Chapter 173: Under the Holy Sect's Rule, One Walks as if on Thin Ice

Jiangbei, Gaizhu Mountain.

The spiritual veins here were rich in wood qi, brimming with vitality and the sight of myriad things competing to flourish; Lu Yang and Daoist Yinshan, riding their escape light, soon landed outside the mountain.

"The Holy Sect's previous order was for the cultivators of Jiangbei to gather here."

Daoist Yinshan did not disturb the mountain's arrays; instead, he took out a flying message, ignited it with magic power, and gave it a gentle flick, causing it to transform into spiritual light and fly into the mountain.

Moments later, a graceful figure walked out from within the mountain.

The newcomer possessed beautiful eyes rippling like waves, eyebrows painted with pink powder, and a skirt hem ending just below her hips, revealing glimpses of what lay beneath, while a fragrant scent wafted from her body.

"Han Xiang, a cultivator of the lower sects, pays respects to the High True Ones of the Holy Sect."

As soon as the woman appeared, she bowed gracefully, her posture perfectly dignified, yet an air of seduction emanated from her, creating an intensely striking contrast.

However, Lu Yang dared not be careless; this woman named Han Xiang was no simple figure, being the current Sect Master of the Jiangbei Xiangqu Sect, with a cultivation base at the Mid Stage of Foundation Establishment, and it was said that a Great True Person at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment presided over her sect, making it already one of the major demonic sects of note in Jiangbei.

"Since you two High True Ones have traveled far, why not come inside for a chat?"

Han Xiang gave a痴痴 smile, then actively stepped aside; on the surface, it sounded like an ordinary invitation, yet her tone seemed to imply something else entirely.

But who was Lu Yang?

He had always boasted that his Dao heart was as hard as iron and that he was unmoved by beauty; how could he be swayed by such fox-like seduction tactics? He immediately adopted a serious expression:

"Are you the only one here?"

Lu Yang swept the area with his spiritual sense, only to find that the vast Gaizhu Mountain was currently guarded solely by Han Xiang; where were the other Foundation Establishment True Persons summoned by the Holy Sect?

"Replying to my lord, they have gone elsewhere."

Hearing this, Han Xiang revealed a hint of awkwardness: "Upon hearing that High True Ones from the Holy Sect were arriving and that a great battle was imminent, they decided to conduct some private transactions."

Lu Yang was momentarily stunned, then immediately understood; to make a name for oneself under the Holy Sect's rule and become a Foundation Establishment True Person, each must possess several trump cards and some useless items; with a great battle approaching, it was natural to seek ways to exchange those useless items for combat power.

Nevertheless, Lu Yang remained somewhat puzzled.

"Shouldn't this matter be handled at Gaizhu Mountain? Moreover, if the Holy Sect were to host it, would not the efficiency of transactions between the various families be much higher?"

"Uh..."

At these words, Han Xiang's red lips parted slightly, leaving her speechless, while Daoist Yinshan beside her seemed to recall something, revealing a strange expression.

The next second, Daoist Yinshan's voice transmission rang in Lu Yang's ear:

"Junior brother, you do not know; given our Holy Sect's reputation, we are not greatly trusted, and such transactions inevitably require presenting genuine goods."

Lu Yang immediately realized the truth.

Why were they unwilling to let the Holy Sect host the transactions, preferring to do so in private? They feared that a True Person of the Holy Sect would take a fancy to their goods and forcibly buy or sell them!

Thinking even more maliciously, perhaps True Persons of the Holy Sect had even disguised their identities to ambush and rob people halfway, later blaming external enemies for the deeds.

"Have we ever done such things?"

"Absolutely not!"

Daoist Yinshan spoke with utmost conviction, and Lu Yang immediately understood the implication.

They definitely had! And likely quite often!

Thinking of this, Lu Yang's face instantly filled with helplessness; he had not expected that he still underestimated the lower limits of the Holy Sect's True Persons; how could these beasts act so?

"Where are they conducting the transactions? Take me there."

At these words, Han Xiang immediately showed a troubled expression.

Seeing this, Lu Yang's demeanor turned solemn: "Do not misunderstand; I, Lu Yang, am different from other Holy Sect True Persons; I would absolutely never engage in such halfway ambushes and robberies."

You have already thought of it, yet you tell me you would not do it?

However, since things had come to this point, how dare she refuse?

'Under the Holy Sect's rule, one walks as if on thin ice...'

Han Xiang secretly cursed in her heart, yet dared not show the slightest trace on her face; she could only sigh: "This humble one will immediately guide the High True One there; I hope the High True One will not take offense..."

Hearing this, Lu Yang slightly curled the corners of his mouth, revealing an amiable smile: "I previously acquired several magic treasures overseas; they are useless in my hands, so it would be better to trade them away; firstly, this can increase the combat power of the Jiangbei cultivators, and secondly, it can exchange for some more useful treasures for me."

"... h?"

