Chapter 137

Carrying all his belongings, Qian Chen sealed this cave dwelling. Inside, there was only a furnace of pills being warmed, which was a furnace of thunder pills he had refined as a slight experiment while comprehending the Five Thunder Pills. The quality was not bad. According to the few pills Qian Chen had refined, after taking them, the pill would transform into thunder qi, shaking the internal apertures of true qi, cleansing the physical body, and sprouting vitality.

This medicinal property was quite potent. After Qian Chen took one, his whole body was numb, and he even stumbled a bit while walking.

It could be considered a spirit pill that could purify true essence magic power, dispel internal demons, and cleanse the constitution. Qian Chen named it the Internal Scene Lei Dan, which was also a new pill formula he had deduced.

Of course, compared to the Five Lei Yuan Pills that Qian Chen was preparing to refine, this was still far behind.

That furnace of Internal Scene Thunder Pills was still being warmed, and Qian Chen was preparing to set off. So he simply sealed that furnace of spirit pills and left them in the cave dwelling. If he didn't return, he would leave them for someone with affinity.

Qian Chen had already removed most of the lethal seals in the cave dwelling, leaving only the formation seals for trapping, confusing, and locking, which was also for this reason.

"Since I started cultivation, I haven't participated in the dungeon activity that rogue cultivators love most—exploring the cave dwellings of predecessors! Then I'll just have to be a predecessor who leaves behind a cave dwelling, and indirectly experience the hardships of rogue cultivators!"

Qian Chen came outside the cave dwelling and summoned the black-backed alligator dragon, saying: "I have matters to attend to and am going out to visit friends. I might not know when I'll return, or I might not return at all! Anyway, you're not of much use, and you're not even qualified to be a beast of burden. I'll leave you here to guard the cave dwelling for three years. If I haven't returned after three years, you can try to open the seals. There is an opportunity I left behind in the cave dwelling. Pity you for serving me painstakingly, so I'll bestow it upon you!"

The alligator dragon looked at Qian Chen cautiously. Hearing this, it only let out a thunderous sound in its belly. It was difficult for it to make a sound, so it could only respond this way.

"If you dare to eat people and cause harm, watch out for my flying sword to execute you!" Qian Chen finally threatened sternly.

The black-backed alligator dragon nodded repeatedly, not daring to be the slightest bit negligent.

Seeing this, Qian Chen nodded slightly and said: "Your alligator dragon clan is anciently called 'Calling Thunder.' Being able to gestate thunder sounds and lightning light in your belly shows you have some affinity with the pills I left behind. If you can obtain this pill and cultivate painstakingly for several decades, you have hope of condensing a demon pill. It can be considered as fulfilling our master-servant friendship... Of course, if you can't hold onto the opportunity and are killed by someone, and the pill is robbed, that is also your fate."

After speaking, he released the alligator dragon's seal, mounted his Flying Cloud Pouch, and headed straight for Jiaobu Town.

The alligator dragon bowed respectfully toward the direction Qian Chen left. After waiting for nearly an hour, it slowly wagged its tail and waded into the great marsh. It decided to cultivate nearby and guard the cave dwelling for its master. It had heard Qian Chen's instructions, but it took a name for itself—"Hulei."

From now on, it was the alligator dragon Hulei!

Arriving at the ground of Jiaobu Town, Qian Chen did not lower his cloud head, but just raised his hand to cast a spell, summoning the nearby ghosts and gods over. The two little ghosts, Day Wanderer and Night Wanderer, arrived at the sound of the call. Seeing Qian Chen, they immediately bowed respectfully and said: "So it was the Immortal Elder who summoned us. Do you want us to report to the Wei Chenghuang?"

Qian Chen smiled and said: "I don't have such airs. It's just a small matter, why would I need the Wei Chenghuang to see me!"

The Night Wanderer little ghost said: "Others might not have this face, but you, Immortal Elder, do. The Wei Chenghuang often speaks of your kindness as being like a rebirth after receiving the Rebirth Holy Fetus Pill you bestowed. How could this be a small matter... it's all a big matter for us!"

The Day Wanderer little ghost flattered and smiled: "The Wei Chenghuang, bearing the Immortal Elder's kindness, has also taken good care of the little child you saved in the past. It was we who helped cover up the fact that he obtained the Daoist book treasure of that Daoist Zhen, so that no one would know. The Immortal Elder's business is our business!"

Qian Chen didn't expect this. He didn't know where these two little ghosts learned their flattery skills, but it seemed they were walking a wider path.

