Cave Abode

"Senior, we've arrived at the port in the Guluan Islands."

Steward Chang's call broke into Lu Shang's rest.

Lu Shang slowly rose from the bed in his room and opened his eyes.

For Lu Shang, this had been a welcome period of rest.

He reckoned he had rested for a little over a month.

Ever since reaching core formation, Lu Shang had rarely enjoyed time like this.

The last time he had slept like this was while recovering from the severe injuries that brat Wang Chan had inflicted on him with two talismans.

"All right," Lu Shang replied casually.

Hearing Lu Shang's reply, Steward Chang headed out of the cabin as well.

As the steward, he still had plenty to do even after the voyage ended.

He also had to report the demon beast attack.

On the deck outside, a group of people was moving cargo.

At first, the man receiving the shipment inspected the goods as usual.

Then, to his astonishment, more than a dozen demon beasts were brought out of the hold.

"Steward Chang, what's going on? I've never seen anyone bring back so many demon beasts!" the receiving agent exclaimed.

Steward Chang was just about to explain when a sound interrupted them.

"Ahem!"

They turned toward the sound and saw Lu Shang, who had just emerged from the cabin.

Lu Shang gave Steward Chang a look, warning him not to say too much, then walked past the two men.

"Steward Chang, who was that?"

Understanding Lu Shang's meaning, Steward Chang naturally would not reveal the truth.

His expression shifting, Steward Chang said, "Oh, we happened to meet him on the return journey and gave him a ride."

In truth, however, no one would believe that explanation.

Inhabited places were scarce in the Outer Star Sea to begin with, and people like them, who had lived in the islands for generations, had their own deeply rooted convictions.

Between the demon beast carcasses that had appeared without explanation and Steward Chang's unusual behavior just now, anyone who was not a fool could tell that this young man was no ordinary person.

In a situation like this, everyone would pretend to know nothing to avoid inviting trouble.

The Guluan Islands were not large, spanning only about four hundred kilometers in all. Apart from the main cluster, however, the islands lay far apart, and ordinary ships needed two to four hours to travel between them.

Lu Shang's plan now was to find a secluded island and improve his cultivation, then sell the remains of the Fifth-Stage Demon Beast.

When Lu Shang first encountered this demon beast, he had expected it to be formidable.

One thrust of his halberd had nearly pierced straight through the Demon Beast.

Then Lu Shang followed up with a few punches and killed it outright.

Lu Shang had never expected the demon beast to be so weak.

It had been much like an ordinary core formation cultivator.

No wonder Han Li had been able to storm through the Chaotic Star Sea while still at the core formation stage in the original story.

"If I want to sell this demon beast quickly, I'll have to look for a pawnshop nearby."

A day and a night passed, but Lu Shang still had not found anywhere to sell the demon beast.

Lu Shang glanced at the storage bag at his waist and fell into thought for a moment.

Then Lu Shang remembered Steward Chang, who had brought him here.

"Right. If I want to sell it quickly, why not ask someone who's lived here for years?"

Realization dawned on Lu Shang.

Throughout almost all of the Chaotic Star Sea, mortals and cultivators lived alongside one another.

Moreover, unlike the Heavenly South, almost every region of the Chaotic Star Sea used spirit stones as its main currency.

Steward Chang had been in business for years. Even if he lacked the means to buy the demon beast himself, he would surely have contacts who could help Lu Shang.

Before long, Lu Shang arrived at the harbor where he had disembarked.

Steward Chang was fairly well known in these islands, so Lu Shang only had to ask around to learn where he was.

Lu Shang arrived at Steward Chang's residence and released his divine sense to investigate.

He found that Steward Chang seemed to be discussing something with his wife and children. Lu Shang did not want to disturb them too much, since his own business was not particularly urgent.

Lu Shang sent a brief voice transmission to announce himself, then went to wait outside the gate.

Clearly, Steward Chang did not dare keep Lu Shang waiting. The man might not have been a god of slaughter, but there was little difference.

Barely any time had passed after Lu Shang stepped outside before the gate to the Chang residence opened.

The person who opened it was Steward Chang himself.

"May I ask what this humble one can do for you, Senior?" Steward Chang asked respectfully.

Lu Shang took out a storage bag and held it before Steward Chang.

"These are the remains of that Fifth-Stage Demon Beast. Since I'm unfamiliar with the situation here, I came to ask whether you have any way to help me sell them."

Clearly, Steward Chang did not dare refuse, and he also seemed to have connections of his own.

He took the storage bag at once.

"I would be glad to help you with this small matter, Senior."

"Good. How long do you think it will take?" Lu Shang asked.

"Barring any surprises, the remains of a Fifth-Stage Demon Beast should sell within a few days. You can come see me within ten days, Senior."

"Very well!"

Then Lu Shang added, "Oh, and try not to reveal anything about me."

"Yes, Senior."

The instant those words were spoken, Lu Shang vanished.

Since the demon core was of no practical use to Lu Shang at present, he had also left it inside the bag, intending to sell it along with the remains.

Now, Lu Shang intended to find somewhere to enter secluded cultivation.

For Lu Shang, a Core Formation cultivator, this was extremely simple.

It took Lu Shang only a day to find an island.

Although he was far from inhabited areas, that was precisely what Lu Shang wanted.

It was almost outside the Guluan Islands altogether, but only a place like this would serve as a cave abode for Lu Shang's secluded cultivation.

Lu Shang landed on the little island and began examining it carefully.

Before long, Lu Shang found a suitable place for a cave abode.

Clearly, no one had landed here, at least not in the past few decades.

Lu Shang carefully inspected the surroundings and found no traces of anything apart from a few small animals.

Lu Shang spent a little time carving out a cave abode.

The interior was extremely plain. After all, this newly excavated abode had yet to be decorated.

Still, there was no need for much decoration. Lu Shang would only be using it for a few years, perhaps not even that long.

Reaching the Peak Middle Core Formation would be effortless for Lu Shang.

Standing in the cave abode and surveying his handiwork, Lu Shang could not help giving an awkward laugh.

"Looks like my artistic talent hasn't changed, even after moving to another world."

Lu Shang covered half his face with one hand, hiding his awkward smile.

"Forget it, forget it. It's not like anyone saw it," Lu Shang consoled himself.

Lu Shang cast another spell to clear away the dust produced while excavating the cave abode.

In the end, Lu Shang still decided to add a few simple furnishings.

Lu Shang spent a little time making a low stone table.

He placed the low stone table in an open area inside the cave abode, then made a stone bed.

He intended to use these for relaxing.

Lu Shang was still someone who could not sit still.

Once he finished all this, Lu Shang walked outside the cave abode and spent a little time setting up a simple formation.

The formation did little beyond detecting whether anyone approached his cave abode.

After finishing everything, Lu Shang checked it all once more.

Having confirmed that there were no oversights, he entered the cave abode again and let out a long sigh.