Chapter 69: The First Layer of the Cangbaoge

"Brother, you might not know."

"Within the Inner Peak, it's actually the same as our Outer Peak; there are also three, six, nine grades."

"People like us who have just passed the Four Peaks Grand Competition can only be considered Named Disciples of the Inner Peak and can only act on the Cangbaoge First Layer."

"Only after passing the Inner Peak entry assessment task can one formally become an Outer Disciple, and then can go to the Cangbaoge Second Layer."

"Beyond that, Inner Disciples can proceed to the Third Layer!"

"As for higher levels, those are only open to Inner Peak Personal Disciples like Senior Sister Zi Yuan."

"Here, all disciples' cultivation is forcibly suppressed at the Refining Qi Realm, and their true Qi is difficult to mobilize…"

Listening to the slow explanation of Qin Wenyi beside him, Li Mu suddenly turned his head and asked in doubt, "True Qi is difficult to mobilize?"

"Yes!"

Qin Wenyi nodded affirmatively, then stretched his hand toward the ceiling and pointed: "Brother, this Cangbaoge is just like the Gong Fa Dian we visited before; it is also arranged with extremely high‑grade formations!"

"All cultivators who come here, unless they are powerful cultivators whose strength reaches a certain level, will be restricted by the formation!"

Upon hearing this, Li Mu's expression grew even stranger.

He clenched his fists, tried to mobilize his true Qi, and found it flowing smoothly without any hint of lag or stiffness.

But soon, Li Mu, as if he realized something, had his consciousness sink into the Tian Dao Treasure Scroll!

Sure enough, on the Tian Dao Treasure Scroll, the names of Lin Zecheng, Qin Siwu and others all flickered in unison.

At the same time, the specks of light emanating from their names merged into his own true Qi, causing his true Qi to gradually expand!

Obviously, the suppressive negative effect of this formation has been completely transferred to Lin Zecheng, Qin Siwu and those sacrificial scapegoats.

And through the formation's suppression, Li Mu's own true Qi not only remained unaffected, but kept growing.

It feels somewhat like weight training.

Only, I don't have to pay any cost for weight training; I just get the benefit of freely leeching true Qi that keeps strengthening.

Honestly.

If it weren't for Qin Wenyi specifically mentioning this.

Li Mu hadn't even realized that this Cangbaoge also contains such a terrifying grand formation!

Thinking of this, Li Mu clenched his fists again.

Feeling the surging true Qi within his body, his spirit couldn't help but become excited!

It seems that so far I've only tapped into and used a tip of the iceberg of the Tian Dao Treasure Scroll.

As long as there are enough sacrificial scapegoats on the Tian Dao Treasure Scroll, then in the future, no matter what prohibitions or formations I encounter, I can come and go freely without any restriction, right?

Li Mu's mouth curved upward as he thought to himself, "With this ability, on the cultivation path I'll be even more like a fish in water!"

After completing registration and receiving the waist badge symbolizing his status, Li Mu and Qin Wenyi entered the Cangbaoge First Layer.

As the outermost area of the Cangbaoge, this place itself does not store the Ziyang Sect's precious treasures.

What gathers here are mostly various small stalls set up by Inner Peak disciples, as well as individual storefronts.

Countless spiritual treasure weapons, Heavenly Treasures, myriad spirit beings, and so on fill the place; people come and go, making it bustling beyond compare.

It makes one feel as if they've entered a treasure city!

"So, on the Cangbaoge First Layer, Inner Peak disciples can set up stalls and open shops."

Li Mu was about to walk toward a stall when Qin Wenyi beside him quietly tugged his sleeve, leaned in, and whispered in a voice only the two could hear.

"Brother!"

"You might not know since it's your first time here; the water in this Cangbaoge runs deep!"

Li Mu halted his steps, turned to Qin Wenyi, and signaled him to continue.

"Although the Cangbaoge First Layer has quite a few premium goods, most are just filler, substandard items passed off as good."

"Among them…"

"There are also plenty of counterfeit items!"

"But because this is the Cangbaoge First Layer, the prices are the cheapest and most affordable."

"From time to time, experienced sharp‑eyed people, or lucky folks, manage to buy premium goods and hit a big jackpot!"

"However, such people are still a minority!"

"Moreover, last time at the Ziyang Daochang, many Inner Peak disciples lost a lot of contribution points because brother lost them!"

