Chapter 142: Chapter 130: Cultivation: I Have an Immortal Binding Rope_2

Dozens of cultivators in cyan magical robes patrolled around the cloud cluster, maintaining a tight guard.

Beyond the cloud cluster, more than ten magnificent magical artifacts like flying boats, Floating Cloud Immortal Residences, and floating palaces hovered silently, exuding an air that warned strangers to keep away.

In Brocade Cloud Stream, the Purple Cliff Cave where Fang Cheng had previously stayed was now a ruin. Countless loose cultivators had explored it, but all had come away empty-handed.

Not far from Purple Cliff Cave, the Netherworld Grand Assembly had appeared once again. Besides street stalls, many shops had been carved into the cliff faces on both sides of the valley. Numerous suspended pavilions and towers were built, serving as restaurants, inns, and brothels to welcome guests from all over.

After some discussion, the three of them decided not to rush into the Broken Tower Secret Realm. Instead, they first went to the Netherworld Valley Marketplace to gather information and observe.

This newly established marketplace was bustling with activity. In the few short days since the Broken Tower’s appearance, it had already attracted many cultivators from Yun Country.

As time went on, more and more Sensing Realm cultivators were rushing to this location.

More people meant more business, and more business naturally led to a livelier atmosphere.

Many shops specialized in selling Myriad Phenomena Exotic Stones for one thousand Lower-Grade Spirit Stones each. Some even held small-scale auctions right on the street.

Fang Cheng took a look and recognized that these exotic stones all came from the first floor of the Broken Tower. If one opened them to find an Inheritance Silk Book, it would definitely be a loss.

But if one found a Lower-Grade Celestial Dew, that was another story.

It seemed that most of the cultivators who had entered the Broken Tower were still exploring the first floor.

Dongfang Xiong wanted to buy an exotic stone to try his luck, but his pockets were empty, so he could only enjoy the sight.

Murong Yan advised, "Don’t think about such gambles."

Currently, Myriad Manifestations Celestial Dew was in high demand. The price for a single bottle of Lower-Grade Celestial Dew had been driven up to thirty thousand Lower-Grade Spirit Stones, and even then, there were no sellers to be found.

As they strolled along, they ran into quite a few fellow members of the Yinluo Sect, such as Wang Pan and Feng Mo. These young masters from prestigious families valued their lives. Unsure of the situation inside the Broken Tower, they didn’t rush in, choosing instead to gather information in the marketplace first.

Furthermore, the Life Talisman Elders from the Wang and Feng Families were currently in the flying boats and Immortal Residences above. They could come down to handle any emergencies at a moment’s notice.

When these people saw Fang Cheng, they all exchanged a few polite words, congratulating him on entering the Inner Sect. They then took the opportunity to invite him for drinks and entertainment at a restaurant in the marketplace, but Fang Cheng politely declined all their offers.

Dongfang Xiong and his sister followed behind Fang Cheng without a word, quietly watching him exchange pleasantries and jokes, handling every social interaction with smooth sophistication.

The three of them walked to the middle section of the marketplace and entered a grand hall. This was the Cultivation Association’s stronghold in the marketplace, specializing in selling Array Entry Talismans for the Grand Array surrounding the Broken Tower.

This was also the most crowded spot in the entire marketplace.

The three bought their Array Entry Talismans and were about to leave the marketplace when they ran into a group of Yinluo Sect cultivators, forcing them to stop.

The leader of this group of Yinluo Sect disciples was a handsome and imposing man. His eyes were sharp, his demeanor cold, and his every glance carried an intimidating and oppressive pressure.

It was none other than the prodigy of the Wang Family, hailed as the number one Sensing Realm cultivator in the Abyssal Marsh today—Wang Yuntian!

This was the first time Fang Cheng had come face-to-face with him.

Beside Wang Yuntian stood a tall, elegant, and classical beauty.

She wore a moon-white long dress that accentuated her graceful figure and long, shapely legs. It was the genius Sword Cultivator from the Zhou Family whom Fang Cheng had met once before, Zhou Xueyu.

This woman was also an Inner Sect Disciple, and she had been married off to Wang Yuntian as a tool for the alliance between the Zhou and Wang Families.

Among the others, there were many faces he recognized from the Dong Family’s alchemy banquet.

With Wang Yuntian was a young, silver-haired man in a dark golden Daoist robe. His magical power was vast and surging, second only to Wang Yuntian’s among the group. However, his aura was completely different from that of the Yinluo Sect disciples; he was clearly not an Yinluo Cultivator.

Fang Cheng and Wang Yuntian exchanged a few pleasantries on the surface, but secretly, each was sizing the other up.

Next, Fang Cheng greeted the others. Just as he was about to leave, Zhou Xueyu called out to him softly.

"Is there something else, Senior Sister Zhou?" Fang Cheng asked curiously.

Zhou Xueyu’s expression was frosty as she said coolly, "Junior Brother Fang, at the Sword Fighting Conference at the Ye Family estate, you cut off my brother Zhou Huaijin’s arm. If I recall correctly, you agreed that day to have a match with me."

