"Has the person been found? That's great!"

Luo Yuzhu couldn't hide the joy on her face; her month-long wait had not been in vain, as she finally got the result she wanted.

"Fellow Daoist Xue, I have other matters to attend to. I'll take my leave first."

Luo Yuzhu had no intention of staying any longer and took her leave.

"Fellow Daoist Luo, you've been at the Great Wilderness Market for over a month just to find someone? It couldn't be that you're searching for an ideal gentleman, could it? You wouldn't mind if I follow along, would you?"

Xue Feng'e had always been curious about the reason behind Luo Yuzhu's visit to the Great Wilderness Market, but unfortunately, the other party was evasive and noncommittal.

The opportunity had arrived and naturally could not be missed.

"It's just ordinary bait, certainly not a man."

Xue Feng'e thought of the tempting bait material they had just been discussing and couldn't help but show some interest.

She happened to have a significant interest in this bait formula.

Beyond that, there was an even more important point.

The fact that the daughter of an elder from the Yuding Sect was willing to spend a long time searching for and focusing on bait formulas was proof enough of their value.

"I'd rather not invite Fellow Daoist Xue to a private matter."

Luo Yuzhu smiled and quickly departed.

Xue Feng'e was clearly interested in the bait formula, representing a competitor. If this item could enhance ordinary Spirit Fish, its value would far exceed expectations. She couldn't let the Five Elements Sect obtain it.

Luo Yuzhu hurried towards the Great Wilderness Market.

"Where is the Loose Cultivator selling bait? I've agreed to the Rhinoceros Horn's terms; let's trade immediately."

Luo Yuzhu immediately contacted her servant to exchange for the bait formula and depart, to avoid further complications.

Despite her apparently good relationship with Xue Feng'e, they belonged to different sects. In the event of a discord, they would inevitably prioritize the interests of their respective sects.

She didn't want the Five Elements Sect to discover the secret of the Bait Tempting Technique and encounter difficulties in purchasing the bait formula.

"The entire Rhinoceros Horn? Isn't that terribly valuable?"

"This is a precious material used to create Evil Warding Artifacts."

Unlike consumables like Evil Warding Talismans, the price of Evil Warding Artifacts remains high. Even the most mediocre ones provoke competition. Generally, they are not circulated outside, and you can't buy them even if you have Spirit Stones.

"Notify this person to trade the bait formula. We'll leave the Great Wilderness Market right away."

Whether this matter would attract the attention of the Five Elements Sect was unknown; she had to prepare for the worst-case scenario.

Jia Ren had just left when he received a Sound Transmission Talisman.

He thought it was Yang Bingzhi, but it turned out to be the hunchbacked old man again.

"Agreeing to the trade? That's quite efficient!"

Jia Ren looked at the Bait Tempting Technique formula inscribed on the Jade Slip, lost in thought.

The Bait Tempting Technique was an ordinary fishing formula, not ranked among genuine cultivation techniques. It had only a decent effect as bait and was, at most, used for fishing and as fish feed.

The fact that the hunchbacked old man and the Yuding Sect's Cultivators were willing to seek him out for a long time indicated that the bait formula was extraordinary and that it might have undiscovered effects he wasn't aware of. This requires further experimentation.

Jia Ren returned to the Market. In addition to the familiar hunchbacked old man, there was also the woman in the Goose Yellow Taoist Robe whom he had met once before.

Luo Yuzhu looked up at Jia Ren, her eyes curving into crescents.

"Finding you was not easy, Fellow Daoist!"

"I can offer an entire Rhinoceros Horn in exchange, on the condition that there's no issue with the bait formula."

An entire Rhinoceros Horn? Rhinoceros Horn was a main material used for crafting Evil Warding Artifacts and for making Evil-warding Spirit Ink. It was a precious material for making one Evil Warding Artifact; even if its quality would be slightly lower, it would easily fetch at least two thousand Spirit Stones. Evil Warding Artifacts were difficult to buy even with money. Only a small quantity was needed to make Evil-warding Spirit Ink. One Rhinoceros Horn was enough to produce a thousand servings, relieving worry over Evil-warding Spirit Ink for a long time. Selling one Rhinoceros Horn for a thousand Spirit Stones would be effortless, but the key issue was availability. A thousand Spirit Stones for a bait formula? Since when did bait become so precious? This wasn't normal! There must be something he was unaware of. To sell? Or not to sell?

