"In this cruel cultivation world, weakness itself was a tragedy, a sin, because a passing high-level cultivator could casually crush you to death at any time, anywhere."
"Low-level cultivators had no power to determine their own fate. Their destinies were forever subject to the influence of high-level cultivators!"
"When you were weak, bowing and scraping and exhausting every means to preserve yourself was not pathetic. It was merely a means-a means of struggling to survive."
"When you were weak, you should work hard quietly and find every possible way to grow stronger, striving to increase your strength rather than clinging to wishful thinking and begging for the mercy of high-level cultivators."
"Strength could be relied upon, and weakness could also be put to use!"
Watching the streak of light disappear beyond the horizon, Liu Yu recalled passages from the Essentials of Demonic Cultivation before finally withdrawing his gaze.
The Essentials of Demonic Cultivation had influenced Liu Yu more profoundly than he had imagined. The book exposed the brutal truth of the cultivation world without the slightest veil of tender sentiment.
Bending himself to please others was merely a means, a necessary means of avoiding the war and gaining more time to cultivate. Liu Yu's heart remained as still as water, without a single ripple.
Beneath the sunlight, he narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze deep and distant.
He took the Giant Wood Sword from his Storage Bag and flew toward Green Spirit Peak, following his recollection of its location.
Braving the blazing sun, he traveled through the mountains. The occasional passing streaks of flight light carried unfamiliar faces, swiftly approaching before vanishing into the distance in the blink of an eye. They were merely strangers passing one another, each rushing along his own Dao Path.
After roughly two hours of flight, Liu Yu arrived at Green Spirit Peak.
Green Spirit Peak's Spirit Vein had reached the limit of the first tier, and its spiritual energy was roughly twice as dense as that of the outer sect's Greenwood Peak. Yet far fewer cultivators lived here. When he occasionally encountered one or two people, they merely exchanged indifferent glances, with no intention of becoming acquainted.
Following the location marked on the scroll from the General Affairs Hall, Liu Yu found his new cave abode.
This new cave abode was much larger. Excavated into the mountainside, it contained five or six empty chambers, including a cultivation room and an alchemy room, and was several times larger than his former little wooden cabin. It was fully furnished, with nothing lacking.
Unfortunately, with war breaking out, he would soon have to leave for the border of Qing Province. He had little time to remain here in peace and stability.
Liu Yu briefly tidied the cave abode, then used the Immortal Mansion to accelerate the maturation of several spirit herbs. Afterward, he disguised himself using the secret disguise technique from the Essentials of Demonic Cultivation and quietly left.
He would have to leave the sect in seven days, after which he would no longer have a stable environment for cultivation. If the situation truly descended into chaos, the Primordial Yang Sect's name would carry little weight. Only his own strength would be truly reliable.
A mere seven days of seated cultivation would hardly improve his cultivation level. It would be better to prepare some talismans and magical artifacts to bolster his strength.
Riding the Giant Wood Sword, the disguised Liu Yu flew toward the sect's largest Market Ward. Since he was within the sect, he did not worry about anyone murdering him for his treasures, so he flew at full speed after disguising himself, unconcerned about revealing his wealth.
Although his identity as an Alchemist provided cover, he still did not want others to learn too much about his capabilities.
Flowing Cloud Market Ward was one of the few prominent Market Wards within the Primordial Yang Sect and was fairly well known among disciples in the Qi Refining Period.
Liu Yu walked along the bustling street. All the cultivators coming and going wore Primordial Yang Sect attire. Most were gray-robed outer disciples, with only a scattering of Inner Disciples.
As Liu Yu passed in his white robes, several attractive female cultivators even glanced his way and softly greeted him. Perhaps he needed only to speak to them to easily deepen their acquaintance and become friends, discussing "cultivation experiences" together that night.
Expressionless, Liu Yu surveyed the shops around him. After walking along the street, he finally chose a visibly busier shop with flourishing business and entered its three-story building, called the Treasure Gathering Pavilion.
The Treasure Gathering Pavilion was one of the better-performing shops in this Market Ward and had always enjoyed a good reputation among low-level disciples.
Upon entering, he saw cultivators in twos and threes browsing their desired goods at the surrounding counters. Whenever something caught their eye, they would speak quietly with the shop assistants.
