Han Li took the album and slowly unfurled it, only to discover it was actually a completed map of Kui Xing Island, where golden and white lights shone in a mysterious, interweaving dance.
However, the points of light were all concentrated in the large green area at the map’s center.
Only then did Han Li realize that the area covered by Azure Cloud Mountain far exceeded his imagination. The central green region alone accounted for more than a quarter of the entire island.
Gazing at those shimmering white dots, Han Li couldn’t help but narrow his eyes slightly, focusing his attention for a closer look.
Compared to the golden lights, the white ones were more numerous by more than half. However, their brightness varied considerably.
Some were dazzlingly brilliant, while others emitted only a faint glow.
The areas marked as peaks were intensely bright, but Han Li dismissed them entirely. He recalled the supplementary words of the middle-aged cultivator: «Forces cultivating the Qi Condensation stage are not qualified to claim any of the various peaks. All other locations have no such restrictions—as long as it’s a place with white light, it’s available!»
This matched exactly what the young cultivator surnamed Wen had told him.
The remaining options were natural valleys and caves, where the white light was much dimmer.
«May this junior ask something? If I choose one of these places, how large a cave dwelling can I establish, and are there any restrictions?» After studying the map for a while, Han Li suddenly looked up and asked the middle-aged man in a deep voice.
«With your cave dwelling as the center, everything within a radius of ten li is your private domain. You can set up whatever formations or restrictions you wish, provided you have the ability to enclose it,» the middle-aged cultivator replied, showing a hint of surprise that was quickly replaced by a trace of mockery.
«Then may this junior choose this place? Since it also glows white, there must be a spirit vein here as well, correct?» Han Li said calmly after hearing this.
Then, he lightly tapped a spot on the map with his finger. Instantly, the white light at that location turned yellow.
Han Li returned the album to the other man.
«Here!» The middle-aged cultivator’s gaze swept over the spot Han Li had indicated, and a look of surprise appeared on his pale face.
Han Li had pointed to a location outside Kui Xing Island itself, where a faint white light did indeed flicker.
«That is Xiaohuan Island. This island is only sixty or seventy li long, but it does possess a small spirit vein several li in length. We have established a small protective formation on it and built a small town. There are several hundred residents!» The middle-aged cultivator said with a half-smile, a hint of derision in his tone.
Han Li remained silent. He knew that if the man was showing such an expression, this island was definitely not as simple as it seemed.
«For us on Kui Xing Island, this island is something of a chicken rib. Because there’s a spirit vein on it, it would be a pity to abandon it. But the spiritual energy concentration is far inferior to the other islands, and its area is far too small.»
«If you truly choose this place to cultivate, you certainly won’t be bothered or disturbed by other cultivators. However, the spiritual energy concentration here is at least a third thinner than in the areas provided by our Azure Cloud Mountain. In other words, your cultivation speed will be noticeably slower than that of other cultivators.»
«In the past, a few cultivators like you, who preferred to cultivate alone in seclusion, also chose this island. But none of them stayed for more than a few years before they all returned obediently. They would rather pay a large sum of spirit stones to choose a new cultivation spot than continue staying on this island. After all, for us cultivators, spiritual energy is the most important thing.»
«Furthermore, the rules state that a cultivator who chooses this island must also take on the duty of protecting it. This means you will have to cover the daily spirit stone consumption of the protective formation yourself. Of course, you can collect a certain amount of spirit stones from the island’s residents as compensation, and you will no longer have to pay the annual spirit stone tribute to the main island. However, let me warn you first: the pitiful amount of spirit stones collected from the residents is nowhere near enough to cover the formation’s daily consumption. The spirit stones required to sustain the island have always been directly provided by Kui Xing Island, which is why it has managed to hold on until now.» The middle-aged cultivator lazily tapped his index finger rhythmically against the edge of the bed as he spoke.
«Does this mean that if I go to this small island, I would effectively become its lord?» After listening to the man’s lengthy explanation, Han Li pondered for a moment before asking in a soft voice.
«Heh heh, you could indeed think of it that way,» the middle-aged man said, somewhat surprised.
He had already explained the island’s drawbacks so clearly, yet this young man still insisted on choosing it. Well, that was no longer his concern.
At this moment, the middle-aged cultivator re-examined Han Li with a look of intriguing curiosity, and let out a few cold, silent laughs in his heart.
With that enormous spirit stone expenditure, this fellow would surely be crying out in distress before long!
He believed that within at most one or two years, this young cultivator would return, crestfallen, to choose a new cultivation spot.
Otherwise, if it were truly such an enviable position as a genuine island lord, other cultivators would have scrambled for it long ago, and it wouldn’t still be available!
«Very well. This junior will choose this island!» After considering for just a moment longer, Han Li said without any further hesitation.