The scrutiny in Lin Fei's gaze had placed a significant amount of stress on Zhao Mingyu just moments prior.
Hearing Lin Fei's inquiry now, Zhao Mingyu felt slightly relieved and promptly responded, "Senior, thanks to your blessings, I gathered three Foundation Establishment Pills, successfully established my foundation, and was assigned by my family to oversee the Liuli Island. Unexpectedly, pirates invaded and shattered the protective array of Liuli Island. The entire Liuli Island was pillaged.
I escaped in the ensuing chaos, only to be pursued relentlessly by these pirates. Fortunately, I encountered you, senior. Otherwise, I fear I would not have survived."
Even now, Zhao Mingyu felt a chill of fear at the memory.
"A horde of pirates, pillaging as their primary objective. Why did they specifically target you? Moreover, they dispatched three Foundation Establishment level experts to pursue you relentlessly. This does not match the usual behavior of pirates," Lin Fei calmly analyzed, his gaze fixed on Zhao Mingyu.
He knew that there was more to Zhao Mingyu's story than he had disclosed.
As expected, Zhao Mingyu gritted his teeth and revealed, "Senior, you are no outsider. When I was escaping from Liuli Island, I overheard some information from the pirates. It turned out that the pirates' purpose was not merely to pillage. They intended to completely conquer Fairy Mist Island. Our Fairy Mist Island has no major power to intervene. This has inadvertently become the pirates' ideal target. Senior, I must rush to convey this information back to Fairy Mist Island. Once there, the various powers on Fairy Mist Island will be prepared for the upcoming threat."
Lin Fei nodded in understanding. So that was the case. Those pirates were quite audacious indeed. However, upon closer consideration, it seemed plausible.
Fairy Mist Island had no major powers, only minor families of Qi cultivators and small organizations. If it were to fall, it would merely fade into obscurity. Once the pirates took control of this place, they might abandon their pirate status.
After all, given a choice, who would willingly choose the pirate life?
However, Zhao Mingyu's escape and his potential to relay this information back to Fairy Mist Island would allow the various powers there to prepare in advance.
"Alright, return and deliver your message," Lin Fei stated, showing no intention of getting involved.
Having existed for such a long time, Fairy Mist Island and its families of Qi cultivators surely had some means to resist. If they were truly helpless, the pirates would have conquered them long ago. They wouldn't probe Fairy Mist Island's strengths and weaknesses in such a manner.
The intermittent harassment from pirates who dared not launch a direct attack on Fairy Mist Island was actually an attempt to discern the true strength of Fairy Mist Island. This suggested that the pirates were somewhat wary of Fairy Mist Island.
Zhao Mingyu left. He needed to hurry back to Fairy Mist Island with the information. Lin Fei didn't give the matter much thought. Once the message reached Fairy Mist Island, the numerous Foundation Establishment True Persons there would naturally devise a solution.
"System," Lin Fei summoned his system panel, checking his martial arts progress.
Host: Lin Fei
Martial Arts Realm: Early Martial Saint
True Intention Myriad Transformation Technique: Early Stage (Progress: 6%)
Blood Essence Nine Transformations: Seventh Transformation (Progress: 12%)
Holy Spirit Saber Technique: Mastery (Progress: 58%)
Flame Burning Heaven Saber: Mastery (Progress: 65%)
Rainbow Transformation Saber Technique: Transcendence (Progress: 10%)
Saber Momentum: Transcendence (Progress: 0%)
Lin Fei had spent approximately three days at sea. In this triad of days, his practice of the True Intention Myriad Transformation Technique progressed steadily at a rate of 1% per day. By now, he had escalated from 3% to a whopping 6%. Each of his three martial arts saber techniques, each hailing from the level of a Martial Saint, had also made appreciable advancements. Naturally, the centerpiece of his focus was the Blood Essence Nine Transformations.
If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.
Over these three days, Lin Fei consumed the flesh and blood of sea beasts without ceasing. Hence, each passing moment saw an increase in the essence of blood circulating within him. At present, Lin Fei's Blood Essence Nine Transformations had escalated from the first transformation to the astounding seventh transformation.
Seven transformations implied a sixty-four-fold increase in Lin Fei's blood essence - a truly terrifying magnitude. In such circumstances, he could even attempt to condense an Energy Flower.
However, Lin Fei was not one to rush. The condensation of an Energy Flower was not a task to be taken lightly. A failed attempt would deplete his blood essence, leading to its decay and even a slight erosion of his foundation. A long period of recovery would be needed.
