Chapter 319: Seen Through (A toast to Alliance Leader Huoyu Bingfeng! )
Chapter 319: Seen Through (A toast to Alliance Leader Huoyu Bingfeng! ) The Yuan Kingdom's territory was vast. Even a Core Formation cultivator, riding a streak of light from south to north, would often need ten days to half a month.
What's more, Fang Xi wouldn't fly at full speed; he needed to travel through numerous cultivation cities, purchasing and offloading goods.
Fortunately, even at the early Core Formation stage, he was still an extraordinary high-level cultivator in the Yuan Kingdom. He frequented cultivation cities, but his transaction amounts were never too large, and he always altered his appearance, so there were no amusing scenarios of bandit cultivators coming to his door.
After emerging from the last 'Meishan Market', Fang Xi let out a sigh.
Now, the low-grade demonic cultivation materials and pills in his storage bag that he didn't need were mostly disposed of, exchanged for dozens of superior-grade Spirit Stones.
As for high-grade and rare materials?
Small cultivation cities might not have cultivators discerning enough to recognize them, and such transactions usually involved bartering, not something that could be measured in Spirit Stones.
Fang Xi planned to find an opportunity to sell them at the Sky-Suspension Mountain Grand Auction.
"I also took the opportunity to inquire about Ruan Xing Ling's whereabouts. . . but there was no news at all. . . where did that woman go?"
He still held some expectations for the grand auction here.
It was said that the Green Leaf Merchant Guild, in order to boost the cultivation city's popularity, announced they would auction many rare treasures, perhaps even Core Formation Spiritual Items or spiritual eye-enhancing artifacts!
...
One month later.
Wood Spirit Body divine light enveloped Fang Xi, as scenery on both sides rapidly receded.
"Calculating the distance. . . it should be close now, and the grand auction date is approaching. . ."
After flying another hundred li, Fang Xi suddenly stopped his streak of light, gazing ahead, a look of astonishment appearing on his face.
He saw Sky-Suspension Mountain!
No. . . or rather. . . a colossal mountain floating in mid-air!
Under the morning sun, a mountain peak brimming with spiritual energy floated ten thousand meters high, its entire body shimmering with iridescent light, adorned with palaces, halls, and pavilions.
Below this mountain, a large number of cultivators gathered, streaks of light flying out from or into Sky-Suspension Mountain. . .
It looked. . . just like a true Immortal Mountain, with myriad immortals paying homage!
"Heh heh. . . This fellow Daoist is seeing Sky-Suspension Mountain for the first time, aren't you?"
A golden streak of light flew over, revealing a carriage entirely crafted from gold, pulled by two colossal bronze horses snorting in front.
A laugh, meanwhile, came from atop the carriage.
"A Core Formation cultivator?"
Fang Xi's heart tightened. A smile appeared on his ordinary face: "Indeed. . . may I ask who this fellow Daoist is?"
"Haha, I am the Grand Elder of the Golden Sword Sect—Li Haifeng. This fellow Daoist looks unfamiliar; could you be a newly advanced Core Formation cultivator?"
Li Haifeng wore a large robe embroidered with golden copper coins, his features soft, his face all smiles, appearing like a wealthy local magnate from the mortal world. Yet, his cultivation was at the peak of the mid Core Formation stage.
Moreover, within his dantian, there was a faint, sharp Geng Jin qi, clearly indicating he was no ordinary individual.
In the Three Kingdoms cultivation world, he could probably sweep aside the likes of True Man Baifeng and Old Ancestor Zhang. . .
"Precisely, my surname is Cao!"
Fang Xi cupped his hands: "It is indeed my first time visiting Sky-Suspension Mountain."
"No wonder. . . cultivators visiting for the first time are always awestruck by the sight of Sky-Suspension Mountain. . . This place not only possesses a spiritual vein, but also an incredibly vast primordial magnetic ore vein deep underground. . ."
