Chapter Sixty-Six: Visitors from the Xuan Zhen Sect

Daoist arts are divided into three grades: upper, middle, and lower. Above Daoist arts, there are even greater powers known as divine abilities. All forms, whether Daoist arts or divine abilities, are encompassed under the category of Daoist methods. The distinction lies merely in the latter being more potent; when cultivated to profound heights, even incinerating mountains, boiling seas, plucking stars, and bathing in the sun become trivial tasks.

Yet, the fundamental purposes of Daoist methods are largely confined to growth, enlightenment, destruction, defense, invisibility, alchemy, formation, and sustenance—these core functions alone.

The reason Treasure Gathering Pavilion has long been cautious about accepting Daoist methods is rooted in history.

According to Hao Qingyan, the prosperity of this marketplace was inherited from predecessors, a stroke of fortune. In the past, the dominant force in the southern region was the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower. At its peak, even elders from Divine Fire Cliff, Devouring Mountain, and the Flower God Manor were frequent guests, and its influence extended beyond the impoverished south, reaching branches in the central and eastern regions of Dongmi Prefecture.

But the Tower was ultimately ensnared by its rival, the Sixfold Society. By mistake, they acquired and sold a divine ability called the Five Yin Grasping Great Hand from the Hu Zhao Sect. Overnight, the Tower was eradicated from Dongmi Prefecture, every disciple slain, their souls extinguished—no chance for reincarnation.

Those once allied with Ten Thousand Treasures Tower, such as Divine Fire Cliff and Devouring Mountain, fell silent, unwilling to utter a word. The sect leaders, conversely, hurried to Hu Zhao Sect to seek forgiveness, bearing lavish gifts and admitting their poor judgment.

That calamity shook half of Dongmi Prefecture; merchants everywhere were gripped by fear, dreading to follow in the Tower’s footsteps.

Nor did the Sixfold Society, the Tower’s rival, escape unscathed. When Hu Zhao Sect discovered the truth, they gave no quarter—an adept in curses among their primordial spirits cast a spell from afar, turning every member into mud puppets, unable to live or die, suffering untold misery.

Thus, the rise of Treasure Gathering Pavilion and other businesses came only after these two giants fell, seizing the opportunity to flourish. Had those houses survived, they would have been beset by myriad overt and covert means, crushed with no ground to stand on.

...

“So, since then, none of us dare to lightly accept Daoist methods, lest we fall into a trap and suffer the same fate as those two.”

Hao Qingyan sighed deeply. “Even when we do accept Daoist methods, there must be guarantors, contracts, certificates... We must verify the seller's identity, draw up documents, and trace the method’s origin, one by one. Otherwise, no matter how tempting, we dare not purchase—who knows if it’s a baited snare?”

“So troublesome?” Chen Heng frowned. “What of itinerant cultivators without connections who wish to buy Daoist methods? Would they leave empty-handed from your esteemed establishment?”

“Haha! You’re mistaken!”

Hao Qingyan burst into laughter and clapped his hands. “Do you know how many common Daoist arts exist in this world? Passed down from generation to generation, from person to person! They’ve long spread throughout the realm. Techniques like Qi Armor, Blood Escape, and countless others—there are too many to enumerate! What I spoke of before concerned only those rare or unheard-of methods, which require precaution. If you wish to purchase Daoist arts...”

He produced a book as thick as five fingers from his storage pouch and handed it to Chen Heng.

Chen Heng leafed through it and was visibly moved.

“All the Daoist arts I possess... are listed here?”

He continued to the section on Qi cultivation, and at this, he could no longer contain his surprise.

“The Essential Qi Cultivation Formula of Guiyuanzi?” Chen Heng pointed to a page. “From what I know, this is the Qi cultivation doctrine of the Rong clan from Rong Kingdom. How is it available for sale here?”

“Oh, that?” Hao Qingyan glanced at the page and chuckled. “That was personally sold by Guiyuanzi, the founder of Rong Kingdom. At that time, Treasure Gathering Pavilion didn’t even exist. I hear it was sold to Ten Thousand Treasures Tower in exchange for thirty beautiful mermaid maidens. He was quite the character!”

Chen Heng fell silent.

He continued browsing and found “Golden Man Avatar,” “Minor Wind and Mist Summoning,” “Blood Armor Technique,” and many more—densely packed like stars in the sky.

The prices for these lower-grade arts were exceptionally cheap; for a handful of talisman coins, one could purchase a method, far less expensive than magical implements.

Hao Qingyan, perceptive as ever, volunteered an explanation. According to him, these middle and lower-grade arts are not only widespread but also of modest power, requiring much effort to cultivate—far less convenient than magical implements.

After all, whether prenatal breath or true Qi, both are limited. Using more to perform arts means less for activating implements; there’s always a balance.

Moreover, the power of these arts seldom matches that of implements. Given their widespread circulation and the long time required to practice them, if the price were not cheap, few would bother buying.

After hearing all this, Chen Heng abandoned his intention to sell Daoist arts for the time being.

He had imagined the Golden Valley Market as a place where true cultivators could freely ply their trade, simulating others’ mind-states, extracting Daoist arts from their souls, and then selling them—an endless cycle, like chicken and egg.

He hadn't expected such stringent constraints on selling Daoist arts, nor that the merchants themselves had already amassed a vast collection, covering every category...

After receiving several thousand talisman coins from his sales, Chen Heng considered purchasing a flying sword.

However, he learned that the Golden Valley Market was not yet formally established; the treasures from major houses had not yet been moved here, still en route. He made arrangements with Hao Qingyan to be notified when the goods arrived.

After a brief conversation, Chen Heng declined Hao Qingyan’s offer to see him off and returned to Red Leaf Island.

With these talisman coins in hand, he could further his Qi cultivation and perfect his Jade Body—who had time for idle chat?

His escape light sped swiftly, like a shooting star, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

On a floating tower-ship, a man on deck glimpsed Chen Heng’s figure but, before he could call out, Chen Heng’s light vanished into the mist.

“Does Senior Brother Chen have urgent business? He’s in such a hurry—ignored us entirely!” Zhou Xingling laughed, scolding, and said to his fellow disciples, “Once we see our master, we must drag him out and make him drink with us!”

Those Daoists from White Crane Cave who had conversed with Chen Heng laughed, but only Zhu Wangzhi remained silent, lowering her head.

Zhou Xingling knew her feelings and could not comfort her, merely sighed and continued steering the tower-ship.

After half an hour, the ship finally descended on an isle, where fresh flowers carpeted the ground, fallen petals fluttered—it was a beautiful sight.

In a refined waterside pavilion nearby, two figures played chess and talked. Zhou Xingling and his companions dared not disturb, standing quietly by, bowing in respect.

Only after half a cup of tea’s time did a short, white-haired elder laugh and drop his chess piece, bringing the game to an end.

“Xingling,” the elder smiled, “you’ve spent much time at Floating Jade Lake. I sent you to befriend talents from all corners—have you found anyone of merit?”

“Master, there is one. His name is Chen Heng.” Zhou Xingling promptly replied, bowing. “He is truly learned—compared to him, I am far inferior.”

“Chen Heng? Is that the Chen Heng of our Profound Truth Sect?” Before the elder could speak, his chess companion interjected, “Tell me more!”

“Yes.” Zhou Xingling bowed again. “Elder Gu Jun...”