The Undercurrents Surge

The two sides could maintain a balance only if their Foundation Establishment cultivators were evenly matched.

Now that balance had been broken.

The Cao and Wu Families would most likely seize this opportunity to force the Zheng Family to surrender its share of the Marketplace's profits.

"But is that Mid Foundation Establishment Ancestor of the Zheng Family really dead?"

Li Chang'an pondered.

He was worried that the peace in the Marketplace would be shattered.

Xu Fugui, however, was worried about something else.

"Big Brother Li, if the Zheng Family fights the other two great families, will they forcibly conscript me?"

His face paled, and he was consumed by anxiety.

After all.

His Spirit Contract with the Zheng Family was still in effect.

If the situation rapidly deteriorated and the Zheng Family suffered too many casualties,

then.

The Zheng Family might very well conscript Rogue Cultivators like them—those who had signed Spirit Contracts—to the front lines.

With Xu Fugui's Third Layer of Qi Condensation cultivation, he would be nothing but cannon fodder on the front lines, with almost no chance of survival.

"Don't panic yet. The situation hasn't reached that point."

Li Chang'an spoke calmly.

Of course.

Xu Fugui was not the only one feeling this anxious.

Before long.

Chu Daniu held a gathering.

Quite a few people attended, almost all of them failed candidates from the Immortal Sect Gate who had come to the Marketplace together with them.

Though they were not Hometown Fellows, they could still be considered longtime friends.

Now, every one of them had lost their heads in panic.

"What should we do now?"

"Everyone, how about we run?"

"Breaking the Spirit Contract doesn't necessarily mean death. I know a senior who has a way to withstand the backlash from a Spirit Contract!"

Everyone talked over one another, throwing the gathering into chaos.

Chu Daniu had some prestige among them, so he hurriedly spoke up to calm everyone down.

However.

He himself was also deeply uneasy.

This was the helplessness of low-level cultivators.

Powerless to change anything, they could only drift with the tide, pleading for a brief stretch of peace.

This scene.

Left Li Chang'an feeling somewhat emotional.

Wasn't he the same?

In this life, I must strive to climb higher, step by step, until I reach the very summit. As long as my strength is formidable enough, no matter how the world changes, I will remain as immovable as a mountain.

Li Chang'an's heart of the Dao grew ever firmer.

Afterward.

He went to visit the Beast Tamer Wang Hu.

This senior had broader connections than he did, and his information was also more reliable.

"There's something strange about this matter. Someone must be secretly fanning the flames, trying to muddy the waters and throw the entire Marketplace into chaos."

Wang Hu said with a frown.

"A Foundation Establishment Ancestor is immensely powerful, far beyond what a Qi Refining cultivator can compare with. They wouldn't die so easily."

"Thank you for telling me, Senior!"

Hearing this, Li Chang'an formed a vague suspicion in his heart.

Soon, he rose and took his leave.

He also visited the Hundred Treasures Pavilion and asked Shopkeeper Qian.

After all, Shopkeeper Qian was the Zheng Family's son-in-law and knew more about the matter.

However, he did not reveal much. He merely told Li Chang'an to return home and wait quietly.

"Fellow cultivator Li, you will know in a few days."

"Thank you, Shopkeeper Qian."

Hearing this, Li Chang'an was mostly reassured.

He had more or less guessed at the thoughts of the Zheng Family and the Cao and Wu Families.

Next.

All he needed to do was wait quietly.

Several days later.

Just as the Marketplace was growing more and more chaotic.

A powerful aura suddenly erupted in the Market Central Area.

Everyone felt unbearably oppressed.

"A Foundation Establishment Ancestor!"

Many people showed horrified expressions and looked toward the very center of the Marketplace.

The Zheng Family's Foundation Establishment Ancestor.

He had finally appeared!

Moreover, he was the very Mid Foundation Establishment Ancestor rumored to have fallen.

His face was ruddy, his Essence, Qi, Spirit brimming with vitality, and his aura overwhelmingly powerful. There was not even the slightest sign that he had been injured!

"Greetings, Senior!"

