CHAPTER 263: CHAPTER 258 TOWN DEMON ALLIANCE CONTRIBUTION! CORPSE-EATING BIZARRE!_1

The Qunxing Archipelago housed over seventy thousand mortals, and over ten years, this would generate seven to eight thousand Town Demon Alliance contributions. Star Pole Island provided these mortals with safe shelter, ensuring they were free from worries about food and clothing, and even offered fertility subsidies.

Within a century, he was confident of increasing the mortal population to three hundred thousand.

Still, the efficiency is too low!

The mortal population would need to increase fourfold, and it would take over a hundred years to meet the contribution requirement for a Thousand-Year Snow Lotus.

A hundred years was too long; Jia Ren didn’t want to wait aimlessly for over a century.

"Island Master Xu, this is the latest list of demands from the Town Demon Alliance. Providing treasures can be exchanged for Town Demon Alliance contributions."

Yu Chang and Fire Cloud True Person had known about the situation on Star Pole Island long before their arrival. Star Pole Island had recently repelled the Corpse Demon Sect, seized three Flying Boats, and obtained the massive wealth of the Corpse Demon Sect.

Currently, Star Pole Island had sealed a Smiling Bizarre. For resolving the Bizarre Demon menace and contributing the Bizarre Demon, the exceptional reward would not exceed one hundred thousand Town Demon Alliance contributions.

There was still a gap of two hundred thousand contributions from the three hundred thousand needed for a Thousand-Year Snow Lotus. This could be made up by assisting in dealing with Bizarre Demons and fulfilling the demand list of the Town Demon Alliance.

The Insect External Incarnation took the Jade Slip handed over by Yu Chang and quickly glanced through it. Xuan Ming Stone, Red Spirit Firebird, and other Evil-Warding Treasures were conspicuously listed. Artifacts and treasures for sealing Bizarre Demons were all within the scope of the demand.

Only five hundred Town Demon Alliance contributions for a catty of Xuan Ming Stone?

The price is ridiculously low, isn’t it!

A catty of Xuan Ming Stone was worth at least ten thousand Spirit Stones and was hard to buy even then. The other Evil-Warding materials and Evil Warding Artifacts were the same, with buyback prices extremely low—mostly only a few percent to one-third of their normal price.

The top treasures offered by the Town Demon Alliance were tempting. Buying high-grade Evil-Warding materials and treasures at low prices was a measure to prevent Sects from exchanging large amounts of low-grade treasures for Town Demon Alliance contributions and thereby acquiring truly priceless items. Usually, Sects would only use this method to make up the difference when they desperately needed to exchange for a certain treasure.

Jia Ren still felt his Xuan Ming Stones were too precious to part with at such a low price.

Clearly a losing business; only a fool would do it.

"Newly created Press Bizarre and Evil-Warding Treasures would be bought at normal prices, or even at a premium."

Press Bizarre Treasures?

I wonder how many Town Demon Alliance contributions the Banishing Evil Talisman and Suppressing Fiend Holy Fire Command could be exchanged for?

They were powerful tools against Bizarre Demons. Unfortunately, the Banishing Evil Talisman could only be made from the Phoenix Flame Tail Fish that had undergone ancestral reversal, and revealing its source could lead to endless troubles. The Suppressing Fiend Holy Fire Command was extremely complex to refine. Much of it was his own invention, requiring at least Grandmaster Level Artifact Refining and Path of Charms skills. Even if it spread, others likely couldn’t learn it.

The Town Demon Alliance treated mortals and ordinary Cultivators well; it was a righteous power. That didn’t mean everyone would always adhere to this ideal; after all, it was a collective of various forces. Those with righteous hearts wouldn’t harbor malicious intentions, but that didn’t mean others shared the same sentiment. Even the most enlightened power had a dark side; it was inevitable that some parasites would arise.

By offering the Banishing Evil Talisman and Suppressing Fiend Holy Fire Command, not only would I fail to gain benefits, I might even invite deadly peril upon myself.

Apart from dealing with Bizarre Demons and turning in supreme treasures, it would be impossible to meet the requirement within one year, no matter what.

What to do?

It wasn’t an easy thing to obtain benefits from the Town Demon Alliance.

They laid out this exchange list precisely because they were convinced that I would voluntarily turn in the Smiling Bizarre to earn Town Demon Alliance contributions.

This mirrored my actions towards the Blood Demon Sect and the Cultivators from Star Pole Island.

