Chapter 978: Sea Market
Chapter 978: Sea Market
On the shores of the East Sea.
There was a harbor here, paved with countless azure sands and stones, offering a view of unparalleled beauty.
At night, countless blue jellyfish drifted in the seawater, glowing with an ethereal light, making for an exquisite sight. It was named "Blue Star Bay."
However, it was occupied by a group of "Overlord Sharks. " These sharks were born as a unique variant, possessing immense strength, capable of spewing foul, baleful qi, and viciously attacking passing vessels, thus making the area deserted.
But a few months prior, several streaks of sword light descended, clearing out the Overlord Sharks.
Then, from within the East Sea, countless treasure ships sailed forth.
These treasure ships were incredibly vast, laden with all manner of pearls, corals, mermaid silk, and other East Sea specialties. Each was connected by flying bridges and walkways, resembling a massive floating island.
Moreover, cultivators came and went, soaring high and low, trading goods such as deep-sea cold iron and unique East Sea spirit herbs, attracting a great many cultivators from the Central Plains and forming a Sea Market.
Trans-sea merchants, especially, had to make offerings to cultivators, otherwise, passage would be impossible.
Thus, in the East Sea, the boundary between mortals and cultivators was not so distinct.
At this time, cultivators and mortals mingled, attracting Rakshasa people and indigenous barbarians from the Southern Islands from who-knew-how-far to trade. All races gathered, shamans, mages, and immortal masters walked the same path, giving the place an air reminiscent of a "World Expo."
"This Blue Star Bay is truly bustling."
A flying boat came to a halt, and Fang Xi, Tian Ku Tou Tuo, Bi Bo Xian Zi, and the Azure Ox Old Daoist gazed upon the scene, all feeling overwhelmed by the sights.
"Who would have thought a mere sword duel could create such a grand event."
Fang Xi nodded slightly.
"This little sister wishes to first browse the Sea Market. How about we part ways for now and agree on a time to reconvene?"
Bi Bo Xian Zi smiled faintly.
"That suits me perfectly. " The Azure Ox Old Daoist nodded repeatedly.
"Very well, but our friends from the Three Mountains and Five Peaks have come primarily to assist 'Peach Plum Immortal' Yue Hu Zhong in the sword duel. We mustn't delay the appointed time. If we encounter East Sea Sword Immortals, we must be careful. . ."
Tian Ku Tou Tuo gave a few admonishments, then hurried away himself, seemingly off to visit some friend.
Fang Xi watched his departing figure, a faint smile on his face.
'thoughthis Tian Ku Tou Tuo cultivates a heterodox path, having obtained a Buddhist treasure (precept blade), he will likely have quite the affinity with Buddhism in the future. . . He'll have to sacrifice himself to join Buddhism and will no longer enjoy such freedom. '
'Does he truly think all the world's magical treasures and heavenly scriptures are so easily acquired? '
'Even I, relying on my profound cultivation, can only temporarily suppress them. . . Though I appear formidable now, when the time comes, I'll have to pay with my life! Though I do have many lives. . . '
Dressed in a green robe, Fang Xi clasped his hands behind his back and leisurely strolled through the Sea Market.
He saw all kinds of stalls laid out across the connected decks.
Three-foot-tall multicolored corals, fist-sized luminous pearls, precious blades and swords from the Central Plains, ivory and rhino horns from the Southern Islands. . . even live spirit birds like Sea-East Green Falcons and white sparrows. . . countless strange and wondrous items, everything imaginable.
Even cultivation-related items such as deep-sea cold iron, spirit pearls, East Sea specialty spirit algae, and spirit pills were openly displayed.
It was a pity. Although these items were excellent for ordinary sword immortals and martial heroes, they no longer held any interest for Fang Xi.
He wandered around for a bit and stopped before a stall.
The owner of this stall was a green-robed woman, radiating a faint, sharp aura, enveloped by wisps of wood spiritual light. She was clearly an East Sea female sword immortal.
Not only that, but she also seemed to be a disciple of Divine Wood Island.
