"So it was just a misunderstanding?" Luan Xiaoâe looked at Zhao Yunqi indifferently.
Zhao Yunqi replied firmly, "It definitely was a misunderstanding!"
Luan Xiaoâeâs expression softened slightly, "Thatâs good."
Zhao Yunqi couldnât help but breathe a sigh of relief. From Luan Xiaoâeâs words, it seemed she didnât intend to complicate matters, and since they hadnât come to fight right away, todayâs battle might be avoidable.
As he was thinking this, Luan Xiaoâe shifted the topic, "Even though it was a misunderstanding, the fact is that the big island-protecting array of Three Worlds Island was broken, and many treasures on the island were lost..."
Zhao Yunqiâs eye twitched. He knew things werenât that simple; they had been waiting for him here all along.
Three Worlds Islandâs so-called big island-protecting array was just a simple Delusion Array. At the time, the Giant Blade cultivators had easily breached it, and there couldnât possibly be any treasures on the island because they hadnât found anything of value on Three Worlds Island.
Zhao Yunqi felt his heart bleeding, knowing he might have to pay money to resolve the crisis today, otherwise, they would surely not let it go.
After all, they had come out in full force, aggressive as could be, and they wouldnât just leave after exchanging some words. Besides, the Giant Blade did attack Three Worlds Island.
After a brief pause, Zhao Yunqi nodded and said, "The situation was urgent then, and we were forced into it. Regarding the losses on your island, Giant Blade is willing to compensate."
Luan Xiaoâe looked at him with satisfaction, "Fellow Daoist Zhao is indeed an understanding person."
Zhao Yunqi felt bitter inside. He knew that if he wasnât an understanding person, a battle between Giant Blade and Three Worlds Island would be inevitable, something he needed to avoid at all costs.
Cautiously, Zhao Yunqi glanced at Luan Xiaoâe and asked, "May I know the value of your islandâs big island-protecting array and the... lost treasures?"
Luan Xiaoâe said, "I did some calculations on the way here, it should be around twenty million spirit jades."
Zhao Yunqi felt his liver ache...
Twenty million spirit jades is no small amount. Even after Three Worlds Island had taken over Baiyue and raided its treasure vault, they hadnât found this much. Giant Blade Island is somewhat inferior to Baiyue, so thereâs no way they could come up with that many spirit jades.
The various forces across the All Phenomena Ocean couldnât possibly reserve too many spirit jades, as itâs unsafe, and cultivator expenditures are high. Islands like Giant Blade, which lack commercial activities, have few channels for earning spirit jades.
Most of the spirit jades they used daily came from the support of their home galaxy, and a small fraction was gathered by their own means.
Only islands with commercial activities would have substantial reserves of spirit jades.
Luan Xiaoâe anticipated this and added, "If you donât have spirit jades, equivalent value in other resources is acceptable."
Zhao Yunqi still wanted to negotiate a bit, "Fellow Daoist Luan..."
Luan Xiaoâe cut him off, her gaze icy, "Twenty million, no more, no less, your island has half a day to prepare!"
This was obviously the final ultimatum. In other words, if Giant Blade Island dared to negotiate further or failed to come up with resources worth twenty million in half a day, Three Worlds Island would certainly not be lenient.
Zhao Yunqi was infuriated, yet he dared not vent his anger. After a moment of silence, he nodded, "Alright, Island Master Luan, please wait. Iâll go prepare right away!"
What a loss!
Just for breaking a barely valuable Delusion Array, it would cost them twenty million spirit jades, without even room for negotiation. Zhao Yunqi was filled with indignation and anger, but he couldnât lash out. He turned and entered Giant Blade Island, evidently to consult with the other Moon Jade cultivators on the island.
On the starboat, as Luan Xiaoâe returned, He Baichuan asked, "Senior Sister, do you think they will agree?"
"I donât know," Luan Xiaoâe shook her head. Twenty million spirit jades isnât a small amount, but for an entire galaxy, itâs not too much either. If Giant Blade Island is willing to swallow their pride, theyâll probably agree.
After all, it has only been ten days since Three Worlds Island conquered Baiyue, and the impact still lingers. Giant Blade Island likely wonât want to start a war with Three Worlds Island at a time like this.
"If they donât, itâs fine, itâs just another battle," He Baichuan said spiritedly. "Giant Blade Island is clearly in cahoots with Baiyue, and since weâve offended them today, we might as well go all the way!"
Luan Xiaoâe shook her head, "Competing with Giant Blade is meaningless. Not to mention if we can defeat them, even if we did, we canât afford to swallow this mid-class Spirit Island."
This is different from the war with Baiyue.
Waging war on Baiyue was Three Worlds Island showcasing their strength while also a counterattack. Though the battle erupted suddenly and ended quickly, it actually took two months of preparation, which is why it went smoothly.
Right now, if they were to forcibly attack Giant Blade, there wouldnât be enough time to prepare. The defenses of a mid-class Spirit Island arenât weak. Even if Three Worlds Island could conquer it, theyâd likely pay a significant price.
Furthermore, as Luan Xiaoâe said, even if Giant Blade was conquered, Three Worlds Island couldnât hold it. When Three Worlds cultivators withdrew, it would only benefit others for free.
