Chapter 119 - 118: Marketplace News
Chapter 119: Chapter 118: Marketplace News
According to the information Lu Zhao had gathered from various sources, the Bixia Sect’s waiting list for Outer Sect Stewards to receive a Foundation Establishment Pill was usually no longer than ten years.
In other words, he was guaranteed to obtain the Pill that would determine his future in cultivation by the time he was fifty-three at the latest! If he could complete enough Sect missions and accumulate sufficient Merit over the next three years, he might even get the Pill several years ahead of schedule!
’One Foundation Establishment Pill increases the chance of success by thirty percent... That’s my baseline, at least.’ Lu Zhao’s gaze was profound. ’But I only have a Middle-Grade Spirit Root. Factoring in my own natural chances, my total probability is only around forty percent. It’s still too low, far too low! If I could get one more Foundation Establishment Pill, I could raise my chances to seventy percent...’ The thought grew in his mind like a weed, wild and untamed.
One was a safety net, but two would bring true peace of mind! Finding a way to obtain a second Foundation Establishment Pill became the goal Lu Zhao would have to devote all his efforts to over the next decade.
「A day later」
Lu Zhao left the Bixia Sect. Half a day after that, he reappeared on the bustling streets of Bixia Marketplace. Without a moment’s delay, he headed directly for a familiar building: the Spirit Puppet Tower.
When Lin Yuanshan saw him arrive, a familiar smile spread across his face. "Mr. Lu, what a pleasant surprise! Is it business as usual this time, selling Puppets?"
Lu Zhao shook his head. "I’m here to buy some Puppet Materials."
The smile on Lin Yuanshan’s face didn’t fade, but his eyes held a hint of sharp curiosity. He stroked his beard, his tone a little teasing. "You seem to be in a hurry, Mr. Lu, and look a bit travel-worn. Are Sect affairs so busy that you can’t even squeeze in time for your money-making hobby of refining Puppets?"
Lu Zhao gave a weary smile as he selected the Spiritual Materials he needed. "You jest, Shopkeeper Lin. The Sect has indeed assigned me a great deal of work, and I’m spread far too thin. Once I’ve finished the tasks at hand, I’ll be sure to refine several more High-Grade Puppets for you." Having selected the items he needed, Lu Zhao placed the materials on the counter.
"Haha, excellent! Then I’ll be waiting!" Lin Yuanshan laughed as he tallied the materials and handed them to Lu Zhao. "That will be three hundred Spirit Stones."
After paying the Spirit Stones and leaving the Spirit Puppet Tower, Lu Zhao sighed to himself. ’Joining the Sect certainly gave me a backer and a stable channel for resources, but it’s also like being put in invisible shackles. I’ve lost some of my freedom.’ The sheer volume of Sect missions severely cut into the time he could spend studying Puppetry. This was somewhat at odds with his original goal of pursuing freedom and honing his craft.
’It’s pointless to dwell on it.’ Lu Zhao quickly suppressed the feeling, his gaze becoming resolute once more. ’Only by reaching Foundation Establishment as soon as possible and becoming an Inner Sect Steward can I truly free myself from these menial tasks and gain more autonomy!’ This was the clearest path forward he had identified during his half-year-plus in the Bixia Sect. Foundation Establishment was the first step to breaking the chains of his low-level status and seizing control of his own destiny.
After leaving the Spirit Puppet Tower, Lu Zhao navigated the familiar turns into Black Stone Lane, where Hu Ming was located. Hu Ming looked the same as always. Seeing Lu Zhao enter, his eyes lit up. "Brother Lu! Are you here for more Turtle-type Demon Beast materials?"
"That’s right." Lu Zhao nodded. "Brother Hu, do you have any Tier One Middle-Grade Turtle-type Demon Beast carcasses? I’ll take all of them."
