Chapter 153: Chapter 153: The Immortal City’s Predicament, Negotiating a Deal

White Iron Island.

The once-bustling marketplace was now a field of rubble and ruins. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Collapsed buildings soaked in the water, covered in dark green moss.

Small demonic beasts occasionally scurried through the gloomy remains of the marketplace.

However, the island possessed a second-tier Spirit Vein cultivated by the Qi Family.

After all, it was still a better place to recover from injuries than a deserted island.

On the outskirts of the marketplace ruins.

In a stone meditation chamber.

Bai Xiuying, dressed in tight-fitting clothes, leaned against the wall outside the chamber, her flying sword cradled in her arms. Her eyes scanned her surroundings vigilantly.

Suddenly, her eyes lit up as if she had heard something.

"Mr. Sikong?"

Bai Xiuying turned around as the restrictive wards on the chamber opened.

Inside.

Sikong Xin sat cross-legged, his face pale. Arcs of electricity occasionally flashed across his body, making him look like a divine being.

This sight alone would be enough to make mortals in the secular world kneel, kowtow, and hail him as an Immortal Master.

But for a Magic Power Crystal cultivator, this was by no means a good sign!

On the contrary, it was a sign that his Magic Power Crystal was damaged, making it difficult to control his Magical Power!

"Mr. Sikong, your injuries..."

As a true heir of a power led by Magic Power Crystal cultivators, Bai Xiuying was clearly aware of this, and her expression was grave.

"It’s nothing. I’m much better than before."

Sikong Xin, however, had a relaxed attitude. He smiled and changed the subject.

"How is the fleet? Any trouble?"

"Three first-tier spirit ships are missing. Mr. Wang and Shen are also missing..."

"I see..."

Sikong Xin nodded noncommittally.

The losses were still within his acceptable limits.

"My injuries have only just stabilized."

"I need to enter seclusion for a while longer. You will continue to manage the fleet and remain vigilant..."

"Cough, cough..." As Sikong Xin was giving his instructions, he suddenly coughed up blood.

A large pool of dark, congealed blood sprayed from his mouth, splattering across the stone floor of the chamber.

Arcs of electricity flickered within the blood!

"Mr. Sikong?!" Bai Xiuying’s eyes flew wide, and she took out a Healing Elixir.

"Don’t worry. Your senior brother here has plenty of lifespan left. As long as I’m not dead, I can always recover..."

"Heh... That old fool Zhaoxia is the truly miserable one. Dead and gone, his soul dispersed. Over two hundred years of cultivation, all turned to dust in a single day!"

Sikong Xin wiped away the blood, his words of comfort for Bai Xiuying tinged with a hint of schadenfreude.

"Zhaoxia... is dead?"

Bai Xiuying froze upon hearing this.

A Magic Power Crystal cultivator, one of the few great cultivators in this entire sea region...

’He actually perished, just like that?’

"That third-tier Demon King was too powerful, and it was insidious and cunning."

"It succeeded in a sneak attack, shattering that old fool Zhaoxia’s heart. Even after using a Substitute Secret Technique, his combat power was greatly diminished..."

"In the end, he could only perish filled with hatred."

Sikong Xin shook his head as he recounted the tale.

Even for a Magic Power Crystal cultivator, the heart is still a vital point.

With enough time to recuperate, one could stabilize the injury and slowly regenerate the heart.

But obviously, in the midst of a fierce battle, Zhaoxia had no such luxury.

And so, he died.

The two then discussed various matters, which naturally included the recent whale hunt.

"We have no choice but to give up."

"Two third-tier Demon Kings... in such a treacherous sea region, even defeating them would be difficult, let alone hunting and killing them..."

"Sigh. I have failed the task my master entrusted to me."

Sikong Xin sighed with regret.

The whale hunt had failed, and they lacked the Whale Brain Oil needed to make the Heart Guarding and Calming Candle.

This meant Canghai had a ten percent lower chance of surviving his Golden Core Tribulation.

...

Leaving the meditation chamber, Bai Xiuying felt a knot of frustration in her chest.

Seeing the ruins of the White Iron Island Marketplace outside, her mood grew even heavier.

