Chapter 132: Market Master Ye Yanxiu, Splitting Light and Transforming Shadow Technique

Arrived!

After nearly ten days of traveling, Zhou Changwang and his group finally stepped into the territory of the Divine Wind Valley Market.

Especially outside the market walls, stretches of spiritual fields lay side by side, bordering one another.

Though it was the beginning of winter, quite a few spiritual farmers and even spiritual planters were still busy working within the fields. Along the perimeters, cultivators acting as market guards periodically patrolled the plots to ensure the spiritual crops remained free from sabotage.

"Is this the Divine Wind Valley Market? It looks so much more orderly than the Phoenix Cry Dock Market."

Lu Weier was stepping into the Divine Wind Valley Market for the very first time, and she could not help exclaiming in wonder at the sight.

This single expanse of spiritual fields alone gave her a sense of pristine cleanliness and neatness.

Moreover, looking into the distance, the houses and buildings inside the market appeared far more picturesque than those in the Phoenix Cry Dock Market, with almost no discernible difference between the inner and outer cities.

"There is indeed a vast difference between the Divine Wind Valley Market and the Phoenix Cry Dock Market.

First and most importantly, there is no division between the inner and outer perimeters here.

Any cultivator, or even a mortal, can reside within the market as long as they can afford the spiritual stones.

The entry fee is one low-grade spiritual stone per person per month.

Naturally, in exchange, the market guards provide protection for everyone entering the city.

As long as one is within the market, no fighting is permitted. Otherwise, regardless of one's status or strength, the offender will be hunted down and killed by the market guards.

It is said that a Foundation Establishment true adept once attempted to start a fight within the market, which alerted the Market Master, who personally stepped in to suppress and execute them."

Fang Shitong himself was a native of the Divine Wind Valley Market, and at this moment, he offered an explanation.

"Market Master?"

Zhou Changwang, standing not far away, heard the conversation and couldn't help asking with a puzzled tone.

"The Market Master is the lord of the market."

Fang Shitong said, a trace of respect and admiration involuntarily appearing on his face as he continued: "The Divine Wind Valley Market is nothing like the Phoenix Cry Dock Market, where the right to speak is entirely held in the hands of the Qingyuan Sect, and even the Market Master takes orders from them.

As long as one manages to handle the Qingyuan Sect, anyone can vie for the ownership of the market.

For instance, the Chen family and the Bai family this time, as well as the Wu family from half a year ago, all made their moves because they each had backers within the Qingyuan Sect, and it so happened that the Bai family's backer was away on trials, having not returned for nearly a decade and suspected of perishing.

The Divine Wind Valley Market, however, is a market developed merely two hundred years ago, and its development and construction have belonged entirely to the immortal-cultivating Ye family from start to finish.

Even though it falls under the sphere of influence of the Qingyuan Sect and is nominally subordinate to them, the true master of the house remains the Ye family.

The Market Master is Ye Yanxiu."

Hearing this, Zhou Changwang finally understood.

The Master of the Market, Ye Yanxiu.

"The Market Master's strength must be the highest within the entire market, right?"

Lu Weier couldn't help asking from the side.

"Of course.

A Foundation Establishment ninth-layer true adept. It is said that even within the Qingyuan Sect, few can match him in the same realm."

Fang Shitong said with adoration.

"Market Master Ye is indeed an extraordinary figure.

With his cultivation at the ninth layer of the Foundation Establishment realm, alongside the Bai family ancestor, he was rated fifty years ago by those in the know as one of the Eight Foundation Establishment True Adepts of the Leaving Fire Region.

It is said he once had the combat record of escaping unscathed while being pursued by a Core Formation realm powerhouse.

Moreover, unlike Bai Dongxian, whose potential has been completely exhausted, Ye Yanxiu is only around a hundred and fifty years old and still holds the potential for further breakthroughs, with hopes of breaking through this realm and condensing a golden core within thirty years.

However, the reason the Ye family holds undisputed sway in this market is also related to the Market Master's background."

Just at this moment, Shen Xinyue spoke up.

Nearing the market, especially upon seeing this expanse of terraced fields, she had finally heaved a sigh of relief. Hearing Zhou Changwang and the others discussing Ye Yanxiu, she couldn't help chiming in.

"What background?"

Zhou Changwang asked curiously.

"I am not entirely certain of the specific background.

I merely heard from my senior sister that the Ye family is not as simple as they appear on the surface, rumored to be a branch of a certain major immortal-cultivating family."

Shen Xinyue's eyes flickered as she spoke.