Li Haifeng seemed intent on forming a connection, introducing in detail: "This is a marvel of creation; otherwise, how many Spirit Stones would it take daily to keep this colossal mountain suspended in the air by formations alone? Even a Nascent Soul sect would find it unbearable. . . Later, the 'Green Leaf Merchant Guild' invited a fourth-order formation master here. Relying on the underground primordial magnetic ore vein, they specifically set up a 'Nine Palaces Primordial Magnetic Grand Array', which utilizes the primordial magnetic force of this place. . . The mountain represents Yin, the earth represents Yang. Once fully activated, the Two Forms Primordial Magnetic Divine Light can reach through heaven and earth, giving even Nascent Soul old monsters a massive headache."
"I see. . ."
Fang Xi responded with a smile, his heart also filled with awe.
This 'Nine Palaces Primordial Magnetic Grand Array' was likely a fourth-order formation!
The Green Leaf Merchant Guild's strength was truly unfathomable.
After exchanging a few perfunctory words with Elder Li, he arrived outside the Sky-Suspension Mountain cultivation city.
Numerous cultivators, riding flying artifacts, stopped on several jade platforms, waiting for inspection and entry.
"Ordinary Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment cultivators. . . naturally need to queue, but high-level cultivators like us don't have to."
Li Haifeng laughed heartily, leading Fang Xi to a specially made jade platform.
The cultivators coming and going here were few, but surprisingly, all appeared to be Core Formation cultivators.
"Bi Old Ghost, this old man has arrived! Is your Jade Heart Wine ready this time?"
Li Haifeng manipulated his carriage, landing on the jade platform, and called out loudly.
"Heh heh, with Elder Li gracing us with your presence, it's naturally prepared. " With a flash of his figure, a peculiar Core Formation cultivator, dressed in a jade-green robe and possessing twin pupils, appeared. His cultivation was also around the mid Core Formation stage.
He bantered with Li Haifeng for a few moments, then looked at Fang Xi, a strange glint in his eyes: "This fellow Daoist looks quite unfamiliar. . ."
"My surname is Cao. . . it is indeed my first time at Sky-Suspension Mountain. " Fang Xi smiled faintly, introducing himself with an air of not wanting to speak much.
"So it's Fellow Daoist Cao, a pleasure to meet you, a true pleasure!"
Bi Old Ghost smiled and cupped his hands: "May I ask where fellow Daoist's immortal home is?"
"A rogue cultivator, without a fixed abode. . ."
Fang Xi's expression remained unchanged.
"Enough, Bi Old Ghost, why are you still dawdling? Sky-Suspension Mountain cultivation city has no restrictions on foreign cultivators. . . As far as I know, quite a few Core Formation cultivators from other countries are rushing here to attend this grand event."
Li Haifeng said impatiently.
"This old Daoist has spoken too much. . . This is fellow Daoist's identity jade token, please keep it safe. . . If it's lost, you might be marked by the grand array and subjected to inspections by the enforcement team."
Bi Old Ghost chuckled apologetically, handing a white jade token to Fang Xi: "As a high-level cultivator, with this token, fellow Daoist can reside at the 'Welcoming Immortal Pavilion' for three months free of charge. . ."
"Many thanks."
Fang Xi expressed his gratitude, taking the jade token and idly turning it in his hands.
This jade token was incredibly smooth and emitted a faint, pleasant fragrance, clearly indicating its excellent material.
"Alright, with everything settled, why don't we all go to Bi Old Ghost's cave abode for a good drink?"
Li Haifeng proposed.
"Heh heh. . . I have duties to attend to; I'm afraid I cannot join fellow Daoist. " Bi Old Ghost shook his head.
"I also wish to first tour this cultivation city, so I shall take my leave."
Fang Xi cupped his hands, similarly transforming into a streak of green light, entering the formation from the jade platform, vanishing in an instant.
"Fellow Daoist Li. . . are you perhaps trying to befriend this person? " As he watched Fang Xi's retreating figure, the smile on Bi Old Ghost's face gradually turned cold.