Who could blame me for truly desiring a Thousand-Year Snow Lotus? I was in the game, and thus not master of my own fate.

What other choice was there?

Jia Ren scanned through the elixirs, Talismans, and Magic Artifacts listed, his gaze finally landing on the Qilong Pill.

One pill for ten thousand Town Demon Alliance contributions.

What kind of pill was the Qilong Pill?

Indeed, it wasn’t easy to earn Town Demon Alliance contributions, but Alchemy...

Jia Ren had absolute confidence in that arena.

He possessed exceptionally brilliant Alchemy Skills. With unfamiliar Elixirs, he could quickly get a handle on them and craft them with a quality beyond imagination.

This was the quickest way to meet the three hundred thousand Town Demon Alliance contributions requirement.

However...

A thought suddenly struck Jia Ren, and he turned to look at Yu Chang.

"As long as I gather three hundred thousand Town Demon Alliance contributions, will I be able to exchange for the Thousand-Year Snow Lotus?"

The Thousand-Year Snow Lotus was a rarity. There were many Sects and powers that wished to exchange for it, so how could I be sure to secure one?

On what basis did I think I could beat Great Sects with Nascent Soul Cultivators at acquiring it?

"The Thousand-Year Snow Lotus has always been a rare item, scarce in quantity. I cannot ensure that Daoist Shi will definitely be able to exchange for it."

"To prevent smaller Sects from being unable to obtain a Thousand-Year Snow Lotus, the Great Sects face restrictions: they cannot exchange for more than three within a hundred years."

"The Great Sects have filled their hundred-year quotas for exchanges, so Island Master Xu’s competitors are far fewer than you imagine."

Yu Chang provided reminders and further information to Xu Yi, continually extending goodwill.

Jia Ren pondered silently. The information given by the Town Demon Alliance wasn’t wrong; exchanging with contributions seemed to be one of the easiest methods available to him.

In that case, it was worth a try.

"Dealing with Bizarre Demons and sealing them is the fastest way to earn Town Demon Alliance contributions. The other two methods are but minor paths," Fire Cloud True Person said with a radiant smile.

At that moment, he finally showed his true colors.

It’s impossible to surrender the Smiling Bizarre!

I can only rely on Alchemy to earn some contribution points and make a living.

It doesn’t matter if I can’t concoct the Qilong Pill; I can analyze and replicate it. With my Alchemy Skills, concocting this pill wouldn’t be difficult.

"Many thanks to you two Seniors for resolving my doubts."

Without the Town Demon Alliance, Jia Ren didn’t know where to obtain the Thousand-Year Snow Lotus.

Take action against a powerful Sect?

That would entail huge risks, and there’s no guarantee of obtaining the desired treasure.

The two of them smiled brightly, waiting for a long while, but Xu Yi did not take the initiative to offer up the Smiling Bizarre.

Does he no longer want to exchange for the Thousand-Year Snow Lotus? (Thought of Yu Chang/Fire Cloud)

The two tried to probe indirectly, but the result was not much different from before. The Insect External Incarnation firmly refused to mention surrendering the Bizarre Demon.

Yu Chang drank his tea with a calm expression, while Fire Cloud True Person became restless. "Island Master Xu," he pressed, "it’s said that Star Pole Island has sealed a Smiling Bizarre. Is there any truth to this?"

Xu Yi’s smile was radiant as he lightly replied, "The Town Demon Alliance is indeed well-informed."

"Does Island Master Xu plan on registering and surrendering the Smiling Bizarre?"

"The Town Demon Alliance classifies the Smiling Bizarre’s harm level as ’Malignant.’ Resolving this Bizarre Demon menace can earn fifty thousand Town Demon Alliance contribution points."

"Registering and guarding the seal can earn twenty thousand Town Demon Alliance contribution points. Surrendering the Smiling Bizarre can earn fifty thousand Town Demon Alliance contribution points. May I know which option Island Master Xu plans to choose?"

"Right, I forgot to remind you, Daoist Shi, that if the sealed Bizarre Demon escapes, the harm it causes will be recorded against Star Pole Island, and the Town Demon Alliance will hold you accountable."

Everything they said, implicitly or explicitly, revealed their inclinations. Sealing Bizarre Demons oneself was too risky and not worth the potential loss. Surrendering Bizarre Demons to the Town Demon Alliance for a secure claim on contribution points was the proper way.

"Register it."

Once the Town Demon Alliance registers a Bizarre Demon, I must be doubly cautious.

