"What are earth slaves?"

Amu Meng asked in puzzlement.

"Please follow me, Elders,"

the old man Zhao hurriedly led the two of them out of the cargo hold toward a cabin where the native captives were kept. Inside was an enclosed chamber. As they entered, seven young women bound by spirit-infused ropes crowded into one corner of their cage.

These women had delicate figures akin to those of common mortal girls from Zhongtu. Their bodies showed lithe strength and full curves beneath tattered sea beast hides that barely concealed them.

The prisoners shrank in fear as the two cultivators entered, staring at them with wide eyes.

"These are earth slaves?" Leaf Qin scanned them mentally but detected no trace of spiritual energy. "They look like ordinary women. Why bring these captives all this way to Zhongtu?" He frowned - there were countless girls across Zhongtu without needing such a long journey.

"Elders don't know," the old man chuckled, "these are from eastern isles. Their unique constitution..." His voice trailed off suggestively as he gestured toward them. "Eastern fishing clans pay exorbitant prices for these virgins - completely untainted." He leaned in conspiratorially, "I'd be honored to gift all seven to you if it pleases the Elders... provided you let me live."

"You dare?" Amu Meng's eyes flared with fury. With a sweeping backhand, he sent the old man crashing through the air. The elder spat blood as he tumbled to the floor, "Forgive me! I didn't know!" He writhed helplessly on the deck.

"What makes their constitution special?"

Leaf Qin's voice remained cold as he examined them.

"These are archer clan captives from Eastern Waters," Zhao explained quickly. "Though they resemble Zhongtu women in appearance, these seven possess extraordinary strength - each could rival a spirit-imbued cultivator. Only magical restraints like these can hold them." He pointed to the glowing ropes that strained under their resistance.

Leaf Qin's eyes narrowed as he pried open one woman's clenched hand. The delicate fingers bore thick calluses from years of bowstring use. Even his cultivation level struggled to force her palm apart against such raw strength.

"Let me go! F***!"

The woman raged, mixing Zhongtu curses with guttural foreign syllables that made Leaf Qin glance at Zhao in surprise.

"These eastern captives speak Zhongtu?" he asked sharply.

"They originally only knew their tribal tongues," Zhao stammered. "But over past decades, many Zhongtu cultivators have traded here..." He trailed off awkwardly as the elder's glare intensified.

The dozens of crewmen aboard were low-tier spirit-cultivators hired by the Shen family. Leaf Qin had spared them when he boarded, leaving their fates to chance. As for the archer captives...

After questioning about Lvlui Island's location, the two cultivators soared off on their flying artifacts directly toward it - though this island of crystal was actually divided into twin isles.

The larger island spanned hundreds of miles with dense ancient forests and mountain peaks humming with spiritual energy. Deep within stood ruins suggesting past cultivation presence. The smaller island only stretched dozens of miles across, its barren beaches housing crude shops along a single street and docks where several large vessels lay anchored.

When Leaf Qin landed on the smaller isle, they found numerous cultivators - both foundation-breakers and spirit-cultivators - moving about freely. Their arrival went unnoticed since Zhongtu practitioners were common here.

After inquiring among locals if any groups had recently passed through... disappointment followed. Five days ago a massive group of over a hundred cultivators had already departed this way, vanishing into the horizon. Only stragglers like themselves remained stranded on this stopover island between Zhongtu and the distant eastern isles.