Ximen Yongxing was not in a hurry to do anything. Apart from practicing in the rented cave, he also went to Fangshi to familiarize himself with the environment.
Only by getting familiar with the environment and getting to know the local monks can he get more information so that he can make the best decision.
Every time he came to Fangshi, he could always see Zhang Quan, and he was not stingy either. He gave Zhang Quan three middle-grade spiritual stones every time and asked him to take him to continue to familiarize himself with Red Shrimp Fang.
After staying for more than a month, Ximen Yongxing got a general understanding of the spiritual objects in the South China Sea. They indeed have regional characteristics and can complement the spiritual objects in the Central Plains and other places.
However, most of the industry is controlled by the Nanhai Immortal Palace, and the major Nascent Soul forces in the Beisha Islands can only get less than 30% of the share.
The South China Sea Immortal Palace also has privileges such as preemptive rights, adjudication rights, pricing rights, etc. It is difficult for the major human forces to suppress it.
The purpose of pricing power is to suppress the major affiliated forces so that they can only occupy a small market share.
The Nanhai Immortal Palace has a profound foundation, and the quality of the refined elixirs, weapons, talismans, and puppets created is naturally higher than that of the major affiliated forces.
However, the pricing power determines the price. Even if the quality of the products of the affiliated forces is of concern, they cannot be sold at a very low processing price.
The elixirs refined by some sects are only 70% as effective as those in Nanhai Immortal Palace, but the price is as high as 80% to 90%, so there are naturally fewer monks willing to pay for them.
The right to adjudicate is that once a dispute arises, Nanhai Immortal Palace's opinion on how to handle it is the final result, and all forces must obey.
And many times, the treatment of Nanhai Immortal Palace is not fair, and there will be a certain degree of favoritism.
The right of first refusal is mainly for spiritual objects produced by major affiliated forces. If South China Sea Immortal Palace needs it, it can be purchased first.
The price is naturally the 'reasonable price' set by Nanhai Immortal Palace, and the major forces have no right to set their own prices.
Of course, Nanhai Immortal Palace also has more privileges. These privileges firmly suppress the major affiliated forces, so that Nanhai Immortal Palace can always be strong, and the major affiliated forces will never get ahead.
Some monks who were dissatisfied with the South China Sea Immortal Palace had no choice but to leave the Beisha Sea and go to the violent Xisha Sea to survive.
However, judging from the actual results, the forces that choose to go to Xisha to develop are often worse than the sects that accept the slavery of the South China Sea Immortal Palace.
There are only two forces of humans and monsters in the Beisha Sea area, and they are still evenly matched. Generally speaking, they are stable.
Although there is a risk of being robbed in the Beisha waters, compared to the riots in Xisha, the Beisha waters are already very mild.
At least, the Beisha sea area is recognized as a sea area jointly controlled by the Nanhai Immortal Palace and the Nanhai Golden Dragon Clan.
As for the Xisha Sea Area, no one can tell who it belongs to, or even how many forces there are.
It seems that most of the people operating in the Xisha waters are hiding pirates, and the pirates' dens are naturally hidden.
This greatly increased the mystery of Xisha, making Ximen Yongxing want to go and find out.
The large warships heading to the Xisha waters would only set off for a long time, and Ximen Yongxing could only wait patiently.
"Senior, you don't have to worry. According to my prediction, in a few months at most, there will be a large warship heading to the Xisha Sea to explore. Senior only needs to spend some spiritual stones to board it."
Zhang Quan saw the desire and urgency in Ximen Yongxing's eyes.
"Zhang Quan, do you want to go to the Xisha Sea?"
Ximen Yongxing asked.
"Senior, junior has said many times that the Xisha Sea is too dangerous. With my cultivation level, any ant can kill me. It is better to stay on Red Shrimp Island for safety.
In the past, when I was young and energetic, I always wanted to go out and have a career. Now that I am older, I no longer have such extravagant expectations. Saving my life is the most important thing. "
Zhang Quan is very pragmatic. There are many high-level monks going to the Xisha Sea. He is just a qi-training monk, which is indeed too weak.
Even if there is any chance, it will not be the turn of a small qi cultivator. He will only be reduced to cannon fodder.
"It's good that you are self-aware. The Xisha Sea is so scary as you said, and it is indeed not suitable for low-level monks to go there."
Ximen Yongxing smiled.
"Fellow Taoist, are you also going to the Xisha Sea? Why don't you come with us and have someone to take care of you on the way?"
A graceful Nascent Soul female cultivator walked over with a smile on her face.
Behind her, there were two burly male cultivators and three equally beautiful female cultivators. They were wearing the same clothes and naturally belonged to the same sect.
"Coral Door?"
Ximen Yongxing saw the Taoist robes on the six people and recognized them as the Yuanying elders of Coral Gate.
