Flying Cloud Market, Master Luo Is a Big Dummy!

Flying Cloud Market was one of more than two hundred immortal markets under Luo Shen Pavilion, directly administered by the Clear River Sect.

The market covered hundreds of li in three concentric rings. The Inner Ring housed Clear River Sect disciples and their families, and had the richest spiritual energy.

The middle ring served Late Qi Refining cultivators and disciples of ordinary lineages. Only the outermost ring had room for hard-pressed cultivators like Luo Fanchen.

"Master Luo, the spiritual energy here is so thin. Do cultivators really practice in a place like this?"

A foul, filthy stench lingered in the air. Ling Moxue pursed her lips and eyed the mud beneath her feet with distaste.

Even with her Superior-Grade Spiritual Root, she could draw in no spiritual energy here.

"There was once a First-Tier superior-grade spiritual vein beneath this land. The Clear River Sect built Flying Cloud Market at its source, and its second-tier Spirit-Gathering Grand Array siphons away the spiritual energy for a hundred li around. Naturally, the land became barren."

"How overbearing. Don't the other cultivators resist?"

Luo Fanchen smiled at her words and patted Mo Xue on the head. "Rogue Cultivators have no one to rely on. They're a plate of loose sand. How could they resist a sect?"

"Those who dared resist have had three generations of their families wiped out."

Luo Fanchen shook his head and gave her a rare, earnest warning. "If you encounter Clear River Sect cultivators, you must give way."

"I'll listen to you, Master Luo."

Ling Moxue lowered her gaze. Her hand closed unconsciously around her sword hilt, her thoughts impossible to read.

Luo Fanchen reached out and wrapped his hand around hers. His brows drew together, his expression even graver than before.

Mo Xue hung her head, waiting for a scolding, but Luo Fanchen said, "You only give way so long as you're safe."

"We can't afford to provoke the Clear River Sect, but if they push too far, there's nothing wrong with drawing your sword."

"Remember, your safety comes first. We Rogue Cultivators can always run if things turn against us. The Clear River Sect may be powerful, but even they couldn't find us across the vast Azure Source Domain."

With that, Luo Fanchen gently pinched Mo Xue's miserable little face. "I'll always be on your side."

The girl was in unfamiliar surroundings, among cultivators far stronger than she was. Of course she felt insecure. He needed to guide her through it.

"I'll always be on your side too, Master Luo."

Mo Xue slowly released her sword hilt and took Luo Fanchen's fingers in her hand. Her face grew calm, and the faint distance between them vanished.

Mo Xue soon saw the Clear River Sect's lofty status for herself.

Outside the market, traffic bustled. Two Clear River Sect disciples in cloud-and-water robes embroidered with ink dragons lazily sipped spiritual tea.

Arms folded, they looked down on everyone around them. Though they were only outer disciples at the Third Level of Qi Refining, they could order four mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators to inspect travelers and collect entry fees.

"Two Spirit Stones."

Luo Fanchen wore a bamboo hat. With Qiu Yun's help, the Soul Banner had taken the shape of an umbrella and drew no attention from the two disciples.

They gave it a glance, saw only a low-grade artifact, and lost interest. Then they looked at Ling Moxue, clicked their tongues in disdain, and named an outrageous price.

Ling Moxue already knew the value of Spirit Stones. Her face darkened, but Luo Fanchen merely patted the back of her hand. Smiling, he offered one Spirit Stone and slipped a piece of Spirit Dust from his sleeve into the disciples' hands.

"Fellow Daoist, she's family. I'm returning to Flying Cloud Market, so I hope you'll make things easy for us."

The disciple weighed the Spirit Dust in his palm. A smile softened his stiff expression, and his tone warmed.

"Since you're one of Flying Cloud Market's own, I see no problem."

"Go on in. Kun Nu, there's no need to search this fellow Daoist's sister."

"Many thanks, Fellow Daoist."

"Think nothing of it. Perhaps we'll meet again."

The two disciples smiled and ordered the old mid-stage Qi Refining servants to keep their distance.

They could tell at a glance that Luo Fanchen was no ordinary man. He was only at the Fourth Level of Qi Refining, but his True Essence was balanced and pure, far beyond that of a typical Rogue Cultivator.

Under Flying Cloud Market's rules, one Spirit Stone bought an entry token valid for a year, allowing its holder to bring three family members.

Of course, deciding who counted as family was a small privilege of theirs.

