Encountering Cultivators here meant that they were not far from a human settlement.

After spending three days inside the corpse of the Green Ox Demon, an unpleasant odor had clung to their bodies. The Green Ox Demon had been dead for a while and had not been preserved. It had begun to rot and deteriorate, inevitably causing a strange smell to manifest on their bodies as well. Jia Ren and the two women couldn't stand it. With the use of three Cleaning Talismans, they managed to address their immediate problem.

How could those fleeing Cultivators possibly outpace Jia Ren? Employing the Wind Control Skill, he caught up with the group that had escaped several miles away in less than ten breaths.

"We are people, not Bizarre Demons."

"We encountered Bizarre Demons earlier and had to hide inside a Magical Beast's belly."

Seeing that Jia Ren looked normal and that the Evil Warding Talismans they carried had not been triggered, everyone let out a sigh of relief. But their gaze towards Jia Ren carried a hint of confusion. Who would think of hiding inside a Magical Beast's belly?

"How far is it from here to the Black Desert Marketplace?" It was rare to encounter other Cultivators, so naturally, Jia Ren inquired about the way.

Jia Ren's aura of the Ninth Level of Qi Refinement made them dare not entertain any other thoughts, so they provided information readily and exhaustively.

"From here, the Black Desert Marketplace is fifty miles away. Head east, and you'll reach it in about half a day."

Half a day to arrive? The distance seemed a bit far! Having been used to leaving the Great Wilderness Market and entering the Great Wilderness within a few miles, Jia Ren felt slightly unaccustomed to the fifty-mile journey to the Black Desert Marketplace. Upon further thought, he realized that Markets varied in strength. Not every Market could withstand powerful Bizarre Demons. The Black Desert Marketplace was backed by the Utensil Sect, and the Sect's highest Cultivators were only at the Foundation Establishment Stage, incapable of comparing with the Five Elements Sect. Given the numerous Bizarre Demons in the Black Soul Forest, if the Black Desert Marketplace lacked the ability to defend against them, it would have been destroyed dozens of times over. Staying away from the Black Soul Forest was the wise decision.

"Thank you." After expressing his gratitude, Jia Ren and the two women used Featherweight Talismans and hurried towards the Black Desert Marketplace.

Along the way, they encountered no danger. Accommodating the two women's speed, they could see the Black Desert Marketplace in the distance in less than two Hours.

Unlike the Great Wilderness Market, where one wouldn't see ordinary people as it lacked suitable conditions for their existence, the area around the Black Desert Marketplace was bustling with many ordinary people. They were like worker ants, cleaning, moving goods, and clearing debris. Only when they had a moment of leisure did they look up to admire the figures flying through the sky on Swords, their faces filled with envy. Everyone talked about how wonderful Cultivation was: achieving immortality, living forever, and roaming the heavens freely on a Sword. Ordinary people yearned for Cultivation. Those who came to the Market all hoped to step onto the Immortal Path, dreaming that one day they would catch the eye of an Immortal and quickly ascend to an eternal life. The latter, however, only occurred in tales.

Jia Ren glanced at the ordinary people a few times before redirecting his attention. He had no intention of playing the role of a charitable "golden finger," handing out chances to others. Moreover, to cultivate, one must have a Spiritual Root and talent. The major Cultivation Sects were not fools; they would not overlook a talented Cultivator right before their eyes. Ninety-nine percent of the commoners working as laborers in the Market lacked Spiritual Roots and therefore did not qualify to set foot on the Cultivation path.

"Do you have a Token to enter the city?"

"The entrance fee is one Fragmented Spirit Stone."

Jia Ren paid three Fragmented Spirit Stones and stepped into the Black Desert Marketplace.

The Black Desert Marketplace was only a third of the size of the Great Wilderness Market and had no distinction between an inner and outer city. Most of those coming and going were Early Stage of Qi Cultivation Cultivators, with not many at the Mid Stage of Qi Cultivation. Along the way, Late Stage Qi-Refining Cultivators were few and far between. Being at the Ninth Level of Qi Refinement made him a person of importance, and wherever he went, he attracted envious glances. With a Cultivation Level at the Ninth Level of Qi Refinement and accompanied by two beauties, he appeared to be an elite among Loose Cultivators.

The Spiritual Energy here does not compare to the Great Wilderness. Jia Ren passed by various stalls. The materials on sale were of lower quality than even those in the Outer City of the Great Wilderness Market, and both Demonic Beast Materials and Spiritual Medicines were scarce.

