Sect Infighting

Aside from the Red Lotus Karma Fire Sutra, the Storage Bag contained many other items. Lu Yan took them out and tallied them one by one.

The Storage Bag held a total of two thousand three hundred Spirit Stones, two Mid-Grade Magic Items, five bottles of unknown pills, two ancient texts, and over a dozen first-grade High-Grade Spirit Talismans.

Other than these, there was nothing else in the entire Storage Bag.

"So poor?"

Lu Yan's eyes showed surprise. This amount of wealth seemed far from befitting Cheng Yu's identity as a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator from a major sect.

Just then, the Fierce Ghosts, who had been searching the surrounding areas under Lu Yan's command, began to return, placing two magic items before Lu Yan.

A White Bone Bell and a Blood Hook Flying Sword.

Both were High-Grade Demonic Path Magic Items that Cheng Yu had used in the previous battle. The White Bone Bell, which was as white as jade, was already covered in cracks, damaged during the fight.

The Blood Hook Flying Sword had also been eroded by numerous Fierce Ghosts, and much of its spirituality had been lost.

Looking at the two spoils of war before him, Lu Yan carefully recalled the previous battle.

The Blood Beard Giant Spirit's sneak attack had instantly crippled the opponent's umbrella-shaped High-Grade Magic Item. Afterward, the battle had consumed over a dozen second-grade talismans, a magic robe, and the flying blood-colored lotus platform.

Adding the High-Grade Magic Item, the White Bone Bell, used at the beginning, and the Blood Hook Flying Sword used for the attempted sneak attack, Cheng Yu's wealth could be considered substantial.

Most of the usable items in the entire Storage Bag had been used up, so the remaining items were quite reasonable.

"It's a pity that most of the magic items were destroyed, and even the flying magic item, the blood-colored lotus platform, was shattered by the Giant Spirit's blow. Otherwise, I could have used it."

Lu Yan murmured with some regret. At this moment, another Fierce Ghost presented a Storage Bag, which belonged to He Luyuan.

A Mid-Stage Qi Refinement cultivator naturally didn't have much wealth, totaling no more than fifty-odd Spirit Stones. Only the low-grade Flying Boat magic item in the Storage Bag made Lu Yan quite satisfied.

Looking at the battlefield, everything seemed to have been cleaned up. Lu Yan was about to put away the Fierce Ghosts and leave the area.

Just then, a Fierce Ghost suddenly poked its head out from beneath the ground, struggling to drag something out from underground.

Only after careful inspection did Lu Yan notice that the Fierce Ghost was holding a formation plate deeply buried underground.

The formation plate seemed to be of the earth element, capable of merging into the earth to evolve the formation base.

Seeing this, Lu Yan's face immediately lit up with surprise. He personally pulled the formation plate out of the earth.

The words "Spirit Gathering" were clearly written on the top of the formation plate. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a second-grade formation, which immediately reminded Lu Yan of the dense spiritual energy when he first entered the courtyard.

"The dense spiritual energy in the courtyard before should be related to this formation, right?"

However, Lu Yan didn't have time to study it at the moment.

After putting away the formation plate, Lu Yan's gaze fell on the three corpses of the Scavenger Team on the wooden frame.

Lu Yan had only met the three of them once, and in a sense, he had even saved their lives.

All three were extraordinary individuals. In the Apocalypse Version, as long as they didn't actively venture into the ruined cities, they would likely survive.

But who would have thought that with the version change, the three who had just escaped a disaster would immediately encounter a greater crisis, captured by Cheng Yu, a disciple of the Red Lotus Demonic Sect, and subjected to torture.

With a soft sigh, Lu Yan threw down a Profound Yellow Merit Fire, engulfing the three corpses of the Scavenger Team.

Flames rose in the mountain forest in the dead of night, quickly turning the small courtyard into a sea of fire, erasing all traces of Lu Yan.

Following that, Lu Yan piloted the newly acquired Flying Boat and sped back towards the Azure Valley Market.

Early in the morning, Lu Yan piloted the Flying Boat away from the Witch Mountain territory.

Looking back at the endless mountain range, Lu Yan finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Lu Yan had originally planned to rush back to the Azure Valley Market last night, but he had overlooked the biggest threat within Witch Mountain: the ubiquitous demonic beasts.

