Chapter 9 This is Love

The Taihu Mountain Range is where the Beast Hunting Sect's Cultivation Market is located.

Chen Li traveled at high speed for a hundred miles, finally arriving here after three days. He did not encounter any Late Stage Qi Refining Robber Cultivators on the way.

There were some Mid-stage Qi Refining Robber Cultivators, but as soon as he revealed his Qi Refining Sixth Layer cultivation, they all scattered like birds and beasts.

Chen Li used the Luo Family's Third Grade Illusionary Form Technique to disguise himself as a middle-aged man. Upon entering the market, compared to the County City, it was like Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden—it was an eye-opener!

The Formation Arrays, Talismans, Medicinal Pills, Magical Artifacts, and books were all a whole tier higher than those in the Cultivation Shops in the County City.

Chen Li entered a Yao Beast shop. The shop was filled with an endless array of demon bones, demon cores, and demon hides.

Seeing Chen Li enter, the servant, who was at the Third Level of Qi Refining, quickly stepped forward: "Fellow Daoist, what would you like to buy? We have all parts from Third-level Demon Beasts and Fourth-level Demonic Beasts, and we also sell live ones."

Chen Li looked around but didn't find any demon bones or demon hides from Fifth-level Demonic Beasts. He asked: "Do you have demon bones and demon hides from Fifth-level Demonic Beasts here?"

The servant was slightly surprised. Seeing that Chen Li was also in the Qi Refinement Stage, he asked doubtfully: "Fifth-level Demonic Beasts are generally bought by Foundation Establishment Seniors. Fellow Daoist, are you sure you want to buy one?"

Chen Li nodded. Recalling a book by Old Devil Han he had read in his previous life, he told a small lie: "This humble one, Li, is a Formation Master. My Master, a Late Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator named Jiyin, asked me to purchase them."

"Oh, oh, then Fellow Daoist Li, please go up to the second floor."

On the second floor, he indeed saw demon bones and demon hides from Fifth-level Demonic Beasts. The servant introduced: "This is the leg bone and demon feathers of a Fifth-level Profound Bone Demon Crane, and that one is the spine and demon hide of a Fifth-level Six-tailed Spirit Fox. Fellow Daoist, are you interested in these two? Which one do you need to look at?"

Chen Li's heart fluttered the moment he saw the Fifth-level Profound Bone Demon Crane.

Generally speaking, refining a Fourth Grade Formation Array only requires a Fourth-level Demonic Beast. However, the maximum attack power achievable from a Fourth-level Demonic Beast for refining a Formation Array is only that of a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage Cultivator. But a Fourth Grade Formation Array refined from a Fifth-level Demonic Beast can reach the energy level of a Foundation Establishment Perfection Realm Formation Array.

Chen Li asked: "What is the price for the leg bone and demon feathers of this Fifth-level Profound Bone Demon Crane?"

The servant saw that Chen Li had chosen something and that it was a big sale. He smiled and said: "Fellow Daoist, the fair price is nine thousand nine hundred Spirit Stones!"

Chen Li seemed prepared and was not surprised. The Fifth-level Yao Beasts his Master had bought previously were all of higher quality than this one, and five-level beasts were around this price.

He only had a little over two thousand Spirit Stones on him, but he took out a five-hundred-year-old Luo Yan Grass and said: "Fellow Daoist, I wonder if this five-hundred-year-old Spiritual Plant can be exchanged for this Profound Bone Demon Crane?"

The servant was stunned for a moment. A five-hundred-year-old Spiritual Plant was the level used to enhance the cultivation of Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators. The servant cupped his hands and said: "Fellow Daoist, please wait a moment. The Shopkeeper is on the third floor. I will go and inquire first."

A moment later, the Foundation Establishment Stage Shopkeeper from the third floor came down.

He carefully examined the five-hundred-year-old Spiritual Plant and found that it was indeed genuine, looking somewhat relieved.

He said: "It is indeed a five-hundred-year-old Spiritual Plant. Fellow Daoist Li's Master is truly generous. Besides this Fifth-level Profound Bone Demon Crane, our shop will also gift Fellow Daoist the demon bone and demon hide of a Third-level Demonic Beast."

"Then this humble one, Li, thanks you on behalf of my Master.", Chen Li replied with a cupped hand.

