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Novel: [The Primordial Law]
Volume 4: [Shuangsheng Dao Sect (Twin Rice Sect)]
Chapter 180 (435): [Fallen Spirit Market]
(180th of Volume 4)
Translator: Shadow Knight AK
Editor: Shadow Knight AK
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Huang Liao straightened his expression.
"By the way, Brother Li, the Fallen Spirit Market opens tonight and lasts for two days. Do you need Yang-Repelling Pearls or Nether Realm Human Skin?"
"Give me two Yang-Repelling Pearls. How much?" Li Weiyi asked.
Huang Liao produced two Yang-Repelling Pearls and placed them before Li Weiyi.
"No need for payment! Brother Li, you're clearly no ordinary man. Consider this Huang Liao making a friend."
Li Weiyi didn't refuse, not wanting to appear overly pretentious. If the man genuinely wanted to be friends, Li Weiyi was the type to welcome friendship, not one to isolate himself.
To the Dead Spirits, living beings entering the Nether Realm of the Dead shone as brightly as torches. Yang-Repelling Pearls and Nether Realm Human Skin were used to conceal the aura of the living.
Li Weiyi's primary reason for visiting the Fallen Spirit Market was to purchase Phoenix Blood Tree Leaves.
The Phoenix Blood Tree had once been the foremost wonder of Yu State, one of the Three Hundred States of Lingxiao, rivaling the Earth Demon Pine of the Six Thoughts Zen Temple.
Now submerged in the Nether Realm of the Dead, its leaves were nearly impossible to obtain in the Living Realm.
Phoenix Blood Tree Leaves are invaluable treasures for "Refining Tendons and Sculpting Skin" in physical cultivation, far surpassing the effects of Divine Cauldron Wood.
Li Weiyi's current physical cultivation had progressed furthest in refining his muscles and organs, having already refined seven jin of Immortal Soil.
However, his progress was severely hampered by the lagging development of his bones, tendons, and skin, making the refinement and absorption of Immortal Soil excruciatingly slow.
His Great Perfection Golden Bone was only about thirty percent complete.
His tendons and skin, on the other hand, had only reached about twenty percent of their cultivation.
According to Li Weiyi's calculations, if he could cultivate his tendons and skin to thirty percent of the Immortal Body's strength, he could challenge Martial-Mystic Cultivators in the Seventh Heaven of the Dao Seed Realm using only his physical power.
If both his Golden Bone and tendons/skin reached fifty percent of the Immortal Body's strength, his physical power would be enough to directly confront Martial-Mystic Cultivators in the Ninth Heaven of the Dao Seed Realm.
Huang Liao reminded him, "Transactions at the Fallen Spirit Market are typically conducted using Blood Crystals. Brother Li, if you haven't prepared any, you should hurry to the city to exchange some."
"Alright, many thanks, Manager Huang."
Li Weiyi watched Huang Liao depart, sensing that the manager was concealing many secrets.
After sharing a meal with Yu'er, they headed into the city to exchange for Blood Crystals.
Li Weiyi had no shortage of Blood Crystals.
He carried multiple Boundary Pouches, each brimming with wealth befitting a top-tier expert from the Dao Seed Realm.
Yet, refusing to exchange any would expose his secret hoard.
Exchanging a small amount would maintain the illusion of normalcy.
As dusk deepened, Bone Lamps hung beside some streets, marking human dwellings, while Ghostfire Lanterns floated beside others, indicating homes of Dead Spirits.
"Boom!"
A long convoy thundered past, half-filled with Martial-Mystic Cultivators and half with supplies.
Among them were Buddha's Salvation Bandits in monastic robes and Ricefolk experts.
Li Weiyi pulled Yu'er aside to let the convoy pass.
At the head of the procession, he spotted a familiar face: Yi Zhouxue, the Thousand Guard Commander of the Heavenly Principles (Tianli) Hall. Though his features were still sharp and resolute, he looked no older than thirty.
Riding beside Yi Zhouxue was another man with strikingly similar features, dressed in black. This must be Canye Xue, his Ren Dao brother.
One had reached the Fifth Heaven of the Dao Seed Realm, the other the Sixth.
