The Island of Continuous Mountains was not a single island, but a chain of them. The archipelago was interconnected, resembling a mountain range, hence its name.
Zhu Ju stood upon a lone boat, gazing at the island chain before him with astonishment on his face.
"Connecting to the Celestial Stars above and linking to the Earth Veins below, with its waters in endless circulation... The Island of Continuous Mountains is actually a Grand Array."
"What sharp eyes!" a man's resonant voice called out.
"You're the first person I've met in years who could tell the Island of Continuous Mountains was an array at a single glance."
"A pleasure."
The area was near the docks, where countless boats came and went in a constant stream. Zhu Ju had been so focused he hadn't noticed someone approaching.
"My name is Maa Shan, from Cuihu Island. I run a guide service here on the Island of Continuous Mountains—showing people around, running errands, that sort of thing."
Not far away, a man in a long, green robe cupped his fist in salute.
"The Island of Continuous Mountains has five main islands, thirty-seven secondary ones, and over twelve hundred smaller, scattered isles. Each one is unique. If you want to find something specific, you'll need a guide who knows the way."
"Do you need a guide, sir?"
"Oh?" Zhu Ju asked.
"What are your rates?"
"Ten taels of gold a day," Maa Shan said with a light chuckle.
"Don't think it's expensive, sir. That's the going rate on the Island of Continuous Mountains. Besides, I'm quite well-known in the guide business. You'll definitely get your money's worth."
"Ten taels of gold?" Zhu Ju sighed.
"I'd heard before I came that an Immortal Family presides over the Island of Continuous Mountains, making it difficult for ordinary people to even approach. This price…"
'Still, ten taels of gold to hire a Sixth-Grade expert as a guide isn't a bad deal.'
According to the market prices of the Divine Dynasty, one tael of gold could be exchanged for one hundred taels of silver.
Ten taels of gold was equivalent to one thousand silver taels, and that was just to hire a guide for a single day.
Where immortals and mortals lived side-by-side, the disparity in cost of living was beyond imagination.
A Sixth-Grade Martial Artist was considered a top expert in Taiyuan Prefecture, yet here, one made a living as a common guide.
The Island of Continuous Mountains…
He had only just arrived, but the place had already been a real eye-opener for Zhu Ju.
RUMBLE…
A massive sea vessel, carrying over a thousand passengers, came to a stop before an island dominated by a towering mountain.
A call rang out.
"We've arrived at Kunpeng Island! Passengers for this destination, please disembark. Next stop, Giant Whale Island!"
As the gangway was lowered, passengers began to file onto the pier.
"Kunpeng Island is one of the five main islands of the Continuous Mountain chain," Maa Shan explained.
"The Heavenly Roc Yuee Family is based on this island."
'The Yuee Family?'
Zhu Ju's gaze flickered.
He couldn't help but recall the story of a certain young master from the Huang Family, who had cast aside his own wife and child just to marry a daughter of the Yuee Family as his primary wife.
He lifted his head slightly, his gaze drawn to the mountain's peak.
As the Formless Divine Light from his Sea of Consciousness illuminated the scene, he saw a magnificent divine bird, fully a hundred zhang in size, crouched atop the peak.
'A Celestial Roc?'
'A great roc rises with the wind in a single day, soaring ninety thousand li straight up.'
The Divine Bird, the Celestial Roc!
It feasted on dragons and dined on phoenixes. Only a Dharma Aspect of this caliber could stand guard here and deter the East Sea Dragon Race.
'Second-Grade?'
Just the phantom image, a mere convergence of Qi Blood, was enough to make Zhu Ju feel a terrifying pressure.
He would be no match for this level of power, not even at his peak.
'No!'
'Flaunting a Second-Grade Cultivation so brazenly wouldn't be enough to intimidate the East Sea Dragon Race. It seems that besides this Second-Grade expert, the Yuee Family has other trump cards. Perhaps even a First-Grade powerhouse is present.'
'If the Yuee Family alone possesses such strength, and there are five such families on the Island of Continuous Mountains... no wonder this place serves as a defensive line against the East Sea Dragon Race.'
'As for Super Grade…'
'Across the entire Divine Dynasty, beings of that level could be counted on one hand.'
KREEE!
