A short while later Fang Qing stepped out of the Listening Wind Tower and let out a soft sigh.
The scarcity of spiritual materials in this world far exceeded his expectations.
He had noticed that Elder Mu seed quite knowledgeable and had casually inquired about pills that could increase a Dao Foundation cultivator’s mana or spiritual items that might aid early Dao Foundation cultivators in breaking through.
Elder Mu had shaken his head repeatedly. He said that a few major pills capable of boosting mana might still exist, but those were resources the Shangyong Sect had been forced to release in order to defend Beixuan Commandery.
As for spiritual pills, wondrous dicines, or spiritual items that assisted early Dao Foundation breakthroughs? Not a single trace could be found.
“Even Dao Foundation spiritual materials are like this. How will anyone ever break through to Purple Mansion in the future?”
Fang Qing felt speechless.
Ancient Shu’s bad habit of hoarding any spiritual material above a certain grade, or only allowing trade between parties of equal realm, would undoubtedly hinder his two-world trading plans.
Yet there was nothing he could do about it. Without sufficient strength and influence, almost nothing was easy.
He sighed and temporarily abandoned the idea of using the pearl to change his appearance and technique, then visiting other shops to sell large quantities at high prices.
That approach would not only risk exposure but also offer little real profit.
Even if he managed to buy up large amounts of Qi Ingestion spiritual materials, they would still fall far short of what he needed for Dao Foundation cultivation.
Spiritual materials in this world were truly scarce to the extre. Trade relied almost entirely on barter, and there was not even a common currency like spirit stones.
Fang Qing wandered through the marketplace for a while, then went to a pleasure house to listen to a song. He did not stay the night.
Ever since learning that the higher-class brothels and pleasure houses in Ancient Shu often had hidden ties to the Blissful Union Sect, he refused to spend the night in such places.
Even the half-veiled female cultivators there might very well practice Blissful Union techniques whose origins traced back to that very sect.
He had always kept a respectful distance from the Blissful Union Sect’s demonesses.
Fang Qing flew out of Yanshan Market, treading atop the waves with his wide sleeves fluttering. He looked every bit the immortal among mortals.
Suddenly a great river appeared ahead, stretching from east to west in a mighty, surging flow.
He stopped at the riverbank and beckoned with one hand.
A palm-sized gecko puppet flew into his grasp. He sighed and looked behind him. “Which fellow Daoist is following ? Please show yourself.”
A flash of light revealed a figure whose escape light seed to chase the sun and pursue the moon. She wore a colorful feathered robe and a golden phoenix hairpin. She was an exceptionally beautiful woman who curtsied gracefully. “This humble one is Jin Ling’er. Greetings, Fellow Daoist.”
This woman was also a Dao Foundation cultivator. For so unknown reason she had tailed him ever since he left the marketplace.
From what Fang Qing could sense, she did not appear to be a bandit cultivator, nor did he feel any sudden warning from the Plum Blossom Divination.
‘Should I just kill her regardless?’
His expression turned stern. “How did you track ?”
“Hehe. Fellow Daoist has such a poor mory. It was you who ca to first to listen to a song.”
Jin Ling’er put on an especially aggrieved look that would stir pity in anyone who saw it.
“You run the pleasure house? Are you a Dao Foundation cultivator from the Blissful Union Sect? Do you cultivate the [Fang Sun] thod?”
Fang Qing recalled the distinctive escape light she had used, chasing sun and moon. “Is it the ‘Dao Foundation treading the earth’ technique?”
“Hehe. I did not expect Fellow Daoist to know so much about our sect.”
Jin Ling’er gave a flirtatious wink, full of charm and allure, yet Fang Qing only felt a chill run down his spine. “Today I truly stepped out without checking the immortal calendar. To think I would run into a Blissful Union Sect demoness.”
Jin Ling’er simply giggled. “Yin and yang are the great Dao of heaven and earth. Why must Fellow Daoist cling so tightly to appearances? Besides, you are an heretical monk of the Esoteric Hidden-Treasury, and I am a demoness of the Blissful Union. Are we not a match made in heaven?”
“I…”
Fang Qing’s face turned cold and he prepared to strike. “How did you recognize ?”
