WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: WeTried Translations
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◈ Ophidian of the Immortal World ◈
Chapter 102: Haiyuan Island 2
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Sea Abyss Island was shrouded in dense clouds and mist created by a Formation Array, making it difficult to inspect from the outside.
Yet the moment someone set foot on the island, the mist vanished as if it had never existed. Those visiting Sea Abyss Island for the first time, especially those unfamiliar with Formation Arrays, often found themselves wide-eyed at the striking first impression.
Nanghwi was no exception when he first set foot on Sea Abyss Island alongside his companion.
Neither was Bangseo.
“Do not cause trouble on the island. If you have a personal dispute, leave the island before settling it.”
The guide who greeted them at the docks delivered several warnings in a flat voice.
They were the sort of routine warnings one could hear anywhere, yet no one ignored them.
They had heard too much about Sea Abyss Island to do that.
No one knew how much truth those stories contained, but there was no harm in being cautious.
“Shall we find lodging first?”
“We should.”
Nanghwi and Bangseo parted ways with their fellow passengers and went to find a place to stay.
Fortunately, Sea Abyss Island was neatly divided into districts like other famous islands, so finding lodging was not difficult.
“There are six days until the auction. Let’s visit the market town first.”
There were quite a few cultivators on Sea Abyss Island.
No matter where they looked, they could see four or five cultivators at a time.
Each one carried a vicious or dangerous air. Yet none acted on those impulses. To Nanghwi and Bangseo, they looked like wolves with their mouths bound shut, which was rather strange.
“It’s just as we heard.”
“Yes. Sea Abyss Island’s authority is impressive.”
“More precisely, it is the island master’s authority.”
Very few people knew who Sea Abyss Island’s island master was.
Only the sinister alias Ghost Spider had quietly spread among those interested in Sea Abyss Island.
Rumor had it that Sea Abyss Island was Ghost Spider’s home, with his webs densely spread throughout every corner. Nothing that happened on the island could escape his eyes and ears.
If anyone failed to follow his rules, Ghost Spider would immediately devour the offender’s divine soul, turning them into a living corpse.
It was difficult to believe, but no one tried to test whether the rumor was true.
Over the past two years, foolish people who did not value their lives had become sacrifices themselves, reinforcing the rumor’s dreadful reputation.
“It’s so quiet that it feels a little eerie.”
“Quiet is good. The outside world is noisy enough already.”
Most who came all the way to Sea Abyss Island had little choice in the matter.
Even if they possessed Spirit Stones, they could not spend them without worry.
They were the sort who made a habit of kicking down other people’s doors, yet even they did not want their own doors damaged.
For those who could not find welcome anywhere, this unnatural silence was like a lullaby heard while half-asleep.
“That must be it.”
Nanghwi and Bangseo were visiting Sea Abyss Island for the first time, but they knew a little about its layout.
The island’s commercial district was divided into three main areas: the market town, the shops, and the auction house.
The auction house was only used on the days auction gatherings were held, making it practically nonexistent most of the time. In reality, the market town and shops made up nearly the entirety of Sea Abyss Island’s commercial district.
“How much is this?”
“Two lower-grade Spirit Stones per crab.”
“Tch. That’s expensive.”
“Expensive? This is a bargain. Don’t you know Dragon-Horned Crabs are scarce these days?”
If they were truly that scarce, how had the merchant caught dozens of them?
Nanghwi wanted to snap back, but he held himself back. He did not want to cause trouble.
Strictly speaking, the price was up to the seller anyway.
“They even sell Demon Beasts.”
Bangseo looked around and murmured in admiration.
Nanghwi had just turned away from the Dragon-Horned Crabs when he asked in puzzlement, “What about it? You can find Demon Beasts anywhere.”
“That’s true, but did you forget? This is the Demon Region, black jiao territory.”
Sea Abyss Island was located in the heart of the Black Jiao Waters.
That was the decisive reason so-called Proper Path cultivators hungry for fame, as well as bounty hunters, did not dare come here and cause trouble.
Some people wondered whether the black jiao simply had no interest in managing its territory, so they worked up the courage to enter the Black Jiao Waters.
But in the end, people died or were injured, while their ships were shattered and sank into Yangseo Lake’s depths.
It all happened over barely more than a month, but the disturbance was far from small. The black jiao’s fearsome reputation spread widely once again.
After that, people finally realized something.
Some sort of deal had been made between Sea Abyss Island’s island master and the black jiao.
“I know. But Sea Abyss Island has not been around for just a day or two. If there were going to be a problem, it would have happened long ago.”
“That’s true.”
“Don’t worry so much. This is Sea Abyss Island.”
Two years was too short a time for either a person or an island to make a name for itself.
Sea Abyss Island, though, was so unusual that it stood out all the more.
Two years spent merely breathing were different from two years spent under countless watchful eyes.
For two years, Sea Abyss Island had continuously proven what allowed it to exist. In doing so, it earned the trust of those who needed it.
“Still, I honestly thought its scale would fall a little short of other places, but it doesn’t seem that way.”
“You’re right. The goods seem even more varied.”
With only slight exaggeration, Sea Abyss Island’s market town had everything.
Even Nanghwi and Bangseo, who had traveled widely and considered themselves well-traveled, saw quite a few unfamiliar items.
There were various rare Demon Beasts, as well as spiritual materials whose origins seemed anything but ordinary even to an untrained eye.