"A branch of an immortal-cultivating family?"

Zhou Changwang couldn't help being startled.

From Fang Shitong's words, he had already sensed that the Divine Wind Valley Ye family could be considered powerful among immortal-cultivating families, at least surpassing the Bai family of Phoenix Cry Dock.

If even such an immortal-cultivating family turned out to be merely a branch of yet another immortal-cultivating family, didn't that imply the parent family was even larger and more powerful?

Could it be a Core Formation family?

As they conversed, the group drew close to the market gates.

By this time, everyone consciously retrieved their respective spirit beasts, placing them into spirit beast bags.

Zhou Changwang likewise tucked his spirit hound away inside the spirit insect bag amidst its aggrieved gaze, letting it stay alongside the Golden-Devouring Spirit Bees.

Entering and exiting the Divine Wind Valley Market required a fee. A tiny fraction of spiritual Qi as an entry fee granted access to stroll within the market for a day, but overnight stays were not permitted.

One either had to lodge temporarily at certain inns or seek out market regulatory personnel to rent a house or dwelling according to their status.

The group entered the city, with Shen Xinyue uniformly paying the entry fees for everyone.

Upon stepping into the market, the sheer neatness of the streets alone made their eyes light up.

There were quite a few pedestrians within the market, walking in twos and threes and appearing thoroughly relaxed.

The main avenue was wide enough for horses to gallop across, and even the peripheral alleys were meticulously laid out, completely unlike the chaotic layout of the Phoenix Cry Dock Market, where buildings were randomly scattered from east to west.

Although in terms of sheer size, the Divine Wind Valley Market did not differ much from the Phoenix Cry Dock Market, in terms of civilization and planning, the Phoenix Cry Dock Market resembled a rural village, whereas this place felt like a 'modern town', exhibiting a high degree of urban planning.

"Pavilion Master Shen, thank you for looking after us all the way here.

Now that we have entered the market, we need to head to our main family to report in.

As such, let us part ways temporarily. Once we are settled, I will come to pay a formal visit. What do you say?"

Just then, 'Aunt Rong' and Gong Baixue walked up to Shen Xinyue, cupped their fists, and spoke.

"Go ahead.

You truly need to give an account regarding the matters at the Phoenix Cry Dock Market."

Hearing this, Shen Xinyue waved her hand indifferently.

"Farewell, Sister Shen!"

Gong Baixue also bowed, then glanced at Zhou Changwang, withdrew her gaze, and turned to leave.

By now, she knew that Zhou Changwang had accepted Shen Xinyue's invitation and was about to join the Water Cloud Pavilion. Though she felt a tinge of regret, she would not pester him.

Strong though the Water Cloud Pavilion was, her Gong family was no weakling either.

Zhou Changwang's choice to abandon the Gong family could only be his own loss.

Immediately afterward, Zhao Penggong, Wenren Xiu, and the others also stepped forward to bid farewell.

They all had their own family forces within the Divine Wind Valley Market. Now that they had entered the market and everything was secure, they naturally had no desire to linger.

"Sister Weier, why don't you come with us and stay temporarily at the Water Cloud Pavilion? That way, we can look out for one another, can't we?"

At this moment, Qian Xiaoyue looked toward Lu Weier and extended an invitation.

"No, thank you.

I have already discussed it with Fellow Daoist Fang. He plans to rent a house independently, and I can share it with him. The western-lying district has the cheapest rent, costing around ten-odd low-grade spiritual stones a month, and I only need to split five or six low-grade spiritual stones."

Lu Weier shook her head and said with a smile, "Xiaoyue, you don't need to worry about me. I know you will soon head to the Water Cloud Immortal Sect to participate in the entrance trials and won't be able to stay in the market for long.

I know you want to help me, but how can you help me for a lifetime when you can only help me for a moment?

Once you leave, I will be a stranger in the Water Cloud Pavilion with no connections, and how am I supposed to manage on my own?

During this time, I have also come to understand that in the cultivation world, relying on anyone is inferior to relying on oneself. Although I, Lu Weier, do not possess much talent, I am quite capable of earning my own keep.

With Fellow Daoist Fang looking out for me, and given how safe the Divine Wind Valley Market is, nothing will go wrong."

"This..."

After a brief hesitation, Qian Xiaoyue had no choice but to nod.

Indeed, she could not stay in the market for long; at most a month, after which she would have to set off again and travel for another three months to reach the Water Cloud Immortal Sect for the entrance trials.

