Chapter 261: New Year's Assessment

Jade flowers and gem trees, purple mist and red haze, spring steps rippling, feathered forests rustling—

Green clouds form a canopy condensing jade light, while the five Qi of the Dragon-Han era float in the vast azure.

After receiving the immortal market's jade talismans from several gatekeeping Daoists, he truly stepped into the immortal market.

Casting his gaze around.

He saw nothing but a marvelous scene of immortals, with landscapes exceedingly pleasant to the eye!

Although this place was called a market district, strictly speaking, it was no different from a massive city, featuring tea houses and taverns, stone workshops and beast pens, restaurants and brothels, bookstores and pawnshops, and all manner of such establishments.

Everything was complete, lacking nothing.

Moreover, the streets within the immortal market were all paved with water-mist stone from the depths of the Eastern Sea.

Under the sunlight, the colors were dazzling and confused, with swirling misty vapors rising upward, making one feel as though treading upon a rainbow bridge.

Clouds and mist gently coiled around the body.

Offering a unique sense of secluded elegance and charm...

Those coming and going in this immortal market varied greatly in appearance; besides Daoist cultivators, there were countless spirits, martial artists, scholars, novice monks, deities, and so on.

For a moment.

Heads crowded together, calls to friends and companions rose and fell in waves, creating a truly lively atmosphere.

Chen Heng merely swept his gaze across the scene when he happened to meet a certain line of sight.

Not far away, a tall young monk clad in a five-colored brocade kasaya was casually strolling through the immortal market with several other monks, admiring the scenery.

The young monk possessed red lips and white teeth, with ears so large they nearly reached his shoulders.

He held neither a tin staff nor prayer beads, but instead wore a demon-subduing precept knife at his waist.

Even though adorned and concealed by seven treasures, a trace of the bone-chilling murderous intent within the precept knife still leaked out faintly.

Whooshing cold air, waves of chilling majesty—

"This monk possesses an incredibly powerful physical body."

Chen Heng glanced at that demon-subduing precept knife, his eyes shifting slightly as he thought silently to himself.

With his current discernment, he could naturally see that the monk's blood and qi were already as vast as lakes and seas, so flourishing that without even needing to be stimulated, it could disturb the surrounding spiritual atmosphere.

The sound of his heartbeat resembled that of a Kui ox.

With each beat, it faintly carried the thunderous roar of Lei Ting exploding!

Judging solely by physical constitution, this person was simply like a barbarian beast or divine monster wearing human skin; in terms of attainment with the physical body, he was absolutely not inferior to oneself.

Furthermore, that demon-subduing precept knife at his waist was no ordinary object either; brimming with murderous qi, it resembled less a Buddhist treasure and more a demonic weapon.

Their gazes met briefly.

The young monk smiled slightly, took the initiative to join his palms in greeting, and performed a bow.

Chen Heng also clasped his hands in return, did not look further, and continued walking forward.

Although Xudu Heaven was a prominent manifestation of the Daoist path, it was not entirely without the orthodox lineage of the Western Sandmen.

These monks had branched out across the Western Erzhou, and their numbers were not few.

However, the Zen scriptures and Buddhist dharma practiced in those temples and nunneries of the Western Erzhou were hardly sophisticated.

Even Lei Ting Prefecture and several clans based in the Western Erzhou could suppress these monks into complete submission, preventing them from causing any disturbance; during festival seasons, they had to obediently submit their tributes to obtain the convenience of opening mountains and accepting disciples.

Such small temples.

Would likely struggle to nurture a figure like this young monk...

"To encounter someone from beyond the heavens immediately upon arriving at the immortal market is quite interesting; I wonder which Buddhist land he hails from—Wu Liuli Tian... or perhaps Wu Liangguang Tian, also one of the Sixteen Great Heavens?"

Chen Heng smiled inwardly.

Meanwhile, not far away.

Watching Chen Heng's figure vanish, disappearing into the crowd.

The young monk only then withdrew his gaze without showing any emotion, placed his hand on the demon-subduing precept knife at his waist, and remained silent for a long time, lost in thought.

"Xiao Xiao Shixiong Master Hongji?"

Seeing him appear slightly distracted.

