136: Chapter 136 Tianxuan Market

Countless strange peaks and rugged rocks pierced the clouds; spiritual trees towered in the mountains, and exotic flowers bloomed everywhere. Naturally formed spiritual springs, jade streams, and High Grade Immortal Caves could be seen everywhere, presenting the majestic atmosphere of a top-tier cultivation region.

The purity of the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi here was on par with the Spiritual Qi inside his Changsheng Garden. This confirmed that even if Changsheng Garden was just an embryonic Innate Spirit Treasure, the concentration of Spiritual Qi inside was equivalent to a Level 4 Spiritual Vein, and at least a High Grade Level 4 Spiritual Vein.

At the end of his line of sight, a boundless and prosperous giant city was quietly crouching in the hinterland of the mountains and rivers, entrenched on the core Spiritual Vein node of the entire Tianxuan Prefecture.

That was Tianxuan Market.

This market was born relying on the Tianxuan Sect. It had stood in the world for over twenty thousand years, surviving several Sect changes and wars, yet it remained prosperous and flourishing. It was the largest, most populous, and resource-rich cultivation giant city within the entire territory of Tianxuan Prefecture.

The giant city did not have the low blue brick walls of ordinary mortal cities. Instead, it was surrounded by a wall of Green Steel Stone that spanned ten thousand miles. The wall was ten zhang thick, engraved with densely packed Level 4 defensive spiritual patterns, and layered with flowing light from Restrictions.

That was the eternal city-protecting Formation laid down when the Tianxuan Sect was founded. After more than twenty thousand years of nourishment by Spiritual Qi, it had long since merged into the entire Heaven and Earth Spiritual Vein.

Even without a Formation Master presiding over the Formation, ordinary Golden Core Cultivators attacking with all their might could not shake the spiritual shield on the surface of the city wall in the slightest. Even if a Nascent Soul Middle Stage Cultivator took action, they would need to expend a huge price to barely break the defense.

The entire giant city spanned high mountains and encompassed rivers. The buildings in the city were all hanging jade palaces and floating immortal pavilions built against the mountains and Spiritual Veins.

Row upon row of white jade towers were layered and scattered, suspended in mid-air. Spiritual bridges crisscrossed, connecting neighborhoods in all directions. Spiritual cranes and birds shuttled between the buildings, their cries clear and melodious, full of immortal charm.

Looking from afar, the entire Tianxuan Market was shrouded in Immortal Qi and illuminated by spiritual light, like an immortal city suspended in the human world—magnificent, vast, and awe-inspiring.

The cloud ferry slowly lowered its altitude. The giant ship's massive body cut through the low-altitude clouds and slowly descended toward the giant airport on the east side of the market.

At this moment, the airport was already crowded with an endless stream of people.

Cultivators from all directions, who had come to participate in the opening of the Taixu Secret Realm and the Taixu Auction held by the Tianxuan Sect before the opening, arrived one after another on various flying ships.

There were small, agile spiritual ships, exclusive standard medium-sized spiritual ships with carved beams and painted pillars, and even large long-distance spiritual ships over a hundred zhang long owned by a few deep-rooted powers, densely parked on the spiritual platform of the airport, their lights intersecting.

The plaza and streets below the airport were even more packed with people, with Cultivators coming and going incessantly.

Various Daoist robes, brocade clothes, and spiritual armor were intertwined. Cultivators from the hundred-plus large and small cities directly under the Tianxuan Sect, as well as those from the vassal Sects and countless cultivation families under the counties and prefectures of Tianxuan Prefecture, gathered here.

Among them were older Golden Core Cultivators with white hair on their shoulders and a celestial aura, spirited and young Golden Core Prodigies, green and naive Sect Disciples traveling in groups, and high-level Loose Cultivators who traveled the world alone with restrained auras.

The strengths of their cultivation auras were mixed, and spiritual charms and lights rose and fell. The air was interwoven with various attribute Spiritual Qi, and invisible cultivation competitions were hidden within the noise.

"Finally reached Tianxuan Market! Rumor has it that geniuses gather here and resources are everywhere. This opening of the Taixu Secret Realm will definitely be a fierce battle!"

