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"This illusion technique is quite skillful!"

Zhou Yuan smiled at the two people beside him.

"Tianjing, stop playing tricks here!"

Fire Dragon Boy also noticed the problem. His clear voice, tinged with impatience, called out towards the noisy "restaurant".

He had barely finished speaking.

The scene inside the attic rippled and distorted violently like waves, then with a soft "pop," like a bubble bursting.

The dozens of tables of "guests" clinking glasses, the busy "waiters," and the tables laden with "food and wine" vanished without a trace, as if they had never existed.

The first floor of the attic suddenly became empty, spacious, and bright.

In the center, there was only a simple wooden table, beside which sat an elderly man dressed in brown linen clothes, with gray hair, who looked to be about fifty or sixty years old, and was in good spirits.

The old man was pouring himself a drink. There was only a pot of tea and a few plates of dried fruit on the table, a stark contrast to the "restaurant" scene from before.

The initiator of this small exchange was Master Tianjing, a rogue cultivator in the early stage of the Nascent Soul realm, who was known for his expertise in weapon crafting and some illusion techniques.

"Hehe, Fellow Daoist Lan, Fairy Shuiyun, and this... unfamiliar fellow Daoist, I just want to see how many fellow Daoists can easily see through this 'lively' facade."

Master Tianjing put down his teacup, stroked his beard and smiled, his gaze lingering on Zhou Yuan for a moment longer, clearly surprised that he could detect the illusion so quickly.

"This is Fellow Daoist Zhou Yuan, a wandering cultivator from overseas."

Fire Dragon Boy gave a brief introduction, his tone remaining indifferent, clearly not impressed by Tianjing Shangren's "little tricks".

"So it's Fellow Daoist Zhou, a pleasure to meet you." Venerable Tianjing cupped his hands in greeting to Zhou Yuan.

"Fellow Daoist Tianjing," Zhou Yuan returned the greeting.

"Alright, now that everyone's here, let's go up. This is a mask to conceal your aura. Once you put it on, within the restrictions on the second floor, even those below the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm won't be able to easily see through your true appearance and cultivation level, making the transaction easier."

As he spoke, Master Tianjing took out three ordinary-looking wooden masks and handed them to the three people.

Fairy Shuiyun thanked her, took the mask and put it on. The mask fit her automatically, and her aura became blurred, and even her face was shrouded in a thin mist.

Zhou Yuan put it on as instructed. The mask was cold, and after putting it on, he felt that his divine sense was somewhat hindered, but it did not affect the wearer's vision or perception.

Fire Dragon Boy casually tossed the mask onto the table beside him, scoffing, "Does it make any difference whether I wear this or not? Who wouldn't recognize me?"

His childlike appearance is unique in the Tiannan Nascent Soul circle, so there's no need to hide it.

Master Tianjing didn't take it to heart, laughed heartily, and stood up, saying:

"Fellow Daoist Lan is right. I did not consider this carefully. The three of you, please follow me to the second floor."

The four of them went up the stairs to the second floor.

The second floor is decorated more simply, with an open space in the center. Along the surrounding walls, there are more than twenty large armchairs, spaced a few feet apart, with small tea tables in front of each chair.

At this moment, nearly twenty people were sitting in various places, including men, women, young and old, dressed in different clothes, but without exception, they all exuded the powerful spiritual pressure unique to Nascent Soul cultivators.

Everyone wore masks similar to those worn by Zhou Yuan and his two companions, their features blurred and their true faces difficult to discern.

More than twenty Nascent Soul cultivators were sharing a room!

If this scene had occurred decades ago when Zhou Yuan was still a Core Formation cultivator, it would have been enough to terrify him and make him extremely cautious.

But now, he himself has reached that level, and even achieved a higher level of cultivation, so his mindset is different.

His gaze swept calmly across the entire room.

Most of the cultivators present had spiritual pressure within the early Nascent Soul stage, though their auras varied in strength.

Like him, only two others possessed significantly heavier and more solid spiritual pressure, reaching the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm.

