41: Loose Cultivator Trade Fair

The fifth year of Huangtian, October 10th.

Jin Sheng Mountain in the northeastern part of Yuan Country began to grow lively.

A large number of Loose Cultivators from various countries in the Southwest region and even other areas flocked to this mountain Peak, which had only a first-rank Low Grade Spiritual Vein, to participate in the Loose Cultivator Trade Fair hosted by Venerable Jin Sheng.

Yu Xuzi, riding a male Golden Eagle, landed thirty miles away from Jin Sheng Mountain.

He restrained his aura to the level of the Peak Middle Stage of Qi Refining.

As a Loose Cultivator, the Late Stage Qi Refining was still too high-profile and likely to attract attention.

The Peak Middle Stage of Qi Refining was just right.

It wouldn't be too conspicuous, nor would it be looked down upon.

He didn't want to become famous.

As for the Golden Eagle couple, he let them stay outside for now; he could summon them in case of an emergency.

Yu Xuzi, wearing a plain green Daoist robe, hid his Storage Pouch and carried an unremarkable cloth bundle as he walked slowly toward Jin Sheng Mountain.

This was a spiritual mountain about a thousand zhang high.

The mountain was broad and not steep.

On the mountainside surrounded by white clouds, a massive circular stone hall with a diameter of a hundred zhang had been temporarily constructed.

For Cultivators, building such a simple hall was not difficult; performing earth-attribute Daoist arts a few times was enough.

As Yu Xuzi entered the hall, he heard the sound of rustling conversations.

He looked closely and saw hundreds of stone seats arranged in a semi-circle inside.

Directly facing a high platform in the center of the hall.

Behind the platform were several large side halls, from which one could have a clear view of the entire main hall.

Yu Xuzi estimated that Venerable Jin Sheng might be inside.

He's putting on quite an air, not showing his Face easily.

At this time, most of the stone seats in the hall were occupied, but many people had looks of clear vigilance on their Faces.

A Loose Cultivator Trade Fair was both a good opportunity to obtain resources and a place fraught with danger.

With the slightest carelessness, one could be targeted by ill-intentioned people, potentially leading to death and the end of one's cultivation path later on.

"There are actually so many people?"

Yu Xuzi was somewhat surprised. "Venerable Jin Sheng has quite a lot of Face!"

He took a rough look and estimated there were about three to four hundred people.

The Southwest region's Cultivation World certainly didn't have this many Loose Cultivators; most likely, they had come from other regions.

There were also some with a hint of arrogance in their eyes, likely Sect Disciples.

"Fellow Daoist Taiyin!"

A familiar shout came from ahead.

Yu Xuzi looked over and saw a Cultivator dressed in a black Daoist robe walking over quickly with a smile on his Face.

It was indeed Qiu Dao.

His cultivation was still at the Middle Stage of Qi Refining, unchanged from a year ago.

"Fellow Daoist Qiu."

Yu Xuzi nodded in greeting, a slight smile appearing on his Face.

"Fellow Daoist, you've finally arrived."

"How is it? I didn't let you down, did I?"

Qiu Dao walked closer, his gaze lingering on Yu Xuzi for a moment, a flash of surprise and envy in his eyes. "Your aura is even more robust than last year, Fellow Daoist. I assume you're not far from the Late Stage Qi Refining?"

"It's just the result of slow, steady effort."

Yu Xuzi smiled faintly, not revealing too much about his situation.

"You are too modest, Fellow Daoist."

Qiu Dao said with a smile, "The situation in the Southwest region's Cultivation World has been turbulent these past two years. For your cultivation to progress so rapidly, your ability is evident."

Facing the flattery, Yu Xuzi's expression remained unchanged as he directly changed the subject, asking, "By the way, Fellow Daoist Qiu, is there any particular meaning behind the arrangement of these stone seats in the hall?"

He looked around and didn't notice any specific seating order.

"Although many Sect Disciples have come to join the fun this time, most are Loose Cultivators, so there aren't that many rules."

Qiu Dao pointed at the surrounding stone seats. "Everyone relies on their own strength; you can sit wherever you want."

"I see."

Yu Xuzi nodded in understanding and found an empty spot near the middle to sit down.

Qiu Dao followed and sat beside him, making small talk to keep the conversation going.

He was quite confident in his ability to judge people.

He always felt that this Fellow Daoist Taiyin before him was not simple, so he intended to get closer and cling to this powerful figure... An hour later.

