Longevity: My Talents Are a Bit Abundant-Chapter 380: Huge Ransom

The sea and sky merge into one.

On the horizon.

As the sunrise just begins, the red is tinged with a hint of deep yellow.

Emerging stumblingly from the sea.

Like a newborn child, slowly climbing into the sky, curiously overlooking the fragile myriad creatures below.

The azure sky, mingled with some gray-white, appears deep and profound.

Uncertain how much time has passed.

The sun finally steadied itself and began to push forth, shooting out countless golden arrows.

The surrounding clouds turned crimson, as if ablaze.

Shen Xuan and Wei Yating stood on the seaside cliff, silently enjoying the sunrise.

"So beautiful!" Wei Yating was mesmerized by the sunrise scenery.

Her eyes blurred.

Shen Xuan squinted, his expression calm.

"Master Shen, will we meet again?"

"If fate allows, perhaps we will."

Wei Yating murmured to herself, "We will definitely meet again!"

"Maybe in twenty years. Maybe fifty. By then, Yating will have become a Tier Three Pill Master, crafting a Life-Extending Pill for Master Shen to take."

"You must not refuse it!"

"Alright!"

Shen Xuan replied softly.

Tears burst forth uncontrollably.

Suddenly.

Wei Yating lost control.

"Master Shen, I can’t bear to leave you!"

"I can’t bear to leave Grandpa, can’t bear to leave my clan, can’t bear to leave Fei Xue, can’t bear to leave White Crane Island!"

"Why!"

"Why must there be constant fighting, struggling for life and death!"

"I just want to live well!"

"I just want to craft pills!"

Wei Yating’s face was full of tears.

She threw herself into Shen Xuan’s embrace.

Her delicate body trembling, emotions intense.

Shen Xuan sighed lightly.

The Cultivation Realm is inherently like this.

All cultivators are dissatisfied with the status quo, wanting to live better.

Everyone lacks Spirit Stones, lacks resources.

Unable to obtain them, they can only fight to seize them.

There was no need for Shen Xuan to explain these principles to Wei Yating.

She understands them. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

It’s just fear of the unknown fate.

Shen Xuan said nothing.

Gently patting Wei Yating’s shoulder to show comfort.

In his eyes.

Wei Yating was just an immature child.

The sun was bright, birds singing, flowers fragrant, and the morning breeze gentle.

Wei Yating’s cries were interrupted by the roar of the Spiritual Energy Cannon.

Outside White Crane Island, dozens of warships, over a hundred warboats, simultaneously fired.

The "rumble" of cannon fire echoed across White Crane Island, deafening.

The ground trembled violently.

Wei Yating looked nervously at the flying streams of spiritual light energy, creating great waves on the Island Protection Array.

The azure Spirit Shield twisted exaggeratedly, seeming as if it could tear at any moment.

Shen Xuan saw it clearly.

The Island Protection Array of White Crane Island wouldn’t last many days.

A cultivator with some knowledge could naturally see that.

The atmosphere on the entire White Crane Island was heavy.

This noon.

It’s the final deadline for Loose Cultivators to leave the island.

After Azure Dragon Island’s Lu Family ceased their bombing.

At the Wei Family’s offshore port, over a hundred cultivators gathered, including more than ten Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

These were the last remaining visiting cultivators on White Crane Island.

Everyone lined up in order, showing uneasy and restless expressions.

Clearly, those leaving at this moment were those with relatively close ties to the Wei Family of White Crane Island.

Now, due to the situation, they had no choice but to escape and leave White Crane Island.

No one knows how Azure Dragon Island’s Lu Family will treat them, lacking a sense of security.

According to past unwritten rules, wars between cultivation clans wouldn’t affect the loose cultivators living in the spiritual land of either side.

Unless they directly participated in the clan warfare.

The nature of things would then be different.

However, time has changed.

Now, for these loose cultivators, wanting to leave freely without any cost is nothing short of dreaming.

Outside the port, five Lu Family warships stood ready, each bearing fearsome Spiritual Energy Cannons, aimed at these hundred or so visiting loose cultivators.

In the sea.

Ten or so Tier Two Spirit Beasts occasionally surfaced, provocatively showing fierce eyes.

