Near secret realms like Filthy Valley, temporary markets often spring up. Barely half a day after the valley opened, cultivators were already trading their findings.
“…Thirty spirit stones for this map. It’s from the last opening and outlines the inner area.”
“Thank you,” Ji Yang said, accepting the jade slip. Examining it, he noticed the inner boundary had shrunk since the last time. Rumors circulated about a cultivator encountering a Yin Curse beast and perishing, drained of life force.
Naturally, only Foundation Establishment cultivators could venture alone into the inner areas. Qi Condensation cultivators needed to team up with multiple Foundation Establishment peers.
After pocketing the map, Ji Yang noticed a commotion nearby. An equipment refining sect had arrived, setting up a flying treasure pavilion for trading.
Remembering Mu Zhanting’s injuries, Ji Yang realized that even with the Wuti Snake venom, it would need refining into a detoxification pill. He also considered needing pills to break through to the Foundation Establishment.
Despite his short cultivation path before body snatching, he had mastered formations, equipment, alchemy, and talismans. This expertise remained undiminished after his transformation.
Inside the pavilion, mostly Qi Condensation cultivators browsed. When Ji Yang explained his needs, the attendant hesitated.
“We’re here for the Filthy Valley hunt. The first floor sells beast-hunting equipment. Alchemy cauldrons are only for Foundation Establishment cultivators. You…”
“No matter,” Ji Yang interrupted. “I’m here on behalf of my sect’s master. Please show me the cauldrons if you have any.”
Seeing Ji Yang’s sect uniform, the attendant led him to the second floor without suspicion.
The spiritual pressure intensified upstairs. Three Foundation Establishment cultivators were present: two elderly guardians and a handsome youth in white fur.
The impatient youth fanned himself, urging, “Yin has already offered 50,000 spirit stones and a fifth-grade spirit herb. Have you decided?”
One elder replied calmly, “Your offer is generous, but this is a sect treasure. We must consult our vice-sect leader.”
The youth slammed his fan on the table. “Nonsense! What use is that silver shark gauze? It’s useless compared to what I’m offering!”
As the elder stalled, Ji Yang examined the cauldrons, half-listening to the argument. The youth seemed familiar. Recalling Nan Yan’s story about a Foundation Establishment cultivator using illusions to buy silver shark gauze, he realized this must be the same person.
Ji Yang discreetly observed, a starry glimmer flickering in his eyes. After a moment, he smiled slightly, realizing the youth was a fox spirit adept at illusions.
“…This three-legged black gold cauldron, forged with Foundation Establishment true fire, increases pill refinement success by 10%. It’s only 700 spirit stones,” the attendant promoted.
Ji Yang suddenly asked, “This cauldron is fine. Also, on behalf of my master, do you have any fox demon cores?”
The white-clad youth stopped arguing and glared at Ji Yang. “What did you say?”
“My master needs it for breakthrough pills,” Ji Yang explained politely. “Elder, your reaction suggests you might have one?”
The youth seemed about to explode but sat back down, gulping spirit tea angrily. “Are you selling or not?” he demanded of the elders.
“Calm down, Daoist Yin,” one elder said, smiling at Ji Yang. “Young friend, what kind of fox demon core do you need?”
“Late to peak Qi Condensation stage would suffice.”
The elder stroked his beard. “Well, we didn’t have any, but one just arrived. Let me extract it for you!”
He suddenly struck at the white-clad youth. Amidst the chaos, the youth’s illusion shattered, revealing a peak Qi Condensation demon cultivator who fled, cursing, “You righteous cultivators are all the same, bullying us demons!”
The elder laughed, “Serves you right for infiltrating human territory!”
As the fight continued outside, Ji Yang calmly completed his purchase. The elder soon returned, apparently not having pursued the demon to the death.
“We’d heard of non-humans deceiving cultivators nearby but couldn’t confirm it. Thanks to your keen eye, we taught that demon a lesson. He won’t dare cause trouble near Filthy Valley for a while. But how did you see through his illusion when even I couldn’t? If I’d known he was just a Qi Condensation demon, I could have prepared to kill him.”
“My sister encountered his illusions before. I only wanted a small lesson taught. Besides, a Qi Condensation demon who can shapeshift must be of high rank. Best not to offend too deeply.”
The elder was impressed. “Young friend, your insight is remarkable. Would you care to stay for spirit tea?”
“I—” Ji Yang began, but then noticed a paper butterfly fluttering outside. “Apologies, I have other matters. Farewell.”
Twenty miles from the market, in an empty courtyard of a wealthy family’s home, a ten-foot snow-white fox with six tails licked its wounds under a chrysanthemum trellis. Its jade-like eyes flashed with anger.
“Puny humans, daring to trick me!” the fox demon fumed. After a moment, it smirked. “I’ll disguise myself as you and deceive everyone, angering all the cultivators.”
The fox transformed into an elegant youth, checking its reflection in a nearby pond. Unsatisfied with its lack of grace, it made faces, unable to capture the right demeanor.
“Just wait until I recover. I’ll make you pay…” the fox grumbled, settling down to heal its wounds.
Meanwhile, Ji Yang followed the paper butterfly to find Nan Yan and Mu Zhanting bickering. They quickly composed themselves upon seeing him approach.
Ji Yang’s gaze swept over their mud-caked appearances, causing Nan Yan to look away sheepishly. He calmly asked, “Why are you covered in dirt?”
