C483 The Skyreach Consortium

The Sea Wanderer, a vessel of the Skyreach Consortium, measured a hundred feet in length and rose ten feet above the waterline. Its hull was painted a serene sky blue.

Each Sea Wanderer was meticulously crafted by the Artifact Sect, commissioned by the Skyreach Consortium to transport a myriad of goods across the vast oceans, navigating the waters between the continents of Quiescence, Aetherius, and Euwrea.

The hold of the Sea Wanderer brimmed with an assortment of materials, including precious gems, refined iron, and medicinal herbs, alongside incomplete rune circles.

The ship was divided into five levels, each offering rooms for individuals to rest and engage in their spiritual practices.

On the lowest deck, ninety-six rooms were available for non-members of the Skyreach Consortium, with a daily fee of one soulstone.

The second deck housed sixty-six rooms, requiring ten soulstones per day for outside guests.

Moving up to the third deck, only thirty-six rooms were available, with the cost escalating to a hundred soulstones daily.

The fourth deck featured twelve exclusive rooms, with a steep price of a thousand soulstones per day for those wishing to stay.

The cost for accommodations increased tenfold with each ascent from the first through the fourth deck.

The fifth deck, comprising six rooms, was reserved exclusively for the internal members of the Skyreach Consortium. Outsiders could not secure lodging there, regardless of their willingness to spend tens of thousands of soulstones.

Accommodations on the lowest level were modest and spartan, furnished with just a bed and a table. The confined space was suitable for little more than sleep and seated meditation against the wooden walls. The thin partitions meant that the sounds of neighboring occupants snoring or conversing could be heard distinctly, leading to mutual disturbances.

The second level offered a significant improvement in soundproofing. Rooms were more spacious and came equipped with cabinets, beds, and dining tables.

On the third level, rooms were engraved with arrays that concentrated spiritual energy. By inserting a soulstone, each room transformed into a specialized training room, abundant with spiritual energy, conducive to the practice of cultivation.

The fourth level's rooms boasted unique arrays designed to soothe the mind and steady the soul, aiding cultivators in their meditative endeavors.

Details of the fifth level, not open to the public, remained a closely guarded secret, with the Skyreach Consortium choosing not to divulge the specifics of these elite accommodations.

Yu Yuan handed over eighty soulstones and was escorted onto the "Sea Wanderer" by a woman named Jiang Yurong. Stepping onto the deck, he immediately noticed many curious eyes upon him.

The "Sea Wanderer" boasted five levels, and each room, from the lowest floor upward, required a corresponding number of soulstones for occupancy. The deck, however, was the exception. Once the fare was paid, one could choose any spot to settle down. This area was populated by the most destitute cultivators, those who were too frugal to spend soulstones on indoor accommodations, and thus they were strewn across the deck.

With a quick survey, Yu Yuan caught the attention of several onlookers, their gazes tinged with curiosity. Many were practitioners of the Soul Awakening and Golden Sanctum realms, and a good number of them, no longer young, had abandoned any hope of advancing to the Veil Breaking realm.

The sea between the continents of Aetherius and Quiescence was expansive, dotted with innumerable islands. There, isolated cultivators practiced their arts, though most achieved little of note. With just one look at their weather-beaten, sun-darkened skin, Yu Yuan could tell they were likely island cultivators, enduring the relentless elements year-round.

A few among them showed a marked reaction upon noticing the Bracelet of Holding on his wrist. Such a bracelet was not only valuable but also indicated that the wearer either hailed from a prestigious background or possessed exceptional talent in cultivation, often having been selected by major sects.

The arrival of a young man, seemingly of modest realm, sporting a Bracelet of Holding was bound to draw attention, and it certainly did among some of the passengers.

Yu Yuan responded with an easy smile, though he was aware that not all the glances thrown his way were friendly.

With a creak, windows on the first and second floors swung open, revealing faces filled with surprise and curiosity. The inhabitants of the first floor, though only a stone's throw away in terms of realm from those on the deck, could afford the modest daily fee of one soulstone. The second floor, however, was a different story. The eyes peering from those windows were sharp and discerning, belonging mostly to those in the Veil Breaking stage, with even some at the Subtlety stage.

"Bracelet of Holding..."

A voice, heavy with implication, chuckled softly, "Quite the fortunate plump sheep we have here! Lucky for him, it's the Sea Wanderer and the Skyreach Consortium he's encountered. Heh! Hehe!"

A malicious glint flickered momentarily in his eyes as he peered through the windows on the second floor.

Then, with a resounding "thud," the windows slammed shut.

The irritation of those inside was palpable; they were vexed at being aboard the Sea Wanderer of the Skyreach Consortium rather than elsewhere, missing the opportunity to prey on Yu Yuan, such an unsuspecting target.

The vast sea concealed greater cruelty and bloodshed, with many unidentifiable corpses hidden deep within the unknown islands.

The feeble were easy prey in these waters, often meeting their end without warning.

Thankfully, the Sea Wanderer flew the flag of the Skyreach Consortium, and with a cultivator at the helm, they were safe from the attention of malevolent forces that might otherwise have led to their massacre.

Yu Yuan's smile deepened. "Fat sheep..."

