Wang Changqing, upon hearing Han Li’s question, showed a bitter smile on his face.
Immortal Master, you jest. Although some Immortal Masters possess storage pouches, they treasure them dearly and would never lend them to us mortals for storing mundane items. Moreover, the trade between the major islands is conducted in large shipments by the boatload. Although the Immortal Masters’ storage pouches are incredibly mystical, they can’t hold much. The Immortal Masters would never stoop to such menial搬运 tasks!” Wang Changqing carefully explained to Han Li.
Hearing this, Han Li nodded silently, half-closing his eyes as he fell into deep thought.
After a long while, he finally spoke calmly, “Regarding Master Gu’s request for my assistance, I am afraid I am unable to help. My cultivation level is simply too low; even if I agreed, it would only bring humiliation upon myself. Please relay this truthfully to Master Gu and ask him to seek someone more capable. As compensation for your ship bringing me to Kuixing Island, I will pay some spirit stones as reward.”
Han Li spoke slowly and clearly, but his tone was cold and detached.
Upon hearing this refusal, the old man’s face instantly turned pale.
He then pleaded desperately with Han Li, “Immortal Master, please help my master! You must understand, Master Gu has already spent a great deal on both the ship and the crew to secure this business opportunity. To even qualify for the challenge, he paid an additional large sum of spirit stones. If he fails to obtain the merchant qualification between the major islands, the Gu family will surely go bankrupt. All of us workers will lose our jobs and have to seek other means of survival.” The old man’s face was full of pleading.
“My cultivation is indeed weak, and I have no desire to stir up trouble so soon after arriving at Kuixing Island,” Han Li replied expressionlessly, shaking his head firmly.
Seeing that Han Li was resolute and his tone somewhat stern, Wang Changqing dared not press further. He could only muster his spirits and chat with Han Li about local customs and other matters Han Li was eager to learn.
Half an hour later, noticing the old man’s fatigue, Han Li suggested he return to rest and come back the next day to teach him some of the local language.
Wang Changqing, already exhausted, did not refuse Han Li’s considerate offer and withdrew.
After the old man left and respectfully closed the wooden door behind him, Han Li let out a soft sigh. Although he had some revitalizing elixirs that could even benefit mortals, he had no intention of offering them to the old man. In an unfamiliar place, it was best not to flaunt one’s wealth. Otherwise, it could easily attract unnecessary trouble, even life-threatening dangers.
With these thoughts, Han Li sat cross-legged on the bed, took out a bottle of “Huanglong Dan,” swallowed one pill, and began meditating to refine his qi.
He needed to restore his cultivation as soon as possible. After all, no matter where one was in the world of cultivators, strength spoke louder than words.
However, Han Li had only been meditating for a short while when faint footsteps could be heard outside the door.
Without opening the door, Han Li extended his spiritual sense, mapping everything outside clearly in his mind. It was Wang Changqing returning, accompanied by Master Gu, both looking deeply troubled.
Han Li frowned slightly. It seemed trouble had arrived. Clearly, Master Gu hadn’t given up and intended to persist in pestering him.
If this were in Tiannan, Han Li would have coldly rebuffed them, preventing them from entering. But now, in a foreign land, it was best not to appear too unapproachable.
With this in mind, before the two could knock, Han Li calmly transmitted his voice, “Please come in. The door is unlocked.”
Startled by Han Li’s voice suddenly sounding in their ears, Master Gu and Wang Changqing quickly realized the Immortal Master inside was inviting them in. They hastily straightened their clothes, responded respectfully, and gently pushed the door open.
Han Li had already risen from the bed and stood with his hands behind his back.
“Immortal Master, Master Gu wishes to discuss the matter with you personally. Would you please grant him an opportunity?” Wang Changqing, having interacted with Han Li earlier, knew he was not one to be easily deceived and directly stated their purpose.
Hearing this, Han Li glanced at the old man and smiled, “Of course. However, I advise you to tell Master Gu not to place too much hope in this.” Han Li adopted an indifferent demeanor.
Wang Changqing looked somewhat embarrassed but relayed Han Li’s words truthfully to the middle-aged man.
Upon hearing this, Master Gu’s expression changed, but he soon spoke earnestly to the old man, leaving Wang Changqing momentarily stunned with a strange look on his face.
