Great Virtue Nurtures Goodness to Benefit Fellow Daoists, An Ill-Intentioned Guest at the Door Brings Calamity

Xiang Feng was managing the boat market, but Heng Hua found it tedious and useless. He hid in his room to read, only asking Howling Fish and Eternal Longevity to help out.

"Profound Gold is what emerges from metal and stone, the foundation of all gold."

The book Heng Hua was currently reading was called Immortal Smelting, which detailed the metallurgy of the cultivation world. It recorded information on 1,623 types of gold essences, their origins, and smelting techniques.

Since the beginning of the year, Heng Hua had been frequently flipping through Immortal Smelting, trying to memorize the information within.

He was currently on the page for "Star Profound Iron."

"Method One: Three catties of Profound Gold, one catty and five taels of Divine Iron, eight taels of Seven Star Silver Leaf Grass, three mace of Black Night Mushroom... Melt all ingredients into liquid gold, apply the 'Gathering Star Spirit Method', and quench it in Star Brilliance Spirit Water. After nine days, it can become Star Profound Iron."

"Method Two: One catty of Profound Gold, one catty of Nine Star Aged Silver, one catty of Divine Iron. Apply the Gold Refining Technique, and it can be completed in three days."

"Method Three..."

Heng Hua silently recited, committing each method to memory.

After finishing his recitation, he picked up his teacup, took a sip, and moved on to the next page, which was about refining "Puppet Gold."

"Heng Hua, don't just stand there, come help."

A gust of wind carried Xiang Feng's voice.

"No way, you started this mess, you clean it up yourself."

"But I don't recognize these things. My appraisal skills for treasures aren't as good as yours."

Heng Hua ignored him and continued reading.

Third Brother is so bored. Instead of resting on the Spirit Boat at night, he insists on messing with this boat market. What if the Wei Family or Cheng Family show up and start another fight?

Every night, when cultivators stopped at the Immovable Reef to rest, they would trade items in small groups. When the scale grew, it became a "Reef Market."

In terms of origin, the Yanlong Waters had maintained this ancient trade model for a thousand years. However, the reef markets were scattered and lacked security. After the major cultivation families established fixed Immortal Markets, the reef boat markets gradually declined.

There were two exceptions in the eastern waters.

The Fu Family and the Yin Family had good reputations. When their boats anchored, cultivators would ask if they could trade there.

Under the care of the Fu and Yin families, the boat markets continued on a small scale.

However, this action was thankless. The boat markets couldn't be taxed and incurred the displeasure of several other cultivation families.

"Hurry, hurry. I don't recognize all these Spirit Golds, you need to come out quickly."

The wind howled, disturbing Heng Hua so much he couldn't read.

Finally unable to stand the pestering, Heng Hua tossed his book aside and went to the bow of the boat to feel the breeze.

Howling Fish sat by the entrance of the boat, responsible for recording. Eternal Longevity jumped to the bow to keep watch, while Xiang Feng supervised. On the nearby sail, a bounty for three types of spiritual materials, including "Mysterious Gold Ginseng," was posted.

Gathering many cultivators to inquire about information on the three great medicines was Fu Xiangfeng's true intention.

Besides the Nie Xing brothers who had just returned, four other lone cultivators participated in the boat market.

Upon seeing the Fu Family's Coiled Dragon Seal, they came to pay their respects. However, they did not board the boat but set up their stalls on the ground nearby, using the Fu Family's name to maintain order.

Seeing Fu Henghua emerge from the cabin, the Nie Xing brothers came over to greet him.

Although Heng Hua disliked his Third Brother's meddling, he put on a gentle smile when facing outsiders and chatted with the two of them.

"It's all my elder brother's fault for being troublesome. As soon as you two left, you were pulled back."

"Not at all. We're happy that Fellow Daoist Fu is providing us with a place to exchange goods."

The most important thing in a boat market was trust.

If the Cheng Family or the Wei Family set up stalls, which cultivator would dare to come? Weren't they afraid of being robbed and killed?

It was only because of the Fu and Yin families' good reputations that people dared to come.

After their pleasantries, the brothers took out some aquatic products they had obtained in the East Sea and set up their stalls.

