Excessive Caution

The entrance to Taichang Market is quite wide, compared to the several narrow, secluded paths of Taihang Marketplace.

There is only one main road here, and only those of the Purple Mansion Venerable can fly freely within the market.

Above the valley entrance, the sky is also different, filled with a crimson glow, and the sky here is fixed.

"Although there's an element of flattery involved, this is the most authentic version of the sky!" Ye Haiyi said meaningfully from the side.

Ye Jingcheng also looked at the highest mountain peak in the distance.

He then shook his head and turned around, continuing to look at both sides of the valley. Upon entering the valley, he saw several cultivators dressed in Daoist robes guarding the entrance to the market.

"Entering the market requires a payment of two Spirit Stones, and you can only stay for five days. After that, for every additional ten days, you must pay one Spirit Stone upon leaving. Any period less than ten days will be counted as ten days!" The leading, broad-faced cultivator was unusually serious, and his gaze towards the two men was somewhat contemptuous.

However, this contempt pleased both of them quite a bit.

After all, they are indeed relatively weak Rogue Cultivator nowadays.

While they hesitated, many cultivators paid Spirit Stone, obtained a token, and entered the market with it.

Ye Jingcheng had heard about the requirement to pay Spirit Stone at the Great Market before, and although he felt a little heartbroken.

Fortunately, this time the Spirit Stone were recorded with the Lineage.

Otherwise, staying in the market would cost three Spirit Stone a month, which is higher than the most basic annual salary of a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator in the Ye Family!

"Take your tokens. You'll be expelled if you don't have them. Also, don't cause trouble or fight in the market, or you won't be able to bear the consequences!" After saying that, the broad-faced cultivator took out two tokens and slapped them on the two men.

The two were not annoyed; they took the token and walked inside.

Passing through a gatehouse and seeing the bustling alleyways, a feeling of sudden openness and clarity arises spontaneously.

This is no ordinary market town; it's clearly a city of cultivators!

They just came through a city gate.

At both ends of the city gate were various shops selling alchemy and weapon crafting.

At the entrance of the shops, there were monks dressed in coarse linen clothes, looking towards the city gate.

If they encounter a monk dressed in fine clothes and exuding an air of nobility, they will go up and strike up a conversation.

On the contrary, no one came over to Ye Jingcheng and his companion. After a long while, a thin, dark-faced cultivator finally walked over.

"Is this your first time visiting Taichang Market?"

"Fellow Daoist, please don't be so disrespectful to my grandfather and grandson. Without reaching the Foundation Establishment, how can you speak of seniors and juniors?"

"However, to be honest, this is indeed our first time visiting this market town!"

"This market truly lives up to its reputation as a celestial market, far surpassing other markets!" Ye Haiyi exclaimed.

"Of course! This market is home to Golden Core cultivators year-round, with four Golden Core Lineage, seven Purple Mansion families, and countless Foundation Establishment families. Anyone opening a shop here is at least Foundation Establishment family, which is incomparable to other markets!"

"Moreover, most of the Rogue Cultivator are waiting here for the two grand events!"

"The first is the Ascension Ceremony, a martial arts contest to ascend to the Taiyi Sect. Even Rogue Cultivator like you and me, as long as we have some talent or a special skill, have a chance!"

"Secondly, there are auctions. These auctions not only sell Foundation Establishment, but also, it is said, the grand auction held every thirty years, sells rare and Purple Mansion spiritual items!"

"There are still two weeks until the auction. When it gets closer, the city gates will be full of cultivators!" The thin-faced youth spoke with a sense of pride.

He gestured with his hands, encompassing both the city gate and the end of the street.

Ye Jingcheng also observed that only a few of these shops located at the city gate did not have three floors.

In the market, you can judge the background and power of a shop by looking at the number of floors it has: Qi Refining level is one floor, Foundation Establishment level is two floors, and Purple Mansion level is three floors!

This is similar to the Taihang Marketplace.

"Senior, may I need a travel permit? I've lived in this market town since I was a child!" the dark-faced cultivator finally spoke up.

