The Science of Cultivation [Xianxia]

"Hmm, I mean it shouldn't be that surprising for a heavenly water to be somewhere in the ocean, should it?" Long Yi commented as his two companions stared out into the water with a frown.

"It's not," Li Lang muttered. "But the issue is how difficult it's going to be to get to it. You remember the underwater Qi beasts when we built the island, right? If it's further out at sea, even more powerful monsters may be lurking near it."

"That—"

"Even a relatively weaker Qi beast with similar strength to us already poses a problem if we humans try to fight them on their home turf, in the water. Maybe those from the Rolling Tide sect would have a better chance, but not us."

"So, are we staying here or heading straight for this heavenly water of yours?" Jun Ziyan chimed in.

"Land," Li Lang stated. "Let's check out the local organization first."

As the cultivators descended, they naturally drew the attention of numerous mortals in the city. They didn't make a spectacle of it, simply acknowledging their presence before continuing with their day. It was because cultivators weren't a rare sight in the town of Cape Haven. Several nearby organizations used it as a base of operations and trade.

It meant it was quite easy for Li Lang's group to find the local branches of these cultivator organizations. All they needed to do was ask their innkeeper while they were checking in.

"So, which organization are we going to see?" Long Yi asked as soon as they settled down in their room.

"They're all medium-sized organizations at best. It wouldn't matter which one you go to," Jun Ziyan said.

Li Lang rested his gaze on each of them for a moment before shaking his head.

"These are technically our neighbours. Unfortunately, that means we need a little more tact when handling any contact with them. It doesn't help that the three biggest factions in the city are all against each other, vying for the plentiful resources at sea. If we just ask one of them nonchalantly, it'll come back to bite us."

"Wow, I didn't think you had it in you to make long-term decisions," the Sword Saint's disciple teased. "That's a first, for sure."

"I'd rather not get interrupted when I'm busy with other matters in the future. Since I'm already here, I'd better do it properly so I can work in peace later."

"Right. Of course, it's about you. So how are you going to handle this, then?"

Li Lang closed his eyes for a moment as he pondered the very same question.

There were dozens of viable options to choose from in his current situation, with similar effectiveness. However, they varied in the time it took and the effort required.

The easiest option to not get pulled into the quagmire of local politics was simply to ignore them and head off on his own, but that opened them up to the most danger as well. The ideal method allowed them to borrow the strength of the local experts, who were definitely seasoned in the art of fighting underwater. The problem was the cost.

It's not like the three factions will come together and abide by my request, will they?

"What do we know about these three factions?" Li Lang asked.

Instantly, the two men in the room turned to Jun Ziyan. She rolled her eyes and sighed.

"Seriously, you two really don't know anything about the major forces of Violet Isle, do you?"

"I thought you said they were medium-sized," Long Yi retorted. "How are we supposed to know about the thousands of organizations within the Luminescent Domain?"

"I—guess I can't blame you when your academy is so new. When your city is complete and mortals start flocking to it, you should be able to learn the basics, given you take some time to listen. It's why our master makes us travel to various mortal cities incognito."

"I like that," Li Lang commented. "It keeps you more grounded to the common people instead of just looking down on them like most sects do."

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

"Anyway," Jun Ziyan continued. "The three factions you're looking at here revolve around the organizations called Bloodtear Garden, Twin Steel Order, and the Polar Extreme Sect. They may not be a major organization in terms of strength, but their influence in the sea trade is not to be underestimated. Even our Sword Saint Isle does a lot of business with them."

"I'm guessing they hate each other's guts and constantly fight over territory?" Long Yi muttered.

"Yes. To be precise, it started many centuries ago. Their members then—"

"No need for a history lesson," Li Lang cut in. "All I need to know is what the three organizations desire. What is the best way to negotiate with them?"

Jun Ziyan cast a dirty glance at him for interrupting for a few moments at the unfazed Li Lang before shaking any animosity away.