The nearby Rogue Cultivators hurriedly saluted, not daring to show the slightest disrespect.

Just as everyone was being cowed by the Foundation Establishment Aura.

Squads of Zheng Family cultivators suddenly appeared and rushed toward every area of the Marketplace. The moment they struck, they moved with thunderous force, capturing numerous cultivators on the spot.

"Why are you arresting me?"

"Fellow seniors, have you made a mistake?"

"I only came to the Marketplace to do business! I still have a wife, children, and elderly parents at home..."

Some people looked terrified and begged loudly for mercy.

Others fought back desperately.

In the end, they were killed on the spot, blood splattering three feet!

The stench of blood gradually thickened and spread throughout the Clear River Market.

After everything ended.

The Zheng Family issued a notice, declaring:

"Everyone arrested or killed today had colluded with the other two great families and attempted to disrupt the Marketplace's order."

The truth was more or less as Li Chang'an had guessed.

The other two great families had secretly spread rumors, hoping to throw the Clear River Market into chaos.

After all, this Marketplace was the Zheng Family's golden goose.

The Zheng Family had not immediately refuted the rumors. Instead, they had used this opportunity to uncover the spies the two great families had planted in the Marketplace and wipe them out in one fell swoop!

Upon learning the news.

Xu Fugui and the others were immensely relieved.

"That's wonderful! The Zheng Family's Foundation Establishment Ancestor is fine!"

The stronger the Zheng Family was, the more secure they would be.

Li Chang'an fell into thought.

His eyes flickered as he glanced at the Market Central Area.

"Is that Foundation Establishment Ancestor really all right?"

This incident.

Though it had not caused the Zheng Family any great losses.

It was obvious that quite a few people had already lost faith in the Zheng Family.

The atmosphere in the Clear River Market had also grown somewhat gloomy.

However.

That evening.

A piece of news suddenly spread.

"The Zheng Family is going to hold an Auction!"

"This Auction will have not only all kinds of treasures rarely seen on ordinary days, but also Legacy of Immortal cultivation arts, as well as auxiliary ingredients for a Foundation Establishment Pill..."

As soon as the news came out, the atmosphere in the Marketplace erupted once again!

Everyone seemed to have forgotten what had happened over the past few days and began discussing the Auction.

At an ordinary Auction.

The items being auctioned should have been kept secret.

Yet this time, the Zheng Family had actually made every auction item public.

Before long.

Li Chang'an had an auction-item list in his hands.

His eyes swept over the contents of the list.

He could not help clicking his tongue in amazement.

"There really are quite a lot of good things!"

There were more than ten Low-grade First Tier skill Legacies alone!

Beast Taming, Spirit Plants, Gu worms, Mechanism Technique, and so on...

In addition.

There were also three Mid-grade First Tier skill Legacies.

These skill Legacies alone were enough to drive countless Rogue Cultivators into a frenzy.

Not to mention.

There were also a large number of treasures, as well as several types of auxiliary ingredients for a Foundation Establishment Pill!

"Foundation Establishment Pill..."

Li Chang'an mused briefly.

He had already reached the Mid Qi Refining stage and should begin considering Foundation Establishment in the future.

He had to make preparations as early as possible.

"However, this Auction will be crowded and full of watchful eyes. It isn't suitable for me to stand out."

Li Chang'an shook his head slightly, with no intention of competing.

He would wait a little longer.

If his cultivation grew stronger, or if he acquired a sophisticated Spell for altering his aura, then he could make a move at Auctions like this.

That night.

Just after the Midnight Hour.

A streak of Golden Light appeared before Li Chang'an's eyes.

[Divination Result Refreshed]

[Today's Divination Result: Auspicious]

[You attend the Auction and buy a seemingly worthless damaged Puppet, only to discover a High-grade First Tier Puppet Technique Legacy inside it]

"Huh?"

Li Chang'an froze, somewhat astonished.

The Auction could actually yield such a windfall!

In theory.

Every auction item had been carefully inspected by the Zheng Family.

He had never imagined that he could find some overlooked treasure.

The appearance of this Hexagram Image was truly an unexpected delight.