Chapter 89: Chapter 89: Jiang Cheng Takes Action

Translator: 549690339

Yu Hui’s words sounded like nothing but sophistry to Lanye’s ears.

“You, the head of the Artifact Refiners Association, who are specifically in charge of artifact refining and magical treasures, now that there’s a problem with a magical treasure, instead of trying to find out where the issue lies, you claim, ‘Because the parts are all fine, so the magical treasure is also fine.’

Isn’t that just nonsense?

Does that mean just because the fish are all fine, the people who eat the fish are fine too?

It’s highly unlikely!

“Yu, just now the Talisman Master Association’s Lu said he couldn’t see any problem, and now the artifact refiners from the Artifact Refiners Association also say they can’t see any problem. I, Lanye, have long heard of the prestige of the Immortal Sect, and all those who work in the Immortal Sect must be exceptional. It can’t be that you are incompetent. So tell me, do you truly not see any problem, or do you not want to see any problem?”

Faced with Lanye’s interrogation, Yu Hui silently swallowed.

To be honest, when he validated the Fishing Talisman, he indeed cut Jiang Cheng some slack because of the face given to Lu Wang. Although the process wasn’t standard, a Fishing Talisman made with mature components and processes would not have any issues discovered.

If one had to speak of a problem, it would be with the talisman itself and its effects, but that’s not something the Artifact Refiners Association is responsible for.

Artifact refiners only study artifact refinement, not talisman drawing!

“Elder Lanye,” Yu Hui bowed with hands clasped in a respectful gesture, and said, “It is indeed a bit difficult for Yu to discuss the effects of talismans with Elder Lanye. As a third-tier Artifact Refiner, although I have some insights into artifact refining, I am indeed clueless and powerless when it comes to talismans. I truly apologize.”

Lanye’s eyes widened as he fiercely said, “This is something your association approved, and now you tell me you don’t understand it?”

With an embarrassed expression, Yu Hui replied, “Elder Lanye, our association is only responsible for verifying the functionality of the finished products, not for researching the principles behind how the magical treasures work. The Reusable Type sample submitted by Jiang was made from qualified materials, had correct structure, passed the quality inspections, and the effect was also problem-free. There’s no reason for our association not to approve it.”

“Hmph!”

Yu Hui adamantly claimed no responsibility, angering Lanye to the point where he had nothing to say and could only pound the table in frustration to vent his emotions.

At that moment, Peng Jun still wore a calm expression, but Lei Buxiao was a different story.

Lei Buxiao sneakily glanced at Lanye’s expression, remembering the torment he had once suffered at the hands of Jiang Cheng.

He wanted to laugh now, which seemed a bit disrespectful.

But he couldn’t hold back.

He had to cover his mouth with his hand to restrain his frequently rising corners. Laughing out loud in such a serious situation would undermine the dignity of the Linlan Sect.

After all, Lei Buxiao was the highest-ranked cultivator stationed by Linlan Sect in Wuyue.

He represented Linlan Sect as an objective and impartial third-party force involved in observing the dispute between the Tongtian Sect and the Ming River Aquatic Tribe.

It wasn’t appropriate to laugh too loudly.

“Sun, please share your thoughts,” said Yu Hui, passing the question to Sun Decai.

He hoped Sun Decai could provide Lanye with a satisfying answer.

Compared to Lu Wang and Yu Hui, Sun Decai was far better prepared.

Instead of focusing on whether “there’s a problem with the talisman,” he directly addressed the essence of the issue with a single statement.

“Fellow Daoist Lanye, as you are aware, these talismans were indeed sold by our Task Hall. I, Sun Decai, do not intend to conceal this fact. But there is one more thing I hope Daoist Lanye understands, that in this world, it is not just your Aquatic Cultivators who care about fish and are concerned about the ecological balance of Wuyue waters. Our Task Hall is no different.”

Despite his internal tension, Sun Decai forcefully maintained his composure, looked around at all the cultivators present, and firmly said:

“Perhaps the esteemed assembly is unaware, for every talisman sold by our Task Hall, half the selling price is allocated into the Hall’s Wuyue Fish Care Foundation. This foundation is dedicated to protecting the ecological diversity and population of Wuyue fish. It could be said that when it comes to protecting aquatic life, not only does our Task Hall talk the talk, but we also walk the walk—and with significant strides.”

After Sun Decai spoke, the cultivators who had initially sided with Lanye completely changed their stance.

Sun Decai’s words were logical.

Yes, they were selling talismans, but they were not just selling them; they also remembered to protect aquatic life with a focus on sustainable development.

Given this, the “targeted fishing” and “extermination behavior” Lanye spoke of were nothing but baseless claims, right?

If the Task Hall really wanted to exterminate aquatic life, why would they establish a foundation?

An unnecessary move?

Self-contradictory?

Fighting themselves?

It just made no sense.

Once Sun Decai finished speaking, he inwardly praised Jiang Cheng for his brilliance.

This kid is truly formidable.

With the “Wuyue Fish Care Foundation” at hand, he rendered the Core Formation cultivators from the Aquatic Tribe speechless.

