Chapter 38: Valley Spirit Sect Attacks! |
"It's exactly because things are descending into chaos that more people are gathering here. Our business will only thrive if the two sides start fighting!"
From a market shopkeeper's perspective, Wang Rongsheng's reasoning was quite intriguing.
"Furthermore, the Valley Spirit Sect is a member of the Immortal Alliance. They won't pillage the shops or rogue cultivators in Hidden Dragon Market. What they want is control over Golden Wall Cliff and the market itself."
Yulou remained silent. It made sense, but it felt a bit too much like living on a knife's edge.
"Then isn't it dangerous for us to stay here?" Yu'an asked fearfully.
Wang Rongsheng paced anxiously for a few steps, looked at the two youths, and cursed.
"That's exactly why I said that fat bastard Hongmei is a scoundrel!"
He pulled a few talismans from his robes and handed them to the brothers.
"Since you're Hongmei's disciples, I'll spare him the rest of my cursing.
Accepting the talismans, Yulou listened as his clan uncle instructed them.
"Go hide in the Golden Light Pavilion in the center of the market. It's backed by a Foundation Establishment senior from the Immortal Alliance. Even if the Valley Spirit Sect really attacks, they wouldn't dare violate that place!"
Wang Rongsheng's arrangement was nothing if not cautious.
"Master told us to wait for him here. Clan uncle, what about...?"
Yulou asked.
"You'll only be hiding for half a day. They might not even fight today. What if you get lucky?"
"What if?"
Yulou noticed his clan uncle's eerie choice of words.
Wang Rongsheng gritted his teeth. Remembering that both Yulou and Yu'an were of the Wang Clan's direct lineage, he sent a voice transmission.
"You don't know this, but last night I sold a batch of talismans to the Valley Spirit Sect. When I went across the river to deliver the goods, their encampment had significantly more people than usual.
An emergency purchase of talismans from our Wang Clan is likely meant to plug the holes from their prior embezzlement. Fighting will probably break out in the next couple of days!"
Yulou was exasperated. The Wang Clan truly lived up to its name—they actually had avenues like this.
Wondrous Peak Mountain was about to clash with the Valley Spirit Sect, and the Wang Clan was making a fortune off the war. It was too wild—simply too wild!
"Clan uncle, we'll head to the Golden Light Pavilion right now. If nothing goes wrong, we'll return this afternoon."
Hearing Yulou's words, Wang Rongsheng, as a local power player, smiled eerily and said,
"Mm, Hongmei might also be at the Golden Light Pavilion right now. Just go on over; you'll be safe.
I'm not close with him, but every time he comes around, the Golden Light Pavilion suddenly acquires a new batch of magical artifacts."
The Wang Clan sold talismans to the Valley Spirit Sect, while Hongmei flipped magical artifacts in the market.
Yulou was certain now. The Wunan region was a grand stage, and you could only survive if you had the skills.
For the sake of cultivation resources, everyone danced on the edge of the Immortal Alliance's rules.
——
Taking its name from the Wolong Golden Light, and backed by someone from the Immortal Alliance, the Golden Light Pavilion was naturally quite imposing.
In the narrow confines of Hidden Dragon Market, it occupied the prime location right in the center, mainly dealing in magical artifacts and various cultivation methods.
Worried about being caught up in the crossfire, Yulou didn't dilly-dally after entering the Golden Light Pavilion. He went straight to the head clerk to ask if his master was really there.
"You're Fellow Daoist Hongmei's disciples? How come I haven't heard about him taking in disciples?"
The head clerk sized Yulou up with clear distrust, but ultimately went to report their arrival.
He figured two lowly Qi Induction cultivators wouldn't dare fake such a relationship.
Hongmei only visited the Golden Light Pavilion once every few months—a fact only known to those paying close attention. Whether these two boys were truly his disciples or not, it was best to treat the matter seriously.
"Why are you here?"
Hongmei looked somewhat surprised to see his disciples.
Yulou relayed Wang Rongsheng's judgment to his master. Hongmei furrowed his signature eyebrows and said,
"I'm taking you away right now!"
However, the manager of the Golden Light Pavilion blocked their path.
"Fellow Daoist Hongmei, don't be hasty. It's impossible for the Valley Spirit Sect to send Foundation Establishment cultivators, so it'll be very difficult for them to breach Hidden Dragon Market's grand array.
