Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Skull Mountain Market
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Drawing on his knowledge of Zhao Xuhe from several lifetimes, Lu Yang quickly grew familiar with him, allowing Zhao Xuhe to feel a respect from an outsider that he hadn't experienced in a long time.
To be honest, he hadn't felt this way in many years.
Ever since the price of the Death-Substituting Yin Puppet crashed, Coiling Dragon Island mysteriously vanished, and the cause and effect became something even his master, the Heaven Mending Peak Master, could not divine, his life had become increasingly difficult.
First, his master grew more and more disappointed in him. Second, his cultivation stagnated; a full ten years had passed, yet he was still stuck at the mid-level of Qi Refining, unable to break through his bottleneck. If there was any good news, it was that his master, seeing his declining state, had canceled the engagement between him and his junior sister.
The world is fickle, and people's affections are fleeting. Zhao Xuhe had tasted the full spectrum of it in these ten years.
Therefore, upon hearing that Lu Yang had cashed out at the peak of the Death-Substituting Yin Puppet's price and achieved financial freedom, Zhao Xuhe's eyes turned red with envy.
"Sigh, Junior Brother, your Dao heart is firm, untroubled by wealth. Your future accomplishments will be limitless. It's a pity I didn't have a Dao heart like yours back then."
"Senior Brother, you mustn't sell yourself short."
Lu Yang comforted him in a low voice, "Fortune is not decided in a single day. As long as you remain determined on the path of immortality, Senior Brother, what does a temporary setback matter?"
"You're right."
Zhao Xuhe nodded, seeming to have cheered up a little. Then, he glanced tentatively at Lu Yang and opened his mouth, but said nothing.
To Lu Yang, his intentions were as clear as day.
He wants to borrow money.
Lu Yang smiled faintly. Since Zhao Xuhe didn't ask, he naturally wouldn't bring it up. After all, what is obtained too easily is never cherished.
Just then, a voice suddenly called out from the flying vessel:
"We've arrived at Skull Mountain!"
The Northern Frontier, Skull Mountain.
Though called a mountain, it was actually a massive mountain range stretching for hundreds of miles. Its peaks gathered like a crowd, its ridges rolling like furious waves, and every inch of land overflowed with spiritual energy.
It wasn't without reason that the Primal Saint Sect established a market here. Although it was far from comparable to the Heaven-Connecting Cloud Sea, for worldly rogue cultivators, Skull Mountain could already be considered a treasured land. At the very center of the mountain range was a White Bone Cave, where the sect's market was located.
"The feng shui of this place... it's a land of extreme yin."
On the deck of the flying vessel, Lu Yang looked down at the ley lines of Skull Mountain, somewhat surprised. "Any cultivator buried here would inevitably transform into a jiangshi within ten years."
"Your eyes are truly sharp, Junior Brother."
A rosy light flashed, and Fairy Feixia, her feather cloak fluttering, strolled out. "That is why the sect sent us to guard Skull Mountain and maintain order in the market."
"Just as you said, Junior Brother, due to the unique feng shui, a massive corpse tide occurs on Skull Mountain every thirty years. These jiangshi have no consciousness and only know to devour the living. This is a risk, but also an opportunity. After all, these jiangshi are excellent materials for refining treasures."
After explaining, Fairy Feixia continued:
"The market is protected by the 'Hundred Skeletons Return to True Grand Array'. Daoist Lu and Daoist Chen are responsible for two of the four array eyes. As for the remaining two, shall you and I each take one, Junior Brother?"
"I will follow your arrangements, Senior Sister."
Hearing this, Fairy Feixia nodded. Then, her elegant brows furrowed slightly as she glanced at the wide-eyed, disbelieving Zhao Xuhe standing beside Lu Yang.
"What is it?" Lu Yang asked curiously. "Do you know Senior Brother Zhao, Senior Sister?"
"...No."
Fairy Feixia indifferently withdrew her gaze, no longer looking at Zhao Xuhe. Instead, she gave Lu Yang a gentle smile. "I'll be counting on your help in the future, Junior Brother."
With that, she rode a streak of rosy light and flew away.
Zhao Xuhe remained where he was, his expression complicated. He had clearly guessed that for Lu Yang to be put in charge of the market, his strength couldn't possibly be the mid-stage Qi Refining he had sensed.
"Senior Brother Zhao?"
