Daylight had barely dawned, and the cold vapor rising from Green Vine Ravine had yet to disperse completely when Lu Zhao slipped silently into the vast mountain forest beyond the ravine's mouth, like a gray shadow skimming the ground.
Each step landed on jagged rocks or gnarled tree roots without a sound. His blue-gray guest elder's cloak billowed faintly in the morning breeze, its simplified dust-repelling and aura-concealing runes shimmering with the faintest light, blending his presence with the scents of rotting leaves and damp stone.
At that moment, he divided his attention three ways:
One part maintained the Little Spirit Rain Art, letting threads of cool moisture seep into his meridians and slowly replenish the spiritual power consumed by the Wind-Riding Art as he traveled;
Another wound around the cores of the two dormant Frost Rat Puppets in his sleeve. At a single thought, bone-piercing cold and claws sharp enough to tear through ordinary protective spiritual light would erupt in an instant;
The largest portion of his Divine Sense stretched like invisible threads, tethered to something more than ten zhang overhead.
-the Flowing Cloud Sparrow Puppet was gliding silently on the rising mountain air.
Its skeletal wings, carved from wind-pattern stone and inscribed with intricate Spirit Runes, gleamed faintly cold in the morning light.
Its compound eyes clearly projected images of the dense forest below, the winding paths, and even the crevices between rocks into Lu Zhao's sea of consciousness.
An invisible, shifting map unfolded in his mind.
Three li ahead and to the left, beneath a heap of dead leaves, an Ironclaw Mountain Cat lazily licked its fur. Its aura was only that of a First-Tier Low Grade beast and posed no threat.
As the Flowing Cloud Sparrow's gaze swept past, Lu Zhao adjusted his steps slightly and silently skirted around it.
At noon, he reached a stretch of scattered rocks on the edge of Rosy Cloud Slope.
In the Flowing Cloud Sparrow's field of vision, a blurred black shadow flashed behind the natural cover formed by several enormous boulders. The other party had deliberately concealed their aura, but could not escape the keen "sparrow eyes" looking down from above.
Middle Stage of Qi Refining, with bloody killing intent held in check.
Lu Zhao's gaze sharpened. He did not stop, but instantly activated the Frost Rat Puppets' cores in his sleeve.
Two cold, savage auras belonging to First-Tier Low Grade demonic beasts, deliberately left unconcealed, suddenly spread from him like two invisible Ice Cones, sweeping across the rocky area.
Behind the rocks, the faint rustle of clothing stopped abruptly.
The black shadow's aura distinctly faltered, then withdrew deeper into the shadows of the rocks like a startled venomous snake, leaving not the slightest sound.
The deterrent was enough.
His expression unchanged, Lu Zhao crossed the rocky ground at an even pace, continuing until the Flowing Cloud Sparrow confirmed there was no shadow following him.
When the westering sun gilded the Zhou Household Market's towering Bronze Beast Head gatehouse in warm gold, the taut string in Lu Zhao's heart finally began to relax.
The Flowing Cloud Sparrow folded its wings, becoming an inconspicuous gray streak as it dropped into his Storage Bag.
After more than half a day's trek, relying on his eye in the sky to spot danger in advance and his Cold-Ice Puppets to deter petty villains, he had finally returned safely, with a scare but no harm.
The familiar clamor of voices greeted him at the Market District entrance, mingled with the complex smells of pills, spiritual materials, and the rank odor of demonic beasts. It actually gave him a trace of reassurance he had not felt in some time.
After entering the Market District, Lu Zhao did not immediately head for the West Market. Instead, he turned and walked straight toward the Zhou Household Guest Elder Pavilion in the central district.
The pavilion was solemn. The steward on duty recognized the token at his waist and, after checking it, proceeded through the familiar formalities.
"Lu Zhao, one full month stationed at Green Vine Ravine. Your stipend is two spirit stones and one Ice Jade Pill."
His voice flat, the steward pushed a small jade bottle and two smooth, lustrous low-grade spirit stones across the counter.
The Ice Jade Pill had replaced the Cold Jade Pill. Its medicinal aura was colder, and the pill patterns flowing across its surface were much finer and more intricate, offering greater benefits to Middle Stage of Qi Refining cultivators.
Lu Zhao calmly accepted them and briefly cupped his hands. "Sorry for the trouble." Then he turned and left without the slightest dawdling.
His next stop was the Nine Abyss Pavilion.