One person sat by the window on the east side, dressed in a blue robe, slightly plump, and was playing with a string of jade beads; the other person sat in the corner on the west side, thin, shrouded in a large gray robe, and exuding a faint chill.

"They are the ones who should be wary."

Zhou Yuan remained calm and casually chose an empty seat to sit down.

Water Cloud Fairy and Fire Dragon Boy also sat down near him.

Master Tianjing walked to the center, cleared his throat, and spoke in a soft but clear voice: "Fellow Daoists, almost everyone has arrived. The rules for this exchange will remain the same: each person will take turns displaying their treasures, stating their needs, and the highest bidder wins, or they can barter. Any disputes should be resolved outside this door. Now, the exchange begins!"

"I'll go first!"

As soon as Master Tianjing finished speaking, a black-clad cultivator sitting on the north side stood up first.

His voice was hoarse, and he was wearing a mask, so his expression was not visible.

He took out a jade box about a foot long, placed it on a small table in front of him, and carefully opened the lid.

"Buzz—"

The moment the box was opened, a scorching, pure aura, imbued with a rich fire elemental energy, immediately filled the air, mixed with a strange, invigorating fragrance. Inside the jade box lay a strange spiritual herb, entirely crimson, its surface shrouded in a faint red mist, resembling a lingzhi mushroom, yet thicker and more translucent than an ordinary lingzhi.

The red mist seemed to possess a spirit, slowly flowing across the surface of the Ganoderma lucidum, emitting a dreamlike luster.

"A 3,000-year-old 'Red Essence Ganoderma'!"

The black-clad cultivator said in a deep voice, "This item is a top-grade spiritual medicine that can be used to refine various fire-attribute cultivation techniques and even has miraculous effects on Nascent Soul cultivators breaking through bottlenecks. I wish to exchange it for fire-attribute alchemy or weapon-refining materials of the same level, or... 100,000 spirit stones!"

"Red Ganoderma lucidum!"

"Three thousand years old! This is a rare sight indeed!"

"One hundred thousand spirit stones...that's not a low price."

"If a fellow cultivator with a fire attribute were to obtain it, its value would far exceed 100,000, whether for personal use or for alchemy."

A low murmur arose in the arena, and many people's gazes became intense, especially those cultivators whose auras leaned towards the fire attribute, whose breathing became slightly rapid.

A three-thousand-year-old Crimson Essence Ganoderma is indeed a rare and precious treasure. Whether consumed directly or used as a main ingredient in elixirs, it is of great benefit to Nascent Soul cultivators.

The price of 100,000 spirit stones is enough to make many early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators feel the pinch and need to weigh the pros and cons.

Zhou Yuan's gaze fell on the Crimson Essence Ganoderma, and a hint of interest flashed in his eyes.

This medicine is highly potent and possesses abundant fire-attribute spiritual energy, making it a superior elixir for alchemy.

Just as the cultivators were still hesitating about whether to bid or exchange for other materials, Zhou Yuan's calm voice rang out:

"I want it."

He took out a storage bag and casually tossed it to the black-clad cultivator.

The black-clad cultivator was taken aback, instinctively caught it, and probed inside with his divine sense, his body trembling slightly.

Inside, neatly arranged, were a thousand mid-grade spirit stones, shimmering with light and brimming with spiritual energy!

One mid-grade spirit stone is equivalent to one hundred low-grade spirit stones. One thousand of them are exactly one hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones!

"Fellow Daoist, you're so generous!" The black-clad cultivator's voice revealed a hint of joy as he unhesitatingly pushed the jade box containing the Crimson Essence Mushroom toward Zhou Yuan, while simultaneously putting away his storage bag.

One hundred thousand spirit stones was a considerable fortune for him.

Zhou Yuan took the jade box, checked it and found nothing wrong, then casually put it away.

The whole process was swift and efficient, without any unnecessary delays.

The other cultivators in the arena looked at Zhou Yuan with a mixture of surprise and curiosity.

Ten thousand spirit stones, taken without batting an eye—such wealth is rare among rogue cultivators.

A glint of surprise flashed in the eyes beneath the Water Cloud Fairy's mask, and she raised her assessment of Zhou Yuan's "net worth" by one level.

