"The Qi Gathering cultivators qualifying rounds for the solo and team events are finished. When the dust settled, one hundred and twenty-eight solo participants and sixteen teams qualified for the championship tournament. Tomorrow will give the participants a break as the Foundation Establishment cultivators are expected to step up and demonstrate their skills. So far, Sun & Moon island cultivators have represented well as they had the most cultivators qualify, but the White Tiger Sect, Sword Heart Sect, Mountains and Rivers Sect, Tang family, and Chen Family are also represented well amount the finalists. For those that didn't qualify, you still get one eight hour session at the QR pod cafe as compensation and our well wishes that you for next year. This is Jia Qiao signing off, good night", the announcer, Jia Qiao reported the days results before turning off the sound transmission artifact.
In a meeting room of the hotel they were staying, all the leaders and elders had gathered. Kong Chun was sitting in the main chair listening to everyone else discussing their time here and and the events they have witnessed so far.
"Gentlemen", Chun spoke up, quieting the room, "We have an opportunity to consider. Daoist Wei has extended the possibility to everyone here to rebuild their sects and home. He told me that he is willing to set up courses for our artisans that would train them to the same level as their own. Do you realize how much Qi that is wasted from the veins we have built our homes and sects on?He was right and honest about the choices, as much as we need to fix this now, we have to have it done by people we trust. Look around us, there is always someone above you, did you know he has harnessed the laws or lightning to do most of this? Of course each place is your own, but the White Tiger Sect will be sending artisans here."
All the others nodded in agreement but one sect master said, "I would like to, but it depends on how much it will cost."
A few other heads nodded at this, and Chun paid attention to who had these concerns.
"I will go and see Daoist Wei and let him know that we are ready to negotiate for his services", Chun stated.
Elder Ya Yu stopped Chun, "Sect Master, I believe it would be easier to contact him through Qmessenger on your Qphone."
"Of course", Chun grabbed his phone and sent a message to Huoran requesting a meeting to discuss business and cooperation. A few moments later, Chun's phone played the popular song of a idol group. He silenced it, and began to read the response as all the other leaders did their best to hold back their laughter.
"He has agreed to see us at the Market Square city hall at 1700 in two days", Chun said, ignoring the state of the others.
"Has anyone ever wondered why this place is willing to trade and buy mundane and ordinary goods and crops?", Ren Bao, elder of the outer court of the Mountains and Rivers sect pointed out.
"It's not proper to investigate a potential business partner", Chun pointed out, "doing so might compromise the interests of both parties. In the mean time, I want to use the QR pod again, I heard that a new mode has appeared."
Tan Xinyue was scared and running for his life as he urged his spiritual boat to fly faster. Today was the worse day of his life, and he didn't understand how things came to this point, 'Everything was normal, why were we attacked? It must have been Duan Zexian, he must have set me up.'
As his flying boat raced towards the sea, six flying creatures with beings riding on them chased his ship.
"Tan Xinyue, stop immediately! You are accused of the crime of attempting to poison the clan leader of the Bloodclaw Wolf Clan", one of the pursuers shouted at Xinyue.
"Why are you accusing me? I been trading with you wolf beastkins and a few other beastkins clans for the last three hundred and eighty-seven years. Isn't it obvious that the new traders that appeared five years ago are the culprits?", he replied.
"So you don't acknowledge your actions, prepare yourself for what's coming next", another voice from a different mount threatened.
'Xinyue, what have you got yourself into", he cursed internally, 'I don't have enough spirit stones to make the trip from Shou to Nanying continent. I had to flee before I could receive payment for my goods. My only option is to head to island in the center of all three continents. The beastkin don't get along with the races of the sea, and fear the senior who cultivated on that island.'
With a plan formulated, he adjusted his heading and increased his speed. Noticing their prey's increased pace, one of the flying mounts, that resemble a giant harpy eagle, increases its speed as well. Three humanoid creatures sit on the back of this eagle, with appearances of bipedal wolves, one has a black fur coat, the other two have white and grey.
"Where do you think he's going, Razorfang?", the grey wolf asked.
"He can't go too far, when we attempted to apprehend him, he escaped with only his ring", Razorfang answered, "He doesn't have enough spirit stones to make it to Nanying continent, so all we have to do if wait until his ship is dead in the water."
The white wolf opened its eyes, "What if what he said is correct? If we left the chieftain behind with that other human and the chieftain is dead by the time we return, the responsibility is on us. Not only has Merchant Tan been trading with us for hundreds of years, but the trading company he is from is not a simple organization."
"Snow claw, we still have to get answers from that merchant. If we got it wrong then we send that other merchant to the afterlife too. I know that merchant Tan's trading company is big but it's not that strong that they can fight us in our homelands", Razorfang rebutted.
"I think you forgot something, we still don't have enough supplies to support the clan", the grey wolf debated, "we would lose many members of the clan with out those supplies."
"Your too soft Greywind, our kind has always followed the law of survival of the fittest", Razorfang growled.
"I think you don't get it, Razorfang, the lose of clan members means we can't defend our lands. The Steel Talons and Night Prowlers are already challenging our defenses, we shouldn't even be out here flying above the sea…wait, we are above the sea, THIS IS BAD!?!", Greywind started to panic.
"So that's plan", Snow claw was on high alert as the fur on her skin was standing straight, "We have to return Razorfang. It's too dangerous out here. Merchant Tan is heading to that island with the strongest human on it. Not only can we not deal with that man but also the sea beastkin watchers that surround the island."
Razorfang paid no attention to the other two, and put on a fierce display. He signaled to the mount to increase its speed again and ignored the protest of the other two.
Tan Xinyue had pour the last of the low quality spirit stones into the ships power system.
'That's the last of the low quality stones, I'll have to start using mid quality next', he thought.
He was already nervous about this plan, he knew the cultivator that stayed here wouldn't care about his life and he hoped that when the void refinement stage beastkin of the sea attacked they would select the pursuers first.
He flew for another hour when he felt his speed decreasing, and he was about to throw a mid quality stone in when he heard, "Halt Intruders, You are invading Sun & Moon island airspace. Stop your ship or mount and submit to inspection or prepared to be attacked."
Tan Xinyue immediately shouted, "I SUBMIT TO INSPECTION!"
Razorfang slowed the eagle down instantly, and retorted, "This is BloodClaw clan business, do not interfere or face the wrath of…"
Xinyue listened to Razorfang try to intimidate the humans when suddenly, the eagle exploded into feathers and blood before falling into the sea. He didn't see or feel the attack coming and he fell to his knees in fright. A minute later, a large strange black ship appeared as it came out of the water.
"You there, follow me back to the island and prepare for inspection", a man appeared from the deck of the ship, "If you try to run, you will end up like the other one."
"Yes, my lord", Xinyue had thought about it, but the man's warning had effectively stopped him. He watched as the boat went to the place where the eagle fell and a few men exited the boat. One stored the corpse of the eagle, while the others pulled the three wolves from the water and strapped them to long boards. These boards were then activated, and they floated and covered the wolves in an aura and a barrier. Xinyue stored his flying ship in his ring, and was led to a room on the ship where the door was locked once he went inside. Looking out the window, he could see the ship dive underwater and drive towards the island.