"What. . . did you notice something amiss? " Li Haifeng frowned. He knew well that this Bi Old Ghost was born with a pair of 'Spiritual Insight Eyes' and had cultivated a spiritual eye technique. Complementing each other, these allowed him to see through most disguises; otherwise, he wouldn't have been assigned specifically to guard the cultivation city's main gate.
"Not just amiss, but very amiss!"
Bi Old Ghost shook his head: "This person's appearance is fake. You might have seen his true face. . . As for his cultivation, it is indeed that of an early Core Formation cultivator."
"I've seen him? " Li Haifeng couldn't help but feel skeptical: "Impossible. . . Although this old man is not as good as you, if my cultivated 'Penetrating Sword Heart' had seen this person, I would never mistake him upon seeing him again."
"Not face-to-face, but you've seen this person's portrait. . . " Bi Old Ghost chuckled, taking out a jade slip from his storage bag and tossing it to Li Haifeng.
Li Haifeng took it, and with a sweep of his Divine Consciousness, he saw a portrait: a young cultivator with a lifelike face, none other than Fang Xi's true appearance!
"So it's this wanted poster. . . This was all decades ago, back during the war between the righteous and demonic sects. Although the Hunyuan Sect issued this wanted poster, the bounty wasn't high, not indicating much importance. . . It was probably because this person offended a certain Core Formation elder of the Hunyuan Sect."
Li Haifeng suddenly understood: "But this Core Formation cultivator never appeared, and the matter gradually faded. . . yet the Hunyuan Sect never seemed to withdraw the poster."
"Precisely. This person offended the Hunyuan Sect. If Brother Li wishes to win him over, you'd best think it over carefully. " Bi Old Ghost said earnestly.
"Many thanks for the reminder, fellow Daoist. Since I know the stakes, this old man naturally won't go looking for trouble. . . " Li Haifeng replied with a wry smile, then, a little curious, asked: "Since fellow Daoist saw through it, why didn't you. . ."
"Hmph, this place is a cultivation city; even demonic cultivators come and go. As long as they don't go too far, one must turn a blind eye. . . " Bi Old Ghost smiled mysteriously: "After all, our merchant guild values harmony. . . Furthermore, the bounty offered by the Hunyuan Sect isn't particularly generous. Would I really risk my life against a peer for such a paltry sum? Although he's only at the early Core Formation stage, who knows what cultivation technique he practices, or what hidden treasures and secret arts he possesses. . . If we fail to slay the tiger, we'll suffer greatly."
"Exactly. . . " Li Haifeng nodded repeatedly: "I hadn't expected you, Bi Old Ghost, to still be as smooth as ever after all these years, haha. Let's go drink. . ."
"Indeed, although I have duties guarding this place, making temporary arrangements for a few Foundation Establishment disciples to receive guests is permissible. . ."
Bi Old Ghost laughed heartily, then transformed into a streak of light and returned to his cave abode with Li Haifeng for a feast.
...
Fang Xi had no idea that the Blurring Pearl, being of too low a grade, would be seen through by a Core Formation cultivator who had cultivated powerful spiritual eye techniques.
As for his own cultivation, it wasn't exposed thanks to the Withered Glory Chant's sufficiently high-grade aura-concealing secret art.
At this point, he first went to the 'Welcoming Immortal Pavilion' and chose a cave abode, discovering that they all had superior-grade third-order spiritual energy, which greatly pleased him.
"I can even stay here for three months for free first. . . After the grand auction, cultivating here for a while wouldn't be bad."
After settling in, Fang Xi strolled through the Sky-Suspension Mountain cultivation city with his hands clasped behind his back, a look of interest on his face.
Due to the approaching grand auction, cultivators in the cultivation city came and went, bustling with activity, and many stalls displayed some rare items.
Of course, there was even more trickery and swindling.
Fang Xi looked over each stall, gaining a good understanding of the pricing of most cultivation resources in the Yuan Kingdom.
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