The Market

Two days later, in the city beneath the Five Mountains Sect, the streets were bustling with traffic and people strolled about leisurely. At first glance, it looked no different from an ordinary mortal city, but most of the people here were cultivators, and the things being hawked were somewhat different.

"Fine-quality magic cloak! Can withstand attacks from the Spirit Gathering Realm!"

"Selling potent strength pills! They can rapidly increase cultivation in the Body Tempering Realm! Come take a look!"

"Demon beast two-headed serpent essence blood! Can temper the body! Come take a look!"

Amid the shouting, Murong Xue and Zeng Fan walked through the streets. Zeng Fan wore an exasperated expression, while Murong Xue looked as though she was gritting her teeth. The reason, of course, was Yuan Jin and Wang Beichen, who were arguing behind them.

"A married couple came out for a stroll, so what are you, you little brat, doing following behind us? It's not as though you're her mother." Yuan Jin glared at Wang Beichen, looking like he was trying to shield his brother from a third wheel.

"You're the little brat! Your whole family's little brats! Do you dare fight me, young master? And you have the nerve to talk about me? Who was it sneaking around behind us, and then, after I caught him, still coming out and saying, 'What a coincidence~'?" Wang Beichen showed no weakness, pulling a face at Yuan Jin.

Yuan Jin's old face flushed red, and he was just about to strike when Wang Beichen widened his eyes, Spiritual Energy surging around his body.

"You two, be quiet! Fighting is forbidden in this city. Do you want the Enforcement Hall to come over?" Murong Xue shouted angrily at them.

Both their bodies trembled at once. They glared fiercely at each other, but neither dared argue any further.

Zeng Fan had a headache as well. After a full day of cultivation yesterday, he had finally stabilized his Body Tempering Bone realm completely. Body Tempering Bone mainly increased strength—the higher the realm, the greater the strength.

Once his cultivation had stabilized, Zeng Fan had arranged to visit the market with Murong Xue. When Yuan Jin heard him mention it, he had not reacted much, merely teasing them a few times. But today, he had secretly followed behind the three of them and been spotted by Wang Beichen's sharp eyes. It left him rather helpless. Yuan Jin looked like a big, rough man, but he had the temperament of a gossipy old woman.

Murong Xue had brought Wang Beichen along purely because she had no choice. The moment he had heard they were coming, the brat had shouted that he wanted to come too. He clung on like a strip of sticky candy, and Murong Xue could not shake him off, so she had to let him come.

The four of them wandered around the city together. Zeng Fan looked around curiously, since this was his first time visiting a place where cultivators gathered.

A medicinal-herb fragrance drifted over, giving Zeng Fan's spirits a slight lift. Even the Spiritual Energy in his body seemed to circulate faster. Following the scent, he arrived before a stall. The stall owner was a young male disciple at the Body Tempering Realm. When he saw the four of them approach, his eyes lit up.

"What does this Senior Brother need? Have a look. I guarantee the prices are fair. I picked all these myself."

A Spirit Grass that was yellow from root to tip caught Zeng Fan's attention. It was this grass that continuously released the fragrance, drawing Spiritual Energy to surge within him.

"This is... Earth Yellow Grass?" Zeng Fan understood at once. No wonder it could make the Spiritual Energy in his body surge. The pills included in their monthly stipend contained this medicinal ingredient, which could accelerate the absorption of Spiritual Energy. However, Zeng Fan shook his head. This herb had a certain toxicity and needed to be refined into a pill with other medicinal ingredients before it could display its effects. He did not know how to make pills, so he could only give up.

Just as Zeng Fan glanced over the other medicinal herbs and planned to move elsewhere, suddenly, a faint fluctuation came from inside his Storage Ring. It seemed to yearn for one of the herbs on the stall.

While the others were looking through the herbs, Zeng Fan discreetly checked inside the ring. The thing emitting the faint fluctuation was actually a skeleton. Zeng Fan instantly felt his scalp go numb.

It's Guo Ren's skeleton! Could it be that he didn't die? Is a remnant soul still inside the skeleton? Zeng Fan's expression shifted between cloudy and clear. He did not know whether this was a good thing or a bad thing. The fluctuation within the skeleton continued, but it was extremely faint, as though it would immediately go out if Zeng Fan destroyed the skeleton. Yet the opportunity he had now had come from the skeleton's owner. Even as he died, Guo Ren had left behind words asking someone to avenge him.

I'll first see what it needs. Zeng Fan made a temporary decision and began picking up each herb carefully, pretending to take a keen interest in them. When he picked up a small black herb, the fluctuation inside the ring suddenly intensified several times over.

