Cultivation Begins From The Desert-Chapter 168 - 166: Underground Exchange Meeting (Part 1) [Subscription Requested]

Chapter 168: Chapter 166: Underground Exchange Meeting (Part 1) [Subscription Requested]

Dong Jianping’s efficiency was high; the next day, Zhouyang received the invitation he brought and learned that the exchange meeting was to be held on the evening three days later.

Three days was not long; during this period, Zhouyang went up to the city walls to have a look, released his flying sword to help attack the low-tier demon beasts assaulting the city defense array outside, and time passed quickly.

With the activation of the city defense array, the remaining defense army cultivators within Zhenyue Immortal City were fully capable of responding to the demon beast attacks outside the city. The reason the "beast tide" had not dispersed was that it aimed to besiege Zhenyue Immortal City, preventing cultivators inside from leaving the city to support other Immortal Cities, and from encircling and attacking those demon beasts that had penetrated deep into the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm.

The cultivators like Zhouyang no longer had anyone demanding their assistance in battle, as they had already exerted their efforts in the previous battles.

On the evening of the third day, Zhouyang took the invitation to an unmarked shop on another Immortal Mountain, and under the reception of the shop’s cultivator, he received a conical hat magical artifact that could block others from spying with divine sense and a black cloak magical artifact that could conceal the aura of his magical power.

After donning the artifacts and entering a hall in the depths of the shop, he found that a dozen cultivators dressed similarly to him had already gathered. These people glanced at him through the silk curtains hanging from their conical hats when he entered, then withdrew their gazes to continue resting with closed eyes.

Seeing this, he mimicked them by finding a chair to sit on, closing his eyes in wait.

After a few more people entered, the cultivator who had distributed the artifacts came in and said, "The beast vehicle has arrived, fellow Daoists, please come out and board."

Upon hearing this, Zhouyang and the others followed outside to see a large caravan beast vehicle, capable of holding dozens of people, indeed parked outside. The spirit beasts pulling the vehicle were two Wind-Riding Steeds, tier three lower-grade demon beasts capable of flying with the wind, and the driver was a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator wearing a conical hat.

"Fellow Daoists, please board the vehicle; this old man is responsible for taking you to the exchange meeting venue."

An aged voice came from the late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, and the vehicle door swung open for Zhouyang and the others to enter.

Once Zhouyang and the others were seated inside the beast vehicle, the old man casually flicked the whip in his hand, and the two Wind-Riding Steeds let out a long neigh. Green light flashed on their backs, and a pair of green spiritual light wings sprouted.

Then the two spirit beasts, with wings extending from their ribs, took a stride and rose with the wind, pulling the beast vehicle straight up into the azure clouds, flying toward another location on the Immortal Mountain.

Since the vehicle’s cabin also had the function to block divine sense probing, Zhouyang and the others inside had no idea where they were being taken, only knowing that once the beast vehicle landed and stabilized, they were in a courtyard covered by an illusion array.

"We’ve arrived, fellow Daoists, please alight and enter the venue!"

The driver’s voice sounded from outside, and the cabin opened once more for Zhouyang and the others to disembark.

After getting off the beast vehicle, they were led by a Foundation Establishment cultivator wearing a conical hat into a tunnel, while the vehicle flew out of the courtyard under the driver’s command, destination unknown.

Following the guide with twists and turns through the tunnel for about several hundred meters, Zhouyang and his group finally arrived at the underground exchange meeting venue, a spacious underground cavern capable of accommodating hundreds.

In the cavern, besides an occupied stone table for exhibiting items belonging to the exchange meeting’s cultivators, only two or three hundred meditation mats were placed on the ground. At present, seventy to eighty people had already seated themselves, and Zhouyang’s arrival pushed the number to over a hundred.

However, judging by the situation, clearly, this was nowhere near the total invitees for the underground exchange meeting, so he could only do as those who had arrived early, find a meditation mat to sit cross-legged, and continue waiting.

The exchange meeting was highly confidential; even though he knew Dong Jianping was also in this underground cavern, he had no intention of seeking him out, surely Dong Jianping felt the same.

After waiting for nearly an hour more, the number of people in the underground cavern broke the two-hundred mark, comprising over half of the Foundation Establishment cultivators currently residing in Zhenyue Immortal City.

At this time, the last batch of special participants arrived; they were eight Purple Mansion stage cultivators participating in the exchange meeting.

Among the eight Purple Mansion stage cultivators, six similarly wore identity-concealing artifacts, while the other two were exceptions.

Of the exceptions, Zhouyang happened to recognize one person, who was Yun Zhen, the Purple Mansion cultivator overseeing him on the city wall earlier.

"I appreciate all fellow Daoists for taking time from your busy schedules to partake in the underground exchange meeting organized by this old man. I am Tian Wenxuan, the organizer of this exchange meeting, whether fellow Daoists recognize or don’t recognize this old man, now that you’ve come to this place, you’re showing your support. This old man also wishes each of you to achieve your desires and return laden with rewards from the upcoming exchange meeting!"

