Chapter 75: Chapter 75: The Dead Are Gone, Only the Dao is Eternal
"Distinguished guests, what can I do for you?"
A Little Demon from the Elixir Workshop came out to greet them.
His tone was respectful, and his attitude was excellent.
"I’m looking for Elder Grey Rat."
The Yellow Wasp Spirit said.
"You’re Elder Wasp!?"
The Little Demon had been instructed beforehand and asked for confirmation.
"That’s right."
"Please wait a moment. Follow me to a private room on the second floor to rest. Elder Grey Rat is currently Refining an Elixir. He will come to see you as soon as he is finished."
The Little Demon then led the Yellow Wasp Spirit and the other Demons to the second floor.
The Yellow Wasp Spirit was composed, but the Wild Boar Spirit and Leopard Spirit beside him looked around in awe, deeply impressed.
"My King, is Grey Rat really...?"
Once they were in the private room, the Wild Boar Spirit asked uncertainly.
He was also a Cyan Mountain Demon from back in the day and shared a bond with Grey Rat from their hometown.
But over the years, he had been struggling alongside the Yellow Wasp Spirit and had lost all contact with Xu Chang’an.
His impression of him was still stuck at the time of their reunion.
That little Gray Rat Demon.
But now...
"Yes."
A flicker of memory passed through the Yellow Wasp Spirit’s eyes as he sighed with emotion.
The Leopard Spirit at his side secretly guessed, ’This Grey Rat must be an old friend of the Great King. To be an Alchemist in a Marketplace of this scale, he must be no ordinary person!’
The Demons waited in the private room for a while before a Little Demon brought them Spirit Fruits and drinks.
The Spirit Fruits were of excellent quality, having already developed a faint Spirituality.
Consuming them was beneficial for one’s Cultivation.
"This Elixir Workshop is so extravagant!"
The Leopard Spirit exclaimed repeatedly.
Even the Spirit Fruits used to entertain guests were of such exceptional quality.
The Yellow Wasp Spirit said nothing.
He was worldly and understood the ways of demons; he knew that a supply of such Spirit Fruits was not standard procedure. It was highly likely that Grey Rat had specifically ordered it.
The Demons did not wait long before a Little Demon knocked and entered.
"Elder Wasp, Elder Grey Rat has just finished his Alchemy and is in the final stages. He heard you had arrived and asked us to invite you up to the fourth floor first."
Led by the Little Demon, the group of Demons went up to the fourth floor of the Elixir Workshop.
There was an elegantly decorated private room and an open-air sky courtyard. Inside, there were water sculptures and Spirit Plants breathing out a misty essence, creating a scene of extreme beauty!
Walking through the sky courtyard, one could see most of the beautiful scenery of Lujiao Mountain Marketplace through the Spirit Plants.
Leaning on the railing and gazing out, a sense of grandeur welled up from within.
"This..."
The Wild Boar Spirit and the Leopard Spirit, who came from a small mountain, had never seen such a sight.
"Finding tranquility amidst the chaos. Grey Rat sure knows how to live well."
Even the Yellow Wasp Spirit couldn’t help but sigh with admiration.
"Yellow Wasp, long time no see."
Xu Chang’an’s figure appeared on the fourth floor. Seeing the Yellow Wasp Spirit, he greeted him with a cheerful smile.
"Grey Rat, long time no see."
The Yellow Wasp Spirit’s face was filled with joy.
After many years apart, they were finally seeing each other again.
"Wild Boar Spirit, you came too!"
Xu Chang’an recognized the Wild Boar Spirit at his side with a single glance.
They had traveled together during the journey to Red Cloud Mountain back then.
"Grey Rat."
The Wild Boar Spirit felt a little awkward. He didn’t know how to act in front of Grey Rat.
"Grey Rat, this is the Leopard Spirit, one of the core Elders of my Yellow Wasp Mountain."
The Yellow Wasp Spirit said, pointing to the Leopard Spirit beside him.
He had brought the Wild Boar Spirit and the Leopard Spirit with him this time for two reasons: one was for extra support, and the other was to let them broaden their horizons.
Xu Chang’an smiled and greeted them.
After many years, the Yellow Wasp Spirit’s Cultivation had reached the Peak of Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer, just one step away from the Late-stage Qi Refining.
The Wild Boar Spirit and the Leopard Spirit were both at the Qi Refining Fifth Layer.
"Come, have a seat."