A rough-looking monk wearing a mountain-shaped hat could not hold back and called out in a low voice:

"What is wrong? Did we not agree to buy some goods from the Eastern Sea to distribute among the junior brothers after returning to Huishan? Why have you suddenly gone into a trance on the street? Could it be—"

His pupils contracted slightly as he frowned and said:

"Could it be that the senior in the temple has caused some commotion again in Xudu Heaven, dragging us along to suffer the consequences?"

Upon hearing this, Monk Master Hongji slowly loosened his hand from the demon-subduing precept knife, shook his head, and smiled:

"No matter how recklessly that senior in the temple behaves, the worst that can happen is him being beaten to death by people of the Xuanmen; how could it implicate us?"

Collecting his corpse would merely count as an act of respecting the elderly, but that Daoist..."

Monk Master Hongji paused slightly in his speech before continuing:

"That Daoist just now... carries such heavy killing intent! He is likely difficult to deal with!

During the Dragon Palace's selection of a son-in-law, I have found my opponent..."

Although the Dragon Palace's Dharma assembly was named a selection for a son-in-law, it was merely using this as a pretext to establish friendly relations with talented figures from across the world.

As for whether one actually needed to marry a Dragon Maiden, that was not a mandatory requirement.

For this reason.

Even monks forbidden from marriage and wedding rites often spared no effort to specially travel here to join in the excitement.

"Is this true? Even you, Xiao Xiao Shixiong, cannot defeat him?"

The monk wearing the mountain-shaped hat looked half-believing and half-doubting.

The several other monks surrounding them largely wore the same expression.

"Now my body and mind are utterly extinguished, my true nature revealed; I am about to attain the 'Insight' realm, having pierced through the sixth grade of desire-realm cognitive delusions, entering the stream of the Holy Path. This is called enduring great suffering while dwelling serenely, my mind's essence radiant and bright."

Monk Hong Ji fell silent for a long while, his lips moving slightly to reveal teeth as smooth and lustrous as ivory, before he spoke:

"Judged by the standards of orthodox Immortal Dao, this should correspond to the Purple Palace Third Layer realm, merely one layer shy of the so-called Dongxuan cultivation. Yet, since the Immortal Dao bears the name 'orthodox,' it surely boasts many skilled practitioners...

Take that Daoist from just now; I dare not claim I could steadily defeat him.

Who is stronger and who weaker can only be known after a genuine battle..."

At these words,

the several monks looked at one another in silence, unsure what to say.

"Let us go. These foolish monkeys, taking those false guides, have all fallen into a well, drowning while trying to save the moon..."

Finally, it was Monk Hong Ji who broke the silence, speaking first:

"You are all practitioners of Chan meditation and worshippers of the Buddha; why do you not understand the concept of letting go? Only in stillness can one perceive one's true suchness and nature. In this matter, we need only do our utmost; if it truly cannot be done, then let it be.

It was no easy feat arriving here in Xu Capital.

Let us take a careful look at the scenery; do not betray this fine vista."

After traversing several streets and witnessing many rare sights along the way,

Chen Heng no longer paused to gaze further; urging his sword light forward, he sped toward a magnificent and grand palace tower located at the very center of the Immortal Market.

The various merchants within this Immortal Market numbered at least over a hundred, varying greatly in scale.

Yet, if one spoke of the place gathering the most treasures, it was undoubtedly the Cang Xiao Tower, established personally by the Dragon Clan.

As the saying goes, one does not trouble two masters for a single matter.

Having entered this Bai Yu Immortal Market, Chen Heng needed not only to procure Huang Chi Pills and investigate the whereabouts of the Primordial Five Elements Essences but also to seek various external medicines to support his Daoist arts cultivation.

Such items

were all precious and valuable materials without exception.

If even Cang Xiao Tower yielded nothing,

then finding them in other merchants would likely be difficult...

Before long, he descended from the clouds, halting before a towering palace tower facing south with its back to the north, its peak piercing the clouds.

Looking up, he saw on the dark, heavy plaque the three golden, lacquered characters "Cang Xiao Tower," written in a style as dynamic as flying dragons and dancing phoenixes.

This palace tower was extremely lofty and majestic, towering above all other pavilions; its single platform base was cast entirely from Bai Yu, standing sixty-three feet high like a massive wall, within which elongated shadows drifted back and forth, resembling dragons or snakes, appearing most novel.

