Three months later, Jia Ren walked out of the Refining Workshop, his brows furrowed into a deep crease. I'm nearly bankrupt!

Having finished crafting the trigger-type Magic Artifacts, he had then worked tirelessly on producing Talismans and Talisman Pills. First-Order Talisman Pills weren't too problematic, and he had made a total of three hundred and twenty-four. With few raw materials left, work was temporarily halted. Second-Order Talisman Pills, however, were a completely different story; they were extremely costly to make. He had only produced about fifty Second-Order Talisman Pills before his materials were completely exhausted. Triggering these Second-Order Talisman Pills with Wings of Annihilation, he couldn't even meet the requirements for one full activation. I need to make more money!

In the storage room of the Water Curtain Cave Abode, hundreds of River Mountain Bags were piled up like a small hill. Jia Ren couldn't help but sigh. I'm so poor. In the future, I'll sell River Mountain Bags!

Unlike other types of Magic Artifacts, for which he would need to compete with various shops and cultivators, driving prices down and making it difficult to sell at a high value, the refining method for River Mountain Bags had long been lost to time. Consequently, only a few ancient ones remained, making them exceedingly rare and almost legendary. Managing the trade of River Mountain Bags would be highly profitable. With no competition, it would be a complete monopoly. If he targeted only the high-end market, gaining Spirit Stones would be easier. The only concern was whether the mass sale of River Mountain Bags would attract envy and, consequently, trouble. He would have been cautious in the past.

But now...

"YEEP!"

Master, I'm hungry! I want the best food.

The Fathead Fish Demon had awoken a few days ago, after sleeping for over half a year. Soon after waking, it had started to clamor for Ancestral Fish Sage Pills. Jia Ren, with no other choice, fed it a few. As his top enforcer, the Fathead Fish Demon couldn't be poorly treated. With a Third-Order Monster Pet as his enforcer, and his Insect External Incarnation, which, on the surface, revealed the aura of the late Foundation Establishment stage, he didn't worry about anyone daring to harbor ill intentions.

Jia Ren set out for the Qingfu Fang Market to buy a batch of materials. He planned to improve his proficiency level in crafting Beast Spirit Pills, which should enable him to entice the Thousand-Year-Old Black Turtle into becoming his Spirit Beast. Once that happened, he would control two Third-Order Spirit Beasts, one of which was comparable to a mid-stage Golden Core Cultivator. In the Barren Extreme Land, the number of cultivators who could pose a threat to him could be counted on one hand. He could keep this business under control.

"Here you go."

Jia Ren fed the demon a single Ancestral Fish Sage Pill along with several dozen Fish Saint Pills, which were just enough to barely satisfy the Fathead Fish Demon's demands.

"I still want more!"

After advancing to the Third Order, the Fathead Fish Demon's appetite had grown even greater. Especially after tasting the Ancestral Fish Sage Pills, it had started to look down on the lesser Fish Saint Pills.

"Master doesn't have much surplus food left. I need to work to earn your rations."

"Don't forget to protect your master when danger arises!"

"YEEP!"

The Fathead Fish Demon shook the golden hilt on its head, as if boasting of its own achievements.

Jia Ren estimated the Ancestral Fish Sage Pills he had on hand and figured they wouldn't last many more days. The upkeep for a Third-Order Spirit Beast was too high. Jia Ren also wanted to induce an atavistic regression in a Phoenix Flame Tail Fish to obtain a Third-Order one. This would be a significant expense, requiring him to acquire a large amount of Spiritual Medicines to refine more Ancestral Fish Sage Pills.

He recalled the Fathead Fish Demon into the Mountain and River Pearl, keeping it with him. The Fathead Fish Demon had been exposed before the Heart-devouring Illusion Bizarre, so it was safer to keep it hidden rather than display it openly. If anyone mistook the Fathead Fish Demon for an ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator, they would surely meet a gruesome end. Let's go!

River Mountain Bags couldn't be stored within other River Mountain Bags or storage-type Magic Artifacts. He had to link them together with Spider Silk and stow them in his cuffs, at his waist, and inside his robe. With hundreds of additional River Mountain Bags, his Taoist Robe bulged considerably.

While his true self consumed Solidifying Yuan Pills in secluded cultivation, his Insect External Incarnation set out with the Mountain and River Pearl. Flying with his Grandmaster-level Sword Control Technique, his speed was astonishing. In just one hour, he had already covered over a thousand li, and Qingfu Fang Market was now within sight. There are even more people now!

