"Is this the Gathering of Tricks Array?!"

Jia Ren's expression was not very good.

Being in the Jade Cauldron Market was relatively safe; there were no Bizarre Demons attracting attention.

He thought he had discovered the password to wealth and had improved upon a brand-new Spirit Gathering Array, only to find... that it attracted Bizarre Demons instead.

This thing attracted Bizarre Demons; it was more like a suicide god array.

What kind of trash is this? Who would think of using the Gathering... of Tricks Array unless they wished for death?

Jia Ren was about to destroy the Array Plate when the image of the Gathering Stars Trade Association using the Gathering Bizarre Red Candle to attract Bizarre Demons lingered in his mind.

Used well, this object could also be a god-like technique for killing.

Jia Ren thought of combining the Gathering of Tricks Array with Spirit Insects.

Using the Golden Armor King Worm to dig tunnels beneath an enemy's residence, quietly burying the Gathering of Tricks Array and using the Bizarre Demons to deal with the enemy.

The effectiveness of this needed to be tested.

Once the Proficiency Level increased, its power would undoubtedly not disappoint.

If faced with powerful Bizarre Demons, it could perhaps also serve to draw their attention, facilitating an escape.

Keep it!

Any treasures related to Bizarre Demons were scarce in number.

Jia Ren had been quite interested in the Gathering Bizarre Red Candle used by the Gathering Stars Trade Association. He had inquired in many shops, but not a single place sold it—it was unattainable even if he wanted to buy.

It was rare to be able to make his own potent and potentially powerful 'enhanced version' of the Gathering Bizarre Red Candle; naturally, it couldn't be destroyed.

After carefully confirming that no Spirit Stones were inserted to activate it, thus it wouldn't possess the special power to attract monsters, he safely stored the Gathering of Tricks Array Disc in his Storage Bag.

Jia Ren did not want to sit at home and invite disaster from the sky.

Continue refining the Spirit Gathering Array Plate!

As Jia Ren was new to Formation, the Spirit Gathering Array Plates he created had a fine appearance, even surpassing the products of ordinary Array Masters.

The materials for the Spirit Gathering Array were quickly used up; there were a total of eight Spirit Gathering Array Plates in front of him.

Each of the eight Spirit Gathering Array Plates was activated with a Low-grade Spirit Stone, and more and more Spiritual Energy began to gather at the location of the courtyard. The density of the Spiritual Energy was visibly increasing.

The Spirit Gathering Array Plates had additive effects; however, the range affected by the Spirit Gathering Array was limited, and its effects diminished. The eight Spirit Gathering Array Plates, exhibiting diminishing returns, only achieved a combined Spiritual Power concentration equivalent to thirty-seven percent of a standard array's output, a result that was unsatisfactory.

The Spirit Gathering Array's spiritual energy concentration effect depended on the environment, and one could not have too high expectations for a Spirit Gathering Array refined for the first time.

It's only slightly better than the Cave.

Jia Ren sat down cross-legged and began his meditation practice.

Using the Spirit Gathering Arrays for cultivation was still quite effective; at least it could increase the speed of his own cultivation.

Within the Jade Cauldron Market, several members of the Night Patrol Division sensed the change in the flow of Spiritual Power through the Formation and their expressions changed subtly, snorting coldly, "Such audacity, daring to use a Spirit Gathering Array in the Jade Cauldron Market without permission!"

The Spiritual Power within the Market was limited, with the vast majority being intercepted by the Caves and the Night Patrol Division, leaving only a little for the ordinary Cultivators.

Want more Spiritual Energy? Either spend Spirit Stones to rent a Cave or pay a high price to gain the qualification to set up a Spirit Gathering Array.

Any privately set up Spirit Gathering Array would be detected by the Market's spirit-sensing Formation.

"It's been a long time since I encountered such an easy mark! I must not miss out."

The Night Patrol Division was responsible for monitoring and maintaining the order of the Market. High above and with the power of life and death, they could easily skim off the top, inevitably leading to a bad reputation.

The resources of the Jade Cauldron Market were far less than those of the Great Wilderness Market. Once your reputation was tarnished, Loose Cultivators would opt to seek a living in other Markets, and this place was not irreplaceable.