"They make Spirit Stones so easily."

Luo Fanchen clicked his tongue, pained by the expense and envious all at once.

The Clear River Sect was merely a vassal of the Dao Sect, yet to Rogue Cultivators it was a towering giant. Even two lowly outer disciples could rake in a fortune.

It was only one piece of Spirit Dust, but crowds of cultivators passed through Flying Cloud Market each day. Even if they charged just one in a hundred, they would take in more than ten Spirit Stones daily—more than an ordinary Rogue Cultivator could save in ten years.

"Master Luo, once I join Luo Shen Pavilion, I'll put the Clear River Sect in order and make them answer for how they treated you."

Ling Moxue huffed and slipped her arm through Luo Fanchen's. Her resolve to grow stronger burned brighter.

They passed beneath a massive bluestone archway and entered the protective array, finally seeing Flying Cloud Market in full.

"This is only a market?"

Ling Moxue stared, her bright eyes wide. Even the air seemed sweeter.

Even in the outermost ring, the Spirit-Gathering Formation and spiritual vein made the spiritual energy nearly a hundred times denser than in the mortal world.

The girl felt her senses sharpen and drew several deep breaths.

Luo Fanchen was hardly any better. In twenty years of arduous cultivation, he had entered Flying Cloud Market only a handful of times to trade for essential supplies.

His residence sat over one of the obscure leaks in the spiritual vein beneath Flying Cloud Market.

A little spiritual energy occasionally escaped there. It was somewhat better than the mortal world, but far inferior to the market.

"Little glutton, we'll be living here for quite a while."

Luo Fanchen tapped Mo Xue's nose with a finger. She gave a small whimper and covered it, looking rather embarrassed.

Had she made Master Luo lose face by acting like someone who had never seen the world?

The market spread along the mountain. Eaves joined along the upper streets, and three main roads crossed among alchemy rooms, apothecaries, and artifact-forging shops. It had everything.

Rogue Cultivators hawked their wares along the side lanes, their cries ringing out. Strange little trinkets made Mo Xue stop several times, but each time she saw the price, her face fell and she pulled Luo Fanchen away.

Most people they passed were mortals. Cultivators were scarce, and the scattered vendors sold shabby goods of little worth.

"Master Luo, why are there fewer cultivators here than mortals?"

Ling Moxue blinked. Sharp as she was, she had watched the streets the whole way and spotted barely any cultivators.

"Heh. A batch just left. It'll take time for new Rogue Cultivators to move in."

There was a bitter edge to Luo Fanchen's words. On the last expedition to the secret realm, nearly every Rogue Cultivator with a little ambition or strength had died there.

Flying Cloud Market had lost two-thirds of its cultivators and now stood half-empty. The entry token's price had fallen to one Spirit Stone, so at least he had gained something from it.

"Left? Were they driven out?"

"In a manner of speaking."

Luo Fanchen's mood sank. Several of his friends had died in the secret realm too.

He adjusted his bamboo hat and led Mo Xue off the main street, heading straight for the far edge of the market.

Along the way, the scent of honeyed spirit crisps caught the girl's attention. She swallowed and could hardly tear herself away.

Mo Xue's eyes shone, and her nose twitched as she breathed in the fragrant sweetness.

Her gaze shifted between the fragrant crisps and the single piece of Spirit Dust in her hand. Remembering how hard Master Luo worked for Spirit Stones, she ignored the vendor's cries, clutched the Spirit Dust tight, and hurried away as though fleeing.

A few steps later, Mo Xue hesitated again. She had never smelled a pastry so sweet. Crestfallen, she lowered her head and followed Luo Fanchen.

"Little glutton, can't walk past it?"

Luo Fanchen's teasing voice came from behind her. Ling Moxue froze as he held a large piece of crisp to her lips.

The spirit crisps were cooked in Demon Beast fat with a little First-Rank Low-Grade spirit honey. Their appeal lay in the generous portions: one piece of Spirit Dust bought three jin.

Female cultivators sometimes reluctantly bought a few pieces to satisfy a craving. Luo Fanchen would never have indulged himself so extravagantly, but this was Mo Xue's first visit to the cultivation world. He wanted her first memories of it to be sweet, whatever hardships came later.

He had already spent the money, so he bought a whole jin. He gave most of it to Mo Xue and saved a little for Qiu Yun to taste.

"Here. Try it while it's warm."