If she left, and Lu Weier was not working within the Water Cloud Pavilion, it would naturally be inappropriate to continue staying there. She would have to move out later anyway, which would indeed be quite inconvenient.

Thus, the group was once again reduced to just Zhou Changwang and the contingent from the Water Cloud Pavilion.

Zhou Changwang had already agreed to temporarily join the Water Cloud Pavilion, but the specific terms could only be finalized once they truly entered the pavilion and conferred with the Water Cloud Pavilion's branch master within the Divine Wind Valley Market.

Consequently, he followed Shen Xinyue and the others toward the Water Cloud Pavilion.

Along the way, he continuously observed everything within the market.

Suddenly, the name of a certain shop caught his attention.

"Immortal Master Tower!"

"The Immortal Master Tower, also known as the Master Scholar Tower.

It is essentially a place dedicated to teaching and guiding cultivators in the practice of cultivation techniques and spells.

After all, the vast majority of people within the market are rogue cultivators without any sect affiliation who must rely entirely on themselves.

They often harbor numerous doubts during their cultivation, or find themselves unable to master spells, struggling to achieve refinement.

Thus, they spend spiritual stones to hire the cultivators within this Immortal Master Tower for instruction and guidance.

If one encounters a master teacher, it can save a vast amount of cultivation time, allowing one to quickly advance the corresponding techniques and spells to a deeper level."

Noticing Zhou Changwang's gaze, Lu Yun, the spiritual planter of the Water Cloud Pavilion, suddenly offered an explanation.

"So that's how it is."

Zhou Changwang nodded in realization.

He realized this was essentially an alternative tutoring center.

Indeed, immortal cultivation with guidance versus groping about entirely on one's own differed vastly.

Stumbling on one's own might leave a single problem baffling a person for a month or two without resolution, whereas the guidance of a teacher could often cut straight to the core, pointing out the crux of the issue and saving an immense amount of time.

In truth, the Phoenix Cry Dock Market also possessed similar establishments, but back then, his pockets were empty, forcing him to turn away.

Later, after awakening the attribute panel, he naturally had no need for such services.

"Thank you for the explanation, Senior."

Zhou Changwang subsequently cupped his fists and said.

"Think nothing of it. I heard that you are also a spiritual planter? And even took first place in the last spiritual planter assessment?"

Lu Yun waved her hand dismissively, then asked with a smile.

"It was merely good fortune that I happened to take first place; it's hardly worth mentioning."

Zhou Changwang smiled modestly and replied.

"Even so, it is quite extraordinary.

If you encounter any problems regarding spiritual planting in the future, feel free to come to me."

She then spoke with a genial expression.

"Thank you, Senior. If I have any questions in the future, this junior will certainly not hesitate to seek your counsel."

Zhou Changwang knew this was a display of goodwill from the other party, so his demeanor naturally remained exceedingly polite.

Before long, the Water Cloud Pavilion came into view in the distance.

"Look, what kind of demonic beast is that?

It's huge!"

Just as they were about to step into the Water Cloud Pavilion, a cry of astonishment rang out.

Everyone immediately cast their gazes toward the distant street.

They saw a gigantic demonic beast, fully three zhang long, with a head as large as an ox, limbs like golden pillars, sharp claws flashing with cold light, and a body covered in dense scales, being carried over by a group of people from afar.

"It's a Azure-Eyed Salamander.

Being this large, it must at the very least be at the high grade of the first rank.

This Azure-Eyed Salamander possesses a trace of exotic beast bloodline and commands at least one innate spell, making it inherently much stronger than ordinary demonic beasts.

Even a Foundation Establishment powerhouse would have to expend considerable effort to slay it."

Shen Xinyue gazed at the massive demonic beast before her, a look of surprise crossing her face.

At that moment, the group carrying the beast gradually drew closer, and the potent wave of oppression caused Zhou Changwang's expression to shift slightly, turning solemn.

For cultivators like Liu Yuru, whose strength was below the third layer of Qi Refining, their complexions turned slightly pale, as if they could barely withstand the pressure.

A deceased Azure-Eyed Salamander carried such immense oppressive force; had it been alive, just how terrifying would it be?

Those with slightly lower strength probably wouldn't even dare to approach it.

"Who on earth killed this demonic beast? Could a Foundation Establishment true adept have made a move?"

Someone couldn't help asking in astonishment, thoroughly shocked.

"It wasn't a Foundation Establishment powerhouse who did it; Ye Ping'an made the move.

I heard that Ye Ping'an did it entirely by himself, slaying this Azure-Eyed Salamander single-handedly.

