The female Cultivators at the city gate smiled reservedly as they looked at Su Ping.
An Old Cultivator from Hundred Treasure Market, guarding the city gate, squinted his eyes and reminded Su Ping:
"Fellow Daoist, this must be your first time in Hundred Treasure Market, right?"
"These female Cultivators were all adopted and raised by the Cultivation Family, Eastern Li Family, since childhood."
"Although they only have inferior Spiritual Roots like those Loose Cultivators, they are all proficient in Charm Techniques and are extremely obedient."
"More importantly, the Cultivation Technique they Cultivate not only won't harm a Fellow Daoist's Origin Qi, but if you control the degree, it can even strengthen the body."
"Do you see those in purple clothes? Those are experienced Red Cards, and their taste is excellent!"
Su Ping's gaze lingered slightly on a few shops when he heard about strengthening the body.
Then he clearly saw the price tags standing next to the shops.
Immediately, he sobered up completely.
So expensive!
The single price was cheaper than the female Cultivators in Immortal Melody Pavilion.
But a deposit had to be paid first to continue!
This Eastern Li Family knew how to earn Spirit Stones.
It was just that this deposit was not something he could afford.
No, it wasn't something he should pay either.
Su Ping came here to purchase Talismans, Artifact Refining, and other Materials to quickly enhance his own strength.
Strengthening the body? Not a high enough priority!
However, he could write a letter to Yun Jiu to inform him of this place, hoping it could be of a little help to him.
Su Ping shook his head and quickly left the city gate.
A few female Cultivators looked at Su Ping's retreating figure before withdrawing their gazes.
"Looking at him, he's another pauper."
"His appearance can't be seen with the mask, but his Qi and blood are quite vigorous, like a Body Cultivator. What a pity…"
Su Ping quickly entered the market streets and, seeing the numerous shops, he quickly found his target.
He spent most of the Spirit Stones obtained from the subsequent sugar trade with the Yun family in Nine Leaves Market.
Su Ping now had an extra Storage Pouch at his waist, filled with a large number of low-priced Talismans and Materials needed for Artifact Refining.
Additionally, Su Ping found an Old Cultivator proficient in Animal Controlling Technique at a stall. Under the Old Cultivator's puzzled gaze, Su Ping paid him Spirit Stones to draw more than ten Animal Controlling Talismanic Incantations on the spot using the Materials Su Ping provided, which were only effective on mortal beasts.
Having purchased most of what he needed, Su Ping saw that it was getting late and intended to leave.
Suddenly, a muffled thunder sound came from the sky.
Many people in Hundred Treasures Market were startled and looked up, discovering that the sound was caused by an Immortal Boat rapidly passing over the market.
The market quickly became bustling, as if some astonishing news was spreading.
Su Ping was startled, thinking it was some natural disaster, and prepared to activate his return-to-city Talismanic Incantation.
After a short while, information arrived.
Someone ran while shouting:
"Hurry to Daze Inn! There are frequent strange phenomena there; a rare treasure has appeared!"
"What rare treasure? I heard that an ancient Sect ruin has appeared there!"
"Hurry and seize the treasure! We Outer Sect or Family Cultivators, who are not valued, can never reach Foundation Establishment without an Opportunity!"
People became noisy.
Some were moved, some instinctively disbelieved, and even feared.
Some young and impetuous ones even began calling friends to form a team and set off.
Su Ping heard the name of the inn and thought of something. He opened his map, and his heart pounded violently:
"Isn't this inn near where I discovered that bizarre village?"
"Rare treasure appearing? Ancient Sect ruin appearing?"
"Is someone deliberately setting up a trap, or is it more likely both?"
"With an Immortal Boat dispatched, perhaps even Foundation Establishment Grand Cultivators will go. Logically, if there's nothing real, they can't be fooled."
Su Ping looked at the bustling market, seeing the fanatical and excited faces of most people in his sight.
