Beast Taming Clan: I Have a Jade Book Chapter 1067 - 747: Raising the Price on the Spot, the Yu and Xu Families

Upon the shores of Jade Cloud Islands, where ceaseless waves met the land, a Spirit Shuttle eventually came to rest.

A contingent of cultivators disembarked, their gazes sharp with apprehension. Only when the vicinity was confirmed clear of any Spirit Beasts did they allow themselves a sigh of relief.

The retreat of the Celestial Flood Dragon Sea had evidently caused a similar withdrawal among numerous Demon Beasts.

The Cyan Cloud Sea Domain appeared to have settled back into its previous calm, yet the widespread destruction necessitated extensive rebuilding and reinforcement.

These arriving cultivators were adorned in resplendent Golden Robes and Jade Belts, exuding an aura of affluence characteristic of cultivators from prominent clans.

"Brother Xuan Ying, which island do you surmise the Patriarch will select?"

"It certainly won't be Jade Cloud Islands. With so many Nascent Soul Sects gathered here and an auction drawing such a crowd, if our Yu Family were to still choose Jade Cloud Islands, it would be inviting future disaster!"

"Besides, the path ahead for our Yu Family will not be an easy one!"

Previously, based on intelligence provided by Yu Xiaoqi and Xu Changqing, two nations and four Sects had pledged support to aid the Yu and Xu Families in reclaiming lost territories and establishing new settlements on an island.

However, with the recent influx of Nascent Soul Golden Cores, including many from the prestigious Penglai Immortal Sect, those pledges would undoubtedly carry less weight.

After all, the influence of those four Nascent Soul Sects was not absolute.

They would likely be content with merely preserving the foundational resources of a Golden Core Clan.

"Therefore, we must remain low-key moving forward and avoid unnecessary conflict, lest it become the catalyst for our clan's downfall!" Yu Xuanyin declared, each word carrying immense weight.

As he finished, noticing the hesitant expressions on the faces of several younger cultivators, he frowned.

"Do not dismiss this as mere alarmist talk. Reflect on the countless fallen Great Sects throughout the history of the cultivation realm; didn't even the most formidable powers in the Eastern Domain succumb due to a minor spark? And we are merely a Golden Core Clan!" Yu Xuanyin's tone grew stern, prompting the others to nod in reluctant agreement.

They understood that this was hardly the moment for debate, lest Yu Xuanyin launch into a detailed historical account of Great Sects annihilated across the Eastern Domain, complete with specific examples.

For instance, the Eight Desolates Sect, according to Yu Xuanyin's recounting, had met its end simply because a disciple had shown off.

This narrative, understandably, met with their disbelief; what catastrophic consequences could an ordinary disciple possibly incur?

And as this discussion unfolded, they finally reached their intended destination.

Before them lay a secluded cave, remarkable not for its appearance but for housing the entrance to a miniature world realm within.

"Brother Xuan Ying, we have arrived at the Cyan Yuan Realm!"

"Indeed. There is no need for us to enter; simply have them emerge!" Yu Xuanyin produced a Sound Transmission Talisman and directed it into the cave.

Soon after, over thirty cultivators, clad in Spirit-Blocking Robes, emerged from the cave.

Yu Xuanyin meticulously counted each individual before his gaze settled upon the cultivator standing centrally.

"Daoist Tang, this is an excessive number of people!" Yu Xuanyin could not refrain from voicing his concern.

His words caused Ye Jingyu, who was currently impersonating Tang Haoran, to subtly shift his expression.

"Fellow Daoist Yu, thirty-two individuals hardly seems like too many. We had initially anticipated fifty, but unforeseen difficulties befell my Tang Family..."

"Daoist Tang, the Outer Sea is rife with unexpected occurrences! Furthermore, you are aware that with so many Nascent Soul True Monarchs and Golden Core True Masters present, inspections are exceptionally stringent. What if spies infiltrate our ranks, leading to another breach at Celestial Horse Pass?" Yu Xuanyin calmly pressed on.

Given that Ye Jingyu's cultivation was only at the Foundation Establishment Peak, Yu Xuanyin felt no apprehension.

"And frankly, Daoist Tang's extended stay in the Outer Sea suggests you may have acquired considerable treasures. Nowadays, without proper identification, traversing Celestial Horse Pass is exceedingly perilous!"

"We can increase the fee by thirty percent at most!" Ye Jingyu countered.

The Yu Family's chosen method of retreat was primarily through trade caravans. Once these caravans entered the Celestial Horse Sea Domain, their passage became significantly more straightforward and justifiable, as trade caravans are not typically formidable in combat. As long as the Yu Family did not covertly harbor individuals, few would raise objections.

