The Eighteen Spirit Strongholds was able to develop from the initial wilderness Spirit Vein Dao Field to its current state, largely due to luck.

Initially, the Biyun Sect was at a critical period of seclusion and didn’t care, and the chaotic situation of the eighteen forces in the area didn’t seem likely to take shape.

Later, due to the turmoil in the early stages of the righteous and demonic war, this place grew wildly.

In the end, during the righteous and demonic war, the Elder Council of the Spirit Village actively responded to the orders of the Ten Thousand Laws Palace and sent the most Foundation Establishment cultivators to fight, winning the commendation from the Ten Thousand Laws Palace, thus solidifying its position.

Regarding the situation within the Celestial Cyan Domain, the Ten Thousand Laws Palace, as the nominal master of the entire domain, definitely has thoughts of balancing the seven similar sects within the domain.

For many years, due to the natural barrier of the Great Marsh Mountain Range, Cangyun State dominated a state, and now with the Eighteen Spirit Strongholds here, it naturally benefits the Ten Thousand Laws Palace in overseeing the entire domain.

So other sects are fully aware and will not openly use their sect identity to cause trouble for the Spirit Village.

However, the forces targeting this piece of fat meat are certainly not few.

Wu Weixiong clearly isn’t encountering such intentional trouble for the first time.

"Haha, Fellow Daoist is joking. Wu is just a gatekeeper dog, who would fear someone like me?" Wu Weixiong self-mockingly smiled, indifferent.

Having wandered half a lifetime, experiencing both warmth and cold, Wu Weixiong had long since cultivated a tough exterior and thick skin.

If not, he wouldn’t have gotten to where he is now.

Within this Spirit Village’s plot, they have the Holy Palace’s decree and fear neither the sect’s True Men nor their actions. If a True Man were to act, he would be fearless, but once he leaves this place, it’s uncertain if a True Man would secretly act against him.

"Hmph, your skin truly isn’t just thick!" The opponent coldly snorted, continuing to mock.

Wu Weixiong proudly patted his own face and nodded: "Wu cultivates the Earth Element Technique, so naturally, thick-skinned."

"Enough nonsense, since you don’t dare go out with Jiao, what do you want to do?" Seeing that the provocation might not work, the opponent said coldly.

Hearing this, Wu Weixiong laughed heartily and then raised a hand, holding up three fingers: "Hahaha, Wu comes to the marketplace for only three things: fairness, fairness, and damn fairness.

As long as Fellow Daoist Jiao can trade fairly with this merchant, Wu won’t care whether you’re a spy from Spirit Beast Mountain, you’ll also be welcomed with open arms."

When the Elder Council of the Spirit Strongholds determined the market positioning years ago, they were very clear that if they wanted the Spirit Village Marketplace to grow, it must differentiate and compete with those Great Immortal Cities.

Safety isn’t guaranteed, no problem.

Spirit Vein quality isn’t guaranteed, no problem.

Just guarantee fairness which they cannot guarantee.

Moreover, their fairness is aimed at all cultivators, even street vendors among loose cultivators, or mortals who accidentally acquire treasures.

In the Great Immortal City, the shops mainly dominate, and in many places, street vending is even prohibited, forcing the lower-level loose cultivators to sell in shops.

And many of the shops are run by one boss, who colludes to undercut prices, denying loose cultivators fairness.

Jiao Xiuming’s eyes suddenly froze, showing a hint of panic, instinctively inspecting himself.

He didn’t expect Wu Weixiong to already know his identity.

He indeed was a spy from Spirit Beast Mountain, intending to lure Wu Weixiong out of the marketplace.

"Hmph, nonsense, if Jiao doesn’t buy, so be it." Feeling guilty, Jiao Xiuming threw the chosen Second Tier Black Pattern Gold back onto the booth and immediately tried to leave.

"It’s not over, you can’t just leave!" Wu Weixiong ordered someone to block him again.

"Hmm? What do you want to do?"

"There should be some apology!" Wu Weixiong smiled playfully.

"You want Jiao to apologize to a mere Qi Cultivation Junior Cultivator?" Jiao Xiuming sneered.

Wu Weixiong slowly walked to the booth and gently patted the vendor’s shoulder: "You want to coercively buy the Spirit Gold that this young friend risked life to obtain, further intimidating them to the point of unstable Dao heart, do you not see it?"

Saying this, Wu Weixiong shouted to the surrounding crowd: "Shouldn’t there be an apology?"

"Apologize!"

"Apologize!"

"Apologize!"

...

The next moment, the clouds gathered and the landscape changed.

"Don’t bully people too much!" The surrounding crowd was furious, and Jiao Xiuming’s expression turned gloomy.

Wu Weixiong ignored him and continued to shout: "Tell us, am I bullying them too much?"

"You!" Jiao Xiuming’s eyes filled with bloodlust.

Seeing the situation around him growing more intense, Jiao Xiuming’s eyes showed fear.

His late Foundation Establishment cultivation wasn’t false, but facing Wu Weixiong, with dual cultivation of Dharma Body and a quasi-Tier Three Spirit Pet as a Foundation Establishment brigand, there was almost no certainty he could get away unscathed, let alone being surrounded by so many people.

At that point, even the loose cultivators on the periphery secretly launching surprise attacks, one hit per person, he’d be doomed.

The main thing was that he wasn’t justified.

"Hmph!" Glancing fiercely at Wu Weixiong, Jiao Xiuming offered perfunctory apologies to the Qi Cultivation Junior Cultivator vendor: "I was in a hurry, my friend, don’t blame me!"

Late Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator apologizing to Qi Cultivation Junior Cultivator!

This is simply a fantasy.

Yet it truly happened before everyone’s eyes.

This elicited cheers from the marketplace crowd.

"Martial Dharma Protector Wu is mighty!"

"Martial Dharma Protector Wu is mighty!"

...

Following one person’s lead, the crowd enthusiastically echoed in praise. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Jiao Xiuming sneaked away in defeat.

"Not bad!" Li Ji’an witnessed it all and smiled slightly, regarding Wu Weixiong with newfound respect.

Simultaneously, a thought within him was temporarily suppressed.

After Wu Weixiong left, the street returned to its usual state.

Li Ji’an, led by Zhu Qi, walked all the way to the end.

He collected all puppet materials above Second Tier he saw.

However, true Tier Three spiritual materials were still rare, and most had lost significant spirituality, reducing their value.