12dz Chapter 193 The Earthly Fiend Islands
Chapter 193 The Earthly Fiend Islands
Elder Qianxun seemed extremely pleased. After handing the two items back to Du Fan, he laughed heartily and said:
"If you, Du Gongfeng, wanted the Bone-Clearing Pill, you could have just told me beforehand."
I believe that with my limited connections, this matter shouldn't be too difficult to handle. Why risk personally participating in the East Mountain Trial? What if something were to happen to him inside?
As for the matter of joining my Netherworld Sect that I mentioned earlier, it will naturally be dropped. Elder Du, please don't take it to heart, hahaha..."
Although Chihiro appeared to be exceptionally cheerful on the surface, she was actually quite depressed inside.
If it were just the offering token in front, it wouldn't be a problem. But this small blue flag is different. With his status and knowledge as an elder of a large sect, how could he not recognize this flag of the Vice Alliance Leader of the Seven Star Merchant Alliance?
However, he had long felt that Du Fan's name was somewhat familiar. Now that the offering token and the deputy leader's flag were both in the hands of one person, how could he not understand?
In that instant, the scattered information in Elder Qianxun's mind suddenly coalesced, transforming into the origin of the person before him.
Rumor has it that this young man is the prized junior of a vice leader of the Seven Star Merchant Alliance, who was so eager to go to war with the Wentian Sect for his sake.
There are even rumors that this Du Gongfeng is actually the illegitimate son of the vice leader, but such rumors have no basis and are mostly fabricated by the vice leader's enemies, so few people believe them.
This matter is not widely known outside of Zhongzhou, but as an elder of a large sect like his, he is naturally qualified to know about it, which shows how much that senior values this person.
If it were just these things, he wouldn't care too much. After all, he had no intention of harming anyone. In the end, as long as he claimed ignorance and offered some benefits, the problem would still be minor.
But who knows if this damned vice-leader token contains any special restrictions that he is unaware of?
Even if what happened here and now has already been transmitted back to its owner through this token, that's still a very likely possibility. If he were to forcibly abduct Du Fan under these circumstances, he would be courting death.
Given the terrifying power of the Seven Star Merchant Alliance, he couldn't guarantee that the sect would still protect him after he did such a thing.
Thus, although Chihiro was extremely frustrated, she had no choice but to abandon her original idea.
"Elder Qianxun, there's no need for that. I haven't had a chance to explain things clearly, which is why this misunderstanding has occurred."
Du Fan smiled faintly, subtly changing how he addressed Qianxun, and cupped his hands in greeting.
"Haha... There's no need for us to stand on ceremony here any longer. Since you, Venerable Du, have come all the way from the Central Plains, I, Qian, will naturally do my part as your host."
The spiritual tea and fruits produced by our sect are quite good. Venerable Du must come and taste them. Otherwise, if word gets out, wouldn't other fellow Daoists laugh at our Netherworld Sect for being impolite?
Moreover, I, Qian, am also very fascinated by the holy lands of cultivation, but unfortunately, my cultivation is insufficient, and I am not yet qualified to roam freely throughout the state. If Venerable Du could tell me some strange and wonderful stories about the Central State, it would be a great honor for me.”
Chihiro spoke very politely, as if she were delighted to have friends coming from afar, and said with a smile.
"Thank you for your kindness, Elder Qianxun. However, I do have important matters to attend to in Jizhou. Otherwise, with my mere Qi Refining stage cultivation, how could I have come to such a distant place as Jizhou?"
If I complete my business smoothly, I will certainly pay a visit to Elder Qianxun.
Du Fan politely declined, speaking with neither arrogance nor servility.
"Oh? What is it that you are doing, Venerable Du? You may tell me about it. In the eastern region of Jizhou, the Netherworld Sect still has some influence. Perhaps we can actually do something for you, Venerable Du."
For reasons unknown, Chihiro said this after a glint of light flashed in her eyes.
Upon hearing this, Du Fan's heart stirred. The Netherworld Sect was a local power in the eastern region of Jizhou, and they might actually know something. Who knows, those Golden Core experts who captured Ruoxi and Xiaohu might be from a sect in the eastern region of Jizhou.
Thinking of this, Du Fan smiled slightly, cupped his fists slightly to Qian Xun, and said:
"Since Elder Qianxun has said so, I will not stand on ceremony. The matter is this: the reason I have traveled a long way to Jizhou is for two friends..."
After a short while, Du Fan recounted everything about Ruoxi and Xiaohu, subtly expressing his own speculations, and then looked at Elder Qianxun with anticipation.
Upon hearing this, Chihiro frowned deeply and pondered for a moment. Judging from her expression, she seemed to know something, but she looked very hesitant.
After a long pause, Elder Qianxun seemed to have figured something out. Her brows relaxed, and she smiled wryly:
"Du Gongfeng is indeed extraordinary; even his friends are people of great background."
