Chapter 491: Sun Moon Palace

I've also encountered what you said; a Liu-surnamed Nascent Soul Cultivator found me, saying he wants me to join his team to go to the Abnormal Region and find the Sect Master's seal. Ling Yan said.

Then it seems this matter holds great promise. Xiao Ran laughed.

How so? No matter how you look at it, this matter ultimately involves the internal strife of the Sun Moon Palace and other forces; we are outsiders after all, and in a situation of mutual distrust, encountering unpredictable danger is inevitable. Ling Yan frowned.

That said, the Abnormal Region surely holds treasures lost long ago by the Rising Bright Sect. Moreover, the Abnormal Region produces mutation-source stone; with luck we might also obtain some ancient relics. And look, they are not distinguishing superiority, so they certainly won't wholeheartedly deal with the beast tide. With just the two of us, trying to cross the beast tide of the Turbulent Sea to reach the farther Frigid Winter Ocean is also unlikely.

Ling Yan fell silent.

Anyway, idling is idling; I intend to make the trip. If the situation turns bad, preserving oneself through wisdom is enough—no need to throw away our lives for them. Xiao Ran said.

Ling Yan thought for a moment: "That's not impossible."

Xiao Ran nodded: "Then which side do you plan to join?"

Now it seems the Sun Moon Palace is declining badly; many cultivators complain that the present Sun Moon Palace is this wrong and that wrong, blaming it for the Twenty-Eight Mansions Island falling to demon beasts. It sounds like the palace's fault, but looking at those people, it seems the forces hostile to the Sun Moon Palace are deliberately smearing it.

But the Sun Moon Palace originally governs the Turbulent Sea; whether this happened intentionally or not.... Xiao Ran thought: "The Sun Moon Palace has indeed declined."

Ling Yan looked at him: "Do you want to join the Liu family?"

No, still the Sun Moon Palace. Since their control over their own entourage is so low, those in high positions cannot simply watch their power be divided. Moreover, we outsiders could never seize their nest to become a new power center, so in their view they only need to offer a price to win us over.

Thus, joining the Sun Moon Palace would obviously entail fewer restrictions. After Xiao Ran's explanation, Ling Yan also understood his meaning.

In other words, the Sun Moon Palace is weak, so it won't overly restrict us or demand that we follow its orders?

Even if we truly have to do as they say, we at least need to show sincerity—if they want us to go to the Abnormal Region to fight the vanguard battle without giving any benefits, who would listen to them? Xiao Ran laughed.

Ling Yan wore a strange expression: "Doesn't that mean we're the first batch sent in to serve as cannon fodder for them?"

Xiao Ran nodded: "After all, without a foundation of trust they cannot possibly look after us. However, as they said, the Abnormal Region indeed holds many treasures; if we can find them, it won't be a loss."

What about the abnormal beasts? Given this situation, there are likely abnormal beasts of seven transformations or higher inside the Abnormal Region—beyond what we can handle. Ling Yan asked.

Xiao Ran pinched his chin: "I can actually make an Accumulation Device to protect against mutation rosy qi for you; the main thing is whether you're willing to go."

Ling Yan rolled her eyes: "If I weren't going, why would I tell you all this?"

Indeed. Xiao Ran smiled: "Then let's contact the Sun Moon Palace cultivators."

Alright.

One day passed.

Xiao Ran and Ling Yan found Lie Tian and mentioned their willingness to join.

That's really great! Don't blame me for speaking frankly, fellow Daoists—this time our Sun Moon Palace has recruited many experts to go together to explore the Abnormal Region; whoever can bring back the seal will receive generous rewards! So I hope you all will cooperate sincerely. Lie Tian said happily.

Xiao Ran then asked: "If so, when will we enter?"

There are still a few days. Once the Palace Master and the others finish their discussion, they will open the Abnormal Region. However, at that time you all need to come inside the Sun Moon Palace; please don't wander about, just wait a moment. Lie Tian said happily.

Fine.

After settling the details, Xiao Ran and Ling Yan rushed to the Sun Moon Palace together; with Lie Tian leading the way and being able to use the teleportation array, they arrived at the Sun Moon Palace's location in just two days.

The Sun Moon Palace's base lies in the middle of the Grand Canal nearest to Sun Island and Moon Island—a super-large sect stronghold floating a hundred meters above the canal, with Immortal Mountain Pavilions, Flying Cranes and Crimson Clouds, and a constant stream of cultivators coming and going in the heavens, truly magnificent.

You two may temporarily rest at the station on Sun Island for two days; I'll take my leave now.

Brother Lie Tian, do you still need to go find others?

No, that's not it—a batch of fellow Daoists from the Heavenly Spirit Realm who wish to join the Sun Moon Palace's team have arrived, and I'm going to greet them. Alright, farewell to you two.

Farewell.

Xiao Ran clasped his fist, watching Lie Tian depart.

Ling Yan looked at Xiao Ran: "I also need to take a break to ensure my condition."

Good, taking advantage of this time, I'll quickly forge an Accumulation Device. Xiao Ran said.

Elsewhere.

In the Moon Island station, Nan Gong Fan brought a group of Nascent Soul Cultivators over; the surrounding cultivators dared not obstruct them, whispering cautiously.

Fellow Daoists, this is the Sun Moon Palace's station on Moon Island; let's go inside and wait a moment—we've already notified the Sun Moon Palace's Daoists to come.

Yan Buji and Wu Qian were also among them; Wu Qian looked at the surroundings, then toward the distant canal. As the sun set and the moon rose, the Sun Moon Palace shining with sun and moon alike inevitably evoked deep feeling.

Speaking of which, this is still my first time coming here.

Yan Buji asked curiously: "Brother Wu, have you never been to Moon Island?"

No, I've mostly cultivated in the Boundless Sea, and later had an opportunity to develop in the Heavenly Spirit Realm; I rarely come to this part of the Turbulent Sea.

Boundless Sea? Then, Brother Wu, do you know the two island masters of True Yellow Island?

Not exactly acquainted; I've met them a few times, but back then I was close friends with the chief of the Sunk Dragon Society. Wu Qian laughed.

Yan Buji laughed: "I also went to the Boundless Sea before, and I heard that the Sunk Dragon Society has another cultivator who has advanced to Nascent Soul."

Wu Qian exclaimed in surprise: "That must be that kid Chen Fu! Chen Fu and Wang Pinghua were once close friends; Chen Fu even gave the Nascent Soul Pill he found to Wang Pinghua, enabling him to reach Nascent Soul! Oh right, Wang Pinghua is the chief of the Sunk Dragon Society." Wu Qian said this, and he was quite pleased.

They're truly like brothers.

Ah, yes, even closer than blood brothers. In the cultivation world, father‑son enmity and husband‑wife grudges are commonplace. But the two of them have simply been supporting each other all along—Chen Fu actually handed over the Nascent Soul Pill he found to Wang Pinghua so he could become Nascent Soul first, showing how deep their bond is. Wu Qian sighed.

Although the cultivation world is full of struggles for fame and profit, endless dramas of life and death. Yet Wu Qian has witnessed truly kind and righteous people, and cannot help but respect them. Especially after so many years in cultivation, having seen too much deceit and scheming, he has come to understand how profound genuine sincerity's impact on a person can be.

Yan Buji could not deny it, expressing indifference toward these matters.

Anyway, I have no grudge against them, so there's no need to go looking for trouble.