Nan Yan and Mu Zhanting replied in unison: “We got into a fight.”
“I can see that,” Ji Yang said, then asked Nan Yan, “Are you hurt?”
Nan Yan extended her small hand pitifully. “My hand aches.”
Mu Zhanting spat blood and complained, “Why don’t you ask if I’m hurt? I chased that demon cultivator for half a mile with a third-grade Wuti Snake on my tail!”
“She’s younger, so naturally I’m concerned about her first,” Ji Yang said, sitting down to massage Nan Yan’s hand. “How did you encounter the demonic cultivator?”
Mu Zhanting recounted their perilous adventure in Filthy Valley, concluding with amazement:
“This girl was so reckless! When she unleashed that golden light, the Wuti Snake started emitting purple smoke and fled in terror. If those cowardly cultivators trapped in the formation with us hadn’t run away after escaping, we could’ve caught not just the corpse puppet, but the demonic cultivator too.”
Ji Yang listened intently, noting their blood-stained and mud-splattered appearances. He gripped Nan Yan’s hand a bit tighter. “Is that true?”
Nan Yan nodded.
Seeing this, Mu Zhanting quickly added, “I tried fighting that corpse puppet too, but couldn’t even dent it. When Ah Yan hit it twice, it howled in pain. Her technique doesn’t seem like Yangue Sects though. I wonder where she learned it.”
Nan Yan had stopped practicing the Seven Buddha Karmic Scripture after reaching mid-stage Qi Condensation, as the later stages sounded terrifyingly demonic. She glanced at Ji Yang, about to speak, when he gently released her hand.
” I’m delighted by any cultivation path she chooses, as long as she’s committed to the immortal dao. As for specific techniques, everyone has their unique encounters. Just as she doesn’t pry into my past, I needn’t investigate hers.”
Ashamed, Nan Yan whispered, “I did practice a technique, but I’m forbidden to discuss it. Once I see Mother at home, I’ll stop practicing it.”
Mu Zhanting interjected, “No, no, keep practicing! As long as you can protect yourself. Hey, Ji Yang, I got the Wuti Snake venom. What other ingredients do we need?”
Ji Yang, surprised at the immediate use of his newly purchased cauldron, replied, “We can buy the auxiliary materials in the market. However, with cultivators of various alignments around, including demonic ones, we should find a quiet place to refine pills and recover.”
Mu Zhanting pointed at the flying cultivators, “Cultivators are everywhere. Where can we find privacy? Should we return to the void-crossing ship?”
Nan Yan jumped up, “Let’s go to my home a day early! It’s near Kong State. We have an old house there. We can see my mother sooner!”
Since boarding the void-crossing ship, Nan Yan had constantly mentioned her mother. Ji Yang had been carefully considering how to comfort her grief and guide her toward his dao. Now, as the moment approached, he hesitated.
“Today?”
“Yes,” Nan Yan counted on her fingers. “There’s a Mid-Autumn Festival fair today. Since we’re finally home, I want to buy some egg yolk mooncakes and honey pastries from the Nan of the city. Mother loves those. What about you, Big Brother?”
Mu Zhanting, slightly wary of Nan Yan’s mother potentially bringing up marriage prospects, waved his hand. “I’ll go with you, but I can’t face your mother without having married you off. I’ll pass.”
Nan Yan exploded, “I still haven’t settled the score about that pig spirit you tried to set me up with! Even if I never marry and die alone, I won’t start a family!”
“I’m sorry, I’ll beat up that pig spirit again next time…”
“No, I’ll beat you up first!”
Mu Zhanting dodged quickly, running away. “You can’t catch me!”
Ji Yang, tired of intervening, watched as Nan Yan chased Mu Zhanting in circles. Once they tired themselves out, he dragged them both away from Filthy Valley.
Kong State wasn’t far from Filthy Valley. After half an hour of swift travel, they saw its massive city walls.
The sun had just set behind the western mountains, painting half the sky a deep blue. Lights began to flicker across the city. In this mortal city without a curfew, the lively atmosphere was already palpable.
Nan Yan and Mu Zhanting, familiar with mortal life, became excited upon entering the city. Ji Yang, however, seemed out of place. As Nan Yan pulled him into the bustling crowd, he maintained his elegant composure but appeared somewhat bewildered.
In the cultivation world, even long-acquainted cultivators maintained a cautious distance. Here in the mortal realm, even strangers stood close enough to feel each other’s body heat.
Nan Yan deftly navigated to a pawn shop, exchanging some jade trinkets from the market for copper coins. Returning, she noticed Mu Zhanting’s absence. “Where’s Big Brother?”
“Zhanting said he’s been to Kong State before. He went to the Guan Di Temple, saying their talismans are effective.”
Nan Yan acknowledged this, then sidled up to Ji Yang. “Our old house is far in the north of the city. Once we see Mother, we won’t have time for the festival. Is there anywhere you’d like to visit, Shao Cang?”
Ji Yang shook his head slightly. “I’ve never been to a more… never been to a festival before.”
Surprised that she could introduce Ji Yang to something new, Nan Yan exclaimed, “Then come with me! I’ll show you fun things and delicious food!”
“I…” Ji Yang was about to say cultivators shouldn’t indulge in mortal food, but something about the autumn night’s lantern-lit atmosphere made him nod instead.
“Alright, I’ll go with you.”