Zhu Yiqun

PS: I saw everyone's feedback on the previous chapter. Chuxin has now made major revisions. My sincere apologies.

After leaving the shop, Song Changsheng turned into a narrow alley. When he emerged again, he had an extra cloak draped over himself, hiding him from head to toe.

He also activated the Breath Concealment Technique. This secret art from the Dao Scripture could conceal not only his aura and cultivation, but even the fluctuations of his spiritual power.

Not to mention Qi Condensation Stage cultivators—even Foundation Establishment Cultivators would be unable to see through him without some special method.

The reason he was being so mysterious was mainly because he knew his own limits.

During This Period, he had not only severely injured Chang Tianhua, but had also ground the Earth Fire Sect's dignity into the dirt during the artifact-refining competition.

Song Changsheng did not believe for a moment that the Earth Fire Sect did not want him dead.

Although fighting was strictly forbidden in the Market, it was better to be cautious just in case.

"There really aren't many people on the streets during ordinary days. I should head to the Central Plaza and see whether I can find anything worthwhile."

He had already asked Song Luyuan about it. Most cultivators in the Market usually conducted their trades at the Central Plaza, so there were rarely many people on the streets.

Sure enough, the Central Plaza was exceptionally lively. Rogue Cultivators had set up stalls everywhere, selling an astonishing variety of goods. Hawking cries rang out without end, giving Song Changsheng the illusion that he had wandered into a country fair.

He strolled through the various stalls with great interest and discovered that there really were some things worth stopping for, such as the inconspicuous talisman brush at an old cultivator's stall.

Though it gave off no spiritual glow, Song Changsheng's attainments in artifact refinement allowed him to see its extraordinary qualities. It was certainly worth acquiring for a Talisman Master.

But there was no need for him to buy it.

After wandering and stopping along the way, he eventually paused before a stall selling ores. Its owner was a sharp-mouthed, monkey-cheeked Middle-aged Man. The moment he saw Song Changsheng stop, he greeted him enthusiastically.

"Fellow Daoist, feel free to look around and take your pick. These are all rare raw ores, things you normally wouldn't get to see."

Song Changsheng crouched down, his gaze sweeping over the ores of every color as he casually asked, "Fellow Daoist, how are these stones priced?"

The Middle-aged Cultivator rubbed his hands together. "One spirit stone each. Every single one is one spirit stone."

"Could it be that Fellow Daoist takes me for a fool? These ores haven't even been refined. They're all raw ore and simply aren't worth that price." Song Changsheng gave a cold laugh.

"Fellow Daoist, listen to yourself. There are quite a few second-tier ores in here. If you buy one, you'll have struck it rich."

The Middle-aged Cultivator smiled with an utterly harmless expression, but Song Changsheng would not believe a single word he said.

There were indeed second-tier ores among them, but they were all flawed goods that could not be refined at all. The more one bought, the more one lost.

However, those were not Song Changsheng's target. His eyes were on the inconspicuous stone in the corner. It looked like first-tier Kongming Iron.

Yet Song Changsheng faintly sensed a trace of Water Spiritual Energy fluctuating within it. Kongming Iron should not possess such a thing, which made him curious.

"Three spirit stones. Let me choose five. Your goods are only worth this much." Song Changsheng took out three spirit stones.

"Fine, fine." The Middle-aged Cultivator accepted the spirit stones, his face blooming with delight.

After all, he had scavenged these ores from abandoned mine tunnels. They had cost him nothing.

Besides that piece of Kongming Iron, Song Changsheng selected four fairly good metal ores. Even if the Kongming Iron held no surprise, these would still let him earn a little.

After putting away the ores, Song Changsheng continued wandering around. After making a circuit, he spent another ten spirit stones to buy a damaged formation base from a stall, then five spirit stones on a piece of fragmented jade.

Just as he was reaching the end, a scrawny old cultivator suddenly blocked his path and said mysteriously, "Young friend, I have a map to an ancient ruin here. This old man sees that your talent is extraordinary, and that you possess the bearing to become a saint or an ancestor.

"As long as you pay one hundred spirit stones, this old man will sell you this ancestral treasure map. What do you say?"

As he spoke, he lifted a corner of his Daoist robe, revealing a worn beast-skin map.

Song Changsheng was instantly speechless. To think he had actually run into such a low-grade scam.

He had not wanted to bother with him, but he wanted to see what exactly the man had forged. So he feigned interest and said, "Senior, you've talked it up until flowers rain from the heavens. At least let me take a look. Otherwise, how am I supposed to know whether what you're saying is true or false?"

Seeing Song Changsheng take the bait, the old cultivator readily took out the map. "Inspect it as you please."

Song Changsheng accepted it and found that this fellow truly had a knack for forgery. Never mind whether the contents were genuine; merely in terms of aging the map, he had achieved a level that could pass falsehood off as truth.

Even with Song Changsheng's discerning eye, he could only spot minute flaws. Had it been some Young Cultivator still green in the ways of the world, seeing such lifelike workmanship, he would probably have believed it halfway at once.

Just as Song Changsheng was about to ask a few more questions, a familiar voice sounded beside his ear. "You old man, you're swindling people here again! Fellow Daoist, everything he sells is fake. Do not let him fool you."

Hearing This, the old cultivator was so anxious that he began stamping his feet. "Zhu Fatty, what nonsense are you spouting?"

Song Changsheng turned around and saw a huge, plump man in brocade robes standing behind him.

He had some impression of this person. He had seen him when he had first arrived at the Market, and the other man had even wanted to befriend him. His name seemed to be... "a whole herd of pigs?"

He had originally thought the man harbored ulterior motives, but now it seemed that he possessed a measure of chivalrous spirit.

Many people could see through this scam, but he was the only one willing to step forward for a completely unrelated stranger.

"Fellow Daoist, every word I said is true. Believe it or not, that is up to you." Zhu Yiqun completely ignored the old cultivator, who was hopping mad, and spoke earnestly to Song Changsheng.

Song Changsheng nodded in agreement. "That is indeed the case. Although the method used to age this map is clever, the sense of long-decayed rot on the beast skin is still far too lacking."

The moment the old cultivator heard that, his expression changed drastically. For a moment, he did not even want his ancestral map anymore. He slipped directly into the crowd and vanished without a trace.

Song Changsheng had no intention of pursuing him, because the Pig brother before him interested him even more.

Zhu Yiqun shook his head with a bitter smile. "So Fellow Daoist had discovered it long ago. It seems I was merely showing off my cleverness."

Song Changsheng gave a cupped fist salute. "Fellow Daoist Pig, we meet again."

The fat man asked in surprise, "Fellow Daoist knows me?"

"We once crossed paths outside the Market. I wonder whether Fellow Daoist still remembers?"

Zhu Yiqun immediately understood Song Changsheng's identity and could not help but laugh. "So it was you. Then should I address you as Fellow Daoist Shen or Fellow Daoist Song?"

Now it was Song Changsheng's turn to be stunned.

"Fellow Daoist need not be surprised. After all, your great name is truly known to everyone in this Market. Half a year ago, I also witnessed your exquisite formation-inscription method here.

"From that time onward, I knew that Fellow Daoist Shen was also Fellow Daoist Song. Back then, I already felt that I was fated to meet Fellow Daoist. Who would have thought that when we met again today, I would be showing off my skills before an expert?"