After killing it, Ye Ping'an left ahead of time to return to the market, and only then ordered people to bring the beast back."

Within the crowd, naturally, someone understood the situation and hurriedly offered an explanation.

"Ye Ping'an?"

"It's him?"

"No wonder."

...

The crowd stirred, then quickly displayed looks of realization.

This moniker was a household name within the Divine Wind Valley Market, known to all and sundry.

And he indeed possessed the strength to strike down an Azure-Eyed Salamander.

"Ye Ping'an? Who is that?"

Zhou Changwang softly inquired of Shen Xinyue.

"The son of Market Master Ye Yanxiu, at the ninth layer of the Qi Refining realm. His strength is extraordinary, and his cultivation is formidable..."

Shen Xinyue provided a brief explanation.

Soon, the group carrying the demonic beast drifted further away, accompanied by occasional murmurs of discussion from the onlookers.

Zhou Changwang and his party also entered the Divine Wind Valley Market branch of the Water Cloud Pavilion at this time.

The customary commotion and reminiscing go without saying.

Zhou Changwang was temporarily accommodated in a guest room located in the rear courtyard of the shop.

...

"Finally, I'm settled in. No more sleeping in the open and braving the elements."

Zhou Changwang sat on the edge of the bed, feeling a sense of感慨 (emotional reflection).

This was his first time traveling far from home.

Although the journey had been relatively smooth, the constant rushing inevitably brought various inconveniences.

Especially during the trek, he could not properly carry out many of his cultivation practices.

The Taiyi Golden Armor Technique, the Minor Three-Talent Sword Technique, the Earth Prison Spell, the Gravity Spell... he could only grow familiar with and master these spells conceptually, without ever truly casting them.

Every successful casting was bound to be accompanied by ripples of magical energy.

In the midst of a crowd, he naturally preferred to keep a low profile.

And right now—it was essentially the same.

After all, a guest room was not his own private dwelling, making it inconvenient to cast spells freely.

Yet fortunately, it still provided a private space, making him feel much more at ease.

"During this period, although not a single spell broke through to mastery, they are all merely a hair's breadth away. As long as I find a suitable place, I can break through at any time.

And most importantly, I've made significant progress elsewhere."

Zhou Changwang muttered inwardly, a smile involuntarily blooming on his face.

Spells like the Taiyi Golden Armor Technique were just a step away from mastery; they only required a stable environment to resume practice.

Therefore, during this period, he had devoted more of his attention to the Golden Light Restriction-Breaking Art.

The so-called Golden Light Restriction-Breaking Art was essentially a method for cracking restrictions and lifting seals, relying on a unique technique of spiritual sense manipulation.

It featured a method of refining spiritual sense into threads that could comprehensively 'observe' the weak points of a restriction, allowing one to achieve success in a single decisive effort and cleanly dismantle it.

Furthermore, Zhou Changwang discovered that this 'spiritual sense into threads' technique could, much like a spell, be continuously improved through practice.

Thus, throughout the days on the road, he spent the vast majority of his time practicing the 'spiritual sense threads' aspect of the Golden Light Restriction-Breaking Art.

The result was as follows:

Golden Light Restriction-Breaking Art: Spiritual Sense Threads (Minor Accomplishment 125/400).

"Next, I will test it out to see if the Golden Light Restriction-Breaking Art is as formidable in breaking restrictions as described."

Zhou Changwang muttered, flipping his hand to reveal five jade slips.

These five jade slips were all 'ancient slips', acquired from a peddler during his second visit to the black market.

Four of them were forged ancient slips crafted by the peddler using artificial aging techniques, while the remaining one bore the full marks of time, leading him to suspect it was a genuine ancient slip.

Now that he had mastered the restriction-breaking technique, he naturally wanted to try it out, seeing if he could bypass the restrictions, truly unlock the ancient slip, and view its contents.

First came the four artificially aged ancient slips.

Zhou Changwang's divine consciousness stirred as his spiritual sense cautiously probed inward. Instantly, he sensed layer upon layer of defensive restrictions winding around the entire jade slip.

Only by shattering these restrictions could he truly 'see' the contents within the jade slip.

These individual defensive restrictions resembled countless knotted silk threads—impossible to sever cleanly and hopelessly tangled. Without the corresponding technique, one could only brute-force it.

Yet brute-forcing it would naturally shatter the jade slip as well, reducing everything to nothingness.

Hence the existence of restriction-breaking arts...

