Chapter 516: with translation of chapter title

Thirty thousand!

You're joking here? One hundred thousand!

Qin Feng Zhenren, what do you mean? Are you trying to vie with me?

What do you mean by 'vie'? At the auction, the highest bidder wins; if you're able, place your bid!

I am Yan Feng, the island master of Sea Flat Island; please give me face, this Nascent Soul Pill I will surely obtain!

You dare to give me face, you little prick!

You! You, who the hell are you? If you've got the guts, report your name!

Seeing that a fight was about to break out below, Yan Buji came to know many people through their descriptions.

Yuan Shui Zhenjun also stood aside, pointing and commenting: "That old man in red, Yan Feng, is an early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, but his son has decent talent and is now at late-stage Golden Core. If he obtains the Nascent Soul Pill for his son, Sea Flat Island might truly produce two Nascent Soul cultivators."

The one who's been fighting Yan Feng, stepping on his toes and picking his nose, is a recently famous loose cultivator known as Chen Feng Shangren, also a Nascent Soul cultivator.

Seeing the Nascent Soul cultivators below fighting without regard for face, Yan Buji asked curiously: "Speaking of which, these people are all Nascent Soul cultivators; the Nascent Soul Pill is precious, but surely not worth tearing faces over, right?"

Yan Buji's meaning was clear: the Nascent Soul Pill, though precious, is only useful for Golden Core cultivators to consume; a Nascent Soul cultivator who obtains it has no other use besides giving it to their junior.

Even so, the Nascent Soul Pill merely increases the chance of breaking through to Nascent Soul; it's not a guarantee, and even being rare wouldn't cause the Nascent Soul cultivators present to brawl like ordinary folk.

Yuan Shui Zhenjun laughed: "These people are all clever; using the Nascent Soul Pill as a pretext to fight in the auction, getting their fill of fighting gives them an excuse to leave this place."

Yan Buji suddenly understood: "Ah, that's how it is."

Just saying the scuffle below was child's play; actually they wanted to use the fight over the Nascent Soul Pill to let each stay away from the true vortex.

Damn, are you my parent? If you've got the guts, go fight outside! If you lose, you're my kid!

Bring it on! Today I'll make you know who gave birth to you!

Yan Feng, you old bastard, dare to spar with me?

You little bastard, did you go eat a big meal in the latrine? Your mouth is so filthy; today I'll properly teach you what etiquette means!

After all that foul language, over half of the Nascent Soul cultivators present left.

Left behind were bewildered Golden Core cultivators and a few Nascent Soul cultivators who truly needed the Nascent Soul Pill.

The auction attendees were at a loss between laughter and tears, only able to restart the auction for the Nascent Soul Pill.

Yuan Shui Zhenjun looked at Yan Buji: "Daoist, you really don't intend to bid?"

Yan Buji shook his head: "I'm only at early-stage Golden Core; even if I obtained the Nascent Soul Pill, I don't know how many centuries it would take to reach Nascent Soul, and using it right away would likely bring disaster."

Yuan Shui Zhenjun chuckled: "That's also true."

After a while, with the auction's end, this Nascent Soul Pill fell into the hands of an unnamed Golden Core loose cultivator, who spent a full million spiritual stones, showing how precious the Nascent Soul Pill is.

Of course, precious it is; even if one truly had a million spiritual stones, it'd be better to seek other ways to reach Nascent Soul, but everyone was curious about that Golden Core loose cultivator who possessed such a huge sum.

No one present knew his identity, nor could they tell whether he belonged to some major power.

However, this was irrelevant to Yan Buji; after watching the auction, he returned to his dwelling to continue cultivating.

As many Nascent Soul cultivators on Return Wind Island left under the pretense of duels, the situation became somewhat chaotic for a time.

"Although one can dodge for a moment but not forever, the dispute between True Yellow Island and the Sinking Dragon Society will surely affect the situation of the Boundless Sea, unless they are all loose cultivators without power, otherwise it's hard to remain uninvolved," Yan Buji thought.

One day passed.

With the formal start of the betrothal ceremony, early in the morning the sound of gongs and drums rang out; cultivators from True Yellow Island and the Sinking Dragon Society stood on either side of the road, and the guests followed the procession all the way to the Grand Plaza of Return Wind Island.

