Heavenly Master Demon Subduing Staff, Fire Cloud Formation

"The entry point to the Ghost Market changes every time?"

"No wonder I didn't see anyone at the Luo Family Archway last time."

Song Chengan looked at the pond before him, hesitating.

Duck Herding Candy.

It was a pond on the west side of the city.

Locals usually liked to keep ducks in it or wash their clothes, hence the name.

But the problem was…

Song Chengan reached out and tested the water in the pond.

It was real water, alright.

He felt that if he jumped in directly, he'd most likely end up a drowned rat.

"This feels like a prank."

Song Chengan shook his head.

Then, he jumped in.

He knew how to swim anyway.

It wouldn't hurt to try.

Song Chengan fell into the water, and darkness surged.

But immediately, the Ghost Token in his hand vibrated slightly.

Then, he appeared in the Ghost Market.

"So that's how it is."

"I wondered why the Ghost Token vibrated last time."

"Only the Ghost Token combined with the correct entry method allows one to enter the Ghost Market."

"The power behind this Ghost Market must have an astonishing background."

Song Chengan didn't understand formations.

But he knew that a power capable of establishing this Ghost Market in almost every county and prefecture across the Chen Kingdom must be an unfathomably great existence.

If nothing else.

This constantly changing entrance to the Ghost Market alone was an incredibly profound formation.

Formation?

If he had the chance, Song Chengan also wanted to become a formation master.

With my Void Heaven Mirror's Illusionary Body, I have a unique advantage in comprehending formations.

Song Chengan thought.

Of course, he could only think about it for now.

For a rogue cultivator, how could it be easy to get started with formations, elixirs, and the like?

These inheritances were all held by the major sects and aristocratic families.

Passed down through generations.

"There's a monopoly everywhere, huh."

Song Chengan arrived at the Blacksmith Shop.

"Shopkeeper, I'm here to pick up my weapon."

Song Chengan took out the slip of paper.

"Ah, it's you, Fellow Daoist!"

The blacksmith clearly remembered Song Chengan. He smiled, took the slip, and then brought out a long staff.

The staff was forged from fine iron, two zhang and three cun long, entirely black, and engraved with demon-subduing patterns.

"Fellow Daoist, see if it suits you."

Song Chengan took it and swung it.

"It's perfect, thank you!"

"Fellow Daoist truly has innate divine strength."

The blacksmith exclaimed.

Innate divine strength?

Song Chengan was taken aback when he heard this.

Don't all cultivators gain this kind of strength after practicing?

Perhaps it was just flattery.

Song Chengan left the Blacksmith Shop and began to wander around the Ghost Market.

"The entrance to this Ghost Market is at Duck Herding Pond. People will come to release ducks before dawn."

"I need to go back early."

Song Chengan didn't want anyone saying Scholar Song was crazy tomorrow, like he went to the pond to bathe in the early morning.

"Buy a staff technique."

Song Chengan started looking for places selling Martial Arts Manuals.

"Shopkeeper, how much is this?"

Song Chengan's heart stirred.

He saw a Demon Core.

The size of a fingernail.

A Fish Demon's Demon Core.

"One hundred Talisman Coins."

The stall owner was an old man over sixty. He said with a smile.

Song Chengan gave a sound of understanding and put down the Demon Core.

Then he turned and walked towards the Daoist Priest who had bought his Demon Core last time.

"Daoist Priest..."

"Oh, my goodness..." The Daoist Priest saw Song Chengan, rolled up the cloth on the ground, and took to his heels.

This Daoist Priest was skilled in footwork. He disappeared in a few leaps.

"Are there any manuals like staff techniques for sale..."

Doing business in the Ghost Market is interesting.

These people are like general store vendors, selling everything.

Magic Tools, elixirs, manuals.

Take the Daoist Priest who bought Song Chengan's Demon Core last time, for example.

He bought and resold things at the same time.

Song Chengan saw some manuals on his stall, so he asked.

But the Daoist Priest clearly misunderstood.

He thought Song Chengan had come to cause trouble.

"This Daoist Priest is truly a startled bird."

Song Chengan shook his head.

It's normal to pay a tuition fee when you don't have experience in business.

Song Chengan continued to wander.

Finally, he stopped at a stall.

It was a middle-aged stall owner.

There were many books in front of his stall.

Song Chengan picked one up at random.

Zhang Sheng's Tales of West Mountain's Sensual Love.

Song Chengan flipped through it casually, then put it down.

He clicked his tongue.

Not as good as the author of 'Eggplant'.

"Young man, I have something more explosive."

The middle-aged stall owner leaned in and lowered his voice.

"Vulgar. I, Song, am a scholar of the sages."

Song Chengan gave him a contemptuous look and turned to leave.

Crazy.

He's selling nothing but erotic books.

Song Chengan stopped.

In front of him was the Old Monk.

Still wearing a patched old monk's robe.

He sat cross-legged, with many small bottles placed in front of him.

There were also a few books.

"Young benefactor, are you here to buy pills?"

Seeing Song Chengan approach, the old monk clasped his hands together and asked.

"But, I want to buy a staff technique."

"Do you have any?"

The old monk chuckled, "Benefactor, you've come at the right time. I was just lucky enough to find a staff technique not too long ago."

As the old monk spoke, he got up, picked up a book, and handed it to Song Chengan.

Song Chengan took it and looked.

Fire Cloud Staff Technique.

"Thirty-six forms of the Fire Cloud Staff. Upon mastery, the fire clouds..."

"Master, how many Talisman Coins does this staff technique cost?"

Song Chengan's heart grew more eager the more he read.

The old monk clasped his hands together.

"Thirty Talisman Coins."

Song Chengan suddenly felt a bit awkward.

"Master, would you sell it for twenty-five Talisman Coins?"

Thirty Talisman Coins for a staff technique.

The price was very fair.

But Song Chengan had already spent twenty-five of his previous fifty Talisman Coins.

He now only had twenty-five Talisman Coins left.

The old monk smiled, "Selling it to you, benefactor, twenty-five Talisman Coins will do."

"Thank you, Master!"

Song Chengan cupped his fists.

This monk really knew how to talk.

Song Chengan noted this kindness.

Having obtained a weapon and the Fire Cloud Staff Technique, Song Chengan didn't linger and left the Ghost Market directly.

The scene shifted.

Song Chengan emerged from a pond.

"Ghosts!"

Song Chengan hadn't expected to encounter anyone even though he had returned so late.

It was someone wearing night-blooming clothes with a pack on their back.

They were likely someone who engaged in illicit business.

But clearly.

They didn't have the courage for it.

After letting out a yell, they fainted on the ground.

"Someone's over there!"

"Catch the thief!"

The thief had fainted from fright, and a clamor arose in the distance.

Several patrolling constables, carrying lanterns, rushed over.

Song Chengan shook his head, sprinted, and disappeared over the courtyard wall.

"Where do you think you're going!"

"Don't run!"

"They have an accomplice!"

But it was clear that these constables, at most martial artists, couldn't catch up to Song Chengan.

Returning home.

Song Chengan casually placed the Demon Subduing Staff he was holding behind the door, then his consciousness entered the Void Heaven Mirror.

With a thought.

A new Illusionary Body was condensed.

This Illusionary Body had the same appearance as Song Chengan, holding a similar Demon Subduing Staff, and began to practice.

"A year for the staff, a lifetime for the saber."

"Comprehending this Fire Cloud Staff Technique should be quick."

Song Chengan withdrew from the Void Heaven Mirror's space.