Chapter 32

When Wang Ping walked out of the cave, the heavy snow had already stopped.

Under the afterglow of the setting sun, the pure white snow was draped with a layer of red gauze, filling the view with nothing but red light.

Flying close to the treetops, Wang Ping furrowed his brows; since entering the cultivation world, he has always cultivated discreetly.

Most of his time was spent in the cold cave dwelling.

His cave dwelling never had abundant spiritual energy, was not exquisite or delicate, and lacked rare flowers and herbs.

For over ten years he cultivated alone in silence, taking a Bigu Pill every ten days, having tried every flavor; even so, he felt like vomiting after eating it.

Recalling his cultivation history, it was completely different from what he had imagined.

Only his steadfast resolve to seek the Dao allowed him to persist in the early stages of cultivation.

From refining the first wisp of spiritual power to now having 1280 wisps, he spent sixteen years.

He originally thought his cultivation life would continue like this until Foundation Establishment.

Who would have thought that, after ten years of changing tides, an obscure cultivator like himself would be thrust into the spotlight by two major powers because of the Reverse Fire Curse?

Wang Ping's gaze was deep and calm; while flying low, azure light flickered on his body.

After half a cup of tea, a cultivator with thick eyebrows and large eyes, dressed in black, flew out from the azure light.

According to Lan Bing, the two major powers have been looking for him since a year ago.

However, this was limited to some long-established Foundation Establishment powers.

Powers like the newly formed Three Slaughter Sect would not receive such news.

All the major long-established powers unanimously excluded these newly risen forces that had arisen due to the rise of the Soul Refining Hall.

So Jia Li did not recognize him.

His original plan was to return to the sect gate to exchange for the intermediate Azure Light Sword Technique, even the advanced Azure Light Sword Technique.

Paired with a high-grade magic sword, he believed he could then roam freely in the Qi Refining stage.

Wang Ping flew while thinking, and ultimately decided he still wanted to infiltrate the Azure Moon Sect.

The three major powers once formed the Three Yuan Alliance; at a time when they desperately needed manpower, if he could infiltrate it, he might earn the Azure Light Sword Technique through merit.

This method was too risky, but thinking of the Azure Origin Sword Technique's effect on him, Wang Ping's eyes revealed a hint of determination.

To infiltrate the Three Yuan Alliance, he must change his appearance and also possess another set of combat methods.

Even the current Azure Light Sword Technique cannot be used with the Heaven-covering Seal.

No, that's unnecessary; the low-level Azure Light Sword Technique has already become known, and in the cultivation world many cultivators actually know it.

Wang Ping suddenly recalled the rule he heard in the sect: as long as an outsider cultivator cultivates the Azure Light Sword Technique to produce three sword lights and is under forty years old, he can join the sect based on that.

He is currently thirty-one, still far from forty.

Not only can he separate into three sword lights, but he can also merge the three swords into one.

Wang Ping's eyes flickered as he considered what attitude he should adopt to enter the sect.

Entering ostentatiously to gain fame as a genius, or entering discreetly to quietly accumulate merit.

The first method allows him to obtain the intermediate Azure Light Sword Technique as quickly as possible after entering the sect, but the drawback is that he would be thrust into the spotlight, making his every move likely to be watched.

The second method excels in concealment, attracting little attention, though the opportunity to obtain the Azure Light Sword Technique takes a bit longer.

After thinking it over, Wang Ping still couldn't decide, so he temporarily set it aside; his most urgent task now is to purchase a mid-grade flying sword artifact.

Switching his main cultivation to the Azure Wood Longevity Technique, he sought a way to conceal his spiritual root.

Upon entering the sect, testing the spiritual root is inevitable; he possesses a low-grade fire-wood dual spiritual root, which is too conspicuous, and if exposed, the sect cultivators would immediately think of Wang Ping.

Since the Treasure Gathering Pavilion has relocated, Wang Ping no longer prepares to go to Phantom Moon City but instead flies directly toward the Song State.

One month later, at Wan Ning Mountain on the border of the Song State.

This place lies at the Song State's border, adjoining the Zhao and Jin States.

Consequently, over time a sizable market formed.

The market's original owner had been backed by the Heaven Sword Sect; after the three sects merged and relocated to Zhao State, and Ju Bao Pavilion moved in, the market was officially renamed Ju Bao Market.

When Wang Ping entered here looking like a burly, large man, many cultivators were already coming and going on the market streets.

This was Wang Ping's first time here; seeing such a bustling market, a hint of repression flashed in his eyes hidden beneath his cloak.

As expected of a cultivator's market, everyone visible was at mid Qi Refining or higher, with a few whose depths could not be discerned.

The spiritual power emanating from him was frightening; Wang Ping's heart jolted — a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

I never expected Ju Bao Market to attract Foundation Establishment cultivators here, and not a few; just from what he saw, there were already three.

