Two years have passed again, and Tingyu Market is more prosperous than ever.
On the streets, pedestrians jostle each other, and the banners of various shops flutter in the wind. From Tier Two Magical Artifacts to rare Spiritual Materials, they are dazzling, attracting cultivators from the Thousand Peaks Mountain Range and even further places to trade.
On this day, a group of special visitors arrived at the market entrance.
They wore uniform profound black martial attire, with a golden token hanging at their waists, engraved with the character "Chen," signifying they are members of the Chen Clan Commerce Association affiliated with the Qinghua Sect.
Leading them was a middle-aged cultivator with a resolute face and sharp eyes, exuding a stable aura and clearly possessing late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation.
A young cultivator stepped forward respectfully and said:
"Tributor Qin, up ahead is Celestial Capital Peak."
The middle-aged cultivator referred to as Tributor Qin nodded slightly, gazing at the distant Celestial Capital Peak veiled in mist, feeling the formidable power of the Grand Array, with a hint of solemnity in his eyes:
"Let's go, follow me up the mountain."
At the top of Celestial Capital Peak, the reception hall was decorated with a simple elegance. The bluestone floor was pristine, and a landscape ink painting hung on the wall, depicting a sword peak piercing the clouds, exuding a distant mood.
Chen Sheng, dressed in a blue robe, sat in the guest seat, holding a cup of Spirit Tea, quietly waiting.
Footsteps drew nearer, and under Li Wu's guidance, Qin Daolei walked into the reception hall.
When he saw the blue-robed cultivator sitting upright, his heart leapt suddenly.
The aura around this person seemed bland yet subtly emitted a sharp intent, like a sword sheathed, ready to unsheathe at any moment and pierce through the heavens and earth.
Arts uit Antwerp: 's Ochtends komen er wormen uit je lichaam. Probeer hetOpen
"Greetings, Fellow Daoist Tingyu."
Qin Daolei dared not be negligent; he clasped his fists with both hands, revealing a polite smile on his face:
"I have long heard of the Daoist's feat of subduing three demons with one sword and stabilizing the world with precision. Today, meeting you truly confirms the demeanor of a Sword Immortal."
Chen Sheng looked up, his gaze lingering on Qin Daolei's face for a moment, unable to help but muse—this face, it extremely resembles an old friend from years past.
He smiled indifferently, setting down the teacup:
"Fellow Daoist Qin, you're too kind. Please, take a seat."
The two of them sat down as host and guest. Li Wu served the Spirit Tea and retreated quietly.
Qin Daolei took a sip of Spirit Tea and got straight to the point:
"Fellow Daoist Tingyu, my purpose in coming this time is to discuss opening trade routes with you."
"Our Chen Clan Commerce Association is willing to provide Celestial Capital Peak with various Spiritual Materials at preferential prices, and at the same time, we hope to establish a base in Tingyu District. What do you think, Daoist?"
Upon hearing this, Chen Sheng nodded slightly:
"It's possible. As for the specifics, you can discuss them with the market's steward."
For such a mutually beneficial cooperation, he had no reason to refuse.
Qin Daolei hadn't expected things to go so smoothly, and his face showed signs of happiness:
"Thank you, Daoist, for your generosity! Our Chen Clan Commerce Association will surely demonstrate sincerity and will not treat you poorly."
The two exchanged a few pleasantries, chatting from Spiritual Materials prices to the situation in the Thousand Peaks Mountain Range, finding harmony in their conversation.
Qin Daolei found that although Fellow Daoist Tingyu seemed indifferent, he was perceptive and of unique insight into many matters, inspiring respect in him.
"I'll take my leave now!"
With the matter settled, Qin Daolei rose to bid farewell.
Chen Sheng stood up to see him off:
"Daoist, take care."
Watching Qin Daolei's departing figure, Chen Sheng silently pondered:
"Lie Yuan Daorong, Xiong Gui Huashun... Judging by the generation, they should be Qin Liefeng's grandchildren, no wonder there's such a resemblance between them."
In the previous life, Qin Liefeng.
At that time, Chen Sheng broke through Body Refining Fourth Layer and held a banquet at Wanxiang Tower, with Qin Liefeng being one of the three elders who came to congratulate alongside Zhao Jinhua, while the other two were Huang Qingxu and Li Baigu.
Later, he achieved the title of True Inheritor, growing more powerful, and these individuals were the first to pledge allegiance, becoming the elder fi gures under his command.
Subsequently, Zhao Jinhua and Huang Qingxu traveled far to the Western Border, founding their familial legacy.
The remaining two continued to stay within the sect; Chen Sheng rearranged their duties, allowing them to alternate at Fenghua Immortal City, and meanwhile, they served as the wings of the Chen Clan Commerce Association, making significant contributions to its development.
"In a blink of an eye, the descendants of old friends are starting to stand on their own."
