Before Meng Haoran, a Spirit Spring gurgled forth springwater. Each time it surged, it carried with it faint traces of heaven-and-earth spiritual qi.
Because naturally formed heaven-and-earth spiritual qi was mottled with impurities, cultivators could not easily absorb and refine it.
But the heaven-and-earth spiritual qi produced by spiritual objects such as a Spirit Spring was of far higher quality than that found in the outside world. There was no need to use "Human Path Spirituality"; one could absorb and refine it with a Cultivation Method.
Not far from the Spirit Spring sat a white-haired old man. Hearing Meng Haoran and the other's voices, he slowly opened his eyes and smiled. "Bohai, Haoran, you've come."
This old man was Meng Jingshan, the current patriarch of the Meng Clan.
Ten years ago, Qingyang County Yamen issued an order to suppress the Black Mountain Bandits. In order to obtain Foundation Establishment Level cultivation resources for the Meng Family, the only three Half-step Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators in the family entered the Tianyang Mountain Range together. Unexpectedly, all three fell into an ambush.
Meng Jingshan had only narrowly escaped with the help of the other two clansmen.
Yet in that battle, he had also suffered grievous injuries that had remained unhealed for many years.
Ordinarily, unless something important arose, he remained within the range of this Spirit Spring to slow the worsening of his injuries.
Meng Bohai helped Meng Jingshan sit down, then carefully explained Meng Haoran's earlier proposal in Qingyang County regarding the Black Market.
"The Black Market, huh? It's not impossible."
Meng Jingshan said evenly, "But over these years, the Seven Great Ninth-Rank Cultivation Families have guarded cultivation resources above the Second Tier as tightly as an iron wall. Would we even be able to buy anything in the Black Market?"
Meng Haoran clasped his fists. "Patriarch, Haoran merely believes that the sudden appearance of Second-Tier Spirit Plant Six-Pattern Wheat in our Meng Family's Spirit Plant Field is a splendid opportunity for our rise. If we do not seize this chance tightly, who knows when we might wait for another like it?"
Meng Jingshan nodded. "Haoran, I understand what you mean. The yield, price, and quality of Six-Pattern Wheat all far surpass those of First-Tier Spirit Plant Three-Pattern Wheat. If it is not properly preserved, there will be no need to wait for extra Spirit Plant Fields—it will lose the spirituality within it simply with the passage of time."
Meng Haoran said, "That is precisely what Haoran means."
At this point, Meng Jingshan fell silent for several breaths before smiling. "Very well, then. I agree to this trip to the Black Market!"
Meng Jingshan looked at Meng Bohai and asked, "However, who will go on this trip to the Black Market?"
Meng Bohai patted Meng Haoran's shoulder and replied, "Patriarch, I intend to bring Haoran with me."
"Him?"
Meng Jingshan waved a hand. "No. Haoran has only just advanced to the Third Layer of Qi Refining. The Black Market is a place where fish and dragons mingle, filled with all sorts of people and hidden dangers. What if something happens to him there?"
Meng Jingshan harbored such concerns partly because he feared that Meng Haoran, a talented junior of the Meng Family, might encounter danger in the Black Market, and partly because he felt boundless guilt toward Meng Haoran's deceased father, Meng Liuhai.
Back when they had suppressed the Black Mountain Bandits, had Meng Liuhai not risked his life to save him, Meng Jingshan would never have escaped the bandits' trap.
Meng Haoran said solemnly, "Patriarch, you need not worry too much. On this trip to the Black Market, I will stay close by Clan Uncle Bohai's side and absolutely will not make any unnecessary moves. Moreover, our purpose in going to the Black Market is to purchase Spirit Plant Soil. If there is no Spirit Plant Soil there, Clan Uncle Bohai and I will immediately return!"
Seeing Meng Haoran's earnest expression, Meng Jingshan considered it, then nodded. "I agree to let you go to the Black Market. But you must obediently heed Clan Uncle Bohai's words. In the Black Market, do not stir up trouble."
Meng Haoran said joyfully, "Haoran will heed the Patriarch's words!"
Meng Jingshan rose, took out a map from the bookshelf behind him, and handed it to Meng Bohai. "The times when Black Markets are held are mostly uncertain, but their locations are generally around Qingyang County Territory. Only by holding Black Market transactions in such places can they avoid drawing the attention of the Seven Great Ninth-Rank Cultivation Families. Therefore, Bohai, the two of you should search according to the locations on this map. If none of the marked locations are holding a Black Market, do not linger. Return directly to the Meng Family."
Hearing this, Meng Bohai clasped his fists. "Bohai understands!"
Standing at the entrance to the Meng Family compound, Meng Jingshan watched the receding backs of Meng Haoran and Meng Bohai. He shook his head and muttered, "With Six-Pattern Wheat appearing in the Meng Family's Spirit Plant Field this time, I wonder whether it will ultimately be a blessing or a curse for my Meng Family..."
Three days later, at the edge of Qingyang County Territory.
Meng Haoran rode a Spirit Horse behind Meng Bohai.
"Clan Uncle Bohai, we've already passed three marked points. How many are left?" Meng Haoran asked from behind him.
Hearing this, Meng Bohai stopped his Flying Star Horse. After taking out the map and examining it, he said, "Four remain, and all four marked points are within the Tianyang Mountain Range."
The Great Yu Immortal Dynasty encompassed vast territory. A single small Tianyang Mountain Range alone sustained seven or eight county territories around it.