A Lu Family Foundation Establishment Cultivator shouted loudly: "Line up one by one to board the ship and undergo examination!"

"Those who dare to refuse examination will be regarded as Wei Family accomplices and will be executed without mercy!"

Under the threat of Spiritual Energy Cannons and Tier Two Spirit Beasts.

The loose cultivators dared not resist.

Obediently queuing up to board the Lu Family warship one by one.

Originally, Shen Xuan could silently conceal his figure.

Observing the battle between the Wei and Lu clans from the shadows.

Without surprise, the three Fake Pill True Masters from both clans would fully engage.

To Shen Xuan, watching life-and-death battles involving Fake Pill True Masters was very necessary.

The insights gained cannot be compared to Cultivation Scripture.

After accompanying Wei Yating to watch the sunrise over the vast sea.

Shen Xuan changed his mind.

He wanted to know how the Lu Family would treat him.

As he walked towards the offshore port.

Wei Yating remained silent, bowing deeply in respect.

The two young men, Qing Feng and Ming Yue, knelt by the roadside, prostrating themselves, continuously kowtowing.

They couldn’t speak words to persuade him to stay.

Nor could they offer anything to repay kindness.

Although Shen Xuan never accepted them.

Wei Yating, Qing Feng, and Ming Yue all learned true Water Technique Alchemy Dao inheritance from him.

...

On the Lu Family warship, two large bears, completely snow-white, towering at a zhang, exuding strong demonic aura, roared incessantly, pacing wildly back and forth on the deck.

Shen Xuan recognized these two bears as Tier Two Middle Grade Spirit Beasts, Wave-riding Ice Bears.

The most sensitive Spirit Beast in terms of scent, ten times more than a mountain-guarding spirit dog!

Their combat strength far exceeds Spirit Beasts of the same tier.

With astonishing power and terrifying bite strength, its speed is extremely fast whether in water or on land, and its endurance is strong.

An ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator is no match for the Wave-Stepping Ice Bear.

Once you slip up, you are undoubtedly dead.

Two Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the Lu Family were inspecting each Loose Cultivator queuing to board the ship.

Everyone was obediently handing over their Magical Treasures and Storage Pouches.

Then, like a woman stripped bare, they were at the mercy of the Lu Family Cultivators.

"Thirty thousand Spirit Stones ransom, within a month, have your friends and family deliver it."

"Otherwise, death!"

Someone argued a few words.

The Wave-Stepping Ice Bear leapt at them like a whirlwind.

In the next instant.

That person was torn to pieces by the violent Wave-Stepping Ice Bear, which enthusiastically devoured them.

The strong smell of blood lingered on the Lu Family’s warship.

The Loose Cultivators were all pale-faced and trembling.

The Lu Family Cultivators laughed heartily, looking triumphant.

Shen Xuan watched coldly.

All Loose Cultivators were required by the Lu Family to pay a certain ransom to gain their freedom.

Some skilled Loose Cultivators were forced to sign Spirit Contracts, working for the Lu Family for free.

Under the intimidation of overwhelming force, few of the preceding Loose Cultivators dared to resist.

The few who voiced doubt were immediately killed by the Wave-Stepping Ice Bears, becoming its delicious lunch.

There was also a couple.

A Lu Family Cultivator clearly took a fancy to the beautiful wife.

He demanded an incredible ransom.

Forced the Cultivator couple to sign a divorce contract and then sell themselves to the Lu Family.

The Lu Family’s inspection was thorough.

It took a full hour before it was Shen Xuan’s turn.

At this time, a Late Stage Foundation Establishment Divine Sense was probing him.

"Name, identity, origin?"

A Lu Family Foundation Establishment Cultivator, holding a mirror-like Magical Artifact, shone it on Shen Xuan, interrogating sternly.

"I am Shen Changsheng, a contracted Pill Master Tributor for the Wei Family, a Loose Cultivator."

Shen Xuan presented the contract signed with the Wei Family.

"Pill Master?"

The Lu Family Cultivator took the contract, glanced at it, and turned toward the Late Stage Foundation Establishment elder monitoring from behind.

In the Cultivation Realm, the status of a Pill Master is exalted.

A Tier Two Pill Master is extremely rare.

Shen Xuan claimed to be a Loose Cultivator.

