Kuixing Island

Lu Shang approached the perimeter of a Teleportation Formation.

There were three Teleportation Formations on this island.

Each Teleportation Formation led to a fixed destination.

The one Lu Shang had come to led straight to the outskirts of Kuixing Island.

Seven cultivator guards stood around it.

Every guard had reached Foundation Establishment, and one was even in the false core realm.

There were not many people here, however.

Perhaps that was because most visitors came to this island to trade.

Most people were in the commercial district, while those like Lu Shang were few and far between.

"Halt!"

A guard stopped Lu Shang.

Though puzzled, Lu Shang still came to a stop.

With a questioning expression, Lu Shang looked at the two guards approaching him.

"What is this...?" Lu Shang asked in confusion.

The cultivator in front explained, "Just a routine inspection. Since this is the outer sea, every cultivator must be checked."

Although the Star Palace was powerful, it only controlled the inner sea. What Lu Shang had not expected was that the outer sea also had so many powers.

The guard's demand was reasonable enough. After all, the outer sea was nowhere near as peaceful as the inner sea.

If they let cultivators enter indiscriminately, would that not throw everything into disarray?

"Where are you from, and what business do you have in the inner sea?" a guard asked.

"I am merely a rogue cultivator from the Chaotic Star Sea. I am entering the inner sea because I heard there are quite a few sects there, and I want to try my luck. After all, rogue cultivators have little security. If I could join a power like yours, fellow Daoists, I would at least have some prospects!"

Lu Shang fabricated a lie, intending to bluff his way through.

His ability to say things he did not mean without even blushing had also been honed through his experiences in the cultivation world.

After speaking, Lu Shang took out a pouch containing a few Spirit Stones and quietly handed it to the guard in front.

The guard accepted it, patted it, then cast a knowing glance at those behind him.

"Once you enter the inner sea, remember its rules. The inner sea is not as chaotic as the outer sea."

"Thank you for the warning, fellow Daoist. I will certainly keep it in mind," Lu Shang said.

Lu Shang then stepped into the Teleportation Formation.

The first time was unfamiliar, the second came easily. This time, Lu Shang suffered none of the mishaps of his previous trip.

Perhaps that was also because the distance was not nearly as great.

In mere moments, Lu Shang arrived on the outskirts of Kuixing Island.

After leaving the Teleportation Formation's grounds, Lu Shang did not rush to find an island for his cave abode. Instead, he planned to see whether he could find a merchant like Proprietor Gu, just as Han Li had.

Lu Shang had already disguised his cultivation as the Foundation Establishment Stage, and he had even less desire to reveal his peak middle core formation cultivation and cause a commotion.

He immediately took out an ordinary magical artifact and began flying on it.

Lu Shang intended to conceal his cultivation, then take a good look at Kuixing Island.

Finding a cave abode was a trivial matter. He only needed to find an uninhabited island and make a few modifications to turn it into one.

Since I have already disguised myself as a Foundation Establishment cultivator, why not go a little lower and pass as a Qi Refining cultivator? Then I can compete with the other Qi Refining cultivators.

At that thought, Lu Shang suddenly remembered that entering Kuixing Island also required a token.

But that could not stop him.

Quietly concealing his movements, Lu Shang found a secluded spot and settled in to wait.

He intended to wait here for some unlucky person and steal his token.

Kuixing Island currently had no Nascent Soul Cultivator stationed there, so even if he were discovered, he had nothing to fear.

Besides, the token was merely proof of identity. Lu Shang could steal one and then take part in a match when the time came.

After stealing a token, Lu Shang tampered with it.

He carved two familiar characters onto it.

"Han Li."

When dealing with these low-level cultivators, Lu Shang intended to appear under Han Li's name.

Lu Shang entered the registration room outside Kuixing Island's arena, intending to sign up and give its Qi Refining cultivators a taste of something different.

Lu Shang approached the registration desk.

Two Qi Refining cultivators were recording the names of those who came to register.

Arena matches were a form of competition that had gradually emerged and grown popular in the Chaotic Star Sea over the years, providing Qi Refining cultivators with a place to spar and test their arts.

Over the years, they had also gained the Star Palace's approval, but a fee had to be paid each time.

After all, the Star Palace needed to earn Spirit Stones too, and the Six-Link Hall here had been founded expressly for commerce.

