Chapter 265: Winning Over

Jiang Yu let out a shout to the heavens, brandishing a thunder bamboo flashing with electric arcs, and focused everyone's attention on her hand.

Many people exclaimed in admiration, "What a splendid purple‑gold thunder bamboo!"

But the demon kings stepped back, while the city lord's side approached gladly, "Little friend, this is one of the agreed‑upon trade items; may I have it?"

Fu Ju Zhenjun spoke ahead of Jiang Yu, saying, "The thing the Thunder Dragon King wants is best handed to him personally."

"Of course, I still have some bamboo segments here that I can give to fellow Daoists."

The city lord watched her open a large jade box, revealing a piece of thunder bamboo bearing two segments, its color rich and full, lightning flashing, cut from a fully mature branch.

"City lord, bamboo leaves," the Nascent Soul beside the city lord reminded.

Before the city lord could answer, the old shopkeeper's figure suddenly drifted down, swept the item from Jiang Yu's hand, and seized it instantly.

He lightly brushed away several bamboo leaves into the city lord's hand, saying, "I've taken this item; you all, come with me."

As he spoke, the people leapt onto the sea surface; a group of ninth‑rank great demons, barely daring to gasp, followed the old shopkeeper down toward the seabed.

At that moment, Jiang Tu shouted in alarm, "Jiang Yu, the tracking mark hasn't been dispelled!"

"Senior Thunder Dragon," Jiang Yu snapped out of her stupor, sheathed her sword and sprinted toward the sea surface, with Fu Ju following closely to protect her.

But the old shopkeeper only tossed out, "Take it with you; it's good for you." With that, none of the demon kings remained on the sea surface.

Jiang Yu and Fu Ju Zhenjun exchanged glances, "Master Uncle, do you know what this means?"

"Later, I'll privately ask the city lord," Fu Ju mused, adding, "Earlier, when you called the Thunder Dragon King, did you intentionally touch the restriction inside your dantian?"

"No, I think he's been following us all along," Jiang Yu said, trusting his regard for the purple‑gold thunder bamboo.

"Your dantian's restriction, aside from creating the tracking mark, currently seems to pose no obstacle, and his taking the demon kings away has, to some extent, helped us."

"Assuming he won't harm you," Fu Ju said, though she didn't believe it herself, she needed to reassure Jiang Yu.

A moment later, the city lord's side withdrew their distant gaze, and a person stepped forward to take the bamboo segment from Fu Ju Zhenjun's hand.

Another group, on a very hospitable beach, set up tables and chairs, inviting Jiang Yu and the other Jie Dan cultivators to go process their identity jade plaques.

At this time, Nan Su, whose whereabouts were unknown, flew in from the opposite end of the deserted island.

"See, I told you he hadn't left," Dragon Soul said to Jiang Yu, seeking credit.

Jiang Tu was not convinced, "What shielding did he previously use to block your tracking?"

Jiang Yu ignored their argument; since Nan Su appeared, her attention stayed on him, and the longer she watched, the stranger it seemed.

When he first appeared he bore injuries, but in the blink of an eye his complexion turned rosy, and no one knew what miraculous elixir he had taken.

At that moment, Xu Wu ran over holding an identity jade plaque, "Jiang Yu, what are you looking at?"

"That," Jiang Yu lifted her chin, pointing at several Jie Dan cultivators processing the jade plaques.

And with her obvious stare, Nan Su could not possibly be unseen; after completing his identity jade plaque, he fixed his gaze on Jiang Yu as he approached.

"But you're Daoist Friend Jiang Yu of the Grand Void Sect, and Daoist Friend Xu Wu of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect?" Although Nan Su had just left the gate to guard the spiritual stone mine, he was nevertheless an elder Jie Dan of the Harmony Lotus Sect, well‑informed about many cultivation world affairs.

He had collected all the portraits and deeds of the up‑and‑coming talents emerging from the major sects.

