"Have you heard? There really are immortal islands overseas, and people actually came from them."
"We knew about that long ago. Word has it they're extremely overbearing—they injured Little Heavenly Master and his people right off the bat."
"Yeah, apparently only Ice Fairy was let go. Only then could she send word back, and now the higher-ups are in an emergency conference."
"There's news from the authorities too. They say these people want to seize certain areas on the mainland to use for cultivation and evolution."
"Even so, they shouldn't be hurting people! That's way too arrogant. Just who on earth are they anyway? Could they really be immortals?"
"What immortals? They're just Awakened like us, only somewhat stronger."
"Stronger? No matter how strong they are, can they be stronger than King Lu?"
The authorities had never intended to conceal the news.
Besides, ever since the three immortal islands appeared beyond the Bohai Sea, public interest had run high, drawing the gaze of countless people.
Thus, as soon as Ice Fairy left the area and contacted Elder Ji and the other leaders, word quickly spread.
Awakened had already speculated that people dwelt on the Three Immortal Islands, yet none had anticipated that while people indeed existed, they would be so difficult to deal with.
Not only had they resorted to violence, but they also demanded a swath of land outright—a move that naturally rubbed many the wrong way.
In no time, many felt the urge to head to the shores of the Bohai Sea to see for themselves. The more hotheaded among them even planned to band together with other Awakened and launch an ambush. If nothing else, they wanted to rescue Little Heavenly Master Chunyang and the others first.
Anticipating this reaction, the authorities had already dispatched troops to seal off the area temporarily, forbidding anyone from entering or leaving at will.
At the same time, an announcement was issued to the public stating that high-ranking officials were already en route to the shores of the Bohai Sea, preparing to open a dialogue with the emissaries from the Three Immortal Islands overseas, and urging everyone to remain calm.
They had no other choice.
To this day, the authorities had not figured out the true depth of the Three Immortal Islands' foundation.
All they knew through Ice Fairy was that the leaders of this vanguard were all in the Shackle Realm, and since they spoke of an ancestral sect, there were bound to be figures in the Golden Body Realm behind them.
Under such circumstances, they had to tread with utmost caution. Even if conflict was inevitable, they needed to assess their adversaries first.
Upon seeing the announcement, the public settled down somewhat, realizing they shouldn't cause trouble for the leadership.
Even so, the Three Immortal Islands drew more and more attention with each passing moment.
***
Meanwhile, Elder Yun managed to clear his schedule and headed straight for the coast of the Bohai Sea.
Fortunately, he had been stationed at the Mount Tai Trial Academy, which wasn't too far from Bohai.
He arrived in just a few days. Along the way, he gathered whatever information he could on these newcomers.
Reviewing ancient records, he inferred that the Three Immortal Islands might have already existed back in the pre-Qin era.
Naturally, that didn't mean those people had lived for thousands of years; rather, they were descendants. He also deduced that unlike the mainland, the three islands had consistently retained the conditions required for cultivation and evolution. Consequently, the people residing within might genuinely be formidable, having advanced several paces ahead of those on the outside.
As for why two drastically different environments could exist within the very same world, no one could say for certain.
Yet none of that mattered right now. What mattered was that the visitors from the Three Immortal Islands had arrived with ill intent.
In the end, Elder Yun and his entourage reached the Bohai coast and succeeded in meeting the disciples of the three islands.
According to the newcomers, they came on behalf of their ancestral sects—lineages akin to the sects of ancient times, with the Three Immortal Islands divided into three distinct schools: Penglai, Fangzhang, and Yingzhou. Through dialogue, it became clear that these people still preserved ancient customs and habits.
They were virtually oblivious to modern technology.
The three who had fought earlier were elite disciples.
That day, on the shores of the Bohai Sea, a contingent of high-ranking government officials led by Elder Yun made their appearance.
Before them stood Zhao Yuan and the other disciples from the Three Immortal Islands.
