Fencing Stolen Goods at the Marketplace

Upon learning of Xia Feilun's tragic fate, Lan Chang'an gave Lin Yi a long, searching look.

Lin Yi had ties with Zhang Tieshan.

And it had been Zhang Tieshan who stirred up trouble within the sect, plunging Xia Feilun into the abyss.

Back then, during that three-year appointment, Xia Feilun had once made Lin Yi lose face.

It was hard to say that Lin Yi had not borne a grudge.

If Lin Yi had played a key role in pushing this matter forward, Lan Chang'an had to admit that he had underestimated this former Young Marquis.

Lin Yi's revelation at this moment might have been a deliberate display of his methods. His aim was to draw Lan Chang'an, a Talisman Master, into his Hidden Immortal Pavilion.

"Zhang Tieshan is quite the figure too."

Lan Chang'an recalled Zhao Siyao's assessment of the man: steadfast in will, favored by an Outer Peak elder.

An Outer Peak elder of Golden Cloud Valley was at least a Pseudo-Core True Person.

A False Core was a Golden Core Realm of relatively poor quality, also known as a Gray Core or Inferior Core.

Though a Pseudo-Core True Person was weaker than a True Core or Golden Core True Person, they lived a hundred years longer than Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators and could utterly crush those at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage.

In his previous life, Lan Chang'an had formed a True Core of decent quality, yet even he could not disregard the existence of False Core cultivators.

"Looks like not joining the ghost extermination at the Haunted House in Hengshui Prefecture back then truly meant missing out on a potentially valuable connection."

Looking back now, Lan Chang'an did not deny it.

But neither did he regret it.

No one had eyes in the back of their head. If one wanted to operate steadily with low risk, one would inevitably lose certain opportunities.

At the foot of Golden Cloud Valley.

The three of them went their separate ways, heading in different directions.

Lan Chang'an took out a Jade Cylinder Zhao Siyao had given him, which contained map information on the Cultivation World of Liang Kingdom.

The map marked cultivation forces large and small, including Marketplaces and certain dangerous places.

Even Jade Moon Lake was marked upon it.

From the map, the strongest force in the Cultivation World of Liang Kingdom, Blazing Fire Palace, lay near the center.

The other four powerful cultivation sects, including Golden Cloud Valley, were scattered across the four directions of Liang Kingdom.

Golden Cloud Valley was situated toward the western side of Liang Kingdom.

The Five Peaks Market that Lan Chang'an was heading for lay south of Golden Cloud Valley, a journey of half a month.

Lan Chang'an had a Ye Flying Boat in his Storage Bag, but he could not use it casually. Even ordinary Qi Refining Late-Stage cultivators did not own Flying Boats, and it would be somewhat ostentatious for someone at the Qi Refining Mid-Stage to use one.

That day, Lan Chang'an rode a Spirit Steed Horse to Five Peaks Market.

Five Peaks Market lay amid several lofty mountains, resembling a basin.

The surrounding peaks were precipitous and swathed in cloud and mist. Ordinary mortals simply could not reach this place.

After settling his Spirit Colt, Lan Chang'an used the Bone Shrinking Technique and a disguise to transform himself into a robust, powerful man.

Standing atop the Low-Grade Magic Tool Black Gold Saber, he passed through a stretch of mist-shrouded peaks.

His vision suddenly brightened.

A Marketplace spanning ten li and enveloped by a Second-Order formation came into view.

At the Marketplace's outskirts lay stretches of Spirit Fields extending in terraces, rising tier by tier from bottom to top.

Vast tracts of Spirit Fields were planted with orange-gold spirit rice. From afar, they formed a glittering expanse of gold, a magnificent sight.

Within the Marketplace, streets and alleys crisscrossed in orderly layers, while the buildings were elegant and ingeniously designed.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Streaks of light darted through the air. From time to time, cultivators rose and descended over the Marketplace, and the sound of tearing wind rang out without end.

At the entrance to Five Peaks Market.

The brawny man Lan Chang'an had disguised himself as registered some basic information, paid a deposit of two Spirit Stones, and received an identity plaque.

Without an identity plaque, any entrant would immediately be detected by the formation.

"Those entering the Marketplace may not stay overnight or meditate to cultivate, unless they stay at an inn or rent a Cave Abode."

The cultivator guarding the gate reminded him.

"Understood."

Lan Chang'an entered the Marketplace with a smile, long accustomed to such arrangements.

Such regulations existed to prevent visitors from freeloading on the Spiritual Vein here.

Every Spiritual Vein, based on its grade and scale, had an upper limit to the number of cultivators it could support.

"Senior, is this your first time at Five Peaks Market? This little one can serve as your guide, point out the shops, and introduce the different areas of the Marketplace. It will only cost half a Spirit Stone."

A sharp-featured, rat-eyed youth enthusiastically came forward.

"Good. Take me around first."

Lan Chang'an did not play the part of some wealthy patron and gave the youth thirty taels of Spiritual Sand.

"Thank you, Senior." The youth bowed happily.

"Five Peaks Market belongs to the Ten Thousand Swords Zhuo Family. Beneath it lies a Second-Order Middle-Grade Spiritual Vein. Only some high-grade Cave Abodes in the core area are open, while the spiritual energy environment in the outer area is comparable to a First-Order Spiritual Vein. East Street gathers the major shops and offers excellent quality, though prices are somewhat higher. On West Street, people may freely set up stalls and trade..."

"What is that building for?"

Lan Chang'an pointed at an antique six-story pavilion hung with lanterns, standing head and shoulders above the surrounding shops.

"That is the Hundred Fragrance Immortal Pavilion. The immortal maidens within excel at music and dance. They can nurture one's temperament, cleanse one's heart, and help one break through Heart Barriers."