He didn't know that before Cui Dan left, he reflected that his flattery of his seniors was not enough and studied with Uncle Wu for a period of time, but it was these two little ghosts who patrolled day and night in Jiaobu Town who benefited. These days, relying on flattering the Wei Chenghuang, their lives had become much better.

Having received guidance, their ghost qi had also become much purer.

Qian Chen asked directly: "Do you know where there is a large market nearby for practitioners to buy and exchange?"

The Day Wanderer ghost thought for a moment and organized his language: "Reporting to the Immortal Elder, this Jiuzhen Commandery is remote and desolate. The nearby immortal sects are all small sects. The time when the Immortal Elder punished that Jin Chuan Gate was already the relatively large immortal sect nearby. Although there is a small market in the Commandery, even the local practitioners don't like to go there. Goods are scarce, and they only exchange among the small circles of various immortal sects."

"If you want a large purchase, you still have to go to Guangling Commandery. There is the Wuling Market, which is one of the largest immortal markets in the south. For markets larger than this, there are only the Flying Boat Sea Market that comes from overseas every year and the Zhaoyang Palace Great Market in the capital Jiankang."

Qian Chen suddenly became interested and asked: "What is the origin of the Flying Boat Sea Market and the Zhaoyang Palace Great Market? Can you tell me in detail?"

The Night Wanderer ghost told him the news he knew: "Every Jiazi year, hundreds of flying boat ships come from the four seas, building an immortal city on the sea surface outside Donghai Commandery. It is the liveliest and most complete immortal market in Great Jin."

"Although it is not so prosperous on ordinary days, many merchant sects are stationed there, which is the port for communication with overseas."

"The Zhaoyang Palace is established by the Dao Academy. It is a market where Great Jin nobles, aristocratic families, sect disciples, and even rogue practitioners gather. It is also the largest immortal market in Great Jin. It is usually managed by the Dao Academy and is relatively standardized. Unlike markets in various places, which are controlled by local immortal sects and aristocratic families, there are many frictions."

Qian Chen thought for a moment and said: "I am just about to go to the capital Jiankang, but the Wuling Market is also worth a visit. Thank you both for telling me!"

After speaking, he sent over the two pills that Miaokong had left behind and which had been gathering dust in his Qiankun bag.

Regardless of how terrified and pleasantly surprised the two little ghosts were, he turned and left...

"Must quickly clear out this inventory! It's too embarrassing to have these pills in my Qiankun bag! Those who don't know might think I refined them!" Qian Chen thought to himself.

He was familiar with that Guangling Commandery! He obtained his body in Guangling City, refined pills for the first time, and met Cui Dan in Wu Kang County of Guangling Commandery. He knew the roads back and forth. Now that his magic power was gradually increasing, it would only take half a day to fly there on a cloud.

If he unleashed his sword light, the speed would be even faster.

Qian Chen flew thousands of miles along the road he had come before, and then, according to what the Day Wanderer ghost said, headed toward the foot of a spirit mountain blessed land in the commandery. That spirit mountain was Mount Wuling, and the market at the foot of the mountain was opened by the Wuling Immortal Sect, which later gradually attracted many local aristocratic families and immortal sects, becoming a market in the south.

At this time, it was the month when peach blossoms were in full bloom. Qian Chen looked at the colorful flowers along the way, with many peach forests in pink, and lowered his cloud head slightly, appreciating them along the way, slowly heading toward the market.

After turning over two mountain peaks, he saw that continuous and handsome mountain range, with a corner of a mountain city faintly revealed in the green mountains.

The mountain city was like green jade as a whole, with pavilions and towers at the four corners, all reaching dozens of zhang in height, decorated with gold and jade, with an extremely wealthy atmosphere. The four sides of the city had high towers, decorated with patterns of immortal birds and spirit beasts. The city gates in the towers were open on all four sides, and the city walls faintly had the spiritual light of forbidden laws. From time to time, one could see flying lights passing by, appearing and disappearing among them.

Just in the time Qian Chen flew over, dozens of flying lights entered the city. One must know that a practitioner who can fly must at least be at the Penetrating the Law realm. In the Central Lands, they could already be called people of the Dao!

And in the market, there would only be more practitioners who could not fly.

Qian Chen drove his cloud leisurely, which was more eye-catching than those practitioners driving dim or mixed flying lights. Before he even lowered his cloud head, someone greeted him from the high tower. That welcoming practitioner was wearing a green Daoist robe, but with dark patterned brocade, and his whole body was shining with spiritual light, looking like he had some status.

