Translator: AnubisTL
After days of travel atop Fan Tong, Li Qing and his tiger companion finally emerged from the vast mountain forest.
Before them hung an Immortal City, suspended high in the sky!
Li Qing stood at the edge of a sheer cliff, his eyes wide with awe as he gazed at the cluster of buildings shimmering faintly amidst the clouds.
This isn't just a market—it's a full-fledged Immortal City!
Mist swirled above, drawn upward by a radiant Spirit Gathering Formation that channeled the abundant spiritual energy from the earth's leylines. The concentrated energy converged into a majestic waterfall of spiritual power cascading upward, a breathtaking sight.
The Heavenly River Market far surpassed Li Qing's wildest expectations in grandeur and splendor.
"This must be the very heart of Maple Country's cultivation world," Li Qing murmured, his eyes filled with longing as he gazed at the place where fortunes gathered like clouds and winds, resembling an Immortal Palace.
It was no exaggeration to say that even Core Formation Realm cultivators could occasionally be seen here.
His heart pounding with excitement, Li Qing immediately retrieved his self-forged Magic Artifact, the Peerless Hammer.
After recalling Fan Tong into his spirit beast pouch, Li Qing stepped onto the massive hammer, channeled his mana into it, and soared into the sky.
Most low-grade Magic Artifacts are capable of flight, requiring only the inscription of lightweight and agile spirit patterns.
While most cultivators prefer to fly on swords, Li Qing's method of riding a hammer was somewhat unusual, though not particularly eye-catching in this bustling Immortal City, where encountering all sorts of cultivators was commonplace.
Having reached the Mid Qi Refining Realm, Li Qing possessed a relatively abundant supply of mana. Sustained flight would be impractical, but short bursts like this were effortless.
Soaring past the sheer cliff face, Li Qing felt the fierce wind buffeting him from the side, causing his sleeves to flutter wildly and his hair to dance in the gale.
"Hahahaha!"
Overwhelmed with excitement, Li Qing burst into unrestrained laughter. He couldn't resist spreading his arms wide, as if embracing the magnificent Immortal Palace that stood resplendently amidst the clouds ahead.
This is what true cultivation feels like!
"Kree!"
Suddenly, a mystical Cloud Crane materialized from another direction, radiating an ethereal immortal energy. Perched upon the spirit beast's back sat an elderly man with white hair and a sage-like air, his presence radiating the timeless dignity of an immortal.
Li Qing also noticed figures soaring out of the Heavenly River Market on clouds of mist, drifting effortlessly into the distant horizon.
Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators!
Li Qing's heart skipped a beat. He quickly lowered his head respectfully, avoiding direct eye contact.
Indeed, the aura emanating from the two figures who had just passed by was overwhelmingly powerful, far surpassing that of any Late Qi Refining Realm cultivator Li Qing had ever encountered. The oppressive pressure of such a higher cultivation realm was unmistakable.
Truly, the Heavenly River Market lives up to its reputation, Li Qing thought, his eyes widened by the spectacle. After so long on the path of the Dao, this is the first time I've witnessed the majesty of a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator.
As the cultivators passed, onlookers gazed upon them with awe and reverence.
These are true Daoist masters! Li Qing marveled inwardly. He quietly trailed behind, heading toward the market's entrance.
Soon, the sound of air tearing apart echoed behind Li Qing, accompanied by an impatient young man's voice:
"Ugh, we're already at the Heavenly River Market, Third Uncle! Stop tailing me. Let me train alone!"
Li Qing turned at the sound and saw Shi Nantian and his Third Uncle drifting toward him on a Spirit Boat.
Spirit Boats were specialized Magic Artifacts crafted for cultivators to travel long distances. Etched with numerous spirit patterns that enhanced lightness and speed, they could be activated with just a small amount of spiritual energy or by inserting spirit stones. With such a vessel, even cultivators in the Qi Refining Realm could achieve sustained aerial flight over great distances.
Li Qing couldn't help but feel a pang of envy. The artifact refinement inheritance he had obtained contained no methods for crafting Spirit Boats. This wasn't necessarily a flaw in the inheritance itself, as it focused primarily on foundational techniques. Most of the spirit patterns it covered were basic Five Elements patterns.
In the days to come, Li Qing resolved to seek out other artifact refinement inheritances, particularly those detailing unfamiliar spirit patterns, which he believed were the core essence of artifact refinement.
Emerging from the swirling mists, they finally arrived at the entrance to the Heavenly River Market. This floating island was protected by a layered Restriction, behind which stood several Heavenly River Sect disciples, guarding the perimeter.
Soon after, Shi Nantian and his Third Uncle landed on the island.
"Ah, Fellow Daoist Li!" Shi Nantian's eyes lit up as he spotted Li Qing's retreating figure.
Li Qing felt a slight pang of helplessness but turned around with a delighted expression, cupping his fists in greeting. "What a small world, Fellow Daoist Shi! And who is this gentleman beside you?"