The atmosphere at the subsequent trade fair was even more enthusiastic.

One after another, cultivators brought out various rare materials, pills, ancient treasures, and even some rare cultivation technique jade slips for trade.

Zhou Yuan would often bid high prices for spirit stones for anything that could improve his cultivation, temper his body, or be useful for him to refine magic weapons or raise spirit beasts, as long as the price wasn't too outrageous.

He made decisive bids, raising the price significantly. After several rounds of bidding, he successfully acquired several good refining materials and two bottles of pills that were quite beneficial to late-stage Core Formation cultivators.

His seemingly inexhaustible reserves of spirit stones left the Nascent Soul cultivators present speechless with astonishment. Their gazes towards him gradually shifted from initial surprise to envy, jealousy, and even a hint of hidden greed.

But no one sitting here is a fool. Zhou Yuan's wealth and composure only made most people more wary and hesitant to provoke him.

"Who is this guy? He's incredibly wealthy!"

"Perhaps they obtained the complete inheritance of some ancient cultivator, or discovered an unexploited spirit stone vein..."

"Shh, watch your words. This man is unfathomable; lest you bring trouble upon yourself."

Zhou Yuan ignored the comments and stares, remaining calmly seated, waiting for something that might actually interest him.

The trade fair lasted for nearly two hours, and most people had already completed one round of trading.

At this moment, the initiator, Master Tianjing, stood up again, clapped his hands, and attracted everyone's attention.

"Fellow Daoists, it's my turn next." Master Tianjing chuckled and waved his hand. Six tall, humanoid black figures suddenly appeared in the open space in the center of the hall.

These are six humanoid puppets!

The entire body is cast from some kind of dark golden metal, with an intricate structure at the joints. They hold weapons such as knives, swords, and shields in their hands. Although they stand quietly, they exude a strong spiritual energy fluctuation. Each one of them has actually reached the level of the Core Formation stage!

Moreover, judging from its material and workmanship, it is clearly not a modern product, carrying an ancient and weathered feel.

"The combat puppets crafted by ancient cultivators, when fully activated, possess combat power no weaker than that of a cultivator in the early stage of Core Formation. Moreover, they are unaware of pain and unafraid of death, making them excellent aids for guarding homes and exploring dangerous places."

Master Tianjing introduced, with a hint of pride in his tone, "For the six puppets, I would like to exchange them for a special material."

As he spoke, he took out a crystal about the size of a pigeon egg, which was emerald green in color, seemed to have mist flowing inside, and emitted a faint soul power fluctuation, and held it in his palm.

"This item is called a 'Soul Stone,' a rare material used to refine high-level puppets or certain special soul-type magical artifacts. I urgently need it. If any of you fellow cultivators possess such Soul Stones, regardless of size, you may use them to trade for these six ancient puppets! The more you have, the better the quality, and priority will be given to those who possess them!"

The emerald green crystal refracted a soft halo under the light, and the soul power contained within it was quite unique.

"Soul Stones? Never heard of them."

"I've heard of ancient puppetry techniques, but this soul stone... doesn't seem to be a common material in the current cultivation world."

"Looking at this crystal, it resembles the core of some kind of demonic beast, but it doesn't quite look like it..."

The cultivators in the arena were discussing among themselves, most of them looking blank, clearly unfamiliar with "soul stones," let alone possessing one.

Zhou Yuan's gaze lingered on the emerald green crystal for a moment, a hint of understanding flashing in his eyes.

Soul Stone?

Isn't this the "Netherworld Beast Crystal" he obtained after killing those Netherworld Beasts in the Netherworld Land?

The one in Tianjing Shangren's hand seems to be of average quality, and the soul power it contains is not very pure.

In his storage bag, there were thousands of such Netherworld Beast Crystals!

These were all spoils of war left behind by Tihun after he wreaked havoc at the foot of Storm Mountain.

"The ancient puppetry technique... does bear some resemblance to the crafting methods of a batch of puppets I obtained in my early years."