Compared to the Law Enforcement Office, the Night Patrol Division acted a bit more decently, though their gains were much less.

It was rare for such easy prey to come knocking. Many were itching for a piece.

"First report the matter; don't kick an iron board."

"Hmph, what's there to fear? Even if it's a Cultivator from another Sect, if they cause trouble in the Jade Cauldron Market, they won't get off easy."

"I really want to see which greenhorn has popped up this time!"

Although they said this, their tone softened.

The matter was reported up the chain, reaching the ears of the head of the Night Patrol Division.

Upon hearing the news, the head of the Night Patrol Division's face darkened and he sneered, "Indeed quite bold. By the way, where does he reside?"

"Starflow Lane, residence number twenty-five."

"Which number?"

The smile on the face of the head of the Night Patrol Division vanished quickly as he suddenly remembered the orders from above. "Never mind, let's pretend nothing happened."

His subordinates exchanged glances. An iron board, indeed?! Otherwise, why would the head be cowed?

The head sighed. "It's alright for you to know; this is a new Foundation Establishment Cultivator."

A collective gasp went through the group. A Foundation Establishment Cultivator?

Once one's strength reached Foundation Establishment, their identity and status were completely different. Many of the Market's rules did not apply to them, and few people wished to meddle with Foundation Establishment Cultivators over 'trivial matters'.

To extort a Foundation Establishment Cultivator? Were they tired of living?

"Most importantly," the head added, his voice low, "the Sect is currently trying to recruit him. To offend him... if by chance this person joined the Sect, the consequences would be unthinkable…"

The rest did not need to be said. Everyone fell silent and collectively marked the area around residence number twenty-five, Starflow Lane, and its vicinity as a law-enforcement-forbidden zone.

「...」

After a night of secluded cultivation, the progress was minuscule.

Without the aid of Elixirs, cultivation was a process of accumulation, from little to much, over time.

Jia Ren had over two hundred years to squander; there was no need to rush for immediate results.

The cultivation of Mysterious Turtle Water Strategy progressed slowly, while the Thousand Threads of Myriad Souls Technique had been cultivated to the second layer to perfection; lacking a third layer, he could not advance any further.

Finally, there was the Mixed Refining Vajra Body he obtained, which had been improved to the fourth layer's limit, and a familiar "+" symbol emerged behind it.

Even before Foundation Establishment, the Mixed Refining Vajra Body had reached the fourth layer to perfection, but at that time, there weren't enough Breakthrough Points to continue improving it.

Now, there was no problem.

Break the limit!

Ten Breakthrough Points vanished, and on the Proficiency Panel, the icon for Mixed Refining Vajra Body blurred and twisted. After a moment, new text appeared.

[Mixed Refinement Black Dragon Body Fifth Layer: 0/1600]

In an instant, insights regarding the Mixed Refinement Black Dragon Body flowed through his heart.

Compared with the Mixed Refining Vajra Body, the Mixed Refinement Black Dragon Body had significant changes.

Previously, it mainly focused on refining the skin, bones, blood, etc., but after breaking the limit, it seemed to incorporate the essence of Mixed Refining Vajra Body, the consumption of Boneless Silverfish, and the frequent ingestion of Black Dragon Fish.

It fitted him perfectly, as if it was tailor-made for him.

Aside from the required medicinal baths, the fifth layer of cultivation included a new dietary component—an eating regimen combining multiple types of food such as Black Dragon Fish and Boneless Silverfish.

It's time to spend Spirit Stones again...

Let's see if Black Dragon Fish alone will suffice?

Jia Ren took out an ice-sealed Black Dragon Fish from his Storage Bag.

Freezing could not prevent the loss of spiritual power within the fish after death, and both the taste and the body refinement effects had considerably decreased.

This was also an inevitable choice. Having just broken through to Foundation Establishment and discovering the presence of Bizarre Demons in the Black Desert Marketplace, I immediately collected my possessions and left. I couldn't let others benefit from the Spirit Fish in the pond, so I had no choice but to kill them, albeit reluctantly.

A Black Dragon Fish was cooked; he simply boiled a fish soup, roasted more than ten pounds of Monster Beast Meat, and combined it with twenty pounds of Jade Bud Rice for a rough meal.

