Chapter 36: Skeleton Mountain Market

Relying on his knowledge of Zhao Xuhe from several past lives, Lu Yang quickly grew close to him, allowing Zhao Xuhe to feel respect from an outsider once again.

To be honest, he had not felt this way in many years.

Ever since the price of the Substitute Death Yin Puppet crashed, Panlong Island mysteriously vanished, and even his master, the Heaven-Mending Peak Master, could not calculate the cause and effect, his days had become increasingly difficult.

First, his master became increasingly disappointed in him; second, his cultivation struggled to advance a single inch. A full ten years had passed, yet he remained stuck at the Mid-Level Qi Refining stage, unable to break through the bottleneck. If there was any good news to be had, it was that his master, seeing his decline, had cancelled his engagement with his junior sister.

The world is unpredictable, and human feelings are cold; Zhao Xuhe had tasted it all over these ten years.

Therefore, upon hearing that Lu Yang had exited the market at the peak price of the Substitute Death Yin Puppet and thus achieved financial freedom, Zhao Xuhe was so envious that his eyes turned red.

"Alas, junior brother, your Dao heart is firm, unharmed by wealth; your future achievements are limitless. It is a pity I did not possess such a Dao heart back then."

"Senior brother, do not belittle yourself."

Lu Yang comforted him in a low voice: "Fortune is not determined by a single day or moment. As long as you are determined to walk the path of immortality, what does a brief setback matter?"

"You are right."

Zhao Xuhe nodded, seeming to perk up a little, then tentatively glanced at Lu Yang, opened his mouth, yet said nothing.

To Lu Yang, such behavior made his intentions perfectly clear.

He wants to borrow money.

Lu Yang smiled faintly. Since Zhao Xuhe did not speak, he naturally would not bring it up proactively; after all, if something is obtained too easily, one will not know how to cherish it.

Just then, a voice suddenly rang out from the flying boat:

"We have arrived at Skeleton Mountain!"

Northern Frontier, Skeleton Mountain.

Named a mountain, it was actually a vast mountain range stretching hundreds of miles, with peaks gathering like waves and surging like anger, every inch of land brimming with spiritual energy.

There was a reason the Holy Sect established a market here. Although it fell far short of the Sky-Connecting Cloud Sea, for secular scattered cultivators, Skeleton Mountain could already be called a treasure land. At the very center of the range stood a White Bone Cave, where the Holy Sect's market was located.

"The feng shui of this place is an extreme Yin ground."

On the deck of the flying boat, Lu Yang looked down at the mountain veins of Skeleton Mountain, somewhat surprised: "Any cultivator buried here will inevitably transform into a Jiangshi within ten years."

"Junior brother's insight is sharp as a torch."

A sudden burst of rosy light appeared, and the Fairy of Flying Rosy Light, her feathered cloak fluttering, stepped out: "Therefore, the Holy Sect sent us to guard Skeleton Mountain and maintain order in the market."

"As junior brother said, due to the special feng shui, a massive zombie tide appears at Skeleton Mountain once every thirty years. These zombies possess no intelligence and know only how to devour the living. This is the risk of Skeleton Mountain, but also an opportunity, after all, these zombies are excellent materials for refining artifacts."

After explaining, the Fairy of Flying Rosy Light continued:

"The market is protected by the 'Hundred Bones Return to Truth Great Array'. Daoist Lu and Daoist Chen are responsible for two of the four array eyes; shall the remaining two be taken by junior brother and me respectively?"

"I await senior sister's orders."

Hearing this, the Fairy of Flying Rosy Light nodded, then furrowed her embroidered brows slightly, glancing at Zhao Xuhe beside Lu Yang, whose eyes were wide and face filled with disbelief.

"What?" Lu Yang asked curiously, "Does senior sister know Senior Brother Zhao?"

"... No."

The Fairy of Flying Rosy Light coldly withdrew her gaze, no longer looking at Zhao Xuhe, but instead smiled gently at Lu Yang: "In the future, I will have to ask junior brother to take good care of me."

Having spoken, she rode a beam of rosy light and flew away.

Zhao Xuhe remained on the spot, his expression complex; he had clearly guessed that Lu Yang's ability to command the market meant his strength was far beyond the Mid-Level Qi Refining stage he had sensed.

"Senior Brother Zhao?"

Lu Yang's voice came, and Zhao Xuhe froze.

Joy and desolation appeared on his face; his lips moved, yet he made no sound. Finally, his demeanor became respectful, and he called out distinctly:

"My lord."