"Speak. What is it you want?" said Elder Yun. He possessed a fiery temper, yet he reined it in slightly for the moment.
After all, Little Heavenly Master Chunyang and the others remained in the hands of the other party.
"We have come to the mainland by order of our sects, merely to seek Daoist sanctuaries where we may cultivate. The three sects require one each," Zhao Yuan said, looking toward Elder Yun with a faint smile. "Surely this should not be difficult for your esteemed self?"
"It isn't difficult; that is indeed open to discussion," Elder Yun replied with a nod, his expression remaining placid.
"Furthermore, beneath each sanctuary, there must be a populace provided," Zhao Yuan continued. "After all, there are mundane matters beneath our personal attention. We do not ask for much—a hundred thousand people per sanctuary will suffice."
At these words, several officials' faces instantly darkened, their eyes flaring with rage.
Beside them, Ice Fairy looked ready to step forward and speak out.
By their terms, three sanctuaries meant three hundred thousand people.
It was nothing short of daylight robbery.
What did they want with so many people? While the specifics remained unknown, it easily brought to mind the corvée labor of ancient times.
Yet Elder Yun held back everyone's fury. Squinting at his interlocutor, he asked once more, "Go on. Is there anything else?"
Seeing this, Zhao Yuan nodded. "Of course. From this day forth, whenever good fortune manifests across the famous mountains and great rivers of the mainland, the disciples of our Three Immortal Islands must be granted free rein to explore them. Naturally, you may assist from the sidelines. If you contribute your efforts, a share can be granted to you as well."
Arrogant.
Utterly arrogant!
The officials in attendance could hardly contain themselves, their expressions turning icy cold.
Yet Elder Yun remained composed. Only then did he speak: "And what of our people whom you captured? When will they be released?"
"Released? Once you have deliberated and agreed, we shall speak of that."
Zhao Yuan naturally sensed everyone's fury, yet he remained utterly indifferent. "We will give you time to consider this carefully. Remember, we are merely the vanguard. Before long, our revered elders will arrive. When that time comes, you must have your decision made."
With that, he turned and led the young man and woman beside him back onto the vessel.
Everything he had just uttered felt less like a negotiation and more like an official notice.
"Elder Yun, what do we do?" Ice Fairy asked, her expression thoroughly grim. She had truly never expected these people to be so insolent and contemptuous.
In truth, with the might of modern technology, they had no reason to fear the newcomers. The trouble was that they couldn't disregard the lives of Little Heavenly Master Chunyang and the others, which tied their hands.
"Let us inform Elder Ji and the others first," Elder Yun replied after a moment of thought.
Setting aside the fortunes of the mainland's mountains and rivers, the demand for three hundred thousand people was something they could never agree to.
Why had they worked so hard to accumulate their foundation in the first place? Was it not to protect the lives of more citizens? How could they hand over their people at a mere word? If it truly came to falling out, it would be better to fight head-on.
***
"Junior Sister Zhang Yun, do you think these mainlanders will agree to our terms?" Zhao Yuan asked, turning to the cyan-robed woman standing at the ship's bow.
"They have no choice," Zhang Yun sneered. "How long has the world been reviving? Even if conditions on the mainland are superior to those on our islands, at most a few Shackle Realm cultivators could have emerged.
"Yet among our three islands, which sect lacks a Golden Body Realm master presiding over it? That fact alone places us beyond anything they can match. As for those weapons of theirs, they will amount to nothing. Once the elders of our sects arrive, everything will be set in stone."
Hearing this, Zhao Yuan nodded in agreement. "We must send word back as well. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth within our islands is nearing exhaustion. We must settle this matter as quickly as possible."
Indeed, the reason they had returned to the mainland from the three islands was, first and foremost, that the complete unsealing of the world meant the path back was no longer barred.
Furthermore, islands were ultimately just islands. After thousands of years, the resources available for evolution had basically hit rock bottom.