"Oh? What do you mean? Could it be that those Golden Core cultivators are not from the Eastern Region of Jizhou?" Du Fan's mind raced, and his heart skipped a beat. He asked nervously, as Elder Qianxun was clearly implying something.
"Well... it's fine if one of them is not a cultivator from the Nine Provinces Continent, but they are still human cultivators after all."
On the other hand, not only were they not from the Eastern Region of Ji Province, they were not human cultivators at all.
Elder Qianxun looked at Du Fan and said with a strange expression.
"Not a human cultivator! What is it then?" Du Fan was startled and quickly asked.
"If the information is correct, those guys are very likely from the Dark Forest." Qianxun stared at Du Fan, her expression solemn, and said in a low voice.
"Dark Forest? No way, Dark Forest is in the west of the Nine Provinces Continent, which is too far away from here. Moreover, why would they come all the way from Dark Forest to Ji Province to capture two Qi Refining stage cultivators?"
Moreover, I've heard that high-ranking beings in the Dark Forest are not allowed to easily set foot on the Nine Provinces Continent. Elder Qianxun, if you know the details of this matter, please speak frankly, and I will certainly report back!
Upon hearing this, Du Fan gasped, a look of horror flashing in his eyes. After a moment, he bowed slightly to Qian Xun and said solemnly.
"You flatter me, Du Gongfeng. I know the truth and will tell you the truth."
According to the information obtained by this sect, Du Gongshou's friend named Xiaohu may contain a trace of pure bloodline from a certain demon race in ancient times, which is why those guys in the Dark Forest did not hesitate to violate the human-demon agreement and set foot on the Nine Provinces Continent.
Coincidentally, the other group of cultivators were near the group of demonic cultivators. They had also infiltrated the Nine Provinces Continent with the intention of committing wicked deeds. However, for some unknown reason, the two sides had a conflict and started fighting, which is why they were exposed at the same time.
In the end, the demonic cultivators of the Dark Forest abducted the Little Tiger brothers, while Miss Yao was taken away by human cultivators from the other side.
Although it was unrealistic to find Du Gongfeng's two friends in a short time, given the circumstances, the two young friends should be safe and sound, which Du Gongfeng could be completely assured of.
Chihiro remained calm and spoke slowly.
"Hmm, thank you for telling me the truth, Elder Qianxun. May I ask who those human cultivators are? Judging from what Elder Qianxun said, they are not cultivators from the Nine Provinces Continent. Could it be that there are other places inhabited by humans outside the Nine Provinces Continent?"
Upon hearing this, Du Fan fell into deep thought. After a long while, he came back to his senses, thanked Qianxun, and asked again.
"Of course, in addition to the Nine Provinces Continent, the human race also inhabits the Earthly Fiend Islands, and the human cultivators who took Miss Yao away came from that place." After a moment's thought, Qianxun did not hide anything and said directly.
"The Earthly Fiend Islands?" Du Fan was somewhat stunned. No matter how terrifying the Dark Forest was, he had at least heard of it, but he had absolutely no idea where the Earthly Fiend Islands were or what they looked like.
"The Earthly Fiend Islands are located between the Eastern and Southern Regions of the Eastern Sea, and are countless miles away from the Kyushu Continent."
There are a total of 72 islands of varying sizes there, hence the name Disha Islands, which include three main islands and 69 secondary islands.
Although those three main islands are called islands, they are almost the same size as the mainland. The area of each of the three main islands is similar to that of the eastern region of Jizhou.
Among the Earthly Fiends Islands, all medium-sized and larger islands have Nascent Soul Island Masters in charge, and the three main islands each have several Nascent Soul Deputy Island Masters.
The overall strength of the Earthly Fiend Islands is comparable to two Ji Provinces; it is truly a behemoth. Unless absolutely necessary, large sects like our Netherworld Sect would not wish to provoke it.
Qianxun sighed and spoke slowly, explaining to Du Fan in great detail.
"So, if we want to travel from the Nine Provinces Continent to the Earthly Fiend Islands, are there any teleportation arrays?" Du Fan's eyes flashed with a sharp light as he took a deep breath and asked.
"There is absolutely no teleportation array. Many powerful predecessors and array masters have tried to establish super teleportation arrays on both land and sea, but they all failed in the end."
As for the reason, some say it's because of the great distance, some say it's because of the special nature of the Eastern Sea, and others say it's the work of sea monsters. In short, there are many different opinions, but in the end, there is no evidence to support any of them.
Chihiro answered without hesitation.
"If we want to go to the Earthly Fiend Islands, we can only fly there by sea?" Du Fan asked again in astonishment.
"That's the theory, but over the centuries, I've never heard of any cultivator from the Nine Provinces successfully reaching the Earthly Fiend Islands," Qianxun said, shaking her head.
"Oh? Why can people from that side come to the Nine Provinces Continent, but cultivators from the Nine Provinces Continent cannot go to the Earthly Fiend Islands?" Du Fan was taken aback upon hearing this and couldn't help but feel a little puzzled.