From the bamboo tube behind him, the Great Evolution Divine Lord's divine sense, carrying a hint of commentary, transmitted: "However, these six puppets before you are merely the most rudimentary combat puppets. Their core drive and energy utilization are quite primitive, only suitable for dealing with Core Formation cultivators. The true ancient top-tier puppets are far more exquisite than you can imagine. My 'Heavenly Puppet' is based on some of the essence of ancient puppets. As for these... they're not worth studying."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuan's slight interest vanished.

Indeed, for him, a few puppets that could only exert the power of Core Formation cultivators were rather useless.

Instead of wasting time and resources collecting soul stones to exchange for them, it would be better to spend more time cultivating the high-potential transformed demon beasts under one's command.

Only the "Heavenly Puppet" envisioned by the Great Evolution Divine Lord, which requires countless precious materials and, once refined, can rival the late-stage Nascent Soul realm, is worth his effort.

Seeing no one respond, a hint of disappointment flashed in Tianjing Shangren's eyes. He shook his head and put away the soul stone and the six puppets: "Since no one has this item, then so be it. The trade fair will continue."

Another half hour passed, and no one brought out anything new, so the exchange ended. Everyone stood up, said their farewells briefly, and left the Crystal Dragon Pavilion one after another.

Most people still wear masks, maintaining an air of mystery.

Zhou Yuan walked out of the pavilion together with Fairy Shuiyun and Fire Dragon Boy.

"Fellow Daoist Zhou, you are truly wealthy. You have reaped a rich harvest today," Fairy Shuiyun said to Zhou Yuan with a smile as she removed her mask.

"I've only gained a little, nothing compared to Fellow Daoist Shuiyun's broad perspective," Zhou Yuan replied politely.

The Fire Dragon Child simply nodded to the two of them, said "Farewell," and then transformed into a streak of red light, departing on his own. He seemed to be quite aloof.

After parting ways with Fairy Shuiyun, Zhou Yuan did not immediately return to the bamboo house in Juxian Garden. Instead, he wandered around Tiantian City at will, his divine sense acting like invisible tentacles, silently collecting various information and rumors in the city, trying to glean information about Marquis Nanlong or any possible ancient cultivator relics appearing in the near future.

Khotan City is extremely large, with countless cultivators and a vast amount of information.

Zhou Yuan walked through several relatively quiet streets, paying attention to the conversations of the cultivators.

Suddenly, he paused slightly, his gaze falling on a man in a green robe who was walking out of a shop selling talisman materials not far ahead.

The man was of medium build and had an ordinary appearance, the kind of person you wouldn't notice in a crowd. But his eyes were clear and bright, subtly revealing a calmness and vicissitude that didn't match his appearance.

The spiritual energy emanating from his body had clearly reached the early stage of the Nascent Soul realm!

What surprised Zhou Yuan even more was that he knew this person!

"Junior Brother Han?"

Zhou Yuan spoke with a hint of surprise.

Upon hearing this, the man in the green robe visibly stiffened and abruptly turned his head to look.

Upon seeing Zhou Yuan, his eyes flashed with disbelief and astonishment, which quickly transformed into a complex and incomprehensible emotion, prompting him to blurt out:

"Zhou... Senior Brother Zhou?!"

The two looked at each other and saw a deep sense of surprise in each other's eyes.

To Zhou Yuan's surprise, Han Li actually appeared in Tiannan!

Moreover, his cultivation level had already broken through from the Core Formation stage to the early Nascent Soul stage!

How did he come here from the distant Chaotic Star Sea?

Could it also be through the ancient teleportation array on that deserted island?

But Han Li doesn't have a Great Teleportation Token, so how can he resist the terrifying spatial pressure brought by that ultra-long-distance teleportation?

Han Li was equally shocked.

He clearly remembered that when he, Zhou Yuan, and Zhou Tian traveled to the Chaotic Star Sea through that ancient teleportation array, the array was damaged.

It was only after he spent a lot of effort to repair it.

Zhou Yuan shouldn't be able to use it until he fixes it.

But now, Zhou Yuan not only appeared in Tiannan earlier than him, but his cultivation has also reached the unfathomable mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm!