"In short, brother, you should still take it easy!"

The reason Qin Wenyi said so much was simply because he feared Li Mu would be taken advantage of.

After all, Li Mu had just received a large sum of sect contribution points from Senior Sister Zi Yuan.

He himself was here for the first time and had no experience at all.

To these seasoned Inner Peak veterans, he would be a perfect, naive, money‑rich fat lamb.

They each sharpened their knives, lining up to try to strike Li Mu down!

Only, Qin Wenyi didn't realize that his worry was completely unnecessary.

"Can't you see what golden finger Li Mu awakened after crossing over!"

"The Tian Dao Identification System, right!"

"Unless each of these stall owners possesses a defying ability that can conceal the Tian Dao."

"Otherwise…"

"Whatever you have on your stall, Li Mu scans it in a glance, the system identifies it, and all the product information comes out!"

Thus, for others, such premium goods might only be obtainable by sheer luck.

But for Li Mu, coming to the Cangbaoge First Layer is basically no different from going to a wholesale market to stock up.

"Want to trap Li Mu?"

Next life, then!

Li Mu thought with a hint of pride, and his gaze turned to the nearest street stall.

The stall owner was an Inner Peak disciple of third‑rank Concentration Realm.

He clearly recognized Li Mu, instantly broke into a smile, and greeted him warmly.

"Junior brother, come take a look!"

"To be honest!"

"All the treasures on my stall are things my senior brother fetched after venturing into secret realms, surviving near‑death in ancient ruins to obtain them."

"We don't cheat our own!"

"Guaranteed purchase is profit!"

Faced with the stall owner's enthusiastic shouts, Li Mu was too lazy to respond.

A thought flickered, and he instantly summoned the Heavenly Dao Identification System, casually scanning each item.

Sure enough!

Just as Li Mu had suspected, detailed information and introductions for each product were displayed in full on the virtual panel before him.

They were all ordinary goods, even mixed with many counterfeit items, nothing worth noting.

After the scan, Li Mu calmly withdrew his gaze and continued wandering the first layer of Cangbaoge with Qian Wenyi.

While strolling, Li Mu kept using the Heavenly Dao Identification System to identify the stall items.

But what disappointed Li Mu was that

after a round of wandering the Cangbaoge First Layer, he found that

although many stalls displayed Heavenly Treasures and spiritual weapon treasures, the overwhelming majority were merely gray‑market goods!

Some were exaggerated, others had hidden flaws or damage in the spiritual artifacts or Heavenly Treasures themselves.

Usually they feel they can't use them soon, so they resort to repackaging, presenting inferior items as if they were fine.

After all, the grade remains the same.

But once you actually buy it, you realize you've been ripped off!

Even though some are top‑quality, flawless in every aspect!

Yet those premium items are priced too high, and Li Mu lost interest.

Just as Li Mu thought the place offered nothing worthwhile and was boring,

seeing the time was near, Li Mu decided to leave with Qian Wenyi and head straight to the auction.

hoping to see if he could snag any bargains there!

"What is this..."

At that moment, Li Mu suddenly halted, looked in a direction, and a strange hue flashed in his eyes.

Qian Wenyi, standing nearby, also stopped and followed Li Mu's gaze.

There, in an inconspicuous corner, stood a young man wearing a bamboo hat and a Daoist robe that concealed his face!

His aura was sharp and dominant, at least an eighth‑rank Concentration Realm cultivator!

More striking, the waist badge on the hat‑wearer indicated he was an Inner Disciple of Inner Peak!

When Li Mu and Qian Wenyi approached, the hat‑wearer kept his head slightly lowered, never raising his eyes to meet theirs, and calmly said, "Only look, no touching!"

Li Mu nodded, then bent down to stare at a pitch‑black object at the stall's edge.

That jet‑black thing, by its shape, was clearly a cauldron for alchemy!

But unlike the usual pearl‑gloss, imposing alchemy cauldrons.

The cauldron before Li Mu was as black as dark iron, even coated with a thick layer of rust!

Such an orange‑hued cauldron could not even be called a "battle‑damaged version"; the heavy rust made anyone frown.

One might even doubt whether using this would contaminate one's spirit herbs or elixirs.

