Chapter 205
Chapter 205
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: [TBD]
Chapter Title: Gai Bamboo Mountain Trade Meet
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Jiangbei, Mount Gaizhu.
The spiritual veins here brimmed with abundant wood qi, presenting a scene bursting with vitality where all things vied to flourish. Lu Yang and Perfected Being Yin Shan rode beams of escaping light and soon landed outside the mountain.
"The Primal Saint Sect's prior decree was for all cultivators of Jiangbei to gather here."
Perfected Being Yin Shan did not alert the formations on the mountain. Instead, he produced a flying letter, ignited it with his magic power, and flicked it lightly, transforming it into a streak of spiritual light that flew into the mountain.
Moments later, a graceful figure emerged from the mountain.
She had a pair of captivating eyes rippling like spring water, delicate arched brows lightly powdered, her skirt hem barely draping below her hips, teasingly visible at times, and a refreshing fragrance wafting from her body.
"Outer Sect cultivator Hanxiang pays respects to the upper true persons of the Saint Sect."
The moment the woman appeared, she curtsied gracefully, her posture impeccably dignified—yet laced with an irresistible allure that created a striking contrast.
However, Lu Yang dared not lower his guard. This woman named Hanxiang was no simple figure; she was the current sect master of Jiangbei's Fragrant Harvest Sect, at mid-Foundation Establishment cultivation. Rumor had it her sect also housed a late-Foundation Establishment great true person, making it one of the top devil path sects in Jiangbei.
"Esteemed true persons, you've come from afar. Why not enter and chat?"
Hanxiang gave a dazed, enchanting smile, then stepped aside. On the surface, it was a simple invitation, but her tone hinted at something more.
But who was Lu Yang?
He had always prided himself on a heart of steel, unmoved by feminine charms. How could he be swayed by such seductive wiles? He immediately adopted a solemn expression.
"Only you here?"
Lu Yang swept the area with his divine sense, only to find the vast Mount Gaizhu currently guarded solely by Hanxiang. Where were the other Foundation Establishment true persons summoned by the Saint Sect?
"In response to Your Excellency, they've gone elsewhere."
Hanxiang's face showed a trace of embarrassment.
"They heard that upper true persons from the Saint Sect were arriving and that a great battle loomed, so they decided to conduct some private trades."
Lu Yang blinked, then understood. To make a name under the Saint Sect's rule and reach Foundation Establishment, each one surely had a few trump cards and some useless items. With war imminent, they naturally wanted to trade those away for combat power.
But Lu Yang was still puzzled.
"Shouldn't this be done at Mount Gaizhu? And if the Saint Sect hosted it, wouldn't the trades be more efficient for everyone?"
"Uh..."
At these words, Hanxiang's red lips parted slightly, leaving her speechless. Beside them, Perfected Being Yin Shan seemed to recall something, his expression turning peculiar.
The next instant, Perfected Being Yin Shan's voice transmission rang in Lu Yang's ear:
"Junior Brother, you may not know this. Given our Saint Sect's reputation, we're not exactly trusted. And these trades require putting real goods on the table..."
Lu Yang instantly got it.
Why avoid Saint Sect-hosted trades and do them in secret? They feared Saint Sect true persons spotting their treasures and forcing a "buyout"!
Worse still, they probably suspected Saint Sect true persons of disguising themselves, ambushing mid-transaction, then blaming it on outsiders.
"Have we ever done such things?"
"Absolutely not!"
Perfected Being Yin Shan spoke with utter conviction, and Lu Yang immediately understood.
They definitely had! And more than once!
At that thought, Lu Yang felt utterly helpless. He hadn't realized he'd underestimated the Saint Sect true persons' depravity. How could these beasts stoop so low?
"Where are they trading? Take me there."
Hanxiang's face fell at once.
Seeing this, Lu Yang's expression turned stern.
"Don't misunderstand. I'm Lu Yang—unlike other Saint Sect true persons. I would never stoop to mid-road ambushes."
You've already thought of it, and now you tell me you won't do it?
But with words spoken so plainly, how could she refuse?
"Under Saint Sect rule, it's like walking on thin ice."
Hanxiang grumbled inwardly but kept her face impassive. She could only sigh.
"This concubine will lead the true person there. I hope Your Excellency won't take offense."