Zeng Fan understood at once. So it's this. He began to struggle inwardly. Clearly, the fluctuation radiating from the skeleton was for this very thing. If he obtained it, perhaps Guo Ren could be resurrected. To that island lord, a son's skeleton and a remnant soul that still possessed consciousness would surely have entirely different significance.

I'll take it first. If anything truly happens, I'll hand it over to the sect. Having made up his mind, Zeng Fan no longer hesitated and spoke to the stall owner.

"How much for this one?"

The stall owner hurriedly replied, "I don't know exactly what this herb is used for, but if you want it, two hundred Spirit Stones will do. How about it?"

Zeng Fan calculated it mentally. Medicinal herbs useful to a remnant soul were all extremely expensive. Two hundred Spirit Stones was completely in his favor, so he immediately prepared to take out the Spirit Stones.

At that moment, embarrassment surfaced on Zeng Fan's face. He had no Spirit Stones left. How did I forget this? After coming to the sect, I've only had that small monthly allowance, plus what I snatched from those two fellows earlier. Altogether, I only have a hundred or so Spirit Stones. I'll borrow some from Yuan Jin first!

Zeng Fan turned his head, but before he could speak, Yuan Jin had already taken out two hundred Spirit Stones and tossed them to the stall owner. He even gave Zeng Fan a reassuring look.

The stall owner beamed after receiving the Spirit Stones and prepared to hand the herb to Zeng Fan. Just then, an unexpected change arose!

"Three hundred Spirit Stones! I'll take this herb!" A woman's voice rang out. At the same time, a slender hand wreathed in Spiritual Energy reached toward the herb. Murong Xue's gaze turned cold, and she immediately struck out, colliding with the hand.

"Are you blind? We've already bought this herb. If you want one, go find it somewhere else!"

The owner of the hand was knocked back several steps by Murong Xue's blow. Killing Intent filled Zeng Fan's eyes as he turned to look. It was a young woman around their age, with a pretty and delicate face, alluring eyes, and skin glowing with a fair sheen. His gaze traveled downward, following the astonishing curve across her chest before it suddenly tightened at her waist and abdomen, displaying the woman's formidable figure. However, her slightly sharp lips and furious expression ruined everyone's appreciation of the scene.

"What did you say? You're the one who's blind! I'll add another hundred Spirit Stones to the two hundred you paid and buy it from you. Don't be so ignorant of your place!" Yang Ling said to the four of them.

She was irritated as well. She had happened to see this Spirit Grass just now. It could repair the soul and strengthen the divine sense, exactly what she needed for cultivating her technique. She had searched for several days before finally finding it here. Seeing that it was about to be bought, her naturally spoiled temperament had made her act without thinking. She had not expected to lose to the woman before her.

"Was that buying just now? That was outright snatching. I'm too lazy to argue with you. We've already bought it, so go look somewhere else." Murong Xue's tone was impatient.

Judging from the fluctuations around this woman, she was probably only at the perfected Body Tempering Bone Realm. Murong Xue could suppress her alone, so there was no need to be polite.

Yang Ling gritted her teeth and was just about to say something more when a trace of Killing Intent had already entered Murong Xue's gaze. For a moment, Yang Ling was so intimidated that she did not dare speak.

"Just you wait!" After saying this, Yang Ling turned and left.

Murong Xue gave a mocking laugh and no longer looked at her. Zeng Fan had already put the Spirit Grass into his Storage Ring. He turned to Murong Xue and said, "Are you all right? That person seems to have some backing. Why don't we head back first, so we don't invite further trouble?"

Murong Xue blinked and pointed to the side. "It's good that you bought the item. Have you forgotten we still have this brat with us?"

Following Murong Xue's finger, Zeng Fan saw Wang Beichen with both hands behind his head, looking bored.

"I nearly forgot about this second-generation immortal." Zeng Fan smacked his forehead. Understanding Murong Xue's meaning, he knew there would not be any major problem with this brat around, so he relaxed. The four of them continued strolling along the street, laughter rising from them now and then.

The three men accompanied Murong Xue to the clothing pavilion. Women never had any resistance to beautiful clothes, and Murong Xue actually stayed inside for four whole hours. The three men suffered terribly, yet none of them dared say anything.

By the time Murong Xue emerged, thoroughly satisfied, the three men were all utterly exhausted and wanted only to return to their lodgings to cultivate.

"Big Brother! It's them!" An angry voice rang out. The four of them froze. Zeng Fan turned his head, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"What was bound to come has finally come."