This Lousy Place Is Full of Traps

Peach Blossom Spring Lake.

Under the night sky, amid the reeds.

"Even this little fish market had crouching tigers and hidden dragons?"

The black-canopied boat rocked gently. Xu Fan glanced at the faint light in the distance and couldn't help frowning.

He wasn't sure whether the lord the fish market manager had called for when Lin Chu attacked him actually existed.

"I'll assume he does for now."

"Was someone using this to lure Lin Chu out? That doesn't seem quite right either."

"Forget it. I'd better go into hiding for a while first."

He hid the wooden box containing the silver, then poled the boat along the edge of the reeds, searching.

"I've already mastered the Golden Light Technique. I should buy another technique or two-the more the better."

It took him over two hours to haul in two treasure fish.

"Sixteen or seventeen jin together. That's barely enough."

Xu Fan hefted the two bamboo baskets and nodded in satisfaction. With a thought, the Taiji Dao Evolution Diagram appeared deep in his eyes.

Ripples spread across the lake, and the black-canopied boat was empty.

Outside Flowing Cloud Market.

Carrying the bamboo baskets, Xu Fan entered the market and returned to the shop he had visited before.

"Shopkeeper Xu, two spirit fish. Please fetch me the Divine Movement Technique while you're at it."

He had been eyeing the Divine Movement Technique last time, but it cost fifteen Spirit Stones, and his pockets had been painfully empty.

"Oh? Little Brother Xu Xian, I haven't seen you in quite some time."

Shopkeeper Xu's eyes lit up. Smiling, he took down the parchment scroll containing the Divine Movement Technique.

"Your spirit fish are rare, and they work quite well for cultivators in the Embryonic Breathing Realm too. Why don't you come by more often?"

As he spoke, he pushed the parchment scroll over and carefully sensed Xu Fan's cultivation. His body jolted.

He had already condensed the Circulation Wheel?

When the two had come last time, he hadn't probed their cultivation. He had merely guessed that the Cultivation Method they practiced was the Plain Luminary Supreme Yin Wondrous Instruction.

In a month, they could have condensed the Mystic Scene Wheel at most. Zhang Yaozu had indeed been just as he expected, and he had even introduced him to the Luo Clan, a prominent clan of the commandery.

This time, when he saw Xu Xian, he had wanted to check his progress, only to get a fright.

It had been four months at most since the Lu Household spread the Plain Luminary Supreme Yin Wondrous Instruction, and he had already condensed the Circulation Wheel?

He was a Purple Mansion seed!

"Spirit fish are hard to come by. How could I come to the market without a thing to my name?"

Xu Fan noticed the change in Shopkeeper Xu's expression and guessed that he had discovered his cultivation.

But so what?

Lord Xu couldn't really die in this world anyway.

"That's true."

Shopkeeper Xu nodded gently, unconcerned about that:

"Is there anything else you need?"

He had gained quite a few benefits from recommending Zhang Yaozu to the Luo Clan last time.

If he sent this Purple Mansion seed over, he reckoned he might have a chance to attempt Foundation Establishment.

"I can't afford anything."

Xu Fan shook his head in refusal, then asked:

"Have you heard of the Great Universal Dharma Flower Return to Oneness Scripture, Shopkeeper Xu?"

Although he had already thrown away the Cultivation Method the monk had given him, it was a third-grade Immortal Method, after all. He wanted to know what was going on.

A third-grade Immortal Method, treated like an ordinary object and given to everyone he met?

Could it be a fake?

Was there a catch?

"The Great Universal Dharma Flower Return to Oneness Scripture?!"

Shopkeeper Xu was still thinking about how to extend an invitation, but when he heard the name of this Buddhist cultivation method, his voice rose several notches. He hurriedly asked:

"You haven't practiced it, have you?"

He felt uneasy. Xu Xian couldn't have gained his cultivation by practicing the Great Universal Dharma Flower Return to Oneness Scripture, could he?

That would be disastrous.

"A monk gave it to me, but I wasn't interested in becoming a Buddhist cultivator, so I threw it away."

Xu Fan shook his head in puzzlement.

"It's good that you didn't. Thank goodness you were cautious enough."

Shopkeeper Xu let out a long breath, then spoke after a moment:

"It is indeed a third-grade Immortal Method, but once you practice it, you'll no longer be yourself. You'll be a clone that can be replaced at any time!"

