Chapter 85: Chapter 85: Ji Mingyu’s Confidence

Fortunately, in the mirror, the senior sister and junior brother did not have any further intimate contact, nor did they progress to the stage of "baring all."

Otherwise, the snow ferret believed the master would definitely have been unable to restrain herself from barging in.

Nevertheless, watching Chu Xuan and Qin Mengyao’s affectionate behavior still made Ji Mingyu very displeased, causing even the little ferret to tremble in fear, lest the master take out her frustration on it.

On the way back to the sect, the atmosphere between Chu Xuan and his senior sister noticeably changed.

Not only could his fellow disciples sense it, but even the snow ferret could see:

Chu Xuan was exceptionally caring toward the person on his back, worried that she might feel thirsty or hungry, which had previously been a privilege reserved exclusively for their master...

After the figures of this group disappeared from the mirror, Ji Mingyu still sat unmoving, like a statue of ice and snow.

The snow ferret cautiously tried to leave, only to be pulled back by the master.

"Are you very afraid of me?" the woman asked coldly.

The little ferret quickly shook its head.

"Then I ask you, do you think I did wrong?"

This was practically a death question, and the snow ferret felt no matter how it answered, it would be wrong. At this moment, it fervently wished the kind-hearted and innocent young man would return to save it.

Fortunately, Ji Mingyu had no intention of eliciting an answer from it.

She simply spoke in a calm and confident tone, "I have my reasons for doing this."

"One day, Chu Xuan will understand my good intentions and realize I did it for his sake."

"At that time, he will willingly return to my side, definitely."

"Besides, he loves me very much, doesn’t he?"

These words from Ji Mingyu seemed directed at the ferret, but more like speaking to herself.

The snow ferret nodded in cooperation, yet inside it had a foreboding feeling. Would things really go so smoothly?

In any case, eight years flew by, and finally, the time came for Chu Xuan to descend from the mountain for training.

Of course, Ji Mingyu had long been waiting in front of the mirror, feeling very pleased to see Chu Xuan still using the white jade sword.

The snow ferret yawned, resigned to accompanying its master in "watching the show."

...

Chu Xuan’s goal for his journey down the mountain was very clear:

First, attend the Hundred Flower Feast at Wuyou Valley to investigate and clarify the entangled grievances between himself and Ji Mingyu;

Second, go to a certain place in the East Sea to repair an important node;

Third, during the training, temper his Dao heart, broaden his vision, and strive to achieve Core Formation soon.

Luckily, Wuyou Valley is located in the eastern realm, so Chu Xuan didn’t need to run around, and the timing wasn’t tight; the feast won’t be held until two months later, allowing him to travel leisurely.

After leaving the sect, his first stop was a Cultivation Marketplace in the Yunshan area, known as Mountain and Sea Market.

This market was jointly established by several nearby large and small sects, facilitating transactions between local and passing cultivators.

Chu Xuan intended to change his outfit first, and interact more with cultivators from outside.

After all these years of engrossed cultivation within the harmonious and loving environment of Cyan Lotus Daoist Palace, he needed to see the treacherous nature of human hearts outside, lest he be unknowingly deceived one day.

Mountain and Sea Market was built atop a mountain peak, usually concealed by an array, shrouded in clouds and fog, invisible to ordinary people.

When Chu Xuan arrived, it was late at night, but this was precisely when it was bustling, with people pouring through the marketplace.

He flew into the array, accompanied by a conspicuous lamp hovering toward him.

This lamp was called a "Guiding Lamp," activated by Magical Power to obtain information about the market here, typically more formal compared to shady black markets.

As Chu Xuan landed by the market entrance, several low-level loose cultivators approached and offered to guide him.

He simply waved them off and stepped into the market on his own.

Unexpectedly, after walking a few steps, perhaps Chu Xuan appeared too much like a naive disciple fresh from the sect, a cloaked man with an unsavory look approached quickly and whispered, "Want some Happy Water?"

Startled, Chu Xuan thought, wow, drugs?!

Damn it, he was about to praise the market for being reputable, but they’re openly peddling drugs. Can this cultivation world’s drugs really corrode a cultivator’s will and make them dependent on it?

He hastily waved his hand to indicate he didn’t want any.

The cloaked man saw Chu Xuan seemed a bit frightened and couldn’t help but chuckle, "Brother, did you misunderstand something?"

"Haven’t heard of Happy Water’s reputation? It’s also called ’Soul Capturing Bliss Water.’"

As he spoke, his face revealed that knowing, lecherous smile that all men understood.

Chu Xuan felt a bit embarrassed; it turns out it wasn’t drugs, but judging by the name, was it some kind of aphrodisiac?

The man continued enthusiastically promoting it:

"Heard of the Celestial Evil Demon Venerable’s name, right? This is a fun thing he personally concocted in years past."

"Even if she’s a virtuous fairy or chaste woman, just a sip of this stuff will make her fall at your feet, turning her into a wanton woman at your beck and call, unable to ever leave you."

Chu Xuan’s expression changed slightly. Was he really such a beast back in the day? Did he really research something like this?

