fairy family

Chapter 261 The Ten Directions Sea Market, and Unusual Movements in Various Regions

In the quiet room of the palace, Gong Dongxue heard Yu Que's question and her face showed great surprise.

"You've already obtained the secret technique for combining evil spirits?"

I nodded and said:

"Exactly. Although it's not necessarily foolproof, it's worth a try."

If that doesn't work, I'll wait until I return to the Taoist temple and then ask my master for his guidance and corrections."

Gong Dongxue wanted to blurt out, "No need for that, my master has it," but she hesitated and kept the words to herself.

The secret method of combining evil spirits in the Xuan Tu lineage was compiled and researched by our ancestors over countless generations.

Even though she is the chief disciple of Master Xuan Tu, and Master Xuan Tu values ​​her highly, this does not mean that she is the leader of the Xuan Tu lineage. Moreover, even if she is the leader, if she wants to pass on the He Sha Secret Technique to Yu Que, then Yu Que must not be an outsider of the Xuan Tu lineage.

After pondering for a moment, Gong Dongxue simply bowed and said:
"Congratulations, Junior Brother. You've taken another step closer to Foundation Establishment and the Gathering of Infernal Energy. Everything is ready except for the presence of Infernal Energy."

Yu Que nodded: "Indeed, it's only lacking in murderous aura."

He stared intently at Gong Dongxue.

Gong Dongxue paced back and forth, slowly speaking:
“Overseas, besides seeking out evil energy on one’s own, there is indeed a way to buy evil energy, and it is not to buy it on True Lord Island, but to buy it from the natives overseas.”

However, the price is quite high. I wonder if you're mentally prepared, junior brother?

Yu Que smiled slightly and said, "Others may not know, but don't you know, Senior Sister? I just received a windfall from the Rakshasa Kingdom."

Although it's not a huge amount, I think it should be enough to buy two doses of malevolent energy.

Gong Dongxue exhaled and whispered:
"Since that's the case, then I'll tell you the location of that so-called Ten Directions Sea Market."

Immediately, Gong Dongxue told Yu Que the information she had gathered at sea when she went out to train years ago.

The "Shifang Haishi" she mentioned evolved from the ancient Shifang Linjun (Ten Directions Forest), originally meaning a maritime market with wide-open doors of convenience.

Back when the Fangwai Immortal Sect had not yet withdrawn from the Central Plains, the "Ten Directions Sea Market" was renamed the "Ten Directions Ghost Market" and the "Ten Directions Mountain Market".

However, ever since the Immortal Sect of the Outer Realms crossed the sea to the east, the people of the sect no longer reside on land and are hostile to the immortals who play tricks and deceive. Thus, the "ghost market mountain market" has become a "sea market".

In the quiet room, Gong Dongxue confided:
"This Ten Directions Sea Market is jointly organized by overseas immortal sects and various island alien races overseas. It is usually held once a year for a small gathering and once every three years for a large gathering."

At the maritime market, the participating sea cultivators, regardless of gender, age, or race, would bring out their treasured possessions to exchange for what they needed, fostering a spirit of mutual exchange.

"Junior brother, your plan to purchase malevolent energy at the maritime market is quite feasible. The only two problems are that the price of malevolent energy at the market invariably rises every year, making the expense considerable."

Gong Dongxue paused, then whispered:

"And since we are people from the Central Plains and also from True Lord Island, we must keep it a secret if we want to participate in the Ten Directions Sea Market."

Otherwise, if exposed, being in the territory of those evil sect disciples would definitely not end well. If the people on True Monarch Island discover that you've gone to the sea market without permission, it could also cause some trouble.”

Yu Que nodded seriously, indicating that he understood the importance of the matter.

He then asked Gong Dongxue for details about the exact location of the Shifanghai Market and the specific time it would be held.

Gong Dongxue replied:
"The location of the Ten Directions Sea City is deep in the East China Sea, where several ocean currents converge. The specific location and time are not fixed each year, but there are only three places in total, either here or there."

As for the timing, the mirage is held in the month following the receding of a major storm at sea each year.

Generally speaking, the stronger the storm at sea, the larger the sea market will be that year. It's said that members of the Immortal Sect sometimes collaborate to cast spells to influence the weather, increasing the storm's size and affecting more islands in the sea, in order to hold an even larger sea market.

Yu Que listened attentively, his face showing a thoughtful expression.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries with Gong Dongxue, he asked her to keep an eye out for him while he went down to inquire about the situation.