"The Supreme Yang Dao Lineage is gradually declining these days, and Buddhist cultivators are spreading their Dharma eastward, but they harbor evil intentions!"

"If you encounter those bald donkeys, avoid them whenever you can."

Apparently, a bald donkey had met Xu Xian, seen his outstanding talent, and given him the Great Universal Dharma Flower Return to Oneness Scripture?

If he had actually practiced it, the Buddhist cultivators would likely have gained another arhat in the future.

"A Cultivation Method that bizarre actually exists?!"

Xu Fan looked shocked.

What kind of lousy place was this?

Was this the cultivation world?

Why did it sound even more sinister than the Wedding Robe Divine Art?

"It's good that you didn't practice it. You don't need to worry about those bald donkeys coming after you, either."

Shopkeeper Xu smiled.

"Those bald donkeys have always cast a wide net. They give a copy to every talented Rogue Cultivator they come across."

This wasn't the first time he had encountered such a thing. Buddhist cultivators had been coming to Linhai Commandery ever since the Lu Household was wiped out.

Their targets were the Rogue Cultivators who had stepped onto the Dao Path through the Plain Luminary Supreme Yin Wondrous Instruction. After all, they came from mortal backgrounds and didn't know about the traps in Cultivation Methods.

Several had already been tricked into switching to the Great Universal Dharma Flower Return to Oneness Scripture, becoming a single Buddhist cultivator.

"I see."

Xu Fan nodded.

Although he was surprised by how treacherous the Great Universal Dharma Flower Return to Oneness Scripture was, he wasn't afraid of the monk coming after him.

If you dare come, I'll dare die right in front of you.

"These two spirit fish weigh sixteen jin in total. That leaves one Spirit Stone."

Shopkeeper Xu took out a Spirit Stone and pushed it over.

"Have you considered joining a faction?"

"Your friend Zhang Yaozu joined the Luo Clan through my introduction. They're the only Purple Mansion immortal clan in Linhai Commandery."

"With your talent, the Luo Clan would be happy to take you in as a clan member of a different surname. It would be a hundred times better than being a Rogue Cultivator."

Xu Fan shook his head in refusal.

"Thank you for your kind offer, Shopkeeper Xu, but I have no plans to join any faction for the time being."

The old man was a little too enthusiastic.

In a situation like this, either there was a trap, or Shopkeeper Xu stood to gain something.

He didn't believe kindness came without a reason.

At best, it would be a win-win situation, but who would win more?

He had no bargaining power right now, so agreeing would be far too hasty.

From the Miscellaneous Records of the Land of Wu, he had gained some understanding of the major powers in the Land of Wu.

The strongest were the three sects and four schools, which had more than one Purple Mansion True Person.

The Red Pine Sect was one of them.

And there was True Person Qingsong.

Apart from those, there were the thirty-six commanderies. Most had a Purple Mansion immortal clan, with Purple Mansion True Persons among their members.

The three sects and four schools controlled the Land of Wu, and the Purple Mansion immortal clans of the commanderies were all their vassals.

Lord Xu had outstanding talent, so surely he ought to at least try to join the three sects and four schools?

"Very well."

Shopkeeper Xu didn't press him further. Instead, he took out a talisman.

"If you make up your mind, activate this communication talisman and I'll come get you."

"You'll have to change from the Plain Luminary Supreme Yin Wondrous Instruction eventually. The Luo Clan has several Cultivation Methods that can take you to the Purple Mansion, so they won't hold up your Dao Path."

He had known since their last meeting that Xu Xian was cautious and had a better temperament than Zhang Yaozu, and he thought highly of him.

Since Xu Xian had his own plans, he said no more.

He had some connection to a genius like this now, and it might prove useful in the future.

Of course, it would be even better if he could recommend him to the Luo Clan.

"Thank you."

Xu Fan put away the Spirit Stone and talisman, thanked him, then turned and left.

After leaving Flowing Cloud Market, he headed straight for the nearby city.

A quarter of an hour later, he arrived at a magnificent city set into a mountainside.

Flowing Cloud Market was only thirty li outside the city, so it wasn't far.

"Yishan City. It truly lives up to its name as one of the largest cities in Linhai Commandery. It's breathtaking."