Chapter 81: Don't Ask

Jiang Yu said a very simple line, and it left Qi Haohao stumped.

After a long while she finally said, "Just now, the way you discarded the tribulation cultivator's smoke artifact was marvelous; could you sell me some?"

It started when Qi Zhenjun discovered Jiang Yu's clever escape method; when Qi Haohao projected her spiritual sense, she only saw those few people being choked, tears streaming down their faces.

One must know that a cultivator can be killed by a single breath from an opponent, especially in midair; that smoke delayed them for at least five breaths.

At that moment Grandfather remarked, "With many foes I fled, not acting rashly, I decisively chose to retreat, maximizing my own safety."

Qi Haohao's mind was as clear as a mirror; Grandfather was berating her, saying that relying on her status and treasure to tangle with several tribulation cultivators was foolish.

"Three or five will suffice." Qi Haohao, fearing she wouldn't sell, gave no price.

Jiang Yu thought for a moment, produced a bottle of tear‑inducing pill and handed it to her: "This pill has no name; it is a test sample from a pill cultivator, and I only have a small amount."

"I'll give you one bottle, consider it a thank‑you gift for this journey."

During the duel, a weapon that can stall an opponent for five breaths, she couldn't price it low, nor could she ask for a high price.

A single breath lasts roughly three to five seconds; at the minimum three seconds, fifteen seconds is enough to kill several people.

It is also sufficient for a Foundation Establishment cultivator to ride a sword and fly three to four li outward.

However, this requires a top‑grade flying sword, and when using the tear‑inducing pill one must shield one's own eyes.

Of course, if one encounters a ruthless individual who can control their own tear glands and relies solely on spiritual sense to chase, that is a different story.

"I'm going to the Demon Moon Sect's Inlaid Moon City; which city are you heading to?" She was quite clever; the Daoist sect's nearby border city is called Brocade Moon, while the Demon sect refers to it as Inlaid Moon.

Jiang Yu seriously suspected the two parties were harboring different motives.

Qi Haohao took the pill bottle, "After we arrive at the Demon sect's border city, we will head elsewhere."

She hesitated, then said, "Whenever you no longer wish to be a lone cultivator, you may come to Floating Tower City to find me at the Qi family."

As she spoke, she handed Jiang Yu a thumb‑sized silver pill furnace, "This is the Qi family token."

"Then I shall decline ungraciously." Jiang Yu felt no hostility and gladly took it.

Even though they exchanged items, they were still somewhat unfamiliar; apart from standing on the deck watching the clouds, they said nothing more.

Jiang Yu enjoyed standing outside in the breeze; after all, the Daoist sect's border city and the Demon sect's border city are only ten thousand li apart, and at the Cloud‑Breaking Boat's speed, it's a half‑hour away.

Inside the storeroom, Qi Zhenjun kept shaking his head and said to Jie Dan, who was playing chess opposite him, "Haohao's recruitment is dry; no one can be swayed."

"She is still young, and our family does not lack youthful talents."

"Actually, this injury has made her much calmer." Jie Dan cultivator glanced outward, "Fourth Uncle, I think Haohao doesn't particularly like the Hong family's child."

"The joking talk of arranging a marriage back then, let's just let it be."

Qi Zhenjun picked up a piece, "People can be replaced, marriage proposals need further discussion; lately in Beichen, someone is stirring."

"Counting on the sect in South Frost to send forces to suppress is less effective than a joint effort by the Qi and Hong families."

"Arranging a marriage is not the same as a marriage proposal; it's just a title."

"You say, those who erased Haohao and others' memories, are they the descendants of Cloud Mist?"

"The Cloud Mist Sect's spiritual vein has been extracted countless times; there is no possibility of revival."

"Then shall we let that faction of the Hong family exterminate the Cloud Mist descendants?"

In the 2,400 years since the Cloud Mist Sect's disappearance, several major sects have taken over that array; the cavern has opened seven times, and together they have secured just over eight hundred Tai Chi Fish Tokens.

Before the eighth opening, they hadn't even obtained a hundred.