Luo Fanchen tousled Mo Xue's hair. She held the spirit crisp in both hands, her pupils widening slightly.

She swallowed, carefully broke off a tiny piece, and placed it between her lips as though receiving a sacred offering. Her tense little face relaxed at once, delight and satisfaction plain to see.

She covered her mouth with one hand, her eyes sparkling, but could not bear to eat any more. Instead, she broke off a piece and held it to Luo Fanchen's lips.

"Master Luo, it's so sweet!"

"At my age, I don't care for sweets."

Luo Fanchen shook his head. Of course he liked sweets; his purse was simply too thin.

Just as he opened his mouth to refuse, Mo Xue slipped a small piece in. Then she quite naturally touched her tongue to her fingertip, licking away the sweetness left there.

Her eyes curved with mischief. "Sweet, isn't it, Master Luo?"

Its fragrance filled his nose, its sweetness his mouth. So soft he scarcely needed to move his tongue, it melted against his lips.

"Yes. Very sweet."

Luo Fanchen looked at her with quiet satisfaction. The girl's smile was sweeter than the crisp.

Was this the satisfaction of watching someone grow? How interesting.

Mo Xue gave a delighted little hum. She licked the crumbs from her palm, carefully put away the remaining crisps, and walked with a spring in her step.

"If you like them, I'll buy you some whenever your cultivation improves."

"Hmph! Master Luo, you're such a dummy."

Mo Xue puffed out her cheeks, her lips moving soundlessly.

She had practiced diligently these past few days, and her cultivation had already improved. Master Luo simply had all his attention on Qiu Yun and had neglected her.

She was not vying for his affection. She wanted to confide in Master Luo and act a little spoiled, just as Qiu Yun did.

They kept walking, and the bustling surroundings gradually gave way to poorer streets. After a long while, Luo Fanchen reached Shantytown.

A faint sour reek of sweat hung in the air. This was where Rogue Cultivators' families lived, at the edge of the market and the end of the underground spiritual vein. Spiritual energy was thirty percent thinner here than elsewhere, but the rent was cheap.

Luo Fanchen found a child in ragged hemp clothes, tossed him a few silver coins, and went straight into the rental office.

The courtyard was noisy. Wooden plaques recording vacant residences hung beside a counter. Luo Fanchen scanned them and drew a sharp breath.

"Two Spirit Stones?"

Most residences cost two Spirit Stones a year. With the entry token, housing alone would run to three Spirit Stones.

He held his Storage Bag tighter. He had twelve Spirit Stones and sixty-eight pieces of Spirit Sand left.

His brows knitted as he studied every plaque. At last, he found a residence listed in the corner. Its location was decent, yet it cost only one Spirit Stone.

"What's the catch with this one?"

Rather than take the plaque, Luo Fanchen cautiously asked the boy beside him. He did not believe good fortune simply fell from the sky.

The boy was thin, and his hemp clothes had been washed nearly white.

He stole a glance at Ling Moxue. Her skin glowed with health, clearly protected by True Essence, and envy filled his eyes.

"Immortal Master, the Spirit-Gathering Grand Array at this residence was damaged once. It's been repaired, but the spiritual energy is still turbulent, making cultivation rather taxing."

The scrawny boy lowered his voice. "There's also said to be a nasty neighbor right next door. Please weigh it carefully, Immortal Master."

Luo Fanchen nodded and, without further hesitation, drew the wooden plaque into his hand.

Turbulent spiritual energy was no drawback to him. The Spirit-Gathering Formation on the Soul Banner could pull in even more energy for the two of them to absorb.

"A nasty neighbor? Heh. How formidable could a cultivator living in Shantytown be?"

Luo Fanchen shook his head, paid the deposit, and collected the deed. The boy then led them to the residence.

The location was unexpectedly good, on the edge of Shantytown. Bluestone paved the ground, and the property had three main rooms and a quiet courtyard. He could later open two small spirit fields there for Spirit Grain and common medicinal herbs.

"Not bad."

Luo Fanchen was quite pleased. He called the boy over, tossed him another silver ingot, rolled up his sleeves, and began putting the place in order.

Surprise flashed in the boy's eyes. This Immortal Master was doing the work himself?

He lowered his head, then looked at Ling Moxue with envy and a sense of his own inadequacy. After a long while, he forced a smile and offered her a wooden plaque.

"Fairy, people call me Little Whirlwind. I hear everything that happens in Shantytown."