"It's not just geniuses gathering; it's a once-in-a-few-hundred-years Opportunity for the Secret Realm. All the top Cultivators below the Nascent Soul stage in the entire Tianxuan Prefecture are gathered here. It is said that the contemporary Prodigies of the Tianxuan Sect's Prodigy Pavilion have all come out, along with the direct descendants of major Golden Core powers and Genius Disciples of Golden Core families—none are missing!"

"The danger is also far beyond ordinary Secret Realms. In previous years, when the Taixu Secret Realm opened, it was normal for three out of ten to return. Countless Foundation Establishment and Golden Core Cultivators died inside, leaving no bones behind. If you want to seize opportunities and gain fortune, you must risk your life."

"Fortune favors the bold! If one can seize an ancient relic or High Grade spiritual material, it is a fortune that allows one to step to the heavens in a single bound!"

The fragments of discussion from surrounding Cultivators drifted into Li Changqing's ears.

His expression did not change, but he understood in his heart.

Ancient Secret Realms, ten thousand Cultivators competing to cross.

This Taixu Secret Realm was never a blessed land for cultivation that benefited all beings, but a Shura battlefield that screened the Prodigies and buried the mediocre.

Opportunity and murderous intent coexisted; fortune and death were born together. Only the truly strong could seize their own Dao Opportunity in the chaotic Secret Realm.

A moment later, the cloud ferry landed steadily on the core spiritual platform of the airport.

The spiritual light of the ship's hull completely faded away, and the cabin door opened slowly. A rich and fresh wave of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi rushed in, instantly dispelling the dullness and stagnation of the twenty-plus days on the flying ship.

Many Cultivators, having long been repressed, stood up one after another, stepped out of the cabin door in an orderly fashion, and poured into the flow of people at the airport.

Li Changqing walked behind, hands behind his back.

He wore a simple cyan robe, elegant and clean, without any Sect markings. His figure was slender and upright, and his aura was restrained to the extreme.

There was no flamboyant spiritual charm around him. He looked like an ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator, unremarkable in the crowd. However, those deep, black eyes were always clear and calm, scanning the surroundings, taking in everyone's cultivation aura, demeanor, and movements.

His Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivation was perfectly concealed, and his aura was plain and unremarkable. Only when looking closely could one detect a trace of sharp edge from his long experience in killing from his steady and composed bearing.

He was well-versed in the art of hiding his talent.

Tianxuan Market was full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers; Prodigies, reclusive old monsters, and desperate Loose Cultivators were countless. Rashly revealing his edge would only invite trouble for no reason.

Before the Secret Realm officially opened, keeping a low profile and observing the situation was the best choice.

Stepping off the flying ship, his feet landed on the warm and solid Green Jade Spiritual Platform, and a wave of heavy Heaven and Earth foundation rushed towards him.

The entire airport ground was paved with Green Jade Spirit Stones that had absorbed ten thousand years of Spiritual Qi. Beneath his feet, there was a faint feeling of the Spiritual Vein pulsing. Wisps of pure Spiritual Qi continuously seeped into his body, nourishing his Meridians and warming his True Yuan, far more comfortable than bitter cultivation in seclusion.

The airport was vast and boundless, spanning over a hundred miles, divided into four major areas: the flying ship parking area, the Cultivator rest area, the material trading area, and the city entry verification area. It was orderly and strictly regulated.

Along the way, Sect Disciples wearing the standard silver-white Daoist robes of the Tianxuan Sect and carrying law enforcement tokens on their waists could be seen patrolling and standing guard everywhere.

These guard Disciples all had condensed auras, and the weakest were at the Foundation Establishment Initial Stage. Their eyes were as sharp as eagles, scanning the passing Cultivators, their expressions solemn and majestic, carrying the grand aura of a top Sect.

Anyone who made noise or caused trouble would be instantly suppressed and expelled from the city. Below the Nascent Soul stage, no one dared to act presumptuously in the territory of the Tianxuan Sect.

Li Changqing followed the crowd, his eyes quietly scanning the surroundings.

On both sides of the street, shops stood in great numbers, row upon row. All kinds of High Grade medicine shops, Spiritual Artifact workshops, Talisman pavilions, and Secret Realm trading firms were scattered throughout the streets.