Chapter 239

“Greetings, Market Lord!”

The moment Zhong Lingxiu saw the group of cultivators ahead, he immediately bowed in salute.

At the head of the group stood none other than Shang Yuanxin.

By now, he had already formed his Core Formation and become a newly advanced early-stage Core Formation cultivator. Although an early Core Formation cultivator controlling such an enormous marketplace was still somewhat lacking, with the backing of Merchant Clan Island, it was more than sufficient.

Having just finished entertaining another group of guests, Shang Yuanxin noticed Zhong Lingxiu and greeted him politely.

“Fellow Daoist Zhong... and this fellow Daoist? I do not believe we have met before.”

“This is Guest Elder Bai Jianfeng of our Zhong Alliance,” Zhong Lingxiu introduced.

“So it is Fellow Daoist Bai.”

Shang Yuanxin cupped his hands in greeting.

The Zhong Alliance was merely one of the many Core Formation factions within his marketplace. Whether in terms of cultivators or influence, it was hardly noteworthy.

The only reason he stopped to exchange a few words was because Zhong Lingxiu was a Core Formation elder of the Heavenly Frost Sect.

As for this unfamiliar Guest Elder Bai, Shang Yuanxin merely offered a few polite words before taking his leave.

The old servant followed closely behind him, his presence as humble as ever.

Yet in Fang Qing's eyes, the old man's cultivation had clearly improved considerably as well.

‘Mm. Shang Yuanxin made the right bet and earned himself a tremendous windfall.’

‘His standing within the clan has risen, bringing rewards and resources. Both master and servant have advanced significantly.’

Fang Qing sighed inwardly.

Still, given the circumstances back then, all he could say was that Shang Yuanxin deserved this opportunity.

After all, the Merchant Alliance's reputation, along with their ability to produce a Core Formation Pill, was not something ordinary factions could match.

‘Later on... I may have to deal with this Market Lord personally.’

As for alchemy, if Fang Qing did not wish to return to the Minor Huan Sea cultivation world, then he would need to find a third-rank spirit spring somewhere in the Eastern Sea.

Water-method alchemy was equally prosperous in the Eastern Sea.

Yuanxin Market happened to offer rentals for spirit springs of that kind.

This was the most convenient solution Zhong Lingxiu could think of.

Otherwise, he would have to bring Fang Qing back to the Heavenly Frost Sect and use their spirit springs for alchemy, which would attract far more attention.

‘My Devouring Sea Bottle has been nurtured quite well by now. It should be capable of storing water veins.’

‘Combined with the Miraculous Spring Pure Vase, relocating a third-rank water vein would not be difficult. Of course, it would be best to do it properly in one step and obtain a fourth-rank spirit spring.’

‘Still, that will not be easy. Unless I stumble upon a lucky opportunity, I probably won't be able to plan for it until after reaching Nascent Soul.’

‘Forget it. There's nothing urgent today. I should satisfy my appetite first.’

Casting aside those thoughts, Fang Qing followed Zhong Lingxiu into a private room.

A dignified fairy immediately approached them with a charming smile.

“Would our honored guests require attendants?”

“Of course. Bring out your most beautiful fairies and your finest dishes. I want everything.”

Understanding his young master's intentions, Zhong Lingxiu answered directly.

...

At the highest point of Yuanxin Market.

Atop the octagonal merchant tower.

Shang Yuanxin stood with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing at a map.

Unlike a certain someone, he did not indulge himself freely. Even his visits to the Hundred Flowers Tower were solely for entertaining important guests.

At this moment, his eyes rested on a bright point of light upon the map, and a trace of delight appeared on his face.

“The Wilderness Mountain Alliance accepted our invitation and expressed goodwill. Yuanxin Market can now open another trade route and gain access to several unique spiritual resources.”

Operating a high-rank marketplace required an immense amount of effort.

Among his countless investments, some yielded enormous profits, some modest gains, some small losses, and some ended in complete failure.

“Young Master, a message has arrived from the island.”

Uncle Fu emerged from the shadows and handed over a jade slip.

“Oh?”

Shang Yuanxin accepted it and swept it with his divine sense.

A trace of gloom immediately appeared on his face.