"Cloud Conch Colored Stone, Hundred Year Water Spirit Grass, Fish Demon Inner Core, Golden Coral Tree..."

Heng Hua glanced casually and could see most of the items on the stall.

Then, he went to look at the stalls of the other four cultivators.

To the left of the Spirit Boat, two cultivators set up adjacent stalls. One stall displayed various types of gold essences, colorful and beautiful. The other stall had Water Demon Remains, mostly Fish Bones and Seashells from the Foundation Establishment Realm, which could be used to make Magic Tools and Treasure Tools.

To the right of the Spirit Boat, a cultivator sat cross-legged on the reef, with several books placed 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 looking at.

The last cultivator, however, had a stall full of strange and peculiar items.

There was a clump of black substance, entwined with a few water weeds. Heng Hua scanned it with his Divine Sense but couldn't determine its origin.

There was an egg, red and white on the surface, emitting a life aura and a hint of fire.

Additionally, there were broken Jade Seals, Broken Swords, and Banners, among other things.

Xiang Feng jogged over: "You're out? Quickly, sit down properly. I'll leave the appraisal work to you. If you have anything, you can also sell it—"

"Wait, I don't think the clan allows you to sell cultivation methods outside?"

Heng Hua felt a pang of guilt, and the pen in Howling Fish's hand trembled.

Indeed, the clan doesn't allow selling. But the young master never listens.

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

Xiang Feng enthusiastically led Heng Hua to the Howling Fish.

"I'll get you another stool."

"No need, I'll do the recording. Howling Fish, go do something else."

The Howling Fish understood and got up, using the excuse of making tea to check on Fu Heyi's condition.

Heng Hua sat down and picked up the ledger on the table. A transaction had already been recorded.

"First Quarter of the Ox Hour, the Third Young Master opened the market."

"First entry: Second Quarter of the Ox Hour, rogue cultivator Qiu Yu purchased three Cloud Conch Colored Stones from Divine Moon Sect disciple Nie Xing. Original price: four Bright Moon Pearls per stone. After negotiation, a total of ten Bright Moon Pearls, transaction completed on-site, no credit."

Soon, a second business opportunity arrived.

The two cultivators selling their wares to the left of the Spirit Boat came together.

"Fellow Daoist, let's trade. I'll exchange my Profound Gold for Daoist Xin's Bone Jade."

Heng Hua looked up at Mei Zhongtian and Xin Mao.

Xin Mao placed a complete set of fish bones on the table: "I originally wanted to trade this fish bone for three taels of Profound Gold. But Fellow Daoist Mei disagrees, believing it's only worth two and a half taels. So, I'd like to ask Fellow Daoist to help appraise it and give me an estimate."

The fish bones were nine feet three inches long, including the skull, spine, and tail. The texture was like jade, the color was green, and wisps of Spirit Energy and Demonic Energy flowed within.

Heng Hua reached out and touched it, slowly saying, "These fish bones have been simply processed, with the Spirit Energy contained within. The only drawback is that the Demonic Energy hasn't been completely purified. When refining them into Magic Treasures, the Demonic Energy will need to be removed beforehand."

Ding--

He flicked his finger, and the fish bones produced a sound like metal and jade.

"Interesting, are these Silver Bell Demon Carp fish bones? They'd make good musical instruments."

Xin Mao smiled proudly: "Fellow Daoist has sharp eyes. This is the fish bone of a Carp Demon from the Foundation Establishment Realm. It took me a great deal of effort to kill it. Fellow Daoist, what do you think it's worth?"

"I'm not very familiar with the market prices over the past year," Heng Hua thought for a moment, "If it were according to last year's prices or if I were buying it myself, it would be thirty Bright Moon Pearls."

Xiang Feng, overhearing the situation, casually remarked, "Water Demons have been more numerous lately, so the purchase price for this type of fish bone has dropped slightly, but it's still around twenty-five Bright Moon Pearls."

"Hmph, so it's not worth three taels of Profound Gold at all," Mei Zhongtian took out three fist-sized pieces of Profound Gold, "Young Master Fu, please appraise their purity."

Heng Hua took out a scale to measure.

"The weight is correct... as for the purity."