Chen Sheng sighed softly, reminiscing about the old friends from Qinghua Sect, feeling quite nostalgic.
...
At the foot of the mountain, a figure was anxiously waiting.
It was a burly young man with a long face, bearing a striking resemblance to Zhao Jinhua.
Seeing Qin Daolei coming down, he hurried forward:
"Uncle, how did it turn out?"
This young man was named Zhao Bailu, a descendant of Zhao Jinhua, more accurately, a descendant of Zhao Yi.
Qin Daolei looked at him, nodding lightly:
"The trade route has been established."
Hearing this, Zhao Bailu's face lit up with joy but soon furrowed his brows, hesitantly asking:
"And what about the matter the Young Master assigned?"
Qin Daolei shook his head:
"I did not bring up this matter."
He looked at Zhao Bailu, speaking solemnly:
"Bailu, your family and mine have been close for generations. Uncle won't hide this from you; I refined the Treasure Pupil bestowed by Lady Lingshuang, allowing me to perceive the aura of others."
"That Fellow Daoist Tingyu is no ordinary person; his Sword Qi is as rainbow-like, and just by perceiving it, I felt a chill. Most likely, he has cultivated formidable Divine Techniques."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Bailu couldn't help but widen his eyes in surprise.
His uncle's ability in magical combat was rather high within the Commerce Association; someone who could make him feel so inadequate shows how terrifying Fellow Daoist Tingyu's strength must be.
Qin Daolei continued:
"Such figures are True Dao Seeds, pursuing neither family establishment nor sect lineage, living solitary lives, their sole pursuit being the Dao path. Even if I were to recruit him for the Young Master, I'd be concerned he could turn on us later."
Yet Zhao Bailu simply snorted dismissively and said:
"Does he dare? With several True Cultivators backing the Chen Clan Commerce Association, a powerful faction, would a Loose Cultivator like him really dare to oppose us?"
Qin Daolei shook his head, a trace of helplessness flashing in his eyes:
"If the benefits are sufficient and advantageous to his Core Formation, what's there to be afraid of? Besides, what we can offer is limited, merely some Core Formation Insights, and there's a high chance he won't be attracted."
Zhao Bailu still couldn't believe it, secretly speculating in his heart:
"Could it be that Uncle is worried that person will gain the Young Master's favor and threaten his position, so he's exaggerating on purpose?"
He didn't know that every word from Qin Daolei was from the heart.
In the guest hall, the Sword Intent he sensed from Chen Sheng was something that ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators could not possess. It was a razor-sharp brilliance, pure to the extreme, as if it could cut through all worldly shackles.
How could someone like that be content to be subservient to others?
Seeing Zhao Bailu's indifferent expression, Qin Daolei sighed softly and said no more.
Some things can only be understood through personal experience.
He only hoped that this young and impetuous junior wouldn't get himself into trouble in the future because of it.
The two turned and left, their figures gradually disappearing into the Market's crowd.
Meanwhile, atop the Celestial Capital Peak, Chen Sheng gazed into the distant horizon, eyes deep and contemplative. As his position in this life elevated, he would encounter more and more old acquaintances and even the descendants of those acquaintances.
...
Deze simpele truc verwijdert alle parasieten uit het lichaam!Open
Deep within the Thousand Peaks Mountain Range, an isolated woodland was shrouded by a faint Array Light.
Within the array was a cave dwelling, filled with a thick blood mist.
The entrance was concealed by layers of vines, the leaves of which were a bizarre purple-black, stained with a dark red viscous liquid, emitting a nauseating stench.
That was the scent of Cultivator Essence Blood mixed with poisonous miasma!
Inside the cave, hundreds of half-human tall black ceramic jars were neatly arranged, their mouths sealed with ominous Yellow Talismans, the edges of the Talisman Paper soaked in blood mist, turning a horrifying dark red.
Twisted Runes were carved into the jars, oozing green bubbles from the gaps, popping with a sizzling sound, accompanied by the faint noise of bones grinding.
Peering through the jar's cracks, an eerie human head protruded from each jar.
The owners of these heads were once profound Cultivators; judging by the lingering Spiritual Power fluctuations on their bodies, they included Late-stage Qi Refining and even those in Perfection.
But now, their limbs had been severed, and the remaining torsos were chained at the jar's bottom, all Mana sealed by multiple black Runes, even unable to self-destruct through Energy Introduction.
The dark green medicinal liquid in the poisonous cauldrons was slowly eroding their bodies, each inch of skin repeatedly oscillating between decay and regeneration.
Most had long lost the strength to struggle, their eyes hollow and faces numb, with only the occasional twitch at the corners of their mouths proving they were still alive.
In the deepest part of the cave, three larger jars emitted the aura of Foundation Establishment Cultivators.