Fang Xi looked at the several century-old ironwoods and a small, dark piece of millennium-old ironwood on the stall, feeling a slight regret.
If he had a piece of ten-thousand-year ironwood, perhaps he could refine a wood-attribute flying sword himself.
'Actually, collecting eight flying swords is a two-pronged approach. . . '
'In the Fengyuan Chamber of Commerce in the True Immortal World, my other External Avatar is also paying attention to this matter. . . '
'Given time, gathering eight immortal-grade flying swords shouldn't be too difficult. '
Fang Xi mused inwardly, then looked to the other side.
Beside the ironwood, there were several strange mineral ores.
The female disciple smiled upon seeing this: "Fellow Daoist, what might you be interested in?"
She spoke with a slight East Sea accent and acted quite forthrightly, without the usual coyness of Central Plains women.
Fang Xi said no more, picking up a fist-sized black and white ore from the stall.
This ore was extremely heavy, but apart from that, it seemed nothing special.
"This unusual stone was ejected from a 'primordial magnetic well' deep within our sect's island. . . Our sect master and senior brother cultivate primordial magnetic power, using it to sense the dual poles of primordial magnetism, regulate earth qi, and accumulate external merits. Occasionally, some rare treasures from deep underground are ejected. . . Both my sect master and senior brother have examined this peculiar stone. They say it is a 'Life-Death Dao Fetus. ' Originally, if it had developed nine apertures, it could have broken free from the stone and transformed into a unique living being. Unfortunately, its fortune was insufficient, its gestation period too short, and it was ejected from the earth's crust. Now, it hasn't even developed three apertures. . . becoming stillborn, its endless creative essence dissipated, causing its value to plummet."
The Divine Wood Island female disciple smiled: "However, it is still a rare treasure. If the price Fellow Daoist offers is not satisfactory, this humble one will not sell it. . ."
Fang Xi observed carefully, indeed seeing two apertures, like vital points, on the'life-Death Dao Fetus'stone, and a third aperture that was simply a rough prototype (prototype). He nodded, then shook his head: "What a pity. . . If it had developed six or seven apertures, even as a stillborn, it could still be refined into a decent magical artifact."
"By then, this item would not be something this humble one could put up for sale. " The Divine Wood Island female disciple smiled enchantingly: "This humble one is Wen Wan of Divine Wood Island. May I ask Fellow Daoist's name. . ."
"Fang Xi of Green He Mountain."
Fang Xi pondered for a moment, then asked: "How much for this 'Life-Death Dao Fetus'?"
"We cultivators naturally do not deal in worldly gold, silver, or mundane items. . . "Wen Wan had not heard of Green Mountain and assumed it was an ordinary minor sector. After some thought, she said: "It depends on what Fellow Daoist has that can move me."
Fang Xi pondered for a moment.
He had not been cultivating in this Dao for long, and Green mountain had only been established in recent years. Even the spirit herb seeds he had planted had not yet matured.
However, he still carried some treasures, though they came with heavy karma. It remained to be seen if Wen Wan dared to accept them.
He immediately chuckled: "I have a scroll of the 'Earth Immortal Golden Book,' cultivating which can lead to Earth Immortalhood. I also have a scroll of the 'Demonic Art,' which records 'Five Poisons Malign Qi,' 'Five Poisons Immortal Sword,' and numerous heterodox arts and powerful demonic spells. Furthermore, I possess the remains of a Dragon Turtle, though its inner core is missing. Besides that, I have a bottle of 'Earth Six Extremes Malign Qi,' which, if combined with suitable Heavenly Gang Qi, can result in a first-grade Golden Core! Which one does Fellow Daoist fancy?"
This list of offerings utterly startled Wen Wan.
'Could this senior be an old rogue immortal or Earth Immortal? Otherwise, how could he possess such immense wealth? '
Although she was a disciple of Divine Wood Island, she was merely an ordinary female disciple and had not received the sect's true inheritance.
If she had a scroll of the 'Earth Immortal Golden Book,' wouldn't Earth Immortalhood be within reach?
