After leaving the Tianxian Tower, Fang Xi, fully equipped and with a adjusted mindset, returned to the Qingzhu Mountain.
The mountain was lush with greenery, the emerald bamboo dripping with dew, but everything seemed different.
Fang Xi arrived at the shantytown where the Ling Farmers used to reside, only to find it in ruins, as if it had been abandoned for a long time.
"Yes, it's not safe outside the market, especially without Foundation Establishment cultivators to deter... Where would the Ling Farmers be willing to come and cultivate?"
He sighed, then found his small wooden house.
Here too, it was in ruins, with houses collapsed in large numbers, likely due to battles.
Crack!
Fang Xi grabbed a beam and lifted it forcefully.
His immense strength now was astonishing. With a strong pull, a large amount of wooden boards and rubble were lifted, revealing broken tables, chairs, benches, and even some unidentified bones.
"Alas... my home is gone."
Fang Xi lamented, then found the location of the cellar he had dug before.
The entrance to the passage had long been buried under a lot of soil, looking no different from other places.
Fang Xi took out the Ghost Head Blade and used it like a hoe, quickly digging to the original cellar.
"In my haste back then, I didn't take any of these belongings..."
He went to a corner and skillfully dug out a small wine jar.
Upon opening it, a sour smell wafted out.
"What a pity..."
Fang Xi glanced at the label. It was a control group he had set up when he attempted to brew wine.
Now, two years later, he could confirm the failure.
He continued to dig out more wine jars, finding that most of the spirit wine either had broken jars or had gone bad in taste.
When he opened a jar of spirit wine, his eyes lit up.
Crack!
The mud seal cracked, releasing a fragrant aroma.
"This... is it ready?"
Fang Xi sighed, quickly noting down the original recipe on the label.
He took a sip, furrowing his brow slightly. "The taste is too poor... and the effects of the spirit rice are almost gone."
According to Fang Xi's initial plan, his spirit rice wine should at least taste good and have some additional effects like aiding in cultivation.
But reality proved that he had oversimplified the brewing process.
"Alas... how many things in the past have ended up as mere jokes..."
Fang Xi touched the cellar wall, reminiscing about the past events, his expression lost in thought.
Then, he lifted the wine jar and poured the contents into his mouth.
The taste of the wine was average, with a slight bitterness, fitting his current mood perfectly.
Ping pong!
After finishing the drink, Fang Xi flung the wine jar, letting it shatter into countless pieces against the wall.
"I won't be coming here again."
After leaving the cellar, Fang Xi took one last look before turning and leaving.
...
Qingzhu Mountain Market.
Fang Xi looked up at the newly erected archway, feeling a sense of nostalgia.
He had already transformed into Fang Leng's appearance, wearing a straw hat and a green robe to conceal his figure.
"Guest, if you wish to enter our Qingzhu Market, please pay a spirit crystal!"
Under the archway, two cultivators, both at the Qi Refining Mid Stage, dressed in green uniforms with a bamboo emblem on their chests, were collecting fees from those entering the market.
"These Qingzhu Mountain markets used to be free of charge..."
Fang Xi thought to himself, but he didn't argue and paid a spirit crystal, receiving a bamboo token as identification.
"This token can only stay within the formation for twelve hours. If it exceeds the time limit, it will trigger a backlash!"
As he handed over the token, the cultivator from the Qingzhu Association reminded him.
"I understand."
Fang Xi clasped his hands, hung the token at his waist, and walked into the formation beyond the archway.
"This formation... should be at the second level, but I can't recognize it..."
Although Fang Xi had studied "Introduction to Formations," he was far from being considered even a low-grade formation master now, let alone identifying the origin of the protective formation around the market.
He could only confirm that it was not the previous 'Heavenly Blue Water Formation.'
"These Qingzhu Association members managed to obtain a second-level mountain protection formation, which is quite impressive..."
Not long after, Fang Xi entered the market.
As soon as he entered, various bustling sounds greeted him.
He looked around and saw that the layout of the Qingzhu Mountain Market had changed significantly. Two more streets had been built along the main street, and the stall square had doubled in size, appearing more grandiose.
"The head of the Qingzhu Association seems to be quite strategic."
Fang Xi made a judgment in his mind.
In the past two years, with one Foundation Establishment family after another falling, many major forces were in turmoil, leading to the emergence of many valuable items.
Rumors even had it that some wandering cultivators took advantage of this rare opportunity to successfully establish their Foundation.
The Qingzhu Association had taken over Qingzhu Mountain, turning the original market into a black market, attracting a considerable flow of people.
However, most of the trading cultivators were disguised, emitting a strong aura that didn't seem friendly.
"It seems... I'm not exactly a righteous person either..."
Fang Xi touched his cheek, then roughly surveyed the market to understand the price changes of magical tools, talismans, elixirs, and formations.
Then, he began to carefully observe a few places suitable for selling stolen goods.
Yes, when the Qingzhu Mountain Market was broken into, he had also made some gains.
In the storage bag of the youngest of the Kou siblings, there were quite a few good things he couldn't use, so he planned to sell them.