A few days later, Yu Que was delighted to discover that this year's mirage had not yet passed. According to the calculations of the island's sea observers, a storm was already brewing at sea, and an eye of the storm had already formed about 3,800 miles from Zhenjun Island, and it was continuing to expand.

More than half a month later, the immortals on the island confirmed that this year's storm was about to begin, and news came that a storm eye was forming in the southwest.

All these signs indicate that this year's storm is likely to be quite large, given that Zhenjun Island is located in near-shore waters.

If the nearshore areas are already like this, the deeper parts of the East China Sea are undoubtedly even more turbulent.

Overjoyed, Yu Que immediately began preparations on Zhenjun Island. He first sent Gong Dongxue to purchase all the necessary supplies, and then instructed the Rakshasa Princess to properly train the Huangshan disciples and Rakshasa soldiers in the palace.

This journey to the overseas markets of Shifanghai is fraught with danger, so he naturally had to bring along people from the palace as reinforcements.

Previously, when he fought against that Immortal Sect disciple on Rakshasa Island, if it weren't for the disciples forming an array to protect him, he definitely wouldn't have won so easily.

While Yu Que was making preparations, the other Daoist soldiers on Zhenjun Island were becoming increasingly tense.

They claimed they were preparing for the storm, and ships stationed in various places entered the port one after another, while soldiers left behind returned to their respective islands, creating a lively scene. However, in the Tian Ce Army, it was not like that at all.

Even before news of the storm had spread, the soldiers of the various immortal factions at the Tian Ce Army headquarters were already training twice as hard, as if a great battle was about to break out.

On the contrary, news of the storm had already reached the entire island, and the Tian Ce Army headquarters stopped its drills, becoming outwardly relaxed but inwardly tense. On the surface, it seemed that they intended to let the soldiers rest well during the storm, since there would be no external enemies coming anyway.

In reality, the Tian Ce Army was strictly disciplined, and the will of the Tian Ce Emperor was rigorously implemented throughout the army, with soldiers of all ranks being punished every day.

One day, he even killed three immortals at the Condensation Realm, shocking the entire army.

While maintaining strict military discipline, Lord Tiance also generously distributed paper money, and even rare items like spirit stones were given to everyone without hesitation.

In that case, even if Tian Ce Jun were to have his personal guards slit their own throats on the spot, they would probably do so out of fear.

On this day, inside the Tiance camp.

The old eunuch bowed and reported the activity inside the tent, also mentioning the movements at the Huangshan Imperial Palace, which he had been closely monitoring:
"Those people from Huangshan, after receiving the military banner, are also training. I don't know if they are learning from my Tian Ce Army or what they intend to do. We are still trying to find out."

The old eunuch suddenly looked troubled: "However, most of the arrangements we left in the Huangshan Palace have become ineffective. They have probably been discovered or destroyed intentionally or unintentionally."

Upon hearing this, Tian Ce Jun waved his hand and said calmly:
"It's alright, I already know that."

That Huangshan disciple only obtained a secret technique for condensing evil energy from the old general. This young man has only been at sea for a short time, less than a year, and should not possess suitable evil energy. Now that he has the secret technique, he's probably planning to go to the overseas markets to purchase it.” The old eunuch seemed to understand, but he didn't ask how Tiance Jun knew such secret information. Instead, his expression was sinister as he whispered:

"In that case, Your Majesty, would you like this old servant to take action and stop that little beast? Lest that little beast truly gain the killing intent it desires in the mirage."

Tian Ce Jun smiled wryly: "Who said I have to keep him here? What I want is for him to go to the market. Otherwise, this fellow has military power, and I can't easily command him."

The man abruptly stood up, put his hands behind his back, looked in the direction of this year's mirage, his eyes gleaming, and said:

"The nets have been fully deployed in various places. Now, we just need to wait for the fish to be caught in the nets and the shrimp to be caught in the cages."

The old eunuch said no more, but quickly bowed and clasped his hands, saying, "Your Majesty is wise!"

Similar conversations also took place inside the Zhenhai Army's camp.

The guards walked to the chessboard and reported the movements of the generals in various parts of the army to the old general who was pondering the endgame.

Upon hearing this, the old general of Zhenhai remained unmoved, only slightly raising his head when he learned of Yu Que and the others' movements.

"These past few days, the Huangshan and other armies have been secretly preparing for war, and they should be setting sail soon," the personal guard said.

The old general of Zhenhai spoke up: "Not bad, not bad, it was worth it for me to give them the secret technique."

This person not only gave the "Three Fiends Calamity Qi True Technique" to Yu Que, but also to other people, and these gifts were all given this year.