Above their heads were driven three black Demon Nails as thick as an infant's arm, etched with God-devouring Runes, constantly absorbing the Cultivators' Divine Sense inside the jar.
The Cultivator in the jar on the left suddenly began to shake violently, the chains clanging loudly against the jar walls.
His name was Lu Dahai, once an elder of the Lu Family in Qingyuan, with Foundation Establishment Early-stage Cultivation.
At this moment, half of his face had been corroded by the medicinal liquid, exposing his stark white cheekbones, yet his eyes burned with intense rage:
"Yu Daoist! You beast! I'll haunt you even as a ghost!"
Seven years ago, a Cultivator claiming to be Yu Daoist approached, promising to teach him a Demon Technique to break through his cultivation bottleneck, on the condition that he helped collect Essence Blood from Qi Cultivators.
Lu Dahai was seduced and lost his judgment, personally delivering the Cultivators of seven small surrounding families to the other party to be refined into Human Pills.
He never anticipated that Yu Daoist was actually a Demon Cultivator at the Late-stage Foundation Establishment.
Afterwards, the other party captured him and exterminated the Lu family, sparing not even the secular clan members.
Recalling this, Lu Dahai's heart felt like it was squeezed by an invisible hand, the venom of regret more painful than the medicinal liquid in the jar.
If not for his own greedy ambition, colluding with a tiger, how could the Lu family have met such a fate?
"Whoo——"
A gust of sinister wind rose suddenly, the blood mist in the cave boiling abruptly.
A flash of red light darted in from outside the cave, transforming into a pale-faced scholar upon landing.
He wore a long, moon-white robe, his face handsome, yet in his hand, he held a blood-colored Banner over a yard long, embroidered with countless human faces, the wind blowing through it releasing innumerable faint wails.
It was the Yu Daoist whom Lu Dahai had mentioned.
He walked past the array of jars, his elongated fingers gently brushing over the talisman paper on their mouths, a satisfied smile appearing on his face:
"Not bad, the vital essence of this batch of medicinal guides is nearly ready."
His voice was as gentle as jade, forming an eerie contrast with the blood scent in the cave:
"Especially these three Foundation Establishment friends; their divine senses are rich, perfect for refining the 'Blood God Banner' core."
Hearing this, Lu Dahai's head once again slammed fiercely against the jar wall:
"Yu Daoist! May you die a horrible death! The cycle of karma will catch up with you sooner than you think!"
Yu Daoist turned around, still wearing a gentle smile, though his tone was icy as frost:
"Why make such a fuss, Fellow Daoist Lu?"
He flicked his fingers, and a black Rune flew onto Lu Dahai's jar, instantly silencing the screams:
"The path of Cultivation is survival of the fittest. Didn't you find it perfectly justified when you reaped those small clans back then?"
With that, he waved his sleeve, conjuring a Sound Insulation Array, the cave falling silent at once, leaving only the gentle hum of Runes, which made it even gloomier.
Yu Daoist took out eight new jars from his Storage Pouch, each containing a pitch-black medicinal liquid, radiating a toxicity even stronger than before.
He placed the jars on the ground, his fingertips grazing over the Runes on their mouths, brows knitting slightly:
"Still too few hands."
Yu Daoist shook his head lightly, forced to handle many chores personally.
This recalled to his mind the two foolish disciples, the nearly swindled Elder Huang Feng, and the vast amount of family Essence Blood. Annoyance rose in his heart.
He caressed the human faces on the blood-colored Banner, a look of bitter resentment flashing in his eyes:
"If not for Master Tingyu's meddling, my Blood God Pill and Blood God Banner would have long achieved Great Success."
"Three Foundation Establishment Elixirs had delayed my path for over a decade. Sooner or later, this debt shall be settled!"
Just then, the Blood Jade hanging at his waist suddenly glowed red, emitting a suffocating pressure.
Yu Daoist's composed face changed instantly, his body trembling uncontrollably, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
He bowed deeply towards the Blood Jade until the pressure subsided, then dared to breathe heavily, his voice carrying unmistakable fear:
"Disciple... disciple is here."
A hoarse voice came from the Blood Jade:
"Collect Tier Two Body Cultivator Essence Blood for me, preferably with special bloodlines..."
Yu Daoist listened intently, nodding frequently, until the transmission ended, then he dared to stand up straight, his face as pale as paper.
He secured the Blood Jade, gazing at the jars deep in the cave, a fierce determination sparking in his eyes.
He must refine the Blood God Pill and Blood God Banner as soon as possible.
Only with enough strength can he escape this fate of being at others' mercy.
The sinister wind swirled once more, Yu Daoist's figure transformed into blood light and vanished from the cave, leaving behind nothing but cries of anguish and despair.
Lu Dahai within the jar slowly closed his eyes, his remaining consciousness filled only with a longing for death—perhaps only through complete dissipation would he escape this endless hell.