Chapter 185 - 19: Golden Wind Jade Dew Tactics 1
This is a rather peculiar place.
It seems like a house, yet also like a stone cave.
However, the space is vast.
Against the walls of this room, individuals resembling Cultivators occupy almost every spot.
These individuals are almost all in the Qi Refining Stage, with most of them displaying various items in front of them.
It looks just like a rural market.
Despite the simple settings, the variety of items is impressively wide.
A casual scan reveals all sorts of items usable by Qi Refining Cultivators: Magic fools, Talismans, Elixirs, scrolls, Jade Slips, puppets, spirit materials, spirit food, and even some Spirit Beasts.
Almost all necessities for Cultivators are included in this wide array.
Wang Ba’s gaze fell instinctively on the Spirit Beasts, only to quickly move on.
Ihese Spirit Beasts are all quite common; he has them all in his Spirit Beast Bag.
However, after swiftly scanning the area, he noticed that the items on display were almost all class I with only a few class II items appearing.
Doubt emerged in his mind.
Yet remembering Zhu Jianyi’s explanation, he suppressed his unease.
Zhu Jianyi, upon entering, quickly scanned the area and then made his way straight to a stall in the corner.
He purchased a jade handgrip from a silent old Cultivator for two Spirit Stones. Then, at a female Cultivator’s stall, he spent three Spirit Stones on a comb.
He put these two items, along with the Market Entering Order, into a separate Storage Bag.
He then approached a middle-aged Cultivator selling magic tools and asked, “Friend, how many Spirit Stones does this Magic Tool cost?”
“This Magic Tool is a lower-grade Class II treasure. It only costs 1260 Spirit Stones.” the middle-aged Cultivator replied with a beaming smile.
Zhu Jianyi immediately began to bargain.
Throughout the entire process, Wang Ba vaguely sensed some kind of procedure being followed.
In the end, it seemed as if they reached an agreement.
Zhu Jianyi then handed over the Storage Bag, which contained the handgrip, comb, and the Market Entering Order, to the other party.
The middle-aged Cultivator casually checked the contents of the bag. With his expression unchanged, he nodded and then discreetly took out another Storage Bag and passed it to Zhu Jianyi.
Zhu Jianyi casually handed the Storage Bag to Wang Ba.
The middle-aged Cultivator then turned his gaze toward Wang Ba, his eyes carrying hints of caution and vigilance.
Wang Ba also noticed several discreet glances being cast in his direction. “Senior.”
Zhu Jianyi communicated with Wang Ba using his spiritual sense at the same time.
Wang Ba remained calm.
Upon scanning the Storage Bag with his Spiritual Sense, he saw nothing but a special piece of paper labelled ‘Internal Demon Oath’. All one had to do was imprint their Soul Qi on it, and the oath would be set in place.
A quick scan revealed that the contents of the oath were nothing more than promises not to have malicious intentions against the Linglong Ghost Market.
If violated, the oathbreaker would die and their cultivation path cease.
After studying the paper with his Spiritual Sense and making sure there were no hidden traps, Wang Ba signed it.
Almost immediately, the special paper began to burn.
I he moment it started burning, the middle-aged Cultivator seemed to sense something. The vigilant look in his eyes as he watched Wang Ba eased slightly.
He then said something Wang Ba found slightly confusing: “First meeting, three of each.”
However, Zhu Jianyi seemed to understand the implication and quickly guided Wang Ba towards a teleportation array.
Are we leaving already?
Wang Ba was slightly confused.
Zhu Jianyi tossed a Spirit Stone into the teleportation array, made a slight adjustment, and stepped directly onto the array with Wang Ba.
Shortly after, the scenery before them changed
io his surprise, Wang Ba found they were not in the underground water prison. Instead, they were in what appeared to be a new cave-based market.
However, unlike the bustling scene of the previous market, this one was much quieter, with significantly fewer people.
What heightened his vigilance was the fact that in addition to numerous high-rank Qi Refining Cultivators, there were also quite a few Foundation Establishment Competitors.
“This is the real Linglong Ghost Market.”
Zhu Jianyi explained next to him: “The requirements for the Linglong Ghost Market are that one must be led in by someone familiar and sign the Internal Demon Oath before they can truly enter.”
“What he said earlier was the secret instruction to adjust the teleportation node. It’s a set of secret codes that change each time. Only if you follow the given instruction codes can you be teleported here.”
Wang Ba suddenly understood.
So, the Ghost Market they visited earlier was just a distraction. To reach the real Linglong Ghost Market, one had to go through a second teleportation.
No wonder it had never been discovered by Sect members over these many years.
Obviously, Zhu Jianyi’s previous actions were all for the sake of acquiring this secret code.
He could not help but admire the difficulties of being a Rogue Cultivator.
While they appeared to act unrestrained and be free, their cultivation journey was much more challenging than that of Sect Disciples.
Not only were their inheritances incomplete and resources for cultivation scarce, but they were also constantly suppressed by Sect powers.
The extent of their efforts just to trade cultivation resources with their fellow cultivators highlighted the struggling life of a Rogue Cultivator.
“I wonder if the situation is the same in Chen State.”
Wang Ba promptly dismissed this thought and eagerly began to explore.
Zhu Jianyi dared not leave Wang Ba’s side and trailed behind him, his head lowered.
Before long, Wang Ba stopped in front of a stall.
“How much for this Mountain Moving Ape?”
A few Spirit Beasts were tied up at the stall, one of them being a muscular ape looking fiercely at Wang Ba.
Upon hearing Wang Ba inquiring about the price, the ape bared its yellow fangs and growled threateningly at him.
Wang Ba was unfazed. This Mountain Moving Ape was still immature, and its aura was only of a top grade Class I.
Compared to his ape who meditated all day, this ape seemed violently wild, so much so that if not for their similar appearance, the two apes would not appear to be of the same species..