"Trade is their lifeblood. It's how they fund their organizations."

"Specifics? Trade in what?"

"Heavenly materials, of course. All three organizations have a great need for water element resources due to the cultivation technique they practice, but they still need other types of materials as well. The Bloodtear Garden is famed for its mastery over Qi with the wood affinity, while the other two are famed for employing more than one element."

That explanation piqued Li Lang's interest somewhat. As someone aiming to combine all five main elements in his cultivation technique, it was inevitable that he wanted to hear more about traditions that focused on multiple elements.

"All the members of the latter two organizations practice two elements?"

"Yes. It's one of the major reasons why they aren't a major power. It's not easy finding suitable disciples for their techniques, so they are few in number."

"Hmm, if all three are fighting over water affinity resources, then I think I have an idea of what to do. Let us go talk to their representatives. In fact, let's save time and talk to them at once. Split up, and each of us will invite them for a meeting here."

Li Lang's two companions raised an eyebrow at his audacity to invite three enemies under the same roof, but didn't comment about it. By now, they knew it was business as usual for him.

***

Mou Tianran was an honorable elder within the great Bloodtear Garden. While he wasn't a great genius of his generation, the organization valued him for his reliability and character. It was to the point that he was immediately appointed as the branch head of their Cape Haven outpost once he had broken through to the late stages of Foundation Establishment.

If he were to be honest, it was the perfect assignment for him. It wasn't the best in terms of working toward his next major breakthrough, but it was a position that fully leveraged his talents in business and management. That's why he enjoyed life in the mortal city quite a bit, having even started a family.

Still, he never forgot his duty to his organization. He resided in the outpost office every day, managing the affairs dutifully. It should've been another boring day, helping charter ships full of resources back to the Bloodtear Garden's headquarters and fulfilling purchase orders on behalf of the organization.

He never expected to get a visit today from a cultivator hailing from the renowned Sword Saint Isle, to say the least.

"You're the representative of Bloodtear Garden? Someone would like to discuss some things with you. Come with me," the woman curtly stated.

Without realizing what was happening, he entrusted his station to one of his assistants and followed along. Before he knew it, he arrived at one of the inns in the town. A place that normally wouldn't have come to his attention.

Picking up the pace to catch up to the fierce woman, he soon entered one of the private rooms on the second floor of the dining area. There, he spotted two faces he didn't want to see and two unfamiliar young men. One of an average build with a slightly above average head, while the other was above average in all physical aspects. He could tell they were only in the early stages of Foundation Establishment, but from their clothes, he couldn't make any headway as to which organization they hailed from. What surprised him was how the woman from Sword Saint Isle fell in line behind the two mysterious men.

As his gaze met this stranger, he grinned for some reason.

"Now then, that's everyone," he proclaimed. "Let's get started in this meeting of ours. I would like to propose—"

A large hand slammed the table, interrupting the man. Mou Tianran frowned upon realizing it was the work of Gao Kai, the unkempt old man from the Polar Extreme Sect.

"What makes you think I will listen to anything you say when you invited me to a meeting with my enemies here? Is this some kind of joke? I gave you plenty of face by coming along with you because of your status—and in return, you spat in mine?"

As much as Mou Tianran wanted to interject and send his hated rival further into a frenzy, he stayed silent and assessed the situation. If there was one they he learned through all the meetings he's had, then it was to shut up and listen when people wanted to talk.

"I don't like to admit it, but Gao Kai is right," the representative from the final organization, a slender woman, stated. "Your academy may be neutral, but don't let that make you think you have the qualifications to sit us all down together and play nice."

A neutral force? Mou Tianran thought. Ah, that's why a member of Sword Saint Isle is here too.

"Apologies, I may have been too eager to speak my piece," the young man said. "Allow me to start again. My name is Li Lang. The only reason I invited the three of you today is to ask if you and the organization you belong you are interested in obtaining access to a heavenly water?"

"What?!" three voices cried out in unison.