And whether the resulting pill would still be edible…

However, with the Heavenly Dao Identification System active, information about the cauldron surfaced.

【Dragon Pattern Purple Gold Cauldron】

【Grade: Superior Spiritual Artifact (enhanceable)】

【Quality: Defective】

【Type: Artifact】

【Effect: Unknown】

"Sss…"

"This unassuming cauldron is actually a Superior Spiritual Artifact!"

"Crucial, that's not the point!"

"The point is…"

"This Superior Spiritual Artifact can actually be upgraded?"

Seeing this, Li Mu's eyes lit up instantly!

Although the Vengeance Blade in Li Mu's hand can be enhanced!

But that is merely a system product blessed by a Thousandfold Heavenly Dao Blessing!

And this Dragon Pattern Purple Gold Cauldron is the first artifact Li Mu has encountered in the Qian Kun Realm that can be enhanced by its own attribute!

Since it can be enhanced!

That means, provided the materials and resources are sufficient, this Dragon Pattern Purple Gold Cauldron itself possesses near‑infinite growth potential.

Not to mention…

Before any enhancement, the Dragon‑pattern Purple Gold Cauldron was already at the Upper‑Grade Spiritual Artifact tier, truly extraordinary.

No matter what, I must get it into my hands!

"Senior brother, I want to buy this alchemical furnace!"

He made up his mind.

Li Mu, too lazy to waste ink, simply raised his hand toward that furnace and said bluntly.

Hearing that,

The bamboo‑hat youth lazily lifted his eyelids, gave Li Mu a glance, neither warm nor cold, and said, "15,000 Sect Contribution Points!"

"You damn it!"

"Young master is really opening his mouth wide, huh?"

"The two of you just met, and he immediately asks for 15,000 Sect Contribution Points!"

Qian Wenyi, hearing this, was startled sharply and shouted angrily, "Your alchemical furnace is already rusted, is that so?"

"You still have the nerve to sell it for 15,000 Contribution Points? You really treat us like piglets!"

"Hmph!"

The bamboo‑hat youth let out a cold hum and said lightly, "If you want to buy, buy; if not, get lost!"

"Don't be an eyesore in front of me!"

"15,000 Sect Contribution Points, right?"

"Deal!"

Without waiting for Qian Wenyi to haggle further, Li Mu tossed a Jade Slip worth 15,000 Sect Contribution Points over.

This spent more than half of his own savings, making Li Mu feel a sharp sting of pain.

But compared with the value of the Dragon‑pattern Purple Gold Cauldron, it was truly negligible!

So Li Mu, too lazy to bargain, bought it on the spot to avoid any further complications.

"Pleasant!"

"I just like doing business with junior brothers like you!"

Seeing Li Mu's generous offer, the bamboo‑hat youth took the Jade Slip, and his tone softened a bit as he said, "This alchemical furnace now belongs to you!"

Li Mu nodded.

Then without further words, he handed it directly to Qian Wenyi!

The Dragon‑pattern Purple Gold Cauldron is both clumsy and heavy; he doesn't want to parade this thing around.

"That's too stupid!"

Since Qian Wenyi also has a spatial artifact, he simply let him carry it.

Qian Wenyi looked at the clumsy, heavy furnace in his hand, slipped it into the space jade pendant at his waist, and sighed, "Boss, you're being foolish!"

"Spending 15,000 Sect Contribution Points just to buy this pile of junk!"

"What a huge loss!"

But Li Mu, indifferent, waved his hand lightly and said, "Hey!"

"Just a momentary impulse, after all it's only 15,000 Sect Contribution Points!"

"Just splash some water!"

Seeing that, Qian Wenyi pursed his lips, though he was seething inside, he didn't say much.

"The speaker was careless, but the listener took it to heart."

Li Mu's remark instantly drew many nearby Inner Peak disciples to look his way.

Among them, some even showed greed in their eyes.

Later, Li Mu and Qian Wenyi circled the first floor of the Cangbaoge again and found nothing left to pick up.

As the auction start time approached, they prepared to leave.

But just as the two were about to leave, someone suddenly bumped into them!

Li Mu turned around and saw two people had appeared behind him.

One of them moved in an even more exaggerated way!

He straight‑up fell to the ground, rolling continuously while wailing in a hoarse voice.

That moment attracted the attention of many passing disciples nearby, all turning to look at Li Mu!