“Great Sun Demon Scripture? Is this real?”
“It is. But it is only a fragment.”
Upon hearing the exchange between a cultivator and a merchant, Nanghwi’s gaze snapped toward them as if someone had pulled it.
“The Great Sun Demon Scripture? That’s impossible.”
The Great Sun Demon Scripture was the cultivation method of the Great Sun Perfected Person, a Golden Core devil cultivator who had made a name for himself thousands of years ago.
No one knew whether the cultivation method had originally been called the Great Sun Demon Scripture or received that name after the Great Sun Perfected Person became famous. Yet its destructive power had endured alongside the Great Sun Perfected Person’s legend for thousands of years.
And now, a legendary cultivation method of the Yangseo Lake Cultivation World was right before his eyes?
Even if it was only a fragment?
“What’s so surprising? That’s how market towns are.”
“But this is...”
A market town transaction was a duel of discernment.
Both buyer and seller put on several layers of masks to deceive each other before naming a price.
Nanghwi was not so inexperienced that he did not understand that principle.
Still, was this not going too far? The Great Sun Demon Scripture?
“This too... I suppose it can only happen on Sea Abyss Island.”
Devil cultivators were rejected everywhere in the Human Territories.
So were items connected to them.
Items directly related to a devil cultivator’s cultivation, especially devil arts and demon scriptures, drew suspicion the moment they appeared. Openly trading them was unthinkable.
If someone tried to trade a Demonic Path cultivation method so openly at a major island’s market town, they would surely be dragged away by the island’s enforcement office at once.
Still, why was that cultivator playing along with such an obvious scam?
Nanghwi looked back and forth between the merchant, who kept insisting that even the most important introductory portion was complete, and the cultivator listening to him in earnest. Then he let out a hollow laugh.
At that moment, the cultivator listening to the explanation gave a cold, bitter smile.
“You little swindler. You still know how to talk.”
The atmosphere changed instantly at that chilling mockery.
“Do you remember the fake Tainted Evil Plant you sold me last time? I nearly died because of it.”
“Hmph. Do you remember every grain of Spirit Rice you’ve stuffed into your mouth? You didn’t die, so what does it matter? If you’re not here to trade, get lost.”
The merchant seemed like an entirely different person as he waved a hand in annoyance.
A red light flashed in the other cultivator’s eyes.
“Yes. I didn’t die. But Minhwa did.”
“So what do you want me to do? Shed some tears? Or what, do you want to use force? That wouldn’t be bad either. Why don’t you hit me once and become Ghost Spider’s food?”
“You bastard!”
The enraged cultivator released killing intent and rushed at the merchant.
The merchant quickly retreated, and only the innocent stall was smashed apart.
“Die!”
Just as the cultivator roared and prepared to charge again, his body, leaning slightly forward, stopped completely.
To Nanghwi, watching nearby, it looked as though the moving cultivator had become a stone statue in an instant.
“That is...”
Low murmurs rose from all around.
Hearing them, Nanghwi realized what had happened.
Several steps behind the frozen cultivator stood a middle-aged man with a straight posture. No one knew when he had appeared.
The moment Nanghwi saw him, an inexplicable chill ran through him.
“Sea Abyss Island forbids all disturbances.”
“Listen, I...”
“Those who break the rules will be punished.”
The moment the middle-aged man finished speaking, red lines appeared all over the frozen cultivator’s body.
Soon after, the cultivator collapsed along those lines into dozens, then hundreds, of pieces of flesh.
Deathly silence fell over the market town, which had been lively, if not noisy, only moments earlier.
* * *
“Isn’t that wasteful?”
“It’s fine. He was only at the late Qi Refining Stage. It’s not bad to make an example of someone after so long.”
At Myeongha’s words, Jegyeong nodded lightly and drank the rest of his tea.
He personally preferred alcohol to tea, but he would not refuse good tea.
“What do you think? The quality isn’t especially good, but it’s hard to find in Yangseo Lake. It’s a type of Enlightenment Tea.”
“I can’t tell that it’s anything special, but it is refreshing.”
“Haha.”
After Jegyeong finished his cup, Myeongha took out an antique-looking ring and placed it before him.
“Three hundred mid-grade Spirit Stones.”
“Similar to last time.”
“The rumors have already spread throughout Yangseo Lake. We’ve already drawn in all the mediocre people. The capable ones won’t move based on rumors alone, so we need an opportunity if we wish to go any further.”
Jegyeong leaned back in his chair.
His half-reclined posture stood in stark contrast to Myeongha, who sat with his back straight.
“So that’s why you’re putting so much effort into this auction?”
“Trust must be bought through actions, not words. If we show them that we can oversee a large transaction, won’t that change their minds?”
“I don’t know. Handle it yourself.”
As Jegyeong moved a hand toward his waist, Myeongha tossed him a jade flask as if he had been waiting for it.
“It’s called Vermilion Bird Tears. It was difficult to obtain.”
“Oh?”
Jegyeong took a few doubtful sips, then the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
“Not bad.”
“It’s a bribe, so look kindly on me. During this auction, please participate actively and place a few bids as well.”
“I will.”
At the top of the round stone tower rising at the center of Sea Abyss Island, Jegyeong passed his time moistening his throat with Spirit Wine and filling his belly with spiritual cuisine.
Until the day of Sea Abyss Island’s auction arrived.
Footnotes:
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