Since the restoration of the Divine Chart, the only slight disappointment for Yu Ci was that its reflective range remained at about fifty miles and did not show any significant increase with the growth of his cultivation level. This was not to say that there was no direct correlation between the reflective range and the user's cultivation level; rather, the potential for expansion was constrained by the mirror itself.
This was a matter of cultivation methods.
The Divine Bronze Mirror, after all, was one of the Primordial Demon Sect's most important ritual instruments. It would not be so generous as to allow just anyone to wield and control it at will. Through research with Shadow Ghost, it became clear that without practicing the related Demonic Sect Secret Arts, one could not truly activate the deeper powers of the Divine Bronze Mirror.
Expanding the range of the Divine Chart was simple in theory; didn't Yu Ci possess a copy of the Limitless Vacuum Divine Illumination Scripture? As long as he commenced its practice, everything would naturally fall into place.
Yet Yu Ci held back, not out of sectarian biases but due to more pragmatic considerations.
Considering the complexity of the Golden Core Formation Process alone, the Constellations Life-Defining Golden Talisman would likely rank within the top three of this world's Elixir Scriptures. In those years, when Old Master Zhu provided his critique, he set a plan for Yu Ci to become a Grand Master of Golden Elixir within "thirty to fifty years." Yu Ci was not arrogant; he knew there was sound reasoning behind Old Master Zhu's timeline.
Even now, afflicted by the Blood Ignition Curse which stimulated his potential and could possibly accelerate the Golden Core Formation Process, he still opted for a conservative time estimate for safety's sake. In this situation, he truly had neither the time nor the energy to delve into side paths.
Shadow Ghost also mentioned that Dao and Demon Dual Cultivation was not impossible, but this path was fraught with peril. Especially in the later stages, the harmonization of the Mysterious Gate's Astral Force with the Demonic Sect's Evil Qi involved incredibly complex Aura Manipulation. Without great fortune and immense perseverance, one would only be courting disaster. This was not something the current Yu Ci could contend with.
Hence, within the bounds of the Divine Chart, still confined to a fifty-mile radius, the allure persisted, constantly tempting Yu Ci to delve deeper.
Fortunately, Yu Ci maintained his composure and had developed many practical skills.
One such skill was the "Lone Star" sensing technique, which essentially involved using a single Divine consciousness starlight as a medium for observation, allowing a much greater range of vision compared to the scope of the Divine Chart.
Upon entering the subterranean passage, the man's pace slowed, seemingly unfamiliar with the surroundings of Yin Cave City. Even if he wished to hasten his steps, it wouldn't be so simple. To extract Peace Money from passersby, local organizations like Great Hammer Hall fortified the underground channels every three miles with checkpoints and every ten with watchtowers, managing the area as tightly as a sealed drum. Even employing earth evasion techniques would hardly help to bypass the seals; one had no choice but to pay up honestly.
As a Golden Elixir Cultivator, the man might not be easily exploited by the Sentry Posts, but this kind of control was omnipresent, a tactic of territorial dominance employed by the likes of Great Hammer Hall.
"One, two..."
Yu Ci quietly counted along, observing the man who seemed to have the awareness of a thief, deliberately avoiding four or five Sentry Posts. Though this took him on a longer route, his general direction was gradually moving away from Yin Cave City.
Initially, Yu Ci didn't give it much thought, but as time passed, a realization struck him: "Isn't this an obscure path unknown to others? To bypass so many Sentry Posts in the North Wilderness holds no small value."
His interest in the man grew, but he also knew that he had been "daydreaming" for too long. Confirming that the Divine consciousness starlight wouldn't dissipate anytime soon, he temporarily redirected his focus back to the present.
Wan Quan had been careful not to disturb Yu Ci, but his nimble eyes had taken in every detail of the Exhibition Hall, and he had kept a close watch on Yu Ci's every change. The moment Yu Ci had a thought, Wan Quan would turn his face and call out, "Senior."
Yu Ci felt no need to explain his earlier daydreaming, but seeing Wan Quan's earnest demeanor, he offered an explanation anyway: "I was pondering a question about my cultivation..."
Wan Quan was deeply impressed. No wonder Yu Ci was a Golden Elixir Cultivator; such an ability to enter meditation at any moment was a skill he could not hope to learn.
Yu Ci had originally planned to browse the Dustless Market further, but now, with an interesting target in mind, he did not wish to waste more time. He said to Wan Quan, "Let's take care of that procedure you mentioned."
Wan Quan was naturally pleased and had already made preparations while Yu Ci was lost in thought. He now led Yu Ci straight to the place.
The procedure itself was also conducted within the Dustless Market. One option was to queue up in a corner of the Exhibition Hall for registration, while the more prestigious option was to arrange a private meeting, which depended either on the buyer's status or the middleman's skill.
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
It had to be said that Wan Quan was quite influential in Yin Cave City. In less than half an hour, the two were sitting in a Rock Chamber set aside from the Exhibition Hall, sipping tea. After a brief wait, a man came out to greet them with a hearty laugh.
"Forgive me for not greeting such distinguished guests from afar."
The man who emerged was a steward from the Three Families Market, surnamed Wen, the very image of a Wealthy Taishi Merchant, with eyes that crinkled into slits when he smiled. Wan Quan was well acquainted with him and affectionately called him "Old Brother Wen," who in turn greeted Wan Quan warmly as "Little Wan."
After exchanging pleasantries, Steward Wen got down to business: "Little Wan tells me that Brother Soul Chaser is collecting materials and wishes to make a transaction through our Three Families Market. May I inquire what items you are seeking?"
Yu Ci offered no further words, simply handing over the jade slip he had prepared in advance. Steward Wen glanced at it and was immediately surprised.
