

But if it's not a grudge, could such targeting be due to his identity as a martial cultivator?

Yan Buji recalled his several difficult death matches; each of his moves seemed to have been seen through, conveyed via someone's account to his opponents, who then devised targeted countermoves, leaving him with a feeling of having strength but nowhere to apply it.

Speaking truly, it's more like.....

"Using me as a sparring partner? Interesting," Yan Buji chuckled.

"Master?"

"It's nothing; you don't need to investigate this matter."

"All right, but Master, I've heard that many Nascent Soul true monarchs have been dispatched in Eastern Star City this time; perhaps you'll encounter that person targeting you later."

Yan Buji gazed into the distance: "If that's really the case, that would be great."

Meanwhile.

Within Eastern Star City, Cloud Tower lies on the other side of the arena, not in the same district as the Martial Association.

Cloud Tower occupies a large area; although it's in the city, it also has extensive grounds with many pavilions, terraces, and towers, resembling a mundane imperial palace.

Its main feature is a tower over a hundred meters high, called Cloud Tower, which is naturally very conspicuous.

Inside Cloud Tower, in the highest chamber sit several Void Refinement cultivators, gazing down over Eastern Star City, whose bounds cannot be seen at a glance.

"How so—how are the Merchant Guild's people arranging things?"

"I heard that we people are assigned to the Liu clan-led aristocratic family, the rest to the Mercury Sect and such sect forces, and another part joins the Sun and Moon Palace."

"Since the Merchant Guild doesn't plan to take the field, we'll just add fuel to their fire!"