Seeing this, Lu Yang could only sigh helplessly: "Senior Brother Zhao, I have official duties to attend to. If you encounter any difficulties in the future, contact me at any time."

With that, he also rode a beam of light and departed.

Only Zhao Xuhe remained on the spot, his expression shifting between light and dark. The various emotions from before quickly receded, replaced by a look of contemplation in his eyes.

"He is wary of me; it seems I was too hasty."

Entering the market, Lu Yang recalled Zhao Xuhe's recent reaction and couldn't help but chuckle softly: "Just as I predicted, he came to this market for another purpose."

"Good, good!"

"In this life, I shall regard him as my closest friend!"

Lu Yang was not afraid of Zhao Xuhe's wariness, because he had enough patience.

If necessary, he could even abandon this life, truly be best friends with Zhao Xuhe for a lifetime, and gather intelligence to lay the groundwork for the next life!

While pondering, Lu Yang had already arrived before a pavilion.

This place was one of the four array eyes of the market, and also the area with the most spiritual energy in Skeleton Mountain, estimated to reach thirty percent of the level of a Holy Sect cave dwelling.

"Blood-Washing Tianhe Sword Array Diagram, activate!"

Lu Yang swept his wide sleeve, and the Blood Sun Sword Pill flew into the pavilion to guard the center; subsequently, rows of array patterns expanded, beginning to replace the original patterns.

Although the 'Hundred Bones Return to Truth Great Array' of the market was more miraculous than the Blood-Washing Tianhe Sword Array, first, Lu Yang only occupied one of the array eyes, and second, as an array master, Lu Yang did not like to entrust his life and safety to an array set up by an outsider.

"After all, I have many secrets."

"Moreover, since the Skeleton Mountain market was established so long ago, even if this 'Hundred Bones Return to Truth Great Array' is highly advanced, its effects are already known to all."

The more one's background and vulnerabilities are exposed, the easier it is to be targeted.

Therefore, if a powerful figure truly attacks the Skeleton Mountain market, they must be prepared with techniques to break the 'Hundred Bones Return to Truth Great Array'.

So by that time, the Hundred Bones Return to Truth Great Array might not be of much use.

Having said that, Lu Yang did not directly abandon the array; instead, he opened a new area within the pavilion, an array hidden within an array, serving as a trump card.

After finishing all this, Lu Yang nodded in satisfaction.

Immediately after, he waved his large hand again, naming the pavilion 'Blood Robe Tower', formally settling down in the Skeleton Mountain market and gaining an external title.

Just then, more than a dozen beams of escape light were seen flying towards them.

These were all disciples of the Holy Sect assigned to Lu Yang's area, their cultivation generally at the early and mid stages of Qi Condensation, all here to undertake tasks in the market.

The fleeing lights scattered one by one after entering the Blood Robe Tower, revealing the figures of male and female, old and young cultivators of various appearances. One by one, they approached the tower platform with faces full of awe, only to see a handsome young man in blood-red robes leaning against the railing beside the platform, smiling as he looked down upon all of them.

"Pay our respects to the Tower Master!"

The group of disciples dared not be negligent and bowed respectfully. Although within the Holy Sect they could address each other as senior and junior brothers, outside the Holy Sect, titles must be used.

Besides, this was a senior brother at the late stage of Qi Condensation!

Early stage, mid stage, late stage, and Great Perfection of the Qi Condensation realm—these appeared to be merely four minor realms, yet the gap between them could truly be called a chasm.

"No need for formalities."

Looking at the row of figures below, Lu Yang nodded in satisfaction and thought to himself: "Not bad. At a glance, they are all cattle and horses; there is no one capable among them."

Setting aside other matters, the Holy Sect's cultivation environment is indeed top-tier. Therefore, generally speaking, cultivators who choose external transfer are either like Lu Yang and Fairy Feixia, aiming for Foundation Establishment, or like these people before him: poor talent, advanced age, and no money, unable to survive in the Holy Sect.

"If I wish, one person and one sword are enough to kill everyone."

Those with the intention to build a faction might be dissatisfied with this situation, but Lu Yang felt this was just right; the atmosphere of weakness made him feel very secure.

"Everyone disperse. Handle minor matters yourselves; there is no need to come to me."

After casually giving the order, Lu Yang directly announced the dismissal of guests, then sealed the Blood Robe Tower, preparing to cultivate peacefully in seclusion until the opportunity for Foundation Establishment appeared!

(End of this chapter)