Xu Chang’an smiled and invited the Demons to sit down in the small pavilion within the sky courtyard.
Immediately, a Little Demon from the Elixir Workshop served a variety of Spirit Fruits.
Although they hadn’t seen each other in years, they had often exchanged letters, so the atmosphere was naturally lively as they talked.
During their conversation, the Monkey Spirit was mentioned.
The Yellow Wasp Spirit had claimed a mountain and become its king, which seemed glorious.
But in reality, he was likely the only one who knew the hardships and sorrows involved.
In the struggles over the years, the Monkey Spirit had died in a clash between mountain factions.
"Monkey... what a shame."
Xu Chang’an sighed emotionally.
A scene from the past couldn’t help but surface in his mind.
"Grey Rat, you’re only at the Second Level of Qi Refining. That’s a pretty big gap between you and Xiong Da. You’re both Demons from Langlang Mountain, how can the difference be so huge? You’ve got to work harder."
"Monkey, you talk too much."
The memory of his voice and smile seemed as if it were just yesterday.
But sadly, the dead were gone.
All of the past had vanished like smoke.
Looking at the Yellow Wasp Spirit laughing heartily before him, he could see that the years had also left their mark on his face.
Twenty-one years!
One day, the Yellow Wasp Spirit would also pass away.
Xiong Da.
Jin Ling’Er.
The same would happen to them!
Perhaps, there would be other Demons too.
Life is fleeting!
Only the Dao is eternal!
After downing a cup of Spirit Wine, for some reason, Xu Chang’an found it hard to swallow.
...
The Yellow Wasp Spirit’s Cultivation was at the Peak of Qi Refining Sixth Layer. His main purpose for coming to the auction this time was to see if he could buy a Tier-Breaking Elixir.
Afterward, Xu Chang’an sought out the Yellow Wasp Spirit privately.
Xu Chang’an sold a Qi Gathering Pill to the Yellow Wasp Spirit for a price slightly below the market rate.
For ordinary Demons, a Tier-Breaking Elixir was incredibly difficult to obtain, but for him, it was no great feat.
The Yellow Wasp Spirit was naturally overjoyed. Without having to take any risks, he had achieved the main goal of his trip.
Having a sufficient Demon Vein indeed made it easier to get things done compared to other Demons.
Two days passed, and Xiong Da also arrived at Lujiao Mountain Marketplace.
The Demons gathered together, once again reminiscing and renewing their old friendships.
Unfortunately, Striped Tiger and Bai Yuhu from Red Cloud Mountain hadn’t come.
Otherwise, more than half of the Demons who had gathered on Yellow Wasp Mountain back then would have been present.
A few more days passed. The day before the Marketplace auction, the upper echelon of Langlang Mountain finally arrived at Lujiao Mountain Marketplace.
Langlang Mountain’s Second King, the Sparrow Spirit, did not come. It seemed he was occupied with other matters.
The ones who came were the Great King of Langlang Mountain, the Foundation Establishment Great Demon Jin Yuanba, and several Sequence Elders.
Their first stop upon arriving at the Marketplace was the Langlang Mountain Elixir Workshop.
With a Quasi-second-rank Alchemist like Xu Chang’an overseeing it, the Elixir Workshop’s business was booming, and its reputation was well-known.
It had already become Langlang Mountain’s most important shop in the Marketplace.
Jin Yuanba, along with the Sequence Elders, inspected the Elixir Workshop.
Inside, the Elixirs were neatly arranged and of a wide variety. Demons came and went in a constant stream.
He nodded frequently, showing his considerable approval of Xu Chang’an.
"Elder Grey Rat, you’ve done very well!"
"I’m just doing my duty."
Xu Chang’an said humbly.
"Old Ancestor, the Elixir Workshop’s business has been thriving these past few years thanks to Elder Grey Rat’s hard work. Ling’Er can testify to that."
Jin Ling’Er stood to the side, poised and elegant.
She too had entered the Qi Refining Eighth Layer Realm and become a Sequence Elder in Langlang Mountain.
Over the past few years, she and Xu Chang’an had interacted frequently.
However, Xu Chang’an remained reserved and did not grow too close.
He maintained the relationship of normal, close friends.
"Elder Grey Rat, you’ve worked hard."
The Third Elder also showed goodwill toward Xu Chang’an.
Xu Chang’an’s status was becoming more and more prominent. Among the Sequence Elders of Langlang Mountain, he was ranked just after the Third Elder.
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