Upon hearing this, Han Xiang's beautiful eyes instantly brightened; after all, magic treasures produced by the Holy Sect, even if useless to Lu Yang, were exquisite items to them.

"However, Gaizhu Mountain still needs a True Person to guard it..."

"I will do it," Daoist Yinshan volunteered: "Yuan Tu, you go with her; leave this place to me."

"... hen many thanks, Senior Brother."

Lu Yang and Daoist Yinshan exchanged a glance, seemingly reaching some consensus, then nodded.

Moments later, in a mountain forest outside Qing Kingdom.

Lu Yang and Han Xiang, each riding their escape light to conceal their forms, descended into the forest, finally stopping before a mountain cave where they released their own qi auras.

They walked into the cave.

Inside, several figures had already gathered; a rough glance showed there were even more than ten, all looking toward the two of them.

However, everyone had concealed their qi auras and forms, clearly unwilling to expose their identities at the trading meeting; after all, the major powers of Jiangbei were not as close as one family, and among the Foundation Establishment True Persons summoned by the Holy Sect, there were even those who were ancestral enemies, so naturally, they dared not be too overt.

Moreover, anonymity was more suitable for fencing stolen goods.

From this perspective, the Jiangbei cultivators had indeed been influenced by the Holy Sect, each being cunning and shrewd, though this also made it convenient for Lu Yang to blend in.

"The time has arrived."

With a soft shout, a earth-yellow brilliance lit up in the center of the cave, and an old man with white hair and white robes walked out from within it.

Almost simultaneously, Han Xiang transmitted a voice message to Lu Yang, introducing him: "This person is named Old Man Diao Long, a rogue cultivator of Jiangbei; he likely inherited a legacy from a major sect or encountered some other opportunity, thus he is also at the Mid Stage of Foundation Establishment; this transaction meeting was first proposed by him."

Hearing this, Lu Yang immediately narrowed his eyes.

Among the Foundation Establishment True Persons present, only this Old Man Diao Long had not concealed his appearance or qi aura, showing that this True Person had full confidence in his own strength.

He was simply fearless.

Immediately after, Old Man Diao Long in the center of the arena smiled slightly: "Since this trading meeting was proposed by this old man, let this old man start things off."

Having spoken, he waved his large hand.

The next second, the temperature inside the cave suddenly rose, and surging blood qi spread out like raging fire and the scorching sun, revealing the corpse of a majestic and ferocious flood dragon!

"Some days ago, a True Person of the Holy Sect fought a battle overseas, causing great chaos in the overseas regions; this old man was lucky enough to fish up a flood dragon at the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment during the turmoil; the tendons and bones can be used to refine treasures, the blood can be used to strengthen yang energy, and there is also half a dragon horn... This old man seeks only one bottle of life-extending elixir."

At these words, everyone fell silent.

If it were merely life-extending pills, many present would have them; however, what Foundation Establishment True Persons called 'life extension' actually referred to methods capable of neutralizing the Bi Wind.

For instance, the Wind-Avoiding Pill that Peak Master Senior Butian had once given to Arhat Fu Long was precisely this kind of treasure.

Unfortunately, this seemed to be Peak Master Senior Butian's personal opportunity and unrelated to Senior Butian Peak itself, so after Lu Yang took over Senior Butian Peak, he had not obtained the pill or its formula.

Moments later, a brilliance suddenly lit up at the original spot.

When the brilliance dissipated, the corpse of the Foundation Establishment flood dragon that Old Man Diao Long had just displayed had vanished from the spot, clearly indicating that someone had completed the transaction with him in secret.

Using brilliance to conceal the exchange was clearly intended to prevent others from knowing who had obtained the treasure.

"Next..."

Soon, more Foundation Establishment True Persons stepped forward to trade one after another, offering a wide variety of items including magic treasures, elixirs, and Daoist techniques, almost everything one could imagine.

Even Han Xiang went up to conduct a transaction once.

However, what left Lu Yang speechless was that during her transaction, Han Xiang had actually disguised her form to resemble a burly man, and her voice was extremely rough.

Was it really necessary to be so cautious?

Just then, another brilliance suddenly lit up inside the cave, and a Daoist child with a youthful appearance but acting with the air of an old man walked out.

Another one who did not conceal their appearance or form.

"It is the Sect Master of Duobao Boy's Fenbao Cliff, a True Person at the Mid Stage of Foundation Establishment!"

"He actually came too?"

"This is a fat sheep indeed; even Holy Sect True Persons have robbed him before!"

For a moment, many Foundation Establishment True Persons stared straight at him, yet when that Daoist child looked over, most of them dared not meet his gaze.

After all, most of those present were at the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment, and for them, the Mid Stage of Foundation Establishment already held considerable deterrent power.

Only Lu Yang narrowed his eyes upon seeing this.

'Interesting...'

He glanced at Duobao Boy, whose entire body overflowed with treasure light, so much so that he might as well have the words 'fishing' pasted on his forehead, then suddenly broke into a smile.

(End of Chapter)