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Novel: [The Primordial Law]
Volume 5: [Seeking Immortality in the Eastern Sea]
Volume 5 (Pinyin): [Dong Hai xun xian]
Chapter 30 (467): [Sea Market]
(30th of Volume 5)
Translator: Shadow Knight AK
Editor: Shadow Knight AK
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Li Weiyi had a clear understanding of the current situation in the Lingxiao Realm.
Zen Hai Guanwu had killed too ruthlessly, and fearing retaliation from the Western Monster Race and the Demon Kingdom, the Third Palace Master had led the Lingxiao Palace's elite forces to withdraw from the Cloud Heaven (Yuntian) Immortal Plain and go into hiding.
Order in Lingxiao City and the Cloud Heaven (Yuntian) Immortal Plain was now maintained by the Snow Sword Tang Court.
Tang Wanzhou's pre-war strategies and arrangements had proven entirely correct, allowing the Snow Sword Tang Court to reap the greatest benefits and prestige, its influence reaching unprecedented heights.
The Lingxiao Palace had effectively lost the people's support due to the Xiaotian Edict, the Mother-Child Spring, and the Second Palace Master's actions.
Zen Hai Guanwu's victory in the Cloud Heaven (Yuntian) Immortal Plain battle had merely softened public resentment toward the Lingxiao Palace.
Until Zen Hai Guanwu and Yu Yaozi possessed the strength to confront the Flying Phoenix and the Demon Kingdom, the Lingxiao Palace could never reclaim its position as Lord of the Lingxiao Realm.
With both the Mist Celestial and the Grand Palace Mistress missing, the Lingxiao Realm could not remain without leadership indefinitely. If the Snow Sword Tang Court could seize this opportunity to win the people's hearts and become the universally desired leader, anything would be possible.
Li Weiyi sighed inwardly.
It seemed he couldn't rely on Tang Wanzhou for the time being.
Traveling to the Fusang Divine Tree and back would take at least a full day.
Given Tang Wanzhou's current status, she was required to oversee the Sea Market on Moon Dragon Island. It would be a miracle if she could find a way to leave.
Tang Zhan asked, "What realm your Psychic Power has reached?"
"Eight-Star Spiritual Master," Li Weiyi replied.
He wasn't distrustful of Tang Zhan, but he preferred to keep a low profile.
Tang Zhan urged, "Hurry and break through to Nine-Star Spiritual Master. Once you succeed, we'll have another pillar-like expert below the Immortal Realm of the Lingxiao Realm. Above the Immortal Realm, there's the Young Lord. Below it, we need someone to hold the line."
"Aren't you enough?" Li Weiyi countered.
Tang Zhan sighed: "How many can I handle alone?"
"Breaking through is easier said than done," Li Weiyi lamented.
Tang Zhan mentioned, "I heard someone from Calamity Crossing Temple is selling True Spiritual Pills at the Sea Market."
"True Spiritual Pills? It it Real or fake?" Li Weiyi's interest piqued.
Radiant Flame Pills were Low-Grade Spiritual Pills, while Star Spiritual Pills were High-Grade Spiritual Pills.
True Spiritual Pills, however, were Top-Grade Spiritual Pills, priced at over a million Yongquan Coins and often unavailable at any price.
Tang Zhan scoffed, "What's so special about True Spiritual Pills? With Calamity Crossing Temple's resources, even Low-Grade Spiritual Pills wouldn't be surprising."
Li Weiyi secretly resolved to try his luck at the Sea Market. If he could acquire a few True Spiritual Pills, he might actually break through to Eight-Star Spiritual Master soon.
As they approached the Sea Market, the sounds of human voices and beast roars grew clearer.
"What did you decide?" Li Weiyi asked, curious about Tang Zhan's conversation with Tuoba Tao.
Tang Zhan gazed at the lights flickering behind the layers of forest foliage.
"The mortal world stretches three thousand feet, yet its glories vanish in the blink of an eye. A man born into this world should wield a three-foot sword, settling debts of gratitude and vengeance for three hundred years, and striving for dominion over thirty thousand miles of land. Who wouldn't cherish life?"
Li Weiyi understood his friend's ambition and chuckled, "Three hundred years isn't enough. With your talent, aim for three thousand! You must strive for such Immortality."
"Three thousand years? You dare to dream so big! How many have been blocked on the path to Immortal Realm? Seven Shackles of Immortal Realm, each of them are a life-or-death trial. Such excessive ambition only brings more suffering."
Tang Zhan gazed at the vast sky, reaching out with an empty hand toward the bright moon.
His eyes burned with longing.
How could he not yearn for the Transcendent Realm?