Meanwhile, the multicolored glazed tiles caught the rising morning sun, dazzling and brilliant, casting a halo upon the coming and going clouds and mist, creating an utterly dreamlike spectacle.

The entrance to this palace tower had no stairs, and the threshold stood at a great height.

Just as Chen Heng intended to fly upward, the misty clouds beneath his feet suddenly solidified, fully capable of bearing his weight.

Steps generating and extinguishing in turn—truly a novel experience.

As he stepped through the clouds and entered Cang Xiao Tower, two plump young Wusheng Wusheng Tongzi shaped like carp standing at the entrance immediately shook the golden bells in their hands, emitting a series of pleasant, clear chimes, then bowed deeply in salute.

Upon entering and taking a look, one realized the main hall of this Chong Xiao Tower was also immensely vast.

Various rare treasures were arranged upon hundreds of display tables, enclosed by prohibitions that allowed guests to fix their gaze and examine them closely.

As for decorative items such as golden arches, jade pillars, beaded necklaces, and pearl curtains, though they were magnificent,

compared to the rare treasures upon these tables, they appeared considerably diminished in splendor.

"Honored Guest has come here; truly, you bring glory and color to this place!"

Hearing the chime of the golden bells, several idle serving Daoists were about to step forward joyfully to welcome the visitor, but a handsome youth in a green robe silenced them with a glance.

Then, leisurely adjusting his robes, he approached with a face full of smiles, cupping his hands to say:

"Does the Honored Guest wish to purchase talismans and artifacts, precious materials, or pills and elixirs? To be frank, several new Pill Masters have recently arrived to take up residence as honored suppliers within the tower; some spiritual pills that were once in tight supply are now quite abundant. If you wish to acquire them, now is the perfect time!"

Seeing Chen Heng looking at him,

the youth in green robes smiled and introduced himself:

"I am Peng Qing, humbly serving as one of the Great Attendants of Cang Xiao Tower. Whatever the Honored Guest requires, please feel free to tell me; I shall ensure the Honored Guest does not leave disappointed!"

Within this Bai Yu Immortal Market, the three managers held the most prestigious positions in the marketplace, serving as the confidants and eyes-and-ears of that Princess Princess Changle of the Dragon Clan.

And as Cang Xiao Tower was an enterprise of the Dragon Clan,

its hierarchy was strictly enforced.

The two carp-shaped Wusheng Wusheng Tongzi holding golden bells at the gate, along with some miscellaneous laborers, held no official rank; without some fortuitous opportunity, they would likely never have a chance for promotion in their entire lives.

Above the ordinary attendants stood the Great Attendants.

And above the Great Attendants were only the four Managers and the Master of Cang Xiao Tower.

Here within, each difference in rank

meant a disparity in monthly stipend and treatment as vast as heaven and earth, truly a distinction between cloud and mud!

That Peng Qing could attain the position of Great Attendant within Cang Xiao Tower was due not only to his fine appearance but also to his keen eye.

Just now, from the corner of his eye, he had vaguely glimpsed a sword light tearing through the atmosphere, dispersing the rosy clouds, swift as Lei Ting erupting, from which Chen Heng's figure subsequently emerged.

With such a Dun Fa, and such a person!

He must have come for a major transaction!

The commission alone would yield a handsome profit; how could he miss such an opportunity?

At this moment,

after hearing Peng Qing's words, Chen Heng also swept a brief glance over those display tables.

Seeing nothing extraordinary within, he withdrew his gaze and said:

"I wish to sell some miscellaneous items; does your honorable tower have a quiet place?"

"Yes! Yes! Honored guest, please follow me!"

Upon hearing this, Peng Qing immediately realized Chen Heng had come to fence stolen goods; accustomed to such things, he hurried forward to lead the way, exiting through a side gate, traversing a long corridor, and arriving at a remarkably serene and quiet chamber.

The room's four walls were smooth and clean, devoid of excessive decorations; along the eastern wall stood a row of bookshelves holding bamboo slips, silk manuscripts, and gold-and-jade bound volumes, lacking even the slightest protective formation, clearly intended merely as pastimes for tea drinking.