Baiyue Island is a high-class Spirit Island, and its ownership could be auctioned off, attracting many forces. But Giant Blade Island probably doesnât have that kind of appeal.
Instead of fighting and risking lives, itâs better to reap sufficient benefits without bloodshed.
He Baichuan, upon hearing this, agreed with the logic and praised highly, "Our Third Island Master truly has foresight!"
From the war against Baiyue to todayâs strike on Giant Blade, all of it was Lu Yeâs secret planning, while Luan Xiaoâe was only the figurehead.
In hindsight, from two months ago, when Lu Ye had the Three Worlds Island cultivators retreat from the island, hide in the Royal Conch Palace, and use the Delusion Array to cover the islandâs condition, he probably had foreseen this scenario today.
Using a relatively worthless Delusion Array to exchange for two hundred million spirit jade worth of cultivation resources, this deal is hugely profitable!
Indeed, Giant Blade Island didnât have the courage to wage war against Three Worlds Island. Zhao Yunqi returned after four hours, bringing back many storage rings, some containing spirit jade, not much, only about eight or nine million, while the rest were various resources, collectively worth more than two hundred million.
Luan Xiaoâe accepted them without counting in detail, chatted casually with Zhao Yunqi, and with a wave of her hand, the fiercely watching Three Worlds cultivators boarded their ships as the fleet set course back to Three Worlds Island.
The many cultivators observing from afar were somewhat disappointed to see this scene. Those who enjoy watching the excitement and are unrelated stakeholders naturally hoped for a clash between the two parties, but the outcome was not as they wished. Although they did not know what specific agreement was reached between the two islands, the sight of Zhao Yunqi handing over many storage rings to Luan Xiaoâe was noticed by astute individuals.
They immediately understood that Giant Blade Island had spent money to avert the disaster.
It was a wise but despised choice!
With no excitement left to see, the onlooking cultivators quickly dispersed.
Three Worlds Island, a vast Spirit Island, was desolate, not a single soul in sight, something that was absolutely impossible in the past.
Such a treasured land, if left unguarded, is bound to be contested fiercely by major powers.
But with Three Worlds Islandâs prior conquest of Baiyue Island, no one dared attempt this, as even if they forcibly occupied Three Worlds Island, the hastily constructed defenses might not withstand the frenzied assault of Three Worlds cultivators.
The people of Three Worlds Island were known for their madness, and no one wanted to provoke such a group without necessity.
The desolate Spirit Island gained a bit of liveliness with the return of the Three Worlds cultivators, yet the island still felt somewhat spacious due to its vastness.
The big island-protecting array needs to be re-laid, and many defenses need to be reconstructed, making it difficult for the Three Worlds cultivators to settle down in the short term.
However, everyone was invigorated, full of hope for the future.
Lu Ye did not partake in these trivial matters; after returning to Three Worlds Island, he immediately entered a cultivation state.
The previous encounter with Yuan Du filled his heart with a sense of crisis.
Even in the All Phenomena Ocean, local Sun Blaze still had to act according to his established rules. That day, Yuan Du was even forced to personally kill Yu Huan to uphold the justice and fairness he promoted. But who can guarantee that these Sun Blazes will always abide by the rules?
Rules are set by them, and if they forcibly break them, it might cause trouble subsequently. Yet, those facing Sun Blaze will surely face dire consequences.
Yuan Du was willing to kill Yu Huan only after weighing the pros and cons. He deemed maintaining the rules of the All Phenomena Ocean more important than forcibly saving Yu Huanâs life.
If one day circumstances forced the local Sun Blaze to break their own rules, then the All Phenomena Ocean would no longer have any order.
In this vast cultivation world, strength ultimately reigns supreme!
Lu Ye felt he must quickly advance his cultivation, at least to the Moon Jade Late Stage, to barely protect himself under Sun Blaze.
The All Phenomena Ocean is a treasure, but it equally harbors danger.
Fortunately, cultivation is his strong suit, and as long as he has enough Talent Tree fuel, this unique cultivation ground of his, the All Phenomena Ocean, can have limitless effects.
Previously, he had to control the pace of his cultivation, fearing instability in his foundation. But now that he has reached his limit in the Constellation Realm, having birthed the Body Flower and built an extremely solid foundation,
he also has the seven-color Divine Lotus nurturing his psyche. With these two solid pillars in the aspects of essence and spirit supporting him, a rapid improvement in the vitality aspect does not significantly affect him.
And the Moon Jade Realm is precisely the cultivation of vitality!
Among the spoils obtained from Baiyue Island and Giant Blade Island, there were some fire-type treasures, all of which Lu Ye devoured. Plus, from the Jade Conch World earlier, his current Talent Tree fuel reserve is quite sufficient.
Of course, deep cultivation in the All Phenomena Ocean also requires substantial consumption.
While cultivating under the All Phenomena Ocean, Lu Ye left the Talent Tree Avatar stationed on Three Worlds Island, not involving himself in specific matters, mainly for the convenience of contacting him from outside, avoiding situations where he cannot be notified when something happens.
Roughly two months passed in a daze, and the aftereffects of the Baiyue battle had long subsided, becoming merely a topic of conversation among cultivators. Though the shift of ownership of a high-class Spirit Island was significant, within the vast All Phenomena Ocean, it was nothing more than a single wave; as the wave passed, so did the matter.