Zhou Changwang's spiritual sense probed inside without hesitation, swiftly executing the technique of refining his spiritual sense into threads.

In an instant, around a hundred threads of spiritual sense invaded the interior, directly locating the 'thread ends'.

Bang!

The first defensive restriction was unraveled by him.

Then the second, the third...

Fortunately, these artificially aged ancient slips possessed few restrictions and weak defenses; they were easily unraveled by his minor-accomplishment spiritual sense threads.

In an instant, his spiritual sense penetrated deep into the jade slip.

"《Postpartum Care for Black-Eyed Sows》."

Zhou Changwang's face darkened.

As expected of a fake ancient slip; it contained nothing of any real value.

Yet he didn't throw it away, tossing it casually into his storage bag before taking out the second fake ancient slip to begin breaking its restrictions.

Spiritual Sense Threads +1

Spiritual Sense Threads +1

...

After clearing three layers, he broke the restrictions once more and viewed the contents.

"《Chronicles of an Immortal-Cultivating Family》"

Zhou Changwang skimmed through it roughly. It detailed the growth trajectory of an immortal-cultivating family surnamed 'Gao', from their founding ancestor who accidentally acquired cultivation techniques and entered the cultivation world, down to the final generation of the Gao family.

Spanning three hundred years, the Gao family patriarch remained stuck at the third layer of Qi Refining until his dying day. The family's peak era occurred during the seventeenth generation, which finally produced a cultivator at the seventh layer of Qi Refining, bringing a temporary period of prosperity. However, due to an unexpected calamity, the Gao family became embroiled in a fierce conflict, resulting in most of their cultivators perishing, while their mortals retreated back to mortal realms to survive.

It wasn't until three generations later that someone once again possessed spiritual cultivation talent, though they quickly withered away. Afterward, generations would pass—sometimes three or five—before an individual with cultivation aptitude emerged, the strongest among them reaching merely the fourth layer of Qi Refining...

"Three hundred years, and not a single Foundation Establishment true adept.

The strongest was only at the seventh layer of Qi Refining..."

Zhou Changwang sighed and shook his head.

He once again deeply felt the arduous nature of immortal cultivation.

"However, that does not include me.

The Dao of Withering Away to Ultimate Sagehood!"

Summing up the rise and fall of the Gao family, Zhou Changwang once more hardened his Dao heart.

Next came the third and fourth slips.

The third was completely blank—a broken slip. The fourth did record contents, but it was an observation journal kept by a spiritual planter, detailing the growth process and changes of a spiritual flower known as the Sunward Spirit Blossom.

Of little use to Zhou Changwang, and not even worth a single low-grade spiritual stone.

Finally, he produced the last ancient slip.

This was the one he had previously examined with the Spiritual Sight Technique, finding virtually no flaws.

Holding it in his hand now, although it differed little from the other jade slips on the surface, he held high expectations for it.

Then, his spiritual sense probed inside.

"Indeed.

The sealing restrictions are visibly far more numerous and much more complex."

Zhou Changwang's eyes brightened.

The more numerous and complex the restrictions, the higher the probability that this was a genuine ancient slip.

Naturally, his anticipation grew even stronger.

Spiritual sense threads!

He then deployed the Golden Light Restriction-Breaking Art, transforming his spiritual sense into golden threads to investigate and search for flaws.

Layer by layer.

A full seven layers of restrictions.

Zhou Changwang deployed thirteen spiritual sense threads before successfully unraveling them.

In an instant, the contents within the jade slip flooded into his mind.

"《Split-Light Phantom Illusion Technique》.

Is this an illusion-type spell?"

Zhou Changwang was startled.

He quickly grasped the function of this spell.

It was a technique that allowed one to project an optical phantom using spiritual power to deceive the enemy, thereby achieving the effect of taking the false for the true.

He had to admit that the utility of this spell was immense.

Especially when deployed in combat, it could not only 'fake out' attacks but also be used to launch counterattacks.

Even if one truly encountered an irresistible enemy, it could serve as a means to make a clean getaway.

"Moreover, this spell can actually be combined with spells like the Invisibility Technique or the Earth-Egress Technique.

It can even allow this spell to exert unexpected effects."

Zhou Changwang quickly associated this spell with other potential applications, feeling a surge of excitement in his heart.

Although this spell could not be considered exceptionally precious, it was still a high-grade first-rank spell. In a shop, a similar spell would be worth at least three to five hundred low-grade spiritual stones. Compared to the ten low-grade spiritual stones he had originally spent to purchase the five 'ancient slips', this was a massive profit.