And also, is the Celestial Evil so famous? He had just stepped out the door and immediately heard his name from someone else’s mouth.

The cloaked man continued to exaggerate:

"The effect of this Bliss Water, everyone who’s used it says it’s good, and very few seniors can refine it. I paid a huge price to get this batch; if you miss it today, you might not be able to buy it next time..."

Wait, Bliss Water??

The more Chu Xuan listened to the man repeat it, the more familiar it sounded.

Hey, hey, could it be the legendary ’Fat Happy Water’!

Chu Xuan was both amused and helpless, he probably understood what was going on.

Coca-Cola, something he loved back in his Earth days, probably was something the Celestial Evil Demon Venerable tried to replicate in this world after his success, and he seemed quite satisfied with his significant achievement.

But from his mutterings, others would automatically think along more salacious lines. What? The Celestial Evil Demon Venerable made something called "Bliss Water"?

Needless to say, it must be a lust poison, an aphrodisiac!

Chu Xuan hadn’t problem witnessing the public’s ability to pass on rumors, this was just another instance of it.

If this guess was correct, then what the cloaked man was selling was either a complete fake, just a scam to get money.

Or it might have a slight arousing effect, but it’s just a counterfeit, riding on the Demon Venerable’s name to sell at a high price and fleece unwary customers.

And now, in others’ eyes, Chu Xuan was that unwary customer.

Once he understood this, he wanted to refuse but couldn’t help his curiosity – what if he was wrong? Should he buy it to verify?

Don’t get it wrong; Chu Xuan had no intention of harming others, heaven and earth can vouch!

Seeing Chu Xuan’s expression change several times, finally turning to hesitation, the cloaked man lowered his voice, speaking in an enticing tone:

"The last bottle, only a hundred top-grade spirit stones, or equivalent magical treasures, pills, etc., will you buy it or not?"

Whoa, asking for the moon!

Chu Xuan was about to haggle, when two Cultivation Marketplace patrol cultivators, noticing the unusual situation, quickly approached.

The man hurriedly pulled up his cloak, ducked his head, and fled in panic, resembling unscrupulous vendors from his past life who fled at the sight of city inspectors.

"Hey! Don’t leave."

Chu Xuan couldn’t help but complain in his heart, really? Did you have to be so by-the-book? Couldn’t you at least wait until after I made a purchase to swoop in?

As expected, the two cultivators came over and advised Chu Xuan not to easily believe such disreputable vendors. Whatever he wants to buy, he should either purchase from the official stalls in the marketplace or browse the stall area.

Chu Xuan dared not say that what he wanted to buy was "Bliss Water," an item legitimate shops might not carry, so he just nodded and left.

In fact, ever since he entered the marketplace, he had caught someone’s eye.

Particularly Chu Xuan’s startled, novice look when facing a crooked vendor, which prompted that person to internally label him as a "sitting duck."

...

Chu Xuan wandered around the marketplace, filled with a dazzling array of shops selling all sorts of wares.

He had no shortage of magical treasures or talismans and wasn’t interested in pretty jewelry or ornate magical robes, but he did check out a few fabric and garment shops.

Mainly because Chu Xuan wanted to change into the attire of a fortune teller, and also, a banner embroidered with the large characters [Iron Mouth Oracle] seemed essential, right?

After spending some time assembling his outfit, Chu Xuan didn’t immediately change into it but wandered to the northern market, where people set up stalls.

Generally, cultivators who can’t afford or don’t need a shop might find it more convenient to set up a casual stall, only paying a small daily stall fee, which was fairly acceptable.

Moreover, there were quite a few enthusiasts hoping for bargains, so the northern market was quite bustling.

Chu Xuan walked curiously among the crowd, with all sorts of bargaining sounds in his ears.

"These paper effigies from the [Northern Underworld] are top-notch, whether you burn them for family and friends or use them yourself, we guarantee your satisfaction."

Use them yourself? Chu Xuan, intrigued, turned his head and saw that the stall owner was directing a pair of paper effigies—a man and a woman—to serve tea, pour water, and even massage shoulders, which was quite extraordinary.

"Top-quality body refining elixir, one shot is worth ten years of hard training, come take a look~"

Wait, a shot? Chu Xuan wondered if he had misheard and quickly moved over to that speaker’s stall.

The stall owner, a robust male cultivator, eagerly greeted the incoming customer: "Brother, are you also into body refinement? I could tell just by looking at you, your bone structure is extraordinary, surely with top-notch drug tolerance."

"Why not buy a dose? I guarantee one shot will increase your physical strength tenfold!"

Chu Xuan stared blankly at the bottles of injectables on the stall and the accompanying syringes, wondering if this too was a "masterpiece" of the Celestial Evil Demon Venerable?

It seemed his role as a transmigrator was not in vain.

Seeing Chu Xuan’s fixation on the syringes, a kindly cultivator nearby offered an explanation: "Little brother, although you don’t seem like the type to follow the body refinement route, I must remind you."

"Traditionally, the cultivation world respected natural body refining, but in recent centuries, some people have taken to injections and pills, which is a crooked path. You’d be better off not using these things."