Chapter 207: Old Things

《Jingming Three Tribulations Finger》?

Cheng Xinzhan looked at Shen Zhaoming.

Shen Zhaoming knitted his brows and said in a low voice, "It is indeed my sect's spell, and it is an extremely practical spell. From disciples down to the sect master, all can use it. However, it also belongs to the exclusive spell of my Jingming Sect and is not allowed to be passed on to outsiders."

This is truly retribution. They had just forced out an Emei secret method, and now they ran into their own sect's spell being lost.

Not allowing one's own sect's spells to be passed on to outsiders is the duty of every disciple. So even though Shen Zhaoming had learned this 《Jingming Three Tribulations Finger》 long ago, he had to bid at this moment—it was inconvenient to expose his identity and make a big scene now, but after getting his hands on it, he would naturally have to ask carefully where this thing came from!

However, at this moment, he heard the host of the competition add another sentence,

"This is an undeciphered true copy of a major sect. Buyers, please judge for yourselves."

As soon as this was said, everyone who had been looking forward to it immediately lost interest.

Although the true copy of a major sect has more Dharma essence and is easier to learn, if it is undeciphered, it is not worth spending this money and taking this risk.

Then what is a true copy of a major sect? Generally speaking, the essence of a spell written by the founder of the spell is called the mother copy, which records the founder's understanding of the spell. This is the rarest.

Then there is the version formed after the elders in charge of passing on the Dharma in each sect have concentrated on discussing and repeatedly carving it, which is called the true copy. This version will explain the key points of the spell simply and clearly.

Finally, there is the version passed down by each learner according to their own understanding, which is called the descriptive copy, mixed with each learner's own preferences.

Like the 《Secret Decree of Longevity Taiyuan Manifestation》 that Cheng Xinzhan learned, this is the mother copy passed down through generations in Mount Mingyue. Like the various thunder-path spells he learned from Mount Shuji, this belongs to the true copy. And like the 《Thread-Pulling Puppet Method》 he obtained from Yuchi Zhenyan a few days ago, this belongs to the descriptive copy.

Although the descriptive copy is not necessarily worse and the mother copy is not necessarily better, geniuses who are unprecedented and never to be seen again are rare after all. So generally speaking, the mother copy is precious, the true copy is second, and the descriptive copy is third.

For the various great sects and clans, the master copy is certainly not allowed to be taken out of the sect, the true copy must inevitably be encrypted, and they are repeatedly warned not to leak the key, nor to orally transmit it to outsiders without permission.

However, there are many strange people in the world, so there is such a kind of person who cannot see the light, specializing in cracking the secret keys of each family, and even forming a school. Even some high-level cultivators of major sects are keen on this, doing it secretly.

It is precisely because of such people that undeciphered true copies of major sects will circulate in the black market.

But having said that, it is not certain that one can learn it even after spending two portions of money. So for this Daoist spell of the Jingming Sect, not many people bid. And Shen Zhaoming, as a Golden Core cultivator of a major sect, naturally did not lack money, and this place allowed for bartering. After several rounds of competition, he bought this master's spell back with a golden Poyanghu stone shaped like a Jiao dragon.

Afterward, they waited until dawn, and there was nothing that caught their eyes, and they never opened their mouths to bid.

But the faces of the two had been bad, because such a true copy could flow out, which meant that the situation of its owner should not be very good.

As the sky gradually brightened, the wave of fanaticism gradually subsided, and the glazed treasure pagoda was also put away by a person sitting on the head of the river-drinking toad in the You River. Many onlookers went to rest or prepare property. After all, the assembly lasted for half a month, and it had just begun, so they had to keep their spirits up.

However, the small stalls on the river beach didn't seem to be packed up much. Many people with good spirits didn't need to rest, so they continued to stroll on the river beach. The business here was even better than at night.

Shen Zhaoming and Cheng Xinzhan also went downstairs, came from the mountain to the river, and both revealed their Golden Core aura, so it was easy to find the person who put away the treasure pagoda.

"Fellow Daoist, greetings."

Shen Zhaoming spoke first.

The one sitting on the toad's head was a fat man, smiling happily, with a string of stone beads hanging around his neck, looking like a Maitreya Buddha,

"Fellow Daoist, greetings. Are you the one who collected the 《Jingming Three Tribulations Finger》?"

Shen Zhaoming nodded.

"Please come up and speak."

That person said.

Thus, the two jumped up. The space here was very large, and it was covered with carpets, and there were tea sets.

The toad master poured tea for the two.

"Fellow Daoist has a good memory. There were no less than two hundred items in the competition last night, and Fellow Daoist can still remember this poor Daoist."

Shen Zhaoming said.

The toad master said,

"This is all thanks to the Poyanghu stone that Fellow Daoist used to exchange goods. It has been a long time since I have seen such good quality. Let's get to know each other, two fellow Daoists. I am Shi Buyu, a second-rank manager in the Water Gang of Wuling Mountain."

"So it is Second Manager Shi in person, greetings."