The Tianyang Mountain Range was home to countless Spirit Beasts and even more Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures. According to high-level cultivators, Demons even existed deep within the mountain range.
However, forces such as the Meng Family had never seen a Demon appear.
Following behind Meng Bohai and guided by the map, Meng Haoran had been in the Tianyang Mountain Range for less than the time it took to burn a stick of incense when they encountered two or three groups of travelers.
At first, Meng Haoran thought these people were all cultivators entering the Tianyang Mountain Range to gather Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures.
But when he encountered more and more cultivators, he could not help asking, "Clan Uncle Bohai, most of these people are cultivators, and they are heading in the same direction as us. Could their destination be where the Black Market is being held?"
Meng Bohai nodded. "More or less. If we encountered only a few of them at a time, they would be teams gathering Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures. But now, dozens of groups have crossed paths with us one after another. That means the Black Market is being held not far ahead!"
Hearing this, Meng Haoran felt a flicker of excitement. Having grown up in Xinghua Village since childhood, the farthest place he had ever gone was Qingyang County City.
Now, he could participate in a Black Market within the Tianyang Mountain Range and broaden his horizons. This filled Meng Haoran with a measure of anticipation.
Just as Meng Haoran was lost in thought, Meng Bohai handed him a pill from his Storage Bag.
"Clan Uncle Bohai, what is this?" Meng Haoran asked in confusion.
"This is a First-Tier Disguise Pill. After taking it, it can slightly alter your appearance for about three hours!"
Meng Bohai explained, "The Patriarch also said that fish and dragons mingle in the Black Market. With the slightest carelessness, you might offend someone over some minor detail and draw their attention, bringing disaster upon yourself."
Meng Haoran nodded. "When traveling outside, caution comes first in all things. Clan Uncle Bohai, I'll remember that!"
With that, Meng Haoran swallowed the Disguise Pill in one gulp. Before long, his cheeks felt faintly itchy and painful. He knew the Disguise Pill had taken effect.
What Meng Bohai liked most about this junior was that, whether in cultivation or in dealing with people, Meng Haoran understood at the slightest hint.
Meng Haoran and Meng Bohai continued onward for another half an incense stick's time. When they heard waves of shouting from a nearby valley, they knew they had reached the Black Market!
Leading his Spirit Horse, Meng Haoran followed closely behind Meng Bohai, his bright, spirited eyes darting around everywhere.
Cultivators dressed as beggars squatted on the ground, with piles of broken copper and rotten iron laid out before them, while several people nearby stopped to inquire.
Cultivators dressed like landlords sat peacefully on stools without saying a word, waiting for customers to come to them.
A female cultivator with an alluring figure struck graceful, enchanting poses, constantly drawing more cultivators toward her as she explained the Spirit Beasts she kept.
Meng Bohai suddenly crouched before a stall selling Spirit Medicine and Spirit Grass. Looking at the tall, thin stall owner before him, he asked, "Fellow Daoist, may I ask whether you have any Spirit Plant Soil for sale?"
The tall, thin stall owner first glanced at Meng Bohai, then at Meng Haoran behind him, before asking in return, "I do have Spirit Plant Soil, but what do you want to buy it for?"
Meng Bohai smiled faintly. "My apologies. It concerns personal cultivation, so it would not be convenient to tell Fellow Daoist plainly."
The tall, thin stall owner lightly raised his gray-white brows and nodded. "Fine, I understand. After all, everyone who comes to a Black Market has a few secrets on them."
"Thank you for your understanding, Fellow Daoist!"
Meng Bohai asked, "May I ask what price your Spirit Plant Soil sells for?"
The tall, thin stall owner asked, "That depends on what kind of Spirit Plant Soil you need."
"Hehe! It seems Fellow Daoist has a most substantial fortune!"
Meng Bohai said flatteringly, "Fellow Daoist, what kinds of Spirit Plant Soil do you have here?"
"Of the Heaven, Earth, Profound, Yellow Four-Tier Spirit Plant Soil, I have the latter two kinds, apart from Heaven and Earth."
The tall, thin stall owner smiled and asked, "It depends on which kind you need."
Hearing this, Meng Bohai felt secretly delighted. "Yellow Tier! I only need Yellow-Tier Spirit Plant Soil!"
First-Tier Spirit Plants through Third-Tier Spirit Plants were suitable for Yellow-Tier Spirit Plant Soil; Fourth-Tier Spirit Plants through Sixth-Tier Spirit Plants were suitable for Profound-Tier Spirit Plant Soil; Seventh-Tier Spirit Plants through Ninth-Tier Spirit Plants were suitable for Earth-Tier Spirit Plant Soil; Immortal Tier Spirit Plants were suitable for Heaven-Tier Spirit Plant Soil.
Although the Meng Family might require Profound-Tier Spirit Plant Soil in the future, given the Meng Family's current circumstances, it was still too early.
Hearing the joy in Meng Bohai's voice, the tall, thin stall owner smiled knowingly and asked, "Yellow-Tier soil? Judging by the expression of this nameless junior beside you, I presume you came to purchase Yellow-Tier Spirit Plant Soil at someone else's request. And that someone else is the Lineage behind you. Fellow Daoist, am I right?"
Hearing this, Meng Haoran felt as though his background had been seen through. A trace of anger rose in his heart. "What do you mean?"
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