Could it be that this Senior Brother Zhou had some other opportunity and crossed the endless sea through other means?

Countless questions churned in their minds, but both were calm and composed individuals with deep cunning, and they instantly suppressed all their surprise and doubts, revealing a perfectly timed look of delight at "meeting an old friend in a foreign land."

"Junior Brother Han, it's been many years since we last met. I never expected to meet you here. It's true what they say, you never know where you might meet someone in life." Zhou Yuan smiled and cupped his hands first, as if he had just bumped into a fellow disciple he hadn't seen in a long time.

"Senior Brother Zhou, it's been a long time. I never expected to see you in Tiancheng." Han Li quickly composed himself, returned the greeting with a cupped hand, and spoke with emotion.

The two tacitly avoided mentioning sensitive topics such as teleportation arrays and the Chaotic Star Sea, as if it were just an ordinary travel experience.

"Junior Brother has made rapid progress and has already condensed his Nascent Soul. This is truly a cause for celebration."

Zhou Yuan looked Han Li up and down and praised him.

"Senior brother, you flatter me. Compared to your remarkable progress in cultivation, my meager skills are truly insignificant."

Han Li quickly became humble, but inwardly he was even more wary of Zhou Yuan's cultivation level.

He believed he had been blessed with many opportunities and his cultivation speed far surpassed his peers, but this Senior Brother Zhou was much faster than him!

"Junior Brother, why did you decide to return to Tiannan?" Zhou Yuan asked casually.

Upon hearing this, Han Li gave a wry smile and said in a low voice:

"Senior brother, have you forgotten? Back in the Chaotic Star Sea, I was a 'disciple' of the 'Extreme Yin Ancestor'... Where can I possibly stay now?"

Zhou Yuan suddenly realized, and then burst out laughing.

Indeed, in the Chaotic Star Sea, Han Li, bearing the title of "disciple of the Extreme Yin Ancestor," was simultaneously "coveted" by both the righteous and demonic paths and the Star Palace, making him a veritable rat crossing the street.

On the contrary, the real "extreme yin" himself, after using this identity, simply left without a trace, leaving Han Li to take the blame.

His decision to seek refuge in the relatively safe and secluded southern region, where no one knew his "background," was truly wise.

"I see. Although Tiannan is also rife with conflict, it is indeed more suitable for quiet cultivation compared to the chaos of the Chaotic Star Sea." Zhou Yuan nodded in understanding, then asked, "Junior Brother, is your trip to Tiantian City also for the Tiannan First Trade Fair?"

"Exactly." Han Li nodded. "Junior brother wants to see if any 'Gengjin' appears at this trade fair, which is known as the best in Tiannan. If so, we must find a way to acquire a piece."

He did not hide his goal, after all, Zhou Yuan knew how important Geng Jing was to him.

"What a coincidence, senior brother, I've also come here for the Geng essence."

Zhou Yuan smiled.

This is not a lie. Although we have already obtained a piece from Master Qianfeng, we are still a little short of what we need.

Upon hearing this, Han Li's heart stirred.

It seems that this Senior Brother Zhou is also collecting Geng essence, and his ambitions are probably not small.

However, he didn't ask any further questions, only saying, "Then I wish you all the best, Senior Brother. May I ask where you are staying now? If you have some free time, I would like to pay you a visit."

"I have a temporary cave dwelling on Ling Shu Mountain in Dongyu Kingdom. If you have time, you can come and find me," Zhou Yuan said, giving the address. He then asked, "Do you have a permanent residence now, Junior Brother?"

"Not yet. I've just returned to Tiannan and am still searching for a suitable spiritual vein. I'll definitely inform you, Senior Brother, once I've settled down," Han Li said.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries and conveying each other's messages, the two said their goodbyes and disappeared into the crowd.

After parting ways with Han Li, Zhou Yuan continued to explore the city.

Finally, outside a teahouse where cultivators gathered, he overheard a conversation between several Core Formation cultivators.

"...Indeed, every time Senior Marquis Nanlong travels, the pomp and circumstance is astounding! A gilded carriage pulled by four spirit beasts, with twelve golden-armored guards in front and behind, each one a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. That aura...it's impossible not to notice!"

