Chapter 36: Exchange Gathering

Ba Commandery.

Because of the previous chaotic wars within the cultivation world, Dao Foundation families and Purple Palace immortal sects each withdrew into seclusion, using Qi Ingestion cultivators as chess pieces, plunging the entire cultivation world into utter turmoil.

Many marketplaces shut down directly, and the flow of goods became obstructed.

Only after Li Rulong secured half the realm did the cultivation world finally stabilize.

Even so, markets familiar to Fang Qing such as Azure Fall Market and Floating Boat Market had largely fallen into ruin and closed.

Over the past few years, Fang Qing had continuously probed and developed his own network of contacts… and in the end, he only managed to obtain qualifications to attend a few irregularly held loose cultivator exchange gatherings.

…

The bright moon hung high in the sky.

In the desolate countryside, the atmosphere was cold and bleak.

By the roadside stood a half-collapsed small temple.

The deity statue inside had long since blurred beyond recognition, barely retaining the shape of a crude clay humanoid figurine, with a half-black red cloth looped around its neck.

“Stove?”

Fang Qing stared at the shattered plaque for quite some time, barely managing to make out the character “stove.”

“What kind of temple is this? A Stove God temple?”

He blew out a breath and lit a candle.

“Hehehe… not the Stove God, but the Stove Lord! A Stove Lord Temple!”

A black shadow walked out from behind the statue, emitting a hoarse voice.

Its figure looked extremely incongruous.

Only when it drew closer did it become clear—it was a fox standing upright like a human, with a skull perched atop its head.

“Stove Lord?”

Fang Qing inclined his head.

“It does not seem to belong to the Twelve Wardens of the Year. I wonder what kind of great power it is?”

“Rustic villagers making random sacrifices—utterly improper… very well then. This old one is ‘Dark Candle Child.’ Daoist friend, are you also here to attend the exchange gathering?”

The old fox continued.

“Indeed.”

Fang Qing nodded beneath his bamboo hat, which concealed most of his face.

“That is excellent.

This old one is attending a human exchange gathering for the first time and does not know what needs attention.”

The old fox looked rather humble.

“About that—”

Before Fang Qing could speak, another cultivator appeared at the temple entrance.

“Hmph! Once Ba Commandery fell into chaos, all sorts of freaks and monsters came crawling out. You demons actually dare to come here—are you not afraid of cultivators slaying demons and eradicating evil?”

“Tsk tsk… observing the aura of Tail Fire upon your body, could it be that you hail from the Pu Family of Yulin?”

The old fox was unconcerned.

“Purple Palace Immortal Clans are indeed impressive, but this old one did not go to Yulin Commandery. The Black Miasma Sect, however, is a close friend of our demon race. If we pay a bit more, perhaps we demons will help the Black Miasma Sect attack your Pu Family.”

“What audacity!”

The Pu Family cultivator sneered coldly, flames spurting from his nose and mouth, as if he was about to strike in the next instant.

“Everyone… please give this old Daoist some face.”

Just as Fang Qing thought the human and demon were about to fight, a voice suddenly cut in.

Fang Qing looked over and saw the ragged old Daoist he had once encountered outside Floating Boat Market walking in.

He showed no attempt at concealment—his cultivation had clearly reached peak Qi Ingestion.

“Hehe… this old Daoist is the convener of this exchange gathering. During the trading period, everyone’s safety is guaranteed by me. If any Daoist insists on making a move, I fear I will have no choice but to suppress you first.”

The ragged old Daoist looked at the Pu Family cultivator.

Under the Purple Palace prohibition, peak Qi Ingestion was already the pinnacle of Ba Commandery’s cultivation world.

“Since that is the case, I will give Daoist friend some face.”

The Pu Family cultivator immediately backed down, the flames on his face dissipating.

Everyone entered the small temple and found places to sit.

After half an hour, Fang Qing glanced around and saw that more than ten cultivators had gathered inside the temple.

Among them were those dressed like old farmers, holding smoking pipes, with a pair of grandchildren beside them, as well as gorgeously dressed noblewomen.