Lu Yang's voice came, and Zhao Xuhe froze.
His face showed a mixture of joy and sorrow. His lips moved, but no sound came out. His posture finally became respectful as he distinctly called out:
"Sir."
Seeing this, Lu Yang could only sigh helplessly. "Senior Brother Zhao, I still have official duties to attend to. If you run into any difficulties in the future, feel free to contact me."
With that, he too flew away on a streak of light.
Only Zhao Xuhe was left, his expression fluctuating. The various emotions from before quickly subsided, replaced by a look of contemplation in his eyes.
"He's wary of me. It seems I was too hasty."
Entering the market, Lu Yang recalled Zhao Xuhe's reaction just now and couldn't help but chuckle. "Just as I expected. He came to this market with an ulterior motive."
"Good, good!"
"In this life, I shall make him my closest friend!"
Lu Yang wasn't afraid of Zhao Xuhe's wariness, for he had patience in spades.
If necessary, he would even be willing to give up this life to genuinely be Zhao Xuhe's friend for a lifetime, all to gather intelligence and lay the groundwork for his next life!
Lost in thought, Lu Yang arrived before a pavilion.
This was one of the four array eyes of the market, and also the area on Skull Mountain with the most abundant spiritual energy, likely possessing about thirty percent of the concentration found in the sect's cave abodes.
"Blood-Washing Heavenly River Sword Array Diagram, rise!"
With a wave of his great sleeve, Lu Yang sent the Blood Sun Sword Pellet flying into the pavilion to act as the core. Immediately, array patterns began to spread out, replacing the original ones.
Although the market's "Hundred Skeletons Return to True Grand Array" was more profound than his Blood-Washing Heavenly River Sword Array, Lu Yang only controlled one of its eyes. Furthermore, as an array master, he disliked entrusting his life and safety to an array set up by someone else.
"After all, I have quite a few secrets..."
"Besides, the Skull Mountain market has been established for so long that no matter how brilliant this 'Hundred Skeletons Return to True Grand Array' is, its effects are already common knowledge."
The more your details are exposed, the easier it is to be targeted.
Therefore, if any powerful figures were to attack the Skull Mountain market, they would surely come prepared with divine abilities and methods to break the "Hundred Skeletons Return to True Grand Array."
At that point, the array might not be of much use.
That said, Lu Yang didn't discard the array entirely. Instead, he opened up a new area within the pavilion, hiding an array within an array, which would serve as a hidden card.
After finishing all this, Lu Yang nodded in satisfaction.
Then, with another grand wave of his hand, he named the pavilion 'Blood-clothed Tower', officially settling into the Skull Mountain market and establishing a name for himself.
Just then, a dozen or so streaks of escaping light flew over.
These were the Primal Saint Sect disciples assigned to Lu Yang's area. Their cultivation was generally in the early and mid-stages of Qi Refining, and they had all come to the market for missions.
The streaks of light flew into the Blood-clothed Tower and dispersed, revealing cultivators of all ages and appearances. They approached the upper floor with reverence, only to see a handsome, blood-robed young man leaning against the railing, smiling down at them all.
"Greetings, Tower Master!"
The disciples dared not be slow, bowing in unison. Although they could address each other as martial brothers within the sect, outside, they had to use official titles.
Besides, this was a senior brother in the late-stage of Qi Refining!
Early-stage, mid-stage, late-stage, and Great Perfection of the Qi Refining Realm. They might seem like just four minor realms, but the gap between them was a veritable chasm.
"At ease."
Looking at the row of figures below, Lu Yang nodded in satisfaction, thinking to himself, "Not bad. A quick glance tells me they're all workhorses, no one particularly capable."
The Primal Saint Sect's cultivation environment was truly top-tier. Therefore, cultivators who chose to be stationed outside were generally either like Lu Yang and Fairy Feixia, aiming for Foundation Establishment, or like the people before him—poor in talent, old in age, and short on funds, unable to get by in the sect.
"If I wished, I could kill them all with a single sword..."
Someone intent on building their own power might be dissatisfied with this situation, but Lu Yang felt it was just right. The atmosphere of weakness put him at ease.
"You're all dismissed. Decide on minor matters yourselves; there's no need to come to me."
After giving this casual order, Lu Yang sent them away. He then sealed the Blood-clothed Tower, preparing to cultivate peacefully in seclusion until the opportunity for Foundation Establishment appeared