A Pirate's Harvest
The human race, whose strength had already been severely depleted, bled heavily once more in this war. Many believed that if the two great Gold Core sects had not intervened, the Human Territory would have shrunk by more than half. That was exactly what the two great Gold Core sects had intended. They wanted the human race to revere and look up to them even more. The Beast Race was merely a stepping stone for this purpose, and even the Jansu Whale King had only acted as a co-conspirator.
The recent battle between the three Gold Core cultivators was the grand finale of this theatrical play. What would happen next was entirely predictable. They would growl at each other for a bit before signing a suitable truce or ceasefire agreement. Whether such an agreement held any real meaning was doubtful, but they would use it to save face. The two great Gold Core sects would further solidify their status among humans, and the Jansu Whale King would likewise proclaim himself the undisputed supreme Demon King of the Beast Territory.
'The Dragon Lord is truly aloof from such matters.'
Ju-hyeong believed that the Jansu Whale King's decision to involve himself in this affair was somewhat related to the emergence of the Dragon Lord. Feeling threatened by the appearance of a new Demon King—and a Flood Dragon, no less—the Jansu Whale King was likely trying to assert his presence in this manner. Yet his master, the Dragon Lord, did not obsess over such intangible things. Reputation? Presence? What did any of that matter?
"Boss. I think that's the ship."
"Right. Everyone, get ready. Keep this in mind: the people are what's important. Don't look at them as humans; think of them as walking Spirit Stones."
No one doubted Ju-hyeong's words. Through several past experiences, his men had realized that their boss was a truly resourceful man. Even prisoners who seemed to have little value would turn into glittering Spirit Stones once they fell into his hands. Aside from his strength as a Foundation Establishment cultivator, it was this shrewdness that made them trust and follow their cunning boss implicitly.
"Submerge!"
At Ju-hyeong's command, a translucent membrane enveloped their vessel. At a glance, it resembled a grand formation, but it was actually a simple water-repelling membrane. It possessed no function other than keeping the water out, but because of this simplicity, its fluctuations of spiritual energy were incredibly faint. Even a highly perceptive cultivator would find it difficult to detect.
Splash!
The vessel, having vanished beneath the waves, only breached the surface when it was right in front of its target. Simultaneously, Ju-hyeong and his prepared subordinates leaped forward in unison.
"P-Pirates!"
A chaotic commotion erupted. The cultivators on board who possessed combat capabilities tried to resist, but they were no match for the pirates who had struck with absolute intent. Furthermore, with Ju-hyeong, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, leading the charge, the brief clamor on the ship was silenced in an instant.
"Good. At least you all know when you're beaten."
Ju-hyeong immediately ordered his men to sort the prisoners. They were categorized by several criteria: age, cultivation stage, special talents, and gender.
"Boss, as expected, it's another refugee ship. There's barely anything of value on board, no matter how hard we look."
"Is that so?"
Ju-hyeong offered a lukewarm response to his subordinate's grumbling. He knew that quite a few of his men had likely pocketed some loot during the search, but he didn't care. As the man said, this was a refugee ship; even if they found something, it wouldn't be worth much. To rule over such crude scoundrels, one had to manage their leash carefully. It had to be held firmly, but not pulled so tight that it choked them. A sharp tug as a warning when necessary was more than enough.
"Are all the prisoners transferred?"
"Yes, Boss."
"Good. We leave immediately."
"What about their ship?"
This refugee vessel was an ordinary boat. It lacked any defensive formations and was barely better than a common fishing boat, so it wasn't worth salvaging.
"Leave it."
"Understood."
A short while later, as they sailed smoothly while disguised as an ordinary fishing boat, they spotted several other vessels in the distance that appeared to be competitors in the same line of work. They, too, were mimicking fishing boats, but their disguises were clumsy.
"Tsk, tsk. I really don't know what this world is coming to," a jovial subordinate remarked, clicking his tongue. It was a natural sentiment, considering they had spotted suspected competitors seven times in just three days.
"The smart ones know," Ju-hyeong said. "War is a game played by the high and mighty."
"You're right, Boss. For folks like us, there aren't many ways to secure our daily bread in times like these."
Life in the cultivation world was a constant struggle. Struggle meant conflict, so the only choice a cultivator truly had was deciding whom to fight. Since the high and mighty fought among themselves, it was only natural for insignificant people like them to prey on those equally insignificant.
"Boss! We're almost there!"
"Good. Increase our speed and hoist the flag."
The vessel, which had been crawling along like a sluggish fishing boat, gradually accelerated. The plain white cloth serving as a decoy flag was lowered, and a flag emblazoned with dancing flames rose in its place.
Before long, the calm waters began to churn violently. Thunder rumbled across the suddenly darkened sky, and waves that rose and vanished without warning seemed like hunters waiting for the perfect moment to capsize the ship. It wouldn't have been surprising for anyone to cling to whatever they could find in terror, but the crew remained largely unbothered. Those whose faces had turned pale were not trembling from fear, but rather struggling with seasickness as the ship pitched violently.
"Over there!"
Ju-hyeong stood tall and straight on the rocking deck. He calmly scanned the horizon before pointing in a specific direction and shouting. The moment his command fell, the men steering the ship veered off course. Without a shred of hesitation, they drove the vessel at full speed toward the direction Ju-hyeong indicated.
Crash!