The bronze bells at the eaves tinkled softly, accompanied by a distinctive, heavy scent blending aged wood with rare spiritual materials.
"Oh, Fellow Daoist Lu!" The old shopkeeper was polishing a bronze incense burner with a soft cloth. Looking up and spotting Lu Zhao, he immediately smiled, creasing the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes. "The damp at Green Vine Ravine hasn't soaked you until you swelled up, has it?"
Lu Zhao wasted no words either. He walked up to the counter and first laid out two Azure-Patterned Rat Puppets and one Frost Rat Puppet in succession.
The Azure-Patterned Rat Puppets had sharp claws and teeth and supple joints; the moment the Frost Rat Puppet appeared, however, a thin layer of frost formed visibly across the stone counter, and a cold, savage aura faintly seeped out.
The old shopkeeper's hand stopped polishing the incense burner.
He set down the soft cloth and, with some caution, gently brushed his withered fingers over the Frost Rat Puppet's icy back, sensing the spiritual power fluctuations and bone-piercing chill within, far surpassing those of the Azure-Patterned Rat Puppets.
His fingertips lingered briefly over the tiny runes specially inscribed on the rat puppet's claw tips, representing the power of an ice burst.
"Excellent! Excellent craftsmanship!" the shopkeeper praised twice, his eyes shining brightly. "This puppet is no longer comparable to an ordinary low-grade one!
"Fellow Daoist Lu, your progress in the art of puppetry truly covers a thousand li a day!"
"Thirty-one spirit stones altogether."
Lu Zhao's expression did not change. He seemed to have expected this price and did not bargain.
He merely uttered a single, indifferent word: "Agreed."
He paused, then slowly took the Flowing Cloud Sparrow Puppet from his Storage Bag under the shopkeeper's gaze.
Spiritual light flowed over the drab gray sparrow's outspread skeletal wings of wind-pattern stone. Though somewhat rough, it possessed a liveliness of its own, as though poised to take flight.
The shopkeeper's breathing suddenly grew heavy, and he leaned forward involuntarily. "Is this a puppet you refined, Fellow Daoist?"
Disbelief colored his voice, and his withered fingers could not resist touching those skeletal wings.
"Fellow Daoist Lu, this... would you be willing to part with it? Twenty-five spirit stones!"
But Lu Zhao turned his wrist and, under the shopkeeper's disappointed gaze, put the Flowing Cloud Sparrow away with a crisp, decisive motion.
"This puppet is only an initial attempt. It has many flaws and is of little practical use." His tone was calm, carrying an unquestionable decisiveness. "Once my skills improve and I refine a more complete successor, there will still be time to sell it to your pavilion."
Disappointment flashed across the shopkeeper's face, then gave way to deeper scrutiny.
He gave Lu Zhao a long look, understanding that this young man was no creature destined to remain in a pond. His thoughts were meticulous, and he also understood the principle of holding a rare commodity until its value could be realized.
He quickly adjusted his expression and laughed to cover his awkwardness. "Fellow Daoist Lu, I admire your pursuit of ever greater perfection! Then I shall await your good news."
He readily counted out thirty-one spirit stones and pushed them over (sixteen for the two Azure-Patterned Rat Puppets and fifteen for the Frost Rat Puppet).
Putting away the spirit stones, Lu Zhao immediately continued, "I must trouble you to keep an eye out for wind-pattern stone and ice-congealing stone for me. The higher the quality, the better, with no limit on quantity. Especially wind-pattern stone-even offcuts will do."
"Rest assured, leave it to me!" The shopkeeper patted his chest in assurance, then suddenly lowered his voice with a hint of mystery.
"By the way, Fellow Daoist Lu, you've returned at just the right time. The day after tomorrow is our Nine Abyss Pavilion's annual small private auction. Most of those attending are regular visitors and longtime patrons, and there will be some fine things rarely seen outside..."
He looked meaningfully at Lu Zhao. "You have funds to spare now, Fellow Daoist, and your discernment is far from ordinary. Why not come try your luck? There may be something you need."
Lu Zhao felt a slight stir within, but his expression remained unchanged. After a brief consideration, he nodded in agreement. "Thank you for the invitation. I will certainly be there the day after tomorrow."
"Good! Decisive!" Smiling, the shopkeeper noted it down and personally escorted him to the door, watching his blue-gray figure merge into the Market District crowds.
His clouded old eyes narrowed as he murmured to himself, "A flying puppet... isn't that exactly what the people above have been collecting lately...? Interesting."
Before you continue