Previously, the Ye Family and Yu Xuanyin of the Yu Family had agreed upon a price of three hundred Spirit Stones per person.

An additional thirty percent would bring the cost to four hundred Spirit Stones per individual.

The Yu Family stood to gain substantially from this arrangement.

"That is unacceptable. You can make inquiries, Daoist; our Yu Family has already lost Jade Cloud Islands. Transporting these individuals now entails a substantially higher risk. Should you attempt this passage alone, you would likely face intense scrutiny, and your treasures could be confiscated, especially with the ongoing auction. Hence, a fifty percent price increase is warranted at minimum!"

Yu Xuanyin finished speaking, and after a moment of consideration, Ye Jingyu finally voiced his terms:

"A forty percent increase at most!"

"Fellow Daoist Tang, if I hadn't already committed to assisting you, I wouldn't have agreed to this undertaking!"

Yu Xuanyin clenched his teeth, as if making a profound concession.

Ye Jingyu was well aware that this was merely a performance by Yu Xuanyin.

Nevertheless, he nodded, his primary desire being to return to the Eastern Domain with haste.

Once the situation settled, such elaborate schemes would likely become unnecessary.

Yu Xuanyin then produced a token.

He instructed all thirty-two individuals to imprint it with their essence.

"This token belongs to my Yu Family. Possessing it signifies you are cultivators affiliated with the Yu Family Trading Association, thus exempting you from inspections!"

However, during the imprinting process, Ye Jingyu utilized the Spiritual Energy imprint of a Communication Beast, rather than his direct cultivation imprint.

Those within his clan who possessed the Beast Communication Pattern followed suit.

This strategy ensured that even if a trace was attempted later, it would only lead to the Spirit Beasts within the Spirit Beast Bags, which were considerably more challenging to track through the bags themselves.

With the imprints complete, Ye Jingyu produced a Storage Bag.

"Half the Spirit Stones will be paid now; the remainder will be delivered upon our successful passage through Celestial Horse Pass!"

"Agreed, but esteemed Daoists will need to wait a short while, as we must first relocate some mortals!" Yu Xuanyin gestured to a few associates.

He directed them to commence the relocation process.

It was evident that the Yu Family was resolute in their decision to relinquish responsibility for Jade Cloud Island.

Had this not been the case, they would not have gone to such lengths to move the mortals.

"Let us adjourn to Yu Yuan Island for a drink!" Yu Xuanyin, a consummate merchant, was unyielding when it came to profit, yet remarkably sociable and hospitable in matters of camaraderie.

Had one not witnessed their prior antagonism, they would undoubtedly believe the two to be bosom friends at this very moment!

Furthermore, Yu Xuanyin possessed extensive knowledge of the Eastern Domain's Cultivation Realm history, its customs, and its culture, speaking with such eloquence that he gave the distinct impression of being omniscient.

"By all means!" Ye Jingyu did not object.

For him, reaching Celestial Horse Island, making a perfunctory appearance at a trade fair or two, then entering the Celestial Horse Sea Domain and returning to the Ye Family was sufficient.

Yet, at this juncture, a flicker of concern arose regarding the fate of the remaining clan members.

His father, in particular, weighed on his mind, especially given Yu Xuanyin's revelation that Celestial Horse Pass might indeed conduct thorough inspections.

The most prudent course of action would be for their smaller contingent to utilize the Bone Transformation Pill, assume the guise of cultivators from other families or even rogue cultivators, and infiltrate undetected.

However, those who had elected to accompany him were not without strength, making it a difficult feat to conceal their true selves even if they desired to.

Ye Jingyu subtly signaled a member of the Jing Generation to dispatch a telepathic message to the family.

He then resumed his conversation with Yu Xuanyin.

In the ensuing period, Ye Jingyu and Yu Xuanyin engaged in a verbal exchange.

One sought to glean information regarding Celestial Horse Pass, while the other endeavored to understand the Ye Family's experiences and acquisitions within the Sea Domain.

Upon realizing that neither party was willing to divulge genuine truths, they exchanged knowing, wry smiles!

Abandoning the pursuit of critical intelligence, they produced Spirit Tea and commenced a tranquil tea ceremony.

...

Meanwhile, on another front, Ye Xingliu encountered a group of no more than a dozen rogue cultivators.

After successfully executing a Soul Search and confirming their innocuous nature, he too adopted a new identity.

While the persona of a rogue cultivator offered less protection against scrutiny, the likelihood of such inspections for cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage was relatively low.

They carried no substantial treasures and had no compelling reason to exhibit excessive fear.

"Henceforth, we shall all maintain a low profile as rogue cultivators, particularly concerning our aura. We must proceed with caution and observation; the Sea Mirror scrutinizes auras and will only intervene if it detects the presence of Demon Beast energy upon us!"