Jiang Yurong's expression was icy as she watched the windows close. "Ignore them. They can only indulge in their talk. Aboard our Skyreach Consortium's Sea Wanderer, they wouldn't dare act out of line—not even if they had the audacity!"

After a brief pause, she continued, "Since you're familiar with the protocol, feel free to make your selection. You're aware of the pricing. The first, second, and third floors have vacancies. The fourth floor, however, with its twelve rooms, is fully occupied and currently unavailable."

She had noticed Yu Yuan's Bracelet of Holding and surmised that this escapee from the Lee family of the Shadowlight Empire must be quite well-off. "The first floor won't suit someone with a Bracelet of Holding; the quarters are too cramped for your status."

Yu Yuan was about to respond with a smile when something caught his attention, drawing his gaze to the fourth floor.

An open window there revealed the round face of a portly old landlord, his garments adorned with dangling golden coins. The man peered out, his beady eyes sparkling with delight.

Yu Yuan paused, then bowed his head, musing over the serendipity of the moment.

"Do you know him?" Jiang Yurong asked, surprised.

"No, I don't, but I've heard of him," Yu Yuan replied, shaking his head. "I've been told about his features and what he looks like, which makes him easy to identify."

"Right, I suppose you wouldn't know him," Jiang Yurong said, unconcerned. "If you did, you wouldn't be in this predicament. Have you made up your mind?"

"I'll take the second floor," Yu Yuan said with a wince as he began to extract soulstones from his Bracelet of Holding. "I'll start with a half-month stay."

Handing over one hundred and fifty soulstones to Jiang Yurong, she then led him to select a room on the second floor of the Sea Wanderer.

The fourth floor, with only twelve rooms, charged a daily rate of one thousand soulstones.

In a lavishly decorated room, with wooden walls carved with dragons and phoenixes and inlaid with pearls and gems, the scent of sandalwood incense wafted through the air.

Tong Laoqian, with a peculiar look on his face, gently closed the window.

The spacious hall featured two voluptuous and pretty women in sheer clothing, their ample bosoms partially exposed and their gazes hazy, looking at him.

The white jade round table was laden with fine wines, glistening fruits, and pastries filled with spiritual energy.

The two fair-skinned beauties, identical twins, one with a graceful demeanor and the other with a seductive allure, were both at the Veil Breaking Realm.

As Tong Laoqian turned to face them, they both rose to greet him, each taking an arm and guiding him back to the table.

One offered him a cup of wine while the other presented a string of shiny fruits, both serving him attentively with beaming smiles.

Chewing on the fruit, Tong Laoqian downed the sweet wine from his silver goblet in one gulp and then said, "You two sisters, head to the second floor, to the room of the man who just came aboard. If either of you can spend the night with him, I promise you both a successful advancement to the Subtlety Realm."

The two women were dumbstruck, hardly able to believe that fortune could just fall into their laps like that.

Having served Tong Laoqian for quite some time, the sisters were more than ready to offer themselves up in exchange for advancement. They were eagerly awaiting his favor.

Yet, this old devil seemed content with just drinking wine, feasting on fine food, and engaging in idle chatter, using them for his amusement. He flirted and teased without ever committing to anything concrete, leaving the sisters secretly fretting over his intentions.

They couldn't fathom what the old devil was plotting, and as they were on the verge of giving up, the tables turned with Tong Laoqian's bizarre proposition.

After a moment, the sister with the enchanting figure was the first to snap out of it, asking excitedly, "Senior, do you truly mean that?"

With a loud smack, Tong Laoqian landed a firm slap on her ample behind and burst into laughter, "Would you really question my reputation?"

"Not at all!" The flirtatious sister, rubbing her backside, sidled up to Tong Laoqian and breathed a fragrant sigh onto his face, "What if we were to share a bed with him?"

"Each of you will receive an additional item, at least a fifth level Spirit Level artifact! I assure you, they will be well-suited to you, not just some trinkets," Tong Laoqian said, pinching the younger sister's cheek and beaming, "I bet that lad will fancy someone like you."

On the fourth floor, there were twelve rooms, each equipped with a rune circle to block sound and remnant souls. He had no concerns about being overheard.

Given his status and the Skyreach Consortium's strictures, no one would dare such an intrusion.

"Ah!" Even the sister who appeared bashful was now visibly excited by Tong Laoqian's words.

"You have three days. Once it's done, come and tell me," Tong Laoqian instructed, dismissing them with a wave of his hand, "Just be discreet and ensure the Skyreach Consortium doesn't catch wind that this was my idea."

With a simple "Oh," the two women departed, buzzing with excitement.

As soon as they were gone, the smile on Tong Laoqian's face vanished without a trace. He slowly mashed the wine jugs and fruit platters into a pulp, his brow furrowed as he pondered over the times he had spent with Yu Yuan in the Forgotten Ruins.

In just a few months, he progressed from the Golden Sanctum state to Veil Breaking. His demeanor, physical condition, and foundational strength have been forged with remarkable solidity! What's even more astonishing is that his aura has undergone subtle changes that even I find inscrutable.

"Why is he here by himself?"

"Could he be connected to the cataclysmic events in the Embers Sea?"

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