"But this only applies to the battles that determine the top sixteen. After the top sixteen have been decided, the Immortal Fruit Conference will move onto the next stage of competition, where the specifics of each competition vary and aren't necessarily in the style of an arena match. However, our goal is the Red Mulberry Immortal Fruit, so once we've successfully broken into the top sixteen, whether we continue to strive for a higher ranking isn't as important. Besides, since the battles to determine the top sixteen are a single-match victory and elimination system, losing just once means a complete loss of eligibility, so every time the Immortal Fruit Conference comes around, each island will recruit powerful Loose Cultivators to ensure they have commendable candidates for every match," Xi Ying continued.

"What do you need me to do?" Yuan Ming asked.

"I've already made arrangements in advance. When the time comes, we will represent a second-class island known as Red Ganoderma Island in the conference. With the strength of you and me, winning the championship wouldn't be difficult, let alone merely getting into the top sixteen to secure trading rights," Xi Ying said confidently.

Yuan Ming, hearing that she had everything arranged, said no more and simply chatted briefly about the situation with Hundred Pills Square.

"Not bad, the profits from Incense Making have even caught the attention of Core Formation Stage cultivators from Chang Chun Temple. It's a good way to boost the reputation of Hundred Pills Square," said Xi Ying, nodding in approval when she learned that Yuan Ming intended to reveal his Incense Making skills.

While Yuan Ming empathized, he suddenly paused.

"How did you come to know of this?" Yuan Ming asked in surprise.

"Hmph, I naturally have my channels of intelligence. Speaking of which, you seem to have used one of the three Green Spirit Communication Talismans I gave you earlier. Although I sensed it at the time, I couldn't make out what you were saying due to the distance. Judging by the timing, it seems to coincide with when you were in Thunder Continent. So, what was it you wanted to say then?" Xi Ying thought for a moment before asking in return.

Recalling the situation at the time, Yuan Ming's face showed a hint of embarrassment, and he didn't have the heart to disclose what he had been thinking, simply saying vaguely, "At that time I encountered a disciple of Xi Cangqiong, and I wanted to ask if you had any methods to break Illusion Techniques. Nothing else really."

Xi Ying looked at Yuan Ming with suspicion, but at that moment, the voice of Yan Siyun came from outside.

"Fellow Daoist Yuan, Fellow Daoist Xi, may I come in now?"

Xi Ying glanced at Yuan Ming, saw him nod, and with a wave of her hand, the door opened again. Yan Siyun, sensing this with her Divine Sense, also entered the room and bowed to Yuan Ming and Xi Ying.

"Sorry to intrude. Just now, my younger sister told me that Fellow Daoist Yuan has a brilliant strategy for attracting business. I couldn't wait and wanted to ask for details, please forgive the bother," Yan Siyun said slowly.

"It's fine. We were just discussing that. I've explained the general situation to your sister, if you have any questions, Fellow Daoist Yan, you may ask them directly," Yuan Ming said, raising his hand to indicate Yan Siyun should sit down.

Yan Siyun nodded, took a seat, and went straight to the point: "I wonder about the Spirit Incense mentioned by Fellow Daoist Yuan. How high is the threshold for making it, what's the value of spiritual materials needed, how much can it be sold for, and how does its effect compare to elixirs?"

"The making of Spirit Incense is not difficult, the threshold is much lower than Alchemy, as for the used spiritual materials..." Yuan Ming went on at length.

Having had practical experience with these matters before, he was not unfamiliar with them. Since everyone present was not an outsider, he did not hold back, explaining all the aspects of Incense Making Skill he mastered.

Yan Siyun listened in silence, weighing the pros and cons of also selling Spirit Incense.

Meanwhile, Xi Ying, utterly bored, yawned and began cultivating quietly, uninterested in what Yuan Ming was discussing.

After a long discussion, Yuan Ming and Yan Siyun finally settled all the details concerning the sale of Spirit Incense.

"... For the next few days, you arrange some manpower and prepare the necessary spiritual materials. Once Xiying and I return from the Immortal Fruit Conference, I will take some time to personally teach them how to make incense, starting with Qi Refinement Realm Spirit Incense. It will not take much time for them to be proficient," Yuan Ming said.

However, Yan Siyun was surprised to hear this, "Fellow Daoist Yuan and Fellow Daoist Xi are also going to attend the Immortal Fruit Conference?"

"Also? Do you mean to say that you plan to compete in the Immortal Fruit Conference as well?" Yuan Ming asked, puzzled.

"Fellow Daoist Yuan misunderstands. During the period when the Immortal Fruit Conference is convened, with all the major islands gathered at Fusang Island for an event that occurs once every three hundred years, there will be activities beyond the competition, such as auctions. I initially planned to take my younger sister and some of the people from Hundred Pills Square to shop for spiritual materials and to spread our fame. If we can use this opportunity to secure some deals with other islands, that would be even better," Yan Siyun explained.

"I see. In that case, let's put the Spirit Incense matter aside for now. You should also start preparing; we'll set off together, it will be safer on the road," Yuan Ming said, nodding.

He glanced at Xi Ying, wanting to get her opinion.

Xi Ying, feeling his gaze, came back to reality, and after Yuan Ming repeated the matter, she waved her hand indifferently, "That's fine. Everything with Red Ganoderma Island has been settled. Being a few days late won't matter."

...

Several days later.

Thick grey clouds blanketed the sea, and torrential rain fell like curtains, obscuring everything between heaven and earth. The raindrops, large as beans, plummeted towards the sea, only to be devoured by the crashing waves before they could touch down.