Flower baskets made of fresh flowers were placed on both sides; around, raised spiritual white pigeons fluttered; the venue bustled with people coming and going, as the two sects' cultivators received many guests.

Master Congyun Zhenjun has arrived, congratulations on the union, accompanied by a pair of deep blue treasure pearls!

Yuan Shui Zhenjun has arrived, congratulations on the union, accompanied by a mass of yellow-light coral!

……

As guests entered, the proper etiquette was still observed; naturally, invited guests were to present gifts.

However, Yan Buji, following the procession, noticed that both sides were collecting gifts; upon closer look, he suddenly smiled.

Yuan Shui Zhenjun clicked his tongue: "True Yellow Island and the Sinking Dragon Society each collecting a gift? Have they already begun covertly measuring each other up?"

Yan Buji understood Yuan Shui Zhenjun's helplessness; True Yellow Island and the Sinking Dragon Society were obviously using this gift-receiving segment to send a message to those wavering individuals or powers.

That is, how many people stand behind them.

Even if those people gave gifts to both sides in this segment, the purpose is obvious.

The Bright Moon Island Master of Treasure Flood Island has arrived, congratulations on the union, accompanied by two stalks of thousand-year treasure herb!

Heavenly Travel Gate's Soaring Flight Zhenjun has arrived, congratulations on the union, accompanied by a bottle of fivefold transformation bright moon elixir!

Wind Spirit Sect Sect Master Zhang Beishan has arrived, congratulations on the union, accompanied by a flame-patterned jade tablet!

Yan Buji saw within the venue that the three major powers of the Boundless Sea had all sent representatives, and he too felt curious.

Heavenly Travel Gate seemed to lean toward True Yellow Island, Wind Spirit Sect toward the Sinking Dragon Society, while Treasure Flood Island sent gifts to both sides, intending to stay neutral.

Yuan Shui Zhenjun nodded: "Wind Spirit Sect is a Dao-refining sect, having trade with the Sinking Dragon Society; Heavenly Travel Gate is a subordinate sect legacy of the former Ascendant Bright Sect, originally allied with True Yellow Island. As for Treasure Flood Island's arrival, it's odd—having no backing nor resources, yet that Bright Moon Island Master is a genuine late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, formidable in strength."

Yan Buji looked over; the Bright Moon Island Master of Treasure Flood Island was a female cultivator, her attire splendid yet not vulgar, possessing three parts dignity, six parts beauty, nine parts strength! Her aura was concealed yet not released, her expression calm, seeming indifferent to how others regarded her, appearing somewhat aloof.

"A late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator..." Yan Buji felt somewhat surprised; although the overall strength of the Boundless Sea pales compared to the Turbulent Sea, the Boundless Sea itself has few Spirit Transformation cultivators, and those who have achieved Void Refinement and Union with Dao are as rare as dragons' horns, so naturally a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator counts as top-tier.

Moreover, even if the Spirit Transformation elders of True Yellow Island and the Sinking Dragon Society valued Treasure Flood Island, they likely valued this Bright Moon Island Master's strength. Upon reflection, if those Spirit Transformation elders do not directly engage in the conflict, having such a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator fight would be a major strategic key on either side.

Precisely for this reason, Treasure Flood Island staying neutral seems the best choice.

Anyway, afterward True Yellow Island and the Sinking Dragon Society could hardly join forces to cause trouble for Treasure Flood Island.

"Then doesn't this Bright Moon Island Master consider Treasure Flood Island's future development?" Yan Buji inquired.

According to his thinking, if he himself had power and strength, participating in this struggle between True Yellow Island and the Sinking Dragon Society wouldn't be entirely bad; at least joining a side could secure many benefits for Treasure Flood Island.

Yuan Shui Zhenjun pondered: "This Bright Moon Island Master probably has her own ideas; besides, she is rarely seen in daily life, wholeheartedly painstakingly cultivating to break through to Spirit Transformation..."

Yan Buji nodded; it appears the other party indeed has no need to participate in this dispute.

Unless True Yellow Island or the Sinking Dragon Society privately offer her benefits she cannot refuse.