The Three Calamities of the Chaos Star Sea

Chapter 371: Storms Stir Beyond the Sea; Gu the Shipowner’s Business

Wang Changqing continued:

“For mortals like me who live on the islands, we either perform labor service or pay spirit stones—there is no other way to be allowed to stay. All of these islands have immortal arts laid down by the Immortal Masters, so we need not fear attacks by demonic beasts or the Heavenly Wind. We mortals can live here in peace. And because the Immortal Masters possess great power, when we mortals travel far by sea, we try our best to hire one or two to accompany the ship. That way, if we encounter a demonic beast in the sea, we have a chance to survive. Of course, the Immortal Masters willing to accept such employment are usually those who are relatively free.”

“Heavenly Wind?” Han Li’s face showed a flicker of confusion at the term. He knew of demonic beasts. But this “Heavenly Wind” was something he had truly never heard of.

“Has the Immortal Master’s previous place never been struck by the Heavenly Wind before?” The old man showed a strange expression.

“The place where I cultivated before truly never saw the Heavenly Wind. What exactly is this Heavenly Wind, that it can be mentioned in the same breath as demonic beasts?” Han Li stated frankly, his demeanor unconcerned.

Hearing this, Wang Changqing had some doubts in his heart, but he still dutifully explained:

“The Heavenly Wind, the demonic beasts, and the Ghost Mist are known as the Three Great Heavenly Calamities of the Chaos Star Sea. The demonic beasts need no explanation—the Immortal Master surely knows more about them than I do. Most demonic beasts in the sea are enormous in size and skilled in water-attribute demonic arts. We mortals certainly have no way to deal with them. Only Immortal Masters can slay them.”

“As for the Heavenly Wind, it appears twice a year from one end of the Chaos Star Sea and regularly sweeps toward the other end. Wherever it passes, waves reach the heavens, houses are destroyed, and people die. If one is not living on an island protected by immortal arts, we mortals are surely doomed. I have even heard that if Immortal Masters themselves are caught in the Heavenly Wind, they have great difficulty escaping, and may even perish within it.” When Wang Changqing said this, a hint of fear appeared on his face.

“And the Ghost Mist? What kind of calamity is that?” Han Li continued to ask, his expression unchanged. It would be best to understand these Three Great Calamities clearly. If he encountered them, he would at least have some defense.

But when the old man heard this question, he finally confirmed that this Immortal Master before him truly knew nothing of maritime matters, not even the most mysterious of the Three Great Calamities—the Ghost Mist. Where in the world had this Immortal Master been cultivating? Had he come from the mainland? But this was the Chaos Star Sea. Nearby were only other sea regions—how could there be any continent?

Suppressing the strangeness in his heart, Wang Changqing dared not delay and continued to explain:

“Among the Three Great Calamities of the Chaos Star Sea, the Ghost Mist is the most terrifying and the most mysterious. It is said to be a black fog that often drifts unpredictably across the sea surface. Not only will any mortal who sees it surely die, but even Immortal Masters will flee from it at the first sight. Any living thing enveloped by this fog has never come out again. Immortal Masters are no exception! However, although this fog is formidable, it only appears in a single location at most and never approaches the larger islands. As long as one takes timely evasive action, one can preserve their life. So although it is terrifying, it is actually the least deadly of the Three Great Calamities.” The old man let out a hint of relieved luck as he spoke.

Hearing this, Han Li began to ponder.

“What kind of place is this?” he thought. “If that’s the case, then my plan to find a small island with spiritual qi and cultivate alone would have to be abandoned. What if I encounter that Heavenly Wind or Ghost Mist? Wouldn’t I die unjustly?”

Han Li felt somewhat frustrated.

Seeing that Han Li’s expression was a little displeased after hearing his words, the old man grew anxious.

“Had he somehow offended the Immortal Master?”

While the old man was worrying to himself, Han Li, after a brief contemplation, began to ask again:

“Why was that Gu the Shipowner so eager for me to go to Kuixing Island? And this ship—it is heading there now, is it not?”

Han Li stared at the old man’s face, his own expression revealing neither pleasure nor anger.

Seeing Han Li’s look, the old man’s heart skipped a beat, and he couldn’t help but show some hesitation.

