Chapter 129: Chapter 123: Purifying Heart Bodhi

The Marketplace.

Unlike his last hurried trip, this time Zhu Ju planned to take his time and browse properly.

Pei Jingque had matters to attend to and wouldn’t return to Dragon Head Peak for several days.

Those who had accompanied Pei Jingque could leave ahead of time.

Or they could wait to travel back together.

Zhu Ju, of course, chose to wait. It was the only way to guarantee his safety.

He had plenty of time, so there was no need to rush.

The Marketplace was built against a mountain and was as large as a county town in the Mortal World. The truly bustling area, however, was confined to its core.

The outskirts were mostly gathering places for Mortals and Loose Cultivators, also known as the Outer Market.

It was said that murders were common in the Outer Market. Even with the Patrol Team established by the Xiao Family, they couldn’t be completely prevented.

Even so, this was already considered quite good.

Leaving the Marketplace was where the real danger lay.

Tribulation Cultivators, Fierce Beasts, poisonous creatures...

To find true safety in the Ten Thousand Mountains, one had to either join the Xiao Family or pledge allegiance to one of the major powers.

As a result, anyone who managed to rise up step by step from an environment like the Outer Market was, without exception, a ruthless character.

Clouds and mist shrouded the mountain, with a few buildings faintly visible. That was where the Xiao Family, the masters of the Marketplace, resided.

Currently, the Xiao Family had three Dao Foundation Cultivators in residence, one of whom was a top expert at the Late-Stage Dao Foundation.

Even a group like the Bright Void Sect had to pay their respects when they came here.

Zhu Ju changed his clothes, put on a grimacing ghost mask, and walked along the street.

’Late-Stage Qi Refining, Early-Stage Qi Refining, can’t see through that person’s aura...’

Thanks to his powerful Divine Soul Power and Magic Perception, he could see through the Cultivation of most ordinary Innate Cultivators, provided they weren’t using a Secret Technique to conceal it.

This only made it more terrifying.

As he walked, powerful auras flooded his senses. It was a place where Innates were as common as dogs and the Acquired were everywhere.

An Innate Qi Refiner who had only achieved Breaking One Acupoint was practically a nobody in the Marketplace.

’No wonder even a Late-Stage Innate like Pei Jingque doesn’t travel to the Marketplace alone. It’s just too dangerous.’

’Hmm...’

’This is the edge of the Ten Thousand Mountains. Cultivators from Dazhou and Loose Cultivators from within the mountains all gather here, so it’s normal for there to be so many experts.’

As these thoughts turned in his mind, he entered a shop selling Fierce Beasts, birds of prey, and Gu Insects, then came out a short while later.

’They also sell Demon Beast Flesh in the Marketplace. It isn’t cheap, but with enough Spirit Stones, it wouldn’t be hard for someone like me to quickly increase their Cultivation by consuming it.’

’No!’

’Even I, limited by the resources of the Magic World, can’t guarantee a steady supply of high-quality Demon Beast Flesh.’

’But here, I can!’

The Marketplace had Demon Beast Flesh, Elixirs to increase Cultivation, Cultivation Techniques, and even Magical Artifacts for sale.

As long as one had Spirit Stones, there was nothing to worry about.

No wonder there were so many Innates!

For the next two days, Zhu Ju changed his appearance and attire, frequenting various shops throughout the Marketplace.

The items he had were silently exchanged for Spirit Stones.

The Treasure Pavilion.

It was the same white-haired old man from last time.

But unlike before, Zhu Ju could now sense the man’s Cultivation, which the elder made no effort to conceal.

Late-Stage Innate!

Only slightly weaker than Pei Jingque.

Just a Steward of the Xiao Family’s Treasure Pavilion had such a high Cultivation. No wonder no one dared to cause trouble here.

"A very interesting Artifact Refining technique. It has traces of an Ancient Technique, but also the ingenuity of a modern craftsman." The elder stroked his beard and put down the Flying Saber in his hand.

"It’s primarily made of Iron Essence, with a small amount of Silver Crystal and Jade Paste mixed in. It barely qualifies as a Low Grade Spiritual Artifact."

"If I’m not mistaken..."

"This should be one piece of a complete set of Magical Artifacts."

"Elder Mo has a sharp eye!" Zhu Ju praised, though he had no intention of taking out the complete set of Six Ren Flying Sabers.

"What price can you offer for this item?"

"Hmm..." Elder Mo paused to think for a moment, then said,

"For just this one piece, twenty Low Grade Spirit Stones."

"Twenty?" Zhu Ju frowned.