The Tai Chi Fish Tokens that the Cloud Mist Sect had hidden were said to number over five hundred; if their descendants are exterminated, it will be even harder to locate them. Jie Dan cultivator especially dislikes this about the Hong family.

Qi Zhenjun mused for a moment, "There aren't as many as the legend claims; the Cloud Mist Sect possessing two hundred is already the limit."

It is said that a small portion was taken to the Tianyuan Continent and the Wudu Sea.

However, in the first seven cavern openings, only twice did Tianyuan cultivators appear, and once a Wudu Sea cultivator.

Jie Dan cultivator probed, "Fourth Uncle, you deliberately took Haohao out to detoxify, and also brought the three of us brothers—did you discover the fish tokens…"

Qi Zhenjun gave him a faint glance, "The toxin within Haohao is too difficult to cure."

"Yes, I will keep it in mind, nephew." Jie Dan cultivator felt great joy; this time the Qi family only obtained one Tai Chi Fish Token, and if Fourth Uncle can locate two or three more, he too will have a chance to enter the cavern to seek treasure.

Standing on the deck, Jiang Yu could never have imagined anyone would travel a million li merely to seek a single Tai Chi Fish Token.

When the Cloud‑Breaking Boat reached the Demon sect's border city, she immediately took her leave.

She immediately used a teleportation array to reach Inlaid Moon City, and since the surroundings were filled with demon cultivators, she never stepped out of the teleportation hall, meditated there for a night, and then teleported again.

When she, grasping the handleless spirit sword, appeared on the western coast, a strong sea odor assaulted her.

Jiang Yu still needed to adjust her breathing to adapt for a while; Ao Ze, in the Dragon Pearl Space, was already eager to test, wanting to swim into the sea.

He said, "When we reach an uninhabited island, I will go into the sea to hunt for food."

"Regions below the fifth rank are permissible." Jiang Yu looked far, seabirds fluttered over the coast, and various vessels entered and left the harbor.

Cultivators who go out to sea to hunt demons, once ashore, rush to the shore's commercial street.

Other cultivators have just formed a team to set out to sea, heading toward unknown distant realms.

"Senior, which direction now?" Jiang Yu transmitted to Thus: Xuantang Xingjun, noting she did not think an ancient teleportation array would be on this bustling coast.

But Thus: Xuantang Xingjun, unexpectedly, said, "I have a private residence here; you may rest a few days."

"The sea's winds and clouds shift; there's no hurry."

"After several thousand years, is your residence still yours?" This time the continuous teleportations, thanks to a calming spirit pill, gave Jiang Yu no discomfort, and a few days' rest would be fine.

When she emerged from the teleportation hall of the western shore market, she discovered that the area no longer housed only demon cultivators; many Daoist cultivators also walked the streets.

Don't ask how she knew; the clue is that the commercial street displays banners of ten Daoist sects, with disciples of those sects walking about, and they have established shops here.

After all, the sea's demonic beasts can supply humans with abundant refining and pill‑making materials, especially the sea‑tribe's demon pills, which can be used in separate pill formulas.

It is said that on the eastern coast, the Daoist sect's territory also hosts many Demon sect shops.

"Western Port isn't smaller than the border city; buy a piece of land, set a formation, and it will always be yours."

"With this seal card, you can travel unimpeded." Within the spirit sword, Thus: Xuantang Xingjun flicked his hand, and a black jade card bearing a ship appeared in his palm.

"Besides, where did those several thousand years come from? I, the old man, have only been away for two thousand four hundred twenty-four years."

Jiang Yu's heart stirred, "You're already three thousand five hundred years old? This lifespan is much longer than that of an ordinary Spirit Transformation."

"Great Luo Cave Heaven, there are immortal pills that extend lifespan there, oh."

"Compared to the Longevity Pill, it's many times stronger." Thus: Xuantang Xingjun exaggerated; he had already reached Spirit Transformation, and when he left the East Continent, he was only eight hundred years old.

As a result, upon returning, the sect was weakened, and the family, to avoid disaster, even changed their surname.

In the midst of his sigh, he couldn't help gazing toward his homeland, "Huh, these few people have also come to West Shore Port?"

Jiang Yu took out a jade tablet from the Spirit Sword Space, "Who?"