Earth Fire Sect's Counterattack

"So this was Liuyun Market. It didn't look as lively as the rumors claimed." Dust-covered from travel, Song Changsheng looked at the cluster of buildings in the distance and muttered.

"Is this your first time here, Fellow Daoist?"

Song Changsheng followed the voice and saw a fair, plump man walking toward him from nearby. The fat man wore golden brocade robes, with a round face and tiny eyes, and he looked exceedingly honest.

I can't see through this man's cultivation. Song Changsheng narrowed his eyes, immediately becoming vigilant.

The other man looked about the same age as him, yet his aura seemed to be concealed by something, making it impossible to discern.

"What business do you have with me, Fellow Daoist?" Song Changsheng asked blandly, giving a cupped-fist salute.

"My name is Zhu Yiqun. I mean no harm. I merely saw that you possessed an extraordinary bearing and distinguished temperament, Fellow Daoist, and wished to make a friend." Zhu Yiqun revealed an honest smile.

Zhu Yiqun? Someone actually had that name? Song Changsheng's expression became somewhat strange, but his mouth spun a wild tale. "My name is Shen Changsong. It is a pleasure to meet you, Fellow Daoist, but my elder is waiting for me in the market. Please excuse me."

With that, Song Changsheng turned decisively and headed into the market.

Though this fat man did not look like a vicious sort, making friends was out of the question.

It was like walking down the street one day when an old guy suddenly sprang out, grabbed you, and declared that your bones were extraordinary and your talent unparalleled, so he wanted to accept you as his disciple.

Wasn't that complete nonsense?

If he had not been unable to see through the other man's cultivation, Song Changsheng would not even have been in the mood to speak with him.

Watching Song Changsheng's departing back, Zhu Yiqun rubbed his rounded chin. "Still so young, yet already at the Qi Condensation Eighth Layer. His Spiritual Power is also remarkably profound. He should not be a Rogue Cultivator.

"But within Ling Province, I have never heard of such a young prodigy surnamed Shen. Shen Changsong... interesting. I hope that the next time we meet, I can become friends with you."

After saying that, he too waddled toward the market with his great belly thrust out...

Liuyun Market covered a considerable area and was overall circular in shape. There was an entrance in each of its four directions—east, south, west, and north—all of them broad, straight stone-paved streets.

Various shops and inns lined both sides of the streets. At this time, however, they were utterly deserted, nowhere near as bustling as the rumors had suggested.

Only a sparse few people walked the streets, immediately robbing Song Changsheng of any desire to browse around. Recalling the route map in his mind, he headed straight for the Lineage's shop.

The Song Clan had once owned over twenty percent of the shops in the market, but they had all been traded away for various reasons. Only twelve remained now.

However, all these shops occupied prime locations in the market. Each year, they brought the Lineage nearly ten thousand Spirit Stones in income, making them one of its primary economic pillars.

"Treasure Seeking Pavilion. This is the place." Song Changsheng Glanced At the name on the plaque and entered after confirming it was correct.

This Shop occupied a fairly large area and had three floors in total. A redwood counter stood in the center of the First Floor, presumably where payments were handled.

Around the counter stood Liuli display cases half the height of a person, laid out somewhat like the jewelry stores on Blue Star.

All sorts of goods were displayed within. The left side mostly contained finished Magic Artifacts, along with various refined metal ingots and Ores.

The right side held materials taken from Demon Beasts. They had all been processed and could be used directly to Refine Magic Tools.

These items were available to Qi Condensation Cultivators. The things Foundation Establishment Cultivators wanted were generally on the Second Floor, but the immortal path in Ling Province was not flourishing, and Foundation Establishment Cultivators were rarely seen. Sometimes, one could go months without encountering a single one.

Compared to the desolation elsewhere, this place was somewhat better. At a glance, he saw more than ten Cultivators in varied attire selecting goods.

Three Cultivators dressed in the Lineage's uniform were introducing merchandise to them. They were perhaps too busy, and For a Moment, no one noticed him.

Song Changsheng was in no hurry. He walked over to the display cases and began looking around To Oneself.

The Shop carried an extremely rich variety of goods.