The once-magnificent White Iron Island Marketplace, destroyed in a single day by the attacking Beast Tide, was now nothing but rubble!

’Given the current situation, if Master fails, Weiyuan Immortal City might...’

If they lost their struggle against the Cyan Profound Sect, the fate of Weiyuan Immortal City might not be much better than White Iron Island’s...

Bai Xiuying sighed.

She summoned her Escape Light and began to patrol the island, driving away any second-tier demonic beasts.

However, at that very moment, the world around Bai Xiuying suddenly fell silent. Even the sound of the crashing waves vanished!

"Who’s there?!"

Her expression changed, and she flew back toward White Iron Island.

But it was like she had run into a phantom wall.

No matter how fast she flew, the distance of just a few miles showed no sign of closing!

’Spatial manipulation... No, a technique like this would require at least a Golden Core cultivator.’

’Then... it must be a Divine Soul Secret Skill... To be able to do this, the other party’s Divine Sense must completely overwhelm mine.’

Bai Xiuying bit her lip, a bitter look on her face. She stood no chance against such an opponent.

Taking a deep breath, she stopped flying and composed herself, appearing calm and dignified.

"I am Bai Xiuying, the ninth disciple of Canghai."

"Might I ask which senior is playing a joke on this humble one?"

After a long moment, on the surface of the sea not far away, the water gathered and coalesced, revealing an effeminately handsome young Daoist.

"Bai, please relax."

"I have come to discuss a transaction with Weiyuan Immortal City."

’I didn’t sense him at all before he spoke, and I still can’t perceive his cultivation level in the slightest...’

’A Magic Power Crystal cultivator?’

Bai Xiuying’s heart sank.

’Could he be a master of the heretical path, a rogue from some other sea region?’

"Senior, may I ask what transaction you propose?"

Bai Xiuying forced a smile, her body tense. She was prepared to take her own life.

If this effeminate Daoist said anything about human cauldrons or cultivation plundering, she would rather die than let him have his way!

"It’s very simple... First, take a look at this."

The effeminate Daoist flicked his finger, and a small, glazed glass pot flew out.

Inside the pot, a slightly murky white liquid floated before Bai Xiuying as if weightless.

"This is..." Bai Xiuying was stunned, her bright eyes shining.

She reached out a finger, stirring the viscous white liquid to feel its texture.

Her nose twitched. A calming, tranquil aura wafted from it, soothing her mind.

"Third-tier Whale Brain Oil?!"

Bai Xiuying looked at the effeminate Daoist in disbelief.

"Not long ago, my luck was quite good. I happened to run into a little fellow that was severely injured..."

The effeminate Daoist chuckled.

’Little fellow?’

Bai Xiuying immediately understood, and a bitter smile touched her lips.

The white whale that the Immortal City Fleet had been hunting for over a year... in the end, someone else had reaped the rewards...

The feeling left a complicated mix of emotions in her heart.

Just then, the effeminate Daoist snapped his fingers.

The environment around Bai Xiuying dissipated like a soap bubble.

She found that she had unknowingly been moved dozens of miles away from White Iron Island and was now hovering over a boundless sea.

A chill ran down Bai Xiuying’s spine.

"Alright. I only stopped you to say hello. Now, have Sikong Xin come out and speak with me."

"This... Senior, perhaps you could list your demands, and I will relay them to Mr. Sikong..." Bai Xiuying hesitated, finding herself in a difficult position.

"Oh?"

The Daoist stared at Bai Xiuying with a half-smile.

"Fine."

He tossed out a jade slip.

"In two months, bring the items to White Iron Island for the trade."

"Of course, I don’t want to see Canghai... Otherwise, the deal is off!"

The Daoist’s figure dissolved into clear water and dispersed into the sea.

’Water Escape!’

Bai Xiuying no longer had any doubts.

’A terrifying Divine Sense that surpasses Foundation Establishment Perfection, an unfathomable Magical Power aura, masterful use of the Five Elements Escape Skill, and a complete lack of fear toward Sikong Xin...’

’The person before me must be a Magic Power Crystal cultivator!’

"Right... Excuse me, Senior, may I ask your name?" she asked hurriedly.

A calm and indifferent voice sounded by her ear.

"I am... Jiuyuan!"