Nurture Goodness with Deep Virtue, Bless Fellow Daoists; Wicked Guests Come Calling, Bringing Disaster

Xiang Feng presided over the boat market, but Heng Hua found its tedious affairs useless and troublesome. He hid alone in his room to read, sending only Xiaoyu and Hengshou to help.

"Mystic Gold is born from metal and stone, the root of all gold."

What Heng Hua was currently reading was a book called Immortal Metallurgy, the cultivation world's art of metalworking. It recorded sixteen hundred and twenty-three kinds of Gold Essence, along with information on their origins and refining techniques.

Since the beginning of the year, Heng Hua had frequently leafed through Immortal Metallurgy, trying to memorize the information within.

At present, he had turned to the page on Star Mystic Iron.

"Method one: three jin of Mystic Gold, one jin and five liang of Divine Iron, eight liang of Seven-Star Silverleaf Herb, three qian of Blacknight Mushroom... Melt all materials into metal liquid, cast the 'Star Gathering Lingfa,' then quench it in Starlight Spiritwater. After nine days, it will become Star Mystic Iron."

"Method two: one jin of Mystic Gold, one jin of Nine-Star Year Silver, one jin of Divine Iron. Apply the Golden Refining Art, and it will be completed in three days."

"Method three..."

Heng Hua silently recited the passages, committing every one of them to memory.

After finishing his recitation, he picked up his teacup and took a sip before continuing to the next page, which described the refinement of Puppet Gold.

"Heng Hua, stop spacing out and come help."

Pure Wind carried Xiang Feng's voice over.

"Not my problem. You started this mess, so handle it yourself."

"But I don't recognize these things. I'm not as good as you at appraising treasures."

Heng Hua ignored him and continued memorizing.

"Third Brother really had too much time on his hands. Instead of resting up on the spirit boat at night, he just had to fuss over a boat market. What if he draws the Wei Family or Cheng Family here? Then we'll have to fight again."

Whenever night fell and cultivators stopped at the Immovable Reef to rest, they would trade items in twos and threes. Once the scale grew large enough, it became a "reef market."

This ancient form of trade had existed in the Dragonreach Waters a thousand years ago. Yet reef markets were scattered and transient, making their safety difficult to guarantee. After the great cultivation lineages established Fixed-Point Immortal Markets, the Reef District Boat Markets gradually declined.

Yet there were two exceptions in the eastern waters.

Because the Fu Family and Yin Family had good reputations, cultivators would approach their ships when they anchored outside and ask whether they could borrow the grounds to trade.

With the care and protection of the Fu and Yin Families, boat markets still continued on a small scale.

Still, it was a thankless task. Boat markets could not be taxed, and they would draw the resentment of several other cultivation lineages.

"Hurry, hurry. I can't identify all this spirit metal. Get out here already."

Pure Wind howled over in gust after gust, making so much noise that Heng Hua could not read at all.

Unable to endure the pestering any longer, Heng Hua tossed his book aside and simply went to the bow to catch the wind.

Xiaoyu sat at the ship's entrance, responsible for keeping records. Hengshou had leapt onto the bow to stand watch, while Xiang Feng supervised. A reward notice for three spirit herbs, including Darkgold Ginseng, hung from the sail beside them.

Gathering numerous cultivators and inquiring after information regarding the three great medicines had been Fu Xiangfeng's true intention.

Aside from Nie Xing and his martial brother, who had just returned, four more cultivators had arrived alone to participate in the boat market.

Seeing the Fu Family's Coiling Dragon Seal, they had come to pay a visit. However, they did not board the ship. Instead, they set up stalls on the ground nearby, borrowing the Fu Family's name to maintain order.

When they saw Fu Henghua emerge from the cabin, Nie Xing and his martial brother came over to greet him.

Although Heng Hua disliked his third brother's meddlesome ways, he still wore a warm smile before outsiders and chatted leisurely with the two men.

"It was all because my elder brother insisted on making trouble. You two fellow Daoists had barely left before being dragged back again."

"Not at all. Fellow Daoist Fu is willing to provide us with a place to exchange goods. Everyone is happy beyond measure to come."

The most important thing for a boat market was trustworthiness.

If it were the Cheng Family or Wei Family setting up stalls, what cultivator would dare come? Were they not afraid the other side might murder them for their treasures?

Only because the Fu and Yin Families had such good reputations did everyone dare make the trip without worry.

After exchanging pleasantries, the martial brothers brought out some aquatic goods obtained from the Eastern Sea waters and set up their stall.