"Alright, without further ado, let the exchange meeting begin. I shall be the first to take the stage to attract the fellow Daoists!"

While Zhouyang was looking at Jia Yunzhen with astonishment, the other white-haired elder, Tian Wenxuan, who did not hide his identity, walked up to the only stone table in the underground cave hall. He glanced at the people in the hall and slowly revealed his identity.

After his introduction, Tian Wenxuan immediately waved his sleeve and placed three jade boxes on the table in front of him.

He opened each jade box and said in a low voice, "I only have three treasures: one Tier Four Middle Grade Demon Pill, one Soul Nourishing Fruit, and one Ice Profound Stone. I prioritize trading for spiritual objects helpful for Core Formation. If you do not have those, providing accurate information about such spiritual objects will allow you to choose any treasure other than the demon pill!"

As Zhouyang looked around, he saw that the Tier Four Middle Grade Demon Pill was only the size of an egg, radiating a reddish spiritual light, clearly belonging to a Fire Attribute Tier Four Demon Beast. It was the first time he had seen such a spiritual object, and he couldn’t help but look at it several times.

Then, he turned his gaze towards the other two spiritual objects, the Soul Nourishing Fruit and the Ice Profound Stone.

The Soul Nourishing Fruit was shaped like an apple, black-purple in color, plump and tempting, making one want to take a bite at first glance.

The Ice Profound Stone, however, was a palm-sized blue-white mineral stone. The jade box housing the mineral was made of Cold Jade, hundred years old. When Zhouyang scanned it with his Divine Sense, a chill that seemed to freeze even his soul emanated from the stone, scaring him into retracting his Divine Sense quickly, not daring to look further.

Tian Wenxuan had already reached the Ninth Layer of the Purple Mansion, long preparing for Condensing the Golden Core. Proposing such terms for the exchange was entirely justified.

However, when all the cultivators present heard this, they internally rolled their eyes.

Indeed, the three treasures Tian Wenxuan displayed were not ordinary items. The Tier Four Demon Pill’s use needed no elaboration, whether for refining a Foundation Establishment Pill or an elixir greatly enhancing a Purple Mansion Stage Cultivator’s prowess. It was an excellent choice.

The Soul Nourishing Fruit could swiftly restore the Divine Soul of a cultivator who failed to open the Purple Mansion or heal a Purple Mansion Stage cultivator’s soul injured in an accident, making it a rare gem.

Compared to the two aforementioned treasures, the Ice Profound Stone seemed less formidable. Still, refining a Flying Sword with this material would grant it a "frozen" effect, causing wounds inflicted on a Tier Four Demon Beast with such a sword to be frostbitten and hard to heal.

Yet, these three items, despite their value, were still inferior to treasures assisting in Core Formation.

Especially since those possessing such assisting treasures, unless already at the Golden Core Stage or having surplus, would rarely be willing to exchange them. Would anyone even share such information?

Thus, although Tian Wenxuan’s three treasures tempted many, none were traded. With regret, he shook his head, retrieved the jade boxes from the stone table, and sat at an empty futon by the side.

No sooner had he stepped down than another Purple Mansion cultivator, masked and following him, took the floor, saying, "My cultivation is not as profound as Fellow Daoist Tian’s, nor do I possess such wealth. Here are some Tier Three Spirit Talismans I drew in my spare time. Fellow Daoists may use Spirit Stones to exchange or offer treasures that pique my interest, that is fine too."

Upon finishing his words, the person waved his sleeve, laid out three jade boxes, and revealed several dozen Tier Three Spirit Talismans arranged by grade.

This scene contrasted entirely with Tian Wenxuan’s, as many Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators, after secretly communicating with the masked Purple Mansion cultivator, went up to exchange for several Tier Three Spirit Talismans. In just a short span of time, all the talismans were traded.

Zhouyang was indifferent to this; although Tier Three Spirit Talismans were nice, they held little allure for him. The Spirit Stones and treasures he possessed should be reserved for things he truly needed.

Subsequently, several more Purple Mansion Stage cultivators displayed their treasures for exchange, most offering items suitable for Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators in exchange for Spirit Stones, akin to the cultivator selling spirit talismans. Only a few were like Tian Wenxuan, seeking trades solely for treasures they could use.

Watching the treasures brought out by various Purple Mansion Stage cultivators, Zhouyang often felt tempted to exchange for those eye-catching items but restrained himself in anticipation of potentially better treasures appearing later.

After waiting for nearly half an hour, a treasure finally emerged that compelled him to act.

"Here, I have three extra Foundation Establishment Pills, wanting to trade for Thousand-year-old Blood Ginseng, Seven-leaf Purple Heart Grass, Tier Four Deer Antler, Earth Dragon Worm Relics... If any fellow Daoists possess these spiritual objects, whether you want to exchange for Foundation Establishment Pills or other Tier Three or Four elixirs for refined cultivation, you may contact me!"

In the underground cave hall, as the penultimate Purple Mansion Stage cultivator presented their treasures, Zhouyang and several other attending cultivators widened their eyes at the small medicine bottle on the stone table.

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