The hesitation flashed through his mind briefly, but Jia Ren still chose to exchange for the Rhinoceros Horn.

Tempting Bait (Fish) had never reached its Breakthrough Points and was not of high quality. If it truly had value, Jia Ren wouldn't mind using Skill Breaking Points to take the skill to the next level. What you're paying a high price for is only my castoff.

Realizing this, Jia Ren nodded in agreement.

"Empty promises aren't enough; you need to produce the Rhinoceros Horn."

Luo Yuzhu looked up and took out a palm-sized Token, her tone unconsciously arrogant, "There's no need to worry about the Rhinoceros Horn. Take this Token to Tianbao Pavilion to get the Rhinoceros Horn."

A Token to exchange for a Rhinoceros Horn at Tianbao Pavilion? If it had been before, Jia Ren might have believed it somewhat. Having just experienced the tracking marks secretly implanted in the auction items at the Tianyuan Auction House, of course, he had to be extremely cautious. Who knew whether going to Tianbao Pavilion would be a trap? Whether he could get the Rhinoceros Horn?

Jia Ren did not take the Token but instead increased the distance between them.

"I only want the Rhinoceros Horn; otherwise, there's no deal."

Luo Yuzhu didn't bring out the Rhinoceros Horn, not because she didn't want to, but because she didn't have it on her. She had not deceived Jia Ren. With her identity, holding the Token meant she could easily exchange it not just for a Rhinoceros Horn but even for an Evil Warding Artifact if she wished.

"You're blind to true worth!" Luo Yuzhu said, then instructed, "Uncle Wu, go to Tianbao Pavilion and retrieve a Rhinoceros Horn of fine quality as quickly as possible."

The hunchbacked old man glanced at Jia Ren with a look that was not kind and hurried off towards the Tianbao Pavilion in the Inner City.

Only Jia Ren and Luo Yuzhu were left behind, staring at each other with nothing to say.

"Is your Bait Tempting Technique an ancient recipe? Why have I never heard of it?"

Luo Yuzhu hadn't obtained the bait formula yet and didn't mind beating around the bush to gather more information.

"I figured it out on my own!"

This was indeed the case. The product was the result of pondering over bait knowledge from his past life, using Spiritual Materials from the Cultivation World, and increasing his insight with help from the Proficiency Panel. Unique in the Cultivation World.

"Who would have thought you had such a skill? And you still want to learn Alchemy? It's a pity you're too old now; the Yuding Sect only accepts apprentices."

Alchemy must be learned from scratch. This involved understanding the properties of herbs and mastering the principles of medicine. More importantly, it required loyalty and a sense of belonging to the sect. Regarding the Alchemy inheritance, the Yuding Sect did not want to divulge it, much less cultivate alchemy talents for others.

BOOM!

While the two were making awkward conversation, the Great Wilderness Market erupted with intense Spiritual Power Fluctuations. Auras soared and exploded; thunder and flames flew together, shaking all directions.

Had the auction ended? Jia Ren looked toward the interior of the Market, speculating in his heart. By his calculations, the auction should have ended by now. Cultivators who obtained the Foundation Establishment Pill were bound to provoke others to fight and seize it; conflict was inevitable and had been anticipated. The strong auras were not of Qi Refining Cultivators but definitely of Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Most Foundation Establishment Cultivators had the backing of Sects and families, not just for themselves but for their descendants. The appearance of Foundation Establishment Pills would surely lead to attempted seizures. How could a Qi Refining Stage Cultivator possibly snatch from a Foundation Establishment Cultivator? In ten years, when the trades reopen, similar scenes would reenact. How could he ensure that after purchasing the Foundation Establishment Pill, he would be able to leave safely?

Jia Ren's face alternated between shades of light and dark as he watched the battle in the Inner City, wondering why the Five Elements Sect's Law Enforcement Office Cultivators had yet to appear.