Yet while Divine Hidden One appeared every Sixty-Year Cycle, Transcendents emerged only once every thousand years.
His decision to join the Sentinel Spirit Army stemmed from knowing that only there would he have a greater chance. The ideals in his heart and the goals of his life had guided him to this path.
After parting ways with Tang Zhan, Li Weiyi used the Transformation Technique to alter his appearance and enter the Sea Market.
Since he was passing through, he might as well search.
The Moon Dragon Island Sea Market was built along the coast, with over a dozen rivers carving the land into hundreds of islands of varying sizes.
The smallest islands were only a few yards across, just enough for a single stall.
The larger islands boasted hundreds of buildings, with towering fortresses stacked upon each other.
Stone steps teemed with crowds like surging tides.
Some merchants also set up shop on boats, plying the waterways and hawking their wares.
Li Weiyi rented a small boat and scanned the stalls lining the canals, carefully examining each item.
It had to be said, the Moon Dragon Island Sea Market truly offered a wealth of treasures: Millennium Essence Herbs, Hundred-Character Artifacts, Dragon scales, Immortal Bones... the sheer variety was dazzling.
However, ordinary Millennium Essence Herbs were merely sustenance for the Seven Little Ones.
Only Essence Herbs aged four thousand years or more could enable them to break through to the Seventh Heaven.
"The Immortal Bone is genuine, but it lacks golden essence bone marrow," Li Weiyi murmured, mooring his boat near a reef the size of a small island.
He examined a five-meter-long golden bone displayed on a stall, shaking his head in disappointment.
The stall owner, a Hippopotamus Demon from the Eastern Sea Monster Clan, had already assumed a humanoid form, with legs and arms, standing tall and stout. Yet he retained his hippopotamus head, with its massive jaws and tiny ears.
"Golden essence bone marrow is incredibly rare and expensive," the Hippopotamus Demon said, sitting cross-legged with his arms folded across his chest, his voice booming from his wide-open mouth. His expression remained hidden, only the opening and closing of his jaws visible.
Losing interest, Li Weiyi instructed the boatman to move on.
He planned to acquire golden essence bone marrow through the Jiu Li Clan and the Hidden Sect.
During the Lingxiao Life Realm War, the Hidden Ancestor emerged, summoning subterranean insect swarms to overwhelm the Rice Corpse.
As a result of the conflict, both the Jiu Li Clan and the Jiu Li Hidden Sect would undoubtedly receive a substantial share of the spoils.
It was even possible they had acquired Transcendents' flesh and bones.
Wouldn't Transcendent Golden Essence Bone Marrow be far easier to absorb?
"Wait a minute! You didn't even ask if I have any Golden Essence Bone Marrow before leaving? In business, you need to ask more questions. The best treasures are never displayed openly. Show me some of your capabilities first, and I'll decide what level of goods I can show you."
The Hippopotamus Demon blocked Li Weiyi's boat.
Li Weiyi casually asked, "Do you have any Essence Herbs that's four thousand years old?"
"Yes," the Hippopotamus Demon replied.
Surprised, Li Weiyi ordered the boatman to stop.
"Five thousand years old... do you have that too?"
"Yes."
"Six thousand years old?"
"Yes. One stalk costs sixty million Yongquan Coins or sixty Top-Grade Blood Crystals," the Hippopotamus Demon stated.
Li Weiyi regained his composure: "Hmm... it's not that I can't afford it, but there's no need."
"How about Millennium Essence Herbs?"
[T/N: 1 Millennium= 1,000 years]
"Seventy thousand Yongquan Coins per stalk. Much cheaper than what you humans charge in your Life Realms, right?" the Hippopotamus Demon said.
The price of Essence Herbs increases exponentially with each additional millennium of age.
Li Weiyi knew he was being looked down upon.
He discreetly pulled out a Top-Grade Blood Crystal and showed it to the Hippopotamus Demon: "If a four-thousand-year-old Essence Herb were this cheap, I might consider buying one."
The Hippopotamus Demon's eyes widened at the sight of the Top-Grade Blood Crystal, his pupils gleaming.
"There are too many people and demons here. Shall we move to a more private location for this transaction?"
Li Weiyi replied, "I find this location perfectly suitable. You wouldn't happen to be unable to produce the goods, would you?"
"You underestimate me!" the Hippopotamus Demon retorted, "Master Ma's reputation among the Demon Race is impeccable. We value integrity above all else. Young man, I'm only concerned for your safety. Carrying a four-thousand-year-old Essence Herb will surely attract unwanted attention. Ah, well, you can't reason with a fool."
A golden vine belt encircled the Hippopotamus Demon's bulging belly.