Su Ping felt increasingly uneasy, not even planning to return the way he came.
Because that would pass through the scene of the incident.
Su Ping chose to leave the market in the opposite direction, preferring to take a much longer detour for it.
Not long after leaving, Su Ping found Cultivators with the same intention as him, preparing to leave this area.
Among these Cultivators was the benevolent Old Cultivator who sold Su Ping the Animal Controlling Talismanic Incantations.
"My name is East Leave Yu. After retiring from the Immortal Sect, I am now the Beast Tamer of the Eastern Li Family."
"Young friend, you seem still young. Why don't you go and see if there's any Immortal Opportunity?"
Su Ping, hearing the words East Leave, gave this Old Cultivator another look, and when asked, he replied:
"Junior Martial Uncle East Leave Yu, I am Outer Sect Yi Chou Group Cultivation Qi Training Middle Stage Cultivator, Yun Jiu!"
Su Ping performed the Sect Dao ritual and reported a verifiable name.
"To be honest, Junior Martial Uncle, I usually read various travelogues circulating in the Immortal Sect. When I heard this news, my heart tightened, and I felt a sense of impending disaster."
"Reading novels led to a sense of impending disaster?"
The Old Cultivator was startled for a moment, then smiled and shook his head, not pressing Su Ping further.
He chose to leave the market simply because he was old and no longer had grand ambitions. Instead, he worried that the subsequent chaos would affect him.
That's why he planned to return to the Family stronghold to avoid the limelight.
Those accompanying him were also mostly Old Cultivators who were old and frail.
Seeing Su Ping, who directly stated his fear of problems and chose not to go, they found it amusing.
The group were all Cultivators, moving at a good pace. After moving about seventy to eighty kilometers away from the market.
Suddenly!
The ground trembled. Su Ping and the Old Cultivator both changed slightly in expression, looking towards the direction of the market behind them.
"An earthquake happened somewhere in that direction!"
"If it's around Hundred Treasures Market, it's fine. But if it's near that inn, this commotion… I'm afraid the scene will be incomparably tragic!"
Su Ping muttered to himself, feeling even more that his choice was incredibly wise.
He also secretly warned himself to be extra careful in everything.
After all, the Crimson Kite Immortal Sect territory was becoming restless!
After the earthquake, everyone sped up and gradually dispersed due to different destinations.
In the end, only Su Ping and the Old Cultivator East Leave Yu remained.
It was time for them to bid each other farewell.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Su Ping watched the Old Cultivator leave.
He resumed his journey, preparing to take a detour back to Linyue Manor.
Tens of minutes later, Su Ping slowed his steps, deliberately taking out a map and pretending to look at it.
His eyes, however, secretly darted towards a pond by a fork in the road a thousand meters away.
The pond looked very ordinary.
But it had already been discovered in advance by Su Ping, who possessed Ling Rat White.
Three Cultivators of unknown origin were hidden inside, concealed at the bottom of the pond, about three meters deep, holding sharp blades and holding their breath, waiting for passersby.
The Cultivation of these three was similar to that of the Old Cultivator, all at the Cultivation Qi Training Middle Stage.
This was also the stage where most Outer Sect Cultivators who had undergone twenty years of arduous Cultivation resided.
"Their aura doesn't seem like that of Evil Cultivators."
"But deliberately hiding in the pond, and seemingly using a Formation to conceal themselves, they don't look like good people at first glance!"
"If I turn now, I'm afraid the other party will immediately think they've been detected, and they might suddenly attack and pursue me!"
"After all, on the surface, I am only a Cultivation Qi Training Middle Stage Cultivator, and I'm alone!"
"Sigh, how did the Immortal Sect territory become like this?"
"Either abnormal events are breaking out, or human hearts are corrupted, with Bandit Cultivators appearing!"
"I just want to Fishing properly, to be a kind Cultivator who loves peace, why won't anyone let me?"