Of course, most cultivators were like Fang Qing, hiding themselves within hooded cloaks.

Even though the ragged Daoist’s earlier reminder to Li Rulong had left Fang Qing with a rather upright impression, one could never be too cautious.

As for demons, there seemed to be only the old fox.

“Alright.

Thank you all for coming to this small gathering… we may first exchange items according to our needs, then engage in discussion.”

The ragged Daoist explained the rules.

“We shall begin with this Daoist.”

He pointed at the old farmer-like cultivator.

“This old one’s surname is Tian. Daoist friends may simply call me ‘Old Tian.’”

Old Tian revealed a mouth of yellow-black teeth.

“My family accidentally entered the Dao, cultivating the Lou Metal path… but alas, the cultivation method is mediocre. I can only reach late-stage Qi Ingestion. I wonder if any Daoist friends have clues to follow-up methods? At the very least, one that reaches the Dao Foundation.”

At this, someone let out a snort of laughter—it was the Pu Family cultivator.

He sneered coldly.

“You rustic stray cultivators want Dao Foundation methods? Now that the markets of the Land of Ancient Shu are desolate, if you want Dao Foundation techniques, you must seek Dao Foundation families. As for Purple Palace methods, only Purple Palace powers possess them.”

“So that is how it is?”

Old Tian’s eyes went blank as he muttered, “This old one thought… spiritual grain could be exchanged for it…”

Even Fang Qing could not help but feel amused.

Thinking of himself, although he had always been mindful of collecting cultivation methods, he indeed possessed few Dao Foundation techniques.

Coupled with the trouble of Qi gathering and the fact that he himself was more suited to the Ji Water path, he had never taken up a second Ancient Shu cultivation method.

‘If it were a Great Sun Purple Qi method, it might be worth sacrificing some cultivation time… but aside from that, I have yet to encounter anything truly tempting.’

Exchanging too many methods did not significantly increase combat power, though it did provide excellent adaptability.

At this moment, the old fox Dark Candle Child spoke up.

“If Daoist friend’s family is not fixated on Lou Metal, this old one does have a cultivation method here. It belongs to the Taiyin lineage, under Bi Moon, cultivating the Dao Foundation of ‘Softening and Regulating the Hard.’ At the very least, reaching Dao Foundation should pose no issue.”

“What?”

Old Tian was overjoyed.

“Daoist… you are willing to exchange a cultivation method for spiritual grain?”

“Ahem!”

At this point, the ragged Daoist spoke.

“Dark Candle Child, since you intend to sell a Bi Moon lineage cultivation method, you must explain the hidden drawbacks in advance.”

“Drawbacks?”

Fang Qing was startled and looked toward Dark Candle Child.

The old fox remained unmoved.

“This old one simply spoke slowly and had not finished yet… this method originates from Bi Moon. After cultivating it, one will transform into a half-demon and become close to our demon race.”

“What? Unable to even remain human? T-this… forget it.”

Old Tian hurriedly shook his head.

“Why does this method cause demon transformation? Does it possess some hidden flaw?”

Fang Qing’s eyes shifted as he asked.

“Hehe. It is not that the old fox’s method has issues, but that all Bi Moon lineage methods are only suited for the demon race. After all, in ancient times, the demon race great sage ‘Bi Moon Crow’ emerged, throwing the world into chaos. From then on, Bi Moon was transmitted only among demons—every method became tainted…”

The Pu Family cultivator had not intended to reveal such cultivation secrets, but since the ragged Daoist had spoken, he opened his mouth as well, partly to disgust the old fox.

“This…”

Fang Qing felt speechless inwardly.

‘What kind of place is this? Cultivating into a demon without even realizing it?’

“Hehe… that Great Sage Bi Moon Crow excelled at devouring metal and swallowing fire, truly awe-inspiring… but that was already more than eight thousand years ago. Instead, the demon race has in recent years colluded with the demonic path and even subsidized barbarian fate. Otherwise, how would the world have fallen into such chaos?”