Looking from afar, the bustling popularity of Qingfu Fang Market seemed to have increased significantly compared to half a year ago. The Market had expanded to twice its size. Wherever he looked, there was a surging crowd of people. The number of cultivators far exceeded that of the Five Elements Marketplace during its peak periods by several times. It was the largest market he had ever seen. Numerous caravans were transporting large quantities of goods into the market, and more cultivators, having heard the news, were still rushing to this place. Qingfu Fang Market was poised to become even busier.

Jia Ren didn't continue his Sword Flight right up to the entrance, instead gently halting his Escape Light. He looked toward the long lines of people waiting to enter the city. The queue to enter the city would take at least the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

Shortly after his Escape Light descended, a Guard hurried over.

"Senior, you don't need to queue, nor do you need to pay an entrance fee. You can enter the Market directly."

The guard pointed to the streaks of Escape Light flying directly into the market above them, a smile on his face. Flying on Magic Artifacts was forbidden within the Market. Violators would trigger an attack from the protective Formation. Foundation Establishment Cultivators were different; they could fly as they pleased. In the Cultivation World, inequality was the norm; strength was privilege.

"All the better."

Jia Ren wouldn't waste precious time queuing. Amid the envious gazes of hundreds of queuing cultivators, he flew up and entered Qingfu Fang Market.

"When will I ever become a Foundation Establishment Cultivator!"

"I heard that Foundation Establishment Cultivators, just by affiliating with a Sect as a nominal member, can receive resources worth several thousand Spirit Stones every month."

"Foundation Establishment Cultivators are just different—they have long lifespans and powerful abilities! If I had Foundation Establishment cultivation, would I have been jilted by her, just because her aptitude was a bit better than mine?!"

Jia Ren passed through the Market's protective Formation without feeling any effects. It would have been a different story for a Qi Refining Cultivator. Based on his understanding of Formations, any Qi Refining Cultivator who dared to fly on a Magic Artifact within the Market would undoubtedly be struck by lightning.

Everyone says Foundation Establishment is good, and they're right. Foundation Establishment is indeed good, but Golden Core is even better.

"I am Liu Chengfeng. Greetings, Daoist friend. Are you new to Qingfu Fang Market?"

A Daoist in a cyan Taoist Robe approached with a smile. Sensing Jia Ren's aura, his smile grew even brighter.

"I am Shi Bai. Greetings, Daoist Liu."

He descended from the sky, the crimson-gold brilliance of his sword light retracting into the wide sleeves of his Taoist Robe.

"Daoist Shi, where do you cultivate? To have reached the late Foundation Establishment stage, the Great Dao of the Golden Core is not far off for you."

"I am flattered by your praise, Daoist Liu. I have come to Qingfu Market specifically to find treasures that aid in Core Formation."

Jia Ren didn't reveal his origins, instead shifting the topic to Core Formation treasures.

"Such treasures are hard to find. Even if the Cold Moon Palace and the Thousand Illusion Sect possessed such items, they wouldn't offer them for sale."

"If Daoist friend wishes to find Core Formation treasures, it would be best to head to the Western Wasteland Domain to seek opportunities for forming a Golden Core."

The Western Wasteland Domain? Its resources far surpassed those of the Barren Extreme Land, but the number of powerful cultivators there would surely be much greater as well. Rashly venturing into a region with cultivators far exceeding one's own strength was not safe. Comparatively, he still preferred to stay in a 'smaller pond' where he held more sway. It was still too early for him to seriously seek opportunities for Core Formation.

"Seven days from now, I and a few fellow Daoists will be holding an exchange meeting. Would Daoist Shi be interested?"

An exchange meeting?

Jia Ren obtained the location and agreed to meet in seven days.

He quickly swept his gaze across the Market, counting the number of shops. Compared to half a year ago, the number of shops had more than doubled. There are quite a few new large shops. Thousand Illusion Tower?

The largest sects in the Barren Extreme Land were the Cold Moon Palace and the Thousand Illusion Sect. Qingfu Market was under the Cold Moon Palace's jurisdiction, yet even the Thousand Illusion Sect had a shop here. The relationship between the two sects must be good.

The Thousand Illusion Tower was located not far from the market stalls. Before Jia Ren could enter, he heard a loud shout from a distance.

"Ancient Cave Mansion Map! This treasure is of great value! The highest bidder gets it!"