Could it be that Jiang Cheng had anticipated that the Aquatic Tribe would definitely come to make trouble, and so he had set up the foundation in advance?

It’s frightening upon careful thought!

Faced with Sun Decai’s explanations and questioning, Lanye immediately retorted, “Fellow Daoist, do not confuse the issue! Our tribe has never forbidden the Human Race from fishing, but you should not lay hands on our tribe’s potential young! Ordinary small fish and shrimp, do whatever you like with them! But whoever harms our potential young is undermining our tribe’s foundation!”

Lu Wang, Yu Hui, and Sun Decai had all spoken.

Now only the “mastermind” Jiang Cheng had yet to speak.

At this moment, including those who were watching the drama and observing from the sidelines, including Lei Buxiao and Lanye, everyone turned their gaze upon Jiang Cheng.

Peng Jun also couldn’t defy the public sentiment, and even though he felt something was off about this kid, since everyone wanted to hear the mastermind speak, he might as well let him say his piece.

“Fellow Daoist Jiang Cheng, do you have anything to say to Fellow Daoist Lanye?”

Jiang Cheng stood up calmly, and instead of mentioning talismans right away, he bowed respectfully to everyone present.

“Elders, Jiang Cheng pays his respects. Jiang Cheng’s education is not high, and his speech may be biased. If there is any offense, Jiang Cheng apologizes in advance.”

The crowd, seeing Jiang Cheng’s attitude, couldn’t help but nod slightly in praise.

Putting everything else aside, the kid certainly had manners, which made him quite likable.

After all, who doesn’t appreciate respectful, polite, and handsome youths?

Only those like Lei Buxiao, who had experienced the Muscle Relaxation Talisman incident, understood that something big was definitely about to happen.

Because Jiang Cheng had already used up all his “politeness” in one go.

After that, no one could blame him for lacking politeness.

Lei Buxiao covered his mouth, perked up his ears, and his eyes shone brightly.

Here it comes, the moment he had been eagerly anticipating!

Jiang Cheng stood upright, showing no signs of nervousness even though his opponent was a Core Formation elder. In this aspect, even several Foundation Establishment cultivators who spoke before him couldn’t compare.

His tone was gentle and steady, his enunciation clear and forceful.

“Elder Lanye, just now I heard you discussing with elders like Lu Wang, and there has been a doubt in my heart that remains unresolved. May I ask Elder Lanye to clarify it?”

“Go ahead and ask.”

“Elder Lanye’s view is that it’s natural for the Human Race to fish, is that correct?”

“Indeed.”

“And Elder Lanye’s goal is to prevent the ‘Reusable Fluorescent Version of Animal Encouragement Talisman’ from threatening the young of the Aquatic Tribe, is that also correct?”

“That’s right. So what exactly are you trying to say?”

“What I want to say is very simple. Elder, you keep saying that you are considering the young of the Aquatic Tribe, but have you really thought about the issue from the perspective of the young? Those potential young ones you talk about, do they really, as you say, aspire to become monsters?

“According to my knowledge, the cultivation resources of the Aquatic Tribe should not be rich, and they may even be stretched thin. Is it possible that they don’t want to become monsters at all, but just want to live as ordinary fish without worries? Without the need to strive in cultivation, compete for resources, or vie internally with tribe members, just simply living an ordinary fish’s unremarkable life?”

PS5: Initially, the Fishing Talisman caused some losses to the young of the Aquatic Tribe. However, due to its feature of selecting the excellent, it will later help the long-weakened Aquatic Tribe to focus on nurturing their potential and thereby rise again. Thus, the Fishing Talisman is more beneficial than harmful to the Aquatic Tribe, with relevant plots appearing in Chapter 101.

PS: To avoid misunderstanding, let me summarize the protagonist’s point: the protagonist means that Lanye does not understand the fishes’ thoughts, and neither does Jiang Cheng, but Jiang Cheng respects the fishes’ own choices since the encouragement from the talisman is just that, encouragement, not compulsion. Non-forced, non-forced, non-forced, emphasized three times.

PS2: Fish and the Aquatic Tribe are two different things. Fish are not Aquatic Tribe members. Only those who have initially awakened their spirit and subsequently cultivated, and monsters with a Cultivation Level are considered part of the Aquatic Tribe.

PS3: Fish are not human, they do not naturally have the same rights, and faced with natural predators, most do not live to a natural end. Some empathetic readers should not automatically put themselves in the place of the fish.

PS4: A portion of readers with extremely strong empathy insist on taking the stance of the fish, believing that fish should have rights equal to humans, and even that it’s not the Aquatic Tribe but the fish themselves who should have rights. For a better reading experience, these readers are advised to skip directly to Chapter 92.

PS5: Initially, the Fishing Talisman caused some losses to the young of the Aquatic Tribe. However, due to its feature of selecting the excellent, it will later help the long-weakened Aquatic Tribe to focus on nurturing their potential and thereby rise again. Thus, the Fishing Talisman is more beneficial than harmful to the Aquatic Tribe, with relevant plots appearing in Chapter 101.

PS6: The author admits this part of the story might not be well-written. Please be forgiving, treat it lightly and not too seriously, and go easy with the criticism.