The Pu Family cultivator pressed his advantage relentlessly.

Listening, Fang Qing felt a faint realization forming in his heart.

“This world divides history into the Primordial, Ancient, and Near Ancient eras… by the Immortal Calendar, it should now be Near Ancient Year 8,529… the positions of the Twelve Wardens of the Year were established in the Primordial era, but… the Great Sun lineage and Metal and Fire lineages were satisfied—what about the other lineages? Could there have been vendettas? Turmoil? The demon great sage Bi Moon Crow devouring metal and swallowing fire—could this represent a counterattack of the Taiyin lineage? Even beings as powerful as the Wardens of the Year… could they still fall?”

The old fox said nothing more, and Old Tian withdrew awkwardly.

Next, the noblewoman stepped forward.

“I possess a piece of ‘Innate Geng Metal,’ an excellent material for refining flying swords… I seek news of a flying sword.”

“Which flying sword?”

A cultivator asked.

“‘Must Enjoy to the Full’!” the noblewoman replied.

“Heh… although this sword does not rank among the ten most renowned flying swords under heaven, it is still highly famous in the Land of Ancient Shu, sufficient to be listed among the forty-nine famous swords of Ancient Shu. A mere piece of Innate Geng Metal—not even a proper flying sword—is insufficient! Insufficient!!”

That cultivator shook his head.

“Oh? Then what if I offer a flying sword in exchange?”

The noblewoman’s eyes shimmered as she quietly asked.

“T-this… I also do not know where that ‘Must Enjoy to the Full’ sword lies. This sword is immensely famous. It was the personal sword of the Purple Palace sword cultivator—Misty Wave Superior. It is said its sword light was brilliant as brocade clouds, proud as a roaming dragon…”

Longing filled the cultivator’s voice.

“Then are you making a joke of me?”

The noblewoman’s tone instantly became dangerous.

“Alright, Madam Qi, please calm down…”

The ragged Daoist helplessly stepped in again.

“This Daoist speaks bluntly… please spare him.”

“Hmph!”

Madam Qi snorted coldly and quietly returned to the group.

After her, it was Fang Qing’s turn.

Fang Qing touched his bamboo hat, his voice clear.

“I… seek a cultivation method of the Great Sun lineage. The reward may be compensated with pills that enhance true power.”

“Great Sun lineage methods? Ever since Great Sun Purple Qi was severed, what use are such methods?”

The Pu Family cultivator sneered with clear disdain.

“Hehe… although Great Sun Purple Qi has been severed for several thousand years, within ancient ruins and secret realms, there may not be no remnants…”

Dark Candle Child was clearly butting heads with the Pu Family cultivator.

“Your knowledge is shallow—do not speak recklessly and embarrass yourself. Oh, right—your Pu Family Ancestor, Lord Pu Mountain, did he not rise in a single leap after fortuitously obtaining a predecessor’s cave dwelling, relying on the methods and true qi gained there? Since your ancestor could do so, why can others not stumble upon such fortune?”

“You?!”

Flames once again spurted from the Pu Family cultivator’s nostrils.

The cultivators present all fell silent in fear.

That was the Pu Family Ancestor! A Purple Palace cultivator! A great figure of immense divine power!

It was said that in his youth, he fell into an ancient cultivator’s cave dwelling, remaining in bitter cultivation until the Dao Foundation stage before emerging, establishing tremendous renown in Yulin Commandery.

Later, in the late Dao Foundation stage, he discovered a kind of heaven-and-earth spiritual flame—‘Ashen Calamity Fire’! Risking life and death, he forcibly absorbed and subdued it, gaining mastery over this flame.

This Ashen Calamity Fire ranked ninety-eighth on the Heaven-and-Earth Spiritual Flame List.

It was a rare treasure coveted even by Purple Palace cultivators.

Once refined, its might was boundless, rendering one invincible in battle.

Afterward, he broke through to the Purple Palace realm and founded the Pu Family, which had endured for more than two hundred years to this day.