"Well, these materials are quite a mix."
After this remark, he scrutinized it more closely. The jade slip listed only four materials: Five-Thunder Spiritual Wood, Mysterious Water Gleaming Rock, Heart-Connecting Spirit Jade, and Mysterious Cave True Incense. The number wasn't large, but his comment about their being "mixed" referred to the difficulty of combining these materials together—they didn't seem to be intended for the creation of a single magical instrument.
Steward Wen pondered for a moment and said, "These items, our establishment doesn't have them in stock right now. It might be good for Brother Soul Chaser to leave a request. Not to boast, but our establishment has a rapid turnover of goods. Despite being located in the North Wilderness, we've handled seventy to eighty percent of the world's rare treasures and spiritual gems. Take the Five-Thunder Spiritual Wood you've listed; our establishment has had it pass through our hands at least three or five times. There's a good chance we could collect it for you."
This was precisely the response Yu Ci was seeking.
A black market like the Three Families Market, adept at collecting all kinds of materials and treasures, had means far superior to ordinary shops. As Wan Quan had explained, once a request was made at the Three Families Market, the news would spread on the same day, reaching the entirety of the North Wilderness in three to five days. Countless lone cultivators, eager and ready, hoped to capitalize on such news, to make a killing and alleviate their financial strain.
Naturally, the price for materials acquired through such channels was significantly higher than in regular shops. But for the sake of a swift breakthrough, what did such a trivial expense matter?
The subsequent matters, such as depositing a security payment, were trivial details that Yu Ci need not concern himself with, as Wan Quan took care of them. At that moment, Steward Wen recalled something else and added, "Oh, one more thing—please be understanding, esteemed guest. For safety reasons, our establishment will temporarily not be accepting Ruyi Money."
Wan Quan glanced at Yu Ci, a smile piling upon his face, "I understand, completely understand..."
Though his lips spoke thus, Wan Quan's heart swelled with genuine elation: even the Three Families Market had not received the news, presenting a vast expanse of opportunity ripe for exploitation. This was truly a chance to strike it rich!
Yet Yu Ci appeared somewhat curious, "The Ruyi Money is issued by the Random Heart Pavilion, right? I found it quite convenient when I was elsewhere..."
Steward Wen responded with a smile that crinkled his eyes, "Indeed, the Random Heart Pavilion has an excellent reputation. However, they've been mismanaging their affairs in the North Wilderness of late, particularly here in Yin Cave City. The head, Shopkeeper Guo, has fallen ill and retired. A new female manager has yet to formally take over. A shipment of money and goods sent from the south was waylaid by the Yin Mountain Sect. Now, beset by troubles from within and without, rumors are they're planning to withdraw entirely back to the Four Northern Cities... Our Establishment is simply taking precautions."
Wan Quan nearly stumbled; he had underestimated the colossal entity that was the Three Families Market. It wasn't that they were uninformed; rather, they were privy to even more detailed intelligence.
This was a major embarrassment!
Wan Quan's emotions surged tumultuously, the ordeal leaving him far from light-hearted. Even the smile on his face stiffened. The thought of having just instructed his family to proactively reach out to Shen Wan added to his headache.
With all matters now concluded, Yu Ci and Wan Quan rose to take their leave. Steward Wen bowed slightly, watching them depart. Convention dictated that he should accompany them to the door, but as a steward of the Three Families Market, he carried a certain pride. After concluding a deal, it was understandable to maintain a bit of reserve.
However, just as Yu Ci was about to step out, he seemed to recall something and turned back to ask, "Steward Wen, I wonder if there are any skilled Refinement Masters in Yin Cave City?"
Steward Wen, taken aback for a moment, replied smoothly, "Should our esteemed guest require such services, our Establishment can make the necessary arrangements. However..."
He offered a slight smile, turning to Wan Quan, "Just as a personal suggestion, Little Wan should be better suited to handle this matter."
"Oh?"
"How come, esteemed guest, you are not aware? Miss Lu from the Red Tooth Store is one of the foremost Artifact Refinement masters in Yin Cave City."
Yu Ci showed a hint of surprise, glancing at Wan Quan. Wan Quan, still recovering from a severe depletion of his Primordial Qi, was slow to react. After a moment's pause, he replied:
"Sister Lu is indeed adept at the art of Artifact Refinement..."
While he spoke, he was internally vexed. Gathering materials naturally meant forging a Magical Instrument, a logical step in the process. He had been so out of sorts the previous day, his mind not focused on his duties, that he had missed such a piece of information. Had Steward Wen not been a man of principle, he would have let this deal slip through his fingers—a minor yet not insignificant blunder in the business of middlemen.
The more he thought about it, the more he felt the need to make amends. Wan Quan quickly added, "If Senior has any requirements, I can relay them to Sister Lu. She will surely do her utmost to satisfy Senior."
With the matter seemingly resolved, Yu Ci and Wan Quan took their leave. The interruption had caused Wan Quan to forget about the affairs of the Random Heart Pavilion; his first priority now was to discuss Artifact Refinement with Yu Ci.
However, Yu Ci's gaze had drifted elsewhere. Following his line of sight, Wan Quan turned his head and let out a soft "huh." It was Manager Shen, Shen Wan, who had yet to officially take over her duties, now strolling through the Exhibition Hall. Judging by the distance and her path, had Yu Ci not mentioned Artifact Refinement and they had simply left, they might have just bumped into the female cultivator.
Wan Quan felt a tinge of confusion and looked at Yu Ci, only to see him take a deep breath, as if savoring a scent:
"Mmm, how fragrant."
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I have also posted the following more chapters [All free]: https://www.readgates.com/article/74a39e