Seeing this, how could Han Li not know that there was indeed something fishy going on? So he relaxed his expression and said again:

“Master Wang, rest assured. I am only asking to clarify the situation. After all, I cannot simply agree to Gu the Shipowner’s request while knowing nothing at all. If it really requires a small favor from me, I might not be adverse to making a trip to Kuixing Island.”

Hearing Han Li say this, Wang Changqing knew he had to speak. Otherwise, he would greatly offend this Immortal Master, and there would certainly be no good outcome for him.

So, after clearing his throat, he trembled and put on an ingratiating smile:

“Immortal Master, please do not blame an old man like me. In truth, this matter is nothing to hide. It is just that the Immortal Master had never asked before.”

Hearing such a hedging remark, Han Li rolled his eyes inwardly.

But the old man immediately began to explain the matter.

It turned out that this ship had just finished a trip and was, in fact, returning to Kuixing Island.

This Gu the Shipowner was not a native of Kuixing Island itself, but was born on one of its subsidiary islands. However, after making his fortune in business, he had just moved his family to live on Kuixing Island.

The truly profitable business was the long-distance trade between the major islands. This kind of trade could only be done by the mortals of Kuixing Island itself, to highlight the difference in status between the mortals of the main island and those of the subsidiary islands.

Gu the Shipowner had originally been doing short-distance trade between the subsidiary islands. After moving to the main island, he naturally wanted to take his business to the next level.

But when his family moved to the main island, this Gu the Shipowner was stunned to discover that this long-distance trade between the major islands was not something one could join freely. It was already divided into fixed shares by the Immortal Masters of the island. Only ten households on the island were permitted to do this lucrative business.

Furthermore, these ten households were not fixed. The candidates were selected every three years through a magical competition.

Families who wanted to get involved in this business would hire an Immortal Master to engage in a magical arts challenge. Only if they succeeded against the Immortal Master of the household that held the qualification from the previous selection would they obtain the license to trade between the major islands.

When Gu the Shipowner heard this news, he was thrown into a panic.

Because he had only done short-distance trade before, he had never encountered demonic beasts, and thus had never hired any cultivators. The cultivators he knew were pitifully few in number!

His original plan had been to slowly hire one at a high price after securing the business.

But now it was too late.

By the time he received the news, the triennial competition was not far off. He had no time to slowly search for someone!

Although Kuixing Island had many Immortal Masters, most cultivators were proud and aloof. The number willing to accept employment from mortals was pitifully small, and most of those who did had some sort of distant or close relationship with said mortals.

As for the few other Immortal Masters who could have stepped in, they were all at least somewhat acquainted with the ten Immortal Masters already hired, and thus found it awkward to challenge them. So in his short window of time, Gu the Shipowner simply could not find any willing cultivator on Kuixing Island.

With no other choice, he used the opportunity of delivering goods to return to his birth island, hoping to ask a cultivator with a distant familial relation for help. But it turned out that this Immortal Master had just left on a journey.

At this point, Gu the Shipowner was truly dumbfounded.

And now, Han Li, an Immortal Master from outside, had landed on his ship. How could this not fill Gu, who was desperately searching for a cultivator, with unexpected joy?

Although he did not know Han Li’s cultivation level, it was better than giving up the opportunity and waiting another three years!

That was why he had been so eager to win Han Li over and wanted Han Li to compete on his behalf.

Hearing all this, Han Li was completely speechless.

He had already found it incredible when he first heard that cultivators could be hired by mortals to go out to sea. And now, just for the sake of some mortal’s business license between the major islands, he would have to fight a gratuitous magical duel. This was truly difficult for Han Li to accept at first.

It seemed that although cultivators in this place were still a group high above, they did not utterly disdain interactions with mortals like they did in Tian Nan. Instead, the relationship between the two was complex and intertwined.

However, having him step in and fight a magical duel for Gu the Shipowner’s business was still a step too far. He had not fallen so low yet!

But there was still a doubt in his mind. After letting out a light laugh, he asked slowly:

“Master Wang, my experience is far too limited. I have one more question I would like to ask.”

“Immortal Master, if you have any confusion, please just ask. This old man will certainly answer to the best of his ability!” The old man hastily replied with respect.

“There is something I do not quite understand. If goods need to be transported between the various islands, why must they be entrusted to ordinary people like yourselves? Do Immortal Masters not have magical tools like storage pouches? Would it not be faster and safer to fly and transport the goods oneself?”