Chapter 249: Rookie

After Jiang Yu invited a few people to sit, she served hot tea one by one; everyone was familiar, and she asked, "Xu Daoyou, how did you recognize me and track me all the way here?"

Xu Wu traced a path in the air with two fingers, "In terms of movement, you only employ Foundation Establishment power, while I now wield Nascent Core sight."

At that moment the movement felt familiar, instinctively reminding me of you.

Out of curiosity she also used a quick disguise to track you to an inn; when you rented a room you happened to notice the Namu ring on your finger, the one you wore back in Great Luo Celestial Realm.

"Why didn't you call out to me back then?" Jiang Yu spread her left hand, indeed the same one she had worn before; from now on any disguise must be changed from head to toe.

Jiang Tu laughed at her inside the Dragon Pearl, "Your disguise is a lonely effort; you'd be better off showing your true form."

Given that you now have the Imperial Mother's direct transmission and the status of a Nascent Core Immortal, you could save a lot of trouble.

Unfortunately, since you intend to target the Hehuan Sect's Nascent Core cultivators, you must pretend to be someone else.

And Xu Wu and the others naturally couldn't hear Jiang Tu's telepathic voice; she also gave Jiang Yu a slightly mocking smile, "You're clearly shedding a few Foundations, how could I interrupt your fun."

Yet after waiting only a short while they saw a male cultivator leaving the inn, wearing the same Namu ring as you.

Jiang Yu, embarrassed, reached for the Namu ring, "Careless of me, are you also here on a sect assignment?"

Xu Wu's smile lingered briefly; after a few hesitant breaths she nodded, "Well, it's not a sect secret. Hmm, but I might not go; after all, we Tianyuan cultivators haven't set foot on Dragon Emperor Island for centuries."

"I prefer to focus on my own swordsmanship, but the sect has its own considerations; they hope those who once met Dragon Emperor cultivators in Great Luo Celestial Realm will make the trip."

He paused, then asked the others, "If you also intend to go, shall we form a team?"

"I won't go," Mo Yizhou quickly waved his hand, "The Nascent Souls say they won't go, claiming concern over provoking Dragon Emperor Island's hostility, but actually they're worried the resources there aren't as good as Tianyuan Continent."

After all, the sea races there are countless, and the human territories have been exhausted for tens of thousands of years.

The first batch of travelers, without venturing into the Yao Race's deep‑sea zones, might not even gather enough cultivation resources.

Xu Wu disagreed, "If their resources are scarce, why did Eastern Continent previously seize their lands?"

"This…" Mo Yizhou had no idea.

Jiang Yu, however, had seen some information among the spoils, "There seem to be some deep‑sea islands that possess refining materials needed by Eastern Continent."

She recalled, "I remember the year we entered the Celestial Realm, the various forces on Dragon Emperor Island seemed to be brewing a great war."

The so‑called Nine Immortals Alliance and the Dragon Emperor Alliance, which has long governed the archipelago, were already at odds.

On Dragon Emperor Island, the righteous and demonic coexist; practitioners of Dao Sect techniques might be demonic cultivators, there are also wavering free cultivators, and sects like the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion that maintain neutrality, forming another force.

"Amitabha, I, a young monk, wish to travel overseas; Xu Daoyou, if you don't mind, I'm willing to form a team."

"Jiang Yu, what about you?" Guo Jue had no sense of belonging on Tianyuan Continent, but if he returned to Eastern Continent he would feel he owed his master, so he preferred to travel elsewhere.

"I'm not sure." Jiang Yu's primary target is Nansu; if she can kill him on Tianyuan she'll do so.

But if the opponent flees to Dragon Emperor Island, she also intends to go; her gaze lingered on Mo Yizhou's face for half a breath longer.

Mo Yizhou instantly understood, "I estimate the teleportation array will be repaired within about a month."

More than half of the people who patrol with me want to go; they are all near the end of their lifespan.

