I Outworked the Entire Cultivation World-Chapter 207 - 179: (Revised) Underground Market
"Are you coming back with us or not?!"
Two late-stage Foundation Establishment Fanx monks questioned the red-robed monk opposite aggressively.
The monk’s cultivation level was not discernible. With phoenix eyes, seeming like a female prime minister, the red robe adorned with large blossoms of white lotus, he looked less like a Buddhist disciple and more like an oiran with a shaved head.
"Two masters, I am still young and would be frightened by you."
"If our Zen Master hadn’t recognized your Wisdom Root and wanted to take you in, we would not have been so courteous with you!"
"If your Zen Master likes men, he should look elsewhere. Why always target me?"
"You are insolent!!"
The argument grew heated, Jiang Yuebai and Shitong watched from a distance as Shitong grumbled with an unpleasant expression.
"It’s that disreputable demon monk again."
Just as he spoke, the red-robed monk suddenly turned around, "Who among the proper people becomes a monk?"
Shitong choked on his words, quickly lowering his head.
The two Fanx monks turned red with anger, exchanging glances.
"Senior brother, let’s stop talking and capture him directly!"
Seeing the situation, the red-robed monk quickly raised his hand, "Wait, I cannot beat you. I will go with you, just don’t lay hands on me."
The red-robed monk glanced at Jiang Yuebai, then obediently followed the two Fanx monks away.
Just as Jiang Yuebai was about to leave, he heard a muffled groan. The red-robed monk suddenly dashed past Jiang Yuebai like the wind, startling the camels into rushing away, nearly causing Jiang Yuebai to unleash a Fire Ring.
"Stop, you despicable and shameless guy!"
The two Fanx monks clutched their chests, following closely behind.
The caravan turned chaotic, and Shitong hurriedly commanded people to grab all the runaway camels.
"That demon monk! Quick, steady the camels!"
A moment later, the caravan regained order and set off again. Jiang Yuebai inquired about the monk from Qinn Yao.
Qinn Yao’s expression turned subtle as she mentioned the monk, an indistinct mix of disdain and admiration.
"He’s a famous demon monk in the Quicksand Domain, Dharma name Ruosheng. He’s rumored to have a natural Wisdom Root, the best seedling for cultivating Buddhism. Several Buddhist temples in the Quicksand Domain vied to take him in, but he played each of them off against each other, causing conflicts among them."
"Nowadays, the Buddhist temples in the Quicksand Domain aren’t proper Buddhist temples. Those two Fanx monks earlier were from the Red Cloud Temple. There’s an Early-Stage Nascent Soul Red Cloud Zen Master presiding over it, established only two years ago. They’ve been notorious for forcibly recruiting people into the temple throughout the Quicksand Domain these past two years."
As night fell, the caravan finally reached the outer city market.
A desolate and ancient yellow earth city stood under the night sky, both bleak and aged.
A silky, thin layer of barrier white light loomed like an overturned giant bowl, covering the entire market. Outside, the winds were fierce, yet inside was quiet and peaceful.
Qinn Yao explained to Jiang Yuebai, "The protection array of the market was set up by the Sha Clan backed by Mingsha Square, along with other local merchant associations, to prevent sect conflicts from spreading here. Within the market, battle methods are forbidden, making it very safe."
Jiang Yuebai entered the market with the caravan, the roadside lined with simple wooden frames supporting makeshift stalls. Even at night, cultivators set up booths with people coming and going, selecting goods.
The cultivators passing by all had their faces covered with cloth to ward off the dust. In front of earth houses and buildings, shirtless cultivators sat boldly by the roadside, drinking the local fiery liquor, roasting honeydew melons, and chatting about sect disputes.
On the most bustling main street of the city, Jiang Yuebai finally saw clean blue-brick buildings, bearing the sign of the Mountain and Sea Building, with the Hongyan Building next to it.
It’s no wonder people say where there’s a Mountain and Sea Building, there’s bound to be a Hongyan Building.
Mingsha Square was opposite the Mountain and Sea Building. Upon arrival, Shitong immediately presented a token from Mingsha Square.
"Though the Mountain and Sea Building is powerful, in the Quicksand Domain, many things can only be found at our Mingsha Square. Seniors can take this token to the underground market, jointly operated by Mingsha Square and other merchant associations in the Quicksand Domain, where there are many rare curiosities."
Jiang Yuebai accepted the Spirit Stones and token, then pondered before asking, "I wonder if there’s any Primordial Essence available?"
Primordial Spirit Essence is a special object that only Golden Core Stage cultivators can refine, extremely precious.
Typically, Golden Core cultivators refine Primordial Essence for their use only. With just a drop in a Lifebound Magic Treasure, it can be driven by the Primordial Spirit instead of relying on Divine Sense, effortlessly wielding the treasure as if it were an extension of one’s own body.
In addition to refining Primordial Spirit Magic Treasures, Primordial Essence can also strengthen the Divine Soul, doubling its strength with just one drop, expanding the Sea of Consciousness, and consequently increasing the Divine Sense.
However, Foundation Establishment cultivators must not consume too much Primordial Essence, or their Divine Soul might surpass their physical body, leading to a rupture of the flesh and the separation of the Divine Soul from the body.
Currently, two types of Primordial Essence are available in the market. One is extracted from the Demon Souls of Golden Core Stage Demon Beasts, slightly inferior but more affordable.
The other is self-refined by Golden Core cultivators nearing the end of their lives, the best in effect but higher in cost.
After all, extracting Primordial Essence harms a Golden Core cultivator’s Divine Soul. Every drop refined requires at least fifty years of arduous cultivation to recuperate.