Most of the people who were supposed to come had arrived, and the atmosphere in the stone hall began to grow lively and noisy.

Just then, a commotion broke out in the center of the stone hall.

A Loose Cultivator suddenly stood below the platform, holding a bronze gong, and struck it forcefully three times:

"Clang— Clang— Clang—!"

The sound of the gong instantly echoed throughout the hall.

Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked toward the platform.

The man shouted loudly, "Fellow Daoists, the Loose Cultivator Trade Fair has officially begun! Those who wish to trade may come up to the platform!"

"Please abide by the rules of the trade fair: barter or use Spirit Stones for transactions. Forced buying or selling is prohibited."

"Violators will be expelled from the trade fair, and Senior Jin Sheng and several other Seniors may even take action personally to impose strict punishment!"

At the end of his speech, the Disciple bowed toward the side halls behind the platform.

"Several other Seniors?"

Yu Xuzi's expression tightened. Just as he was about to speak, Qiu Dao took the lead in introducing them with a smile: "Does Fellow Daoist Taiyin want to ask about the identities of those other Seniors?"

"Exactly."

"To be honest, I don't know either. They have never shown their Faces. I've only heard that they are Loose Cultivator Seniors from the Central Continent."

"They haven't shown their Faces?"

Yu Xuzi felt it was a bit strange, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. After a few moments of contemplation, he put it out of his mind.

Whatever secret plans Venerable Jin Sheng might have, they had nothing to do with him anyway.

Just then, the first Cultivator stepped onto the platform.

He looked like a middle-aged man and had a cultivation at the Middle Stage of Qi Refining.

"Greetings, Fellow Daoists. I am Jin Qing."

"I have here a fragment of a true technique I obtained by chance, sufficient to Cultivate to the Early Dao Foundation Stage. I wish to exchange it for some Spirit Stones or resources. The price is negotiable. Is any Fellow Daoist interested?"

"Another Cultivation Technique?"

"What's the use of a high-level technique? It's as if I could actually break through to the Dao Foundation Stage."

"I'm so desperate I'd split a single Spirit Stone in half to use it. Who would want this stuff!"

"Kick him out! Kick him out!"

"..."

Unsurprisingly, he met with a cold reception.

After a ten-breath pause with no bids, he had to leave the platform dejectedly.

In the age of decadence, Cultivation Techniques were not worth much.

Those who could establish a Sect or make a name for themselves among Loose Cultivators—who among them didn't have a technique that could reach the Dao Foundation Stage?

No new Dao Foundation Stage Cultivators had been born in the ten countries of the continental Southwest for two hundred years. Was it because of the techniques?

Of course not.

Resources were the most precious things.

Without Spiritual Veins, Spirit Stones, or Medicinal Pill resources...

...you still want to Cultivate?

Go eat air.

With the resources these Loose Cultivators possessed, even if they were given a Sixth-Rank Heavenly Scripture for a True Immortal's cultivation, they might not necessarily break through to the Dao Foundation Stage even if they sucked all the spiritual essence in the mortal realm dry... Soon, the second person went up.

"Greetings, Fellow Daoists. I am Zhao Feng."

Zhao Feng carefully took out from the cloth bundle on his back... an egg?

It was pitch black and about two feet in diameter.

As soon as it appeared, noticeable water vapor began to form around it.

"I once went through immense hardship to obtain this egg from an underwater cave in the Canglan River."

"This is the egg of a first-rank Late Stage Yao Beast, the Black Spirit Python. It possesses a Second-Rank Great Demon Bloodline, extraordinary talent, and great combat strength. Any Fellow Daoist interested can trade with Spirit Stones or resources!"

Facing his expectant gaze, the hall was still filled with voices of dissatisfaction.

"One technique seller just left, and now there's an egg seller?"

"I can't even feed myself; why would I raise a Yao Beast?"

"Get down, get down!"

But this time it wasn't that no one was buying; for instance, a certain Sect Cultivator sitting in the front row became interested.

Judging by his attire, he was likely a Disciple of the Thousand Spirits Sect.

"That Yao Beast egg, I'll take it."

Zhao Feng was overjoyed upon hearing this and hurriedly asked, "How much is Fellow Daoist willing to offer?"

"Ten Spirit Stones!"

"..."

Zhao Feng's smile froze on his Face.

Are you kidding me?