The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 1244 - 663: Zhao Douan Enters the Sea, Wu Xiankui Enters the Trap

So straightforward? Zhao Douan was taken aback for a moment, looking in surprise at the beautiful woman bowing respectfully. He thought, if this were in a novel, readers would definitely comment: "You’ve broadened your path."

While mocking internally, a smile bloomed on his face, and he said, "If that’s the case, then if it’s convenient, let’s set off immediately."

To prevent unforeseen complications, he decided to act at once. If Qingmu’s death news spread and local cultivators came looking, it might not be daunting, yet it would be troublesome.

So urgent? The Red Coral Island Master was stunned for a moment, wanting to say something, but seeing Zhao Douan already placing down the silver teacup and standing up, she had to swallow back her words and also rise, saying, "Willing to serve loyally."

...

Meanwhile, as Zhao Douan "subdued" the Red Coral Island, under the Island Master’s guidance heading towards the Silent Sea.

On the largest and most powerful "Tianyuan Island" among the Eastern Sea Thousand Islands, inside a grand palace-like building hall.

With black and white disheveled hair and a jujube-red mark imprinted on his forehead, Qingshan Sect Leader Wu Xiankui, dressed as a martial artist, sat firmly in the "main seat."

He moved the luminous jade goblet away from his lips and placed it heavily on the table in front of him.

Then, Wu Xiankui’s sharp gaze swept over the local cultivators seated orderly in large chairs on either side of the hall.

From closest to furthest away from him, they are:

An old man around sixty, with messy blue hair and water-blue eyebrows.

A woman dressed plainly like a peasant, with a "basket" woven from bamboo strips placed beside her feet.

A middle-aged man dressed as a coastal fisherman, with a bamboo hat fixed behind him with a band and a ragged fishing net tied around his waist.

These three are ranked among the top elders of the Thousand Islands. They also manage the three largest islands as "Island Masters."

At this moment, the old man with blue hair and beard humbly said, "We were unaware of your esteemed presence and didn’t have time to prepare in advance. Among the ten elders of the Thousand Islands, only the three of us are here; the other seven have each led a team to patrol the Forbidden Sea. I’ve sent people to call them back; they’ll return shortly."

Wu Xiankui looked indifferent, meeting the elder’s gaze, and said calmly, "Island Master of Tianyuan, no need for such formality. Wu personally dislikes disturbing others, so there’s no need for extravagance."

Though smiling on the surface, the Island Master of Tianyuan’s heart was heavy.

Wu Xiankui’s arrival was quite unexpected for them. According to the intelligence, Wu Xiankui lost a battle against the Empress of Great Yu, losing an arm and was supposed to be recuperating in Qingshan, yet unexpectedly came to East Sea during Forbidden Sea periods.

Since Qingshan lies along the Coastal Road and adjacent to the East Sea, the Thousand Islands’ connection with Qingshan is much closer than with other forces.

To put it straightforwardly, indeed the backing behind the Eastern Sea Thousand Islands is Wu Xiankui.

As the Thousand Islands guard a whole sea rich in resources, if they don’t rely on a major force, they’d already be swallowed by the court, Heavenly Master Mansion, or Divine Dragon Temple.

The fact that they still maintain a relatively independent status is largely due to the alliance with Qingshan.

Under Wu Xiankui’s protection.

Thus, even if standing in the [Sea God]’s territory, these few people dare not be careless in front of Wu Xiankui.

After all, [Sea God] and [Great La Ba] are utterly different; it’s far less nurturing than Great La Ba is towards the Liao Clan.

Sea God, regarding the Thousand Islands, is more like a "landlord," while the residents of the Thousand Islands are just tenants, not bound by faith with a deity.

It makes sense when you think about it ... Great La Ba is worshiped by the Liao Clan for generations and thus born.

But the existence of Sea God has little to do with this group of cultivators ...

"Master Wu, what brings you here this time? Feel free to speak directly." The plain-dressed woman spoke, her gaze briefly resting on Wu Xiankui’s empty sleeve, but soon retracting.

Having transformed into a "one-armed hero," Wu Xiankui said blandly, "I am injured and have come to the East Sea to borrow the Dragon God Grass for healing."

The three exchanged looks, not surprised at all.

The Island Master of Tianyuan spoke bitterly, "Master Wu, theoretically, since you’re here personally, we’ve always been on good terms with Qingshan. The mere Dragon God Grass, we naturally won’t be stingy. However, there’s no reserve on the islands now. You know, Dragon God Grass, once harvested, only survives for forty-nine days without consumption before it withers and loses potency. Therefore, it’s usually ground into powder, sacrificing some efficacy to mix with other herbs for pillmaking and alchemy... As for pills, we can still gather some from various islands..."

Wu Xiankui shook his head and said, "Pills are useless; I only need complete Dragon God Grass."

Having lost an arm in a battle with the Empress, his internal injuries are imaginable. If slowly recuperating, it may take a year or half to recover.

Yet Wu Xiankui felt an urgent sense of urgency.

He understood that from the moment of battling the Empress and having Qingshan disciples captured, they were completely against each other.

The reason the Empress hasn’t pursued till now is due to Xuan Yin and the Dharma King being held off in Xiping Road.

However, if the Empress settles the western turmoil, she will eventually come to reckon with Qingshan.

Even if the Empress fails, Wu Xiankui must guard against the unstable situation; in short, at this crucial point, he cannot hide to recuperate, but must recover quickly.

And greatly diluted potent pills offer limited help; otherwise, given Qingshan’s resources, why would he need to come to the Thousand Islands?

"This..." The middle-aged man dressed as a fisherman had a troubled face, "Master Wu, usually every summer, before Anger Moon, is when Dragon God Grass matures. You did come at the right time. But this year, you’ve seen it, don’t know why Anger Moon came early, now Sea God is disturbed, at this time..."