“This is a special trait of the [Fang Ri] technique I cultivate. Brother, your physique is like a dragon and your blood and qi like a tiger. I found myself unconsciously drawn to you, wanting to get closer.”
Jin Ling’er gazed at Fang Qing with open admiration, making his skin crawl. “Enough nonsense. Demoness, what exactly do you want?”
He had already decided that if she suggested dual cultivation or anything similar, he would kill her on the spot.
“Brother, you really cannot take a joke. This little sister simply heard that you made a rather large transaction of [Zhen Water] spiritual materials at the Listening Wind Pavilion earlier. I wanted to do business with you as well.”
Jin Ling’er’s deanor shifted from seductive charm to delicate vulnerability.
‘Damn it. The Listening Wind Pavilion claid to have backing from the Shangyong Sect, yet a Dao Foundation cultivator’s personally arranged deal was leaked imdiately.’
Fang Qing cursed inwardly, then continued his silent rant.
Just how desperately lacking in resources were Ancient Shu and Beixuan Commandery?
A single box of sea pearls had drawn two Dao Foundation cultivators. If he ever tried to trade for Purple Mansion spiritual materials in the future, would he not end up facing Purple Mansion experts directly? How was anyone supposed to cultivate in a place like this?
Still, at least this Blissful Union demoness was not here to discuss dual cultivation of color and emptiness or using the Vajra Pestle to subjugate demons.
“Fellow Daoist has co at an inconvenient ti. I have already sold all the [Zhen Water] spiritual materials I carried to the Listening Wind Pavilion.”
Fang Qing answered with an expressionless face.
“Brother, do not be so heartless.” Jin Ling’er looked on the verge of tears. “This little sister saw how generously you spent earlier. You could not possibly have only a few portions. Would you like to hear my offer? How about one flying sword?”
“Oh? A flying sword?”
Fang Qing showed a trace of interest. Crafting a proper flying sword consud a great deal of materials.
“Not just any ordinary flying sword. It is one of the forty-nine famous swords of Ancient Shu!”
Jin Ling’er added.
Fang Qing thought of sothing and spoke with a cold laugh. “Could it be the renowned Purple Mansion flying sword Xu Jinhuan? Has Tian Jinchen fallen into your hands?”
“How could this little sister possibly be a match for Tian Jinchen? However, I do know his whereabouts, and I can make a deal with you.”
Jin Ling’er laughed coquettishly. “With rely a few portions of [Zhen Water] spiritual materials, you could gamble for a Purple Mansion flying sword. Wouldn’t that be a huge profit?”
‘I’m afraid I might have the life to earn it, but not the life to spend it.’
Fang Qing kept a cold expression, complaining inwardly.
He had personally taken part in the Yanbo Blessed Land incident from beginning to end. How could he not know that both Tian Jinchen and the Xu Jinhuan sword were coveted treasures in the eyes of Purple Mansion cultivators?
He had no interest in stirring up trouble right under the noses of Purple Mansion experts.
“Not interested. Farewell!”
Fang Qing showed no hesitation and turned to leave imdiately.
“Brother, wait!”
Jin Ling’er grew anxious. Illusory palaces faintly appeared in the surrounding void, from which enchanting music drifted out.
Fang Qing gave a cold laugh. A superior-grade spiritual artifact flying knife appeared in his hand.
With a gentle slash, the knife cut apart the illusory palace. “Does Fellow Daoist wish to fight?”
“Of course not. How could this little sister dare raise a hand against you?”
Jin Ling’er said, “Brother is an Esoteric Hidden-Treasury high monk with the physique of a dragon and elephant. I wonder if you have any need for Vajra Ghee?”
“Vajra Ghee? That would require the Dao Foundation realm.”
Fang Qing had already been about to leave, but upon hearing this his steps paused.
This Vajra Ghee originated from the Esoteric Hidden-Treasury Domain and was quite effective for cultivating various Esoteric Body Refinent thods.
He had been diligently practicing the Horse-Headed Vajra Protector Divine thod lately. If he could receive an empowernt with Dao Foundation level Vajra Ghee, his cultivation progress would improve significantly.
