Chapter 1187: Qu 18 Disks
Ye Mo remained silent, unsure of the middle-aged woman's meaning. After praising him, she said, “I understand you've inquired about several level-nine spirit herbs.”
Ye Mo replied, “Yes, Wan Bei's Qian Bei requires an Immortal Curl Flower. I know this spirit herb is legendary, but I still wish to investigate. Even if I fail, at least I'll have tried.”
The woman smiled, refraining from mocking his ambition. “The Immortal Curl Flower is indeed legendary; no one has ever found it. I do have some information, but it's likely unreliable…”
Ye Mo's heart quickened. He rose and bowed. “Please tell me, Sister Meng. If there's anything I can do, I will.”
He knew she was prompting him, but he couldn't help it; a small sacrifice was worthwhile for Ji Ling Qian Bei.
The woman nodded. “Are you a level-six formation grandmaster?”
Ye Mo, already a level-eight grandmaster (and nearing level nine), knew that level six was sufficient. She believed him to be level six and had summoned him; the less she knew, the better. He nodded, “I'm quite experienced with level-six formations.”
The woman, missing his subtle evasion, happily exclaimed, “Our Sea Cultivator Alliance's luck is good!” She continued, “You possess no sea chi, so you’re not from the Heartless Sea. Your youthful appearance and vitality suggest an age under one hundred, perhaps even thirty to forty. A cultivator reaching Body Condensation State, Tertiary Stage, at this age, and also a grandmaster in both formation and forgery—I, Meng Hanan, have never witnessed such a thing…”
Ye Mo was astounded—her perceptiveness was extraordinary! She'd even guessed his age.
The young girl behind her also stared in shock. She’d assumed Ye Mo was at least a hundred, but her master claimed he was only thirty to forty?
After Ye Mo nodded, Meng Hanan cheerfully asked, “Since you're here, you're likely aware of the three powers in the Heartless Sea's outer region?”
Ye Mo nodded again.
“These three powers cooperate, but only during beast tides,” Meng Hanan explained. “The Heartless Sea's borders are vast, but the best cultivation resources are concentrated on Feng Qu Island. This enormous island, tens of thousands of kilometers in area, abounds with high-level spirit herbs. It's where the three powers harvest, but access is granted only once every fifty years, limited to Foundation Establishment State cultivators.”
Meng Hanan looked at Ye Mo. “Master Ye, you understand. More participants mean more spirit herbs; fewer, less.”
Confused, Ye Mo asked, “Then simply divide the participants equally amongst the three powers?”
Meng Hanan sighed. “Even if we agreed—and Feng Qu Island is protected by a massive ancient formation—only one hundred Foundation Establishment State cultivators can enter for a month every fifty years. Splitting it evenly leaves one extra spot. That single extra spot causes insurmountable disagreement.”
Ye Mo was speechless. Just take turns! he thought.
Meng Hanan continued, “Tong Hai Cult Leader Yong Lanyi believes his cult is strongest and deserves the extra spot. The Cang Hai Palace and we disagree, so we've decided on a tournament. First place receives fifty spots, second, thirty, and third, twenty.”
Understanding dawned on Ye Mo. He asked, “Sister Meng, you want me to compete for the Sea Cultivator Alliance?”
Meng Hanan nodded. “Yes. We've finished last for three consecutive tournaments, receiving the fewest spirit herbs. Even prodigies need high-level spirit herbs to cultivate. Our power has waned because of this.”
Ye Mo reflected that Feng Qu Island might even hold level-eight spirit herbs—a significant resource, absent even from the Truth Fall Palace.
Meng Hanan smiled. “With your Body Condensation State, Tertiary Stage power and formation grandmaster skills, securing second place would grant us ten extra spots. I can promise you a Kun Filling Pill.”
Ye Mo was unconcerned. As a level-seven Pill King, he already possessed the necessary herbs. The Pill City's pill concoction tournament’s offer of free concoction was a mere pretense; large sects wouldn't be so foolish.
Still, he said, “Thank you, Sister Meng.”
Meng Hanan was surprised by his calm response to the offer of a Kun Filling Pill; most tertiary-stage cultivators would be ecstatic. She said, “This tournament is for cultivators under one hundred. It takes place on a misty island near Feng Qu Island called Qu 18 Disks. This island is unrelated to Feng Qu Island; hidden in mist, it appears only when Feng Qu Island is about to open. It’s laced with ancient formations, each disk presenting a different level—the higher the number, the more challenging the formation. Unprepared cultivators are killed or teleported out.”
Ye Mo thought of the Pill City’s Pill King Twelve Steps—the resemblance was striking.
Meng Hanan suddenly asked, “You're from South Peace State, yes? You must know of the Pill King Twelve Steps.”
Ye Mo was startled, momentarily thinking she’d read his mind, but then he saw that wasn’t so. Relieved, he nodded. “Sister Meng, I am from South Peace State, and I know of the Twelve Steps.”
Meng Hanan nodded. “It's said that the Twelve Steps are a low-grade immortal artifact, crafted by an ancient immortal forger, based on Qu 18 Disks…”
“What?” Ye Mo was shocked. He’d always believed the Twelve Steps were a powerful being's formation for the pill king tournament.
Meng Hanan smiled. “Many in Pill City are unaware. It’s not unusual. Many believe Qu 18 Disks is an immortal artifact, but it’s an island.”
Ye Mo asked, “Sister Meng, you want me to represent the Sea Cultivator Alliance?”
Meng Hanan said apologetically, “Yes. Those over one hundred are teleported away, sometimes killed. No matter their strength, only those under one hundred can participate. You're young and a formation master. You should reach the ninth disk, guaranteeing second place. Though your power may not be among the highest, your formation skills compensate…”
“What?” Ye Mo was shocked. He was Body Condensation State, level seven; were there level-eight cultivators under one hundred? In South Peace State, Body Condensation State cultivators under one hundred were extremely rare, let alone tertiary-stage.