Floating Celestial Island
“How so?” asked Mu Yu.
“I suggest you don’t ask about that. Though he’s always kept a low profile, I do know where you can find him. He received an invitation to Floating Celestial Island on 8th August just as I have. You’ll find him there if you’re lucky.”
Ximen Buxing put away his pink handbook and drifted over to sit in the seat opposite Mu Yu’s.
“Floating Celestial Island?” repeated Mu Yu, assuming everyone knew what it was based on Ximen Buxing’s tone.
“Surely you know of it. Anyway, Future Brother-in-law, remember to put in a good word for me as remuneration for the information.”
Ximen Buxing helped himself to a cup of wine, gave Mu Yu and smile and then leapt out of the window.
Mu Yu shut the window. “I need to close my window when I sleep in the future. I never want to deal with another joke in my bed again.”
Mu Yu went straight to Cai Lie’s room first thing the next morning to ask about Floating Celestial Island. In a bleary state, Cai Lie asked, “You don’t know what Floating Celestial Island is?”
“No,” replied Mu Yu, finally understanding how Tian Ran felt when she first arrived at Moyun Mountains and was lost.
“For starters, it’s not somewhere you can go just because you want to. Every youth who goes there is famous and respected. You need to be, at least, at Primordial Infant Realm to enter. Golden Core Realm cultivators are just errand boys on the island. Keep in mind all the accomplished young prodigies are proud. The only person who can invite all of them to do something is Huai Baiwan.
“Huai Baiwan is a businessman who does business specifically for cultivators. The popular saying is, ‘Huai Baiwan has whatever it is you want to buy.’ You have to admit he knows what he’s doing. You can find a branch of his company anywhere you go in the world of cultivation. Their stores are called Myriad Company. Whatever it is you want, just drop into one of their branches. If they don’t have stock in store, they’ll give you a time frame, and they absolutely will stock it within the promised time frame. I shouldn’t have to say this, but the more valuable an item is, the more spirit stones you have to cough up. We shop at their place when we’re short on things for alchemy.”
“Sheesh. What about if someone ask for True God’s Celestial Sword?”
“I wouldn’t doubt them if you can afford it. The master of Celestial Floating Island invites young and famous cultivators to their auction on the island annually. Basically, if that was the youth army, that’d be the strongest one you’d find. The items offered there are some of the most valuable items you’ll find. You won’t be able to enter without an invitation. Brother Xiaohua received an invitation. I guess I’ll be invited when I ascend to Primordial Infant Realm.”
“Little Flower was invited? I didn’t see that one coming.”
“Hehe, he is a prodigy in his own right. Worth noting is lots of our members were invited since we’re alchemists.”
“Who are the usual faces?”
“Hmm… Tan Rui. He reportedly defeated ten Primordial Infant Realm Fifth Layer cultivators solo when he was only a Primordial Infant Realm Third Layer cultivator. That sixteen-year-old monster is Ghost Gate’s disciple.
“Shi Rang from Earth Sovereign Sect is rumoured to have wiped the floor with a Primordial Infant Realm Ninth Layer great earth bear. They may have unique methods for handling spirit beasts, which they handle most often, but a Golden Core Realm cultivator overwhelming a Primordial Infant Realm spirit beast was unheard of until then. At present, they’re mentoring him as the next successor candidate.
“Jade Sect’s Meng Xin finished five wanted Primordial Infant Realm Seventh Layer bandits with her Captivating Reverie song. I bet they were unwillingly to accept a young girl bodied them when they had slaughtered many Primordial Infant Realm cultivators until then…
“Ninety-nine of the most outstanding youths are invited each year as Third Heaven Continent’s representatives. The invitation is a symbol of status. It’s not uncommon to hear people complain they should’ve made the cut. But, hey, what can they do? It’s Huai Baiwan’s turf at the end of the day. They only have themselves to blame.
“Wait, I forgot Ximen Buxing. Despite him being a nut job, there’s a reason he’s called Invincible Primordial Infant Realm Ximen Buxing. His flute isn’t his only weapon. He’s real weapon is his Evil Dark Fan. Orthodox Sects don’t like the way the unorthodox faction do things. Nonetheless, what they were even irate about was when he was first announced as one of the chosen ninety-nine guests. Nobody remembers just how many youths challenged him, only for him to smite them all without breaking a sweat. From that day onward, nobody dared to belittle him again.”
As a businessman, Huai Baiwan had a keen eye for talent and proved time and time again he had good judgement. The majority of those he chose were approved.
As for Ximen Buxing, Mu Yu believed the former could hold his own weight. After all, trespassing into someone’s room and climbing into their bed in the middle of the night would earn him a beating. The fact he was still alive and kicking made a statement. Mu Yu would’ve had some respect for him if he wasn’t such a maniac.
“Have you heard of anyone by the name of Lie Shang?”
“Lie Shang? Who’s that?”
Something doesn’t add up. Ximen Buxing said Lie Shang was invited, yet Cai Lie doesn’t know him?
Mu Yu inquired, “How far are we from Floating Celestial Island?”
“Not really. It’s approximately two hundred and fifty kilometres north of the city. Are you planning to go?”
Floating Celestial Island was closer than Twenty-Five Kilometres South Garden, so Mu Yu planned to go to Floating Celestial Island.
“Yeah, you have any ideas for me to sneak in?”
“I suggest you quit while you’re ahead. It’s tough to stay if you’re not a Primordial Infant Realm cultivator. Those prodigies will get physical the moment you step on their toes.”
Mu Yu wasn’t intending to go picking fights. He responded, “You make it sound as if you’re not part of the young generation.”
A smile came to Cai Lie’s lips. “Honestly, I want to go. They can flaunt their genius all they want. At the end of the day, though, they have to respect alchemists. I want to go there to peddle pills. They have deep pockets, so I don’t need to feel sorry for them.”
Alchemist Yao was busy sorting out the aftermath of the elemental demons’ invasion and sending search teams to every house. He had to write a mountain of reports to Third Heaven Palace, explaining what happened. There were still no clues how they entered the city via the teleportation formation. The home the elemental demons based the formation in was an abandoned home. When he finally met up with Cai Lie, he was just back to pack his gear and rush back to Pill Cauldron Sect.
Tian Ran wanted to go with Mu Yu. Regrettably, she had no say in the matter. Plus, she had to deliver Feng Haochen’s letter to her mother.
“Tian Ran, you should report back to put your sect at ease. If you miss me, you know where to find me, don’t you?” suggested Mu Yu, giving Tian Ran a head pat.
With a palm-fist salute, Alchemist Yao conveyed, “Mu Yu, we will meet again.”
Mu Yu helped Alchemist Yao extract some more wood residue before the elder left. After he sent the group off, he prepared to head to Floating Celestial Island.
“Where are you off to?”
Mu Yu bumped into Tian Yun as soon as he hit the streets. However, the real surprise was Rou Anna was next to Tian Yun and bowing down!
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