Chapter 1800 (Raw 1812): Waylaid Midway
“Big Brother, this Young Master Ou is really generous. We really earned big in this deal.”
Xiao Suo appeared rather excited. “If it were another person who was not in that much of a rush, this Black Profound Turtle shell would have fetched only three million or so Medial Grade Spirit Jades. A price of two million Medial Grade Spirit Jades and one Inferior Grade Dao Tool is rather surprising.”
The Iron Hand Yama frowned and said, “This Ou Zhenyun does not seem like a businessman to me. He is more like a sect disciple. Such a large store like this would normally have a master behind it, usually a large sect. How could ordinary people bear the burden of the resources for refining Dao Tools?”
Xiao Chen nodded. “Old Yama’s opinion matches mine. From the very start, this Ou Zhenyun did not give off the air of a businessman at all. After the transaction is completed, we should leave at once.”
“Right.”
How could a normal businessman be like Ou Zhenyun, not hiding his own needs?
His final meaningful glance had not seemed quite right, either.
When the three reached the second floor, there was indeed someone to receive them. Based on that person’s words, he clearly had already received instructions.
The three could choose any one of the Inferior Grade Dao Tools on the second floor.
The Iron Hand Yama was rather interested. An Inferior Grade Dao Tool was still a Dao Tool, after all.
The Iron Hand Yama’s target was clear. He needed a pair of gloves, preferably with the Fire Dao.
Xiao Chen looked around casually, sizing the place up. Occasionally, he picked up a Dao Tool and studied it.
In the end, he was disappointed. Even the Medial Grade Dao Tools on sale here paled in comparison to his Tyrant Saber.
The “Tyrant” word boosted the Tyrant Saber’s grade all the way to peak Superior Grade Dao Tool.
The Dao Tools here were all diligently made. However, without exception, they could only be said to be of good craftsmanship. Whoever made them was still far from master level.
As for grandmaster level, it was even further away.
However, Xiao Chen’s disappointment was also due to his sights being set too high. The Dao Tools for sale here were excellent products in the eyes of regular people.
In this vast sea region, the Fantasy Cloud Pavilion was very famous.
The Dao Tools for sale were released in limited numbers and would be bought out every month. Even if one had Spirit Jades, one would still find it hard to purchase a Dao Tool from the Fantasy Cloud Pavilion.
The Fantasy Cloud Pavilion sold only five Dao Tools, at most, every month. Most of the Dao Tools here were just for decoration and not for sale.
After all, the refining of Dao Tools required not only materials but also time to nourish and gain a Great Dao.
This process could be expedited only if an extremely strong powerhouse forcefully imprinted his own Dao on the Dao Tool.
Such a method was harmful to one’s mind and would end up damaging one’s cultivation, something that only a large sect, one with plenty of experts, could afford.
“Little Brother Xiao Chen, I made my choice,” the Iron Hand Yama said excitedly after walking over.
Xiao Chen saw a pair of very heavy-looking, pure-black gloves in the Iron Hand Yama’s hand.
Gloves were not common weapons at all, not something considered mainstream and rarely seen.
It was truly fortunate for the Iron Hand Yama to find a set of gloves that suited him, so Xiao Chen nodded and agreed, completing the transaction.
At the same time, Xiao Chen also sold off their other materials. After obtaining the Spirit Jades, they immediately left.
Once the group returned to the Black Cutlass and met up with Luo Nan and the others, they quickly left the Pirate Hall, without any reluctance.
—
“Young Master, I have investigated their origins. They are a group of pirates. It looks like this is their first time in the Ash Gray Sea. That pirate group should be merely a 5-Star group.”
In the Fantasy Cloud Pavilion, the manservant honestly reported all the information he had obtained by following Xiao Chen’s group.
When Ou Zhenyun heard that, he could not help laughing. “A 5-Star pirate group? I thought he was a sect disciple with a major character traveling with him. So, that is the case…haha!”
The manservant smiled and said, “Young Master, are you going to take action personally?”
Ou Zhenyun replied disdainfully, “That is just a minor character. Do I even need to make a move myself? Gather some experts of our sect in the city and make your move after they have left the coverage of the Pirate Hall.”
“Yes.”
—
On the Black Cutlass, Xiao Chen and the others remained unaware that they were being targeted.
However, Xiao Chen and the Iron Hand Yama felt that something was wrong, so they had the crew keep their guard up and not get careless.
Elder Tang looked at Xiao Chen and said, “Based on the information I obtained, Yan Zhe was speaking the truth. There are indeed three Rank 6 sects around the Myriad Star Mountain. They are all Demonic Dao sects: the Fantasy Cloud Sect, the Blood Demon Palace, and the Heavenly Eagle Castle.”
Xiao Chen and the Iron Hand Yama exchanged looks, some surprise flashing in their eyes.
The Iron Hand Yama asked, “Does the Fantasy Cloud Sect have any relation to the Fantasy Cloud Pavilion?”
Elder Tang replied, “The three largest refining shops are backed by these three powerful Demonic Dao sects. These three sects have very strong influence in the area. This Starlight Sea Region is where they established themselves.”
The Starlight Sea Region.
Due to the Myriad Star Mountain, the surrounding sea region was known as the Starlight Sea Region.