Were they allowing the cultivators to freely engage in combat? The Law Enforcement Office had bullied Loose Cultivators aggressively in the past; why did they turn a blind eye when faced with Foundation Establishment Cultivators?

"The roots of the Five Elements Sect are indeed rotting," Luo Yuzhu shook her head and chuckled lightly, long inured to such incidents.

"Fellow Daoist Luo need not trouble yourself with this; the Five Elements Sect will handle it."

A cold woman's voice sounded. Xue Feng'e had appeared near them without their knowledge at some point.

She gently clapped her hands, as if signaling something.

Outside the Great Wilderness Market, more than a dozen presences rose like the blazing sun and flew into the Inner City.

"How dare you commit acts of violence in the Great Wilderness Market!"

"Those who dare to make a move shall be killed without mercy!"

The Five Elements Sect's Foundation Establishment Cultivators took action. They activated the Inner City Formation, suppressing all sides. Those who tried to snatch the Foundation Establishment Pills were either killed on the spot or forcibly taken away, and the chaos was quickly ended.

"The matters of the Great Wilderness Market are not for the Yuding Sect to worry about."

"You were following me?!"

Luo Yuzhu's face shifted slightly, fixing Xue Feng'e with a hard stare, as their veneer of sisterly affection mercilessly tore apart in that moment.

"This is the Market of the Five Elements Sect; where does the talk of following come from?"

"Is he the person you're looking for?"

Xue Feng'e's beautiful eyes roamed up and down Jia Ren's body. To her, he looked like an ordinary Loose Cultivator.

"Did you make the bait? Would you be willing to sell the bait formula to me? Don't worry, anything she can offer, I can offer more."

Luo Yuzhu's baby-fat cheeks puffed up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, and she screamed, "Xue Feng'e, you've gone too far! I'm going to cut ties with you forever!"

Xue Feng'e didn't care in the slightest. They had broken off their friendship several times before, and it wouldn't be long before they reconciled as if nothing had happened.

"One Rhinoceros Horn."

Rhinoceros Horn? Xue Feng'e looked surprised and glanced back at Luo Yuzhu. Though Luo Yuzhu was often foolishly generous, she rarely made mistakes in discerning elixirs. Her willingness to trade a Rhinoceros Horn indicated that the bait formula must be extraordinarily exceptional.

"You probably can't produce a Rhinoceros Horn right now, can you? Go get a top-quality Rhinoceros Horn."

Behind Xue Feng'e, ripples swayed like water, and an elegant middle-aged man stepped out, bowing and saying, "As you command."

Luo Yuzhu immediately became anxious, looking at Jia Ren. "Do you want an Alchemy Recipe, or the Rhinoceros Horn?"

"I can exchange the Mysterious Water Pill Recipe with you. This pill has no side effects. It increases the power of a cultivator's Water System Magic by thirty percent for a short duration."

Mysterious Water Pill Recipe? Jia Ren only had one Gather Water Spell related to water, but that didn't mean he couldn't learn Water System Magic in the future. The value of the pill recipe was even greater than that of the unranked bait; it seemed like a foolproof deal. If not for the interference of another woman, there might not have been a chance of acquiring it.

"I am willing to trade for the pill recipe!"

Luo Yuzhu's face beamed with satisfaction, looking triumphantly at Xue Feng'e like a victorious rooster.

Jia Ren took out the Jade Slip detailing the bait formula and exchanged it for the Mysterious Water Pill Recipe. After both confirmed there were no issues, they smiled with satisfaction.

"I have more things to attend to; I will take my leave first!"

Luo Yuzhu hurriedly left with the Bait Tempting Technique formula to study it, not wanting to linger a moment longer in the Great Wilderness Market.

Jia Ren obtained what he wanted and turned to leave, but just then, a voice transmitted into his ear.

"Fellow Daoist, have you changed your mind about selling the bait formula?"

"The deal for the Rhinoceros Horn is still valid."

Jia Ren stopped in his tracks, frozen.

Did they intend to let him benefit twice from the same fish?

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