50: Wild Fox Slope

Fang Lingyao could clearly feel that Lin Feng's cultivation had not only improved rapidly, but his aura was also as steady as a mountain, and his Foundation was incomparably solid—certainly not something achieved by piling up Medicinal Pills.

Lin Feng cupped his hands in a salute: "Senior Sister Fang. I have come today to bid you farewell. This Disciple prepares to travel abroad for a while, to seek the Opportunity for Foundation Establishment."

"Travel abroad?" Fang Lingyao's delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly. "Outside the Sect, there are many dangerous places, and people's hearts are unpredictable. Although your cultivation has improved and your Foundation is solid, you are, after all, still in the Qi Refinement Stage. You lack experience in combat and means of self-preservation."

She pondered for a moment, a look of contemplation appearing in her eyes.

"I was thinking of passing on to you a few of Yunni Peak's exclusive Cultivation Techniques for self-defense..." She shook her head slightly. "However, when practicing Cultivation Techniques, the value lies in purity; being greedy for more leads to poor digestion. You already possess an extraordinary Legacy and have achieved success in both the Dao of the sword and movement techniques. Learning new Cultivation Techniques in the short term would only easily scatter your focus, which is of no benefit to your cultivation."

She flipped her slender hand, and a faint rosy light flashed in her palm, revealing a piece of seven-colored silk about a foot long, thin as gauze, and shimmering with brilliant colors.

"This item is called the 'flowing cloud immortal binding silk'." She handed the Magical Artifact to Lin Feng. "This treasure does not require complex incantations; control it with your spirit, and it can be activated with a single thought.

It can transform into a bolt of lightning-fast seven-colored rosy light, incomparably sharp, specifically designed to break through protective Spiritual Qi and low-grade defensive Spells. It can also change as you wish, winding and binding, making it impossible for others to guard against."

Lin Feng was moved in his heart and received it with both hands: "Many thanks for your kindness, Senior Sister!"

Fang Lingyao smiled gently: "Between fellow Disciples, watching over and helping each other is only right. On this journey, you must be careful in all things and return safely."

Leaving Yunni Peak, Lin Feng did not visit anyone else.

'Senior Sister Fang, Senior Sister Su, Senior Sister Luo, Senior Sister Xiao...' He touched the dark green bracelet on his wrist. 'Let's leave it at that. It is better not to have too many debts of gratitude.'

In the following days, he took the Materials and Magical Artifacts he obtained from the Mo and Yin families that he could not use and sold them in batches at different shops, exchanging them for a large number of Spirit Stones.

At the same time, he purchased some essential Medicinal Pills, crafted some talismans, and refined the flowing cloud immortal binding silk.

Several days later, an inconspicuous cyan sword light quietly streaked out from the Tianxuan Sect gate and vanished into the sea of clouds in the distance.

Lin Feng traveled south, cautiously avoiding known dangerous places and densely populated areas. He mostly chose to stop at small markets or villages where Loose Cultivators gathered, which allowed him to replenish supplies and gather information along the way.

On this day, he stopped to rest at a small gathering place near the edge of Canglin City called "Wild Fox Slope". This place was a mix of good and bad people, but the information here was well-connected.

He sat down in a humble tea shed and ordered a pot of spirit tea. He appeared to be resting with his eyes closed, but in reality, his divine sense was capturing snippets of conversation.

"Hey, have you heard? A few days ago, a second-order Yao Beast python appeared near the White Sea River, injuring several herb gatherers. The bounty has even been posted in Canglin City..."

"Tsk, a second-order Yao Beast... That's something only a Senior at the Foundation Establishment Stage would dare to touch, right? By the way, Old Wang, when you came back from the south last time, didn't you say the Double Dragon Market was about to open? Any good goods this year?"

The middle-aged Cultivator who was asked sipped his tea: "Yeah, it's about to open. The Meng Family and the Jiao Family are jointly organizing it, and the rules are the same as usual. I heard that this time there are more types of Spirit Medicine than in previous years, and it seems... there are a few spirit plants over three hundred years old to be sold. I don't know specifically what they are; it depends on luck."