Such powerful figures would command immense respect at the Twin Rice Sect's Cultivation Headquarters. Yet here they were, covered in blood and grime, fleeing toward the ferry crossing like fugitives.
Li Weiyi harbored a grudge against Yi Zhouxue, but he didn't want to stir up trouble.
He feared that Twin Rice Sect Giants might have escaped here, and there was no need to provoke a group of desperate people on their last legs.
Back at the inn, he finished packing his belongings.
A group of over twenty people had already gathered at the inn's entrance, all heading to the Fallen Spirit Market.
Some wore Nether Realm Human Skin, their faces pale and appearances terrifying.
Li Weiyi secretly resolved that after purchasing Phoenix Blood Tree Leaves at the Fallen Spirit Market, he would immediately seek out the combined forces of the Zuoqiu Clan and the Jiu Li Tribe.
The Human Clan of the Lingxiao Realm must be faring well.
Night fell completely.
Huang Liao and an Elder with disheveled white hair descended the stairs, leading a dozen blue Spirit Steeds behind them.
Huang Liao introduced with a smile, "The Fallen Spirit Market is two hundred li from Huangjiang Border City. Old Yao will guide us tonight. As a former Nether Lantern Guide of the Jiu Li Divine Hall, Old Yao can discern fortune and misfortune and navigate the Netherworld freely without ever getting lost."
Yao Qingfeng waved his hand hastily: "Don't flatter me! This old man has never ventured more than a thousand li into the Netherworld. My survival isn't due to any great skill."
"Let's go," Huang Liao said, "The other teams in the city have already set out. We should follow."
Yao Qingfeng, holding an ancient bronze lamp, rode the lead Soul Steed at the head of the group.
Huang Liao brought up the rear.
Li Weiyi and Yu'er shared a Soul Steed, their eyes fixed on the ancient lamp.
It was indeed a Nether Lamp from the Jiu Li Divine Hall, identical to Li Ling's.
This was highly peculiar.
Nether Lantern Guides held immense status within the Jiu Li Tribe, almost always disciples of the Nine Great Priests.
How could such a figure have fallen to this state?
After leaving the city, Li Weiyi deliberately slowed his Soul Steed, dropping back to ride alongside Huang Liao at the rear of the group.
"Manager Huang, are you also heading to the Fallen Spirit Market to buy something?" he asked.
Huang Liao shook his head with a bitter smile, "I'm here to escape the calamity! With so many Heretical Sects and Buddha's Salvation Bandits fleeing to the Huang River, the combined forces of the Zuoqiu Clan and the Jiu Li Tribe will likely arrive within days. The Living Realm is drenched in blood, yet who would have imagined the Nether Realm of the Dead would be safer?"
In the distance, the Huang River ferry landing glowed with torches.
Hordes of Twin Rice Sect and Buddha's Salvation Bandits' routed troops were frantically boarding ships, clearly preparing to flee overseas.
Massive warships had already set sail, heading east along the river.
After crossing the ferry, the group of over twenty officially entered the pitch-black Nether Realm of the Dead.
Li Weiyi felt the temperature plummet, and the Spiritual Qi in the air grew thin and frigid.
An unknown dark force was invading his body, requiring him to circulate his Spiritual Qi to refine and expel it.
This posed no immediate threat, but living beings with insufficient cultivation would inevitably suffer if they remained in the Nether Realm for too long.
Visibility was severely limited, even darker than night in the Living Realm.
The ground was devoid of green vegetation, covered instead with black, thorn-like vines that were both sharp and incredibly tough.
Besides their group, numerous other parties were traveling both ahead and behind them.
Occasionally, Martial-Mystic Cultivators confident in their high cultivation would ride Exotic Beasts, speeding past without fear.
Since they were only traveling along the Nether Realm's edge, they didn't even bother carrying Yang-Repelling Pearls or Nether Realm Human Skin.
Huang Liao frowned, "Every month when the Fallen Spirit Market opens, large numbers of Humans and Demons flood into the trade market, but tonight seems unusually crowded."
"Boom!"
Several miles away in the darkness, two Spiritual Artifacts collided, sending brilliant light and dust erupting into the air.
Martial-Mystic Path experts were clashing, their battle quickly receding into the depths of the Nether Realm.
"Manager Huang's prediction came true," Li Weiyi thought, his mood brightening considerably, "The war has indeed spread to Huangjiang Border City."
