Fire Virtue Immortal Clan

Chapter 128 Closing the Market and Returning to the Family
The Lu family has a fairly detailed understanding of the cultivators who enter Qingling Mountain, and they have also gained some knowledge of the situation of these thirteen Foundation Establishment cultivators on Qingling Mountain.

Of the five Foundation Establishment mid-stage cultivators, only one was a rogue cultivator; the other four all came from Foundation Establishment forces relatively far from the Burning Flame Mountains.

Most of the eight early Foundation Establishment cultivators were from independent cultivation backgrounds, with five of them being independent cultivators and the remaining three coming from Foundation Establishment forces.

These Foundation Establishment cultivators who came from Foundation Establishment forces did not have particularly strong backing; their power was far inferior to that of Foundation Establishment forces like the Dan Ding Sect.

Some cultivators at the late Foundation Establishment stage and the peak Foundation Establishment stage also passed through Qingling Market, but they stayed in Qingling Market for a very short time before directly entering the Burning Flame Mountain Range.

The Heavenly Flame Sect guards the Burning Flame Mountain Range. Although cultivators at the Golden Core stage are not allowed to enter, there are no restrictions on cultivators at the Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining stages.

Xuan Kong Zhenren of the Tianyan Sect, along with the Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Tianyan Sect, recruited a total of fifty Foundation Establishment cultivators to attack the Earth Flame Python and the Fire Bone Lizard.

However, there were even more Foundation Establishment cultivators who were not among those summoned by Master Xuankong and instead ventured into the Burning Flame Mountains to hunt demonic beasts.

There are indeed many demonic beasts and spirits living in the Burning Flame Mountains, but the number of human cultivators entering the Burning Flame Mountains this time is probably even greater.

After giving Lu Cheng'an a brief introduction to the Foundation Establishment cultivators in Qingling Market, Lu Chengping then talked about the Qi Refining cultivators.

The number of Qi Refining Realm cultivators in Qingling Market is even greater, and their origins are more complicated. Even if the Lu family wanted to investigate, they could not find out the origins of all the Qi Refining Realm cultivators.

“You don’t need to worry about the family businesses in the market; the Grand Elder will take care of that. Our main task is to ensure the safety of the market,” Lu Chengping said in a deep voice.

The Grand Elder Lu Wensheng's cultivation level is still at the ninth level of Qi Refining, but behind him stands the Lu family, which has three Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Even cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage would have to give him face if they saw him in Qingling Market, since he was the person in charge of the Lu family in Qingling Market.

"That's the situation in Qingling Market. Now I'll teach you how to control the Azure Wood Thousand Blossoms Array and the Hundred Wood Azure Origin Array."

As Lu Chengping spoke, he took out two cyan array flags. One of the flags was of mid-grade second rank, and the other was of low-grade second rank.

"The Azure Thousand Blossoms Formation is of mid-grade second rank, and the Hundred Wood Azure Origin Formation is of low-grade second rank. These two spirit formations can be activated simultaneously..."

Lu Chengping is a second-tier low-grade spirit array master. He has a high talent for spirit arrays, and the spirit array inheritance he obtained is also quite extraordinary.

It was for this reason that he was able to combine the two second-tier spirit arrays, the Azure Wood Thousand Blossom Array and the Hundred Wood Azure Origin Array, together.

Lu Cheng'an was not proficient in spirit arrays, but he was very intelligent.

Moreover, it is relatively easy to learn the control methods of the Azure Wood Thousand Blossoms Formation and the Hundred Wood Azure Origin Formation from Lu Chengping.

"You learn very quickly. Familiarize yourself with it again later. If you encounter any problems, send me a message."

After handing over the affairs of Qingling Market to Lu Cheng'an, Lu Chengping left Qingling Market directly.

Lu Cheng'an operated the two second-tier formations, the Azure Wood Thousand Blossom Formation and the Hundred Wood Azure Origin Formation, on his own. After confirming that there were no problems, he left the cave.

The thirteen Foundation Establishment cultivators residing in Qingling Market usually cultivate in seclusion in their rented cave dwellings and rarely enter the market.

When Lu Cheng'an entered the market, he saw that it was bustling with people.

Lu Cheng'an used the Concealing Breath Technique to hide his Foundation Establishment cultivation level, and the cultivators in the market did not notice anything unusual about him.

Two hours later, Lu Cheng'an personally explored the entire Qingling Market, based on what he had previously monitored through the array in the cave, and gained a more detailed understanding of its structure.

After that, he went to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion where the Grand Elder was located!
Baizhenlou is a shop opened by the Lu family in Qingling Market, and the person in charge of Baizhenlou is the eldest elder, Lu Wensheng.

"Elder, I will be in charge of Qingling Market from now on. I certainly won't be as attentive to the market as you are. If anything happens in the market, please be sure to notify me immediately!" Lu Cheng'an said with a smile.

