Cyan Bamboo Mountain Market.
The whistling wind and snow could not mask the bustling market.
The chaotic demon beasts within a thousand miles have now become Spirit Stones in many cultivators' eyes.
"Commandery Princess, Qingqing and I have lost all the goods."
Inside the room, the young marquis Shen Lie dragged his weak, injured body and apologized to the arriving Yun Yao.
Beside him, Lu Qingqing also faced it silently, offering no defense for themselves.
"How much was lost?"
However, Yun Yao, who had just arrived at the market, remained indifferent, as if the collapse of Mount Tai would not alter her composure.
But upon hearing the specifics of the loss, the finger knuckles of the young Commandery Princess trembled slightly, making Lin Chang'an realize that her inner turmoil was not as calm as she portrayed.
Understandably so, with goods worth seven to eight hundred Spirit Stones, they had hoped to make a profit amid the market's bustle to pave the way for future Foundation Establishment.
Who would have expected such an event to occur directly.
Shen Lie and Lu Qingqing apologized, but Yun Yao did not overly blame them; she merely sighed and chose to continue letting them preside over the merchant association.
Considering that it was fortunate enough they managed to preserve their lives amidst the chaos.
As long as they were alive, the merchant association could continue to earn Spirit Stones for her.
Inside the tavern.
This time Lin Chang'an and Li Erniu hosted, giving a warm welcome to Yun Yao, the Li Huo Palace Inner Disciple.
The atmosphere in the private room was somewhat downcast.
Seeing this, Lin Chang'an changed the topic and curiously asked.
"Mr. Yun, has something major happened within Yue Kingdom this time?"
Yun Yao, being a person of firm resolve, was the first to reveal a smile, as if the previous losses didn't matter to her at all.
"An elder of the Divine Sword Sect has broken through to the late-stage Golden Core, and the sect has allied with the Profound Sound Pavilion."
With Yun Yao's explanation, Lin Chang'an and the others suddenly realized.
No wonder the support for just one market was so impressive this time, even including a flying boat not belonging to Li Huo Palace.
Yue Kingdom has three major sects: Divine Sword Sect, Li Huo Palace, and Profound Sound Pavilion.
The Divine Sword Sect was already the strongest, and now it's the first among the three major sects of Yue Kingdom to produce a late-stage Golden Core Great Cultivator, making Li Huo Palace feel a sense of crisis.
"Plus, the elder of the Divine Sword Sect who broke through to the late-stage Golden Core is so young, not even three hundred years old."
Upon hearing this, they all were shocked, realizing the significance.
A late-stage Golden Core Great Cultivator under three hundred years old has a high likelihood of becoming the first Nascent Soul True Monarch of Yue Kingdom.
But for Li Huo Palace and Profound Sound Pavilion, this is not good news.
"No wonder True Treasure Tower had such a grand gesture this time, opening Tier One Middle Grade arts and skills to the public."
Lin Chang'an clicked his tongue in amazement, and Yun Yao gravely nodded upon hearing this.
"Moreover, Li Huo Palace and Profound Sound Pavilion have officially allied, and all markets under their jurisdiction will be fully opened."
Even the most simple-minded Li Erniu sensed something, and he blurted out: "Could war be about to break out!"
War in the Immortal Cultivation Realm, a term both unfamiliar and familiar.
"Not for the time being, but this is preparation in advance."
"This time, the alliance of the two major sects does not only open Middle Grade skills and arts; even Upper Grade arts and Foundation Establishment Pill will be available to the public."
With Yun Yao's revelations, Lin Chang'an and the others felt both tempted and anxious.
Nothing is free in this world.
The Foundation Establishment Pill has always been controlled by the three major sects. Now Li Huo Palace and Profound Sound Pavilion officially offer it openly; as long as you provide the materials, alchemists from the two sects will help refine it for you.
However, the conditions are extremely harsh; you have to sell your life.
