Clan Cultivation: Starting from Foundation Establishment on Mount Luoxia

Six months later, at the port of Chuyang City.

Two ordinary-looking, even somewhat old-fashioned, airships were docked at their designated berths.

The ship had no family markings on its hull, and the array patterns were disguised, making it look like an ordinary merchant ship belonging to a rogue cultivator.

Xiao Chuhuan and Xiao Minghai stood by the ship, followed by ten members of the Xiao family's main branch, all of whom were at the late stage of Qi Refining, with calm auras and sharp eyes.

Li Xiaoyao, along with his two nephews Li Tongya and Li Chijing, three external cultivators—Scar Wolf, Iron Bow, and Poison Old Man—and three elite members of the Li family's collateral branches, a total of nine people, boarded his own flying boat.

"Brother Xiaoyao, is everything ready?"

Xiao Chuhuan smiled.

"Um."

Li Xiaoyao nodded, then instructed Li Tongya and Li Chijing: "This trip is to the black market, a place where all sorts of people mingle. Observe more and talk less, and stick close to the group."

"Be cautious if it's your first time visiting a place like this."

"Nephew understands."

Li Chijing said earnestly.

Li Tongya looked excited: "Second Uncle, don't worry, I will keep a close eye on Chijing."

Scarface and his two companions solemnly agreed.

Having spent years struggling in the underworld, they knew the dangers of the black market and naturally dared not be careless.

"Set off."

Xiao Chuhuan gave the order.

Two flying boats slowly rose into the air, pierced through the clouds, and entered the void.

Inside the cabin, Xiao Chuhuan unfolded a star map and pointed to a mark with Li Xiaoyao in the projection: "It will take eighteen days to fly from here to the black market."

"The black market opens once every three months, for seven days each time. We went there just in time for the middle of the month, when the crowds were at their highest and the goods were the most complete."

Looking at the star map, Li Xiaoyao asked, "How safe is this black market?"

"There are forces openly maintaining order, prohibiting killing and looting."

Xiao Chuhuan said, "But who can say for sure what's going on behind the scenes? So let's keep a low profile, leave immediately after the transaction is complete, and not linger inside."

He paused, then added, "Also, some stalls in the black market sell 'special goods'—such as cultivators wanted by certain forces, forbidden cultivation techniques and secret manuals, and even... 'ominous items' unearthed from ancient battlefields or ruins. We'd better avoid these."

Li Xiaoyao nodded and noted it down.

The spaceship sailed for eighteen days, constantly traversing the void. Occasionally, it could see other equally unassuming spaceships passing by, all tacitly maintaining their distance.

On the evening of the eighteenth day, a distorted void region appeared ahead.

There were no stars, no light, only a chaotic grayness.

Xiao Chuhuan took out the black jade slip and infused it with spiritual power. The jade slip emitted a beam of black light and disappeared into the void.

Om-!

Ripples spread through the void, and a crack slowly opened.

Within the crack, one could vaguely see brightly lit streets and the figures of people coming and going.

"Walk."

Xiao Chuhuan was the first to pilot the flying boat into the crevice.

Li Xiaoyao followed closely behind.

The moment you pass through the crack, the view suddenly opens up.

It was a semi-transparent sphere of light about ten miles in diameter, its surface shimmering with iridescent light, and the outlines of mountains and pavilions could be vaguely seen inside.

Around the sphere of light, dozens of platforms of varying sizes floated, with many flying boats docked on them and cultivators coming and going.

"That's the black market."

Xiao Chuhuan pointed at the ball of light, "After that Purple Mansion fell, the cave heaven fell into the void and was discovered by several major families, who transformed it into a black market."

"This place has a stable space and a self-circulating spiritual energy system, which allows it to exist for a long time."

"Those platforms are parking areas, let's find a place to park too."

Li Xiaoyao scanned the area with his divine sense and indeed sensed that although the spiritual energy here was not as abundant as that of the Spirit Soul Realm, it formed its own cycle and was inexhaustible.

The two airships landed on a dock at the edge of the area.

Dozens of flying boats of various kinds were already parked on the platform, some ornate and some simple, but without exception, all of them had their markings covered.

