Anomaly at the Grand Lecture, Market

"Junior Brother, you've condensed Divine Sense?"

Xiang Sui seemed to sense something and looked surprised.

Zhu Yu nodded slightly and smiled. "I only condensed it not long ago."

He was not surprised Xiang Sui knew. Once Divine Sense was condensed, it emitted a special fluctuation perceptible only to Divine Sense.

"Congratulations, Junior Brother."

After offering his congratulations, Xiang Sui knew that disciples like him who came from the Spirit Desert had a deadline for breaking through. He asked, "When will you break through to Qi Refining?"

"Probably nine days from now."

Zhu Yu did not hide it and answered truthfully.

"Nine days? Good." Xiang Sui nodded slightly, then thought for a moment before saying with a smile, "I'll protect you when the time comes."

"And me. When the time comes, Junior Brother, just focus on breaking through without worry. With Senior Brother Xiang and me here, no one will dare disturb you."

Liang Kuan raised a hand and slapped his thick chest, making it thump loudly.

"Thank you, Senior Brothers."

Zhu Yu cupped his hands in salute and did not refuse.

He did not believe anyone would dare make a move while a newly admitted disciple was breaking through, but what if they did?

Especially those with no hope of breaking through—when the final day drew near, who knew whether they might go mad?

The three of them then began chatting.

Most of it was Liang Kuan talking. He spoke of how famous Zhu Yu had become, how this person and that person had waited outside his door just to hear his lessons, and who was jealous of whom...

Xiang Sui chimed in a couple of times as well, saying that the Grand Lecture was beginning to take shape. Once Zhu Yu broke through to Qi Refining, perhaps they could start holding Grand Lectures.

Yet Zhu Yu saw Xiang Sui's brows knit faintly as he spoke, as though there was another hidden matter behind this Grand Lecture. He wanted to ask, but then remembered that aside from teaching the Basic Visualization Diagram, he had nothing at all. Asking would most likely only bring trouble upon himself.

After thinking it over, he said seriously:

"Senior Brother, if there's anything you need my help with, just tell me."

"Don't worry. I come from a Foundation Establishment Lineage—the Alchemist Xiang Clan." Xiang Sui lifted his chin with a touch of pride, patted Zhu Yu's shoulder, and said, "Junior Brother, just prepare for your breakthrough in peace. Don't concern yourself with anything else."

With that, he changed the subject.

Not long after.

The stone house rang with conversation.

Zhu Yu and Liang Kuan headed back, while Xiang Sui merely said, "I have something to do this afternoon. I'm going to find one of my clan brothers," before turning and leaving.

Time slowly passed.

The full moon above the dome faded, and two crescent moons rose.

"Take care, Junior Brothers..."

Zhu Yu stood smiling at the doorway, seeing off the last group of students. Once their figures vanished from sight, he turned to Liang Kuan, who was looking at him eagerly, and said with a chuckle:

"Senior Brother, if there's anything you don't understand, just say it."

Liang Kuan's spirits immediately rose. He hurriedly described, one by one, the points from today's lesson that he had not understood.

"When I trace the patterns, I always feel the resistance getting stronger and stronger. And that sense of rhythm you mentioned, Junior Brother—I still can't grasp it..."

"Then, Senior Brother, when you meditate..."

Zhu Yu immediately understood that Liang Kuan was somewhat impatient. He lacked a little refinement in deep meditation, leaving hidden stray thoughts within his consciousness.

After pointing these things out one by one, he instructed:

"Deep meditation is a slow grind, like water wearing down a stone. You must never give up just because you cannot feel yourself improving. Once the time is ripe, you will naturally sense the rhythm contained within the Three-Ring Pattern."

"Thank you, Junior Brother."

Learning that his foundations were simply not solid enough, Liang Kuan felt his face burn with embarrassment. Leaving behind the words, "Once Junior Brother advances to Qi Refining, I'll give you a great gift," he turned and hurried away.

"Then this Junior Brother will be waiting for Senior Brother's great gift."

Zhu Yu smiled and teased him, though he did not take it to heart. Liang Kuan might not even have as many Spirit Stones as he did now. Once Liang Kuan's back was no longer visible, Zhu Yu turned and returned to the stone house.