Hu Ming was overjoyed. He quickly brought out three turtle carcasses from the back room. "Brother Lu, your timing is perfect! A few months ago, we hunted a Profound Water Turtle and two Iron-Backed Mountain Turtles. They’re all Tier One Middle-Grade. The bodies are perfectly preserved, the shells are undamaged, and the Essence Blood has been extracted and sealed. We’ll go with the usual price: one hundred and twenty Spirit Stones for all three!"
Lu Zhao understood. He hadn’t been here in a while, and Hu Ming was likely worried that his old customer wouldn’t return to buy turtle carcasses. He leaned down and carefully examined the patterns on the shells, the wounds on their undersides, and the Jade Bottles containing the sealed Essence Blood. After confirming everything was in order, he promptly paid with Spirit Stones and stored the somewhat heavy carcasses in his Storage Bag.
The carcasses of Tier One Middle-Grade Turtle-type Demon Beasts were the core materials for refining the Profound Water Turtle Puppet. Even though Sect affairs left him with almost no free time, he needed to stock up on these key materials well in advance to be prepared.
After leaving Black Stone Lane, Lu Zhao quickened his pace and blended into the flowing crowd. He wound his way through the bustling shopping district toward the other side of the Marketplace. He eventually arrived at a relatively quiet alley in the Marketplace’s shantytown area and knocked on an inconspicuous wooden door. The person who opened it was the sharp-eyed young man with a somewhat fawning smile—Zhao Xiaoshu.
"Elder Lu! You’re here!" Upon seeing Lu Zhao, Zhao Xiaoshu’s face immediately broke into a smile that was both respectful and a little excited. "Please, come in!"
"Yes." Lu Zhao stepped into the humble room. He didn’t see Zhao Xiaoshu’s sister this time; clearly, Zhao Xiaoshu had known he would be coming in the next few days and made arrangements beforehand. After briefly glancing around the room, Lu Zhao asked, "How are the arrangements for the Trade Assembly coming along?"
"It’s all taken care of!" Zhao Xiaoshu promised, patting his chest. "It’s two days from now! The location is a small alley next to the South District Baiyi Square Flea Market. I’ve already handled everything. When the time comes, Elder, you just go there, give the password ’Dingmao,’ and pay a one Spirit Stone entrance fee to get in."
Lu Zhao nodded in satisfaction. "Good work." Zhao Xiaoshu was efficient and well-informed, making him an indispensable asset in Bixia Marketplace.
He casually tossed Zhao Xiaoshu three Spirit Stones. "This is for you. Any recent news or noteworthy rumors in the Marketplace lately?"
Zhao Xiaoshu caught the Spirit Stones, his face beaming, and quickly lowered his voice. "Thank you, Elder! As for news... I heard there was some trouble up north in Black Mountain Gorge a while back. Apparently, a group of Tribulation Cultivators bit the dust—wiped out by a passing Foundation Establishment Elder who flattened half the mountaintop in the process! They say the mark of the Black Death Society was found at the scene. It caused a huge stir. The higher-ups from the Bixia Sect were investigating for a long time, and things have only quieted down in the last day or two."
"Also, the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower in the East Market just got a new shipment of hot-ticket items from the Yue Country. I heard it includes Concentration Incense, and the price is being driven sky-high. And..." He continued, relaying a few other important rumors that had been circulating around the Marketplace.
Lu Zhao listened quietly, committing the information to memory. The Black Death Society was a notorious organization of Tribulation Cultivators from the southern Chen Country, known for their ruthlessness and for seeking revenge over the smallest grievance. The fact that their members had been taken down near Bixia Marketplace might cause some trouble down the line, so he would have to pay attention.
As for the Concentration Incense, it had a minor effect on nourishing one’s Divine Sense, but for someone like him, whose Divine Sense was already comparable to that of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, it was a drop in the ocean. It wasn’t worth his attention.
"Alright, I understand. Keep your ears open, especially for news about rare materials and underground trade assemblies. Notify me immediately if you hear anything." After giving his instructions, Lu Zhao didn’t linger and left the small, humble room.