Chapter 9: Suiyang Immortal Market

Chen Qianliu searched for the better part of a day before coming across a mountain forest. The forest was dense and lush, shrouded in white mist. Gazing from afar, it was brimming with a spiritual and elegant aura. He entered the forest, leading the white deer, and after walking several hundred steps, the view suddenly opened up. Comparing it to his senior sister’s descriptions from years ago, he instantly knew this was the location of the Suiyang Immortal Market.

A senior expert had used a magical art to seal this immortal market. Mortals who entered the forest would get lost and, after walking in circles for a bit, would naturally find their way out, completely unable to find the market’s location. Only those with magical power could remain unconfused by the formation and enter with ease.

Although the Yu Xian Sect was the state religion of the Great Qian Dynasty, its conduct was not overbearing. It allowed other sects to establish themselves within the borders of Great Qian. Near the Suiyang Immortal Market, there were three such sects: the Lesser Moon Sect, the Golden Bell Sect, and the Yushan School.

The first two were just ordinary small sects, but the Yushan School was a branch of the Yu Xian Sect. Calculating the time, Daoist Wuliu should still be cultivating at the Yushan School right now.

Because of these three nearby sects, the Suiyang Immortal Market was quite large, one of the six great immortal markets within the Great Qian Dynasty.

This immortal market was divided into major and minor market days. Whenever a market day arrived, disciples from the three sects and various rogue cultivators would come to Suiyang Immortal Market. They would sell magical treasures they had refined, spiritual herbs they had grown, medicinal pills, or talismans, and even some curious trinkets, in exchange for cultivation resources. Even on normal days without a market, there were resident rogue cultivators, so it was never deserted, resembling a small town like a paradise beyond the mortal world.

The major market was held once every three years and lasted for a month. Immortals from all walks of life would come, making it even livelier with a wider variety of goods. The minor market was held once every six months. Although it couldn’t compare to the major market, several hundred immortals would still come to trade.

Today happened to be a minor market day, much livelier than usual. One or two hundred stalls were placed randomly throughout the forest in a scattered yet orderly fashion. There were also seventeen or eighteen houses, scattered like stars. Several hundred cultivators came and went, occasionally stopping to chat briefly with a stall owner. Everyone spoke softly, and the atmosphere was very peaceful, completely devoid of the vulgar, money-grubbing air of mortal merchants. They would either walk away or trade items, each finding their own joy. Although it wasn’t as densely populated or bustling as a mortal marketplace, the way the various immortals did business was carefree and elegant, lacking that worldly hustle. Often, a deal would be struck over half a day of drinking and feasting, possessing a unique charm of its own.

This Suiyang Immortal Market had no one managing it. Only the Lesser Moon Sect, the Golden Bell Sect, and the Yushan School had established a set of rules. As long as one didn’t violate the rules, everyone was free to do as they pleased. If the rules were broken and a dispute arose, cultivators from the three sects would naturally step in to administer a light punishment.

The opportunity he sought should occur in two or three years, but the block of blue jade containing the White Emperor’s legacy might have already found its way here. Therefore, Chen Qianliu planned to stay here for the time being, cultivating on one hand and accumulating talisman money on the other.

Ordinary cultivators preferred quiet and couldn’t stand the liveliness here, so they would usually leave as soon as they finished their business.

Chen Qianliu, however, was different. He preferred this kind of environment. Although it was an immortal market, it didn’t lack mortal goods, making life very convenient. It was also the only place where rogue cultivators could interact with their peers and gather a lot of information.

He gazed eagerly at a few nearby stalls, wanting to go take a look, but then thought that even if he found that block of blue jade, he wouldn’t have the talisman money to buy it, nor the ability to snatch it. Just as he was lost in thought, wondering how he could find that blue jade and what method he could use to obtain it, he heard a crisp voice call out, “Little Daoist, why are you at the Suiyang Immortal Market too?”

Chen Qianliu looked up and saw a familiar small figure on a large nearby tree. The girl was treading on the treetops, her body like a willow catkin, swaying gently. This time, she had changed into a lake-green dress, which further accentuated her crystal-clear skin. Her melon-seed-shaped face was lovely, her brows a smoky cyan, as if he had painted them himself just yesterday.