"Only music?"

"The Hundred Fragrance Immortal Pavilion is not a brothel. The immortal maidens inside are all cultivators who follow the path of music. Every one of them is exceptionally beautiful and pleasantly refined. Of course, if you have enough 'charm,' some of the immortal maidens inside may also open their hearts to you."

The youth chuckled slyly, wearing an expression every man understood.

"However, the entrance fee here is very high—at least five Spirit Stones. The appearance fee for superior immortal maidens is equivalent to a Magic Item."

Lan Chang'an gave a soft laugh but made no comment.

After making a round through the Marketplace.

Lan Chang'an asked about many things, muddying the waters as he gathered the intelligence he needed.

"Hundred Refinements Workshop can forge High-Grade Magic Items at most. Its chief Artifact Refiner, Gu Lai, is the Artifact Refiner Zhao Siyao designated."

"Artifact Refiner Gu Lai has a good reputation and excellent word of mouth, but many people seek him out for artifact forging, so one usually has to wait in line."

Besides Zhao Siyao's commission, Lan Chang'an also found two legitimate shops that purchased spirit herbs.

The First-Order Spiritual Sand Stones he required for cultivating the Cloud Sand Body Refining Art were also sold at a materials shop and an ore shop.

Having gathered the information, Lan Chang'an did not act immediately.

He first stayed at an inn in the Marketplace for two nights and casually bought some commonly used resources, avoiding attracting the attention of anyone watching this unfamiliar new face.

Only on the third day did he go to Hundred Refinements Workshop to inquire.

"My master has many Magic Items to forge recently, so you may have to wait until half a year from now. If you are in a hurry, perhaps you should choose one of the other First-Order Artifact Refiners in the workshop."

The short-haired young man receiving Lan Chang'an was Gu Lai's disciple.

"I am not forging a Magic Item. I wish to repair a fine Magic Item. Could you perhaps make an exception?"

Without changing expression, Lan Chang'an handed over a small cloth pouch.

The short-haired young man took the pouch and weighed it in his hand. There were at least ten Spirit Stones within. His expression eased, and a trace of a smile appeared.

"If it is only a Magic Item repair, I can arrange it within a month. By the way, what grade of Magic Item do you wish to repair?"

"I will discuss the specific repair plan with Master Gu when the time comes."

Lan Chang'an did not say it was a High-Grade Magic Item.

A complete High-Grade Magic Item was worth at least five or six hundred Spirit Stones, an enormous sum for an ordinary Qi Refining Realm cultivator.

Artifact Refiner Gu Lai was reputable and well-traveled, so he would not harbor crooked intentions, but that did not mean his disciple would not have ideas.

"Very well. I will take you to meet Master shortly."

The short-haired young man pocketed the pouch with a smile. Many clients had confidentiality requirements.

The short-haired young man went in first to report his arrival.

After a while, he led Lan Chang'an to the rear courtyard.

Inside an artifact-refining room.

Lan Chang'an met a bare-chested, heavily bearded man. He was none other than the Second-Order Artifact Refiner Gu Lai, whose cultivation was at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer.

Only after the short-haired youth left did Lan Chang'an take out the damaged Magic Item, the Iron Umbrella.

"Iron Net Umbrella."

Gu Lai stroked the Iron Umbrella and pondered for a moment. He seemed to have seen this Magic Item before and might even have handled it personally.

"Is your surname Zhao?"

"I was entrusted by someone. My friend's surname is Zhao."

"You have come to the right person. This Iron Net Umbrella was forged with my assistance to my master back then. I will charge you two hundred Spirit Stones for the repair."

Gu Lai spoke very straightforwardly.

Lan Chang'an did not bargain. He requested that they sign a Spirit Contract Scroll and have Gu Lai imprint it with a thread of his magic power.

The two agreed that the Magic Item would be repaired within a month.

Such Spirit Contract Scrolls had no absolute binding force; they merely served as proof.

The magic power imprint was similar to signing and sealing a document among mortals. Every cultivator's magic power aura was unique.

Out of caution, Lan Chang'an did not leave a magic power imprint of his own.

"Cautious brat!"

Watching Lan Chang'an leave, Gu Lai shook his head.

The Magic Item was left at Hundred Refinements Workshop.

Lan Chang'an rented a Low-Grade Cave Abode in the Marketplace for a month. Its spiritual energy was about the same as Jade Moon Mountain Villa's, and the monthly rent of three Spirit Stones offered poor value.

Over the following days.

He went out from time to time, disguising himself in different appearances and selling goods at Marketplace shops or in the stall area.

Some inconspicuous spirit herbs and medicinal materials were simple enough to sell.

The pills he had no use for were sold in batches.

This included three Low-Grade Magic Tools, all obtained from Ge Yi Alchemist.

These stolen goods had no obvious identifying features. Unless he encountered their original owner, there was no need to worry.

Over more than half a month, Lan Chang'an slowly fenced the stolen goods bit by bit, changing identities between batches.

In total, he made nearly a thousand Spirit Stones.

Most of the pills had been sold.

But several precious medicinal materials over two hundred years old remained. They were rather conspicuous and worth several hundred Spirit Stones, so Lan Chang'an did not dare sell them carelessly.

Especially on this day.

During a routine inspection, Lan Chang'an discovered that someone had covertly tampered with a Spirit Stone he had received.

A tracking powder had been attached to the Spirit Stone. It could not be seen with the naked eye, nor could ordinary people smell it.

Crack!

Lan Chang'an's expression darkened. He crushed the Spirit Stone in his hand, and a ball of flame burst from his palm, sending a cloud of foul-smelling green smoke rising into the air.