In the future, any treasure produced from the Smiling Bizarre would be linked to both Star Pole Island and myself.

The two sighed, not continuing to persuade. The handling of Bizarre Demons was purely voluntary for Sects, and they had no right to interfere.

"This is the Town Demon League Command Token for Star Pole Island, totaling seventy thousand Town Demon Alliance contribution points."

A Town Demon League Command Token was passed over. It constituted a contract and held a total of seventy thousand Town Demon Alliance contribution points.

"Every hundred years, there will also be a maintenance fee of ten thousand Town Demon Alliance contribution points."

"We have another presumptuous request. A special Bizarre Demon known as the Corpse-eating Bizarre has appeared in Yanshan Ridge, where the Corpse Demon Sect was located. We need Star Pole Island’s assistance to deal with it."

The Corpse-eating Bizarre?

Assist the Town Demon Alliance in dealing with Bizarre Demons?

Jia Ren was no stranger to the Corpse-eating Bizarre. Star Pole Island had been collecting intelligence on Bizarre Demons since establishing the Suppressing Specters Hall. A considerable amount of information on Bizarre Demons near the Western Extreme Sea had already been recorded.

In the depths of the Western Extreme Sea, there was a Mirage that had formed a very special and strange domain...

East of the Western Extreme Sea coast, a Bizarre Demon emitted a strange siren song, known as the Sea Demon’s Enchanting Song. All who heard it would involuntarily commit suicide.

Among the known Bizarre Demons, the Corpse-eating Bizarre was one of those with the lowest harm level. It preferred decaying flesh and was highly contagious, turning infected targets into corpse-eating monsters. This Bizarre Demon was the nemesis of the Corpse Demon Sect, which was also why they had chosen to flee. Dealing with this Bizarre Demon would not be easy.

Moreover, even if I sealed the Bizarre Demon, I wouldn’t use the Suppressing Fiend Holy Fire Command. The risk is too high, and the benefit too small.

Naturally, I wouldn’t do such a thing.

"Discuss this matter with the Suppressing Specters Hall. Star Pole Island will certainly lend you a helping hand."

Yu Chang and Fire Cloud True Person were bewildered.

Apart from him, how could other Cultivators on Star Pole Island possibly be taken seriously by Golden Core Cultivators? (Thought of Yu Chang/Fire Cloud)

Their visit to Star Pole Island this time was to use the Town Demon Alliance contribution points as bait to lure Xu Yi into action. (Thought of Yu Chang/Fire Cloud)

"Daoist Shi," Red Cloud Taoist urged, "the impact of the Corpse-eating Bizarre is significant. Just resolving the Corpse-eating Bizarre menace would yield at least several hundred thousand Town Demon Alliance contribution points. In addition, sealing the Bizarre Demon also offers substantial gains..."

Red Cloud Taoist all but said that by helping to resolve the Corpse-eating Bizarre, Xu Yi would be able to gather enough Town Demon Alliance contribution points to purchase the Thousand-Year Snow Lotus.

Xu Yi remained unmoved. He wasn’t going to act on an empty promise with no clear benefits.

Wishful thinking!

Moreover, while the contribution points from resolving the Corpse-eating Bizarre were indeed substantial, the problem was... the earned Town Demon Alliance contribution points would have to be shared with the other two.

Plus, since I couldn’t obtain the sealed Corpse-eating Bizarre afterward, the risk and reward were disproportionate. I naturally wouldn’t take such a risk.

Dealing with Bizarre Demons was too dangerous. Matters of fighting and killing didn’t suit me. It was better to steadily practice Alchemy.

"I have reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment Late Stage and am currently adjusting my state, striving to break through to the Golden Core Stage. I shall not interfere in such matters, lest it affects my state of mind."

The Insect External Incarnation didn’t hesitate to use advancing to the Golden Core Stage as a shield. Cultivators should prioritize their Cultivation Level, and any disturbance or impact would surely affect the formation of the Golden Core, with unimaginable consequences. Compelling Xu Yi to confront the Corpse-eating Bizarre would be tantamount to obstructing his Dao, creating an irreconcilable enmity. For an ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator, perhaps such obstruction wouldn’t be taken seriously by Golden Core Cultivators. However, Xu Yi controlled five Flying Stiffs, one of which was comparable to a Late Golden Core Stage Cultivator. They had to treat him with extreme care.

If his breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage failed and they were held accountable, they feared it would bring fatal misfortune upon them.