Witch Clan Secret Market

Stepping onto a path paved with giant white beast bones, the thick miasma around them seemed to be pushed aside by an invisible force, creating a relatively clear passage.

The beast bones underfoot were cold and hard, emitting a faint pressure. Clearly, they were not ordinary creatures in life.

Zhiwei's heart still pounded with lingering fear. She followed closely behind Li Su, whispering, "Fellow Daoist Mo Xing, that was terrifying... Those Witch People, and that Old Witch Doctor, their aura was so fearsome. Did they let us pass because of some 'Buzhou resonance' on you?"

Li Su's body swayed slightly. He scanned his divine sense around, confirming their safety before replying, "I'm not entirely sure myself. Perhaps it's some past encounter that left behind a special aura, which they happened to sense."

He didn't elaborate on the "Bedrock Rune," as it was a matter of great importance.

Zhiwei seemed to understand but didn't press further, her gaze towards Li Su now holding a bit more mystery and awe.

The bone bridge wound its way deeper into the marsh. Gray-black miasma churned on both sides, with occasional giant shadows swimming within, emitting heart-stopping auras. Yet, none dared to approach the bone bridge.

Beneath the bridge, in the dark marsh water, large bubbles occasionally surfaced, bursting and releasing an even more pungent, decaying odor.

They traveled quickly without a word. After about half a day, the miasma ahead gradually thinned, and the edge of the marsh became faintly visible.

However, just then, the miasma on one side of the bone bridge suddenly rippled. A smaller figure emerged, blocking their path.

It was a Witch Person who looked like a human youth. He had bronze skin, lively eyes, wore less body paint and more refined leather armor, and held a bone dagger in his hand.

He curiously sized up Li Su, especially the Mo Xing bamboo, and then spoke, "Hey! You bamboo spirit! Are you the outsider that Grandpa Zhu mentioned, the one carrying the 'Buzhou resonance'?"

Li Su stopped. He scanned the youth with his divine sense. This young Witch Person's strength was roughly equivalent to an early-stage Earth Immortal. His aura was pure, and he bore no ill will. "Indeed. Little friend, do you have any instructions?"

The young Witch Person scratched his head and said, "My name is Chi. Grandpa Zhu asked me to wait for you here and take you somewhere."

Li Su's heart stirred. "Take me where? We still need to travel."

"Don't worry, it won't take much of your time. It's a good place, very important to us Witch Clan, and outsiders can't enter! Grandpa Zhu said you might be interested." Chi's tone carried a hint of pride and mystery. "Besides, you might find something you need there."

Something I need? Li Su mused. The Old Witch Doctor, though appearing rough, was actually quite cunning. He specifically sent someone to wait for them, which must have a deeper meaning. Perhaps it was an opportunity? Moreover, the other party had expressed goodwill; refusing rashly might lead to complications.

"In that case, I'll trouble you to lead the way, little friend." Li Su decided to go and see.

Chi grinned, looking very pleased. "Follow me!" He turned and plunged into the nearby miasma.

Li Su and Zhiwei followed closely. Chi moved his bone dagger, and the miasma ahead naturally parted, revealing a small path. It was clear he was extremely familiar with this place.

After many twists and turns, the area ahead suddenly opened up, revealing a vast, rudimentary plaza built from giant beast bones and black boulders.

The plaza was surprisingly lively! Many Witch People were gathered there, setting up stalls and exchanging various items.

The goods were diverse: beast bones and teeth emitting powerful Bloodline Power, all sorts of peculiar ores and herbs, and even fragments of incomplete artifacts inscribed with ancient Witch script.

The "currency" for transactions consisted mostly of the vital essence or souls of fierce beasts, or special ores.

This was actually a trading market within the Witch Clan!

Seeing Chi leading a bamboo and a Rabbit Demon into the market, the Witch People cast curious glances. However, sensing the faint "Buzhou resonance" on Li Su and Chi's presence, they showed no hostility, only murmuring amongst themselves.

"Little Chi, why did you bring an outsider in?" a burly Witch Person tending a stall asked in a deep voice.

Chi puffed out his chest. "Grandpa Zhu agreed! Fellow Daoist Bamboo carries the 'Buzhou resonance,' he's an honored guest!"

Upon hearing "Grandpa Zhu" and "Buzhou resonance," the Witch People immediately became respectful and asked no further questions, merely observing Li Su with curiosity.

Chi led Li Su through the market, whispering, "This is our tribe's secret market, open only to our own people. Occasionally, people from other friendly tribes visit. You can't find many of these things outside. Grandpa Zhu said you cultivate Stellar Power, so you might need this." He pointed to a stall in a corner.

The stall owner was a taciturn old woman. Only a few unremarkable, dark stones were displayed on her stall. However, Li Su could sense that these stones contained extremely pure Stellar Power! Even purer and denser than the fragments of Stellar Crystal Stone he had obtained before!

"Is this... a Meteor Core?" Li Su's divine sense fluctuated. He had seen similar records in the miscellaneous chapters of the Minor Chiliad Array Analysis. These were the cores formed after fragments of celestial bodies fell and were scoured by subterranean Evil Qi for eons, shedding impurities. They contained the most fundamental essence of stars and were extremely rare!

The old woman raised her eyelids and glanced at Li Su, her voice hoarse. "Three drops of Celestial Immortal-grade fierce beast heart blood, or equivalent."

The price was steep. Celestial Immortal-grade fierce beast heart blood was extremely difficult to obtain. Li Su had no such items on him, and the old woman clearly didn't want spirit stones.

He pondered for a moment and took out an item: the jade slip containing the Fiend Blood Spirit Refining Art, obtained from the short cultivator of the Fiend Blood Sect.

"This is a method for manipulating blood fiend energy. Although it's not orthodox, it might offer some reference for your tribe in tempering Blood Essence and honing combat techniques. May I exchange it?"

The old woman took the jade slip and probed it with her divine sense. A glint flashed in her cloudy eyes. The Witch Clan did not cultivate Primordial Spirits but valued Blood Essence and willpower. Such a method could indeed provide some different ideas.

She looked Li Su over carefully, then sensed the "Buzhou resonance" on him, and slowly nodded. "Deal."

The trade was made. Li Su exchanged the useless jade slip for three pigeon-egg-sized Meteor Cores.

Holding the Meteor Cores, the pure and immense primal Stellar Power made his bamboo body tremble slightly. This was definitely a good thing! It would be of great benefit to his cultivation of Stellar abilities and tempering his bamboo body!

Seeing the transaction completed, Chi whispered again, "Grandpa Zhu also told me to tell you that if you keep heading northwest, past the 'Wall of Sighs,' you'll see the Kunlun territory. But that place... has been unstable recently. There are reports of fierce beast tides and... some unwelcome shadows are active. He told me to be sure to be careful."

Wall of Sighs? Unwelcome shadows? Li Su noted this information, feeling even more grateful to the Old Witch Doctor. "Thank you, little friend. Please also thank Senior Zhu for me."

Leaving the Witch Clan's secret market and returning to the bone bridge, and finally exiting the Shadowed Marsh, Zhiwei let out a long sigh of relief, patting her chest. "That was... so intense. I never expected the inside of the Witch Clan to be like this." She then looked curiously at the Meteor Cores in Li Su's hand. "Fellow Daoist Mo Xing, do these stones seem very powerful?"

"Yes, this item is of great benefit to me." Li Su put away the Meteor Cores and looked towards the northwest. "Let's go. The road ahead seems even more perilous."

The Wall of Sighs, beast tides, unwelcome shadows... The path to Kunlun would apparently not be smooth sailing.