Mortal: Fairy Song Yu has issued you a task.

Chapter 131 Fire Dragon Island, Jade Toad's Tears

"Fire Dragon Island?" Song Yu asked, puzzled. "Is there a spirit island with that name nearby?"

The cultivator surnamed Sun chuckled, "You two must have come from other seas?"

Lin Jingchu and Song Yu nodded.

The cultivator surnamed Sun explained, "Fire Dragon Island's spiritual veins are actually of a fairly high grade, which is quite good for Foundation Establishment cultivators like us. However, there is a dormant volcano on the island, causing chaotic and malevolent energy to overflow from its core."

"Even fire-elemental cultivators are easily disturbed by the malevolent energy on this island, and the slightest carelessness could set them ablaze. Therefore, high-level cultivators look down on this place, while low-level cultivators find it difficult to endure."

"That's why, despite being so close to Huixing Island, Fire Dragon Island has never been under its jurisdiction. We had no better place to go, so we settled on this island."

"I see." Lin Jingchu seemed to understand, exchanged a glance with Song Yu, and said, "I am quite interested in this volcanic island. Would you mind accompanying me for a tour?"

"Your presence is an honor to Fire Dragon Island. Please wait a moment while we finish dissecting this demonic body," said the cultivator surnamed Sun, before he and his companion approached the Frog-Algae Snapper to begin the dissection. Their first step was to carefully remove the swim bladder.

"To prevent the fiery energy from invading our meridians during cultivation, we need to refine a special elixir using the swim bladder of a level-five demon beast. Fortunately, we discovered by chance that the end of this river is the spawning ground of the frog-algae-bream, so we deliberately lay in ambush here. However, our strength is too weak, and we are no match for the demon beasts that have just finished spawning."

Lin Jingchu suddenly realized—no wonder he could kill a level-five demon beast with a single sword strike; he was in a weakened state. He glanced around and saw that the blood had already seeped into the sea; it would be several years before any frog-sea bream came to spawn there.

A few moments later, the enormous carcass of the frog-sea snapper had decomposed. The five then led the way eastward. About half a day later, an island came into view.

The entire island is covered with lush, verdant trees. However, in the center of the island, a towering volcano is constantly spewing thick smoke, like a dark cloud that blocks out the sun and lingers for a long time.

"This is Fire Dragon Island," the cultivator surnamed Sun said, pointing ahead. "It's currently the volcano's active period, and there's a lot of smoke and clouds."

When it's not active, the island is much more refreshing.

Lin Jingchu sensed the surrounding spiritual energy and casually asked, "How many cultivators are on this island right now?"

"There are fewer than ten Foundation Establishment cultivators in total," the cultivator surnamed Sun said, shrugging. "Moreover, old fellow cultivators often leave because they can't stand it anymore, and new fellow cultivators join."

What a treasure trove! Lin Jingchu smiled slightly: "My senior sister and I have been traveling for a long time and were looking for a quiet place to open up a cave and rest."

"That's great! We can look out for each other then." The cultivator surnamed Sun was overjoyed. These two fellow cultivators were powerful and amiable, so it was naturally a good thing that they could stay.

Under his guidance, Lin Jingchu and Song Yu opened up a new cave dwelling in a valley.

This cave dwelling was very crude, consisting of only a large stone hall outside the insect chamber deep inside. The two of them conducted all their cultivation, alchemy, and weapon crafting here, as they needed something to focus on their practice.

Lin Jingchu patted the storage bag, and the bean-sized Spirit Eye Pearl flew out, its soft light filling the hall.

In an instant, not only did the concentration of spiritual energy in heaven and earth increase rapidly, but the various evil energies that were originally mixed in were also purified or driven away by the gentle halo emitted by the spiritual eye pearl.

Looking at the empty hall, Song Yu frowned and said, "We still have to go to Huixing Island."

Two days later.

A giant island, several times larger than Kui Xing Island, appeared where the sea meets the sky.

We've arrived at Huixing Island.

From afar, the island's buildings stand side by side, the harbor is bustling, and colorful lights stream back and forth in the sky. This giant island, directly governed by disciples dispatched by the Star Palace, is no less prosperous than Kui Xing Island, which is located at the gap in the barrier.

Lin Jingchu pressed down on the Qingyi Boat, and together with Song Yu, they landed on a wide street paved with white jade slabs.

The two parted ways again. As usual, Song Yu went to purchase the items needed to decorate the cave, while Lin Jingchu was responsible for selling and buying some resources for the upcoming cultivation.