Wondrous Peak Mountain has held Hidden Dragon Market for over a hundred years; this grand array has already withstood four sieges.
Besides, you know the Foundation Establishment senior backing the Golden Light Pavilion. Even if the Valley Spirit Sect breaks in, they wouldn't dare cause trouble for us.
Just settle down and help us refine artifacts. There are still two high-grade magical artifacts left to forge."
The manager's face was plastered with smiles, and his reasons were perfectly logical, but his underlying tone made it clear he had no intention of letting Hongmei leave.
Even with the precarious situation, he gave Hongmei no face, even using their outstanding accounts as a threat.
Hongmei argued with him for a long time. In the end, he had no choice but to take his two disciples and stand by the artifact refining furnace with a dark expression.
"How dare that bastard bully me like this!"
He cursed the Golden Light Pavilion manager's ancestors for eighteen generations before saying guiltily,
"Senior Xianmao explicitly told me not to put you in danger, but I never expected the Valley Spirit Sect to attack Hidden Dragon Market again. I've dragged you down with me."
Yulou nimbly burned the peach wood spirit charcoal, replying without raising his head,
"Master, although your cultivation base is profound and few Qi Refining cultivators can match you.
But you are about to reach the Foundation Establishment realm soon, so stability should be your priority.
Our only plan right now is to quickly forge the remaining two artifacts, then leave this place of trouble as soon as possible."
Complaining to Hongmei now was useless. Hongmei hadn't known when the Valley Spirit Sect would attack Hidden Dragon Market, and bringing the brothers out to impart the artificing path was done with good intentions.
As long as they finished the work early, they could settle the bill and leave smoothly without offending the Golden Light Pavilion.
Yulou was truly sensible. Hongmei forced a smile amidst the bitterness and said,
"Good. The artifact we're refining this time has thirty-two layers of restrictions. It is custom-made for a cultivator with a single fire spirit root. You can take a good look at its special features."
Thirty-two layers of restrictions?
Yulou and Yu'an knew exactly what that meant.
The Mirror Silver Golden Thread Shield didn't even have thirty layers of restrictions, but it still required four base materials, including one eighth-grade base material.
Thirty-two layers meant at least five base materials. The more base materials used, the higher the chance the refinement would blow up.
"Who custom-ordered this? There shouldn't be many people who can afford a custom high-grade magical artifact like this, right?"
Throwing the base materials into the artifact refining furnace, Hongmei explained to his disciples.
"It might be a rogue cultivator. Only they would come to the Golden Light Pavilion in Hidden Dragon Market to place a custom order, out of fear of getting fleeced in official markets like Clear Stream Market."
Behind the Golden Light Pavilion stood a giant from the Immortal Alliance; even the Ten Sects had no jurisdiction over them!
"Doesn't Clear Stream Market also welcome rogue cultivators to spend their money?"
Yulou knew exactly what that old dog Lao Gui was up to. The full name of Lao Gui's Beast Medicine Shop should have been the Number One Rogue Cultivator Reception House Within a Few Hundred Miles of Clear Stream Market.
"Hmph, Clear Stream Market welcomes them, and Gao Jian and that guy surnamed Mu welcome them even more. What rogue cultivators actually fear are the people from those large sects and prominent clans in the official markets."
Right, right, right. Thinking of Gao Jian's new master, Mu Changze, Yulou instantly understood.
Mu Changze was the kind of madman who would water down water!
Even rogue cultivators found people like him disgusting!
Boom!
A massive sonic boom echoed from outside, startling Hongmei so badly he nearly blew up the base materials in the furnace. This was immediately followed by an angry shout.
"Jiuqu! Come out and face your death!"
Yulou and Yu'an realized what was happening, but their plump master simply smiled calmly.
"This damn world! Whatever you fear the most is exactly what comes to your door!
Once I reach Foundation Establishment, I'll definitely settle this score with the Golden Light Pavilion!"
For many years to come, Yu'an would always remember Hongmei's mocking smile inside the Golden Light Pavilion that noon.
The cruelest part of fate was that you could never escape it just because you wanted to.
"Fellow Daoist Hongmei, don't be hasty. It's impossible for the Valley Spirit Sect to send a Foundation Establishment cultivator. It will be very difficult for them to breach the grand array of Hidden Dragon Market.