Fang Cheng nodded and smiled freely. "That’s right. Whenever you’re free, Senior Sister, I am at your disposal."

The onlookers were secretly surprised and confused, not understanding why Zhou Xueyu would say such a thing.

Many of those present had personally witnessed Fang Cheng slay the Island Lord of Mist Island. Not to mention Fang Cheng’s Tier Two Gu Insect, just the single Sword Qi Thunder Sound strike he used that day was something no one here, aside from Wang Yuntian, could have blocked.

Zhou Xueyu’s beautiful eyes were fixed on Fang Cheng. Her tone suddenly shifted as she asked, "Junior Brother Fang, did you kill Huaijin? Looking back now, among all the disciples who participated in the outer sect trial, you were the one who hid your true strength the deepest. Only you could have killed them without anyone knowing. And besides... you had the biggest grudge against Huaijin!"

Fang Cheng gave a mocking laugh and said nonchalantly, "Senior Sister, are you trying to pin a baseless accusation on me? To slander me without any proof is rather childish, don’t you think?"

Zhou Xueyu said coldly, "The only way to keep a secret is to not have done it in the first place. As it happens, there’s a magical artifact right here that can verify the truth of a cultivator’s words. Do you dare deny it again in front of this magical artifact, Junior Brother?"

With that, she turned to the silver-haired young man beside Wang Yuntian and said, "Fellow Daoist Jiang, please bring out the True Words Mirror. I, Xueyu, will be sure to repay you generously in the future."

The silver-haired man looked at Fang Cheng with an amused expression. Hearing her words, he chuckled, "It’s a small effort. No need to be so polite, Fellow Daoist Zhou."

With a wave of his long sleeve, a bronze mirror shimmering with a clear, hazy light appeared out of thin air. It rose into the sky, casting its pure radiance everywhere and drawing the attention of many cultivators in the marketplace.

Behind Fang Cheng, the expressions on Dongfang Xiong and Murong Yan’s faces changed. Both looked displeased, glaring angrily at the group opposite them.

Fang Cheng’s expression was calm. He gave Zhou Xueyu a deep look, then turned to Wang Yuntian and asked, "Senior Brother Wang, is this your intention as well?"

No emotion could be seen on Wang Yuntian’s cold face. He stated flatly, "Xueyu is my dao companion. Her intention is my intention."

Fang Cheng laughed heartily. "Fine. I’ve long heard of your profound skills, Brother Wang. Today, I’d like to ask for your guidance. If you can defeat the sword in my hand, I will repeat what I just said in front of this damn mirror."

Then, he looked coldly at Zhou Xueyu and said, "As for you, Senior Sister Zhou, I’m afraid you wouldn’t last three moves against my sword. It’s best you don’t bring humiliation upon yourself."

Zhou Xueyu’s delicate brows furrowed. She was about to speak, but Wang Yuntian raised a hand to stop her.

Wang Yuntian said coolly, "Junior Brother, this is not the place to fight. I will wait for you inside the Myriad Phenomena Immortal Pagoda. Farewell."

After speaking, he glanced at the silver-haired young man, who put away the True Words Mirror with a look of regret.

Then, surrounded by his entourage, Wang Yuntian departed.

Fang Cheng’s sword intent was contained, but Dongfang Xiong and Murong Yan, who were standing close to him, felt a sharp, piercing sting, as if a deadly blade, ready to be drawn at any moment, was held before their eyes. It was an extremely uncomfortable feeling.

"Let’s go too," Fang Cheng said with a slight, unconcerned smile.

Suddenly, a scholar-like man walked over and said in a clear voice, "Fellow Daoist, please wait."

Fang Cheng turned his head to look. The newcomer was actually He Yujing!

He said impassively, "What guidance does Fellow Daoist have for me?"

He Yujing gave a scholarly smile. "It’s nothing. I just feel that you bear a strong resemblance to an old acquaintance of mine, so I came over to offer you a word of advice, Fellow Daoist."

Fang Cheng frowned inwardly. ’He Yujing hasn’t recognized me, has he?’

’This man is also unfathomably profound. To advance to the Life Talisman realm as a Loose Cultivator, he must have plenty of tricks up his sleeve.’

"Please speak, Fellow Daoist," Fang Cheng said, cupping his hands.

He Yujing said in a gentle tone, "I saw everything that just happened. I happen to have a secret technique that allows me to sense others’ emotions. I wanted to tell you, Fellow Daoist, that three people just now had clear killing intent towards you."

Fang Cheng’s sword-like brows shot up. "Who was the third person?"

He Yujing’s expression turned serious. "It was the silver-haired young man. If I’m not mistaken, he should be from the Jiang Family of Divine Pillar Mountain. And... his killing intent was the strongest of the three. I saw that you seemed a bit unaware, Fellow Daoist, so I came specifically to give you a reminder. Be careful not to be backstabbed by a villain."

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