Of course, he was also taking a try-it-out approach.

He noticed that the two men spoke with unusual mannerisms, and one was at the ninth level of Qi Refining, while the other was at the eighth level.

And most importantly, they are willing to talk.

How much do you charge?

"Three Spirit Stone for two days, including understanding all the needs of the market, and I have also summarized the advantages and disadvantages of each shop. I can even explain the forces behind them..." The thin-faced cultivator was overjoyed when the price was mentioned.

This indicates a potential sale, so they start showing off in a formulaic way.

"An old friend just contacted me telepathically, sorry!" Ye Haiyi then left.

Ye Jingcheng immediately followed, but his sickly face showed signs of fatigue.

The cultivator was left with a face full of self-doubt, and could only retreat dejectedly.

Ye Jingcheng followed Ye Haiyi as they walked down the street.

He suddenly remembered a manager his elder brother Ye Jingteng, had told him about.

But this time they came incognito, so naturally they couldn't make a big fuss here.

Crossing the street and turning to the side, you'll find a square with a pillar in the center covered in various animal patterns.

The pillar was radiating a spiritual light, suggesting it was an extraordinary treasure.

Around the pillar, a large number of stalls are distributed in a circle outwards.

Ye Jingcheng looked around and felt that there were treasures everywhere, and he was overwhelmed by the sights.

The lively scene inside also piqued his curiosity.

Compared to the dazzling array of goods in the shops, the treasures at these street stalls hold a greater allure for Rogue Cultivator and young practitioners.

After all, it has always been said that Rogue Cultivator are blind and can easily find many treasures.

Of course, Ye Jingcheng was also aware that this was just boasting.

It was just an atmosphere created by the Rogue Cultivator, but in reality, these Rogue Cultivators were very shrewd, and their ability to read people's expressions and moods even surpassed that of the Lineage cultivators.

Of course, Ye Jingcheng has another advantage: he can distinguish good Spirit Plant seeds and Spirit Beast.

"Brother Tang!" A voice could be heard from afar, followed by a fat, big-eared cultivator who staggered over.

"Brother Meng!" Ye Haiyi shook hands as well.

The two stood embracing.

He looked at Ye Jingcheng after a long while.

"Hao Bo, not bad! After all these years, you've already reached the eighth level of Qi Refining!"

"You flatter me, Master Meng!" Ye Jingcheng replied.

He learned about this person from the Jade Slip. This person's name was Meng Xuan, and he was Old Master Tang's best friend!

She also runs a resale business in the market. She has two sons, but neither of them has Spirit Root. She only has one grandson, who has three Spirit Root, which is very precious and has even made Meng Xuan want to join a sect.

"The room is arranged. Shall we take a look around, or go straight there?"

"Let's go for a walk. This time it's for Hao Bo's illness!" Ye Haiyi sighed, his face full of dejection.

"We've done our best and left the rest to fate. Who knows, Hao Bo might be cured once he breaks through to the Foundation Establishment!" Meng Xuan said, then fell silent.

Ye Jingcheng then started browsing the street stalls. However, he had clearly overthought things. Although there were vendors selling Spirit Beast Cubs, their growth potential was not high.

Or rather, there are plenty of discerning people here who would have bought up any good Spirit Beast Cubs long ago, or put them up for auction.

However, some Law Artifact, ores, and elixirs, including some high-quality items, have been found.

Of course, the most common items are Law Artifact, basic Law Technique, and common materials. There are even vendors selling alchemy and weapon crafting tips, and the prices aren't low.

This shows that the world still values tradition and heritage.

In addition, there are also many spirit medicine and their seeds.

Ye Jingcheng also saw many rare spirit medicine, including several spirit medicine that could be upgraded from Five Poison Bee. He spent dozens of Spirit Stones and bid several times, finally threatening to leave before the stall owner relented.

"Hao Bo, not bad, you've got some of your grandfather's style. These street vendors are all thinking of ripping off whoever they can, we can't let them get away with it!" Meng Xuan said from the side.