Wang Ping entered through the market's north gate, wandered about, and arrived at the south gate, where many cultivators set up stalls on the ground.

Such a phenomenon is common in the cultivation world; sometimes you can see Foundation Establishment cultivators also setting up stalls on the ground.

As soon as he entered here, Wang Ping's ears were filled with various hawking cries.

"A thousand-year-old Black Spirit Flower! The best herb for refining spiritual power! Ten spirit stones per stalk!"

"A hundred-year-old Dark Mystic Root! It can strengthen bodily strength; the best choice for body-refining cultivators!"

"A piece of Crimson Veil Secret Gold — an excellent material for crafting mid-tier metal-type magical implements, fifty spirit stones per catty!"

"A piece of black coral crystal produced from the Ten Thousand Islands Lake of Jin State, priced at one thousand spirit stones!"

Black coral crystal — Wang Ping's eyes lit up; this is a good thing. When crafting magical implements, adding a bit can effectively eliminate compatibility issues between materials.

If it were white coral crystal, the price would be higher; when fused into a magical treasure during refinement, it not only resolves some compatibility issues but also enhances quality.

By the time Wang Ping reached the stall, it was already surrounded, impenetrable.

More than twenty cultivators surrounded the stall owner, haggling endlessly; no matter how extravagant their claims, the stall owner refused to lower the price.

Wang Ping stood outside, watching cultivator after cultivator leave disappointed, while the middle-aged stall owner remained calm and composed.

He showed no panic; observing his cultivation, he was at the peak of Qi Refining, so many cultivators dared not use force against him.

Wang Ping's lips curled; he knew why the other remained so unhurried — after Jin State was occupied by the Soul Refining Hall, coral crystal had become scarce.

Even in the past three years, this kind of material cannot be seen in any major cultivation market.

As the saying goes, rarity makes value; the increasingly scarce coral crystal has become a priceless treasure.

The coral crystal originally worth five hundred spirit stones was sold by him for eleven hundred spirit stones.

In just a quarter of an hour, many cultivators left in droves, while the stall owner remained seated calmly before his stall.

One thousand spirit stones is indeed steep, but Wang Ping could afford it; he still had ten thousand spirit stones on him, enough to buy it with plenty to spare, yet he was unwilling to waste that money.

There are many ways to solve the compatibility problem; coral crystal is not necessarily the best.

Just now, upon hearing about this refining material, I reacted subconsciously.

No longer paying attention to the stall owner, Wang Ping prepared to leave, when he suddenly saw the stall owner lift some items from the stall and then bring out another batch placed on the ground.

It was precisely this batch of items that caught his attention.

Wang Ping walked up to the stall without changing his expression; before he could speak, the stall owner directly said in a cold tone:

"One thousand spirit stones, no haggling—buy it if you want, otherwise get lost!"

Obviously seeing that Wang Ping was only at the late Qi Refining stage, his tone was utterly unfriendly.

Wang Ping narrowed his eyes slightly, releasing a wisp of killing intent; the middle-aged stall owner, who had originally had his eyes closed, snapped them open, and a sharp gaze fell upon the cultivator crouching before him.

Through the black cloak, the middle-aged stall owner actually felt his eyes sting; just now, that cultivator's eyes seemed like two small suns.

The glare made his eyes ache, and now he finally put away his nonchalant attitude, no longer sizing up the customer, but instead spoke in a gentler tone.

"Feel free to look at whatever you want to buy, but the coral crystal's price will not be lowered!"

Wang Ping nodded, first glanced at the coral crystal, lingered there deliberately, then took a casual look at all the items on the stall.

While scanning over a rusted metal strip, he paused imperceptibly for a moment.

Such a moment was very brief; afterward he shifted his gaze elsewhere.

After scanning the stall's wares once, Wang Ping directly picked up three items from the stall.

"Boss! How many spirit stones for these three?"

The stall owner glanced at them doubtfully, felt some hesitation, and then quoted a price:

"Fifty spirit stones, take it all!"

"Too expensive! Forty!"

The stall owner glared, "Forty‑five, no more bargaining."

Wang Ping nodded and said, "All right, forty‑five it is, but I'd like to pick out two more trinkets—is that okay?"

The stall owner nodded; on his stall only the coral crystal was worth anything, the rest together amounted to no more than a hundred spirit stones.

Wang Ping naturally picked up that black metal strip and five jade bottles.

After paying the spirit stones, Wang Ping rose to leave, unable to suppress a smile at the corner of his mouth.

He didn't care about the metal strip itself; what he cared about was the rust‑like substance on the metal.

Gold Soil Powder! This is also a material that solves the compatibility problem in the refining chamber.

Unlike coral crystal, Gold Soil Powder can perfectly resolve the compatibility between gold and earth materials, though only for the forging of magical artifacts.

What does perfectly solving the material compatibility problem mean?

Top‑grade magical artifact!