Lin Jingchu strolled along the bustling streets, selling off all the magical artifacts he had previously seized.

Just as Lin Jingchu was passing a shop called "Yu Huan Ju", he suddenly stopped. The true essence within him, which he cultivated using the "Moon Gazing Technique", began to stir slightly, as if being drawn by something.

Lin Jingchu turned his head and saw a female cultivator dressed in dark green martial arts attire, carrying a long sword, arguing vehemently with the shopkeeper.

The female cultivator had eyebrows like distant mountains, eyes like cold stars, and exuded heroic spirit. Her cultivation level was actually at the pseudo-core realm.

At this moment, she held a teardrop-shaped jade stone between two fingers, her tone cold and hard: "This is the Jade Toad Tear, a legendary stone that fell from the moon palace. Wearing this stone for a long time can nourish the primordial spirit, calm the mind, and even have a beautifying effect. How can it not be worth three thousand spirit stones?"

The shopkeeper shook his head dismissively: "You said it yourself, it's just a legend. As for nourishing the primordial spirit, you'd have to wear it for a hundred or two hundred years to see if it's effective. I'd offer a maximum of a thousand spirit stones for this."

The female cultivator carrying the sword frowned, clearly extremely dissatisfied with the price, yet helpless.

Lin Jingchu stepped into the shop, his gaze falling on the jade stone—only the size of a fingertip, silvery-white all over, gleaming with a warm, gentle light.

"Sir, what would you like to do for me?" The shopkeeper immediately put on a warm and welcoming face when he saw a new customer arrive.

Lin Jingchu ignored him and turned to the sword-wielding female cultivator, saying, "I can offer three thousand spirit stones for this item."

Upon hearing this, both of their expressions changed. The shopkeeper's face darkened, while the sword-wielding female cultivator's face lit up with joy: "Really?"

Lin Jingchu immediately ordered a count of the spirit stones.

"Wait!" the shopkeeper suddenly interrupted, "Fellow Daoist, that's not fair. Intercepting customers in my shop—"

"Since this fellow Daoist has not yet sold the Jade Toad Tear to you, it still belongs to her. I am willing to offer three thousand spirit stones, is there any problem?" Lin Jingchu said, then turned to the sword-bearing female cultivator, "This fairy, I sincerely want this item, I hope you will grant my request."

The shopkeeper snorted and retorted, "This fairy wants to buy the Dust-Clearing Pill, and she's only selling it because she doesn't have enough spirit stones." The implication was clear: if Lin Jingchu ruined the deal, he wouldn't sell the Dust-Clearing Pill to the sword-wielding female cultivator.

Lin Jingchu chuckled and took out a yellow jade bottle: "What a coincidence, I happen to have a Dust-Clearing Pill. Fairy, you may examine it."

The female cultivator carrying the sword took the jade bottle, poured the yellow pill into her palm, examined it carefully for a moment, and then a look of joy appeared on her face: "That's right, it is indeed the Dust-Clearing Pill!" She turned to the shopkeeper and said, "In that case, there's no need to trouble your shop."

After saying that, the female cultivator carrying the sword took the lead and walked out of the shop.

Lin Jingchu bowed to the shopkeeper and then turned and left gracefully.

Then the two completed the transaction on the street, exchanging the Dust-Clearing Pill for the Jade Toad Tears, plus making up the difference in spirit stones.

After carefully putting away the jade bottle, the female cultivator carrying the sword clasped her hands in a fist salute to Lin Jingchu and said, "My name is Shangyi, and I am a disciple of Baibi Mountain. May I ask how you should address me, fellow Daoist?"

Bai Bi Mountain? Isn't that the Daoist temple of Madam Wen, the number one "furnace" in the Chaotic Star Sea? Lin Jingchu chuckled inwardly, but remained outwardly calm as he replied, "I am Bai Haozhi, a wandering cultivator from overseas."

"Fellow Daoist Bai, I will remember your kindness today. If you ever need my help in the future, you may bring this to Baibi Mountain to find me." She took out a small jade pendant and handed it to Lin Jingchu, on which a simple sword pattern was engraved.

Lin Jingchu accepted the jade token and put it into his pocket: "You're too kind, Fairy Shang. It's a fair trade, and we each get what we need."

Without another word, Shang Yi lightly touched the ground with his foot and stepped off on his sword, his figure quickly disappearing into the horizon.

Lin Jingchu watched the sword light disappear into the distance, then turned and headed towards the dock.

He agreed to meet Song Yu there and return to Fire Dragon Island together.

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