“Alas... there are countless outstanding talents in this world. Although I control an entire marketplace, my brothers and sisters have each accomplished extraordinary feats of their own.”

“If I maintain only my current scale, my chances during the future selection process will be slim indeed.”

“I still need to recruit more capable people.”

At the mention of capable people, he immediately thought of Fang Shui, the cultivator with the Void Spiritual Root.

Unfortunately, that person was simply too bold.

He had actually dared to steal something belonging to a Nascent Soul old monster.

Yet after learning what it was, even Shang Yuanxin had to admit he felt tempted.

If given the opportunity, he would want to steal it as well.

After all, it was a Resentful Infant Fruit!

Although it carried certain hidden dangers, all of the Shang Clan heirs had been sent to remote regions to develop trade routes, establish merchant caravans, and build marketplaces.

In the end, were they not all competing for Nascent Soul resources?

The spiritual objects provided by the Shang family for Nascent Soul formation were at least on the level of a Heavenly Infant Fruit, superior to the Resentful Infant Fruit.

But fundamentally, they served the same purpose.

“Any news about that person?” Shang Yuanxin asked.

“No, Young Master… in this old man’s opinion, after offending the people of Talisman Sword Island, that cultivator has most likely fled long ago. It is impossible for him to return to our marketplace.”

Uncle Fu let out a sigh.

The young master truly had judged the right person and invested accordingly.

Unfortunately, that fellow was simply too good at stirring up trouble. Once he left, he never returned.

Looking at things now, this investment was bound to end in losses.

“Forget it.”

A trace of reluctance flickered across Shang Yuanxin’s face, but in the end he only smiled lightly.

“I’m already used to it.”

At that moment, another steward from the merchant tower requested an audience.

After entering, he bowed respectfully.

“Tower Master, Zhong Alliance has submitted a request to rent a third-rank mid-grade spirit spring. Here are the documents.”

“Oh? That upstart coalition that made its fortune by speculating on land actually has a third-rank water-method alchemy master?”

Shang Yuanxin accepted the papers, a hint of curiosity appearing in his eyes.

Constructing third-rank fire veins and spirit springs, opening them to the public, and attracting high-level cultivation artisans to settle down had always been part of his plan for establishing Yuanxin Market.

But as far as he knew, Zhong Alliance should not possess such foundations.

“Bai Jianfeng? So it’s him?”

Shang Yuanxin chuckled softly.

“Interesting... Since the 'Origin Ice Spring' is still vacant, lease it to him for two years.”

Several days later.

After finishing his entertainment, Fang Qing finally turned to proper business.

Origin Ice Spring.

“The spiritual qi of Ice Heaven Island naturally leans toward the ice attribute. Even spirit springs created by drawing in water veins become cold springs as a result.”

Fang Qing converted his [Ji Water] mana and casually beckoned.

A stream of spring water rose into his palm.

After examining it carefully, his heart finally settled.

Back on Taibai Island, he had excelled at using the Ice Soul Cold Spring to refine pills. Facing this Origin Ice Spring, which was a full rank higher, posed no challenge at all.

Given his current alchemy attainments and water-control techniques, he could even employ the Water-Fire Pill Formula to temporarily elevate this spring to third-rank high-grade quality.

“Still, the Profound Star Cascade Pill is only a third-rank mid-grade medicine. This spirit spring is already more than sufficient.”

Standing with his hands clasped behind his back, Fang Qing swept his gaze across the alchemy chamber and nodded in satisfaction.

“The arrays are all newly installed, and the place is spotless. Not bad.”

After all, it had been built by the Merchant Alliance. Damaging their own reputation over something so trivial would hardly be worthwhile.

With that thought, he stopped delaying and slapped his storage bag.

One jade box after another appeared, scattering across the floor before opening automatically.

Crash!

Spiritual radiance, multicolored light, and icy qi flooded the room.

Accompanied by waves of medicinal fragrance, the contents were almost entirely third-rank spiritual herbs.

Among them was the Peng Transformation Grass.

“Like the Barrier-Breaking Pill series, pills used for advancing cultivation realms belong to the authority of [Jing Wood]. They should be refined using the 'Ji Wind and Bi Rain' method I comprehended.”