Shen Zhaoming and Cheng Xinzhan also reported their names,

"Kui Beichen."

"Kui Nandou."

Shi Buyu laughed loudly, "Sure enough, they are two heroes! I see that the two have extraordinary bearing and are outstanding, so I guessed they were not spiritual mushrooms or treasure trees that could grow in our mountain gullies."

Subsequently, he immediately asked, "Fellow Daoist, is it possible that there is a problem with my goods? Fellow Daoist can just say it. My family has never done a one-day business."

Shen Zhaoming shook his head, "Manager Shi's goods are fine, but I want to inquire about the origin of these goods."

Shi Buyu's smile faded, "Fellow Daoist, every trade has its rules. You bought my goods, so you shouldn't ask about their origin, and I won't tell you."

Shen Zhaoming nodded, "That should be the case by reason."

Shi Buyu looked at Shen Zhaoming without speaking. That look clearly meant: You know, yet you still come to ask?

It seemed that if it weren't for the reputation of the Kui Star Twin Devils, this Second Manager of the Water Gang would have already started chasing people away.

"It is just that this poor Daoist still has a reason here."

Shen Zhaoming said.

"Oh? I would like to hear the details."

Shi Buyu said with a smile, but there was not much smile in his eyes.

Shen Zhaoming handed his hand to Shi Buyu, his palm turned over, and a jade talisman appeared in his palm, emitting a warm light. There were two seal characters on the jade talisman:

Wanshou.

Shi Buyu looked at the jade talisman, his face changing again and again. After a long while, he barely smiled,

"Many people are guessing which family the North and South Kui Stars are walking for, but I never thought that I, old Shi, would know the secret of heaven first. So the two are high Daoists of Wanshou Palace." "Please understand, Manager Shi. Seeing things from home flowing outside, we cannot ignore it. Moreover, this matter is small, but I am afraid that it will involve the lives of fellow sect members later. If it reaches the ears of the adults, then this matter will be troublesome. So we came privately to ask Manager Shi clearly."

Shen Zhaoming put away the jade talisman. His words were quite polite, but his face was already very cold.

Shi Buyu's face also showed a bitter smile. He arched his hands,

"The two Daoist masters are magnanimous. Being able to buy these goods and still come to find me after the dispersal is giving face to the Water Gang. I, old Shi, thank you."

Shi Buyu had nothing to say now. Buying someone else's things and being caught on the spot was indeed unreasonable. The problem was that if this were a small sect, he wouldn't pay attention to it at all. But this was a world-renowned major sect that had been passed down for five or six thousand years, and it was the Jingming Sect. There was nothing to say.

People had already pointed out that they didn't want the adults to know. If he still insisted on principles at this time, that would be looking for death.

Fortunately, Shi Buyu had always had a good memory, so he immediately said,

"It is good for the two Daoist masters to know. This thing was collected by my caravan when passing through the Lost Soul Stream in Xiangxi from an elder there."

"Which elder, what realm, say the name clearly."

"Called Qin Tianzong, the realm is not low, he has crossed a thunder tribulation."

Shen Zhaoming nodded and looked at Shi Buyu again, "Manager Shi, I know that your Water Gang wanders between black and white in the Wuling Mountain area and has deep roots. But meeting today can be considered fate, so I will tell you two things."

!

"Daoist master, please speak."

"First, I didn't know before, so it doesn't matter. But today I have run into it once, so I hope that your gang will not touch the things of the Jingming Sect in the future. Manager Shi should also know that the reputation of our Jingming Sect has never been chanted out by chanting scriptures."

"Yes, yes."

"Second, I might as well reveal to Manager Shi that the two of us are just here to scout the way. More righteous fellow sect members will come in later. Of course, we have no intention of coveting this place, just to sweep away the devil atmosphere. Otherwise, this place would have been surnamed Dao thousands of years ago. So in the future, Manager Shi and the Water Gang must think clearly about how to behave."

"Yes, yes."

Shi Buyu was sweating on his face.

People are like this. If it were a hundred years ago, he was still a loose cultivator, and if he met someone who was threatened to his face by someone with a lower realm than himself, regardless of whether it was a major sect seed or the Heavenly King, he would have fought long ago. But now that he has become such a manager, managing a dozen caravans and hundreds of people, and even having a few personal disciples, his courage has become smaller and smaller.

He nodded and specifically added,

"If the two Daoist masters want to go to Lost Soul Stream, they must be careful. Qin Tianzong's realm is not very high, and it is not difficult for the two to take him down. But Lost Soul Stream itself is the premier force in Xiangxi. In our Wuling Mountain, there is a saying: 'Corpses do not leave Xiangxi, souls do not leave the Water Stream.' One can imagine the power of this place. Its sect master, White Impermanence, is a giant of the devil path. Although he hasn't taken action for many years, his reputation is still very large. It is said that this time the Eight-Armed Dragon King came, he wanted to recruit this person."