Seven Cosmic Pouches hung from the belt, each pouch a symbol of power.
The Hippopotamus Demon extended his massive hand, reaching into one of the Cosmic Pouches.
He withdrew a wisp of azure light and swiftly handed it to Li Weiyi.
Within the azure light lay an Essence Herb resembling a bamboo stalk, only two feet long and as thick as a finger. It had nine crystalline segments, translucent as jade, with swirling white streaks flowing within.
The Hippopotamus Demon's demonic qi enveloped the Herb, preventing its fragrance from escaping.
"You actually have it?" Li Weiyi asked, his voice a mix of surprise and delight.
He eagerly accepted the Herb, examining it closely and sensing its energy.
"Nine Tribulation Bamboo, already undergone four tribulations. It's indeed four thousand years old."
"Four thousand four hundred years old, to be precise. I acquired it from the Dao Domain of Old Yu Prefecture City. I'll sell it to you at the price of a four-thousand-year-old Essence Herb: five million Yongquan Coins or five Top-Grade Blood Crystals."
The Hippopotamus Demon glanced around, noticing several gazes turning their way.
"So cheap?" Li Weiyi asked, wary of a potential trap.
Normally, a four-thousand-four-hundred-year-old Essence Herb would cost seven to eight million Yongquan Coins.
The Hippopotamus Demon remained patient, "Essence Herbs are naturally cheaper at the Sea Market than in your Human Realm. Plus, the recent widespread attacks on Ghost City Corpse Palaces across the Southeast Nether Realm have flooded the market, driving prices down significantly. Master Ma here runs an honest business. My reputation extends from the Demon Race all the way to your Human Realm."
"Making business easy for everyone?" Li Weiyi suggested.
The Hippopotamus Demon's eyes lit up, "Eh, that's a good slogan."
"The Medicine is genuine," Li Weiyi confirmed after careful inspection, "Can I trade for it with a spiritual artifact?"
"Spiritual artifacts are great - they fetch high prices among the Demon Race. Are you sure you want to trade here?" the Hippopotamus Demon asked again.
Li Weiyi had long noticed the numerous gazes fixed on them, but he remained unfazed. The Sea Market was maintained by the Demon Race, ensuring order; no one dared cause trouble.
'I'll just change my appearance after leaving the Sea Market,' he thought.
Li Weiyi retrieved a Seventh-Grade Hundred-Character Artifact spear and handed it over.
The Hippopotamus Demon channeled demonic qi into the spear, examining it closely.
He was secretly astonished: "This item... its origins are suspicious. It's a standard-issue spear from the Demon Kingdom's army. Moreover, only the kingdom's elite troops would possess such a weapon."
"Not interested?" Li Weiyi asked.
"I'll take it," the Hippopotamus Demon replied, "Master Ma never turns down goods. But for black market items, the price will be lower. I can only offer you one million Yongquan Coins for this spear."
"A fair price."
Li Weiyi then produced four more identical spears, piling them noisily beside the stall.
The Hippopotamus Demon froze, then swiftly stowed all five spears into his Cosmic Pouch without questioning their origin.
"Brother, you've got some serious connections! I have plenty of treasures here - interested in buying more?"
He transmitted his voice in a low whisper, "I even have Transcendent Golden Essence Bone Marrow."
Transcendent Golden Essence Bone Marrow would undoubtedly be astronomically expensive.
'Finding the Hidden Lord would be a different story!'
First, the Jiu Li Hidden Sect would cover half the cost.
Second, given his contributions in Lingxiao City, he might even obtain it for free.
Li Weiyi had secretly hoped to probe the Hippopotamus Demon for Millennium Essence Herbs, but their exorbitant value, given his current cultivation level, made him hesitant to risk it.
"Do you have the True Spiritual Pill?" Li Weiyi asked.
The Hippopotamus Demon wore a troubled expression: "The Demon Race isn't skilled in Pill Refinement. But I've heard someone from the Calamity Crossing Temple is selling them..."
A commotion erupted on the water's surface.
A magnificent four-tiered spiritual artifact ship approached the Sea Market's entrance, its hull shimmering with layers of Formation Light Veils.
Every deck was adorned with glowing lanterns, and countless Strange Birds and colorful birds accompanied the vessel, their harmonious cries filling the air.
"The young prodigies of the Western Monster Race have arrived!"
"Princess Dengfeng of the Eastern Sea Monster Clan and Prince Mingjiao of the Underworld Dragon Clan have also graced us with their presence! The Demon Race is flexing its muscles, uniting to counter the pressure from the Rice Palace and Calamity Crossing Temple."
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END OF CHAPTER
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