Chu Xuan's face flushed with righteous indignation. "How greedy! To think such people exist in the world!"

Tie Jun sighed deeply. "The Starshatter Sea is filled with wicked sects, bloodthirsty and evil. The number of such scoundrels who kill for treasure is countless. I was blind to think of that person as an ally."

He looked at Chu Xuan. "People like Fellow Daoist He, who are truly virtuous, are rare. You must be extra cautious from now on."

Chu Xuan nodded in agreement. "Fellow Daoist Tie is right."

Tie Jun suddenly asked, "Fellow Daoist He, is there anything else you need to purchase while in Moon Market, besides the demonic beast meat? I've spent many years in this market and made connections with several alchemists, blacksmiths, and talisman masters. I could introduce you to them, and perhaps get you a discount."

His smile was warm and inviting, making it hard to find fault.

Chu Xuan was about to make an excuse, but then paused, realizing that Tie Jun was not someone to be underestimated. Lying would be useless, so he decided to be half-truthful.

He sighed lightly. "To be honest, I came to Moon Market to buy some Gu insects. My strength is still weak, and I must rely on the Gu insect path to enhance it."

Tie Jun was surprised but nodded. "There's no need to feel embarrassed. Though Gu insects are a dangerous and dark path, sometimes there's no other choice. As for Gu Masters... I don't know any personally, but you could try the East District on the fifth floor. I remember there are several Gu Masters there. They're all a bit eccentric and cold, though."

Chu Xuan nodded. "That's no trouble. I'll go on my own."

The two of them stood up. Tie Jun left first, while Chu Xuan bought another fifty pounds of Purple Star Rhinoceros meat before heading toward the other stalls.

Last time, he had noticed that Moon Market was a place where anything could be bought, as long as the price was right. Whether it was rare True Steel Centipedes or demons forged from the souls of a hundred thousand beings, there were always cultivators willing to trade.

Soon, Chu Xuan arrived at the fifth floor of Moon Market. As expected, he found a few Gu Masters selling Gu insects and their food.

The transaction was smooth. Although the Gu Masters had strange and cold personalities, they did not refuse trade. After some haggling, Chu Xuan purchased five True Steel Centipede eggs for twenty great spirit stones.

The reason there were five eggs was that the True Steel Centipede, a Gu insect with ancient and rare bloodlines, had a low hatch rate. Only by having several eggs could one hope to successfully hatch even a single one.

The Gu Master also mentioned that if none of the five eggs hatched successfully, Chu Xuan could come back and find him. Furthermore, he gave Chu Xuan a gift: one hundred pounds of Gu insect food.

This food was the most basic type, made by crushing spirit stones and mixing them with blood from demonic beasts of similar rank. While Chu Xuan could prepare it himself, the food was primarily for keeping the insects fed, rather than aiding their growth. It wasn't capable of accelerating their development.

Regardless, the purpose of Chu Xuan's trip had been fulfilled. Now, it was time to return to Nameless Island, head back to Blue Star, and continue to strengthen his own power.

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Not long after, Chu Xuan boarded the Nine Yin Ship and set sail from Moon Island's harbor.

In a secluded corner, Tie Jun watched Chu Xuan leave, then took out a transmission jade slip.

"Senior Brother Sun, He Liang has already left the island. We can make our move. He still hasn't finished the Black Magic Whale meat he bought last time, and this time, he only bought fifty pounds of Purple Star Rhinoceros meat. I suspect he is hiding his cultivation level. I guess that he's at Body Refinement Level 34, but he won't be any higher than Level 35."

A deep, resonant voice came through the transmission jade slip. "Good. Master will remember the contribution you've made."

Tie Jun respectfully replied, "It is my greatest honor to serve Moon True Master. I hope Senior Brother Sun will speak well of me in front of Master."

Senior Brother Sun hesitated. "Master has set a rule: it must be a Nascent Soul cultivator in the mid-stage…"

Tie Jun quickly replied, "I recently found a top-grade magic treasure on Desolate Island. It is both offensive and defensive, though I haven't refined it yet. But what I truly need is a True Barrier Breaking Pill to break through the bottleneck. Would Senior Brother Sun be willing to trade? Just one bottle of True Barrier Breaking Pill would be enough."

The True Barrier Breaking Pill was a high-quality pill for the Nascent Soul stage, and its value was, of course, far inferior to that of the top-grade magic treasure.

On the other end of the jade slip, Senior Brother Sun's voice suddenly brightened. "Why do we need to trade with such a relationship? Next time we meet, I'll give you a bottle of the True Barrier Breaking Pill!"

Tie Jun humbly responded, "No, no. No merit, no reward. That magic treasure is my gift to Senior Brother Sun."

Senior Brother Sun laughed heartily. "Good, good! Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Tie! I'll definitely speak well of you in front of Master. The Master has set the rule about the mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, but rules don't always have to be followed. As long as the treasures you prepare are enough to please Master, he will naturally open his mouth again."

Tie Jun became even more respectful. "Thank you, Senior Brother Sun! I will never forget your great kindness and favor."

The voice from the transmission jade slip suddenly stopped.

Tie Jun calmly put the jade slip away, as if nothing had happened, and walked out of the shadowy corner. In the blink of an eye, he had transformed back into the cheerful, simple Tie Jun.

On the other side, Chu Xuan was steering the Nine Yin Ship, cruising through the Starshatter Sea. He instinctively made a few extra circles around the desolate Nameless Islands, even when no enemies were following him. This was a habit of caution—prudence, a principle in how he conducted himself.

At that moment, Chu Xuan's senses stirred, and he glanced back. To his surprise, he saw two flying boats trailing far behind him.

Flying boats were distinct from tower ships. They were about a zhang in length, smaller, but much faster and more agile. They were the preferred choice of robbers.

When flying boats came in swarms, like locusts, even the mightiest of tower ships had to lie low. Many tower ships also kept flying boats onboard, in case the tower ship was destroyed, allowing the crew to escape.

"Eh? Someone really is following me?"

Chu Xuan chuckled softly, an ironic smile spreading across his face. Still unwilling to give up?

He turned around and shouted back, his expression feigning anger, "Why are you two fellow daoists chasing me?"

A cold sneer came from the flying boat on the left, "Why are we chasing you? Do we really need a reason?"

The sneer from the flying boat on the right was even harsher, "If I want to rob someone, I will! Do I need a reason?"

Chu Xuan piloted the Nine Yin Ship, sending out beams of Spiritual Qi in quick succession, yet the agile flying boats nimbly dodged each one.

Before long, the two flying boats had caught up with the Nine Yin Ship. The robbers on the boats threw out steel ropes, binding the flying boats to the tower ship.

Then, they charged straight onto the deck of the Nine Yin Ship, one coming from the left, the other from the right. The two robbers exchanged a glance, immediately summoning their magic treasures.

A long, spiked whip lashed toward Chu Xuan with brutal force, and at the same time, a massive, heavy war hammer came crashing down from above. If the whip wrapped around Chu Xuan, the warhammer would easily smash him apart.

Chu Xuan merely glanced at the weapons and recognized them as top-tier magic treasures. These two robbers were clearly experienced and highly coordinated. Their initial attacks were all lethal and decisive. Not even a Nascent Soul mid-stage cultivator could escape unscathed from this.

Chu Xuan shook his head, a faint smile on his lips, "I, He Liang, have never been one for conflict, but why must you two insist on fighting?"