Night, in a stretch of calm sea.
A colossal vessel sailed slowly across the water, chains trailing from its stern as it towed a luxurious Treasure Ship behind it.
But the Treasure Ship now looked rather dilapidated. It was the one belonging to Nine-Square Hall.
Cultivators from the Luchuan Association moved constantly between the two ships, most hurrying along as they carried away the treasures aboard.
Most of the treasures being transported on the Treasure Ship could not be put into Heaven and Earth Bags.
For instance, large quantities of Spirit Stones had been separately sealed with restrictions and stored in crates. The restrictions had to be dismantled before the stones could be used or placed in Heaven and Earth Bags.
Some particularly precious spirit medicines could not be picked for transport and had to be transplanted along with the soil they grew in.
There were also Ancient Treasures and other things that could not be placed in Heaven and Earth Bags to begin with.
Though Nine-Square Hall had concealed many schemes behind this shipment, the cargo aboard this Treasure Ship was entirely genuine and worth a considerable fortune.
On the top level of the great tower ship, a spacious cabin had been temporarily converted into a banquet hall, bustling with merriment.
Lights blazed, and voices filled the air.
The Luchuan Association's cultivators, humans and members of the Demon Race alike, sat in groups around long tables laden with all manner of seafood, Spirit Fruits, and wine jars.
At the very front of the banquet hall, countless wine jars of different sizes were stacked into a small mountain.
Yue Ting and Song Yan sat on the floor before the jars, with Xiao He beside Song Yan.
Yue Ting broke the clay seal on a fresh jar, and a rich, crisp