He couldn’t help but smile and said, “Little Fox Immortal! We meet again.”

“Are you also here at the Suiyang Immortal Market to buy things?”

The girl leaped down with a grin, patted his shoulder, and said, “You’re not allowed to call me Little Fox Immortal. You must call me Third Granny Hu.”

“Of course I’m here to buy some things, I just don’t know if the Suiyang Immortal Market has them.”

A thought stirred in Chen Qianliu’s mind. He thought of seven or eight reasons to persuade the girl to purchase blue jade, but felt that none of them were surefire. Just then, he heard the girl say, “Do you want to accompany me to buy things?”

Chen Qianliu chuckled and said, “Of course I’m willing to accompany Third Granny, but I must have a way to address you, right?”

The girl tilted her head and thought for a moment, then said, “Forget it, you can just call me Little Fox Immortal!”

Chen Qianliu knew the girl didn’t want to reveal her identity, so he didn’t press the matter. Just as he was about to find a place to tie up his white deer, he saw the girl flick her small sleeve. The white deer let out a cry, shrank into a small ball, and was drawn into her sleeve. She said with a grin, “I’ll hold onto this stupid deer for you first.”

Chen Qianliu was greatly curious. He pinched the girl’s sleeve and looked inside. Sure enough, he saw a tiny white deer lying quietly inside the sleeve, completely unharmed.

The girl’s face flushed red, and she spat, “What are you looking at? Don’t you know that men and women should not have physical contact?”

Chen Qianliu’s face also turned red. Fortunately, he was only nine years old in this life, and the girl only looked to be eleven or twelve; they were not yet of an age where such strict propriety was required. He quickly apologized, saying, “I’ve never seen such a wondrous magical art, so I was a bit rash. Little Fox Immortal, please don’t be offended.”

The girl burst out laughing and said, “Alright! I won’t be offended.”

She clasped her hands behind her back, putting on an old and experienced air, and led Chen Qianliu, her little follower, on a stroll through the Suiyang Immortal Market.

Chen Qianliu’s mind was preoccupied with that block of blue jade. He glanced at every stall they passed to see if the owner had any blue jade on display. But after visiting more than a dozen stalls with the girl, his eyes gradually grew hot with desire. There were so many things he wanted; his only regret was having no talisman money.

As the girl passed a certain stall, she let out a soft “hmm.”

Chen Qianliu glanced over. The stall owner was a lazy old beggar. He had spread out a dirty mat and laid out a pile of dark stones. Seeing that the item he was looking for wasn’t there, he didn’t want to look any further.

The girl, however, squatted down and asked, “How are these spirit stones sold?”

The old beggar said listlessly, “Five hundred talisman coins a piece.”

The girl frowned slightly and said, “That’s too expensive! These are all unrefined raw stones. How can they be worth five hundred talisman coins?”

The old beggar sneered, “If they were refined, how could you buy one for less than two or three thousand talisman coins?”

As the two haggled, Chen Qianliu’s mind wandered, thinking about how he could get a large sum of talisman money to buy the blue jade that held the opportunity.

Suddenly, he heard someone arguing loudly. He looked over and saw an old Daoist arguing with a stall owner. Listening for a few sentences, it seemed the old Daoist wanted to buy a flying sword from the stall owner but didn’t have enough money. Seeing many people looking over, the two of them quickly lowered their voices.

In his previous life, Chen Qianliu had cultivated for decades without ever owning a flying sword. His senior sister had one, but she was recuperating from her illness all year round and rarely used it. In their decades of marriage, he had only seen his old wife use it twice in total.

He sighed and forced himself not to look, not to listen.

Turns out there was a backup book title, called The Immortal Lord is So Poor…

Asking for monthly tickets, investments, and library adds… asking for a triple combo!

Thanks to the new Alliance Lord: Coke Needs Lemon Tea…

After midnight today, there will be an extra chapter…

(End of this chapter)