The money and goods were settled. Chen Li casually picked a Third-level Demonic Beast's demon bone and demon hide. After leaving the shop, he once again changed his appearance, affixed five or six swift travel talismans to himself, and changed routes three times before returning to the County City.

Just a quarter of an hour after Chen Li left, the Shopkeeper suddenly asked: "Xiao Zhang, do we have any Late Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators or Formation Masters named Jiyin nearby?"

The servant shook his head: "I don't know, I haven't heard of anyone. That Cultivator looked very unfamiliar to me; perhaps he is an itinerant Cultivator just passing through."

The Shopkeeper pondered for a moment and said: "Forget it. If this person comes again, inform me immediately."

"Understood!"

...

In Liangxi County, at the Yun Family territory, the Luo Family Head, Luo Sheng, came to pay a visit.

Inside a three-story pavilion, the two sat opposite each other at a tea table by the window. Yun Tiancheng poured tea for Luo Sheng, "Brother Luo, please have some tea."

"Brother Yun is too polite. I came this time regarding my grandson and granddaughter, right?"

"Oh? What is it? It requires Brother Luo to come personally."

"It's like this. We have a young man in our Family, twenty years old, at the Third Level of Qi Refining, a seed for Foundation Establishment. He and your Family's young lady are mutually fond of each other. Today, I was asked to come and propose a marriage."

Yun Tiancheng was also puzzled: "A marriage proposal? My young lady is twenty years old. The only one with a Spiritual Root is Yun Yutong at the Second Layer of Qi Refining. All other young ladies have no Spiritual Root. Are you referring to Yun Yutong?"

Luo Sheng nodded: "Brother Yun, precisely!"

Yun Tiancheng fell silent upon hearing this matter.

Seeing Yun Tiancheng hesitate, Luo Sheng said: "Brother Yun, my young man has a handsome appearance and excellent character. Coupled with our Luo Family's two acres of Spirit Fields as a betrothal gift, it certainly will not dishonor Brother Yun's young lady."

"Hmm?" Yun Tiancheng found this sentence extremely familiar.

He seemed to have said this to Chen Li.

He was also contemplating this matter just now. After the battle in the Thousand Leaf Forest, he still wanted his young lady to marry Chen Li.

Knowledgeable about Formation Arrays, possessing strength, being cautious, and knowing propriety—Chen Li was the ideal son-in-law in his mind.

Yun Tiancheng was currently engaged in an internal struggle. On one hand, his young lady was mutually fond of someone.

If he forcefully disagreed, it would not be conducive to Family harmony. On the other hand, although Chen Li had refused before, he hadn't completely refused! Perhaps if he brought it up a few more times, Chen Li might agree? His intuition told him that befriending Chen Li would benefit the Family.

Yun Tiancheng pondered for a while and still felt that the Family's interests came first. He said: "Brother Luo, I might need a few days to consider?"

Luo Sheng was a bit surprised. He was eighty percent certain of success this time. He thought they were a match made in heaven, mutually fond, both possessed Spiritual Roots, and their families were of equal standing. There was nothing to refuse.

Just as Luo Sheng was wondering, a voice suddenly came from outside the window. A man and a woman were seen holding hands tightly, shouting loudly: "Old Ancestor, I, Yun Yutong, will marry no one but Luo Zihan! I do not want to marry Chen Li, whom I have never met! Zihan and I are mutually fond; please grant our wish, Old Ancestor!"

With her shout, everyone in the Family territory noticed and gathered to watch.

When Yun Tiancheng heard Yun Yutong's shout, he clenched his fists, feeling a bit unwilling! He knew his ideal son-in-law was gone! All chance was completely lost!

Yun Tiancheng sighed to himself. Luo Sheng, standing nearby, finally understood why Yun Tiancheng had hesitated. If it were him, he would hesitate too. However, their actions had been witnessed by so many people today.

She would marry no one but Zihan now!

Looking at the couple outside the window, Yun Tiancheng turned to Luo Sheng and said: "Brother Luo, since things have come to this, proceed as you intended!"

Luo Sheng nodded, feeling a bit awkward, and replied: "Please rest assured, Brother Yun."

After speaking, Yun Tiancheng walked away by himself. No one knew what Yun Tiancheng regretted, perhaps they would only understand many years later.

Below the window sill, Yun Yutong was overjoyed that the Old Ancestor had agreed. She turned to Luo Zihan and said: "Zihan, this is love!"