A wave as massive as a house slammed into the bow. Had Ju-hyeong not shattered it with his dharma power, the ship would have surely capsized.
"I see it!"
Beyond the shattered spray, something that had been invisible just moments ago came into view. It was an island. Its outer shores were littered with wrecked and sunken ships, and at its center stood a towering pagoda. The light Ju-hyeong had spotted earlier was radiating from that very pagoda.
"Ju-hyeong has sent another group of humans."
"Distribute them as you see fit."
"Yes, Master."
Jekyeong examined the wooden slip Ju-hyeong had sent. It contained a brief list of the "gifts" delivered this time, while the rest detailed his current situation.
Piracy.
After securing autonomy from him, Ju-hyeong had immediately gathered a crew and turned to piracy. When Jekyeong first heard of the plan, he had simply thought it wasn't a bad idea. With the Human Territory currently engulfed in the flames of war, it seemed like the perfect time to capitalize on wartime demands.
However, Ju-hyeong was far more serious about it than Jekyeong had anticipated. He had meticulously filtered and gathered capable subordinates, and by interacting with other pirates, he was steadily building a reputation.
The Isle of the Sea King?
An island of pirates. Jekyeong had paid so little attention to such matters that he hadn't even known such a place existed. Did that fellow Myeong-ha know about it?
Well, it doesn't matter.
Whether it was piracy or something else, as long as Ju-hyeong performed his role, that was enough. And at least so far, Ju-hyeong was proving his worth splendidly.
Sosan Island was a small island. With a permanent population of only about a hundred thousand and no notable local specialties, it was an incredibly ordinary place. If there was anything special about it, it was its geographical proximity to the Beast Territory. Those heading to or returning from the Beast Territory often stopped by for supplies or to trade demon beast byproducts. Additionally, a respectable Foundation Establishment clan had established itself on this small island.
The clan was anchored by a mid-stage Foundation Establishment ancestor. Although their numbers were few, each member possessed decent strength, making them more than capable of acting as the masters of Sosan Island. Though the clan's history was not particularly deep, the island's residents and those familiar with the area recognized their authority, calling them the Sosan Choe family.
At the center of Sosan Island stood the grand residence of the Choe family.
"Ancestor."
"Mhm."
Having just emerged from the cultivation chamber after three months of closed-door meditation, Choi Ju-tang nodded at the young clansman bowing deeply before him.
"Half a month ago, the Patriarch entered closed-door cultivation. He declared that he would not emerge until he broke through the Foundation Establishment barrier."
"So he finally made up his mind."
The refreshing sensation of completing his own meditation vanished, replaced by a solemn expression on Choi Ju-tang's face. The Patriarch of the Choe family was his son and heir, whom he had raised with utmost care. He had long lamented that his son, despite reaching the late stage of Qi Condensation early on, had struggled to break through the Foundation Establishment barrier. It seemed the fellow had finally steeled his resolve.
Whether he had been pushed into it or had decided on his own... at any rate, since he possessed a Foundation Establishment Pill, his chances of success were not low. Even if he failed, he would have another opportunity to try again.
"Who is guarding him?"
"My uncles are standing guard."
"I see. Has anything else happened while I was away?"
"A group of pirates stopped by once. They brought a ship fully loaded with goods."
"Did Ju-hyeong come in person?"
"Yes. Upon hearing that you were in closed-door cultivation, Ancestor, he left shortly after."
Ju-hyeong was a pirate working for the 'Dragon Lord's junior'. He collected various goods from the Human Territory and supplied them to the Seongya Archipelago. Choi Ju-tang had first met him through the introduction of the 'Dragon Lord's junior'. Though he had been slightly taken aback at first, he soon grew comfortable dealing with him. This was largely due to the hefty sum of Spirit Stones that ended up in his pockets with every transaction, but Ju-hyeong's decent strength for his age and his sharp wits also played a part.
"Did he leave any message?"
"He only said to handle things as we did before."
"Understood. From today, I will guard the Patriarch myself. Tell your uncles to return and rest."
"Yes, Ancestor."
Choi Ju-tang immediately headed to the Patriarch's cultivation chamber. Sitting cross-legged before the entrance, he reflected on the results of his own recent seclusion. His meditation had not been for a breakthrough in realm, nor had it been to master a special secret technique. It was merely to refine a spiritual item he had acquired some time ago and increase his cultivation level. Aside from a slight increase in his dharma power, there was no significant progress.
Yet, this was the true nature of cultivation. Even when it felt like one was running in place, one had to overcome the suffocating monotony and vast distance to keep moving forward.
He succeeded.
Sensing a faint fluctuation of spiritual energy from inside the chamber, Choi Ju-tang's lips curled upward.
"Father?"
"Do not rush. Calm your dharma power first."
"Yes."
Two days later, a middle-aged man with a noticeably brighter complexion stepped out of the cultivation chamber. Scanning him from head to toe, Choi Ju-tang let out a satisfied smile.
"You have worked hard."
"It is all thanks to your guidance, Father."
"There is no need to be overly humble. No matter how diligently I guide you, I cannot force those without resolve to move forward. In that regard, you have proven yourself worthy."
Two Foundation Establishment cultivators. This was more than enough to qualify them as a true Foundation Establishment clan. Furthermore, it was a joyous occasion that the Patriarch had successfully broken through.