Over twenty cultivators came up empty-handed.
Chen Sansi returned to his room.
He asked, "Do you know what this 'pulse spirit' they mentioned is?"
Ning Xiang gently shook her head, "It sounds related to nature's spiritual energy."
"Nature's spiritual energy..."
From where does spiritual energy come in this world, and what treasures are there, worth so many cultivators coming from the Cultivation World to the mundane world, even risking their lives?
But no matter what, it was probably not something he could meddle in at the moment.
Of all strategies, the best is to retreat.
It was already the middle of the night.
After such a commotion, no one could sleep anymore.
Chen Sansi silently waited until dawn, then led Ning Xiang and the others to the harbor, wanting nothing more than to quickly leave this troubled place.
Over fifty percent of the residents in Nanling Town were fishermen.
Yet, just at 5 a.m., the area near the dock was already bustling, some preparing to set out to sea and some returning from several days at sea, with a heavy presence of government troops maintaining order.
Everyone was discussing the events of the previous night.
Troops of immortals flying through the sky on their swords.
For the elderly locals who had lived in this remote place for most of their lives, it was indeed hard to accept; moreover, it was said that Nan Xu was also preparing to send a large army for negotiations.
"Troublemaker! How dare you secretly hoard Treasure Fish!"
A fisherman just back from sea was discovered by several government troops trying to take away Treasure Fish and was beaten on the spot.
"There's no justice!"
"We have been fishermen here for generations!"
"When we couldn't get enough to eat, no one cared!"
"Now that we have Treasure Fish and Exotic Beasts, you take control of everything!"
"Troublemaker, courting death!"
It was only after asking around that I learned.
Not long ago, Nan Xu had sent officials to Nanling Town, first forbidding local hunters from hunting, then coming to the docks to collect fish, setting a quota of Treasure Fish the fishermen had to turn over each month as tax, which they had to sell to the government—regarding the price...
Some corrupt clerks didn't give even a single copper coin, pocketing everything for themselves.
For martial artists or cultivators, this place might be an opportunity of a lifetime; but for the people of Nanling Town, it had become an inexplicable disaster.
Chen Sansi made his way along the dock, inquiring about "Tianya Sea" but the locals all said they hadn't heard of it, so he had to directly ask if any fishermen were willing to take people out to sea.
Initially, hearing of the handsome reward, many were eager to try, but when they learned he intended to keep going after finding Tianya Sea, they were immediately frightened off.
Only upon asking carefully did I learn.
The sea journey spanned four thousand li, marking the end.
Beyond four thousand li, the sea was covered in dense fog; boats that ventured into it never returned.
Upon hearing this, Chen Sansi was even more certain he had found the right place, and it also seemed there was a feeling that this world was deliberately isolated from the Cultivation World using some means,
He continued to inquire about "Tianya Sea", the vast sea was best navigated by someone with a lot of experience.
It wasn't until noon that an old man finally said he knew something about it.
The old man gazed out over the boundless ocean and said, "Fifty years ago, many people from Jianghu came to our town, also wanting to go to Tianya Sea."
"Back then, they found my father to take them out to sea, and then they never returned."
"These great hero, Old Mo advises you to cherish your life, do not be rash."
He was unwilling to guide him.
Even though Chen Sansi offered a high price, the old man firmly agreed only to sell the boat; after thinking it through, even experienced old fishermen couldn't manage to navigate through the dense fog...
Moreover, he only knew an ambiguous direction towards "Tianya Sea," if he were to try to find it by himself on the open sea, it might take an eternity.
"Could this Daoist be someone shopping for immortality?"
An aged voice rang in his ear.
Chen Sansi turned around and saw the old cultivator who was leading a donkey and buying wine; since some things can't be faked, he simply assumed a false identity and did not deny it: "Exactly."
"Then Daoist, don't bother trying."
The old man chuckled and said, "There is a barrier laid down by an ancient powerful being in this world; mundane vessels cannot reach Tianya Sea. If Daoist forcibly enters the dense fog, there is a 99-percent chance of losing your
life, better not to waste your effort."
His tone shifted, "You give me two Spirit Stones, we make friends, and I show you a clear path, how about it?"
Keeping the Middle-grade Spirit Stone aside, Chen Sansi currently only had seven in his possession; two were almost a third, truly a painful consideration.
But from his inquiries throughout the day,
he was almost certain that reaching Tianya Sea without help was practically impossible.
In the end, he could only negotiate further: "Are you serious?"
"Just two Spirit Stones, old Mo wouldn't lie to you,"
the old man took another sip from his gourd: "You should quickly think it over, time waits for no one."
Chen Sansi had no other choice.
He could only gamble with those two Spirit Stones.
The old man's bark-like hands reached forward and swept the Spirit Stones into his pouch.
Chen Sansi feigned reluctance and said, "I only have four Spirit Stones on me, and now they're almost all yours."
"Rest assured, rest assured,"
the old man leisurely said, "Old Mo, surname Mo Mingzhu, you can also call me Old Mo directly."