Yet just as their resources ran dry, changes swept the outside world. The path of evolution had opened once more, poised to mirror the ancient eras.
Under these circumstances, they could leave the islands and venture to the mainland.
Here, free of constraints, heaven and earth were gradually reviving, with various auspicious fortunes emerging one after another. Why remain cooped up on three isolated islands?
Knowing that everything had only just begun and that truly formidable beings had yet to appear on the mainland, they naturally sought to impose conditions to plunder more resources, concentrate them on themselves, and accelerate their own evolution.
After all, the people of the Three Immortal Islands were well aware that entities from beyond the realm would eventually descend.
By taking advantage of this window of time, they could grow strong as fast as possible, after which returning would remain an option.
At this moment, both Zhao Yuan and Zhang Yun believed their plan was sound and entirely feasible.
At this thought, the two shared a knowing smile.
It seemed as though everything lay securely within their grasp.
***
Soon after Elder Yun and his group returned, they reported the outcome up the chain of command.
The high-ranking officials shared an identical reaction: under no circumstances would they agree.
The more radical among them even suggested locking missiles onto the Three Immortal Islands to show them that modern technology was not to be trifled with.
However, they soon discovered that the three islands were enshrouded by a mysterious force, making missile lock-on completely impossible.
With firearms and heavy ordnance temporarily rendered useless, silence fell over the room.
Their most potent means had failed.
How were they to deal with the people from the Three Immortal Islands?
Those terms were impossible to accept.
Yet the crux of the problem was that the vanguard's three leaders were all in the Shackle Realm, and their elders would only be stronger.
While they could deploy weapons and missiles along the perimeter to prevent a landing, could such a perimeter hold forever? Obviously not. Furthermore, no human had yet reached the Golden Body Realm.
Judging by mutant beasts of equivalent rank, the power and destructive capacity of a Golden Body Realm being would be staggering—nigh impossible to withstand if they unleashed their full strength.
After all, they were dealing with human beings. As formidable as modern weapons were, the targets wouldn't simply stand still.
Helplessness washed over the council led by Elder Ji.
By all rights, the people of the Three Immortal Islands were human like them and shared the bloodline of Huaxia. Why, then, were they so utterly overbearing?
Did they truly think of themselves as immortals?
No one knew.
Yet the immediate crisis had to be resolved. Who knew when those elders would arrive?
News of the negotiation inevitably leaked onto the internet.
In an instant, the citizens and Awakened following the matter erupted.
"Is this a joke? Three Daoist sanctuaries and three hundred thousand people?!"
"They're far too arrogant! We can never agree to this! I say launch missiles—bring out our strongest weapons!"
"Word has reached me that modern technology can't fully lock onto those three islands, leaving the authorities at an impasse for now."
"So what? Their terms are practically stomping on our faces! How can we swallow this?"
"Right! Our strength might be lacking, but we won't stomach such humiliation!"
"Exactly! At worst, we'll throw our lives on the line!"
Almost everyone who learned the news was incensed.
No one cared what kind of beings inhabited the Three Immortal Islands.
Their terms had crossed the line: not only did they demand land, but they also demanded living people, while brazenly seeking a share in the fortunes of every major mountain and river. No person with any dignity would ever accept such extortion.
Yet everyone also knew that even stronger beings dwelt on those three immortal islands.
They had likely reached the Golden Body Realm. If they crossed over as well, a massive battle was inevitable.
And as of now, no one in the country possessed such power. How were they to fight?
Even heavy weaponry offered no deterrence, for the enemy could come and go at will, retreating into the immortal islands whenever they pleased.
For a time, not only the authorities but citizens across the country were gripped by a profound sense of powerlessness.
Yet at this very moment, virtually everyone thought of the same name: Lu Yuan.
They believed that now, only King Lu could step forward and resolve everything. King Lu alone.
Chapter 113