The spirit array in his cave can monitor the situation in the market, but there are still places that the spirit array cannot detect. That's why he had the Grand Elder keep an eye on the market at the same time.

"Please rest assured, Elder, I will continue to monitor the situation in the market. If anything happens in the market that I cannot handle, I will definitely ask the Elder to deal with it immediately," Lu Wensheng said in a deep voice.

"Then I'll have to trouble the Grand Elder!"

Lu Cheng'an didn't say much to Lu Wensheng. After giving Lu Wensheng some instructions, he returned to the cave where Lu Chengping had been.

During his time overseeing Qingling Market, he would also cultivate in this cave.

The Qingling Market also has second-tier spiritual veins, but there are more cave dwellings built in the market, including some second-tier ones.

These cave dwellings absorbed too much of the spiritual energy from the second-tier spiritual veins, which resulted in a certain difference in the concentration of spiritual energy between Lu Cheng'an's cave dwelling and his cave dwelling in Chiyan Mountain.

After returning to his cave, Lu Cheng'an devoted some of his attention to monitoring the situation in the market through the array within the cave, but focused most of his energy on cultivation.

Time passed slowly, and almost two months went by in the blink of an eye.

At this time, no news came from the Burning Flame Mountains that the two second-tier perfect realm demon beasts, the Earth Flame Python and the Fire Bone Lizard, had broken through to the third tier, but the volcanoes of the Burning Flame Mountains began to erupt on a large scale.

Volcanic eruptions are extremely dangerous, but they also bring a great deal of opportunity.

Second-tier spiritual herbs, minerals, and other treasures emerged along with the volcanic eruption. During this time, some cultivators who had previously entered the Burning Flame Mountain Range returned from the Burning Flame Mountain Range and came to the Qingling Market near the Burning Flame Mountain Range to replenish their supplies.

These cultivators would sell the spiritual herbs, minerals, and other raw materials obtained from the Burning Flame Mountains to the Lu family, and then obtain finished magical artifacts and pills from the Lu family.

The pills sold in Qingling Market were mostly purchased by the Lu family from Dan Ding Sect, while the magical artifacts were mostly made by Lu Cheng'an.

Cultivators certainly don't wear out magic artifacts as much as they do pills. Fortunately, Lu Cheng'an hasn't refined many second-tier magic artifacts during this period, which is just enough to meet the needs of Foundation Establishment cultivators in Qingling Market.

The refining conditions in Qingling Market are definitely not as good as those on Qinge Island. Lu Cheng'an cannot find suitable spring water for refining magical artifacts here.

He could only prepare a batch of spring water for refining magical artifacts himself. This spring water was certainly not as good as natural cold spring water for refining magical artifacts, but it was better than nothing.

The cultivators who were originally staying in Qingling Market couldn't resist taking action after hearing about the situation in the Burning Flame Mountains, and they all entered the Burning Flame Mountains.

This includes some Qi Refining Realm cultivators who dream of soaring to great heights.

Lu Cheng'an, Lu Wensheng, and other Lu family cultivators did not have much contact with the cultivators in the market; they only earned spirit stones from them.

In Lu Cheng'an's cave dwelling in Qingling Market, Lu Cheng'an, who was refining a second-tier low-grade refined iron magic sword embryo, suddenly stopped. He quickly grabbed a communication talisman that was not far from him and began to examine its contents.

There were three communication talismans in total, from Xu Shao, Lu Wenxing, and Zhu Yan respectively. They all conveyed the same message to Lu Cheng'an: the Earth Flame Python and the Fire Bone Lizard, both of which were at the second-tier perfect realm, were beginning to break through to the third tier!

The two demonic beasts, the Earth Flame Python and the Fire Bone Lizard, have also made ample preparations. When they break through to the third tier, the volcanic eruptions of the Burning Flame Mountains will reach their most active period.

This will make the Burning Flame Mountains extremely dangerous!

The two demons, the Earth Flame Python and the Fire Bone Lizard, wanted to use this opportunity to hinder human cultivators and then break through to the third rank.

Xuan Kong Zhenren of the Tianyan Sect had also made thorough preparations, and they were stationed in an area not far from where the two demonic beasts, the Earth Flame Python and the Fire Bone Lizard, had broken through.

Once the Earth Flame Python and Fire Bone Lizard successfully break through to the third tier, they will ruthlessly kill these two newly promoted third-tier demonic beasts.

After summarizing the messages from Xu Shao and Zhu Yan, Lu Cheng'an first sent a message to Lu Wenxing, and then sent separate messages to Xu Shao and Zhu Yan to express his gratitude.

“Recently, some heretical cultivators have broken into the territory of the Tianyan Sect and plundered many cultivation forces in the chaos!”