"If you and your Dao Companion ever need information, you can find me at the end of the street. I'm always there."

"We're—we're not Dao Companions!"

Ling Moxue had kept her face cool and her eyes wary, but at "Dao Companion," she stumbled over her denial.

She turned away in a huff. Under Little Whirlwind's nervous gaze, she accepted the plaque bearing his name and address. Once the boy had hurried off as if for his life, a faint blush rose in her cheeks.

Dao Companion... Has Master Luo ever had one?

By nightfall, Qiu Yun's help had transformed the residence.

Luo Fanchen checked every corner. Only after confirming that no one had planted marks or hidden traps did he direct the Soul Banner to take root in the center of the courtyard.

He formed a hand seal and chanted, with Qiu Yun assisting beside him. A ghostly wind hummed for an instant, and the banner transformed into a willow tree. The Spirit-Gathering Formation's patterns glowed within it, drawing chaotic spiritual energy into the residence from every direction.

"The spiritual energy is twenty percent denser than in an ordinary residence. It's already on par with places outside Shantytown."

Luo Fanchen was pleased. The scattered Soul Power stored in the Soul Banner, together with its dozen or so Wraiths, would keep the Spirit-Gathering Formation running for over a month.

"What a bargain."

Luo Fanchen was in high spirits. With the Soul Banner, he could save at least five Spirit Stones a year. It could also serve as a warning system.

If an outsider entered, he would know at once and could shut down the Spirit-Gathering Formation in an instant. It would be very difficult to expose.

The Soul Banner itself could conceal its aura. Even a Late Qi Refining cultivator would struggle to spot anything amiss without standing right before it and looking closely.

After dinner, Qiu Yun returned early to the Soul Banner to refine the vast amount of Soul Power within.

Luo Fanchen opened his Storage Bag and took stock of his resources.

Eleven Spirit Stones, a low-grade artifact sword, scales, claws, and fangs from the Demon Serpent, and a large haul of demonic goods left by Ling Youdao.

He needed to keep the Qi Gathering Pills and Meridian-Opening Pills for future cultivation, and the healing pills and Breath Concealment Pills for emergencies.

"If I sold everything, I could get fifteen Spirit Stones."

Luo Fanchen murmured to himself. After setting aside what was needed to refine the Soul Banner, the remaining Demonic Treasures were a scattered assortment only the black market would take. Selling them all would take time.

"A cup of water against a burning cartload..."

Luo Fanchen sighed. At most, he could scrape together twenty-five Spirit Stones in the near future.

It was no small sum, but beside the cost of a superior-grade Mystic Method suitable for Mo Xue, it was only a cup of water against a burning cartload.

"I need at least a hundred and twenty Spirit Stones."

Luo Fanchen rubbed his aching forehead. He gripped the low-grade artifact sword, then slowly loosened his hold.

With the Soul Banner, he had no use for the sword. He could sell it at the market for ten Spirit Stones.

But he would rather save it for Mo Xue. With her Innate Sword Bone, her swordsmanship was advancing by leaps and bounds. Sooner or later, she would need an artifact sword.

"And a Sword Manual..."

Luo Fanchen gave a self-mocking laugh. If he was already going to spend a hundred and twenty Spirit Stones, he might as well keep the sword.

No wonder prodigies emerged only from sects and great Aristocratic Clans. Who could bear the terrifying cost of feeding such a gold-devouring beast on their own?

Later, Luo Fanchen set aside some time to study the Lesser Yang Wood-Transforming Art.

Lately, he had felt himself brushing against the threshold of a divine ability. Once he cultivated his technique to the third level, he would likely grasp its secrets in a flash.

Until then, earning Spirit Stones had to come first.

Luo Fanchen gathered his supplies and tucked the Storage Bag against his body again. After cultivating for two hours, he grew weary and fell asleep in his clothes.

Creak.

Half an hour later, a faint sound at the doorway startled Luo Fanchen from his hazy sleep.

In the moonlight, a figure ducked her little head and timidly crawled under Luo Fanchen's covers.

He knew it was Qiu Yun without hearing a word, so he could not be bothered to open his eyes. That little glutton should have eaten her fill by now. Why was she sneaking into his bed?

"Qiu Yun, stop fooling around. Mo Xue only just fell asleep."

"Master Luo... You can't even recognize me?"

After a long bout of rustling beneath the covers, a little head poked out indignantly. Mo Xue's lips were pursed, her almond eyes full of reproach.

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