The Starlight Sea Region was just the tip of the iceberg that was the Ash Gray Sea. Even so, it was already larger than the entire Grave Sea.
Finding the question strange, Elder Tang asked, “Is there a problem?”
“Nothing’s wrong. Elder Tang, please continue.”
“Right. The Myriad Star Mountain sounds like it is just a mountain. However, it has more than one hundred thousand peaks altogether. It is boundlessly vast. Pirates and Demonic Dao cultivators frequently go there, adventuring and seeking out fortuitous encounters. There would always be someone gaining something there.
“Every half-year, a myriad of stars would flicker above these one hundred thousand peaks, lighting the place up. The eternal night scene would brighten up at this time. Also, many strange things would occur in the Myriad Star Mountain, resulting in many fortuitous encounters.
“During this period, the three sects send their Elders to lead teams to seek out fortuitous encounters in the mountains.”
This was the general situation.
After a short pause, Elder Tang continued, “After passing this Pirate Hall, we will have to be extremely careful. We will run into strong pirate groups nearly every day in the remaining sea region. The way forward later is simply not easy to find.”
The tempers of pirates were extremely strange.
Who knew when a pirate ship would arrive and stop you, waiting to search through your items and plunder them?
As Xiao Chen’s group was discussing the measures to take for the latter half of their journey, sonic booms sounded behind. Soon after, a three-hundred-meter-long black sailing ship, with sails of an oceanic ferocious beast’s skin set, pressed over while radiating berserk Demonic Qi.
That black sailing ship was a Demonic Dao sect’s ship that equaled a 6-Star pirate ship. Its speed was even faster than that of the Black Cutlass when the Black Cutlass was not operating at full power.
However, that sailing ship was enormous. Before it, the Black Cutlass looked small and insignificant.
“The ship in front, stop obediently. Otherwise, we will just crash into you and kill you.”
An aggressive and arrogant voice came from the black sailing ship.
Right after this voice spoke, a few wills of soul carrying the power of the world pressed heavily on the Black Cutlass.
The Iron Hand Yama’s face sank. “Three early-stage Star Venerates and one middle-stage Star Venerate old man. This is somewhat difficult to deal with.”
Xiao Chen’s Spiritual Sense scanned the area and noticed that there were other pirate ships nearby. If they fought here, they would reveal too much and end up attracting a strong enemy.
“There’s no need to stop. Carry on.”
The Immemorial Demon Soul Formation activated, and a blood mist spread out, shrouding the Black Cutlass.
The Black Cutlass immediately turned strange, becoming like a demonic ship on the vast sea, moving at full speed.
“How dare you run?!”
Fifty kilometers away, a skinny old man stood at the bow of the sailing ship. His Star Venerate Will clearly detected the Black Cutlass moving away. He revealed an expression of mockery.
[TL Note: After a certain point in the novel, likely here, the author started to refer to the will of soul as Star Venerate Will or the cultivation grade of the person. This suggests that the will of soul changes as one progresses in cultivation, and a different term is used to differentiate them.]
“Change the sails and raise the banner. Give chase!” the old man ordered, and the beast hide covering the surface of the black sailing ship was removed, revealing its true appearance.
There were pictures and marks carved on both sides of the ship. These marks were very familiar to locals. With one look, they knew that this was a ship of the Fantasy Cloud Sect.
After removing the facade, the ship hoisted two black demonic sails before rigging up the Fantasy Cloud Sect’s banner.
The Demonic Qi that the entire ship exuded immediately intensified. The ship seemed to float above the water, moving like a phantom.
Originally, this ship wanted to hide its identity. Now that the Black Cutlass was trying to flee, the sailing ship no longer had any intention of hiding its identity.
The Demonic Dao sects were not used to sneaking about. Blatant action suited them better.
“Young Master Xiao, that is the Fantasy Cloud Sect’s ship!”
After the sailing ship shed its facade, Elder Tang immediately recognized it. He clearly turned somewhat nervous.
Xiao Chen’s expression did not change. He knew what was happening: Ou Zhenyun had sent people to come and kill him.
Ou Zhenyun was indeed from a Demonic Dao sect, not embarrassed by treachery and killing others for their treasure. The Black Cutlass had just left the territory of the Pirate Hall, and Ou Zhenyun’s men already impatiently rushed out.
Xiao Chen could see very far on the surface of the sea with his Spiritual Sense.
He discovered pirate ships everywhere; there was no suitable place to fight.
After this hesitation, the Fantasy Cloud Sect’s demonic ship finally arrived in front of the Black Cutlass and blocked the Black Cutlass’s path.
“Big Brother, what should we do?” Xiao Suo’s voice came from the control room. He sounded nervous and slightly flustered.
Just the title of a Rank 6 sect would already frighten one to death.
The firepower and performance of this ship completely surpassed the Black Cutlass’s in every aspect. It had four Star Venerates, one of whom was even an experienced middle-stage Star Venerate.
No matter what, the Black Cutlass was in a pinch.
“This is indeed somewhat problematic,” Xiao Chen muttered to himself on the crow’s-nest. He did not get flustered at the sight of the black demonic ship in front.
“Board the ship and kill them all!”
“Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!”
Two early-stage Star Venerate experts led a group of Demonic Dao cultivators in charging towards the Black Cutlass.