Supposedly, the Demon Sect should send more early‑stage Nascent Core cultivators to explore, and the Dao Sect should protect the young Nascent Core, but now it's reversed?

Xu Wu frowned slightly at the words, "Our family cannot represent all sects."

"Those gathered at this market are just here to take a look."

Jiang Yu refilled tea for everyone, "Putting that aside, when teleportation truly works, the elders of each sect can change their decisions at any time."

"We're all Nascent Core newbies, and we're gathered here; shall we exchange experiences?"

"It feels that with our current cultivation, battling others differs a lot from the Foundation Establishment stage."

Mo Yizhou strongly agreed, "Indeed, indeed, I also cultivate spiritual energy rather than demonic energy; how about we try a Throw‑and‑Attract Jade first?"

"Good." The other three nodded in unison, saying that sharing experiences would aid their own cultivation.

While they chatted enthusiastically, the various sects kept a close eye on the teleportation array's repair progress.

Somehow, this news reached the Eastern Continent cultivators traveling on the Great Yuan Continent.

After several twists, these Eastern Continent Nascent Souls also pretended to be Foundation Establishment cultivators and gathered at this market.

Coincidentally, these people were in a courtyard not far from Jiang Yu, and she had already seen two of them before.

At this moment, the speaker was the Nascent Soul of the Demon Flame Sect whom she had met twice in Eastern Continent, Master Lu: "Xu Zong Daoyou, the current repair level of the teleportation array is unknown; do you intend to return to inform the Sword Sect, or wait here with the two of us for it to finish?"

"Do you think Tianyuan cultivators would agree to our going?" Xu Zong asked back.

He learned from the age‑law of disciple search that Xun Shan (Brother Xing) and Min Chiyuan are in the Grand Void Gate, so on a whim he came together with others to travel the Tianyuan Continent.

He didn't expect that shortly after arriving, he heard Tianyuan had found a teleportation array leading to Dragon Emperor Island.

"With spiritual stones and spiritual materials, money can make ghosts grind the mill." Master Lu only wanted to travel to seek opportunities and didn't intend to spread the news to Eastern Continent, lest more people compete for the chance.

Speaking of it, he had come to Tianyuan twenty years ago seeking a chance, but fate didn't grant it and his cultivation still made no progress.

This time, after deep contemplation, he happened to come to Tianyuan with Xu Zong; a few days ago he was wandering the Demon Sect's territory and happened upon Master Sun Dan.

Since the long‑disconnected Dragon Emperor Island is now reachable, he wanted to test his luck, "Sun Daoyou, what do you think?"

"Dragon Emperor Island harbors much resentment toward Eastern Continent and will not welcome Eastern cultivators."

"And I, as a Tianyuan cultivator, only wish to go there to gather rare spiritual herbs for alchemy." Master Sun Dan is a Nascent Soul free cultivator and a female adept in alchemy, so she has friends on both the righteous and demonic sides in Eastern Continent, as well as on Tianyuan Continent.

Therefore, upon learning that the Heaven‑Demon Hehuan two sects were contesting spiritual ores and hearing about the ancient teleportation array, she immediately contacted Master Lu for assistance.

And Master Lu then informed Xu Zong, leading to the three's gathering.

Sun Dan considered and said, "Xu Daoyou, these days the Eastern Continent sects haven't seen a transformation to divine beings for years; perhaps they have also given up their desire to control Dragon Emperor Island."

"I also ask you to give me a letter of credence; I don't want my personal greed to provoke anyone's covetousness toward Dragon Emperor Island."

Xu Zong thought for a moment, "I'll go with you."

"But the travelers of Tianyuan aren't just the three of us; sooner or later the news will reach Eastern Continent."

Master Lu, with a puzzled expression, asked, "Xu Zong, you don't think Tianyuan cultivators are just watching someone return to Eastern Continent to report, do you?"

"The teleportation array on this side leading to Eastern Continent is probably already closed."