The guards, standing beside the chessboard, immediately said, "General, you are wise! With just a few pieces of ordinary paper, you have managed to make them act as scouts and willingly risk entering the mirage. Such methods are beyond the comprehension of even the gods."

The old general of Zhenhai was momentarily speechless with a smile. He looked away from the chessboard and at the agile personal guard beside him, saying:
"As expected of someone who leads an army alone in the country, he has been through a lot of training, and his way of speaking is completely different from before."

"If I had known this would happen, I should have brought you into the army long ago, so you wouldn't have to suffer so much alone. Have you harbored any resentment towards your uncle all these years?"

The guard immediately bowed his head: "This humble servant dares not."

The old general from Zhenhai chuckled and said, "It's not that I don't dare, but that I don't dare."

But he didn't go into detail about that. Instead, he pointed to the unfinished game in front of him and said, "Come, play a few more games with this old man."

The older I get, the more I find the endgame puzzles quite interesting.

"My old steed, though in its stall, hesitates and struggles forward; how is this any different from the predicament I face?"

The guard dared not be negligent. He quickly bowed and greeted the guard, then sat upright in front of the chessboard, extending his slender fingers to pick up a "white piece".

Above the sea.

Aside from the unusual activities on Zhenjun Island, other island nations and ethnic groups in various regions also began to emerge.

In particular, those island nations and alien races that had either suffered disasters during their exercises on Zhenjun Island or had heard of the cruelty of Zhenjun Island dispatched their forces to take advantage of the storm and head to the location of this year's mirage.

Although storms at sea can often blow all the way to the gale layer, and even the gale layer may become turbulent, damaging or destroying ships.

However, compared to True Lord Island, a storm is merely an inanimate object and is not particularly fierce.

Therefore, the island nations and ethnic groups in various places would rather take advantage of the storm and risk going to the mirage than stay in their original place and wait for war to strike.

Many of these were alien races, some of whom had migrated as a whole, intending to seek refuge with powerful forces in the deep sea, or to head directly to the deep sea to cultivate the land after completing their business and selling off their wealth.

Time passed quickly, and soon the storm on the sea arrived in earnest.

A violent storm arrived in an instant.

On Zhenjun Island, one moment it was unbearably hot, and the next moment raindrops the size of quail eggs were falling from the sky, pattering onto the island.

The ships docked in the harbor, regardless of size or the number of anchor chains they had, were like dumplings being boiled over, constantly tumbling in the harbor.

Fortunately, these ships were not ordinary vessels, and they were protected by array formations; otherwise, they would have fallen apart long ago.

The soldiers of all armies on the island retreated to their respective military camps and palaces. All drills and exercises were suspended, and most sentry posts were also closed to avoid the might of heaven and earth.

Meanwhile, inside the Huangshan Palace, the Huangshan disciples and the Rakshasa soldiers were all fully prepared and ready to depart.

When everyone saw that Yu Que had suddenly gathered his men, they looked at each other with puzzled expressions.

Fortunately, they were used to obeying Yu Que's orders. When Yu Que issued the order to go to sea, they only showed worry in their eyes, and no one dared to utter a sound.

Yu Que gazed at the raging winds sweeping across the entire island outside the palace's array, and at the rain-soaked sky that seemed to be filled with countless dragons locked in battle. He couldn't help but sigh softly.

"The power of Heaven and Earth is divine without anger. I wonder when the power of the immortals will reach such a level."

With a soft sigh, he stopped talking and immediately gave his final shout:
"Those who do not wish to go to sea with us may step back."

Those who wish to follow this path into the sea, may all board this ship.

With a buzzing sound, he took the Rakshasa-headed ship out of his sleeve, enlarged it to several dozen feet, and held it up in front of everyone.

"I will strictly follow the true teachings!"

Neither the disciples of Huangshan nor the soldiers of the Rakshasa dared to refuse, and they all rushed into the Rakshasa's ship.

In less than ten breaths, Yu Que had finished packing up all the disciples in the entire palace.

Gong Dongxue and Princess Rakshasa nodded to him before entering the ship.

Having done all this, Yu Que removed the array outside the Huangshan Palace.

Clap clap clap! The raging wind and rain outside the palace suddenly rushed into the palace like madmen, lashing at him.

He paced back and forth in the wind and rain, softly reciting:
"I am happy despite the turbulent waves, for they are not a disaster but a blessing from heaven."

"Let's go!"

With a whoosh, he steered the ancient treasure, leaped, and transformed into a streak of white light, crashing into the rain curtain that resembled a wall.

(End of this chapter)