Moreover, instead of proceeding directly to Celestial Horse Pass, they opted to continue their hunt for Demon Beasts in the surrounding wilderness.

Naturally, Ye Xingliu was also awaiting any messages Ye Jingyu might send.

...

Before the imposing structure of Celestial Horse Pass, the towering gate had been elevated even further than in previous times.

Along the ramparts of the city, ranks of cultivators stood guard with stern vigilance.

At the city's heart, a colossal Ancient Treasure Spirit Mirror dominated the landscape.

Every approaching Spiritual Ship underwent a rigorous scan by this artifact.

At this precise moment, Ye Jingyu was aboard a Spirit Shuttle, making his entry into Celestial Horse Pass.

Indeed, he observed a significant number of cultivators being subjected to inspections.

Some were even compelled to present their Storage Bags and Spirit Beast Bags for examination.

However, owing to their affiliation as Yu Family cultivators, they were surprisingly able to bypass this thorough scrutiny.

"Tang Daoist, a major auction is fast approaching, with numerous core disciples from various Sects expected to attend. It’s imperative that everything proceeds without a hitch, as this event is crucial for boosting morale in our fight against the Beast Tide. The infiltration of Demon Beasts disguised as humans prior to its commencement would be utterly catastrophic!" Yu Xuanyin explained, standing beside him.

Ye Jingyu offered a nod, as if he fully grasped the situation.

Concurrently, he was contemplating how the remaining members of the Ye Family might once again reach Celestial Horse Island.

And more critically, how they would manage to depart from Celestial Horse Island.

Gaining entry to Celestial Horse Island presents no great difficulty; the true challenge lies in avoiding being detained for its defense and escaping conscription.

This very predicament was the reason Ye Jingyu had intended to offer Spirit Stones to Yu Xuanyin, thereby securing passage for their caravan to leave Celestial Horse Island.

"Tang Daoist, there are still five days remaining to participate in the auction and trade fair. Once the auction day commences, we must depart with the caravan. Should you miss this designated timeframe, do not hold the Yu Family accountable for not waiting for you!" Yu Xuanyin continued.

"I appreciate your assistance, Yu Daoist. However, may I inquire if it is merely ourselves, or..."

"What are your thoughts, Tang Daoist? Among the many Golden Core Influences within the Cyan Cloud Sea Domain, only our Yu Family and the Xu Family from the Luoyun Islands possess the capability to arrange such a departure!"

"Many individuals are eager to escape this arduous place!" Yu Xuanyin replied obliquely, posing a question in return rather than giving a direct answer.

Upon hearing this, Ye Jingyu grew more vigilant.

He deduced that not only was the Yu Family likely profiting from discreetly opening illicit passages to accumulate Spirit Stones.

The Xu Family was probably implicated in this scheme as well.

This clandestine business between the two prominent families likely also involved the Four Sects of Qilu.

While he naturally felt a sense of disdain for such practices, he had to acknowledge the effectiveness of their methods in silently amassing considerable quantities of Spirit Stones.

Even numerous descendants from Purple Mansion and Golden Core realms were compelled to utilize this clandestine channel.

Four hundred Spirit Stones per cultivator, with one hundred cultivators translating to a staggering forty thousand Spirit Stones!

"However, remember this, Tang Daoist: speak only when absolutely necessary, and utter no more than required. Otherwise, the Yu Family will disavow any responsibility for any ensuing complications!" Yu Xuanyin cautioned.

Subsequently, he guided Ye Jingyu and his companions through a cursory inspection before entering a restaurant situated within Celestial Horse Pass.

After finalizing the necessary arrangements, Yu Xuanyin departed with haste.

Returning to his quarters, Ye Jingyu's immediate action was to activate the Smoke Furnace, allowing its fumes to permeate the room, thereby ensuring the absence of any hidden cultivators or concealed arrays.

Only then did he proceed to establish the Spirit Separation Array and dispatched messages to Ye Xingliu and Ye Xuecang.

For Ye Jingyu, though the entire process had not been entirely seamless, at the very least, these thirty individuals now possessed a viable opportunity to return.

That alone was sufficient for him.

Regarding the upcoming auction, whether to attend it or not held minimal significance for Ye Jingyu.

The auction was set to feature treasures of Tier Five, with starting bids for rare Tier Three Treasures; purchasing excessively would inevitably attract unwanted attention, while acquiring too little would render the effort pointless.

Instead, his thoughts turned to whether the Cyan Spirit Trading Association might be organizing a smaller trade fair discreetly above the city.

A black market operating under the guise of anonymity would undoubtedly be a far more suitable venue for him!