The howling wind whipped up waves tens of feet high, reaching for the sky with magnificent force, as though intending to tear the clouds apart.

Amidst the dark clouds, a small white boat slowly navigated through. Neither the violent rain nor the fierce wind could reach it. Before touching the boat, an invisible force pushed them aside, leaving it untouched.

At the bow of the small boat, Yuan Ming stood alone, his gaze sweeping the surroundings before suddenly looking off into the horizon, lost in a fixed stare.

"What are you looking at?" Suddenly, Xi Ying approached from behind and casually asked.

"The scenery," Yuan Ming returned to his senses and smiled.

Xi Ying walked up beside him and looked around, somewhat speechlessly, "What's so good about a storm?"

"The waves deep in the East Sea are much more fierce than I imagined. Does such a scene occur often here?" Yuan Ming asked.

"It's not common, but it's not rare either. Fusang Island is still in the Inner Sea. The waves in the outer sea deep in the East Sea are towering, far more intense than this," Xi Ying shook her head.

"Inner Sea? Outer Sea?" Yuan Ming was taken aback, these two terms were not mentioned in the Jade Scroll Yan Siyun had given him.

"The East Sea has thousands of third-class islands, over a hundred second-class islands, and thirteen first-class islands close to the mainland with relatively calm environments, which are known as the Inner Sea; the sea areas beyond the Inner Sea are called the Outer Sea. The distinction between the Inner and Outer Seas is arbitrarily made by the East Sea Demon Hunting Cultivators and rarely appears in the classics. It's normal for Yan Siyun, who hasn't been in the East Sea for long, to not know about these," Xi Ying explained.

"Have you been to the Outer Sea?" Yuan Ming asked.

"I went once before with the elders of my clan," Xi Ying looked off into the distance.

"What's the situation like in the Outer Sea?" Yuan Ming's curiosity piqued.

"It's much harsher than the Inner Sea, with giant waves touching the sky, fierce storms and thunder, common occurrences there. There are also the Mist Sea, Song Demons, and other more dangerous disasters. However, the spiritual materials in the sea there are superior to those in the Inner Sea. Especially abundant are demon beasts, with third-level and even fourth-level ones aplenty. Core Formation Stage cultivators can't survive in the Outer Sea without banding together, or without the leadership of a Nascent Soul cultivator," Xi Ying spoke confidently.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Ming's interest in the Outer Sea grew considerably.

An area where even fourth-level demon beasts were common; one couldn't help wonder what it was like.

"The Outer Sea is where the resources of the East Sea are densely collected. After the Immortal Fruit Conference, we might as well go there and see, hunt some demon beasts and accumulate some wealth. Don't think that having over a million Spirit Stones makes you rich; those Demon Hunting Cultivators who frequent the Outer Sea are almost all as wealthy as you are," Xi Ying said again, eager to try.

"Sure," Yuan Ming agreed readily.

With his and Xi Ying's strength, even if they encountered several fourth-level demon beasts, there was no need to fear. He also had the Stealing Heaven Tripod, a treasure with which he could hide if they were unable to win.

There was no need to worry about demon beasts seeing the Stealing Heaven Tripod.

But compared to the Outer Sea, he was more interested in the Overseas World.

"Xi Ying, is the world beyond the Outer Sea the Overseas World?" Yuan Ming asked.

"Exactly," Xi Ying nodded.

"I heard from Shura Master that the Overseas World is not only dangerous but also possesses exotic treasures not found on the Yunhuang Continent. Are there cultivators here in the East Sea who explore the Overseas World?" Yuan Ming inquired.

"Of course, there are," said Xi Ying.

"Really?" Yuan Ming was surprised.

"They're called Tide Makers, and their numbers are extremely scarce. To my knowledge, there are only about a dozen. Most are solitary wanderers. Each Tide Maker is incredibly powerful, and even the powers on first-class islands of the East Sea do not want to provoke them casually," said Xi Ying solemnly, seeming to hold a certain wariness toward these Tide Makers.

"Tide Makers? That name is quite novel," Yuan Ming remarked.

"The moniker of the Tide Makers originated from a legendary Scatter Alliance in the East Sea a thousand years ago—the Tide-rider Alliance, composed of cultivators who dared to explore the Overseas World. They had ventured deep into the Overseas World several times, securing many exotic treasures. At its peak, the Tide-rider Alliance was so powerful that even Nascent Soul cultivators numbered five or six," Xi Ying shared.

"Five or six Nascent Soul cultivators! The strength of the Tide-rider Alliance was almost comparable to that of a major Cultivation Sect," Yuan Ming said in astonishment.

"Yes, at the time even Fusang Island had to be wary of the Tide-rider Alliance, engaging with them strategically to acquire some treasures from the Overseas World. However, those who walk by the river often get their shoes wet. After the last voyage of the Tide-rider Alliance, they vanished without a trace, and the entire group perished. But their deeds were passed down, and the later cultivators exploring the Overseas World declared themselves as Tide Makers," Xi Ying stated indifferently.

"I see," Yuan Ming responded.

"Despite the downfall of the Tide-rider Alliance, it sparked an upsurge among the East Sea cultivators to explore the Overseas World. Before their emergence, the Overseas World was a place of death for East Sea cultivators, whom none dares to approach. The harvests of the Tide-rider Alliance greatly stimulated some desperate cultivators in the East Sea, and over the years, some Tide Makers have emerged, although they also dare only skirt the edges of the Overseas World and cannot compare to either the Tide-rider Alliance or the Shura Master," Xi Ying elaborated.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.