According to Zhang Quan’s previous introduction, the Coral Islands are located in the northwest of the Zhenhai Islands. The largest main island, the Coral Island, has a radius of one million miles and is a large island.
The Coral Gate is located on the Coral Island. It is the master of the Coral Islands and has hundreds of affiliated forces under its command, but they must also succumb to Zhenhai Immortal Palace.
It is said that Coral Sect has long been dissatisfied with the tyranny of Zhenhai Immortal Palace and plans to find another way out. Going to Xisha to explore the way is a good way.
If the Coral Sect can gain a foothold in the Xisha Sea, it is estimated that the entire sect will move there. If it cannot gain a foothold, it will have no choice but to stay in the Beisha Sea and succumb to the South China Sea Immortal Palace.
"Fellow Taoist, your surname is Ling Shanshan, the new elder of Coral Sect."
Ling Shanshan introduced herself with a smile.
"Ling Shanshan, what a good name, I'm Ximen Yongxing, I guess I'm a family monk!"
Ximen Yongxing did not hide it, and there was no need to hide it.
"The Ximen family? I've never heard of it! It must be a family from outside the South China Sea! Senior sister, senior brother, have you heard of it?"
After Ling Shanshan finished speaking, she turned to look at the five monks behind her.
"Have not heard!"
All five people shook their heads.
"Fellow Taoist, join us! We will continue to contact fellow Taoists of the same level. The more people there are, the safer we are. Pirates are rampant in the Xisha waters, so more people are safer."
An older, middle-aged female cultivator also invited.
She is the second elder of the Coral Sect and the senior sister of Ling Shanshan. Her name is Lin Suyun. She is at the ninth level of Nascent Soul and is the mainstay of the Coral Sect.
"There is no problem if we are traveling together, we can take care of each other, but do you know when we can set off?"
Ximen Yongxing wanted to know the departure time.
"To be honest with you fellow Taoist, the Xisha sea area is too dangerous. If we cannot gather a sufficient number of Nascent Soul monks, we will not set off easily.
In the past, every time we set out, there were at least a hundred Nascent Soul monks, and no less than ten late Nascent Soul monks. This was the most basic survival requirement. "
Lin Suyun opened his mouth to explain.
"I see, I'm not in a hurry, just wait!"
Ximen Yongxing replied casually, seeming a little disapproving.
"Fellow Taoist, you are busy, we have to contact other fellow Taoists."
Lin Suyun led several fellow disciples and continued to search in Hongxiafang City, hoping to find monks who were willing to take risks in the Xisha waters.
"Senior sister, this Ximen Dao is friendly and arrogant. He seems not to care about the dangers in the Xisha waters at all. He has no intention of being cautious at all."
Ling Shanshan walked a few steps and looked back at Ximen Yongxing.
"What's so strange? He is probably from the Central Plains. He thinks that the South China Sea is a barbarian land and there are no powerful opponents. He must be used to being arrogant!"
A male cultivator said something dissatisfied.
"But I feel that he has strength and is not like an arrogant monk."
After Ling Shanshan finished speaking, she looked back at Ximen Yongxing again. Their eyes met and they smiled at each other as a greeting.
"Ling Shanshan is an interesting female cultivator!"
A smile appeared on Ximen Yongxing's lips. He seemed to have never had any thoughts about female cultivators. This time was an exception.
The days of waiting were not boring at all. Ximen Yongxing made an appointment with Zhang Quan every day to wander around Hongxiafang City together, learning about every detail of the South China Sea. He also chatted with the monks here from time to time, and even got to know some of them. A local monk.
Two months later, with the efforts of Coral Sect and other sects, the expedition team was finally assembled. There were 120 Nascent Soul monks and 15 great monks in the later period. They were a force that could not be ignored.
"Fellow Taoist Ximen, we meet again and we are about to set off. Taoist friend is fully prepared."
At the seaside pier, Ximen Yongxing met Ling Shanshan again.
"There is nothing to prepare, as long as you can send me to the Xisha Sea."
Ximen Yongxing said calmly.
He could see that the Beisha sea area was divided between Zhenhai Immortal Palace and the Jinjiao clan, and he wanted to establish a foundation here unless the Nanhai Immortal Palace was destroyed.
Even if the Ximen family has great strength, they cannot be so domineering. Moreover, the current situation does not allow the family to do this, as it will become a public enemy in the world of immortality.
But the family also needs development. Since there is no room for development in the Beisha Sea, it would be a good idea to go to the chaotic Xisha Sea.
"Do you always have such a confident tone?"
Ling Shanshan had a smile in her eyes, with a hint of admiration.
"Others think this is arrogance, but only fellow Taoist Shanshan thinks it is confidence. By the way, how long does it take to take a large warship to the Xisha Sea?"