Han Li watched coldly from the side, his expression unchanging.
Immortal Master! Our master has stated that if you are willing to assist, regardless of the outcome, the Gu family is prepared to offer a substantial amount of spirit stones as compensation. Should you succeed in securing the merchant qualification for the Gu family, Master Gu is even willing to serve as your guarantor for permanent residency on Kuixing Island, despite your status as an outsider. This would grant you official resident status on Kuixing Island. Most importantly, whether you choose to take up a position on the island or not, the Gu family is committed to dedicating thirty percent of their trade profits to you over the next three years.
As Wang Changqing finished speaking, he seemed somewhat dazed, as if Master Gu had promised something extraordinary.
Han Li was slightly taken aback, stroking his chin as he asked curiously, “Oh? Does residing on Kuixing Island require a guarantor? I don’t recall you mentioning this earlier.”
Though Han Li’s tone was extremely gentle, it made Wang Changqing break out in a cold sweat. He hurriedly explained, “Immortal Master, you misunderstand! There are generally two types of visiting Immortal Masters who stay on Kuixing Island. One type temporarily resides on the island without taking up any positions. They usually stay for a few years before deciding whether to leave based on their preferences. The other type secures a guarantor from a local prominent family, allowing them to apply for permanent residence. These Immortal Masters not only pay far fewer spirit stones annually than the former but are also the only ones eligible to hold positions on the island and participate in the decennial competition for spiritual land. Those who rank high can obtain cultivation sites with varying densities of spiritual energy. Since finding a guarantor on a major island like Kuixing isn’t easy for outsiders, I neglected to mention this earlier, fearing it might cause misunderstanding!” Wang Changqing spilled everything in one breath, anxious to avoid any misapprehension.
Hearing this, Han Li’s expression darkened.
“Are all cultivators who don’t permanently reside on Kuixing Island ineligible for cultivation sites?” Han Li asked skeptically.
“Not exactly. Those who settle on the subsidiary islands can also participate in such competitions, but they can only compete for cultivation sites on their respective islands. Kuixing Island is the main island precisely because its spiritual veins are the best and most concentrated in the surrounding sea. The spiritual veins on other islands are far inferior,” the old man explained.
After hearing all this, Han Li’s face flickered with uncertainty.
These rules were clearly a strategy to retain higher-level cultivators on the main island. After all, what cultivator wouldn’t want a cultivation site abundant with spiritual energy? Even for growing spiritual herbs and practicing cultivation, a place with denser spiritual energy was always better.
Han Li frowned deeply, pacing back and forth in the room with his head lowered. He then looked up at the middle-aged man surnamed Gu, whose face was full of hope.
Seeing Master Gu’s expression, Han Li sighed and said slowly, “Tell me about the cultivation levels of the Immortal Masters I would be challenging. If they are within my capabilities, I might make an exception and help this once.” Han Li wore a resigned expression, as though he were granting them a great favor.
Overjoyed, Wang Changqing quickly relayed this to the middle-aged man, who also became ecstatic.
After speaking, Han Li thought to himself, “If none of these Immortal Masters have reached the Foundation Establishment stage, then even with my current cultivation level, relying on my puppets and magical instruments, I should have no problem handling them. This way, I can start cultivating the Triple Revolving Yuan Gong on Kuixing Island. Of course, I must also cultivate the External Incarnation and the Great Development Technique—they will be vital for my survival in the future.”
…
Four days later, the massive ship finally arrived at Kuixing Island amidst the cheers of everyone on board.
Led by Master Gu and Wang Changqing, Han Li eagerly went through the disembarkation procedures. After all, when a foreign cultivator arrived on the island, it was necessary to notify the port authorities to avoid being mistaken for a malicious intruder.
However, as Han Li followed behind them, silently observing everything in the port, he was struck by one overwhelming impression: the place was enormous! Whether it was the number of ships or their sizes, it was incomparable to the small ports in Tiannan.
Surprisingly, there were six or seven giant ships as large as Master Gu’s docked at the port, not to mention countless smaller vessels.
Although Han Li didn’t count carefully, there must have been two to three hundred ships in the entire port, with even larger crowds of people boarding and disembarking.
For the first time, Han Li experienced what it meant to be amidst a tidal flow of humanity.
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