“Of course I have so.”
Jin Ling’er looked sowhat reluctant. This was one of her most valuable hidden treasures. She had originally planned to use it as bait to slowly hook Fang Qing.
She had not expected him to be so impenetrable and had no choice but to tempt him with profit instead.
At the sa ti, she complained inwardly.
Her cultivation technique and seductive arts were extrely powerful. How could a re water-attribute Dao Foundation cultivator maintain such a clear mind for so long?
Left with no choice, she took out a large jar of ghee. “This item cos from the Esoteric Hidden-Treasury Domain and is extrely rare. Thanks to several great masters of the Esoteric Sect crossing the sea to the east, my sisters expended great effort serving those masters before we received this as a reward.”
Demons and monsters working hand in hand.
Fang Qing criticized silently as he took out several jade boxes and tossed them to Jin Ling’er. “These should be enough.”
“Excellent. Thank you, Brother. You truly are generous and wealthy.”
Jin Ling’er quickly inspected the items. Her eyes seed to drip with water as she gazed at Fang Qing with open admiration.
“Paynt received, transaction complete. If Fellow Daoist continues to follow , I will have no choice but to treat you as soone with ill intentions and kill you directly.”
Fang Qing snorted coldly. He stepped onto the great river and his figure vanished in an instant.
Jin Ling’er watched him leave, a thoughtful look appearing on her face. ‘[Ji Water] Dao Foundation? Esoteric Hidden-Treasury Body Refinent?’
‘My Blissful Union Sect has eyes and ears spread throughout Shu lands. I recall sothing interesting happened in Ba Commandery previously. A cultivator counter-killed Bright Son Miaohuo of the White Bone Dao. Hehe, another valuable piece of intelligence. If I sell this to those people from the White Bone Dao, I can definitely demand a high price.’
She rode her escape light, preparing to return to Yanshan Market.
Just as Yanshan Market ca into view, suddenly!
Icy rain descended from the sky, turning into wind, frost, rain, and snow.
“[Bi Moon] demon race? An Azure Bird Tribe Dao Foundation assassin?”
Jin Ling’er twisted her slender waist and took light steps, contorting her body into an extrely dangerous arc to dodge a sharp thread hidden within the rain.
She let out a soft laugh, and even the freezing rain seed to beco soft and alluring. “Fortunately this humble one’s ‘Dao Foundation treading the earth’ technique excels at movent arts.”
Amidst cold pond moon shadows, wind, frost, rain, and snow, a figure suddenly attacked.
A streak of verdant sword light shot forward like a venomous snake, aiming straight for her vital points!
Jin Ling’er’s figure chased sun and moon as she raised her hand and flicked out a fine gauze. A small golden bell was tied to its end.
The clear ringing of the bell shook the heart and soul as it smashed against the flying sword.
The clash between two Dao Foundation cultivators created continuous phenona, causing the nearby rogue cultivators to scatter in panic.
The commotion clearly alerted Yanshan Market, and reinforcents would arrive in monts.
At that point, this assassination attempt would clearly fail.
At that very mont!
A piercing flute sound suddenly rang out.
Jin Ling’er’s expression changed drastically as she spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.
The verdant sword light instantly surged with power, nailing the fine gauze in place like a spike.
The assassin’s figure finally beca clear. It was Li Rulong, his body covered in golden scales with prominent horns on his head!
He stretched out a large hand covered in scales, grabbed Jin Ling’er’s snow-white slender neck, and twisted gently.
Crack!
This [Fang Sun] female Dao Foundation cultivator died instantly.
Li Rulong did not even glance at the Dao Foundation cultivators rushing over from the marketplace. He looked once in a certain direction before speeding away.
In the distance.
Fang Qing, who had already changed to his [Lou tal] Dao Foundation and greatly altered his appearance and aura, pressed down on his bamboo hat and turned to leave. ‘Daring to track and sche against ? You were already courting death.’
He just had not expected Li Rulong to be here as well.
‘Oh, the Azure Bird Tribe is using half-demons as vanguard, most likely to exhaust their disposable forces. Soone like him who joined halfway would naturally be sent to the most dangerous places.’
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