Attack, defense, assistance, and other different functions had been divided into more than a dozen categories. Many strangely shaped Magic Artifacts were things Song Changsheng had never seen before, bringing him no small amount of inspiration.

However, the quality of these Magic Artifacts was rather low. Most were First-Tier Low Grade or middle-grade, and many of them did not even have an Array inscribed on them.

There were generally two reasons for this situation: either the Shop's Artifact Forgers were not skilled enough, or its primary customers were Rogue Cultivators.

After all, only impoverished Rogue Cultivators would choose Magic Artifacts of such inferior quality.

Just as he was examining the wares with great interest, several Young Cultivators in black robes entered from outside. The dark-skinned youth at their head shouted brazenly the moment he stepped through the door, "Shopkeeper! Where's the Shopkeeper?"

A Female Cultivator in her twenties immediately Rushed Forward. Her tone was somewhat cold as she said, "Members of the Chou Clan, please do not make such a commotion, lest you disturb the customers in the Shop."

The instant Song Changsheng heard that they were from the Chou Clan, his brows furrowed.

In Ling Province, there were Six Major Powers. Aside from the Song Clan and Earth Fire Sect, there were also the Chou Clan, Wang Clan, Li Clan, and Yu Clan.

Among them, the Chou Clan and Yu Clan followed Earth Fire Sect. They had always been at odds with the Song Clan, and even saying one extra word to each other was a waste of saliva. Yet now they had come to a Song Clan shop. No matter how one looked at it, they had come with ill intent.

"All right, all right, I understand." The dark-skinned youth agreed readily enough, but he never lowered his voice.

"The Deacon is not here today. If you are not here to purchase goods, then please leave." The Female Cultivator blocking their way immediately became more hostile.

"Ah, Fellow Daoist Song, that is where you are wrong. We have come to place an order to Refine Magic Tools. What, is Treasure Seeking Pavilion going to drive us out?"

The dark-skinned youth looked at Song Changqian with an extravagantly exaggerated expression.

Song Changqian Endured her anger. "We do business with our doors open. Naturally, we will not drive customers away. What kind of Magic Artifacts do you wish to have refined?"

A teasing smile appeared on the dark-skinned youth's face. "I have long heard that Treasure Seeking Pavilion's artifact forging is superb. I want a First-Tier High-Grade Treasure Pearl refined, but it must possess attack, defense, and recovery properties at the same time.

"So long as you can complete it According To my requirements, I am willing to pay five hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones."

"Three different properties at once? Chou Wenxiu, are you joking?" Song Changqian said coldly.

"Joking? You simply cannot do it. So the great and famous Treasure Seeking Pavilion is nothing more than this." Chou Wenxiu shouted provocatively.

The customers inside the Shop immediately revealed expressions of eager anticipation, ready to watch a good show.

"Hmph. Aside from Eight Directions Pavilion, there are only five First-Tier High-Grade Artifact Forgers in all of Liuyun Market. I have never heard of any of them being able to accomplish such a thing," another male Cultivator from the Song Clan said indignantly.

The onlookers all silently nodded. Though they were not Artifact Forgers, they knew that most Magic Artifacts could only possess one property. With every additional property, the difficulty surged more than tenfold.

To possess three properties at once generally required a Second-Tier Artifact Forger to take action.

"Is that so? Then take a look at this!" Chou Wenxiu leisurely took out a Qing Treasure Pearl. With a surge of spiritual energy, three clearly distinct Arrays Appeared at once.

"It really possesses three abilities." The surrounding onlookers were instantly stunned.

"This was refined by a very young Artifact Forging Master from Hundred Treasures Pavilion of Earth Fire Sect. You said it was impossible, so what is this?

"I say that your Song Clan is nothing but an empty reputation. You even claim that your Artifact Forging Technique surpasses all of Ling Province. You truly have no shame at all." Chou Wenxiu immediately began to mock them loudly.

Seeing Song Changqian's shocked expression, Chou Wenxiu secretly reveled in delight. He had investigated long ago—None At All of the Artifact Forgers in Treasure Seeking Pavilion could accomplish this.

He wanted to make the Song Clan lose all face, as the strongest counterattack against the Song Clan's trade sanctions!