"The Wang Family is recruiting miners, one Spirit Stone per month as payment."

The price of one Spirit Stone was lower than in the Great Wilderness Market. With such low rates, the competition was fierce, and the required number of people was gathered in a short time. Aside from Cultivators, the competitors for mining included ordinary people, making it impossible for wages to be high.

No wonder so many Loose Cultivators travel thousands of miles to the Great Wilderness. The Great Wilderness boasted richer resources than other Markets, making it relatively easier to earn Spirit Stones. Even if one lacked a specialized skill, there was at least the chance to hunt Magical Beasts for Spirit Stones. Hunting Magical Beasts was also possible in the Black Desert Marketplace, but the risks were significantly greater. For low-level Loose Cultivators, the round trip took two days, complicating resupplying. Furthermore, the Black Demon Forest contained more Bizarre Demons and was far more dangerous than the Great Wilderness.

Jia Ren did not dwell on such thoughts for long. He and Zhang Peng Peng moved through the crowds and continued deeper into the Marketplace. The further they went, the fewer commoners and low-level Loose Cultivators there were, and the streets were no longer crowded. Dozens of shops lined the streets, including the familiar Tianbao Pavilion and Tianyuan Shop. Beyond these, there were the Myriad Treasures Tower, Yun Mo Workshop, and other sizeable business establishments whose affiliations were unclear.

"Wang Daoyou, this place is safe now. We shall meet again in the future," Jia Ren said, glancing back at Wang Mingyan with a smile.

Wang Mingyan's smile seemed somewhat forced. The more she interacted with Jia Ren, the more she realized his excellence. His Cultivation Level was respectable, he was a Refining Master with an astonishing talent for the Path of Charms, and joining a Sect would be effortless for him. With Sect resources for his talent in the Path of Charms, his chances of reaching Foundation Establishment were not low. If she could establish a close relationship with Jia Ren, he would surely be a great help in her future ambition of overthrowing the Five Elements Sect. She did not want to miss this hard-to-come-by opportunity.

"Daoist Jia, may I accompany you?" she asked. "You saved me from danger. I have no way to repay you but to offer myself in marriage."

Wang Mingyan understood that if she missed this opportunity, it would be impossible to grasp it later. Therefore, she had to hold on to it firmly, no matter what.

Zhang Peng Peng had not yet recovered from the shock of Talisman Master Zhang's death, her expression gloomy. Upon hearing Wang Mingyan's words, she finally "came to life." She turned her head and glared fiercely at Wang Mingyan, her gaze unfriendly.

"Fellow Daoist, there's no need to mention this matter again. Let's part ways here." Jia Ren didn't have much interest in Wang Mingyan; the woman was too profit-driven. If he really had to choose someone from the two women, Zhang Peng Peng was far more suitable to be a Daoist companion than Wang Mingyan.

Jia Ren ignored Wang Mingyan's reaction and led Zhang Peng Peng to the nearby Tianbao Pavilion.

Wang Mingyan stood still, her eyes dimmed. Some things, once missed, are missed forever...

Jia Ren didn't have many Spirit Enhancement Pills left and needed to purchase more Spiritual Medicine to replenish his stock. By continuing to consume high-quality Spirit Enhancement Pills, he could reach the limit of the Ninth Level of Qi Refinement in at most half a month. By then, it would be time for his own breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Stage.

"Fellow Daoist, what would you like to purchase?" The hostess's eyes lit up when she saw Jia Ren exuding the aura of the Ninth Level of Qi Refinement.

"Spiritual Medicine."

Jia Ren purchased a wide variety of Spiritual Medicines, including ingredients for concocting Spirit Enhancement Pills and other Elixirs like the Profound Water Pill, Profound Yin Pill, Resurrection Pill, and Fasting Pill.

Who would have thought that Fellow Daoist is also an Alchemist. "I'll prepare it for you immediately."

With the Yuding Sect backing Tianbao Pavilion, there was no shortage of Spiritual Medicine, and they had a complete reserve. Since the Black Desert Marketplace was relatively poor, it was rare to encounter a big spender, so their attitude was especially enthusiastic.

After spending more than a thousand Spirit Stones, Jia Ren left contentedly with a large amount of Spiritual Medicine.

From the shadows, several faint gazes followed him. Sensing the unmasked fluctuations of his Ninth Level of Qi Refinement energy, they quickly disappeared. He encountered no trouble along the way. To be more precise, potential trouble dispersed due to his Ninth Level of Qi Refinement strength.