Lu Cheng'an frowned deeply; this was a message Xu Shao had delivered to him.

The Dan Ding Sect had also just received this news. Upon learning of it, Xu Shao immediately sent a message to Lu Cheng'an, urging Lu Cheng'an and the Lu family to be on high alert.

After all, the Lu family had been riding high during this period, making a fortune in cultivation resources through the Qingling Market.

Of course, the Dan Ding Sect also made a profit, since most of the pills sold in Qingling Market came from the Dan Ding Sect.

Evil cultivators and bandits are definitely not good people; evil cultivators and bandits are two different groups.

The cultivation methods practiced by heretics tend to be demonic and evil. They are greedy for merit and reckless, often using human cultivators as materials for alchemy or weapon forging. Some even go so far as to attack ordinary people who are powerless to kill chickens, in order to refine powerful heretical magical artifacts.

Compared to evil sects, bandit cultivators are somewhat better. They specialize in burning, killing, and looting, so they often target wealthy but not particularly powerful forces.

The Lu family now happens to be a suitable target for the bandits.

Not long after Lu Cheng'an relayed the message Xu Shao had given him to the clan chief, he received a reply from the clan chief.

Since Xu Shao conveyed such a message, it means that this matter is very likely true.

Therefore, Lu Wenxing discussed with Lu Chengan whether they should give up Qingling Market.

The Qingling Market has indeed brought the Lu family a substantial income during this period, but compared to cultivation resources and the lives of the clan's cultivators, it seems less important.

"The clan leader wants to abandon Qingling Market directly!"

Lu Cheng'an sighed softly. Although the clan leader said he was discussing it with him, his words clearly indicated that he preferred to give up Qingling Market.

Lu Cheng'an frowned and pondered for a moment, then quickly made a decision in his heart.

After sending a message to the clan leader, he immediately came out of the cave and summoned Lu Wensheng and other Lu family cultivators from Qingling Market to announce the temporary closure of Qingling Market.

"May I ask, Elder, what exactly happened? Why did you suddenly decide to close the market?"

Lu Wensheng and the other cultivators looked at Lu Cheng'an with puzzlement. Although there had been few Foundation Establishment cultivators entering the market recently, there were still many Qi Refining cultivators in the market.

These Qi Refining Realm cultivators can also bring great benefits to the market.

"This is the clan chief's order. You will learn the specific reasons when you return to the clan!"

A solemn expression appeared on Lu Cheng'an's face. He said in a deep voice, "I am giving the order now. You must cooperate with me and send all the cultivators out of the market within three days at the shortest time!"

There are currently no Foundation Establishment cultivators in Qingling Market. After hearing the news from the Burning Flame Mountains, the thirteen Foundation Establishment cultivators from before finally couldn't resist their greed and went into the Burning Flame Mountains to try their luck.

This is why Lu Cheng'an dared to close Qingling Market at this time.

When the Qi Refining cultivators in Qingling Market suddenly heard that the Lu family was going to close the market and make them leave within three days, they were all very surprised and angry.

Regardless of their inner thoughts, they dared not disobey the orders issued by the Lu family.

The Lu family has three Foundation Establishment cultivators, and one of them is currently stationed in Qingling Market.

If they dared to disobey the Lu family's orders, they would never be able to leave Qingling Market alive.

These rogue cultivators living at the bottom of the cultivation world are well aware of their situation.

One day after Lu Cheng'an issued the order to close the market, all the rogue cultivators in Qingling Market had already left.

The once bustling market became desolate as the cultivators left.

After Lu Cheng'an had Lu Wensheng and other Lu family cultivators organize the various resources of Qingling Market, he activated the two second-order formations in Qingling Market.

Both of these formations are of the second rank. Even without a cultivator presiding over them, the power of these two formations can withstand cultivators at the Qi Refining stage, and even cultivators at the early Foundation Establishment stage.

This will effectively prevent the market from being damaged by low-level rogue cultivators while the Lu family cultivators are away.

After making the final arrangements, Lu Cheng'an did not waste any time and left Qingling Mountain with Lu Wensheng and the others, who were full of doubts, heading towards Chiyan Mountain.

Since Lu Wensheng and the others were at the Qi Refining stage, Lu Cheng'an had to accommodate their speed, which slowed down their return to Chiyan Mountain.

On the way back, Lu Cheng'an no longer concealed the reason why Lu Wensheng and others had suddenly closed Qingling Market.

A day later, Lu Cheng'an returned to Chiyan Mountain with Lu Wensheng and the others, and then he was immediately summoned away by Lu Wenxing.

"Clan leader, how is the clan doing now?" Lu Cheng'an asked in a deep voice, his gaze falling on Lu Wenxing and Lu Chengping.

(End of this chapter)