"I remember that the cheapest Magical Artifacts in the Treasure Pavilion cost thirty to forty Spirit Stones, and they’re also Low Grade Spiritual Artifacts."

"Correct." Elder Mo didn’t deny it, explaining,

"However, the Magical Artifacts sold in the Treasure Pavilion, even the Low Grade ones, are better than this one of yours, friend. After all, while your Flying Saber has plenty of Spirituality, its killing power is too weak. It can’t even break through the Physical Body of some Innate Cultivators."

"Besides, the Treasure Pavilion needs to make a profit."

Zhu Ju could only sigh softly.

It was true. The Cultivators of the Main World had formidable Physical Bodies and astonishing recovery rates, so their weapons were designed for maximum killing power.

The Magic World was different.

Even a Great Mage there wouldn’t have a particularly tough Physical Body. Their Magical Artifacts prioritized agility, and their killing power was severely lacking compared to those from the Main World.

"If you were to take out the complete set of Magical Artifacts, friend, the price would naturally be different," Elder Mo said with a smile. "Twenty Spirit Stones for this one piece is already quite a good offer."

"..." Zhu Ju pressed his lips together.

"Twenty it is, then. I’d like to purchase a Magical Artifact."

"Preferably a Flying Sword!"

"A Flying Sword." Elder Mo summoned a shop assistant, whispered a few words in his ear, and soon several Sword Boxes were presented.

The Sword Boxes came in various sizes. The largest could hold a Mortal Sword, while the smallest could barely fit a woman’s hairpin.

"This sword is called the Canchi Sword."

Elder Mo first opened the largest Sword Box and took out a three-foot longsword.

"It was forged by the Artifact Refining Master, Elder Loo. It looks like one sword, but it actually conceals a shorter blade within, hence the name Canchi Sword. With the right Sword Control Method, it can have miraculous effects in combat."

As he spoke, he lifted a hand, and the longsword floated in mid-air. Guided by his True Qi, it transformed into a streak of light that danced around the room.

"No."

Zhu Ju shook his head.

"It’s too big!"

The size wasn’t the key issue.

The key was that he could clearly sense the True Qi Elder Mo was using to control the Flying Sword.

It was too much!

He was just an Innate who had recently achieved Breaking One Acupoint. His shallow Cultivation made it impossible to control such a heavy Magical Artifact.

"I see."

Elder Mo wasn’t surprised. Many people found the Canchi Sword too large and too draining on their Magical Power. He directly opened the smallest Sword Box.

"The Fire Spirit Sword."

"Forged from Red Flame Copper Essence and Profound Iron, it weighs two liang and seven qian. It embodies the nature of fire and is incomparably sharp."

Zhu Ju reached out and took it. With a slight pull of his True Qi, the finger-sized Flying Sword immediately floated in mid-air.

"SWISH!"

With a thought, the Flying Sword flickered through the air. Like a swallow skimming the water’s surface three times, it left ripples of flame in its wake before tracing an arc and returning to them.

"Excellent Sword Technique!"

Elder Mo’s face showed surprise, and he clapped his hands lightly.

"Friend, that’s a remarkably exquisite Sword Control Technique!"

This wasn’t just flattery to make a sale; it was a genuine assessment.

To control a Flying Sword as if it were an extension of one’s own arm immediately after picking it up, without even having refined it—only a master of Swordsmanship could do that.

This person...

He’s definitely extraordinary!

Zhu Ju gave a faint smile, but inwardly he was grimacing.

He had managed it only by combining the Ten Thousand Swords Technique from the Magic World and the Five Elements Sword Control Technique from the Main World, on top of his powerful Divine Soul Power.

But,

The ’Magical Power’ consumption was too fast!

It was like a child swinging a sledgehammer. The energy drain was too great, and he couldn’t recover fast enough.

The Magical Artifacts of the Main World were far superior in quality to those of the Magic World, and they correspondingly placed higher demands on their user.

An Innate Qi Refiner who had only achieved Breaking One Acupoint was, in reality, far from qualified to own a Flying Sword.

Magical Artifacts!

Both in terms of price and True Qi consumption, they were typically standard equipment for Late-Stage Innates.

Sigh!

With a soft sigh, Zhu Ju guided the Flying Sword back into its box. He had no desire to try the others and asked casually,

"What’s the price of this sword?"

"One hundred and thirty Low Grade Spirit Stones," Elder Mo said with a smile.

"Of course,"

"I can take the liberty of giving you a discount, friend."

"Thank you, but let’s not rush," Zhu Ju said.