"Let us skip the small talk and attend to business first; do not let us be delayed."

Chen Heng shook his head slightly, raised a hand, and several dozen Qiankun bags tumbled out with a rustling sound.

Peng Qing had not yet had time to feel surprised.

In the next instant, numerous storage items belonging to demon cultivators flew down as well, piling fully upon the table, causing one's heart to cannot help but marvel in astonishment.

"..."

Even though Peng Qing was widely experienced, he was briefly stunned for an instant; casting a glance of shock and suspicion at Chen Heng, he quickly composed his mind and immediately called outward for several suppliers and attendants to enter.

While they used artifact-appraising methods to tally the value of various items, and attendants stood nearby registering them in ledgers.

Chen Heng required no service; he simply moved on his own to the bookshelf nearby, casually took a volume of previous travelers' journals, and began flipping through it.

Before he had even finished flipping through the book, Peng Qing's side had already produced a result.

"Honored guest, please take a look; is there any error in this valuation?"

Peng Qing slowly retracted the dim light from his pupils, ceased the Daoist technique of Appraising Objects and Recognizing Spirit, his face slightly pale; after bowing respectfully to Chen Heng, he handed over the jade ledger from the attendant's hands.

Behind him, those several suppliers also showed declining qi, clearly indicating that once the artifact-appraising Daoist technique was unleashed, the consumption was indeed substantial.

"Among the items honored guest brought, there are several spiritual herbs quite rare in the East Sea region; within the scope of my authority, I have offered honored guest a generous price, which may also be considered a small token of my regard..."

Peng Qing said with a loud laugh.

Chen Heng swept his gaze over the jade ledger; seeing that the valuations given for those crucial items were not only not low but actually slightly exceeded expectations, he could not help but nod slightly.

The reputation of this Cangxiao Tower was exceedingly bright, widely praised and commended by cultivation practitioners.

Not only in the East Sea, but even cultivators on the mainland continents had heard of it; indeed, it possessed its own means of management.

"Dispose of those storage items as well, and exchange some Huangchi Pills for me."

Chen Heng handed the jade ledger back, speaking these words.

"Huangchi Pills?"

Upon hearing this, Peng Qing's eyes flashed involuntarily; he hurriedly said, "This item is extremely valuable; there is not much stock in the Tower. I wonder how many honored guest wishes to purchase."

"Thirty pills will suffice."

Chen Heng calculated once in his mind and spoke.

The turbid impurities within his Yuan Spirit had already been eroded by fifty percent; for the remainder, thirty Huangchi Pills would be sufficient to deal with them.

Upon hearing this, Peng Qing was greatly delighted in his heart; according to the rules of Cangxiao Tower, the more money a guest spends within the Tower.

He, as the person who welcomed the guest.

The greater the share of profits he would receive afterward!

Therefore, although thirty Huangchi Pills were by no means a small amount, fortunately, several alchemists had recently arrived to take up residence, so it was not impossible to provide them.

After Peng Qing pounded his chest to guarantee the matter would be handled properly, this person became impatient and hurriedly pushed open the door to leave.

Those several suppliers and attendants, accustomed to such behavior, bowed respectfully and then also exited the quiet chamber.

At this moment.

Chen Heng stuffed the unfinished book in his hand back onto the shelf and casually swept his gaze around once more.

However, this time, he truly did spot something quite interesting.

"New Year's Review?"

Chen Heng's heart stirred slightly; as if recalling something, he took out that bundle of jade slips, spread them open, and took a look.

And sure enough.

Within the ranks of the Zi Fu Gao Gong.

He truly did find his own name...

However, after finishing reading his own ranking and the commentary remarks.

Chen Heng felt no joy; he merely lowered his eyelids, appearing lost in thought.

"This is the latest issue for this year; it is even more lively than in previous years."

Suddenly, the door split open slightly; a woman entered, laughing softly; when her gaze fell upon the jade slip in Chen Heng's hand, she added:

"Is honored guest also curious about this Chen Heng? Speaking of which, it is quite interesting; ever since this ranking was released, even in a remote place like the East Sea, it has stirred up quite a bit of discussion among many people."

"Oh?"

Chen Heng set down the jade slip and said without revealing his emotions:

"Please enlighten me."

(End of Chapter)