"Wondrous Peak Mountain has held Hidden Dragon Market for over a century. This grand array has already withstood four sieges.
"Moreover, you know about the Foundation Establishment senior backing the Golden Light Pavilion. Even if the Valley Spirit Sect breaches the market, I doubt they'd have the guts to cause trouble for us.
"Just focus on your artifact refining for us. There are still two high-grade magical artifacts that haven't been completed yet."
The manager's face was wreathed in smiles, and his reasoning was entirely sound, but his words made it clear that he had no intention of letting Hongmei leave.
Even though the situation was perilously tense, he showed Hongmei no respect, even using their unsettled accounts as a threat.
Hongmei argued with him for a long time. Finally, wearing a dark expression, he could only lead his two disciples back to the Golden Light Pavilion's artifact refining furnace.
"How dare that bastard bully me like this!"
He cursed up a storm, greeting eighteen generations of the manager's ancestors, before his expression shifted to one of guilt.
"Senior Xianmao warned me not to put you in danger, but I never expected the Valley Spirit Sect to attack Hidden Dragon Market again. Now I've dragged you down with me."
Yulou swiftly fed the fire with peach wood spirit charcoal, replying without even lifting his head.
"Master, your cultivation base is profound. Not many Qi Refining cultivators dare act fiercely in front of you.
"But you are about to reach the Foundation Establishment realm in the coming days. Right now, stability should be your main priority.
"Our only plan now is to quickly finish refining the remaining two magical artifacts and leave this place of trouble as soon as possible."
There was no use blaming Hongmei now. It wasn't as if he could have known when the Valley Spirit Sect would attack Hidden Dragon Market. Bringing Yulou and his brother out to teach them the artificing path had been done with good intentions.
Finishing the job early, settling the bill, and leaving smoothly without offending the Golden Light Pavilion was the best course of action.
Yulou was incredibly sensible. Hongmei forced a bitter smile and said,
"Alright. The magical artifact we are refining this time has thirty-two layers of restrictions. It is custom-made specifically for a cultivator with a single fire spirit root. You two can take a good look and see what's special about it."
Thirty-two layers of restrictions?
Yulou and Yu'an knew all too well what that meant.
The Mirror Silver Golden Thread Shield didn't even have thirty layers of restrictions, yet it required four base materials, one of which was an eighth-grade material.
Thirty-two layers meant at least five base materials. The more base materials there were, the higher the chance of an explosion during refining.
"Who ordered it? Not many people can afford to custom-order this kind of high-grade magical artifact, right?"
Tossing the base materials into the artifact refining furnace, Hongmei explained to his disciples,
"It might be a certain rogue cultivator. Only they would come to Hidden Dragon Market to place a custom order with the Golden Light Pavilion, out of fear of being fleeced in formal markets like Clear Stream Market."
Backed by a major figure from the Immortal Alliance, even the Ten Sects couldn't dictate terms to the Golden Light Pavilion!
"Doesn't Clear Stream Market also welcome rogue cultivators to spend their money?"
Yulou knew exactly what kind of business that scumbag Lao Gui ran. Lao Gui's Beast Medicine Shop was known as the number one guesthouse for rogue cultivators within a radius of hundreds of miles around Clear Stream Market.
"Hmph, Clear Stream Market welcomes them, and Gao Jian and that guy surnamed Mu welcome them even more. What rogue cultivators fear are the people from the large sects and prominent clans in those formal markets."
Ah, thinking of Gao Jian and his new master, Mu Changze, Yulou instantly understood.
Mu Changze was the kind of god-tier scoundrel who would stoop so low as to water down water itself!
Even rogue cultivators were disgusted by people like him!
"Boom!"
A massive boom echoed from outside, startling Hongmei so much that he nearly caused the base materials in the furnace to explode. Following it was an angry shout.
"Jiuqu! Come out and accept your death!"
Yulou and Yu'an had already realized what was happening, but their chubby master merely smiled calmly.
"What a rotten world. Whatever you fear is what happens!
"Once I reach Foundation Establishment, I will definitely settle this score with the Golden Light Pavilion!"
Many years later, Yu'an would always remember Hongmei's mocking smile in the Golden Light Pavilion that noon.
The cruelest aspect of fate is that it never allows those involved to escape just because they want to.
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