"I heard that the Marquis has also come to Tiancheng this time, and is staying at the 'Junhou Garden' in the west of the city. Judging from this, could it be that the Marquis is also determined to win this trade fair?"

"Who knows? Perhaps the Marquis has other important matters to attend to. But even just catching a glimpse of the Marquis's carriage from afar is enough to make the trip worthwhile..."

The Marquis of Nanlong, west of the city, is the Marquis's Garden.

Having obtained the information he wanted, Zhou Yuan didn't delay any longer. He determined the direction and headed west of the city.

The western district of Tiancheng is relatively secluded, and consists mostly of temporary residences rented by major sects or high-level cultivators.

Zhou Yuan quickly found the prominent courtyard.

The courtyard walls are high, the vermilion gate is tightly closed, and a plaque hangs above the gate with three large, golden characters written in a flamboyant style: "Junhou Garden".

Six cultivators, clad in golden spirit armor, wielding long halberds, exuding a chilling aura, and all at the late Foundation Establishment stage, stood guard at the gate like statues.

Zhou Yuan stepped forward.

"Who goes there... senior... what brings you here?"

Sensing the unfathomable aura emanating from Zhou Yuan, one of the golden-armored guards spoke with increasing respect.

"I'm looking for Marquis Nanlong."

Zhou Yuan said calmly.

"Please wait a moment, senior, while I announce your arrival." Seeing that Zhou Yuan addressed the Marquis by his name, the golden-armored guard dared not be negligent. He quickly took out a communication talisman, whispered a few words, and waved it out.

Before long, the vermilion gate creaked open slowly.

Two people walked out, one in front of the other.

The man at the front wore a tall jade crown and a purple brocade robe with python patterns. His long beard flowed freely, and his face was dignified. He was none other than the Marquis of Nanlong.

Half a step behind him was an old man with a pale white robe, a thin face, and three long wisps of beard.

The spiritual energy emanating from both of them was at the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm!

"Brother Zhou?! What brings you here?"

When Marquis Nanlong saw Zhou Yuan outside the door, a hint of surprise appeared on his face, which quickly turned into a warm smile. He hurried forward, cupped his hands, and said, "What a rare guest! Brother Zhou, when did you arrive in Tiancheng? How come you didn't inform me?"

"Brother Nanlong, you're too kind."

Zhou Yuan returned the greeting with a cupped hand, his gaze sweeping over Marquis Nanlong and the white-robed elder beside him. He smiled and said, "I've been traveling for the past few years and haven't been in my cave. I just returned a few days ago and saw the communication talisman left by Brother Nanlong, so I thought I'd come and have a chat with him. I also thought that Brother Nanlong would most likely be here for this grand Tiannan First Trade Fair, so I came to Tiantian City to try my luck, and I didn't expect to actually find him."

"I see."

Marquis Nanlong suddenly realized, then a hint of embarrassment appeared on his face as he explained, "Brother Zhou, to be honest, that communication talisman..."

"I posted this ten years ago; I've already been to that ancient site!"

Actually, after discovering the ancient ruins in Nanlong, I wanted to invite Brother Zhou to explore them together.

Unfortunately, Zhou Yuan did not arrive after a long wait, and opportunities wait for no one, so Nanlong had no choice but to invite others.

"Oh? You've already been there?"

Zhou Yuan raised an eyebrow, revealing just the right amount of surprise and a hint of "regret," "Then I, Zhou, have missed out. But..."

He abruptly changed the subject, his gaze sweeping across the faces of Marquis Nanlong and the old man in white with a half-smile, his tone calm yet pointed:

"I've heard that Brother Nanlong seems to be secretly gathering some Nascent Soul cultivators to plan something even bigger recently? Could it be that there's some hidden paradise within that ancient cultivation site? Or... has Brother Nanlong made another new discovery?"

Upon hearing Zhou Yuan's words, the smile on the face of the Marquis of Nanlong froze slightly.

Beside him, the white-robed old man who had remained silent and exuded a deep, composed aura also frowned almost simultaneously.

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