After finishing speaking, Shi Buyu still wanted to return Shen Zhaoming's lake stone, but Shen Zhaoming had such bearing that he naturally wouldn't want it. He arched his hands as a thank you for the reminder and left immediately.

Watching the two leave, Shi Buyu hurriedly called over a few confidants and ordered,

"Go check, hurry up and check the goods in the gang. If there are any from the Jingming Sect, and those from the Eastern major sects, hide them for me. Avoid the limelight for a while, and observe before making a decision."

————

Although the assembly had just begun, the two obviously had no intention of continuing to watch the fun. However, before going deep into Xiangxi, they still had to buy several topographical maps of the Wuling Mountain area at the river beach stalls.

Although both of them had the topographical maps of the Divine Land in their sects and had captured some when suppressing devils in Shizhou, they were not all consistent, nor were they detailed. Moreover, the terrain of the Wuling Mountain area was truly complex. Now that they were going deep into the tiger's den, they naturally had to buy more topographical maps during this Water and Land Thoroughfare Assembly to compare and refer to.

The two bought more than ten maps at different stalls, and not a single one was exactly the same. However, by comparing and referring to each other and selecting those that were mostly consistent, they could be considered to have a bottom line in their hearts.

Just as the two were about to leave, Cheng Xinzhan suddenly stopped his feet.

Shen Zhaoming followed his gaze and looked over. At this moment, many leather, silk, armor, and wings were placed on the stall at their feet, which could be used to draw talismans and record methods. But Cheng Xinzhan's gaze fell on a New Year picture in the corner of the stall.

On this picture, a red-robed Daoist was holding a peach wood sword and piercing the skull of an evil ghost.

Shen Zhaoming's brows jumped. He looked at Cheng Xinzhan. When they first entered the Southern Frontier, they had been taken by Xinzhan to an empty Miao village, and every household in that village had such a picture on their door.

At this moment, Cheng Xinzhan had already squatted down and picked up the picture.

The stall owner was a Miao old woman. Although her wrinkles were piled up like tree bark, looking at her bone structure and eyebrows, she should have been a beauty when she was young.

The old woman was covered in silver ornaments, which were very dazzling, with many small balls and small bells. When the wind blew, they jingled, which seemed to have a hypnotic effect. However, this old woman should only be in the Second Realm, and this outfit was not any remarkable magic treasure. Even if Cheng Xinzhan listened carefully, he was not affected.

Seeing someone stop to look at the goods, the Miao old woman introduced,

"Daoist master has good eyes. Don't look at this picture as ordinary and having no magic power, but the true intent of Yang fire and the Dharma essence of subduing demons in it are extremely good. If you buy it and look at it often, you will definitely gain something."

Cheng Xinzhan nodded and asked, "I don't know where this picture came from?"

The old woman was a bit unhappy when she heard this. It was a well-known rule that one should not ask about the origin of goods when buying things at the Water and Land Thoroughfare Assembly. How could this person not understand? But she couldn't see through Cheng Xinzhan's realm, so she didn't dare to say any big words, only apologizing with a smile,

"Daoist master, it is enough that the thing is a good thing. The origin is definitely clean."

Cheng Xinzhan held the New Year picture and glanced at the old woman. A cinnabar color flashed in his eyes, and in the old woman's eyes, it was as if the sun had fallen, pressing toward her. She felt that her whole body was about to catch fire, and that fire light carried a sharp sword intent, as if it were about to twist her into pieces.

That sword was extremely fast, and the old woman could not dodge it. She felt that she was about to die. She felt very wronged. This Daoist was too unreasonable. How could he want to kill someone without saying a word?

It was just for an instant, but the old woman felt that a long time had passed. When the wind blew and she felt cold all over, she was surprised to find that she was still alive.

She wanted to fight for her life, but found that the young Daoist was still looking at her calmly. The old woman recalled, and only then did she suddenly realize:

The sword intent of this Daoist was exactly the same as the sword intent on this New Year picture!

She said tremblingly, "Daoist master, this, you, are?"

Cheng Xinzhan nodded. "Can you say where this picture came from now?"

The old woman nodded hurriedly. "Daoist master, rest assured, I know what you are worried about. Those outsiders are fine, they are in our village."

Hearing this, Cheng Xinzhan finally felt relieved. He let out a long breath, his tone gentle, but with a hint of unquestionable flavor,

"Then I have to trouble Fellow Daoist to close the stall early and take me to visit those old friends. Fellow Daoist, rest assured, I will pay for the goods on this stall. When I see my old friends, there will be another reward."

The old woman didn't dare to say half a "no" word now, hurriedly closing the stall and standing up.

Cheng Xinzhan put away the New Year picture and also stood up, looking at Shen Zhaoming.

At this time, Shen Zhaoming preempted, "Xinzhan, go first, no need to worry about me. I will go to scout the situation around Lost Soul Stream first, and I will definitely not be reckless. Xinzhan, be careful when going to a strange place. You and I will keep in touch. If anyone needs help, just say the word."

Cheng Xinzhan nodded. "Exactly."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 208 =====