After all, the approaching armies belonged to the Zuoqiu Clan and the Jiu Li Tribe.
The Fallen Spirit Market was built on the ruins of an ancient county town, surrounded by a desolate, desert-like landscape.
The crests of the low hills undulated like waves.
From afar, the entire market was bathed in clusters of blue flames, radiating a lively and chaotic atmosphere.
Corpse Generals and Ghost Generals maintained order amidst the clamor.
The masters of the Fallen Spirit Market were almost all formidable entities from the Netherworld.
Upon entering the market, the group dispersed, each member heading off to purchase their desired items.
Huang Liao, acting as Li Weiyi's guide, explained, "Dead Spirits that reach the General-level - equivalent to the Five Seas Realm among human Martial-Mystic Cultivators - begin to develop rudimentary spiritual intelligence. By the time they reach Commander-Grade, comparable to Dao Seed Realm cultivators, their intelligence rivals that of humans."
"However, influenced by the Netherworld's dark energies, they remain violent and bloodthirsty, attacking any living creature on sight. Only a rare few, those who have consumed the Wisdom Spring's waters, retain their rationality."
Hearing a vendor's shouts of "Phoenix Blood Tree Leaf!" Li Weiyi hurried over, Yu'er trembling in his arms.
The stall was manned by a handsome young man with Pure Immortal Physique skin, appearing to be in his early twenties.
In the Fallen Spirit Market, where vendors were either corpses or ghostly Dead Spirits, such a sight was exceedingly rare.
The Phoenix Blood Tree Leaf was as large as a palm fan, golden-yellow, and veined with crimson patterns resembling blood vessels.
Though it appeared to be a single leaf, it felt surprisingly heavy, weighing nearly half a kilogram.
Li Weiyi asked, "How much?"
"One High-Grade Blood Crystal per Phoenix Blood Tree Leaf. No bargaining," the young man replied.
A single High-Grade Blood Crystal was worth one hundred thousand Yongquan Coins.
Li Weiyi immediately set the leaf down: "Are you trying to rob me?"
"Actually, it's quite fair," Huang Liao whispered to Li Weiyi, "Phoenix Blood Trees grow slowly in the Netherworld, making their leaves increasingly scarce."
A clear, melodious female voice called out from behind them, "I'll take all five Phoenix Blood Tree Leaves!"
A slender, graceful figure in azure robes, her face veiled, stepped forward and placed five High-Grade Blood Crystals on the stall.
Li Weiyi stared at her in surprise, then glanced behind her, searching for another figure resembling her.
"What are you staring at? I'll gouge your eyes out!" the azure-robed woman snapped, her gaze sharp and a chilling aura radiating from her.
Li Weiyi immediately recognized her: this was Yang Qingchan, not Yang Qingxi.
It was truly astonishing. Li Weiyi had initially believed that the two Blood Scrolls he had sent would harm Yang Qingxi, at the very least leading to her imprisonment.
He never imagined he would encounter Yang Qingchan in the Nether Realm of the Dead.
Li Weiyi had used the Disguise Technique, and she hadn't recognized him.
Now that the Twin Rice Sect's experts were massing at Huangjiang Border City, Li Weiyi dared not reveal his identity to her.
Moreover, the Sui Sect and he were now mortal enemies; they were definitely foes, not friends.
The young man turned to Li Weiyi and said to Yang Qingchan, "Everything has its order. This brother asked for the price first. If he doesn't buy it, I'll sell it to you."
Li Weiyi's eyes widened in surprise, and his admiration for the young man surged, "I never expected a Dead Spirit to be so principled! I'm impressed!"
"Who said I was a Dead Spirit?" the young man replied coolly.
Li Weiyi sized him up, secretly praising his formidable Qi Concealment Technique. The world truly held wonders beyond measure.
"Alright, I'll buy everything!" Li Weiyi declared, producing five High-Grade Blood Crystals and handing them over.
Huang Liao, standing nearby, noticed a strange glint in his eyes.
According to the intelligence he had received, this Brother Li had only exchanged a hundred Low-Grade Blood Crystals in Huangjiang Border City - the equivalent of just one High-Grade Blood Crystal.
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END OF CHAPTER
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