He picked up the five Spirit Stones that had been divided among them on the table. Now that his Divine Sense had just formed, the instant he touched them, he sensed the pure spiritual energy contained within. It seemed that with a mere thought, he could pull that spiritual energy out.

He did not waste any time trying it.

Zhu Yu walked to the bedside, crouched down, and took out a small wooden box about a foot wide from beneath the bed. Opening it, he saw Spirit Stones that resembled warm white jade, goose eggs, or petrified wood jade.

These were the Spirit Stones he had earned from teaching over the past few days.

After deducting the costs of buying Soul Dispersing Pills and attending lessons at the Sutra Lecture Hall, he had saved a little over two hundred Spirit Stones.

"I've been here so long, yet I've never visited the rumored Disciple Market. They say it's filled with good things..."

Looking at the Spirit Stones in the box, Zhu Yu's heart stirred.

The Market he spoke of was naturally not those deceptive stalls outside the Sutra Lecture Hall, but the area neighboring where the newly admitted disciples lived.

It was the Trading Bazaar established by the Yin-Underworld Grotto for Qi Refining disciples.

"Then I'll go! With Divine Sense shielding me, the aura released by Qi Refining cultivators won't affect me much..."

As the thought flashed through his mind, Zhu Yu decided to visit the Disciple Market and broaden his horizons. While he was at it, he would see whether he could use the True Sight Eye to pick up some overlooked treasure.

He counted out a hundred Spirit Stones and tucked them into his robes, carefully hid the wooden box, straightened his black robe, and stepped outside.

Perhaps because the one-year deadline was drawing near.

As he walked, Zhu Yu encountered only a handful of people hurrying past. He paid them no mind and, following the memories in his mind, slowly made his way toward the Disciple Market.

After winding through several twisting paths, he entered a broad avenue. Unlike the low shrubs and flowers in the newly admitted disciples' area, the trees planted along both sides of the road stood dozens of feet tall. He did not know what kind they were, but they gave off light like the stars.

Looking into the distance.

Towering trees glittering with brilliant starlight stretched all the way to the end, like a corridor set amid the starry sky.

"If one did not cultivate immortality, how could one witness such a breathtaking sight..."

Zhu Yu immediately felt the trip had been worthwhile. As he walked slowly among them, his body seemed to grow lighter by several degrees.

As he went deeper into the corridor, cultivators gradually appeared on the road, along with some strangely shaped beasts.

Some resembled horses but had six legs, with clouds and mist swirling beneath their hooves. Some were only palm-sized and looked like macaques, yet bore a pair of transparent wings on their backs. Others were as large as carriages and resembled ladybugs, their black shells dotted with red spots that occasionally surged with scarlet flames.

"Spirit beasts? Demon beasts?"

Zhu Yu looked on with envy. Every one of these strange beasts displaying extraordinary traits looked remarkable at a glance, and he wanted to raise one too.

"I wonder if they're expensive..."

An hour later.

A huge archway nearly a hundred feet high appeared before him.

Only two ancient characters were written upon it: "Market."

Zhu Yu looked over and saw people coming and going in the streets, shops and pavilions rising in close ranks. It was a truly bustling sight.

As he approached.

Waves of clamor drifted out from within.

"Freshly slaughtered Red Flame Ox meat! Only three Spirit Stones per pound!"

"Dust-Falling Fruit! Fragrant, sweet, crisp, and packed with spiritual energy! Two Spirit Stones each, or six for ten Spirit Stones..."

"Freshly cooked Spirit Rice balls! Fragrant and filling..."

"Bet on bugs, bet on bugs! Place your bets, no taking them back..."

"..."

Once he entered the archway, the noisy din mingled with all kinds of scents and rushed straight at him. Zhu Yu could not help but space out for a moment, instinctively spreading his Divine Sense to envelop himself.

The clamor and chaotic auras instantly vanished.

"Hah..."

Zhu Yu let out a soft breath and slightly weakened his Divine Sense. Waves of noise once again reached his ears. Just as he was about to step into the crowd, the cries from a nearby stall drew his attention.