Jiang Yuebai plans to use Primordial Essence to strengthen her Divine Soul, which enhances Divine Sense Casting—an absolutely worthwhile investment.
The stronger the Divine Soul, when she reaches Foundation Establishment Perfection and nurtures her Primordial Spirit in the Elixir Field Dao Platform, she will be able to nurture a stronger Primordial Spirit.
In the future, when the Primordial Spirit births the Golden Core, and the Golden Core produces the Nascent Soul, it will definitely be stronger than others.
Shitong looked troubled, "I’m afraid there’s no Primordial Essence. If there is, it’s already with my family’s Young Master... In short, besides Primordial Essence, the underground market has many good things, but only honored guests of major merchant associations can enter."
"Alright, I will take a look."
After bidding Shitong farewell, Jiang Yuebai first checked into Hongyan Building and received a reply from Zhao Fuyi.
It was just a piece of paper without even a signed greeting, directly listing a material inventory, an array map, and a few lines of instructions.
Jiang Yuebai clicked her tongue, "He wouldn’t bother to write me an extra word, only the method to repair the Bone Scroll. Let me see, it actually requires so many materials: Rouge Grass, Ink Shadow Beast Skin, Star Dew Water..."
Holding the list, Jiang Yuebai wandered around the workshop, and the listed items were all common materials. With a little effort, she managed to buy ten sets.
After she practices, she can start repairing the Bone Scroll and learn the ’Divine Soul Birth Thought Technique’ contained within.
"At present, this Heaven and Earth Spiritual Object is hard to find."
As she walked towards the underground market at the city center, Jiang Yuebai muttered to herself.
The various sects in the Quicksand Domain have been fighting for over a hundred years, yet they haven’t found this Heaven and Earth Spiritual Object. Either it doesn’t exist, or it’s been taken away, leaving the Quicksand Domain.
This matter cannot be rushed; she can only plan for the long term.
Passing by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator’s stall, Jiang Yuebai saw he was selling a Pill Furnace and crouched down to have a look.
"Fellow Daoist, is this Pill Furnace sturdy?"
The stall owner was about to introduce the Pill Furnace when he was suddenly taken aback, "This is a Pill Furnace for alchemy. You’re not using it to smash people, so why ask if it’s sturdy instead of its fire control intensity?"
Jiang Yuebai laughed, "Fire control is secondary. I’m asking, how many days can this Pill Furnace keep burning without exploding?"
The stall owner was filled with question marks, "Are you planning to use this Pill Furnace to boil soup? Then you might as well buy a pot."
"That’s right, I’ll try a pot then. Thank you."
Jiang Yuebai put down the Pill Furnace and left.
Stall owner: ......
The city center’s underground market was indeed underground. Jiang Yuebai handed over the Token and received a cloak and mask to conceal her identity.
Led by a Qi Cultivation Cultivator, she entered through a mostly crumbled earthen house, spiraled down the stairs inside, and the cool air dispelled the heat outside. Jiang Yuebai saw a very spacious underground space.
Platforms of varying heights are distributed throughout the underground space, displaying different items, each enveloped in a solid transparent light.
Currently, there were only twenty or so cultivators inside, all wearing the same black cloak and mask, making it impossible to discern their cultivation level or gender.
The Qi Cultivation Cultivator briefly introduced, "These stone platforms are all arranged by High-Level Array Masters. If Senior finds something of interest, simply invest the needed Spirit Stones or items according to the marked price to take the item from the platform."
"There are also some vacant stone platforms over there. If Senior has items to sell, you can consign them there. After the transaction is complete, we require a ten percent fee. Rest assured, although our fees are high, we absolutely guarantee Senior’s safety while in the workshop and ensure Senior’s identity will remain confidential."
After saying this, the Qi Cultivation Cultivator made a gesture of invitation and quietly left.
Jiang Yuebai approached the nearest platform and immediately saw two vines of the five-hundred-year-old Undying Vine.
Next to it was a note: Exchange for three Face Stabilizing Elixirs, or one hundred thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones.
Jiang Yuebai’s eyes brightened slightly, continuing to look discreetly—there truly were many good things.
However, aside from Primordial Essence and Spirit Grass, she currently only lacked a Pill Furnace.
The Pill Furnace that Xue Liuzhi owned, which was once slept on by Tai Sui, was still in her possession. Previously, the people of Chaotian Palace were in a panic, and anything related to Tai Sui was hard to sell. She didn’t want to cause trouble, so she kept it with her.
It’s just right to consign it here.
Jiang Yuebai found an unused platform in a corner, following the wooden sign’s instructions to place the Pill Furnace there. She marked on it that this Pill Furnace had contact with Tai Sui, hoping to exchange it for a Thousand-Year Spirit Grass or a drop of Primordial Essence.
Once the Pill Furnace was placed, several cultivators immediately approached to inspect it. Upon seeing the sign’s marking, some feared Tai Sui and retreated, but others excitedly moved two steps forward.
Inside that Pill Furnace, there were still a few drops of Tai Sui’s residue, which were more valuable than the Pill Furnace itself, though improperly used, could easily cause self-harm.
A Thousand-Year Spirit Grass and Primordial Essence are both rare. Jiang Yuebai knew that it would take a while for the Pill Furnace to be exchanged, so she used three Face Stabilizing Elixirs to swap for two segments of the five-hundred-year-old Undying Vine and left the underground market first.
Afterward, she rented an earthen room in a city inn, set up a Protection Array, and began repairing the Bone Scroll.
Once she mastered the ’Divine Soul Birth Thought Technique,’ she planned to search for leads on the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Objects in various Small Secret Realms in the Quicksand Domain and also gather some aged Spirit Grass.
Exploring the relics of Prajna Temple would also be beneficial.