"Are there any Caves with Earth Fire in the Black Desert Marketplace?" Jia Ren asked. After inquiring, he found the location of such Caves.

Caves with Earth Fire were cheaper than those in the Great Wilderness Market—rentable for just one Spirit Stone. Considering he would be using Earth Fire for a long time and not wanting to bother looking for a courtyard to rent in the Black Desert Marketplace, he spent a few hundred Spirit Stones to rent a Cave long-term.

The Spiritual Energy in the Cave is quite lacking.

Let's bury Master Zhang's body first!

Jia Ren and Zhang Peng Peng found a place to bury Master Zhang, which lifted a heavy burden from their hearts. After they finished, the sky had already turned dark.

With the Yun Luo Illusion Array, the Solid as Golden Soup Formation, and the Mysterious Sword Seven Kills Array all set up, their sense of security greatly increased.

"Take these Spirit Bud Elixirs first for your Cultivation," Jia Ren said, handing ten bottles of Spirit Bud Elixirs to Zhang Peng Peng. The low-quality Spirit Bud Elixirs and Major Restoration Elixirs had been exchanged for Spiritual Medicine at the secret market earlier. He also had a batch of high-quality Elixirs that could be used to assist Zhang Peng Peng with her Cultivation, helping her Cultivation Level improve to the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining as quickly as possible.

"I'm going to work on Alchemy now."

"You're an Alchemist as well?" Ever since Jia Ren had purchased Spiritual Medicine in the Great Wilderness Market, Zhang Peng Peng had harbored suspicions. Now, she could no longer hold back her questions. Artifact Refining, Talisman Crafting, Alchemy. Is there anything he doesn't know how to do? His talent for Artifact Refining and the Path of Charms is terrifying; his talent for Alchemy should also be quite good.

"I know a little," Jia Ren replied. "Rest well." He didn't bother with further explanations and entered the Earth Fire room to begin concocting Spirit Enhancement Pills.

What exactly is he thinking? Zhang Peng Peng was troubled by the fact that Shi Bai (Jia Ren's alias) had never made his intentions clear, always giving her mixed signals and leaving her feeling insecure. He was too outstanding. If it hadn't been for her father's guidance in Talisman Crafting, she would likely never have encountered someone like him in her entire life.

No more overthinking! Still, her situation was better than Wang Mingyan's.

Zhang Peng Peng took out a Spirit Bud Elixir and swallowed it. The next moment, an incredibly rich medicinal power exploded within her body. She had consumed Spirit Bud Elixirs before. Compared to those she had purchased from the Pill Cauldron Pavilion, the efficacy of these had increased by nearly double. She could clearly feel the medicinal power quickly transforming into Spiritual Power.

His Alchemy Skills were more than just 'quite good'! They must be at the Alchemy Master level at least! His talent for Artifact Refining was astonishing. His proficiency in the Path of Charms seemingly surpassed the Grandmaster Level, reaching the legendary Great Grandmaster level. Consequently, his Alchemy Skills must also be at least at the Master Level. He is too talented!

Previously, Zhang Peng Peng had entertained thoughts of becoming his Daoist companion. Now, she only felt ashamed of her inadequacy.

Jia Ren was unaware of Zhang Peng Peng's thoughts and began Alchemy wholeheartedly. With one batch of Elixirs completed, nine Spirit Enhancement Pills, each with three Elixir Patterns, emerged from the furnace, brimming with astonishing Spiritual Power. After refining five batches in one go and confirming he had enough for his own use, he finally stopped.

After leaving a note for Zhang Peng Peng, he entered the quiet room to cultivate.

A Spirit Enhancement Pill with three Elixir Patterns dissolved into medicinal strength, circulating through his limbs and meridians, quickly transforming into Spiritual Power. Cultivation knows no passage of time. He continuously consumed Fasting Pills and dedicated himself wholeheartedly to Cultivation, all to reach Qi Refining Ninth Layer Complete as quickly as possible.

「Half a month passed.」

Jia Ren glanced at the Proficiency Panel. His cultivation progress had reached its limit. The Proficiency Level of the Turtle Spirit Technique had also reached its limit. Unlike the cultivation progress, a familiar '+' sign appeared after it.

Could he use a Skill Breaking Point to break through the Cultivation Technique's limit? What changes would occur to the Turtle Spirit Technique after breaking its limit?

Without hesitation, Jia Ren clicked on the '+' sign.

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