Moreover, in the storage bags of the three elders of the Kou family, there were also materials of various demonic beasts collected over the years.
"The Heavenly Seal Hall is gone, as well as the Hundred Crafts Tower... These two families behind them suffered heavy losses in the previous battle at the Blackwater Pool, which is normal..."
Behind the Hundred Crafts Tower was the Foundation Establishment family of the Qi family, which lost a Foundation Establishment cultivator. The Shen family behind the Heavenly Seal Hall fared even worse and had been wiped out.
However, the Mingqing Pavilion was still standing. Fang Xi remembered that Yunmeng Fairy seemed to be surnamed Xu, a member of the Qingye Xu family!
The Qingye Xu family was the Foundation Establishment force behind the Mingqing Pavilion.
But at this moment, Fang Xi had no intention of going for tea.
Thinking of Yunmeng Fairy led him to think of Shen Haoran, who was probably in big trouble.
There were also Chen Ping, Lu Zhi, Master Jiuxuan, Di Qi...
He sighed, then steadied his mind and, following his instincts, entered a shop that was the largest and most luxurious in the market.
The shop was called 'Wanhai Tower,' and he had already inquired that it was backed by the Song family!
The Song family was well-known in Yue Country, holding a prominent position among the cultivation families, second only to the Xuantian Sect!
Other Foundation Establishment families had to add a prefix to their names to distinguish themselves from others of the same surname.
But the Song family was the only one in Yue Country!
It was said that within the Song family, there was a Foundation Establishment Grand Elder at the Perfection Stage! Besides, the number of Foundation Establishment cultivators exceeded five!
With such confidence, even the orders of the Xuantian Sect could be challenged, and they had gained a lot from the recent operation to wipe out the Hongye Valley and the Situ family.
"The bigger the power, the more they value their reputation... Until they encounter significant benefits, they are still relatively trustworthy."
"The threshold of this Song family should be higher than that of the Hundred Crafts Tower, right?"
With these thoughts in mind, Fang Xi entered the Wanhai Tower.
"Guest, may I know what you are looking for? Our Wanhai Tower offers everything from magical tools, elixirs, spirit talismans, formations, to spiritual pet furnaces!"
A waiter in a sky-blue robe immediately greeted him.
"I have some items to sell. Please bring someone who can make decisions."
Fang Xi glanced around the Wanhai Tower and frowned. "Also... it's too chaotic and noisy here."
"Guest, please come to the private room on the second floor."
The waiter readily led Fang Xi to the second floor, into a specially arranged private room.
The room was spacious, with incense burning on the table, emitting a calming fragrance.
Not long after, a maid came in and served spiritual tea.
"This Song family is indeed generous."
Fang Xi sniffed the tea, feeling a slight fluctuation in his spiritual energy, and couldn't help but marvel.
However, he didn't drink it immediately.
After a stick of incense burned out, the door opened again, and a cultivator in a sea-blue robe, wearing a jade crown, with sharp eyebrows and starry eyes, walked in, bowing first. "I am Song Qing. May I know how to address this Daoist friend?"
"I am Fang Leng."
Fang Xi responded coldly.
"So it's Daoist Fang. What brings you to our Wanhai Tower? How may I assist you?"
Song Qing's manner of speaking and behavior were obviously well-trained, showing courtesy in every move.
But there was a hint of hidden pride between his brows.
This was normal, considering he was a member of the Song family.
Moreover, cultivators were used to such formalities.
"I have some items to sell and also wish to purchase some things."
After reaching the third level of Body Refinement, Fang Xi had reached a dead end in the Great Liang Martial Dao, as advised by Linghu Shan. Naturally, he had to change course promptly.
And with his pitiful spiritual roots, he would probably need to rely on pills to enhance the 'Changchun Technique.'
"Oh, then today should be an eye-opening experience."
Song Qing sat down, took a sip of the spiritual tea, his eyes showing a hint of anticipation.
He then saw Fang Xi take out a medicine bottle from his storage bag and place it on the table.
Song Qing picked up the bottle, opened it, and sniffed. "Hmm... a first-grade superior spirit pill - Golden Ear Pill, suitable for cultivators in the later stages of Gold Spirit Root to enhance their spiritual power. Valued at twenty low-grade spirit stones each, and you have five here. They are in good condition, and our tower can purchase them for ninety low-grade spirit stones each. What do you think, Daoist friend?"
"That's acceptable."
Fang Xi thought for a moment, then took out some spirit materials from his storage bag to sell.
When the items were appraised by Song Qing, they totaled around sixty-five low-grade spirit stones.
"So... the total should be one hundred and fifty-five low-grade spirit stones to be paid to Daoist friend."
After counting, Song Qing swept his sleeves, collected the Golden Ear Pills and other items, leaving only a pile of colorful low-grade spirit stones on the table. "Please verify the count, Daoist friend."
Fang Xi nodded and began to meticulously count the stones.
Seeing this scene, Song Qing's smile grew wider. "I wonder what friend is looking to purchase in our tower? We have a wide variety of treasures and should be able to meet your needs."
(End of Chapter)