The Celestial Roc on the peak seemed to sense something. Its closed eyes suddenly shot open, unleashing two beams of Profound Light.
In an instant, the entirety of Kunpeng Island was reflected in its senses. But after a long observation, it found nothing out of the ordinary.
Its eyes flickered. The Celestial Roc slowly retracted its aura and vanished back into the mountains.
At the foot of the mountain, Zhu Ju had already retracted his Formless Divine Light. With a normal expression, he blended into the crowd and headed toward the market.
The Formless Divine Light was a Super Grade Magic. Even though his Cultivation was currently weak, its fundamental nature was undiminished.
Even a Second-Grade expert would have difficulty detecting his prying gaze from within such a large crowd.
Still, it was better to be cautious.
"Strange," Maa Shan muttered, looking up with a confused expression.
"It felt like something just swept past me. Why did my body suddenly feel warm?"
"Ah, forget it."
Shaking his head, he turned to look at Zhu Ju.
"Young Master Zhu, this way, please!"
"I need to buy some Refining Materials to forge a Qi Blood Divine Weapon," Zhu Ju said after a moment's thought, taking a piece of paper from his storage bag and handing it over.
"Can you find a place that sells these items?"
"Oh!"
Maa Shan's expression grew serious.
"I hadn't realized Young Master Zhu was an Artifact Refiner. That's a highly sought-after profession on the Island of Continuous Mountains."
He took the paper, his expression turning thoughtful.
"You can get these materials from the major merchants, but they'll be expensive. I know a few smaller shops where you can get them cheaper, but we'd have to visit several of them to get everything on your list."
"I see..." Zhu Ju thought for a moment before adding, "Do you know anywhere that buys Mage Cultivation Techniques?"
"You want to sell a Cultivation Technique, Young Master Zhu?" Maa Shan swallowed, his expression eager, but it quickly turned into a wry smile.
"Those are valuable, but since a Cultivation Technique can be sold over and over, the price can be tricky."
"The Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion is relatively fair, but you won't get a good price for a Method they already have in their collection."
Zhu Ju understood.
He had come to the Island of Continuous Mountains for two reasons. First, to obtain the diluted Super Grade Demon Saint Essence Blood.
Second, was to re-forge his Bright Armor.
A Seventh-Grade Bright Armor was no longer very useful to him; he needed to upgrade it to Fifth Grade.
And that would be an expensive undertaking.
The Primordial Crystals he had on hand were nowhere near enough, so his only option was to sell some of the Cultivation Techniques he possessed.
"I also need a secluded place to refine the Qi Blood Divine Weapon," Zhu Ju said. "I'll have to trouble you to find me such a place."
"Of course."
Maa Shan agreed, his mind racing.
"There's a Spiritual Land on Fire Ape Island with a direct conduit to geothermal fire. It's a favorite spot for alchemists and Artifact Refiners. However, an Artifact Refining Chamber there costs one Primordial Crystal a month to rent."
"One Primordial Crystal?" The corner of Zhu Ju's mouth twitched.
"I'll take it!"
'The Spirit Stones he was spending on Maa Shan were well worth it. If he had to do all this himself, there was no telling how much time and energy it would take.'
*
*
*
Outsiders were not allowed in the place where merits were traded, so Maa Shan could only wait obediently outside.
The place was an inconspicuous tent.
Inside, however, was another world entirely.
"The Qiankun Method?"
Looking at the spacious courtyard before him, Zhu Ju couldn't help but sigh.
"Impressive."
"Heh heh..." A limping figure emerged from the courtyard, a wry, ambiguous smile on his face.
"It's just a convenience for making a quick getaway. You have a Token, I take it? What are you here to trade for?"
"Demon Saint Essence Blood," Zhu Ju said, snapping out of his reverie and producing the Token.
"If you would."
"It's you?" the old cripple's eyes flickered.
"We received a message half a year ago that someone had their eye on that vial of Essence Blood. I didn't expect you to show up only now."
He took the Token, and as a flash of Spiritual Light glinted in his eyes, he said,
"Your merits are insufficient. You'll need to add an additional two hundred Primordial Crystals."
?
"Fine!"
Zhu Ju gritted his teeth.
"May I ask what kind of Essence Blood it is?"
"An Ancient Divine Beast. The very Essence of thunder," the old cripple said.
"The Kui Ox!"