Liu Meng stood silently in the vast hall, her thoughts stirring slightly.
The next moment, a strange scene unfolded.
Her body's outline began to blur as a shadow overlapped with her figure, slowly peeling away from within her.
At first the shadow seemed hazy and unreal, but soon it grew solid, eventually taking the form of a tall, upright young man—Liu San, who had previously merged with her.
"Hu…"
Both Liu Meng and Liu San exhaled at the same time, their faces showing faint traces of weakness they could not conceal.
In order to break through the barrier of Qi Refinement, the two had fused as one. Liu Meng had borrowed her avatar's Yang energy to shatter the shackles of mortality in one decisive strike.
But once they separated, Liu Meng's cultivation immediately slid back down from the just-broken realm, becoming somewhat unstable; Liu San, having been originally just a mortal, grew even weaker, pale as paper and appearing as fragile as a breeze-tossed reed.
Yet, no matter how frail, they were now true cultivators—utterly different from mortals.
With every gesture, they could draw upon the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. The ceaseless stream of spiritual power within them was the best proof of their transcendence.
The moment Liu San emerged, he wasted no time and strode swiftly out of the cave dwelling.
Once outside, he circulated spiritual energy into his legs, and in an instant his figure blurred into an afterimage, racing westward.
His speed surpassed even the finest warhorses of his past life many times over. Stones and brush flew by beneath his feet, while fierce wind roared in his ears. This exhilarating, transcendent sensation ignited boundless ambition in his heart.
A cultivator was simply too powerful!
Though this world was perilous beyond measure, even the weakest cultivator at the first stage of Qi Refinement stood worlds apart from mortals. And with his Ten Thousand Forms Body system, survival here might not be impossible!
He needed to cultivate further, to reach higher realms of power. More importantly, he required a Soul Banner, a foundation for his survival.
To obtain one, he had to seek out the San Cai Market that Qin Shuang had mentioned, and see if he could purchase what he needed.
About an hour later, Liu San suddenly slowed. In the mountain hollow ahead, a brightly lit cave dwelling came into view.
Unlike the abandoned caves he had seen before, this one showed no signs of ruin. Its entrance was meticulously maintained, two glowing lanterns hanging on either side. Several uniformed maids bustled to and fro, carrying boxes into the cave.
Liu San frowned slightly, wary. He had no wish to get involved with this place. But just as he prepared to bypass it, one of the maids spotted him.
She was a graceful young woman, her lively eyes curiously studying him.
"This senior brother, you look unfamiliar. May I ask which cave you belong to?" Her voice was clear and pleasant as she greeted him warmly.
Liu San's vigilance deepened, but he kept a calm expression. Halting his steps, he replied coolly, "I am a disciple under Su Mei'er, sent out to handle affairs."
He assumed invoking Su Mei'er's name would deter her. But to his surprise, the girl's face lit up with joy instead.
"Oh! So you're from Aunt Su's side! What a coincidence!" she said with a delighted laugh, suddenly much friendlier. "Aunt Su is none other than my master's younger sister!"
"Younger sister?"
Liu San froze.
"My master is the one hundred sixty-seventh son of the Xuanpin Sect Master," she explained eagerly, "and Aunt Su Mei'er is the one hundred seventy-first daughter. Since their rankings are so close, the siblings have always shared a good relationship, often exchanging letters."
The one hundred sixty-seventh son… the one hundred seventy-first daughter…
Liu San was stunned.
Suddenly, he realized Su Mei'er was not at all what he had imagined!
He had thought, as the daughter of the Sect Master, she would be exalted and untouchable.
But now it was clear—her position was far less secure. With so many sons and daughters, her competition was far fiercer than he could have dreamed.
The Xuanpin Sect… it was far beyond the constraints of mortal logic!
While he reeled at this revelation, the girl and her helpers carried the last of the boxes into the cave's depths.
Liu San glanced at them and caught a glimpse of their contents—humans.
All women, bound tightly and unconscious.
It was just like Su Mei'er's cave dwelling, where men had been delivered before… except here, not a single man, only women.
He frowned and asked, "You have no men here?"
The girl covered her mouth with a smile. "Of course not. Apart from our master, no other man is allowed here."
"These women were chosen from the mortal world, each with above-average looks. Those with cultivation potential become our sisters, serving our master. Those without… well, they can only be used once."
Liu San's heart tightened. This cave was no different from Su Mei'er's—it was also a place that consumed people.
Still, curiosity made him ask, "And you? You're already at Qi Refinement. Why don't you leave to establish your own cave dwelling?"
"Leave?" The girl looked as though he had said something absurd, shaking her head repeatedly. "Why would I leave? All of us sisters are our master's possessions. In life, we are his people; in death, we are his ghosts. How could we leave?"
"Besides, the outside world is too dangerous. Few new disciples survive long out there. We're not fools. Here, under our master's protection, we can dual cultivate to strengthen ourselves. The stronger he becomes, the safer we are. That is the true path."
Liu San was dumbfounded.
The Xuanpin Sect's cave dwellings each operated under utterly different rules.
Su Mei'er's approach—fast, ruthless, consuming men—brought resources swiftly but at terrifying risk.
This master's dwelling, in contrast, hoarded its power close, sacrificing speed for stability and safety.
Each method had its own strengths and flaws—neither could be called truly superior.
Liu San nodded thoughtfully, then bid the girl farewell before continuing toward San Cai Market.
…
Hours later, night had fallen.
Crossing one final peak, Liu San finally saw a breathtaking sight.
Before him lay a marketplace unlike anything he had ever imagined.
Suspended above a colossal canyon, the market was vast, dazzling, and alive.
It did not rest on solid ground, but instead floated, tethered by massive rune-etched iron chains.
Countless pavilions, temples, and shops hung in the air, connected by these chains. Radiant night-pearls, scattered like stars, lit the canyon as bright as day.
Cultivators zipped between platforms on flying swords and magical tools, trailing arcs of light.
The cacophony of voices, the hum of artifacts, and the roars of spirit beasts surged together into a living tide of sound that washed over him.
This was none other than another mountain gate of the Grand Dao Demonic Sect—
San Cai Market!