Minor Spirit Gathering Array

The next day, news that the Qiankun Society had been bloodily purged spread throughout the entire market district.

Although opinions varied, everyone knew that the Qiankun Society had definitely offended some powerful expert.

Overnight, the Seventh Layer of Qi Refining Society Leader Yue Heng and nearly all the core members of his organization had been slaughtered.

Whoever could accomplish such a feat had to be at least at Peak Qi Refining, or even a Foundation Establishment Senior.

Ever since the Qiankun Society had taken control of the market district's open-stall trade, it had not only raised stall fees but also bullied merchants and forcibly purchased Talismans, offending far too many people.

What was most baffling was Qingxuan Sect's attitude.

Everyone knew that if not for the support of several Outer Sect Disciples from Qingxuan Sect, how would the Qiankun Society have dared to act so recklessly?

Yet after this incident, Qingxuan Sect acted as though nothing had happened.

Moreover, according to news spread by insiders, several Outer Sect Disciples had already been driven back to the sect that morning.

That was rather thought-provoking.

No one would have expected that it was actually a minor cultivator at the Qi Refining Fourth Layer who had bloodily purged the Qiankun Society.

Su Fan knew nothing about the rumors circulating in the market district.

He had no mind to bother with this rotten mess. At that moment, he was sitting cross-legged on a meditation cushion, holding a Storage Bag in his hand.

This was the Storage Bag of Yue Heng of the Qiankun Society, and it was a full five cubic meters in size.

Su Fan took out everything inside, which nearly piled up into a small mountain.

Magic artifacts, Talismans, pills, and all kinds of materials—in short, an utterly dazzling variety of cultivation resources.

The disorderly assortment alone made it clear that this fellow had definitely been a bandit cultivator in the past.

First were the spirit stones: eight mid-grade ones and more than a thousand low-grade ones.

Next came the pills: five bottles of "Foundation Cultivation Pills" for Qi Refining Mid-stage Cultivators, along with dozens of bottles of various auxiliary pills.

There were three magic artifacts in total, including the low-grade defensive magic artifact "Mystic Turtle Shield," the mid-grade offensive magic artifact "Azure Rainbow Sword," and the high-grade magic artifact "Shadowless Needle."

Although the "Mystic Turtle Shield" was only a low-grade magic artifact, it had been able to block the attacks of four High-grade Talismans in succession, so its effect was quite good.

Its spirituality had suffered considerable loss and needed to be nurtured for a while, but it did not need repairs.

Su Fan planned to keep this magic artifact. Although offensive magic artifacts were plentiful on the market, defensive ones were scarce.

Besides, they were all extremely expensive. The problem was that even having spirit stones did not guarantee one could buy anything good.

The mid-grade magic artifact "Azure Rainbow Sword" had only mediocre offensive power, but it could be kept as a spare.

Su Fan picked up the "Shadowless Needle" and examined it carefully.

It was more than two inches long, pitch-black all over, and flickered with a deep blue, ghostly glow.

This was an exceptionally rare treasure. Even among high-grade magic artifacts, it could be considered a finest-quality piece.

From now on, the "Shadowless Needle" would be Su Fan's primary combat magic artifact. It suited him far too well, and at a crucial moment, it could definitely catch an enemy off guard and turn the tide.

Apart from the three magic artifacts, there were two sets of Talisman Arrays.

He had no idea where Yue Heng had gotten them. Most Talisman Arrays originated in the Central Plains.

Their effects were ordinary, yet their prices were not cheap, so they were rarely seen in the Western Wilderness.

Su Fan lacked experience as well. If he had used his "Lightning Eye Dharma Eye" to scan the place before entering the courtyard, he could have easily noticed that something was amiss.

The most important part of a Talisman Array was the array eye: a Jade Talisman engraved with a simple Spirit Gathering Array, combined with eighteen subsidiary Talismans to form a Talisman Array.

How should he put it? It was somewhat tasteless, but better than nothing.

He had thought that aside from these things, there would be nothing else eye-catching.

Who would have known that among more than a dozen books, he would find a secret technique called "Misty Smoke Step"?

Once cultivated to great mastery, it could make one's movement as swift as lightning and produce an afterimage to confuse opponents.

Su Fan immediately perked up. This secret technique was quite good. It could completely be fused with the divine ability "Lightning Ghost Step."

By devouring this secret technique, he could both enhance the divine ability's power and increase his proficiency in "Lightning Ghost Step."

The remaining items were no longer worth mentioning.

