Within Linzi, both Chong Xuansheng and Jiang Wuyou remained, engrossed in their respective affairs. Their eventual voyage would be a gamble, a roll of the dice to determine their fate.

The Chongxuan family currently possessed two islands in the sea: Wudong Island, a product of years of cultivation, and Chongjia Island, obtained through resource exchange with the Dazeta Clan. The latter, however, granted only ten years of development rights.

Wudong Island lay not far from Haimen Island, roughly at its waist, separated only by water.

Chongjia Island was further east, nearing the largest garrison island of the Qi Kingdom in the nearby archipelago – Jue Ming Island.

Jiang Wang ultimately decided to visit Wudong Island first.

Cui Fangluo was to be procured by Lin Youxie, but orchestrating its smooth entry into the market, without alerting Wu Yiyu, required more than just Jiang Wang and Lin Youxie. It demanded the manipulation of forces within the nearby archipelago.

This was independent of individual combat strength or ability.

For Jiang Wang, the Chongxuan family’s power was the obvious choice. It would also serve as a warm-up for the impending rescue of Zhu Biqiong.

He knew not what Chong Xuansheng had sacrificed, but the result was clear.

The Chongxuan family on Wudong Island was dedicating at least half of its resources to support Jiang Wang.

Though it was only spring, the island was already scorching under the sun. Thus, it earned its name, “Wudong,” or “No Winter.”

Jiang Wang did not meet Chongxuan Minghe, the leader of the Chongxuan family overseas. Occupied by countless affairs, Chongxuan Minghe had no time for a junior, which was understandable.

He was greeted instead by a familiar face: Chongxuan Xin, with his hawkish nose.

They had once clashed over the Heavenly Mansion Secret Realm entry.

He had initially sided with Chongxuan Zun, tasked with sabotaging Chong Xuansheng’s trip to the secret realm. However, Chong Xuansheng had firmly rejected him, choosing Jiang Wang as his companion.

Later, Chong Xuansheng overcame Wang Yiwu’s obstruction and successfully secured the Heavenly Mansion Secret Realm. Fearing retribution, Chongxuan Xin, who was not highly regarded by Chongxuan Zun, quickly pledged his allegiance to Chong Xuansheng.

At that time, Chong Xuansheng had few people he could trust, and welcomed all comers. Now that he had risen to prominence, he had no shortage of subordinates, making Chongxuan Xin something of an elder statesman.

Jiang Wang had never paid much attention to him, and was unsure when he had been dispatched to Wudong Island.

It must have been another of Chong Xuansheng’s arrangements.

With Chong Xuansheng’s shrewdness and methods, he must have laid countless such plans already.

If Chongxuan Zun could have remained in Jixia Academy for three to five years, the position of Chongxuan family head might have been his without question… alas, it was only a year.

Regardless, Chongxuan Xin was exceedingly enthusiastic upon seeing Jiang Wang again. “Long time no see, Brother Jiang, your bearing is as impressive as ever!”

This made Jiang Wang’s usual perfunctory reply of “and yours as well” feel inadequate.

He could only respond, “You are too kind, Xin Gongzi.”

“How can you call me Gongzi? It’s too formal!” Chongxuan Xin protested warmly, “You and my brother Sheng are as close as siblings, so you are my elder brother. Just call me Xiao Xin!”

“Uh, A-Xin.”

Jiang Wang was not audacious enough to address him as “Xiao Xin.” He quickly steered the conversation to the matter at hand: “I have some business to attend to. Has Chong Xuansheng told you about it?”

“He has, he has!” Chongxuan Xin thumped his chest. “I am fully prepared. Just give me your orders, Brother Jiang!”

Unlike their initial encounter in Heavenly Mansion City, when Jiang Wang was a young and unknown figure with prematurely white hair, Chongxuan Xin could afford to be arrogant as a member of the Chongxuan family, backed by Chongxuan Zun.

Now, Jiang Wang had directly defeated Wang Yiwu, and crushed Lei Zhangan. He had become the most dazzling genius of the younger generation in Qi.

Chong Xuansheng had openly contested with Chongxuan Zun for the position of family head, and had progressed to this point. From an impossible understudy, he had now firmly secured his position as heir, and appeared to have the greater advantage over Chongxuan Zun!

Everyone in Linzi knew that Chong Xuansheng and Jiang Wang were brothers in life and death. Now that he followed Chong Xuansheng, it was imperative that he cling to this support.

Working on Wudong Island was a cushy assignment. It was relaxed, free, and abundant in resources. The local islanders served with fear and trepidation, making it far more comfortable than being in the mainland. If he had not pledged his allegiance early on, how could he have earned this opportunity?

With Chongxuan Xin’s full cooperation, everything was naturally convenient.

Jiang Wang only stayed on Wudong Island for an hour. Before he had time to truly appreciate the island, he had already returned to Haimen Island.

Lin Youxie truly possessed far-reaching influence, procuring the Cui Fangluo in just a day and a half.

Jiang Wang, through Chongxuan Xin, directly arranged for this Cui Fangluo to be included in the upcoming singing auction at Haimen Island.

The reason for setting up the stage in Haimen Island was that it was the most neutral ground, commercially comparable to Huai Island. For Wu Yiyu, who was secretly hiding, it should be the safest place.

To lure the snake from its hole, the snake must not be alarmed.

This auction was organized by the Four Seas Merchant Alliance, rather than the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, which had more influence in the nearby archipelago. This was due to the collaboration between Chong Xuansheng and the Four Seas Merchant Alliance.