Ximen Yongxing has never asked this question. He can predict it himself and roughly knows the time.
It's just that I'm a little embarrassed at the moment. I don't know what to say next, so I just ask a question casually.
"Fellow Taoist Shanshan? You are the first to call me that."
Ling Shanshan stared blankly for a moment and replied: "The Xisha Sea is very far away, and it will take four months at the fastest.
If it's slow, it may take more than a year, or even longer, or it may never arrive. "
Her meaning was already obvious. There would be various emergencies on the road, including natural storms, monsters in the sea, and pirate monks robbing them.
If you are unlucky and encounter a strong enemy, large warships can be destroyed, and the storm also has the power to destroy large warships.
Going to the Xisha Sea is an adventure in itself. Every monk who goes to the Xisha Sea is an adventurer.
"Four months at the earliest, that's good."
Ximen Yongxing felt that the time was not too long and was completely acceptable.
"Looking at what fellow Taoist means, it seems that we will definitely be able to reach the Xisha Sea in four months."
Ling Shanshan could not see through Ximen Yongxing more and more.
"Fellow Daoist Shanshan, will you encounter a fifth-level powerhouse on the road?"
Ximen Yongxing did not answer the question directly and asked other questions.
"A fifth-level powerhouse? You will only encounter it unless you are particularly unlucky! The spiritual objects on our body will not arouse the covetousness of a fifth-level powerhouse.
Ancestors at the level of gods also want to save face and will not embarrass us, at least, generally not. Otherwise, no one would dare to go to the Xisha Sea. "
Ling Shanshan opened her mouth to explain.
"That's good. There shouldn't be any danger along the way. Let's go! Get on the boat."
Ximen Yongxing pulled Ling Shanshan's hand by some mistake and wanted to board the ship with her.
"Fellow Taoist, you!"
Ling Shanshan was a little shy and withdrew her little hand.
"Sorry, I was rude."
"It's okay, let's board the ship!"
Both of them were a little embarrassed and boarded the large warship one after another.
This is a large sea ship with a length of thousands of feet, which is enough to resist the attacks of Nascent Soul monks and fourth-order monsters.
Even if dozens of Nascent Soul monks attack together, the monks on the warship can use various weapons to repel the attacking enemies.
If there are more than one hundred strong infants on a large warship, they can theoretically defeat three to five hundred monks of the same level.
Of course, pirates usually have large warships. If both sides have warships, it depends on the number of monks.
This is why every time they go to Xisha, large warships have to collect more than a hundred Yuan Ying from the Ying Ying monks.
If there are too few powerful Nascent Souls, and they encounter larger pirates, the entire army may be wiped out, which is too dangerous.
When the number of people increases, unless they encounter more pirates, they are likely to be robbed, and the chance of successfully reaching the Xisha waters will be much greater.
More than a hundred Nascent Soul monks are the backbone of the warship. There are more than a thousand Dan-forming monks, and more than two thousand Foundation-building and Qi-training monks.
Even if their cultivation level is low, there are still some people who are not afraid of death. If they want to go to the Xisha Sea, they will die, but if they stay in the Beisha Sea, they have no hope.
The large warship has enough rooms to provide each monk with a separate cabin, and there is also a spirit gathering array inside to meet the monks' training needs.
"Fellow Daoist Wang, I'm going to trouble you again this time."
"You're welcome, Fellow Daoist Lin. Wang has traveled this road for more than two hundred years and has only encountered pirates three times, and they were repelled. Don't worry, it will go smoothly this time."
Lin Suyun was having a conversation with a burly male cultivator.
That male cultivator was Wang Long, the owner of the large warship, and a member of the King family of the Golden Turtle Islands.
The Wang family is famous for building large warships. More than 60% of the large warships were sold to Zhenhai Immortal Palace at a 'reasonable price'.
In order to increase their income, the Wang family also started a shipping business.
The Wang family not only engages in the shipping business within the Beisha Sea, but also starts the business of transporting monks to the Xisha Sea.
Although the business of going to the Xisha waters is very risky, the profits are also amazing.
The Wang family members insisted on building a warship that was powerful enough, and also put forward the mandatory principle that Yuanying monks should not set off if they are not satisfied.
They felt that this would not be a big problem. Encountering hundreds of Nascent Soul pirates to rob them must be a small probability event.
This business can bring a lot of income to the Wang family every year, accounting for 30% of the entire Wang family's net income. It is a way of life that the Wang family is reluctant to give up.
"I'm afraid there will be some unrest along the way. Fellow Taoist Shanshan should be more vigilant and take care of yourself."
Standing on the deck, Ximen Yongxing suddenly noticed something unusual and reminded Ling Shanshan beside him.