"I'm really short of Spirit Stone, please forgive me, Master Meng!" Ye Jingcheng shook his head and smiled bitterly.

"Hao Bo, this street market will be incredibly grand three days before the auction. At that time, even Foundation Establishment cultivators will be setting up stalls!" Meng Xuan added from the side.

He then glanced at the sky, exchanged a look with Ye Haiyi, and then...

Meng Xuan then led Ye Jingcheng and the other man towards a cluster of single-story houses.

This area is mostly inhabited by Rogue Cultivator, and it's much cheaper than restaurants.

One Spirit Stone a month is not a small amount, but you should not think so. After all, if you go out, you will have to pay one Spirit Stone every ten days.

That's the bigger number.

Some Rogue Cultivator don't even dare to leave the market!

This is what makes the market system so clever: either generate profits within the market or get exploited once you leave!

Of course, there are many other places in the market where you can generate income, such as guides, waiters, and street vendors, all of which can generate income from Spirit Stone.

It's important to know that the stalls in the square, except for the one in the center, are free of charge.

In this respect, it is better than Taihang Marketplace.

Within the cluster of bungalows, there were many independent Rogue Cultivator, including female Rogue Cultivator. Ye Jingcheng even spotted Xu Xiuqing not far away; she was also there.

Seemingly sensing Ye Jingcheng's gaze, Xu Xiuqing also raised her head and then walked over.

"This humble woman thanks you two for your great kindness!"

"It's the fairy's own superb Law Technique that's at fault; it has nothing to do with me!" Ye Haiyi didn't want to pay any attention to it.

He turned around and walked into the room that Meng Xuan had prepared for Ye Jingcheng and the other person.

Ye Jingcheng naturally followed closely.

The room was very simply furnished, with a bed, a table, and three stools; it would seem rather shabby even in the ordinary world.

However, in the world of cultivation, one Spirit Stone equals one month, which is extremely ironic.

Ye Haiyi took out a magic array and set it up around him.

After setting everything up, he took out a Jade Slip and crushed Jade Slip on the spot.

This Jade Slip is a sensory Jade Slip.

In the Cultivation World, there are two types of communication: one is the Jade Slip for sensing, and the other is the Spirit Talisman for transmitting sound.

The former leaves no trace, contains very little information, and requires prior agreement; the latter conveys a great deal of information, can break through Array, but will also produce a glimmer of light.

Of course, they also have something in common: they all have certain distance limitations.

For example, in the market town, it's absolutely impossible to send a message to your Lineage.

After successfully transmitting the Jade Slip, Ye Haiyi breathed a sigh of relief.

It's as if half the task is complete.

Ye Jingcheng took out some tea leaves from the side and started brewing tea; of course, this was ordinary tea.

As Rogue Cultivator all day brewing tea, it doesn't fit their current sickly and Rogue Cultivator persona.

After pouring Ye Haiyi a glass, the latter looked at Ye Jingcheng thoughtfully:

Do you think Grandpa is being overly cautious?

Ye Jingcheng shook his head, but a trace of doubt remained in his eyes.

But then Ye Haiyi pulled open his sleeve, and there it was, now a miniature version of the Red Thousand-Mile Mouse.

"The Li Family, the Xu Family, the Mo Family, the Chen Family, Chu Family have all come..." Ye Haiyi sighed.

Although he didn't use his Divine Sense, the Red Thousand-Mile Mouse' ability to track scents from a thousand miles away was unmistakable.

Over the years, the Ye Family had naturally figured out the key figures of the major Lineage.

"But don't be too nervous. Just proceed normally; no one will know that someone from the Ye Family has been here!"

"Including our sellers!" Ye Haiyi said confidently.

Ye Jingcheng nodded.

"There's Alchemist auction in a few days. Your illness is due to an incompatible Heavenly Spirit Root, so remember not to reveal it. Also, stay away from that woman surnamed Xu!"

"You must do this for at least the next two months!" Perhaps that sounds harsh.

Ye Haiyi added a few more words.

Ye Jingcheng nodded. At this moment, anything involving Taihang Marketplace could expose them.