"To be honest, I’ve offended an enemy who is proficient in Divine Soul Secret Techniques. Elder Mo, do you have any defensive Magical Artifacts for that?"

"Divine Soul Secret Techniques." Elder Mo’s expression turned grave.

"Those are quite rare."

"I’m getting old, and my memory isn’t what it used to be. Allow me to go to the back and check the ledgers."

"I’ll have to trouble you, then." Zhu Ju cupped his hands.

With his current Cultivation, wielding a Flying Sword from the Main World was too taxing. It would be better to get a defensive Magical Artifact.

Something to defend against Divine Soul Magic!

The Cultivators of the Magic World had bizarre methods, but few could actually harm him. Only Divine Soul Secret Techniques were difficult to guard against.

Yuanle’s Kasaya, for instance, had nearly caused Zhu Ju to suffer a major setback.

As for a Flying Sword...

He lived a reclusive life in the Main World, didn’t stir up trouble, and had no enemies, so he had no use for one. Besides, the Five Ren Flying Sabers from the Otherworld were sufficient for now.

「A short while later.」

Elder Mo returned holding an object, which he carefully placed on the table.

"This item is called the Purifying Heart Bodhi. It’s refined from a certain type of Spiritual Plant, and wearing it can protect the Primordial Spirit."

Zhu Ju reached out and picked it up.

The Purifying Heart Bodhi resembled a Jade Pendant, or perhaps an unknown fruit pit. It was cool to the touch and instantly refreshed his mind.

He tested it briefly.

A cool stream flowed into his Sea of Consciousness, sharpening his senses and even providing a slight amplification to his Divine Soul Power.

It also felt like an invisible shield protecting his Divine Soul; any external force would have to break through this shield before it could harm him.

What a great item!

Zhu Ju’s heart stirred. He silently estimated that this item should be able to block a Spiritual Soul Attack from a Mage Peak, and could even partially resist a Great Mage Secret Technique.

"How much?"

"Three hundred Low Grade Spirit Stones," Elder Mo said with a smile.

"There aren’t many Magical Artifacts that can affect the Divine Soul. Although this item’s grade isn’t high, it’s not cheap to procure."

The corner of Zhu Ju’s mouth twitched.

Three hundred Low Grade Spirit Stones?

That’s enough to buy a Middle Grade Spiritual Artifact, isn’t it?

In the past few days, he had sold almost everything he had, and had only managed to get a little over two hundred Spirit Stones.

"Elder Mo."

After thinking for a moment, he took out a few bottles of ’Buddha’s Heart Dew’ and handed them over.

"What do you think this is worth?"

*

*

*

Walking out of the Treasure Pavilion, Zhu Ju rubbed his Qiankun Bag, his heart aching at the expense. He felt like he had been squeezed dry.

"A great harvest..."

"...emptied in the blink of an eye!"

Shaking his head, he turned and walked towards a Dark Workshop not far away.

The Dark Workshop wasn’t for illicit dealings, but rather to provide convenience for buyers and sellers who preferred not to be seen.

Here,

buyers and sellers could trade with each other, and the Dark Workshop would take a certain commission, essentially acting as a platform.

After paying the commission and writing down his terms, Zhu Ju sat behind a screen and waited for customers.

He wasn’t worried about finding a buyer.

Because the item he had was sure to sell.

「Before long.」

A familiar fragrant scent drifted over, and a figure sat down on the other side of the screen. A slightly breathless voice spoke up,

"You’re selling an Innate Pill?"

It was her!

Ning Ruxue.

Zhu Ju froze for a second. He touched the mask on his face and lowered his voice.

"That’s right."

"I have one Innate Pill for sale. You can have it inspected. You’ve seen the price, so if it’s acceptable, hand over the Spirit Stones."

"I..." Ning Ruxue’s voice was full of anxiety.

"I don’t have quite enough Spirit Stones. Can I use other items to make up the difference?"

’It’d be a miracle if you did!’

Zhu Ju sneered, and his voice turned cold.

"What do you have to trade?"

"Iron Evil Stone, Yellow Millet, and a rather special kind of Spirit Stone," came Ning Ruxue’s voice.

"Yellow Millet?" Zhu Ju was taken aback.

"You have Yellow Millet?"

"A little." Ning Ruxue’s voice was faint. Immediately after, a few grains of rice were pushed through from the other side of the screen.

Just this little...

Zhu Ju was a bit speechless.

"Take out everything you have. I’ll appraise it."

"Okay!"

Seeing that the person behind the screen didn’t mind a trade, Ning Ruxue’s spirits lifted.