"Cloud-Snail Rainbowstone, hundred-year Water Spirit Grass, fish demon inner cores, Golden Coral Trees..."

With a casual sweep of his eyes, Heng Hua took in seven or eight tenths of the items on the stall.

Then he went to inspect the other four cultivators' stalls.

To the left of the spirit boat, two cultivators had set up stalls beside one another. One displayed all sorts of Gold Essence, dazzling in color and beautiful to behold. The other displayed water demon remains, mostly Foundation Establishment Realm fish bones and shells that could be made into magical artifacts and treasure artifacts.

To the right of the spirit boat, one cultivator sat cross-legged on the reef. Several books were laid out beside him. Heng Hua lost interest after a single glance.

They were all Yellow Grade cultivation methods gathering dust in his own home, not worth a look.

The last cultivator's stall, however, was full of strange and bizarre things.

There was a clump of black matter wrapped in several strands of waterweed. Heng Hua scanned it with his Divine Sense, yet could not make out its origins at all.

There was an egg mottled red and white on its surface, radiating the breath of life, with faint traces of fire qi surging within.

There were also damaged jade seals, broken swords, banners, and the like.

Xiang Feng jogged over. "You're out? Hurry, take a seat. Leave the appraisals to you later. If you have anything, you can bring it out and sell it too—"

"No, wait. The lineage seems to forbid you from selling cultivation methods outside?"

Heng Hua felt a pang of guilt, and Xiaoyu's writing brush trembled beside him as well.

Indeed, the lineage did not permit it. But Young Master had never listened.

"Oh, right. You can translate cultivation methods for people. If someone brings ancient texts, you can accept them too. I'll pay for you."

Xiang Feng enthusiastically led Heng Hua over beside Xiaoyu.

"I'll get you another stool."

"No need. I'll keep the records. Xiaoyu, go do something else."

Xiaoyu understood at once. She rose, using tea-making as an excuse to check on Fu Heyi's condition.

Heng Hua sat down and picked up the account book on the table. One transaction had already been recorded inside.

"At the first quarter of the Hour of the Ox, Third Young Master opened the boat market."

"First record: at the second quarter of the Hour of the Ox, Rogue Cultivator Qiu Yu purchased three Cloud-Snail Rainbowstones from Nie Xing, disciple of the Divine Moon Sect. Original price: four Bright Moon Pearls per rainbowstone. After negotiation, the total came to ten Bright Moon Pearls. The transaction was completed on the spot, with no debt outstanding."

Very soon, the second transaction came to their door.

The two cultivators who had set up stalls to the left of the spirit boat arrived together.

"Fellow Daoist, we wish to barter. I will use Gold Essence to exchange for Fellow Daoist Xin's Bone Jade."

Heng Hua looked up at Mei Zhongtian and Xin Mao.

Xin Mao took out a complete fish skeleton and laid it on the table. "I originally intended to trade this fish skeleton for three liang of Mystic Gold. But Fellow Daoist Mei disagreed. He believed it was worth only two and a half liang. Therefore, we would like to ask Fellow Daoist to appraise it and set a price."

The fish skeleton measured nine chi and three cun long, retaining its skull, ribs, and tail. Its texture was like jade and its color azure. Threads of spiritual power and demon qi flowed within it.

Heng Hua reached out and stroked it, speaking slowly. "This fish skeleton has undergone simple processing, and its spiritual power has been drawn inward. Its only flaw is that the demon qi has not been completely purified. When refining it into a magic treasure, the demon qi must first be dispelled."

Ding—

With a flick of his finger, the fish bone gave off the sound of metal and jade.

"Interesting. Silverbell Demon Carp bone? This would make rather good musical instruments."

Xin Mao smiled smugly. "Fellow Daoist has a sharp eye. This was a Foundation Establishment Realm carp demon. I spent no small amount of effort to kill it. Fellow Daoist, what do you say it is worth?"

"I don't know much about the market over the past year," Heng Hua said after some thought. "If priced according to last year's rates, or if I were purchasing it myself, thirty Bright Moon Pearls."

Listening to the situation over here, Xiang Feng casually said, "There have been more water demons lately, so the purchase price of this kind of fish bone has dropped a little. Still, it should be around twenty-five Bright Moon Pearls."

"Hmph, so it isn't worth three liang of Mystic Gold at all." Mei Zhongtian took out three fist-sized pieces of Gold Essence. "Young Master Fu, please appraise their purity."

Heng Hua took out a balance scale to measure them.

"The weight matches... As for purity."

