Free Web NovelIn the East Sea, the tide, carrying shimmering light, beat against the port. As the sea mist dispersed, a market town became visible, with large buildings topped with colorful shells. The crowds moving through them resembled waves.
Well, it wasn't just crowds.
Haiqi Town was the last port before entering the East Sea, and also the very edge of the Ten Lands within the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.
This place was not under the jurisdiction of Great Yu, but rather under the Penglai Star Sect and the Sea Race. Outside, there were island chains, like a ribbon, covering a vast area.
Of course, compared to the boundless sea, it was just the tip of the iceberg.
Legend has it that the land area was originally much larger, but later, due to unknown reasons, whether it was the passage of time or the clashes of powerful individuals, the Nine Prefectures sank, submerging cities that were once on land. These cities are now buried deep beneath the sea, awaiting discovery by those with destiny.
And every so often, a lucky person would find a lost Treasure Trove, or rare treasures unique to the sea, which they would want to trade. Over time, this led to the formation of the Qizhen Sea Market.
"Actually, it's just the Sea Race and the Human Race going to a big market together, right?"
As the Somersault Cloud dissipated, Li Mo listened to Elder Qian's introduction and stepped onto solid ground.
He wore sunglasses, not because the sun was scorching on the sea, making everything dazzlingly bright, but simply because he thought it looked cool.
He surveyed the bustling sea market, the sails fluttering on the giant fish-bone ships in the harbor, and gazed at the vast ocean.
In this scene, with the atmosphere just right, Li Mo couldn't help but exclaim:
"I will find the Treasure Trove deep in the sea. I am a man who will become the King of Pirates."
No sooner had he spoken than a fish-bone ship returned. A middle-aged man with a simple, honest face and bronze skin disembarked, wearing a headscarf. He clearly spent a lot of time exposed to the wind and sun at sea, and his expression was one of smug satisfaction.
He directed his sailors to move box after box of goods, which contained blood coral, whale spittle, and golden pearls, all looking extremely dazzling.
"Folks, this trip to the sea was fruitful! Those who went out with me made a fortune long ago."
"This ship is fully loaded and returned. It's a pity I went out and didn't catch anything."
"Not catching anything is secondary; my brother went to sea and hasn't returned yet."
"This kind of thing really depends on luck."
Around them, people who were about to go to sea or had just returned expressed envy and surprise.
"Luck? If I had brought that little beanpole, Shang Li..."
Li Mo thought about it, then chuckled and shook his head. He wasn't short on money; going to sea to fish was less convenient than just buying things directly.
Just then, the fully loaded middle-aged man saw Li Mo, his eyes lit up, and he walked over.
"Little brother, I see you walk like a Dragon and a tiger, with an extraordinary Aura. Would you be willing to partner up for a fishing trip? We'll split the cost of going to sea fifty-fifty."
"?"
"We'll split the profits seventy-thirty."
"Why only seventy percent?"
"Little brother, seventy percent is mine... After all, I'm experienced and proficient in the Yansheng Art used at sea, which includes gold-finding techniques. I'll find all the treasures, and if luck is good, one trip can earn tens of thousands of taels..."
"Sorry, but I'll pass. That money comes in too slowly."
"?"
Li Mo waved his hand to refuse, and Elder Qian looked at the man warily, then pulled Li Mo away from the crowd.
Only when the middle-aged man was out of sight did Elder Qian breathe a sigh of relief.
"Xiao Mo, you're quite clever. You knew that sea fisher had a problem."
Li Mo was stunned. He didn't use his Tianming Divine Eye on everyone he met: "I didn't know."
"..."
Elder Qian fell into contemplation.
So, you really thought that way of making money was too slow?
Old Qian, who carried eighty percent of the Qingyuan Sect's assets, suddenly felt so poor he wanted to squat on the ground and draw circles. free𝑤ebnovel.com
"Elder Qian, what was wrong with that person?"
Li Mo asked again.
"Alas... These people are probably not real sea fishers, but scammers. The way he kept saying 'folks' made me feel something was off."
Elder Qian spoke of his Jianghu experience.
Partnering up for sea fishing did exist, but with sea fishing, if luck was bad, there might be no harvest for several months or even years.
Getting rich overnight certainly happened, but most people weren't so lucky; not losing money, or even losing their lives, was considered good. fɾēewebnσveℓ.com
Over time, some people developed malicious intentions, specifically using sea fishing as an excuse to trick outsiders.
Some would pre-bury items in the sand, giving people a 'harvest' that was far from worth the price, and there were even more unscrupulous ones...
"So if you really go out to sea with them, if you're lucky you just lose money, and if you're unlucky your kidneys get harvested?"
They say the East Sea is deep.
Today, I finally witnessed it; so this is how deep it is.
Xiao Li said nothing, but quietly activated his Tianming Divine Eye... In the crowd, the big man frowned as he watched Li Mo and Qian Bufan disappear.
He returned to the ship. The cabin below deck was a different world, exquisitely and uniquely arranged, with burning sandalwood, seemingly a study.
A young man sat at the desk, his cheeks puffed out, his face square, with a hint of malevolence ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) in his brows, dressed in an intricately patterned purple robe.
Behind him, an Elder wore similar styled clothing. The Elder had a profound Aura, likely an Outer Scenery practitioner.
His appearance... was the kind that suggested if you hit the young one, the old one would appear.
"Young Sect Master, that kid was quite vigilant, and he had a Sect Elder accompanying him. I couldn't trick him into going to sea."
The middle-aged man cupped his hands.
"Didn't you mention the gains from going to sea?" The Young Sect Master's tone was puzzled.
"I did."
"Even so, he wasn't tempted. Could our judgment be wrong?" The Young Sect Master murmured to himself.
The Elder spoke: "The Qingyuan Sect has so little capital, even if Li Mo has another Legacy and Shang Wu as his Master, it can't be much better. I think he was tempted, but he's deep in thought and not easily fooled."
"Young Sect Master, this one prefecture of the Eastern Wasteland Region should rightfully belong to us as the Zhen Prefecture Sect."
"What belongs to us, we must take back with our own hands!"
The Elder seemed to have a very fiery temper.
"I know you're a bit anxious, Elder, but don't be anxious yet."
The purple-robed youth rubbed his temples, thinking seriously:
"Our analysis just now should be correct. The Qingyuan Sect doesn't have much capital left, and any rare treasures can only be found at the East Pearl Tower auction."
"As long as we make Li Mo and Qian Bufan run out of money, they'll naturally take the bait, and might even risk going to sea."
"How shall we do that?"
"By helping them spend money. Spending money, I'm best at that."
The purple-robed youth's smile was full of confidence and ease... Qian Bufan said: "Let's go, we'll pick some things first."
Actually, the items in the market were a mix of genuine and fake, hard to distinguish, and even with effort, one might not find anything good. But their budget was limited.
Old Qian's plan was to spend little money to achieve big things.
"Let's go to the East Pearl Tower first."
Li Mo shook his head, not wanting to waste time.
"Xiao Mo, the East Pearl Tower only has high-quality goods, but they charge a half-percent handling fee..."
"That's so dark?"
"No choice, they have the best reputation and the confidence to set that rule. We should still pick through the market first..."
"There's no need for that!"
Xiao Li's smile was full of ease and confidence, as if solving some problem:
"If I become the owner of the East Pearl Tower, wouldn't that solve it?"