Heng Hua cast an "Appraisal Spell," and the three pieces of Profound Gold emitted a pale yellow glow of equal brightness.

"The purity is excellent," Heng Hua was quite surprised, "Did Fellow Daoist refine these yourself?"

Profound Gold refers to all Spiritual Metals in the cultivation world. They can conduct True Essence and enhance attack power. Among them, "Profound Gold" holds a particularly special status, being known as the "foremost of all metals."

According to the Immortal Smelting, all metallic substances can be smelted into "Profound Gold." At the same time, Profound Gold, as the most basic metallurgical material, can be used to create High Grade Spirit Iron and Immortal Steel by fusing it with other substances.

"I refined them myself."

Heng Hua carefully examined Mei Zhongtian: "Fellow Daoist hasn't entered the True Fire Realm yet, right? To make them yourself—impressive, very impressive."

Was it a special Treasure Flame he used for refining, or did he master a unique Metallurgy Technique?

Regardless, it showed his potential.

Heng Hua's thoughts raced, and he continued, "Everyone knows the price of Profound Gold. One tael of Profound Gold exchanges for ten Bright Moon Pearls. Strictly speaking, this set of fish bones is indeed only worth two taels and five qian of Profound Gold."

Xin Mao pondered for a moment and said to Mei Zhongtian, "As Fellow Daoist says, let's proceed with the trade."

He also tossed a Bright Moon Pearl into the empty box on the table as Heng Hua's appraisal fee.

Although the Fu Family's market didn't require taxes, it was customary to offer a symbolic reward for their services as intermediaries and for appraising items.

After trading with Xin Mao, Mei Zhongtian didn't rush to pay the appraisal fee. Instead, he took out all the Profound Gold he had on hand.

"Fellow Daoist, could you help me appraise all of these? For the appraisal fee... how about I give you three pieces of Profound Gold?"

How generous!

Heng Hua examined the pile of Profound Gold on the table and picked out a few pieces with mixed colors.

"These... you're willing to give these too?"

Mei Zhongtian smiled: "Naturally."

He had refined them himself from ores, and some of the Profound Gold were the result of random tinkering. He himself couldn't remember how he made them or what their uses were. If he were to sell these, he naturally needed them appraised first.

Seeing this, Heng Hua cast his appraisal spell to examine them one by one.

He first sorted out the Profound Gold, Spirit Silver, and so on.

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

"I used it all for metallurgy. Here, these darker pieces of Profound Gold, I added them after using up the Divine Iron."

Profound Gold, Red Copper, Spirit Silver, and Divine Iron are the four basic types of Profound Gold. They are refined from ore deposits that have absorbed the energy of heaven and earth and undergone "spiritualization."

By fusing and processing these basic materials, higher-grade Profound Gold can be obtained.

Whoosh--

The wind blew across the water, and Heng Hua looked up towards the south of Immovable Reef.

Several Cultivator auras moved stealthily.

"As expected, there's movement. Looks like... the Wei Family?"

Xiang Feng, guarding above, also heard the news from the wind. He snorted and flew his sword towards the southern waters.

"The Coiled Dragon Seal, such a disgusting thing."

On the water, five Cultivators strode across the waves. Seeing the Coiled Dragon Seal mark on the reef island, Wei Lingzheng's expression turned disgusted, and killing intent stirred within him.

"The Fu Family's Coiled Dragon Seal is here. I also sense many Cultivator auras gathered on the island. I fear they're setting up some kind of reef market?"

After Wei Lingzheng waited for the other four to catch up, he pointed to one of them and said, "You go scout ahead first. See who from the Fu Family is here?"

Wei Lingming, wearing a plain colored robe and a golden headband, chuckled upon hearing this. "The Coiled Dragon Seal, Baihuang Hall... who else could it be? That old man doesn't have much time left. His sons are busy scrambling to save his life, so no one has been active nearby recently. I'd guess it's a sixth-generation clansman. And Baihuang Hall's sixth-generation disciples... hehe..."

Wei Lingzheng thought for a moment and slowly nodded.

"True. After Fu Xuanhe died, his younger siblings were all useless. Then let's go together and kill them, along with those scattered Cultivators. Dare to open a private market on the water? Do they see our Wei Family as nothing?"