In one night, Lu Yan had mistakenly trespassed into the territory of three Foundation Establishment demonic beasts and was chased by a pack of them.

If not for the protection of the Hundred Soul Banner, Lu Yan would probably be nothing but dust by now.

This near-death experience immediately sobered Lu Yan from his slightly inflated mindset.

Foundation Establishment stage combat power was indeed considerable among these rogue cultivators, but in the entire Xianxia version, it was only a step above the lowest level.

In the Xianxia version, there were countless strong individuals who could threaten him.

And the Xianxia version was just one of the world version updates, arguably even a relatively safe one.

"Future world version updates will inevitably bring more threats. I absolutely cannot get carried away just because of mere Foundation Establishment stage combat power."

Whispering to himself, Lu Yan walked towards the entrance of the Azure Valley Market.

As soon as he arrived at the entrance, Lu Yan saw that there was actually a long queue at the market entrance. More than a dozen Qi Refining cultivators in blue uniforms were arrogantly directing the rogue cultivators to line up.

Lu Yan was startled by the sight, stopped in his tracks, and did not approach, choosing instead to observe from a distance.

He saw that the rogue cultivators at the front of the line seemed to be saying something to these Qi Refining cultivators, which caused some rogue cultivators to become intensely dissatisfied. During the argument, some rogue cultivators even wanted to turn around and leave.

Just then, a streak of light flew from a distance, and a young cultivator in a magic robe landed above the market entrance, releasing his Foundation Establishment aura without reservation.

All the cultivators present immediately felt a chill in their hearts, and even the few cultivators who were trying to leave stopped in their tracks.

The young cultivator said loudly, "I am Xie Yun, an Inner Sect Disciple of the Azure Parasol Sect. This time, I am here on the orders of the Azure Parasol Sect Enforcement Hall to investigate the whereabouts of the Demonic Path.

All you need to do is open your Storage Bags for us to inspect. As long as you pass the inspection, you can enter this Azure Valley Market."

A commotion immediately broke out among the rogue cultivators.

The importance of Storage Bags to cultivators was self-evident, especially since most of the people present were rogue cultivators, who more or less had their own secrets.

They were just here to trade in the market. If the Azure Valley Market didn't work, they could go to other markets. What kind of situation was it to hand over their secrets to others?

"We're not going into this Azure Valley Market!"

"It's just a market. At worst, I'll go to another market."

Even Lu Yan subtly took a step back.

Other cultivators were just worried about their secrets being discovered, but Lu Yan's situation was completely different.

Once the Hundred Soul Banner and Demonic Path cultivation techniques in his Storage Bag were exposed, he would inevitably be directly labeled a Demonic Path Cultivator, followed by endless trouble.

"Silence!"

The crisp sound of a sword ringing out was heard. Xie Yun's Flying Sword circled beside him, his piercing gaze fixed on everyone present.

"This is not a question, but an order from the Azure Parasol Sect Enforcement Hall!"

"After inspecting your Storage Bags and confirming you are not lackeys of the Demonic Path, you will naturally be allowed to leave. Those who violate the laws of the Azure Parasol Sect will be executed!"

Everyone in the field was silent, not daring to meet the sharp gaze of the Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator.

Lu Yan also lowered his head, but there was no fear in his eyes, only a hint of confusion.

"Azure Valley Market is the Azure Parasol Sect's own market. Forcibly inspecting cultivators' Storage Bags is undoubtedly an act that damages their reputation.

Once their reputation is ruined, rogue cultivators will no longer go to Azure Valley Market, and this cultivation market will inevitably decline."

"Moreover, there are too many ways to find Demonic Path Cultivators. This method is undoubtedly the least efficient and most costly.

Paying such a high price with no results, this doesn't seem like they are searching for Demonic Path Cultivators at all, but rather deliberately damaging the reputation of Azure Valley Market!"

Lu Yan immediately thought of Jade Polishing Fairy, who had lost control of the Bamboo Forest Market and was left with only Azure Valley Market under her jurisdiction.

"Their target isn't Demonic Path Cultivators, it's Jade Polishing Fairy!"

"A dignified Direct Disciple of the Azure Parasol Sect, left with only one market to guard, is already a joke within the sect.

If Azure Valley Market declines further, Jade Polishing Fairy will inevitably bear the main responsibility, and her position as a Direct Disciple will be shaken!"