With a single thought, Fang Qing immediately activated the Dao Foundation of Wind-Positioned.

Among his [Ji Water] cultivation methods, Long-Awaited Sweet Rain had originally contained only the Dao Foundation portion. He had only later completed the divine ability section through the Eastern Waters Bai Family.

As for Perched at the Abyss, it belonged to [Zhen Water]. Though its qi ingestion rank was higher, it likewise lacked a Purple Mansion inheritance.

Thus, the Dao Foundation he had cultivated most consistently remained Wind-Positioned from the Listening to the Mysterious Caverns Springs Scripture.

Now, this Dao Foundation had already reached late-stage Dao Foundation and was approaching perfection, possessing countless profound mysteries.

A gentle breeze began to stir.

The waters of the Origin Ice Spring responded, surging endlessly outward to engulf stalk after stalk of spirit flowers and rare herbs.

At some unknown moment, shadows of pine trees appeared all around.

Amid the swaying branches came the sound of dripping spring water.

Drip. Drip.

The sound of the spring suddenly echoed like reverberations through an empty valley.

Droplets fell one by one, transforming into a brilliantly colored leopard that leaped into the spring waters, driving the transformation of the medicinal properties.

Within the hazy rain and mist, cinnamon trees burst from the earth.

Silver crows perched among their branches, spreading their wings as they cried out.

“The Ji Water constellation governs the flow of water. Wind descends upon its proper place. Pine waves answer in harmony, spring waters sing through mountain valleys. Transformation arises naturally, the leopard’s metamorphosis reveals virtue...”

“Bi Rain falls as sweet dew. Deer frolic deep within the forests, fish play in the broad waters. Mountains and rivers shine with renewed brilliance, grasses and trees drink deeply of nourishment, moisture enriches the earth...”

As the refinement progressed, Fang Qing’s gaze gradually grew distant.

His hands formed seals unconsciously, moving with effortless naturalness.

The Wind-Positioned Dao Foundation within him became incomparably active, circulating of its own accord.

At this moment, the Water Virtue insights bestowed by his heavenly tribulation, along with the fragmented knowledge he had risked obtaining from countless higher beings, were fully mobilized.

The Eastern Waters Bai Family’s hidden scriptures, the Forest Creek Deer-Sighting Art and the Mingyang Life Transformation Scripture, flowed through his mind in an instant.

“So that’s how it is...”

“Alchemy itself is cultivation. Since when was Dao attainment something so inconvenient?”

Fang Qing laughed heartily as his hand seals changed once more.

The Wind-Positioned Dao Foundation emitted a mysterious radiance filled with the intent of completion.

It summoned winds from all directions.

Wind descended upon its proper place.

Deer and fish answered its call, plunging into the Origin Ice Spring.

The spring waters boiled violently, and the faint roar of a leopard echoed from within.

A cascade of starlight descended, scattering into countless points.

The spring waters poured downward like a ribbon of white silk, transforming into a waterfall.

The cinnamon trees gathered into a forest.

A white deer gracefully leaped forth and landed before Fang Qing.

Held gently in its mouth was a single Profound Star Cascade Pill.

The pill emitted faint stellar qi, its surface shimmering with the color of the stars.

Six exquisite pill patterns adorned its surface.

It was unmistakably a premium-quality pill.

A third-rank mid-grade Profound Star Cascade Pill was highly effective for helping an early Core Formation cultivator break through to the mid-stage.

A premium-quality Profound Star Cascade Pill, however, could even assist in overcoming the bottleneck leading into late-stage Core Formation.

Yet Fang Qing’s attention had long since left the pill behind.

Closing his eyes, he immersed his divine sense within his dantian qi sea.

This alchemical refinement had unexpectedly triggered a flash of inspiration.

He had fully digested the foundations acquired from the Eastern Waters Bai Family and used the opportunity to challenge the bottleneck of his own Dao Foundation.

At the moment the pill formed, the Dao Foundation of Wind-Positioned had finally reached perfection.

From this day onward, he was a Dao Foundation cultivator who had achieved complete perfection and stood at the threshold of Purple Mansion.