While the scent of the food still lingered on his taste buds, he sat cross-legged and began to operate the Mixed Refinement Black Dragon Body technique.

Silver scales and dark golden skin emerged, their original luster quietly dimming as if to take on a shade of black.

His body, like a starving beast, digested voraciously; the special spiritual power provided by the Black Dragon Fish and a large amount of food was gone in an instant.

Jia Ren decisively stopped further cultivation; without sufficient energy supply, it would instead consume his own strength, causing the level of his body refinement to decrease rather than increase. More seriously, it could affect his very foundation.

The idea of 'muddling through' with Black Dragon Fish had fallen through.

Body Refinement required not only the two types of Spirit Fish and corresponding dietary recipes but also the assistance of special Spiritual Medicines.

The quality of Spiritual Medicines required for Foundation Establishment Body Refining Techniques is extremely high, with many being a hundred or several hundred years old.

This was equivalent to concocting an Elixir suitable for Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

Gathering Spiritual Medicines, however, was yet another headache-inducing task.

Collecting them personally was time-consuming and laborious.

Relying on the Sect? The Sect isn't run solely on your words; high-quality Spiritual Medicines are scarce, and if there is enough quantity, it will first be supplied to the Sect's Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

Most important was the cost of Spirit Stones, which was set to increase again.

Pausing his Body Refinement, he recalled the Xuan Shui Escape, silently pondering the details and mastering this escape technique.

As an escape method that only Foundation Establishment Cultivators could master, Xuan Shui Escape was first-rate. Although it still had limitations requiring a body of water, it couldn't quell the technique's extended escape range.

Facing irresistible powerful beings and Bizarre Demons, this would be his lifesaving trump card.

It would become the focus of his efforts to improve next.

Xuan Shui Escape could only be used in water, with many conditions to be met, but with sufficient preparation, meeting these conditions is not difficult.

For example... Xuan Yuan Heavy Water.

Condensing into Four Mysteries Primordial Heavy Water had already consumed a staggering amount of ordinary water, which, under the Xuan Yuan Heavy Water Technique, had condensed into droplets.

If I wished, I could convert the Four Mysteries Primordial Heavy Water back into ordinary water at any time, artificially creating a pond sufficient for combat and escape.

This was just with Four Mysteries Primordial Heavy Water; next would be Five Xuan Yuan Heavy Water, and the previously unachieved Six Xuan Yuan Heavy Water, which could always satisfy the conditions.

Manually creating a body of water and preparing a retreat in advance is also a way to create the conditions for escape.

First, I must find a body of water for cultivation.

Jia Ren took out the map of Jade Cauldron Market and started looking for a suitable body of water.

Compared to the sparse water areas in the Great Wilderness Market, which only had Lake of Smoky Waves and very few other places, the Jade Cauldron Market's surrounding areas had many more bodies of water.

It didn't take long for Jia Ren to find three lakes and a river on the map.

The three lakes weren't large enough in scope.

Furthermore, I needed to continue condensing the Four Mysteries Primordial Heavy Water; maybe in not too long, I'd be able to condense Five Xuan Yuan Heavy Water.

A small ordinary lake wouldn't withstand my consumption, and I wouldn't be able to make full use of Xuan Shui Escape.

After glancing over the three lakes, he turned his attention to the river.

The river was called Surging River, with vast waters stretching over a thousand miles.

This place was thirty-five miles away from Jade Cauldron Market, not too far.

Numerous fishermen who lived by fishing resided by the river, along with several families that depended on Surging River for their livelihood.

This indeed made a good choice.

The presence of Cultivators and ordinary people nearby indicated there were no Bizarre Demons lurking, which was relatively safe.

A Sound Transmission Talisman entered the Yun Luo Illusion Array and began to circle aimlessly.

Jia Ren intuitively caught it.

"Junior Brother, I've found a suitable shop. The location is good, and the price is incredibly low, just three hundred Spirit Stones per year," Zhang Peng Peng's voice came from within.

A shop found so quickly?

But isn't that price too low...?

A shop with an annual rent of three hundred Spirit Stones easily brings to mind the word 'trash.'

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