Cultivation: When you take things to the extreme

Chapter 868: Chapter 536: Open Sea

Several years later, Southern Sea, Canglang Ruins.

“Take a look, have a look, the latest and most comprehensive navigational charts, fair to both young and old, just a thousand Spirit Stones each.”

“A thousand Spirit Stones, and you won’t be buying any regrets or deceptions, but a genuine Endless Sea Chart.”

“Complete collection of sea creatures, a hundred Spirit Stones for each!”

“Water Escape Light Talisman, Five Elements Minor Escape Talisman, and the Five Elements Great Escape Talisman, essential for venturing out to sea, now selling at a bargain, once we pass this village, there won’t be this shop!”

“Buying, buying, buying at high prices, all kinds of sea creature materials, information from various Spirit Islands, and Water-Traversal Magical Treasures, we buy everything, we guarantee you’ll be satisfied with the prices!”

...

“Recruiting, recruiting, the Turtle Spirit Fleet is hiring, our fleet, founded by the Turtle Spirit Island Grand Ancestor, includes one Mahayana True Immortal, two Integration Great Powers, several Great Return to Void Cultivators, and a Turtle Spirit Treasure Ship, making us extremely powerful, exclusively offering hidden navigational points, now sincerely recruiting like-minded Taoists to explore the Endless Sea together, requirements: Cultivation of at least Nascent Soul level, Sword Cultivators and Thunder Cultivators, Formation Masters and Talisman Masters are preferred…”

“Southern Sea Fleet, genuinely recruiting, our fleet is led by the leader of the South Sea Sect, featuring one Integration Great Power, several Great Return to Void Cultivators, and dozens of Deity Transformation Nascent Souls, already certified by Scholar’s Palace, with exclusive sailing routes and secret navigational points, now sincerely inviting Taoists from all quarters to join, with a requirement of Cultivation at Golden Core level or higher…”

“Bright Moon Fleet, genuinely recruiting guest officials, our fleet is led by the Bright Moon Pavilion Grand Ancestor and in alliance with the Polar Ice Palace Ancestor and the Fire Crow Mountain Ancestor, together with three Mahayana True Immortals and numerous Integration Great Powers, now sincerely recruiting guest officials to explore the Endless Sea Domain, our Bright Moon Pavilion has a long and powerful heritage, every journey at sea guarantees great gains, also certified by Scholar’s Palace, legal and compliant procedures, ensuring there are no risks…”

Once the ruins of Return, today it has become a bustling marketplace, filled with incessant vendor calls, encapsulating the essence of worldly life.

A young man in white entered the market and was momentarily taken aback by the scene, somewhat at a loss.

Although he quickly regained his composure, his reaction still drew the attention of some observant people.

Those stationed at the entrance of the market promptly approached, encircling him while calling out in greeting.

“Young master, may I assist you?”

“This lowly one has been in this Ruins of Return Marketplace for three years now, nobody knows this marketplace or the issues of the Endless Sea better than I do, I will certainly satisfy you.”

“Young master, I only ask for ten Spirit Stones!”

“Young master, I have connections with the Bright Moon Pavilion, I can recommend you join the Bright Moon Fleet.”

“Choose me, young man, this old man has mixed in the Southern Sea all his life, there is nothing I don’t know…”

Seeing the crowd’s impressive formation, the young man frowned deeply, but still singled out one person.

“You’ll do.”

“Alrighty!”

A young servant in blue quickly stepped forward, dispersing the crowd, then spoke to the young man: “Young master, you truly have an eye for recognizing pearls among men, though I am not old, I’m the most seasoned guide in this Ruins of Return Marketplace, there are hardly a few who know the ways of this marketplace as I do.”

“Is that so?”

The young man glanced at him, then looked around at the various shops and the Cultivators loudly selling in front of them: “Then tell me, what’s going on here?”

“This?”

The servant glanced at him, then tentatively asked: “Young master, you must not be from the Southern Sea, right?”

“Hmm!?”

The young man’s gaze sharpened as he asked in a deep voice: “What do you mean?”

“Hehehe!”

The servant chuckled and explained: “If you were from the Southern Sea, such a scene wouldn’t be surprising, thus your astonishment suggests otherwise. I am bold to guess that you are not from the Southern Sea, and this is your first visit to the Southern Sea, the first time to Canglang Ruins.”

“Hmm!”

The young man nodded unconcernedly: “So what if that is the case?”

The servant smiled again and continued: “As you are not from Southern Sea, naturally you do not know the history of this Ruins of Return Marketplace. Everything started several years back when the Xuanyuan Sword Master slayed a True Immortal, and the Wandao School took over the Central Plains, you must be aware of Xuanyuan Sword Master and the Wandao School, right?”

“…”

The young man’s eyes hardened briefly before returning to calmness, he spoke softly: “The First Immortal of the Northern Region, who doesn’t know, who doesn’t know?”

“Exactly!”

The servant nodded and continued: “The Xuanyuan Sword Master slaying the True Immortal and the Wandao School entering the Central Plains, replacing Ninth Heaven Sword Pavilion and becoming the foremost Immortal Gate of the Central Plains of the Northern Territory and the first Holy Land of the Northern Domain.”

“The Xuanyuan Sword Master, with his broad-minded and virtuous nature, faced the coalition of the Ten Great Holy Lands and the Ninth Heaven Sword Pavilion plotting against the Southern Sea and Wandao School; although they did not succeed, their malevolent intentions were revealed.”

“Nevertheless, the Xuanyuan Sword Master didn’t fuss over it; he only punished the leader of the malicious Ninth Heaven Sword Pavilion then dismissed the matter and pursued it no further, restoring the Northern Territory to a pattern of ten Sects jointly managing with the Holy Lands.”

“The Central Plains in the Northern Domain, a place of exceptional people and spirit, rich in resources, also features the fallen Immortal’s Cave Mansions from the Upper Realm and hidden relics of the Primordial era, making it a sacred place for cultivation, yet dominated by the major Sects, leaving no room for Loose Cultivators to exist…”

The servant spoke at length, causing the young man to furrow his brows and interrupt impatiently: “What does all this have to do with this Ruins of Return Marketplace?”

“Young master, hold your horses!”

The servant chuckled softly and explained: “In the Northern Region, with the Central Plains rich in talented people and spirit, and surrounded by poor mountains and harsh rivers, Left Path Different people and Loose Cultivators struggle here, but see no hope of extrication.”

“Fortunately, the Sword Master was compassionate, taught without discrimination, spread the Taoist Martial Two Scriptures throughout the world, allowing the Loose Cultivators and Different people of the Four Wilds Frontier in the Northern Domain Central Plains to cultivate the orthodox methods and have a chance at becoming Immortals.”

“But the elements of law, wealth, companions, and territory are essential for a Cultivator’s Cultivation; having Mana Points alone is insufficient, one also needs wealth, companions, territory, and resources, particularly in the Four Wilds Frontier where Spiritual Energy is scarce compared to the Central Plains, making Cultivation even more dependent on Spirit Stones and pills.”