"Exactly. I heard Master Nan Su was among the first to reach Dragon Emperor Island; when we first arrived here, we wanted to inquire about the areas different from those on Chasing Yuan Island," Jiang Yu said earnestly, also producing a bottle of Soul‑Settling Pill as a trade.

Although Xu Wu didn't understand why she sought a trade with Nan Su, she didn't hinder his flattering words, "These past days, I suppose Master Nan Su, you have also traveled to many places."

"Not many; I've only set foot on two islands," Nan Su, who possessed a beneficial spirit‑soul elixir, naturally didn't refuse, and immediately duplicated his recorded information for them.

And Jiang Yu wasn't only after him; she also needed the records of several other Jie Dan.

After gathering several such documents, Qin Zhuo and two other Daoist sect Jie Dan also came to Jiang Yu to exchange information.

Jiang Tu, seeing her share several pieces of information, couldn't help but say, "Jiang Yu, why spend spiritual‑stone pills; everyone will have to submit them to the Nascent Souls."

"But they only hand them to the Nascent Souls of their own sect; if I go borrowing, it'll be a hassle, especially since the Nascent Souls on both sides are constructing a larger formation and have no time for such trivial matters."

"Dragon Soul, keep an eye on Nan Su." Problems that can be solved with money aren't problems.

Jiang Tu looked up and indeed saw a group of Nascent Soul cultivators surrounding the cave entrance, setting up a formation.

He then glanced at another cluster of Jie Dan cultivators; aside from one or two standing together talking, the others acted independently, scattered around.

Until the great formation at the cave entrance was completed, the Nascent Souls gathered the Jie Dan together and offered words of encouragement.

Fu Ju Zhenjun then pulled Jiang Yu aside, "I've already asked the city lord; he said the Thunder Dragon's mark doesn't harm anyone if not touched."

"The reason it hasn't been removed is that he'll probably come looking for you later."

"Moreover, the city lord added that the Thunder Dragon King has spent years seeking the method of ascension; out of virtue, he cultivates himself and often assists junior cultivators, never harming anyone."

He paused, then gave a wry smile, "Indeed, Master Uncle's abilities are limited; I can't help you remove it."

"On the other hand, we've taken many of the Dragon Emperor's pill formulas from you; for us exchanging them for a large batch of demon pills, it's a timely rain."

Jiang Yu understood, "Master Uncle, you say that, but you're also afraid that using extreme methods would damage the dantian."

"Will you leave at night or in the afternoon? Will the sect continue to send people over?"

A Nascent Queen of the Grand Void Sect was already overseas, so Fu Ju Zhenjun could not stay on Dragon Emperor Island: "I'll leave in half an hour; Chasing Yuan Island has agreed to let me bring another twenty Jie Dan this year, bringing the total to over thirty of you, to exchange travels with them."

"However, Master Liao Wu and Daoist Friend Ling will accompany the two Nascent Souls on Chasing Yuan Island, guarding the teleportation formation here; if danger arises, you can seek their rescue."

"But if unnecessary, handle what you can on your own."

She handed Jiang Yu the rescue jade talismans of Master Liao Wu and Ling Zhenjun, saying, "After you return to Chasing Yuan Island, teleport elsewhere to process the entry‑exit permits."

"The identity jade plaques of Chasing Yuan Island are sealed for backup," she added, pulling out several spiritual stones and pills to leave with her.

Jiang Yu declined the spiritual stones, accepting only the pills, "Master Uncle, I'll take good care of myself."

Shortly after, she and the group of Jie Dan stood before the teleportation, watching the Tianyuan cultivators depart.

The city lord generously invited them to board a flying boat to Chasing Yuan Island for a two‑day rest.

The three Nascent Souls of the Xun Sect, unwilling to go onto the realm of transformation, found an excuse to leave.

But Jiang Yu and the other twelve Jie Dan, needing the teleportation formation of Chasing Yuan Island, all boarded the ship at once.

The return journey was entirely different; the city lord's Jie Dan paired off one‑on‑one with Jiang Yu's group, befriending them, clearly aiming to win them over.