Chapter 614: Smuggling
The same type of Second Rank flying boat, there are differences in quality. The Second Rank flying boat that Meng Zhang and the others are currently on can be considered a top-notch one among Second Rank flying boats. In terms of cargo capacity, it is even stronger than some Third Rank flying boats.
This Second Rank flying boat is massive, docked at the foot of a small mountain, and its highest point almost reaches halfway up the mountainside. Luo YeDaoist Master had previously told Meng Zhang and the others that this is a smuggling flying boat specifically operating between the territory of the extraterritorial Barbarian Clan and the Jiuqu League.
The Yuantu Great Prairie is vast and abundant in various resources. Especially, there are many unique spiritual materials that are indispensable to the Jiuqu League. Although the Barbarian Clan is ferocious and ruthless, they are also intelligent beings. As long as a creature possesses intelligence, communication is possible.
The products from the Jiuqu League, including pills, spiritual rice, and spiritual fruits, are all in demand by the Barbarian Clan. As a result, a group of smugglers emerged, secretly shuttling between the two major forces, engaging in various forms of smuggling.
After the cultivation forces that originally occupied the Yuantu Great Prairie were defeated by the Barbarian Clan, many remnants were left stranded in the peripheral areas of the prairie. The Jiuqu League, while confronting the Barbarian Clan, did not forget their strength. Even the smallest force can be valuable, especially when these forces also hold deep enmity with the Barbarian Clan.
There are many small outposts like the one nearby, located on the defensive line of the Jiuqu League against the Barbarian Clan. With the Jiuqu League's manpower, it is challenging to manage them all. Therefore, the high-level members of the Jiuqu League entrusted these outposts to the remnants of the defeated forces for operation.
On one hand, this provided them with a foothold so that they wouldn't wander around and cause trouble for the Jiuqu League's Cultivation World. On the other hand, it allowed the Jiuqu League to utilize their strength and reinforce the defenses along the frontlines.
Over the years, these remnants seemed to have forgotten their deep-seated hatred towards the Barbarian Clan and started doing business with them. The smuggling flying boat docked near the outpost, and to say that the cultivators inside the outpost were unaware of the boat's true nature would be self-deception.
Luo YeDaoist Master thoroughly investigated all the details before taking action. She told Meng Zhang that the cultivation family stationed at this outpost had its ancestors exterminated by the extraterritorial Barbarian Clan, and only a few remnants managed to escape here.
Feuds and grudges cannot sustain a family; neither can they allow it to thrive and grow. Only a continuous flow of cultivation resources can be the foundation for a family's existence. In the face of substantial profits, what does the blood feud matter?In fact, not only these remnants, but even within the Jiuqu League itself, many forces are involved in smuggling with the Barbarian Clan. Many individuals are not content with the profits from transporting resources; they even send talismans, magic tools, and Mechanical Creations to the Barbarian Clan's controlled areas.
Such actions are tantamount to supporting the enemy. It is similar to how Meng Zhang's past life as an arms dealer sold weapons to enemy countries during wartime. The smuggling business between the Barbarian Clan and the Jiuqu League is highly profitable and involves a wide range of people. It has formed a stable chain of interests that even the high-ranking members of the Jiuqu League cannot easily touch. The more prominent the force, the more they pursue profits, and the deeper they get entangled in these dealings.
The black market naturally wouldn't miss out on such a big business opportunity. They also got involved in the smuggling trade. However, Luo YeDaoist Master didn't want her colleagues in the black market to know her whereabouts, so she preferred seeking help from her fellow disciple who had fallen into the demonic path rather than using the black market channels.
More and more passengers boarded the flying boat, and the upper decks were almost filled to capacity. Such a cargo-carrying flying boat would undoubtedly have poor conditions inside and would not be suitable for transporting a large number of living people.
On the highest deck of the flying boat were several connected halls specially designed to accommodate cultivators. Over a hundred cultivators were squeezed into these halls, which were far from spacious. Cultivators require a certain amount of personal space due to their unique nature, and being in such a crowded place made many of them uneasy.
Some experienced individuals, clearly veterans who had taken such flying boats numerous times, casually found a corner and sat down without caring about appearances. Meng Zhang and his group found a secluded corner and walked over together.
Meng Zhang stood at the outermost edge of the corner, intentionally releasing a bit of his aura. The cultivators on the flying boat were mostly at the Foundation Building stage, with some older Refining Qi stage cultivators. The aura he emitted easily intimidated the nearby cultivators, making them unconsciously move away, leaving a considerable space for Meng Zhang and his companions.
Meng Zhang knew that most cultivators traveling between the two factions were not kind-hearted individuals, and many were ruthless and greedy. Showing a bit of strength could reduce unnecessary trouble.
Aside from the upper deck, the lower decks of the flying boat were used to carry cargo. Camel teams arrived from all directions, delivering numerous goods. Specially designated cultivators were responsible for unloading the cargo.
Sealed boxes with various talismans were carried down to the lower decks and quickly filled up all available space. The camel teams that had unloaded all the goods departed under the cover of the night.
The cargo hold was nearly full, and it was almost time to depart. The cultivator in charge of the flying boat ordered its takeoff, regardless of whether everyone had arrived or not.
After the flying boat took off into the night sky and shortly encountered the first light of dawn, it flew higher and higher, entering the depths of the clouds. Taking advantage of the cloud cover, it headed towards the Barbarian Clan's controlled territory.
The cargo-laden flying boat was heavy, so its flight speed wasn't fast, but it surprisingly remained stable.
Meng Zhang and his group remained silent in the corner, meditating to conserve their energy. Meng Zhang casually surveyed his surroundings. All the cultivators on the flying boat were draped in identical cloaks, concealing their true identities. Many cautious cultivators had an additional layer of disguise hidden beneath their cloaks.
Using Deception Breaking Eye, Meng Zhang effortlessly saw through the cloak's concealment. Even the most skilled cultivators at the Foundation Building stage couldn't deceive Meng Zhang's keen eyes. He carefully observed the true faces of most of the cultivators on the ship and memorized them.
Among this group, there were a few individuals whose identities Meng Zhang couldn't easily discern. After a bit of effort, he roughly identified one of them as Luo YeDaoist Master's senior, Daoist Master Withered Branches. The others were all Gold Core stage cultivators.
The journey of the flying boat proceeded smoothly without encountering any obstacles. The patrols of the Jiuqu League and the Barbarian Clan near the boundary between them seemed to have silently disappeared.
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