The Lu Family Cultivator responsible for the inspection still did not dare to underestimate him.

"Please wait."

The Lu Family’s Late Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator took out a Communication Jade Pendant, continuously inputting information into it.

A while later.

"Pill Master Shen, please step aside and wait, the Patriarch has something to discuss with you."

Shen Xuan nodded.

Amidst the envious gazes of many Loose Cultivators, he stepped aside to wait.

The Lu Family Cultivators continued inspecting the Loose Cultivators.

"Ransom of twenty thousand Spirit Stones, will you pay the Spirit Stones or sign a contract?"

"Fellow Daoist Wei, I am an Artifact Master, can you cut me some slack?"

"Stop with the nonsense! Either pay the Spirit Stones, sign the contract, or die!"

Two recently fed Wave-Stepping Ice Bears wandered menacingly in front of this Cultivator.

"Sign the contract! I am willing to work for the Lu Family!"

The Cultivator, scared out of his wits, quickly voiced his decision.

After signing with trembling heart, he took a glance at Shen Xuan, shook his head, and sighed deeply.

A stick of incense later.

Patriarch Lu appeared before Shen Xuan with a beaming smile.

"Pill Master Shen, I told you, we would meet again."

"Fellow Daoist Lu, I have dissolved my contract with the Wei Family."

Shen Xuan said expressionlessly, "Can you make it convenient for me, let me leave on my own?"

Patriarch Lu shook his head.

"No can do, Pill Master Shen, rules are rules."

"Even someone like me, can’t break the rules."

Shen Xuan nodded.

"You want a ransom, right, name your price."

Patriarch Lu extended three fingers.

"Thirty thousand Spirit Stones? Fine, I’m willing to pay."

"Pill Master Shen, you are mistaken! It’s three hundred thousand Spirit Stones!"

Patriarch Lu said sternly, "Given Pill Master Shen’s status, three hundred thousand Spirit Stones, the Lu Family is giving you a lot of face."

Shen Xuan stared at Patriarch Lu.

For the past three years, to acquire the Divine Turtle Essence Blood, he’d been focused on Alchemy.

Even if he took everything out from his Storage Pouch, it wouldn’t amount to three hundred thousand Spirit Stones.

Of course, Shen Xuan’s wealth wasn’t just Spirit Stones.

Various Magical Treasures, Tier Three Spirit Branches, the Myriad Dragon Profound Water Pill Furnace, and various Thunder Talismans, Poison Talismans, Thunder Spirit Pearls, altogether no less than a million Spirit Stones.

But that didn’t mean he was willing to pay three hundred thousand Spirit Stones to buy his freedom.

Moreover, Shen Xuan did not believe that even if he provided three hundred thousand Spirit Stones, the Lu Family would let him go.

The Tier Two Water Technique Alchemist, particularly one who can refine Life Extension Pills.

As long as he could be firmly controlled, he would be an ever-productive money tree.

If he wanted to leave White Crane Island, it would be easy.

Shen Xuan boarded the ship and underwent inspection by the Lu Family Cultivators just to give himself an explanation.

When it was time to act, there would be no burden in his heart.

However, Shen Xuan still wanted to make an effort.

"Fellow Daoist Lu, you’re joking."

"Thirty thousand Spirit Stones, I am giving the two True Masters of the Lu Family some face."

Shen Xuan’s voice wasn’t loud.

But on the warship, everyone could hear him clearly.

Patriarch Lu’s eyes sparkled with brilliance.

Staring intently at Shen Xuan.

He had never encountered such an arrogant person.

Previously.

All those who escaped from White Crane Island, except those who ended up in the bear’s belly, obediently followed the Lu Family’s arrangements.

Either paying the exorbitant ransom, or signing a contract to work for the Lu Family.

He offered the high price of three hundred thousand Spirit Stones.

It was intended to make Shen Xuan comply and sign a contract to refine pills free for the Lu Family long-term.

Shen Xuan did not guess wrong.

Even if he paid three hundred thousand Spirit Stones as a ransom.

Patriarch Lu would still find another reason.

To hold Shen Xuan back.

This Tier Two Water Technique Alchemist, also a Loose Cultivator with no background.

The Lu Family would absolutely not let go of this profitable opportunity.