They were merely books, Talismans, spirit herbs, and artifact-refining materials. There were quite a lot of them.

Unfortunately, they were all things he had no use for and could only be exchanged for spirit stones.

As for the belongings of the other Rogue Cultivators, they were even less worth mentioning.

Apart from several hundred spirit stones, there were only a dozen or so Storage Bags and more than twenty low-grade magic artifacts that were worth some spirit stones.

Su Fan's horizons had long since changed beyond recognition. He could no longer bring himself to care for ordinary things.

What Su Fan wanted most was actually that Second-tier Jade Talisman, the "Upper Li Profound Water Shield," but Yue Heng had already used it.

After witnessing the might of a Second-tier Jade Talisman, Su Fan now dreamed of getting one for himself.

Unfortunately, Jade Talismans of the Foundation Establishment Realm and Talisman Treasures of the Golden Core Stage were usually things that could only be encountered by chance and never sought.

Even when they existed, they were generally specially crafted by Foundation Establishment and Golden Core Cultivators for their younger family members, making them extraordinarily precious.

Just as Su Fan had put everything away, he heard a sound come from the courtyard.

There was no need to ask. He knew that Ye Tianhe had come again.

Old Ye pushed open the door and entered the room. When he saw Su Fan, he smiled.

"I asked around for you today and managed to secure you some rewards. Do you want spirit stones, pills, or magic artifacts?"

Su Fan immediately grew interested. He very obsequiously brewed Old Ye a pot of Spirit Tea and even poured him a cup attentively.

"Will anything do?"

"Of course. I asked personally. Would they dare refuse? But you can't go too far. Something reasonable will do."

"Do you have a Second-tier Jade Talisman?"

"Pfft..."

Ye Tianhe, who had been sipping his tea, sprayed it out in one mouthful.

He coughed several times, then wiped his mouth.

"What did you say? You really have some nerve. Why not ask for a Talisman Treasure?"

"A Talisman Treasure works too. I'm not picky..."

Ye Tianhe was angered into laughter. He pointed at Su Fan but could not speak for quite some time.

"I'd better give you spirit stones. Buy whatever you like yourself."

Su Fan immediately refused. He was not short of spirit stones right now.

Besides, some things from the Immortal Sect could not be bought in the market district no matter how much one spent.

If he did not take this opportunity to knock some good things out of Qingxuan Sect, then once this village was gone, there would be no shop left.

"Hehe, I was only joking just now. Could you help me get a high-grade defensive magic artifact?"

Old Ye took a sip of Spirit Tea and shook his head. "You really dare to ask. Pick something else."

He could not obtain the Jade Talisman he wanted most, and he did not lack offensive magic artifacts. What should he ask for instead?

Su Fan thought long and hard, and eventually came up with something.

"If I wanted a movement technique and a spirit-eye-type spell or secret technique, would that be possible?"

Ye Tianhe set down his teacup and stared at Su Fan for a while.

"Your movement secret techniques are already on par with other people's escape arts. Be careful not to bite off more than you can chew."

After saying this, he pulled a Jade Slip from his Storage Bag and tossed it to Su Fan.

"As for a good spirit-eye-type secret technique, even if Qingxuan Sect has one, they won't give it to you. I happen to have one here. I seized it from a demonic cultivator. Make do with it."

Su Fan caught the Jade Slip and began to chuckle.

"Then I don't want anything else. I'll just ask for spirit stones."

Ye Tianhe thought for a moment and said, "Your aptitude isn't anything special. Why not ask for a Minor Spirit Gathering Array?"

Su Fan was somewhat bewildered. What the heck was that?

"Sitting inside a Minor Spirit Gathering Array to cultivate will speed up the gathering of spiritual energy. Its cultivation effect is at least twice that of normal cultivation."

After hearing Old Ye's explanation, Su Fan's eyes immediately lit up.

"This is good! This is good! I want the Minor Spirit Gathering Array."

With this thing, his cultivation speed would become even faster. In a few more months, he would be able to cultivate to Peak Qi Refining Fourth Layer.

Starting today, there will be two updates a day, two thousand words per update, posted before one o'clock and around noon respectively. Thanks to the great master Gui Youbai for the reward. Thank you all for your continued support. Thanks to Wo Shi Ni Jie A, Aila Wuyou, Holiday Coffee, Ultraman999, Xingyue Tongying, and all the great masters for your recommendation votes. Old Bu is deeply grateful. Thank you all for your kindness and support.