"There are now avenues for promotion: either sell your life to the two major sects as cannon fodder or go under the Divine Sword Sect's jurisdiction, create chaos, and kill cultivators of the same realm."
Lin Chang'an was secretly alarmed, thinking that soon, the Tribulation Cultivators might become more rampant.
After all, both Li Huo Palace and Profound Sound Pavilion can use Loose Cultivators as cannon fodder for consumption, and so can Divine Sword Sect.
In a sect war, the first to suffer are this group of Loose Cultivators being used as expendable cannon fodder.
The shock from this event made even the simple-minded Li Erniu feel both anxious and eager.
"Yun Yao's purpose for coming to the market this time is evident; it's for Foundation Establishment!"
The core spiritual material for Foundation Establishment Pill is no secret in the Immortal Cultivation Realm. In the absence of key spiritual medicine, it can still be substituted.
The substitute is the Demon Core of a Tier Two Demon Beast, which has already transformed into an Inner Core.
The Cloud Mist Mountain Range is the best hunting ground for it.
...
An oppressive welcoming banquet dispersed, leaving Shen Lie and Lu Qingqing to remorsefully continue managing the merchant association.
Amid the drifting wind and snow, on one side of True Treasure Tower within the market, a building from the Profound Sound Pavilion had already appeared.
One must marvel at the speed of the Immortal Cultivation Realm.
"Brother Lin, do you think the young Commandery Princess can achieve Foundation Establishment this time?"
On the way back, Li Erniu scratched his head and whispered:
"Tier Two Demon Beasts; these are all Foundation Establishment Realm beasts, while the young Commandery Princess is just at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer."
Lin Chang'an lowered his head and transmitted:
"Erniu, the young Commandery Princess achieving Foundation Establishment would benefit us greatly, but we can't help in this matter."
Even Li Erniu realized the problem.
This time, so many people have come from the two major sects, making it obvious they intend to venture into the Cloud Mist Mountain Range.
Cyan Bamboo Mountain Market is to become the rear base for the alliance of the two major sects.
On the streets.
"Did you hear? A Tier Two Alchemist from Profound Sound Pavilion has arrived, and if we prepare enough materials, we can have a Foundation Establishment Pill refined."
"It's not that easy. Even if we risk everything to gather the materials for the Foundation Establishment Pill and are lucky enough to achieve Foundation Establishment, what comes next? The major sects clearly intend to use us Loose Cultivators as cannon fodder."
"But if we don't try, we won't even qualify to be cannon fodder!"
A late-stage Qi Refining cultivator said resolutely, making many Loose Cultivators who heard this silently nod.
There's a fear of not even being qualified to be used as cannon fodder.
Along the way, news of the alliance between Li Huo Palace and Profound Sound Pavilion had spread, and after exchanging glances, Lin Chang'an and Li Erniu fell silent.
While merciless, the statement was also reality.
If you can be cannon fodder, you still have value; as long as there is value, there is hope. But if you lack even the value of cannon fodder, then you see no hope at all.
...
"Cyan Bamboo Mountain Market will surely need expansion, and it will even become a market jointly operated by the alliance of the two major sects. By then, the number of cultivators coming here will multiply, especially late-stage Qi Refining cultivators."
Returning home, Lin Chang'an secretly calculated.
Though his cultivation isn't high, there are both benefits and drawbacks for him.
The benefit is that the number of cultivators in the market will multiply. Selling some middle-grade talismans secretly will become easier; after all, the market is large, and his efforts are insignificant.
The drawback is also evident; chaos will ensue, and war might break out any day.
"Sect wars in the Immortal Cultivation Realm, how familiar yet unfamiliar this is."
Lin Chang'an sighed dejectedly. From a single market's upheaval, he could already assess the situation; it was enough to make him tread carefully, let alone a war involving the major sects.
The alliance of Li Huo Palace and Profound Sound Pavilion indicates their intention to take initiative since now they are the ones who are anxious, not Divine Sword Sect.