"The Meng Family and the Jiao Family? Then that's reassuring. Both families have experts at the Foundation Establishment Stage, so safety is guaranteed."

'spirit plants over three hundred years old?' Lin Feng's heart stirred. 'Double Dragon Market... Meng Family, Jiao Family... A market maintained by Foundation Establishment families is safer than a loose gathering.'

He did not act immediately, but stayed at the gathering for another half day. He pretended to shop at different stalls, made inquiries on the side several times, and after synthesizing fragmented information from various sources, finally confirmed it.

The semi-annual major market of the Double Dragon Market was indeed about to open, located in the Falling Phoenix Valley three hundred miles to the southwest. Moreover, more than one person had vaguely mentioned that this auction seemed to feature items helpful for Foundation Establishment.

'Items helpful for Foundation Establishment... The earth origin spirit mushroom is not the only choice, but regardless, it is worth a visit.'

With this, he finally made his decision. After finding out the specific location, he quietly left Wild Fox Slope and hurried toward the direction of Falling Phoenix Valley.

The Spiritual Qi fluctuations at the valley entrance were obvious, and a simple Formation was set up. At the entrance, there were guards wearing the attire of the "Meng" and "Jiao" families, all with cultivation at the fourth or fifth layer of Qi Refining, checking the passing Cultivators. The order was well-maintained.

Those entering needed to pay ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones and receive a temporary token to enter.

Lin Feng paid the Spirit Stones, took the token, and entered in a low-key manner.

The scale of the market inside the valley was far beyond what Wild Fox Slope could compare to. Streets crisscrossed, shops stood in great numbers, and in the center, there was even a magnificent auction house. The crowd was like a weave, and the noise was deafening.

He had just stopped at a stall displaying some ancient Incomplete Manuals, his gaze sweeping over the dust-covered objects.

Two Loose Cultivators at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer smiled and approached, their faces full of enthusiasm:

"This Fellow Daoist looks very unfamiliar; is this your first time at the Double Dragon Market? This place is a mix of dragons and snakes, and incidents of cheating and swindling happen from time to time.

Strolling alone is bound to result in losses. Why not travel with us? We can look out for each other."

Lin Feng's gaze swept over the two. Seeing their shifting eyes and floating Spiritual Qi, they were obviously old hands who had been hanging around here for years.

He did not show any emotion on his face and even deliberately maintained his own Spiritual Pressure at around the Qi Refining Seventh Layer, cupping his hands:

"Many thanks for your kindness, two Fellow Daoists. As I am here for the first time, I am indeed a bit lost. To be able to travel with the two of you is naturally what I desire."

He sneered in his heart and remained secretly vigilant. With his current cultivation at the Peak of the Qi Refining Eighth Layer, taking down these two would be effortless, but it was not appropriate to cause extra trouble.

The three walked together for a moment, and Lin Feng's gaze was attracted by an item on a stall.

It was a rusty bronze fragment the size of half a palm, with vague flame patterns faintly visible on the edges. Although it showed no Spiritual Qi, its material was ancient and simple, appearing to be from a long time ago.

More importantly, the heaven-stealing vine in his Sea of Consciousness transmitted a trace of a throb.

He was just about to pick it up for a closer look and ask the stall owner about the origin and price of the fragment.

Suddenly, a force came from the side, pushing him away without ceremony.

A gorgeously dressed young man, accompanied by two lackeys, rudely pushed in front of the stall.

The young man didn't even look at Lin Feng and pointed directly at the bronze fragment:

"This broken piece of copper looks like it has some age. This young master wants it. It wouldn't be bad to take it back and inlay it as a sword guard. How many Spirit Stones?"

A lackey beside him immediately echoed: "Young Master Jiao Xuan has a good eye."

Lin Feng looked up. The young man had a jade pendant with the word "Jiao" hanging from his waist and was already at the ninth layer of Qi Refining, while the two lackeys also had cultivation at the eighth layer of Qi Refining.

'Jiao Xuan? Could it be the Jiao Family responsible for the Double Dragon Market?' Lin Feng vaguely guessed the other party's identity in his heart.