"But there’s something I need to remind you about."

Qin Xijun said, "Lingxi Market is not like the Lingyuan Ze Night Market. It’s a place where all sorts of people gather, a real mixed bag, much more chaotic than the Night Market."

"If you go, you must be careful."

Song Yan nodded.

The two chatted for a few moments, discussing the trip to Bei Ya Mountain.

Qin Xijun clicked her tongue in wonder, especially when Cong Yuzhen was mentioned, feeling even more amazed.

"The student surpasses the teacher, indeed..."

Upon closer inquiry, he learned that Granny Qin and Cong Yuzhen’s master were actually old acquaintances.

Such coincidences of Destiny are truly marvelous.

Not long after, he stood up and took his leave.

He spent half a day strolling through the Lingyuanze Market.

After purchasing the Medicinal Pills needed for his daily Qi Cultivation and some other spiritual resources, he returned to Green Leaf Peak to continue his arduous Cultivation.

His spiritual power became purer bit by bit, and his Cultivation accumulated inch by inch.

Such tranquil Cultivation, without any disturbances, is the norm on the path of Immortals.

Time flies like fleeting clouds.

In a flash, a month passed.

About thirty to forty miles from the Cave Abyss Sect, outside Lingxi Market.

A Cultivator with a stiff face casually dispersed his Wind Riding Technique and slowly approached.

This person wore a plain cloth robe, looking like a Loose Cultivator, with a Qi Refining Realm of about the sixth level.

It was Song Yan.

Today was the day of the Lingxi Market auction that Granny Qin had mentioned.

Before coming here, he had made ample preparations.

To prevent being targeted, he changed his appearance.

He had actually struggled with whether to change out of his Cave Abyss Sect Disciple robe.

He now understood some of the dangers of the world, having read many horrifying examples in the heretical cultivators notes.

Previously, at the Lingyuan Ze Night Market auction, he had seen two Cultivators trailing another Cultivator as they left.

They were probably planning to kill and rob him.

The factors involved here are actually quite complex.

Sometimes, if one wears the Daoist robe of a large Sect, some timid... or rather, more cautious Cultivators, won’t seek trouble.

They worry about a powerful backer and being hunted down.

But sometimes, the situation can be the opposite.

Some desperate and vicious individuals won’t care about such risks at all.

In fact, seeing the Daoist robe of a large Sect might make them think that this person is "wealthy" and a "fat sheep."

Thus, they would take action and kill.

After comprehensive consideration, Song Yan ultimately decided to change into a Loose Cultivator’s attire.

Mainly because everyone knows the status of Outer Sect Disciples in any Sect.

They basically can’t have a backer.

That, in turn, would make them a tempting target in others’ eyes.

He also didn’t have the courage to borrow an Inner Sect Disciple robe from Senior Brother Lin Qing to wear.

So he could only transform into a Loose Cultivator.

Stepping into Lingxi Market, there were indeed many people here.

Before leaving the Sect, Song Yan always naively thought that there weren’t many Loose Cultivators, and that the Cultivation World was full of Disciples from large and small Sects.

Only later did he realize that Loose Cultivators who didn’t have the Opportunity to enter a Sect were always the majority.

Lingxi Market is such a market, established jointly by a group of Loose Cultivators under the protective prestige of the Cave Abyss Sect.

"..."

Following the address Granny Qin gave him, he arrived at the eastern side of the market.

This... seemed to be a wine shop.

Before even entering, he already smelled a strong aroma of wine.

Not many Cultivators came and went here; each looked hurried, and as they passed Song Yan, they carried no scent of wine.

After confirming it repeatedly, he stepped inside.

"Yo, honored guest, please come in!"

The waiter, at the fourth level of Qi Refining, saw someone enter and greeted him warmly: "Are you... drinking here, or taking it to go?"

Song Yan pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "I’d like a cup of sixty-year-old Worry-Free Nectar."

The waiter froze, his eyes darting around, looking left and right, then he whispered:

"Honored guest, the Worry-Free Nectar cannot pass through my hands. Please follow me to the wine cellar and draw it yourself."

Nodding, he followed the waiter towards the back courtyard of the main hall.

A green pine tree grew in the back courtyard, and beside it was a small door laid flat on the ground.

The waiter walked up and slowly pulled open the wooden door.

Below it was a narrow opening, only wide enough for one person to pass at a time, and beneath that, a staircase illuminated by faint light.

"..."

The waiter didn’t say any superfluous words, merely extended his hand, inviting him to enter.

Song Yan glanced at him, then cupped his hands, stepped into the opening, and slowly descended.

The moment he fully entered the opening and the door above closed.

Suddenly, countless candlelight flared up before his eyes.

They were neatly arranged along the stairs and corridor, illuminating the entire confined space.

"Why is this Lingxi Market auction so secretive?"

This auction was completely different from the Lingyuanze Market. Not only was the auction hidden, but even Cultivators who knew the information needed to use a "password" to be allowed in.

The Lingyuanze auction could almost be described as accepting all comers.

But here, it seemed as if they were afraid of others knowing.

He didn’t know how long he walked, nor did he encounter any other Cultivators in this long, narrow corridor.

Finally, he faintly heard some bustling sounds.

He quickened his steps slightly. Before him was a curtain of silk fabric.

Song Yan reached out and lifted the curtain.

This was an auction hall that wasn’t too large, and it was almost full of people at this moment.

He was late.

There were no special rules; he casually found an empty seat at the edge and sat down.

He began to observe the people around him.

There were quite a few Cultivators participating in such an underground auction without any concealment.

He wondered if they, like Song Yan, were wearing human skin masks or had other means of disguise.

Some Cultivators had very unique ways of concealing their faces.

For example, he saw a Cultivator sitting to his left front whose entire head was enveloped in a small cloud of mist.

He looked around; besides the door he entered, there were several other doors in the auction hall.

Song Yan judged that the entire Lingxi Market, including the wine shop he just came down from, should have at least four entrances connected to this auction.

As he was looking, he turned his head slightly and noticed a very small girl sitting to his right.

From her appearance, she looked to be only around ten years old.

Among the tall and strong Cultivators, she appeared extremely "tiny."

The girl was wearing the inner layer of a Daoist robe, without shoes, and had simply treated the large chair as a small bed.

She seemed to have been watching Song Yan for a while, staring at him and giggling.

Her laughter made his heart pound.

Adhering to the principle of ’I won’t offend if not offended,’ Song Yan didn’t say a word, closed his eyes, and slowly adjusted his breathing.

Waiting for the auction to begin.

"..."

He didn’t know how much time passed, but then he heard a stir.

The sound came from the front; someone walked onto the stage, perhaps the auctioneer had appeared.

There were also some faint air currents...

It seemed like breathing.

A faint fragrance...?

He slowly opened his eyes.

In his vision were a pair of clear, light purple eyes; the girl was almost pressed against his nose.

Song Yan frowned: "What are you doing?!"

The girl giggled, returned to her seat, and leaned on the left armrest: "Your face is fake."

"Hehehe... how interesting."

"When we return to the Sect, will you give me this face?"