Thus, without absolute certainty, Lin Fei would not risk condensing an Energy Flower. The Blood Essence Nine Transformations had made it clear: once the nine transformations were achieved, his blood essence could multiply to a horrifying two hundred and fifty-six fold! At that time, with the blood essence multiplied two hundred and fifty-six times, the condensation of an Energy Flower would be a sure success.
This was a significant reason why Lin Fei chose the path of Blood Essence Nine Transformations. Mastering it to the highest realm would allow for the condensation of the Energy Flower.
However, Lin Fei found that his current consumption of ordinary sea beast flesh and blood no longer provided any substantial benefits.
The progress of his Blood Essence Nine Transformations had noticeably slowed. He had a fair idea as to why. After all, he had already achieved seven transformations, and the total volume of blood essence in his body had grown exceptionally large. How much blood essence could ordinary sea beasts provide?
If he were to keep slaughtering one beast after another, Lin Fei feared that it would take three to five years of relentless killing to advance to the eighth transformation.
And then, perhaps a decade or even several decades of slaughtering and consuming the flesh and blood of sea beasts daily might finally bring him to the Blood Essence Nine Transformations.
Perhaps for other Martial Saints, a mere decade or several decades to condense an Energy Flower would be a cause for jubilation and unparalleled exhilaration.
But for Lin Fei, it was far too lengthy. With his martial arts pursuits so arduous, he must naturally provide them with the best resources, not resort to inefficient, cumbersome methods.
Moreover, the ocean held its share of dangers.
Constant slaughter by Lin Fei and his sustained presence in the outer seas could potentially provoke a mighty sea beast, one comparable to a Martial Sovereign or Golden Elixir, thereby putting him in danger.
Even if he survived smoothly in the outer seas for ten years, a single day of danger could nullify all his decade-long efforts.
"Better to return to the Ancient Origin Sect. If I can obtain more potent exotic beast flesh and blood..."
Lin Fei had made up his mind.
As an external elder of the Ancient Origin Sect, and a Martial Saint among the major factions, he ought to fully utilize this relationship, rather than behaving like an independent martial artist, killing sea beasts relentlessly.
Now that his Blood Essence Nine Transformations had reached seven transformations, he was quite close to his goal.
Thus, Lin Fei set a course for Fairy Mist Island.
Soon, he arrived back at Fairy Mist Island and headed straight to the Shangguan household.
At the moment, Shangguan Feiyun seemed quite agitated.
On seeing Lin Fei, his face brightened.
Shangguan Feiyun hurried forward, "Elder, you're finally back. Fairy Mist Island is in grave danger. News has emerged that a group of sea pirates plans to capture Fairy Mist Island. The whole island is in a state of anxiety."
However, Lin Fei was not surprised. Instead, he calmly replied, "I am aware. Therefore, I have returned to bring people back to the Ancient Origin Sect."
"You're leaving?" Shangguan Feiyun's countenance changed slightly.
"Do you eight great families think I'll stay on Fairy Mist Island to guard you all? What transpires between us is merely a transaction. The ten external disciple quotas I promised will be delivered. But beyond that, it has nothing to do with me."
Having said this, Lin Fei ignored the complex expression on Shangguan Feiyun's face, and with a wave of his hand, he lifted the ten geniuses from the eight great families with his saber essence.
"Let's go!"
With his companions, Lin Fei rose into the air and disappeared into the horizon in the blink of an eye.
Shangguan Feiyun wore a complex expression, muttering softly, "Yes, it's just a transaction between us...But after all, Elder Lin has some ties of kindness with our eight great families. If anything happens in the future, we can still seek Elder Lin's help. As for the affairs of Fairy Mist Island, let those of the Foundation Establishment True Person and Qi cultivator families worry about it. Our eight martial art families haven't had a Martial Saint for too long, we've been in decline..."
Lin Fei paid no heed to the thoughts of the eight great families.
He returned to the Ancient Origin Sect with the ten disciples of the eight great families and immediately exercised his privilege as an outer sect elder, admitting five of them as outer disciples of the Ancient Origin Sect. However, the remaining five required the recommendation of Shen Lianxin. Thus, Lin Fei made his way to Shen Lianxin's cave abode.
"Hmm?"
As he stepped into Shen Lianxin's abode, Lin Fei's eyes narrowed as he fixated his gaze upon Shen Lianxin.
"Brother Shen, you're injured again! Tell me, who inflicted this upon you? And with such a ruthless hand at that. With injuries like these, you'll need at least a year to recuperate!"
Upon seeing Shen Lianxin's condition, a glint of cold fury flashed across Lin Fei's eyes. Such injuries were clearly inflicted deliberately!