Lu Yang's lips curved slightly at her words, revealing a kindly smile.
"Earlier overseas, I acquired a few treasures that are useless to me. Better to trade them away—one, to bolster Jiangbei cultivators' strength; two, to get me some more useful items."
"Oh?"
Hanxiang's beautiful eyes lit up. After all, treasures from the Saint Sect—even if useless to Lu Yang—were premium goods to them.
"But Mount Gaizhu still needs a true person to guard it."
"I'll handle that." Perfected Being Yin Shan volunteered. "Yuantu, you go with her. Leave this place to me."
"...Then thank you, Senior Brother."
Lu Yang and Perfected Being Yin Shan exchanged a glance, as if reaching some tacit understanding, then nodded.
Moments later, in a forest outside Qing Kingdom.
Lu Yang and Hanxiang each cloaked their forms in escaping light, concealing themselves as they descended into the woods, finally stopping before a mountain cave. They released their auras.
They entered the cave.
Inside, several figures had already gathered—over ten by rough count—all turning to look at the newcomers.
Yet everyone had masked their auras and forms, clearly intending anonymity at the trade meet. After all, Jiangbei's major powers weren't exactly bosom buddies. Among the Foundation Establishment true persons summoned by the Saint Sect were even blood-sworn enemies, so no one dared be too brazen.
Anonymity also suited fencing stolen goods.
In that sense, Jiangbei's cultivators had learned well from the Saint Sect—sharp as foxes, which conveniently let Lu Yang blend in.
"Time's up."
With a soft call, a yellowish glow lit the cave's center. From it emerged an elder in white hair and white robes.
At nearly the same moment, Hanxiang's divine sense transmission explained to Lu Yang: "This is Dragon-Fishing Old Man, a loose cultivator of Jiangbei. Likely inherited a major sect's legacy or had some fortune, so mid-Foundation Establishment. He was the first to propose this trade meet."
Lu Yang narrowed his eyes.
Among the Foundation Establishment true persons present, only this Dragon-Fishing Old Man hadn't concealed his appearance or aura—clear sign of absolute confidence in his strength.
Utterly fearless.
Next, Dragon-Fishing Old Man in the center smiled faintly.
"I proposed this trade meet, so I'll kick things off."
With a wave of his hand.
The cave's temperature surged instantly. Rolling blood qi spread like blazing sunfire, revealing a majestic, ferocious flood dragon corpse!
"A few days ago, a Saint Sect true lord battled overseas, throwing the seas into chaos. I got lucky and hooked a early-Foundation Establishment flood dragon. Its tendons and bones for treasure-forging, blood for yang-tonic, and half a dragon horn... I seek only a lifespan-extension spirit pill in trade."
Silence fell over the crowd.
Ordinary lifespan pills abounded here, but for Foundation Establishment true persons, "lifespan extension" meant remedies against corpse wind.
Like the Wind-Averting Pill Heaven Mending Peak Master once gave Arhat Fulong—a treasure of that sort.
Unfortunately, it seemed a personal fortune of the Peak Master, unrelated to Heaven Mending Peak itself, so Lu Yang hadn't obtained the pill or formula after taking charge.
Moments later, a glow lit the spot.
When it faded, Dragon-Fishing Old Man's flood dragon corpse was gone—traded in secret.
The glow masked the trader's identity.
"Next."
Soon, more Foundation Establishment true persons stepped up to trade, offering a motley array: spirit treasures, pills, dao arts—nearly everything.
Even Hanxiang traded once.
What left Lu Yang speechless: Hanxiang disguised herself as a burly man for the trade, her voice a guttural growl.
That cautious?
Just then, another glow lit the cave. Out stepped a boyish-faced Daoist child, his demeanor ancient and staid.
Another showing his face openly.
"Many Treasures Child, leader of Treasure-Dividing Cliff! Mid-Foundation Establishment true person!"
"He's here too?"
"That's a fat sheep—even Saint Sect folks have robbed him!"
Eyes locked hungrily on him, but most averted their gaze when he looked over.
Most here were early-Foundation Establishment; mid-stage already deterred them.
Only Lu Yang narrowed his eyes.
"Interesting."
He eyed Many Treasures Child, gleaming with treasure auras like a sign screaming "bait" on his forehead, and suddenly smiled.