However, Wen Wan gave a bitter smile and said: "I am a disciple of Divine Wood Island, and I dare not betray my sect to learn another's techniques. . ."
Upon hearing this, Fang Xi looked at her with new respect.
Although he had offered the 'Earth Immortal Golden Book' sincerely, this book carried heavy karma. Without sufficient foundation and background, it would likely bring misfortune rather than fortune.
The 'Demonic Art' was even more so. Putting aside other matters, the karma from Elder Demon Liang of West Kunlun alone was extremely troublesome.
Moreover, cultivating demonic arts could easily corrupt cultivators, giving rise to all sorts of evil, cruel, and vicious thoughts. If one made a single mistake, it was highly probable they would pay with their life in the future.
"The Dragon Turtle contains a trace of dragon blood, making it most suitable for alchemy and medicine. . . I choose. . ."
Wen Wan immediately decided to take the Dragon Turtle corpse, as it would be perfect for refining a batch of pills highly beneficial for her cultivation.
"I'll take that 'Earth Six Extremes Malign Qi'."
Just then, a deep voice rang out.
"Senior Brother?"
Wen Wan froze as she saw someone approaching.
Fang Xi looked over and saw a man with bronze skin, a square face, and a green robe. A faint circle of primordial magnetic power emanated from his body. Fang Xi nodded slightly.
'As expected, he cultivates primordial magnetic power. . . However, Divine Wood Island is protected by an Earth Immortal, so obtaining their true inheritance methods would be extremely difficult. '
In such a major sect, very few disciples would likely receive the true inheritance.
Not to mention, this Wen Wan certainly wouldn't!
And even if this senior brother of Divine Wood Island knew some, it probably wouldn't be complete.
To get the complete primordial magnetic true inheritance, one would probably have to ask the Divine Wood Island Ancestor himself!
"I am Duanmu Long. Greetings, Fellow Daoist. The 'Earth Six Extremes Malign Qi' in Fellow Daoist's hand is extremely useful to me. Would you be willing to part with it?"
Duanmu Long bowed to Fang Xi.
"I only deal with Fellow Daoist Wen."
Fang Xi shook his head and looked at Wen Wan instead.
Wen Wan clearly hesitated. Duanmu Long immediately said: "I know why Junior Sister wishes to trade for this Dragon Turtle. I happen to have a gourd of 'Azure Yang Pills' that are perfect for Junior Sister's needs. I am willing to offer them to Junior Sister!"
Upon hearing this, Wen Wan was immediately overjoyed.
One must know that for a cultivator, setting up a cauldron for alchemy is an extremely troublesome affair, not to mention the arduous task of collecting hundreds or thousands of spirit herbs at the outset.
Afterward, the alchemy process itself could be accompanied by various tribulations.
Pill Tribulation, Human Tribulation, Karma Tribulation. . .
At any moment, the cauldron could explode, the pills could fail, or even oneself could be implicated!
Even Wen Wan, confident in her sect's protection and the assistance of her fellow disciples, only had a sixty to seventy percent chance of success.
This Duanmu Long directly offering spirit pills saved her immense trouble.
She immediately said delightedly: "Then I'll trade for this 'Earth Six Extremes Malign Qi'."
"Mm."
Fang Xi directly tossed the jade bottle containing the malign qi to Duanmu Long, then chuckled: "Observing Fellow Daoist, your innate primordial magnetic power is profound and refined. You shouldn't need to cultivate the internal alchemy path. . . Could it be that you are doing this for a friend?"
"Haha. . . Fellow Daoist is from the Central Plains. You're likely here for the sword duel as well?"
Duanmu Long shook his head and said: "Then Fellow Daoist might not know, but the Huashan School's cultivation methods are unique, focusing on internal alchemy, and are known as the Golden Core Grand Dao!"
"Yue Hu Zhong himself has already achieved a first-grade Golden Core, so he naturally has no use for it. But he has a junior sister whom he dotes on immensely. Now that I've obtained this opportunity, she'll probably regret it so much she'll bash her head against the ground. . ."
Second update later
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