Lu Shang stepped up to the desk and began paying his Spirit Stones.

At that moment, one of the Six-Link Hall stewards began sizing him up.

Seeing Lu Shang's distinguished bearing and clothing that differed somewhat from the local style, she said, "Your clothes look quite expensive, fellow Daoist, but they are not the sort worn around Kuixing Island. Could it be that you are not a local cultivator?"

Lu Shang chuckled. "Indeed, I am not a local cultivator. I only recently arrived on Kuixing Island, and I came here to test my skills against the local cultivators. I am Han Li, a rogue cultivator from the Chaotic Star Sea. May I ask your name, esteemed steward?"

"I am merely an ordinary cultivator, hardly anyone of importance. My name is Wen Qiang. You may simply call me fellow Daoist Wen."

As she spoke, Wen Qiang calmly prepared a plaque for Lu Shang.

Lu Shang was somewhat surprised. He had not expected to encounter Wen Qiang here.

But was Wen Qiang not supposed to be over on the side that handled merchants' business affairs? Why had she come here instead?

Lu Shang found this puzzling.

He asked in confusion, "Were you not working on the other side before, fellow Daoist Wen? Why are you overseeing things here now?"

"Did I not say that I am just an ordinary member of the Six-Link Hall? Once the work there was finished, I was naturally reassigned here. It is not far away, after all. Did you perhaps see me over there, fellow Daoist?" As she spoke, she held out a plaque to Lu Shang.

Lu Shang accepted it and replied, "No, I merely heard about you from another fellow Daoist. This... plaque?"

"The eleven on this plaque is your order of appearance. We are already on number nine, so it will not be long before your match. Why not rest nearby for a little while, fellow Daoist?"

"All right. I will not disturb your work, then!"

With that, Lu Shang walked aside and sat down.

A few incense sticks' worth of time later, it was Lu Shang's turn.

"Then I wish you victory in this match, fellow Daoist."

Lu Shang gave her a confident smile and strolled into the arena alongside another cultivator.

Another steward nearby had watched the entire exchange.

His eyes filled with mockery as he said, "Hmph, I would not be so sure. His opponent is a direct descendant of the White Family. This fellow merely has somewhat outstanding looks and bearing. Against someone from the White Family, I doubt he will last even one incense stick."

Wen Qiang could hardly say anything more.

Indeed, ordinary low-level rogue cultivators lacked a systematic cultivation method and someone to teach them. How could they have much confidence in defeating another cultivator of the same level?

But how could any of these people know that Lu Shang was already a middle core formation cultivator?

He had only entered this so-called arena to satisfy his own desires.

He recalled how, during the Blood Trial, he had slaughtered late Qi Refining stage cultivators as easily as chopping melons and slicing vegetables.

Once inside the arena, the two spread out and took their positions.

They had barely settled into place when the White Family disciple began boasting.

"I am a direct-line disciple of the White Family, and these two short swords are secret treasures of my family. If you do not want to suffer some flesh-and-blood pain, fellow Daoist, you had best surrender early!"

Lu Shang smiled. "You jest, fellow Daoist. I did not enter this match merely to make a brief appearance. Spare me the attempts to persuade me to surrender. Why not unleash all your family's secret arts and let an outsider like me broaden his horizons?"

The man tightened his grip on his twin swords. "Hmph! In that case, enough talk!"

He immediately lunged at Lu Shang.

Lu Shang easily dodged him.

His attacks are simple, with no other preparations at all. He cannot compare to the cultivators I encountered in the Heavenly South. It seems his family has sheltered him quite a bit.

Today, I will teach this spoiled brat a proper lesson on the White Family's behalf.

Seeing Lu Shang evade him so easily, the man immediately turned and attacked him again.

After several exchanges, Lu Shang still looked completely relaxed, while the White Family disciple was beginning to run out of strength.

"Hmph! What kind of duel is this if all you do is dodge? Are you afraid to face me head-on, fellow Daoist?"

"Fine, fine! I will grant your wish!"

Lu Shang immediately appeared beside the White Family disciple.

He held a long staff in his hand.

Seeing that Lu Shang had finally stopped dodging, the man attacked him again.

Without the slightest haste, Lu Shang blocked both short swords with his staff, then brought it crashing down on the back of the man's head.

And just like that, the boring duel came to an end.