"This is my Third Uncle," Shi Nantian replied with a dismissive wave. "I ran into him on the way, which delayed me a bit."
Though Li Qing already knew, he feigned surprise and bowed to Shi Zhen. "Greetings, Senior Shi."
In the cultivation world, seniority was a fickle thing, ultimately determined by strength. Shi Zhen, a Late Qi Refining Realm cultivator, was undeniably deserving of the "Senior" title. If Shi Nantian were to reach the same level in the future, Li Qing would have to upgrade his title to "Senior" as well.
Oblivious to such considerations, Shi Nantian declared, "Third Uncle, this is a fellow Daoist I met on the road. Now that we've caught up, can you finally trust me to explore the Heavenly River Market on my own?"
Shi Zhen merely glanced at Li Qing with indifference before giving a perfunctory nod. "Mm."
As a mere rogue cultivator at the fourth level of the Qi Refining Realm, Li Qing naturally held little interest for him. Had it not been for Shi Nantian's presence, Shi Zhen wouldn't have spared him a second glance at the entrance to the Heavenly River Market.
Fortunately, Li Qing had no intention of lingering. Tired of trying to impress someone who clearly wasn't interested, he turned to Shi Nantian and said, "Fellow Daoist Shi, I won't keep you any longer. I'll head in now."
With that, Li Qing strode toward the Restriction guarding the market's entrance.
Shi Nantian watched Li Qing's retreating figure, his lips parting slightly before closing with a sigh. He remained silent.
However, after Li Qing had walked some distance, Shi Nantian's Third Uncle spoke coldly, "It's best to avoid associating with rogue cultivators of such low cultivation and mediocre talent in the future. You'll only invite trouble down the road."
Shi Nantian bristled. "Third Uncle, our Shi Clan's ancestor was a rogue cultivator himself! How can you speak so dismissively?"
"Sigh, I'm only looking out for your best interests," his Third Uncle replied with a sigh.
"Think about it," Shi Zhen said. "Once you reach the Late Qi Refining Realm and become a disciple of the Heavenly River Sect, if these people run into trouble and ask for your help, will you assist them?"
"Helping one or two might be manageable, but what if there are too many? How could you possibly keep up?"
Shi Nantian fell into a brief silence, offering no further comment.
Li Qing, walking ahead, naturally overheard Shi Zhen's lecture to his nephew. A faint wry smile touched his lips, but he betrayed no outward reaction.
It was clear that Shi Zhen's words weren't just for his nephew's ears; they were also a veiled warning to Li Qing himself. The unspoken implications were obvious.
Li Qing paid little heed to this. For him, forging connections with scions of prominent cultivation clans held no particular significance. He had never sought to leverage their privileged backgrounds for personal gain.
Pushing these thoughts aside, Li Qing approached the Restriction guarding the market entrance.
The spiritual energy here had grown increasingly dense, now rivaling the levels in his courtyard at the Liu Clan.
The Heavenly River Market was situated amidst a cluster of islands suspended high in the sky, each adorned with a variety of architectural structures.
Beneath the cluster of floating islands lay a Spirit Vein Land brimming with spiritual energy.
Connecting the islands to the Spirit Vein Land below was a Spirit Gathering Formation, channeling the dense spiritual energy upward into the mist-shrouded heights.
Naturally, accessing this abundant spiritual energy required entering the Heavenly River Market and paying spirit stones.
The initial entry fee was one spirit stone. For extended stays, cultivators had two options: long-term residence in rented cave abodes or courtyards, or temporary lodging in inn-like establishments.
"Here, this token grants you one day's stay. If you fail to renew your registration after that, the grand formation will expel you. Use it wisely," said a haughty Heavenly River Sect disciple after Li Qing paid his fee, tossing a wooden token into Li Qing's hand.
Li Qing caught the token and quickly bowed in thanks. "Thank you!"
Afterward, another person explained the market's rules to him—mostly common-sense regulations that could only be broken through deliberate recklessness.
For example, private duels were forbidden in the market, as were trespassing on others' cave abodes and forced sales.
In short, the Heavenly River Market was patrolled by law enforcement disciples from the Heavenly River Sect. The consequences for cultivators caught breaking the rules were severe.
Li Qing patiently memorized these regulations, nodded, and continued forward, his transit token in hand.
Soon, he arrived at a small teleportation array on the entrance island.
Buzz!
A flash of spiritual light surrounded him, and Li Qing felt the world spin violently.
When he opened his eyes again, the scenery had completely transformed. The swirling mists that had obscured his vision moments before had vanished.
So that's what it's like to be inside the mist!
Buildings rose into view, and numerous stalls clustered in the central plaza, creating a vibrant, bustling atmosphere.
Every passerby was a cultivator!
"Enlightenment Tea House, Pill Cauldron Pavilion, Hundred Refinements Hall..."
The complex of buildings ahead showcased nearly every craft imaginable in the cultivation world—pills, artifacts, formations, talismans—everything was available!
Truly a sanctuary for cultivators!
(End of the Chapter)
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