As soon as everyone disembarked from the flying boat, a cultivator dressed in a gray robe with an expressionless face stepped forward, collected ten mid-grade spirit stones as a "berthing fee," and handed over several black tokens.

"Entry and exit are permitted only with a token. Losing your token is your own responsibility."

The gray-robed monk spoke in a flat voice, then turned and left.

Xiao Chuhuan distributed the tokens to everyone:

"Keep this safe. It's our identification in the black market and also our key when we leave."

"Once you enter the city, do not reveal your identity easily."

"Although this place is maintained by several powerful families, it is a mixed bag of people, so caution is advised."

Li Xiaoyao took the token; it was icy cold to the touch. The front was engraved with the character "隐" (Hidden), and the back had a simple serial number.

He scanned the token with his divine sense and found a faint positioning restriction, clearly indicating a surveillance purpose.

The group walked toward the entrance to the sphere of light—a gate about three zhang high, its light distorting and undulating.

Four powerful cultivators, all at least mid-Foundation Establishment level, stood guard at the entrance, scanning each person entering.

After handing over their tokens for inspection, the group stepped through the portal.

The scene before my eyes suddenly changed!

It felt like stepping from one world into another.

Beneath my feet lies a wide street paved with bluestone, flanked by towering buildings with upturned eaves, carved beams and painted rafters, resembling a bustling city.

The streets were bustling with monks, most of them dressed in simple or concealing robes, and they were in a hurry.

The air was filled with a variety of complex scents—the aroma of medicine, the stench of blood, the rust of metal, the dust of years past, and a faint... malevolent aura.

Looking up, the sky was not a real void, but a hazy curtain of light, radiating a soft but false glow.

In the distance, the outlines of green mountains are visible, rivers meander, and the faint sound of flowing water can even be heard.

"This...this is the Purple Mansion Grotto-Heaven?"

Li Chijing couldn't help but gasp.

"good."

Xiao Chuhuan nodded, "That fallen Purple Mansion cultivator managed his cave heaven like a small world during his lifetime."

"The Afterlife Cave was transformed into a black market by several powerful families. It is said that the space inside is a hundred miles in circumference."

Li Xiaoyao sensed that the concentration of spiritual energy here was much richer than outside, but the spiritual energy was mixed with many chaotic auras, which was obviously not suitable for long-term cultivation.

"Brother Xiaoyao, I need to purchase a batch of special ores and array materials."

Xiao Chuhuan said, "How about we part ways here and meet at the city gate at noon three days from now?"

"it is good."

Li Xiaoyao nodded.

The two groups parted ways.

The Xiao family members headed towards East Street.

Li Xiaoyao led the Li family members straight to West Street—according to the information on the jade slip, West Street was a human trafficking area.

The atmosphere was noticeably different as soon as I stepped into the area.

The streets are no longer lined with ordinary shops, but with simple two- or three-story buildings.

But Li Xiaoyao could sense strong spatial fluctuations inside each small building—clearly, there were expansion arrays deployed there.

"Second Uncle, over here..."

Li Chijing's voice sounded a little strained.

Occasionally, vendors walk by leading their "goods" on the street.

Those "goods" wore spirit-suppressing rings around their necks, their eyes were numb, they lined up in a long queue, and were driven like livestock.

There are humans, and also various humanoid creatures: minotaur-headed humans, centaurs, and short, dark-green-skinned beings...

Li Xiaoyao's face was ashen: "Remember, we're here to buy labor, not to pity people."

"That's just how the world is—survival of the fittest."

He looked at Li Tongya and Li Chijing: "Today, the selection of people will be the responsibility of the two of you."

"Tongya was chosen by the main candidate, and Chijing assisted him."

"Remember a few principles: First, only young and strong people are welcome, not the elderly or children; second, prioritize those who are healthy and have clear eyes; third, negotiate the price, but don't try to bargain too much—this place is dangerous, don't cause trouble."

"Yes, Second Uncle."

The two responded in unison.

Li Xiaoyao then looked at Scarface: "Scarface, take two men to keep watch on the perimeter and see if anyone is tailing us."

"clear."