Heng Hua cast an appraisal spell, and the three pieces of Gold Essence emitted pale yellow glows of equal brightness.

"Excellent purity." Heng Hua was rather surprised. "Did you refine these yourself, Fellow Daoist?"

Gold Essence was a general term for all spiritual metals in the cultivation world. It could conduct true essence and enhance the power of attacks. Among them, Mystic Gold occupied an especially unique position, worthy of being called the foremost of all gold.

According to Immortal Metallurgy, all metallic and mineral substances could be refined into Mystic Gold. At the same time, Mystic Gold was the most fundamental material in metallurgy. By fusing it with other substances, one could create higher-grade spirit iron and immortal steel.

"I refined them myself."

Heng Hua studied Mei Zhongtian carefully. "You have not entered the True Flame Realm yet, have you? Yet you can make these yourself—impressive, truly impressive."

Did he possess a special Treasure Flame refined by himself, or had he mastered a secret metallurgy art?

Either way, the man's potential was plain to see.

As thoughts turned in Heng Hua's mind, he continued aloud, "Everyone knows the price of Mystic Gold. One liang of Mystic Gold exchanges for ten Bright Moon Pearls. Strictly speaking, this fish skeleton indeed requires only two liang and five qian of Mystic Gold."

Xin Mao pondered for a while, then said to Mei Zhongtian, "As Fellow Daoist says, let us trade accordingly."

At the same time, he dropped a Bright Moon Pearl into the empty box on the table as Heng Hua's appraisal fee.

The Fu Family did not collect taxes for spearheading the boat market, but if cultivators asked them to act as intermediaries or appraise items, they still had to offer at least a token payment.

After trading with him, Mei Zhongtian did not hurry to pay the appraisal fee. Instead, he took out all the Gold Essence he had on hand.

"Fellow Daoist, could you appraise all of these for me? As for the appraisal fee... how about I give you three pieces of Gold Essence?"

How generous!

Heng Hua examined the pile of Gold Essence on the table and picked out several pieces with mixed colors.

"These... Fellow Daoist is willing to give away as well?"

Mei Zhongtian smiled. "Naturally."

He had refined them all from metal and stone, and some of the Gold Essence had come from blind experimentation. He could not even remember exactly how he had made them, much less understand their uses. Naturally, such things had to be appraised before being put up for sale.

Seeing this, Heng Hua cast the appraisal spell and examined them one by one.

First, he picked out the Mystic Gold, Spirit Silver, and the like.

"Eight pieces of Mystic Gold, three pieces of Spirit Silver, five pieces of Red Copper—strange, why is there no Divine Iron?"

"I used it all for metallurgy. Look, those dark pieces over there had Divine Iron added into them after I ran out."

Mystic Gold, Red Copper, Spirit Silver, and Divine Iron were the four fundamental types of Gold Essence. They were refined from metal ores that had bathed in heaven and earth's vital energy and undergone spiritual transformation.

By fusing and processing these foundational materials, higher-grade Gold Essence could be obtained.

Whoosh—

The wind blew over the water. Heng Hua lifted his head and looked south of the Immovable Reef.

Several cultivators' auras advanced while concealing themselves.

So there really is movement. From the looks of it... the Wei Family?

Xiang Feng, who stood guard above, also caught the news carried by the wind. He snorted and flew on his sword toward the southern waters.

"The Coiling Dragon Seal. What a nauseating thing."

Upon the water, five cultivators sped across the waves. Seeing the Coiling Dragon Seal mark on the reef island, Wei Lingzheng's expression turned disgusted, and killing intent stirred in his heart.

"The Fu Family's Coiling Dragon Seal is here, and I can sense quite a few cultivators' auras gathered on the island. Could they be operating some kind of Reef District Boat Market?"

After the four men behind him caught up, Wei Lingzheng pointed at one of them. "You, go investigate first. See which members of the Fu Family are here."

Wei Lingming wore a dark-blue robe and a Golden Hoop upon his head. At this, he smiled. "The Coiling Dragon Seal, Cypress Sovereign Hall—who else could it be? That old man does not have much lifespan left. His sons are all busy running about to save his life, and none have been active nearby lately. It should be members of the sixth generation. And Cypress Sovereign Hall's sixth-generation disciples—hehe..."

After thinking it over, Wei Lingzheng slowly nodded.

"That is true. After Fu Xuanhe died, none of his younger brothers or sisters amounted to anything. Then let us go over together and kill them, along with those Rogue Cultivators. They dare privately open a boat market on the water? Do they take my Wei Family for nothing?"