Chapter 712: The Elusive, Unmoored Prison

The Beastkin World.

"Sect Leader, that bastard Jiao is taking nearly half the profit from the Longevity Pills we worked so hard to refine. Is this really wise?" A golden eyeball orbited Xu Bai, spinning incessantly. Fang Zaiji's plaintive voice emanated from it.

"Let me have a chat with him. I guarantee I can bleed him dry. Ah, Old Liu is good at everything, but he's just too honest. Even after getting swindled, he still stupidly speaks up for the other guy."

Liu San had grown accustomed to Fang Zaiji's blunt remarks, but this one still sparked a flash of anger in him.

He reached out to grab the Sight-Sharing Eye that Fang Zaiji was possessing, but the eye nimbly dodged his grasp.

"Heh heh, still trying to catch me? Do you think I, Fang Zaiji, am the kind of man to make the same mistake twice? I've already improved it again..."

Before he could finish, Xu Bai's fingers closed around him.

The golden eyeball buzzed and hummed, struggling to break free. Fang Zaiji's voice fell silent.

"Mister Fang, there's no need to fret. As the saying goes, to take, one must first give. If I didn't offer Jiao Xiuyuan such a generous cut, why would he help us market the Longevity Pills with such enthusiasm? For us, the cost is just a few herbs from Longevity Valley. It's essentially a business deal with no capital and infinite profit. The only difference is whether we make a little more or a little less.

"Besides, this Jiao Xiuyuan has countless avatars scattered across the entire Xuanhuang World. His strength is unfathomable. Are you sure you want to go argue with him, Mister Fang?"

Xu Bai asked with an ambiguous smile.

The golden eyeball stopped struggling at once.

Xu Bai released his grip. A moment later, Fang Zaiji's voice sounded again, weaker now. "Ah, I was just saying. Since you have no objections, then so be it, Sect Leader."

He paused, then continued, "I hear this Jiao Xiuyuan's Thousand Li Hall sells just about everything. Can I refine some little trinkets and sell them there too? No problem with that, is there?"

Liu San snorted coldly. "Nowadays, all the artifacts and spirit tools of the Myriad Immortals Alliance are mass-produced from standard templates. Their prices are far lower than in our time. Even if you refine something, how much could you possibly earn?"

Fang Zaiji's voice rang out, impatient. "Old Liu, you don't know the first thing about artifact forging, so stop worrying about this. Sect Leader, just give me the word. Yes or no."

Liu San opened his mouth to argue further, but Xu Bai raised a hand to stop him.

"Since this is your wish, go ahead and do as you please, Mister Fang. If you run short on materials, ask Old Liu for more." Xu Bai smiled.

"You are most generous, Sect Leader!" The golden eyeball bobbed up and down with excitement.

"Then wait for my good news. I'll astonish you all!"

With that, the golden eyeball turned into a streak of light and vanished into the distance.

"Young Master, your heart is too soft. If you keep indulging Fang Zaiji like this, he'll cause mischief sooner or later." Liu San sighed.

"No matter. It won't cause any real trouble. Old Fang might seem frivolous, but he hasn't neglected the task I assigned him: strengthening the true Medicine King Cauldron. He just doesn't show it in front of you, Old Liu." Xu Bai explained with a smile.

"Is that so?" Liu San looked surprised.

Xu Bai didn't linger on the topic. Instead, he asked about the refinement progress of the Longevity Pills.

Liu San's brow furrowed. "Ever since the Myriad Immortals Alliance issued its decree to explore the White Mist, demand for Longevity Pills has skyrocketed. The stock we've refined is nearly sold out. With only myself supplying Longevity Verdant Force, the pace of refinement can't keep up with consumption..."

He paused, then asked, probing, "Young Master, do you think... perhaps we should awaken a few more members?"

Xu Bai thought for a moment before answering. "Old Liu, do you have someone suitable in mind?"

There were originally six Dao Unity cultivators in slumber within the true Medicine King Cauldron.

Liu San and Fang Zaiji had already been awakened. Four still remained within the Oneiric Seasons Array.

After a brief moment of thought, Liu San offered his opinion. "I suggest we awaken Jiang Yushan, Elder Jiang."

He explained his reasoning.

"The main reason we can't yet awaken all cultivators of the Medicine King Sect is the Exclusivity of Techniques. If everyone who cultivates the Salvation Longevity Scripture woke together, I fear the scene would devolve into mutual slaughter.

"But I believe this murderous intent wouldn't affect Yushan at all." Liu San spoke slowly.

Jiang Yushan had originally been a disciple of one of the Ten Great Immortal Sects: the Unmoored Prison.

The Unmoored Prison was a unique existence among the Immortal Sects. True to its name, it was less a sect than a prison.

It held the countless cultivators who had defied the commands of the Immortal Sects since the Ten Immortal Dao Sects began their rule over the Xuanhuang World.

They were exiled there together, left to slaughter one another.

The space to which these cultivators were banished had no fixed location, and very few cultivators knew the method of entry.

Hence the name, Unmoored Prison.

Jiang Yushan had originally served as a warden there, tasked with watching over these heinous criminals and preventing their escape.

Anyone who stayed long enough in the Unmoored Prison would eventually be tainted by its overwhelming baleful qi.

No matter how strong a cultivator's will, no one could guarantee a clear head under such conditions.

So every thirty years, the Unmoored Prison replaced its wardens.

The new wardens were chosen through various means. Their cultivation level didn't need to be exceptional, but their combat strength had to be formidable, and their temperament ruthless.

Otherwise, they could never control the multitude of villains within.

After leaving the Unmoored Prison, Jiang Yushan came to the Medicine King Sect, hoping to purify the baleful qi clinging to her.

Through healing the sick and tending the dying, accumulating virtue deed by deed, she sought to bury the heart of a killer.

"The near-tangible murderous intent within the Unmoored Prison couldn't touch Yushan's mind. If it's only the killing intent from two people cultivating the same technique, she should withstand it easily." Liu San spoke with conviction.

Xu Bai stayed silent for a long moment, then suddenly asked, "And what about you, Old Liu? The Exclusivity of Techniques cuts both ways. Can you guarantee you won't move against Elder Jiang?"

Liu San blurted out, "Even if it costs me my life, I could never make Yushan an enemy..."

Xu Bai smiled at that.

"Good. Then it's settled. But we still need to make preparations. Old Liu, settle your emotions for now. I'll notify you when the time comes." Xu Bai agreed.

"Alright." Liu San seemed agitated.

He conjured a water mirror and studied his reflection.

As an outsider, Jiang Yushan knows nothing of the inner workings of the Medicine King Sect. And since I'm acting through this avatar, my ruse of impersonating Liu Yihang won't be exposed.

But still, I must prepare for the unexpected.

Xu Bai's eyes flashed.