He was all smiles, looking extremely amiable, and bowed to Qian Chen: "This Immortal Friend, is this your first time coming to Wuling Market?"

Such a person had the best eye for people. Seeing that the cloud Qian Chen drove was upright and not evil, he knew that even if he didn't know the cultivation base of this practitioner, his wealth must be immense, and he must have a background. Even if he wasn't a disciple of an aristocratic family cultivating in the Dao Academy, he should be a true transmission of a great immortal sect.

Seeing Qian Chen nod slightly without any displeasure, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Many disciples of aristocratic immortal sects were extremely difficult to talk to, which was why he, a Penetrating the Law practitioner, served as a greeter.

"I am Zhou Kang, a welcoming deacon of this Wuling Market. If the Immortal Friend doesn't mind, I can host you on behalf of Wuling Market. Whether it's finding a place to stay or purchasing spirit herbs, magic treasures, or talismans, I can guide you."

Qian Chen thought of the various embarrassments when he first traded with pills, so he asked first: "What are the rules for trading goods here? If I trade with spirit pills, talismans, or magic treasures, how is the price determined?"

Zhou Kang led the way first, inviting Qian Chen in. He summoned a sheep carriage. The yellow sheep pulling the carriage had jade horns and great strength, and its steps were steady, but it was a strange beast with low cultivation. Although it was not as good as the alligator dragon Qian Chen raised, being able to use strange beasts to pull carriages to welcome guests showed that the owner of this place had quite a lot of wealth.

After inviting Qian Chen into the carriage, Zhou Kang said: "For spirit pills, spirit herbs, and magic treasures used for trading, this market has specialists to appraise them. If the price is suitable, they can be exchanged for Wuling Immortal Sect's letter talismans. Most merchants here are willing to accept letter talismans for trading. Even if the Immortal Friend doesn't buy anything satisfactory, they can be exchanged for more convenient spirit talismans or spirit pills, or the previously mortgaged items can be returned in full."

The yellow sheep pulled Qian Chen to a pavilion. Qian Chen noticed that there were indeed many practitioners coming and going. Most of those who came out held a kind of red talisman, which should be the letter talisman of Wuling Market!

With Zhou Kang leading, Qian Chen didn't have to follow the crowd, but turned into a door next to it and entered a relatively elegant small pavilion. Here, an old practitioner at the Penetrating the Law realm with white hair and a white beard was already waiting. His cultivation was only higher than Zhou Kang's. Seeing Zhou Kang leading Qian Chen in, he didn't even lift his eyes, just said faintly: "What kind of distinguished guest is worth you bringing to me here."

"This time, don't bring me any junk that an apprentice can appraise!" He glanced at Qian Chen faintly and sneered: "Finally exchanged for five hundred letter talismans, and still dared to say he was a disciple of an aristocratic family, with eyes on his forehead."

Zhou Kang smiled apologetically: "Liao Lao... this Daoist friend is driving a cloud, not those rogue practitioners who drive ordinary flying magic treasures."

"Even if you drive a good magic treasure, it doesn't necessarily mean you have goods in your pocket... Many disciples of aristocratic families have very poor style, and they don't even have protective magic treasures, all wanting to have cloud carriages or phoenix carriages. These days, it's still reliable to look at sword light. After all, driving a flying sword requires magic power, but anyone with pure sword light won't be bad."

The old man lectured a few words and waited for Qian Chen to take out his things.

Qian Chen learned from his previous lessons and first took out the spirit pills left by Miaokong. Those jade bottles were placed there, making the old man's eyes light up. He took the jade bottle, lifted the talisman stopper at the bottle mouth, and sniffed a few times. He nodded slightly and said: "The quality is not bad, it's a good thing. Five pills of this Qi-Benefiting Pill, I'll give one thousand letter talismans."

He opened another bottle, sniffed it, frowned, and said: "This pill burns the origin and erupts true qi. Although it consumes potential and damages the foundation, it is a life-saving thing..."

He sighed and said: "I'll give five thousand letter talismans... this price is on the low side! But Wuling Immortal Sect is ultimately a righteous path, and there are some taboos about this kind of pill."

Counting it all up, it was worth about thirty thousand letter talismans. The old man's brows finally relaxed, and he rarely had a smile for Qian Chen.

Zhou Kang was even more grinning from ear to ear. This time, he finally didn't misjudge, it was indeed a big customer!

Qian Chen asked for a price list of items that could be exchanged for letter talismans, flipped through it, and felt that it was still not enough...