Jiang Wang had only learned upon his return to Linzi that Qing Xi of the Four Seas Merchant Alliance had obtained a new longevity treasure, temporarily resolving his lifespan crisis and regaining control of the Alliance.

No one knew how many longevity treasures Qing Xi had consumed, but with the wealth of the Four Seas Merchant Alliance, they could afford it as long as it was available.

Every few years, rumors of his impending demise would surface, but he always survived, though he remained in his decrepit state.

Even Chong Xuansheng could not ascertain how long the old Alliance Master of the Four Seas Merchant Alliance had lived.

Some said he was over one hundred and twenty years old, others said he was nearly two hundred. The accounts were diverse.

What was certain was that Qing Xi was the fifth Alliance Master of the Four Seas Merchant Alliance. Under his leadership, the Alliance reached its peak, and has been Qi’s top merchant guild for many years.

Even if you only count from when he took over as Alliance Master, it has already been over a hundred years, and Qing Xi was no longer young at that time.

And he had definitely not advanced into the Divine Proximity Realm, had not fully broken through the limits of mortal lifespan.

The path of cultivation was fraught with challenges. Pushing open the Gates of Heaven and Earth could not be achieved through external assistance, and the Divine Proximity Realm required a true understanding of one’s “Dao,” a true sense of “I as a God” within oneself. No amount of resources could help.

Qing Xi lacked the talent to achieve Divine Proximity, but he had somehow broken through the lifespan limit by stacking longevity treasures, which was quite remarkable. It could not help but make one sigh that wealth could indeed reach “God.”

Surviving the lifespan crisis was not uncommon for Qing Xi, and many had become accustomed to it.

Among the fragmented news about the Four Seas Merchant Alliance, there was also an insignificant matter.

Fu Mu, the First Class Executive of the Four Seas Merchant Alliance, who had his ear cut off by Chong Xuansheng, was deeply trusted by Qing Xi before the New Year, and was given many more responsibilities, with the possibility of taking over the Four Seas Merchant Alliance.

He had been actively preparing to “inherit the throne,” but unfortunately, a few days before the New Year’s Eve, he was involved in a conflict triggered by a heretical sect while handling business abroad, and was unfortunately killed, and his body has not been found to this day.

There were also rumors that he was assassinated by rivals within the Four Seas Merchant Alliance. The truth was confusing and unclear.

Because of Fu Mu’s identity as a First Class Executive, it caused some discussion. But it did not last long.

For Jiang Wang, these were merely fleeting whispers, something to listen to in passing.

Returning to the auction event at Haimen Island, the Cui Fangluo was a pine cone-shaped medicinal material, colored emerald green, with a fragrant aroma that lingered on the lips and teeth.

Burning it could clear the mind, and consuming it could nourish one’s origin.

In terms of value, it was not a top-tier medicinal material. However, because it was delicate and difficult to grow, it was very rare, which inflated its price.

The coastal islands had frequent trade, and the types of goods were as numerous as the stars. But there has not been a single transaction of Cui Fangluo this year, which shows how rare it is.

However, even at a high price, it would not deter a Transcendent cultivator like Wu Yiyu. After all, for an Outer Building Realm expert, it would not be impossible to obtain resources from somewhere to buy a Cui Fangluo.

The Cui Fangluo did not have any value that could help Outer Building Realm cultivators. Its significance to Wu Yiyu lay only in the secret needle technique of the Golden Needle of Salvation.

As the number one merchant guild in Qi, the Four Seas Merchant Alliance had a special hall in Haimen Island, and this auction was held in the hall.

The entire auction had three days of preheating, and the list of items that should appear at this auction had been spread to the ears of those who should know.

As long as Wu Yiyu was still in the coastal islands, as long as he was not in secluded cultivation or had some other accident, he would not miss this news.

Especially those who were hiding more, the more they paid attention to the slightest disturbance from the outside world.

Jiang Wang was confident that Wu Yiyu would not miss this opportunity.

In a private room in the hall, two Blue Badge Catch Heads who had traveled from afar were sitting face to face.

The atmosphere was neither good nor bad.

“I’ve already arranged it.” Jiang Wang said: “Once the buyer of the Cui Fangluo leaves, I will personally track him.”

“It seems that Sir Jiang is very confident in his tracking skills. Oh, yes, after all, you are a master who was able to track down King Qinguang and King Chujiang, so you must be an expert in this field.”

Although Lin Youxie approved of Jiang Wang’s goal of coming to the coastal islands, she still could not change her verbal probing and inner suspicion.

Jiang Wang was very helpless: “Those two times I was just lucky, I just happened to encounter them. Especially the one with King Qinguang, thanks to Master Catch God’s timely arrival, he saved my life. Deputy Envoy Lin, please don’t mock me anymore.”

Seeing that the case of the Golden Needle Sect was about to be concluded, Lin Youxie also intended to temporarily abandon the entanglement. She also changed her thinking, and wanted to re-establish a good relationship with Lin Youxie, so as to avoid her causing trouble in the future.

Therefore, there was some weakness in his words.

Of course, he also hinted to Lin Youxie. The discovery of King Qinguang was personally participated in and confirmed by Catch God Yue Leng. No matter how good you are at solving cases, can you be stronger than Catch God? No matter how suspicious you are, can you doubt Catch God?

Lin Youxie clicked her tongue a few times, but after all, she did not say anything more.

She had her own plans.

Just as they were talking, the auction in the hall had officially begun.