Chapter 138: Returning Safely

After the people teleported from the cave in several batches had all left, the bull-headed man and the horse-headed man also took off the bronze masks they had been wearing on their faces and put them together into the pile of bronze masks that had just been recycled.

"The Wu old ghost and Lu dwarf from Pengdeng Mountain just now seem to have targeted that young man wearing a bamboo hat." The bull-headed man who was organizing the pile of masks suddenly said to the horse-headed man on the side.

The horse-headed man nodded and said, "Since they have already left this mountain, what happens outside has nothing to do with us. Holding an auction requires us to come out and be busy for half a month. This time, we can finally go back and cultivate for a period of time."

"Daoist friend is right. I'm really fed up with staying in this ghost place where spiritual energy is insufficient."

"By the way, what was the name of the young man you mentioned just now? Do you still remember?" The horse-headed man seemed to have thought of something again, raised his head, and asked the bull-headed man again.

"I really forgot this. I haven't seen this person before either. It seems to be his first time participating in the auction. I only remember that the identity invitation card he took out at that time seemed... it was surnamed Li. That's right, it was surnamed Li. This surname is somewhat rare, and I remember it very clearly." The bull-headed man pondered for a while and answered seriously.

The horse-headed man nodded again and said, "Turn around and register this matter in the Alliance. That young man is young and has already reached Foundation Establishment. It is possible that he is not an ordinary rogue cultivator. In case the aggrieved party comes to the door in the future, we can at least give an explanation."

"Right, Daoist friend is still the thoughtful one!"

After the two organized all the bronze masks, they soon disappeared into the teleportation array.

——

One day later, on a large road a few dozen miles away from Yangshan Market, a mortal merchant caravan with over a dozen horse-drawn carriages, loaded with many goods, was moving toward Yangshan Market. Around the merchant caravan, there were over a dozen guards riding horses, all of whom were mortal martial artists of the day after tomorrow.

There were basically no beasts near Yangshan Market, but such a merchant caravan still had some possibility of encountering robbers who were also martial artists of the day after tomorrow. Therefore, people who did business in this vicinity would go to hire some martial artists as guards to be responsible for escorting the goods. For valuable things, they would even spend a lot of money to invite some Qi Refining cultivators to escort them.

In a carriage at the very back of the merchant caravan, Song Qingming, with a calm face, was sitting opposite a white-clothed cultivator who was also at the Qi Refining stage, talking. On the small table between the two were also two cups of steaming spiritual tea.

"Daoist friend Song, this spiritual tea of yours is truly top-grade. It's a bit embarrassing to say, but I, Old Fang, have been mixing for decades, and this is the first time I've tasted spiritual tea of this quality. I never expected Daoist friend Song to be so generous to me."

The white-clothed cultivator who spoke looked about the same age as Song Qingming, but his cultivation was far from his, and he hadn't been able to break through to the late stage of Qi Refining. If Song Qingming hadn't obtained the help of the remnant map back then, he estimated that his cultivation should be about the same as his now.

After hearing the white-clothed cultivator's praise, Song Qingming smiled slightly, filled a cup for the white-clothed cultivator again, and then said: "I also hit it off with Daoist friend Fang at first sight, so I took out the spiritual tea I have treasured for many years. It's just a pity that I only have this much on me. When I have good tea next time, I will definitely bring it to the Jade Tower Pavilion to invite Daoist friend to taste it together."

"Daoist friend Song has the heart, then Fang will thank you."

A day ago, when the Heavenly Elixir Alliance auction hadn't ended, Song Qingming, through the cat-faced maid serving on the side, took the initiative to propose to the auction party a request that he wanted to use the teleportation array alone once immediately.

Although there were people who exited the main hall early after obtaining the spiritual items they needed, these people didn't leave immediately and were still staying in the rest room prepared by the Heavenly Elixir Alliance.

This was also because whether they came over or left, the spirit stones required for the teleportation array were all paid by the Heavenly Elixir Alliance. There must be enough people to teleport and leave together. Otherwise, if everyone used the teleportation array once, the Heavenly Elixir Alliance would estimate that it would still lose money after holding this auction.

He was holding a try-it-out mentality. Unexpectedly, the Heavenly Elixir Alliance side didn't refuse him this time, only requiring him to bear the 30 spirit stones required for this single teleportation. Therefore, half an hour before the auction ended, Song Qingming had actually already left the auction main hall.

There were over 300 people in the main hall, and one cultivator less in the corner didn't attract the attention of too many cultivators. They still thought Song Qingming was the same as those cultivators earlier, having exited the main hall early and gone to the rest room to wait for the auction to end.

After handing the mask back to the Heavenly Elixir Alliance cultivator at the other end of the teleportation array, Song Qingming immediately left that cave, ran wildly for over 100 miles directly toward Yangshan Market, and finally met this merchant caravan going to Yangshan Market at a place 100 miles away from Mount Guyang.

As soon as Song Qingming saw the Jade Tower Pavilion written on the merchant caravan, it was exactly a shop he had dealt with in Yangshan Market over the past year. After thinking about it, he decisively chose to mix into the merchant caravan directly.

There were many Foundation Establishment cultivators who could fly with swords participating in the auction. It was impossible for him to return to Yangshan Market before them in terms of speed. Traveling alone and in a hurry would also easily attract the attention of other cultivators. If he really encountered a Foundation Establishment cultivator who participated in the auction, it would be dangerous.

In comparison, choosing to mix in the mortal merchant caravan and slowly go toward Yangshan Market was, for Song Qingming now who didn't want to attract attention, safer instead.

The cultivator in charge of the merchant caravan was named Fang Yan. Hearing that Song Qingming wanted to hitch a ride with them to Yangshan Market, he hesitated for a moment but didn't dare to refuse him, taking the initiative to respectfully invite him into his carriage. After all, he had the cultivation of the ninth layer of Qi Refining. If he didn't agree and angered Song Qingming, this was not a wise choice.

Fortunately, Song Qingming's personality was very easy to talk to, and he had dealt with his proprietor, the Jade Tower Pavilion. After getting on the carriage, not only did he not make things difficult for him, but he also very generously took out some spiritual items he treasured to share with him. In less than half a day, Fang Yan became familiar with Song Qingming who got on the carriage halfway.

Just like this, Song Qingming hid in the carriage with Fang Yan all the way. Two days later, he returned to Yangshan Market safely. Only when he stepped into the market gate did he let out a long sigh of relief and put down the spiritual sense that had been tense for the past few days.

After bidding farewell to the Daoist friend Fang who sent him back to Yangshan Market, Song Qingming immediately returned to the cave dwelling he rented.

Although this trip cost him quite a few spirit stones, the spiritual items for Foundation Establishment he urgently needed recently were finally all in his hands.

A Marrow-Cleansing Pill, a Foundation Establishment Pill, were all prepared. Looking at the two spiritual elixirs he obtained through all kinds of hardships this time, Song Qingming's eyes were full of excitement, and he almost shouted loudly in his cave dwelling. The spiritual items needed for Foundation Establishment were now complete, and next, he would prepare for Foundation Establishment with all his strength.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 139 =====