Liu Yu approached the counter selling magical artifacts and casually looked them over. They were all ordinary goods, the best being merely middle-grade magical artifacts. He then went to the talisman counter, where he likewise saw only common items such as Fireball Talismans, Ice Cone Talismans, and Vajra Talismans.
These ordinary magical artifacts and talismans were extremely handy for ordinary outer disciples and rogue cultivators, but to him they were like chicken ribs-little meat to savor, yet a pity to discard-and of little use.
For offense, he currently had the Golden Dragon Sword, a superior-grade magical artifact that stood out even among those used in late Qi Refining. For defense, he had the Black Tortoise Shield, a middle-grade magical artifact whose previous damage had already been repaired. However, now that he had advanced to late Qi Refining, this defensive magical artifact seemed somewhat inadequate. It could still handle ordinary cultivators, but against an enemy wielding a superior-grade magical artifact, it would be stretched far too thin.
Thus, Liu Yu had come to Flowing Cloud Market Ward primarily to purchase a superior-grade defensive magical artifact and some powerful talismans. That way, if he faced several enemies at once, he could use the talismans to hold them off temporarily.
If he truly encountered enemy cultivators on the border of Qing Province, they would not concern themselves with fighting one against one. They would inevitably swarm him and surround him to kill him. Given Liu Yu's habitual caution, he naturally had to plan ahead.
At this thought, Liu Yu frowned, called over a shop assistant, and said calmly:
"Does your Treasure Gathering Pavilion only have these ordinary magical artifacts and talismans? Don't you have anything better?"
The assistant was only at the second level of Qi Refining, an ordinary employee of the Treasure Gathering Pavilion. How could he dare offend an Inner Disciple of the Primordial Yang Sect? Upon hearing this, he immediately bowed and replied with an accommodating smile, "Honored customer, these goods are sold to ordinary cultivators. For distinguished guests such as yourself, if you require better items, please come upstairs. I'll immediately fetch the steward to discuss your needs in detail."
As he spoke, he led Liu Yu to the second floor of the Treasure Gathering Pavilion, into a rather elegant room laid with a red carpet. He then bowed and withdrew to fetch their steward.
About seven minutes later, a somewhat portly middle-aged man in brocade robes entered. Although he looked like an ordinary middle-aged man, the fluctuations of spiritual power emanating from him unmistakably placed him in the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Sensing the newcomer's cultivation level, Liu Yu hurriedly rose and cupped his hands. "Greetings, Senior."
The brocade-robed middle-aged man was named Du Jingshan, and he was one of the Treasure Gathering Pavilion's partners. Intrigued by the assistant's report, and having nothing else to do, he had decided to take a look himself.
"Young friend, there is no need for such formality. Since you chose the Treasure Gathering Pavilion, you are an honored guest of our shop. Nothing else matters here, so there's no need to stand on ceremony."
Du Jingshan spoke with a smile. Although he was a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, he did not dare bully the weak or force purchases and sales within the Primordial Yang Sect's grounds. Otherwise, it would not be long before the Treasure Gathering Pavilion was razed to the ground.
Liu Yu took the opportunity to sit back down. Seeing no unusual reaction from the Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, he relaxed. The secret technique from the Essentials of Demonic Cultivation truly was marvelous. Combined with its specially prepared medicinal solution, it prevented even a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator from seeing through his disguise.
With the sect backing him here, he did not need to be overly wary of this Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator. Surely the man would not dare suddenly lash out at him.
Thanks to fellow readers Love Left and the Wind Stopped, Drifting Cherry Blossoms, Watching Wind and Moon with a Smile, May the World Treat You Gently pi, Fengfeng Feifei, My Favorite Is Cultivation Farming and Space, Zeng Xiangbin, Star Grass and Cloudtime Rain, Moonlight Clear Ripples, Chenghai Muzi, I Am a Little Daoist Boy, Radish Coconut, 20170403203036994, Haoka, Reader Under Heaven 160, Wang Hahahaha, Wind and Cloud Ranking Card, 1611133194509011, Mu Yuyan, 20191206162342345, Fantasy Journey of Cultivation, I Pay to Defy the Tropes, Xiao Jinling, Dizzy Stars, and others for your recommendation votes!
Thanks to fellow reader Xiao Jinling for your monthly ticket support!