An Ancient Cave Mansion Map? Ancient Cultivators' Cave Mansions represented opportunities. With good luck, even low-level Loose Cultivators could obtain powerful legacies and wealth, making their cultivation path much smoother. However, there were also unlucky ones who perished while exploring such cave mansions. The potential profits from exploring these cave mansions were astonishing, having once incited a treasure-hunting frenzy. With interests at stake, it was inevitable that some would entertain crooked ideas. Many cultivators maliciously spread fake Ancient Cave Mansion Maps, solely to swindle wealth and even commit murder for profit. As such incidents became more common, the treasure-hunting craze that had lasted for over a century finally dissipated.

A genuine Ancient Cave Mansion Map? Or just a resurgence of old tricks?

Jia Ren had little interest. He glanced at the cultivator selling the Ancient Cave Mansion Map and suddenly froze on the spot.

Eh, I didn't expect to meet an acquaintance. To be accurate, not quite an acquaintance; they had only met once. It was the cultivator surnamed Zhu from the Great Wilderness Market, Zhu Yuanzheng. When the Misty Sinister Qi was maliciously spread, he had taken the initiative to form the Safeguard Team, helping Loose Cultivators keep watch at night. He had once approached Jia Ren, inviting him to join the Safeguard Team and pay a protection fee. But after just three days, he had absconded with the Spirit Stones, and his whereabouts had been unknown ever since. He's still alive? He must have fled the Great Wilderness Market with the money, thereby avoiding the subsequent forced conscription by the Five Elements Sect, the ensuing inter-sect warfare, and the Black Blood Bizarre calamity. It's true that good people don't live long, while a scourge can last a thousand years.

He glanced at the Ancient Cave Mansion Map that the cultivator surnamed Zhu was selling. It looks well-forged, but a fake can never be the real thing...

Jia Ren shook his head and didn't approach to meddle. To live a long life, it's best not to be a busybody. It's best not to meddle in affairs that don't concern me.

He strode into the Thousand Illusion Tower.

In an instant, a plethora of illusions surrounded him. Pavilions, gazebos, and waterside structures materialized. At a stone table in a distant gazebo, a beautiful woman in a white dress smiled radiantly.

"This must be Daoist friend's first time at the Thousand Illusion Tower. May I know what you seek?"

The woman clapped her hands. Like a dream or a wisp of smoke, top-grade Magic Artifacts and precious Elixirs materialized before him, shrouded in an aura of profound mystery.

"Interesting!"

Although Jia Ren voiced his interest, he immediately activated his Spirit Eye Technique to see through the illusion. He disliked being in an illusion controlled by others, effectively placing his life in their hands. A white light flashed in his eyes as he peered into the illusion with his Grandmaster-level Spirit Eye Technique. This illusion wasn't very sophisticated. The scene rippled like water and slowly dissipated.

Jia Ren found himself on the second floor of the Thousand Illusion Tower. The woman he had just seen in the illusion now stood before him, offering a polite curtsy.

"Do you have any Core Formation treasures?"

"We do not."

"Do you have any Second-Order Elixir Dao inheritances?"

"We do not."

"Do you have any secret cultivation techniques for Foundation Establishment?"

"We do not."

Jia Ren couldn't hide his disappointment. He handed over a Jade Slip detailing his requirements: "Materials for Artifact Refining, hundred-year-old Spiritual Medicines, items for warding off evil..." His list of required items was long and diverse, both in quantity and variety, so he wasn't worried about anyone discerning his true intentions from it. Strength was his greatest source of confidence.

"Daoist friend, you seek a great many items. We can gather most of them, however, the price will be substantial."

The Thousand Illusion Tower was comparable to Han Yue Fang, boasting an impressive inventory of materials.

"Would you be interested in this item?"

Jia Ren placed a Thousand Directions Mountain River Bag on the wooden table to his left.

"A River Mountain Bag?!"

"Are you the Vajra Gate cultivator who sold River Mountain Bags at Han Yue Fang half a year ago, Daoist friend? It's truly delightful to see you've reached the late Foundation Establishment stage!"

"River Mountain Bags are extremely precious; many Bizarre-Suppressing Guards covet them. How many can you spare, Daoist friend? The Thousand Illusion Sect is prepared to take them all, and we assure you the price will be satisfactory."

So they knew about the River Mountain Bags I sold at Han Yue Fang last time. The connection between Thousand Illusion Tower and Cold Moon Palace is astonishing. Are the two sects sharing information?

They want them all? I'm afraid they can't handle that many...

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