The Modern Martial Immortal

Chapter 278: Immortal Market

A year was a long time to ordinary people. But to Core Formation cultivators, who had formed an inner core and could live for over a thousand years, it was nothing.

Though it had only been a single year, the Nine Cauldrons Sect, now transformed into the Nine Heavens Sect, had established itself east of the Yunchuan Mountains.

Because the Nine Heavens Sect had displayed astonishing strength when it destroyed the Cloud Sword Sect, the other hegemon-level factions in the Yunchuan Mountains did not dare provoke it lightly. Some even sent envoys, willing to cede part of their benefits in exchange for peaceful coexistence.

The Nine Heavens Sect, which was in need of time to recover and build up its strength, naturally did not refuse.

Over the course of that year, the Nine Heavens Sect had taken in no fewer than a hundred Pure Yang Grand Pills.

Half of those hundred Pure Yang Grand Pills had been consumed by Yaoguang alone. Some of the remainder had gone to the twenty-four individuals who were to be cultivated as true disciples.

The remaining dozens of pills had been exchanged for other resources, completely renewing the protective array left behind by the Cloud Sword Sect.

With a brand-new protective array and with Xu Nianhua, Fang Yueming, and others who had broken through to the Heavenly Fire Realm presiding over it, even if a Radiant Sun Golden Core expert attacked, the sect would still be able to hold out for some time.

And Radiant Sun Golden Core cultivators were already considered the top combat power in the Yunchuan Mountains.

***

Within the workshop.

With a soft crack, the attempt to upgrade the final spirit treasure failed.

"It’s over." Yaoguang withdrew his gaze with some regret.

But when he turned his eyes to the three treasures beside him, a smile appeared in them once more.

The Wandering Dragon Sword, the Two-Realm Ruler, and the Heaven-Sealing Stele.

Over the course of that year, he had exhausted all the spirit treasures and materials, and in total had refined two top-tier spirit treasures and one Dao Artifact.

Moreover, compared to other top-tier spirit treasures, the Wandering Dragon Sword and the Two-Realm Ruler possessed abundant spirituality and profound foundations. Their probability of breaking through to become Dao Artifacts was distinctly higher than that of other spirit treasures.

The chance of an ordinary spirit treasure becoming a Dao Artifact through Dao Entry was less than one percent, but for these two great spirit treasures, it was at least thirty percent.

Of course, thirty percent was still not enough for Yaoguang.

But he was about to head to the East Sea Immortal Market. There, he could purchase more top-grade materials, then use the Treasure Refinement Technique and the Spirit Nurturing Technique to refine the two spirit treasures with the newly acquired materials, thereby increasing their spirituality and Dao resonance and raising their chances of successful Dao Entry.

"The Wandering Dragon Sword was deliberately guided by me toward the path of void cutting. And the ripples created by cutting the void can be captured perfectly by the Two-Realm Ruler, which needs void ripples in order to perform void traversal. The compatibility between the two is extremely high. Combined with my Void’s Child talent, the three together produced a multiplying effect." As he analyzed them, he glanced again at the Heaven-Sealing Stele in his hand.

This was a Dao Artifact capable of sealing off a region of space and temporarily creating a small world. It was specifically meant for binding and trapping others. It was a supreme life-preserving treasure.

When necessary, it could also drag an opponent into the sealed space, preventing them from escaping after losing.

"All of them are Dao Artifacts inclined toward the Dao of the void... The main reason for that is naturally the influence of the Void’s Child trait. With that trait, my sensitivity to the void is similar to that of a true Void-Piercing Realm expert..."

Yaoguang estimated that if this trend continued, then before he even reached the Void-Piercing Realm, while at the Azure Golden Core Realm or even just the Blazing White Golden Core Realm, he might already be able to forge Dao Artifacts that only Void-Piercing Realm refiners could normally create.

Of course, that was limited to the category of the Great Dao of the void.

"I’ve spent all the spirit treasures and materials and gained no additional harvests. Fortunately, my cultivation is now high enough." As he spoke, Yaoguang took out a porcelain bottle and poured out the last three Pure Yang Grand Pills inside.

Then, in one breath, he swallowed all three pills.

The three Pure Yang Grand Pills entered his body and transformed into energy even purer than spiritual qi itself, causing the Fission Fire within him to burn fiercely.

When that flame was compressed to its utmost limit, the structure within it suddenly changed.

Under extreme heat and pressure, the atomic nuclei no longer underwent merely fission. Fusion also emerged, releasing radiance just like that of a great sun or a star. This kind of light...

The Eternal Light Realm. Yaoguang said inwardly.

It came naturally, as a matter of course. There was almost no resistance at all.

When the temperature and pressure generated by the Fission Fire in his body reached their limit, he broke through to the Eternal Light Realm with no complications. The true origin within him transformed from a fission state into a fusion state, releasing even greater energy.

"Next comes condensing the Crimson Golden Core," Yaoguang said softly.

But for him, that wasn't hard either. It was only a matter of accumulation. Based on the efficiency of consuming Pure Yang Grand Pills during this period...

A thousand Pure Yang Grand Pills will be enough to complete the energy accumulation from the early stage of the Eternal Light Realm to the peak, giving me the threshold to condense a Crimson Golden Core. Yaoguang arrived at that conclusion.

After that, each of the four realms of the Golden Core Realm increased the required energy by at least a factor of ten each time. In other words, ten thousand Pure Yang Grand Pills would allow a cultivator to advance from the early stage of the Crimson Golden Core Realm to the peak, one hundred thousand to the peak of the Radiant Sun Golden Core Realm, and one million to the peak of the Blazing White Golden Core Realm.

For Yaoguang, once he reached the peak of a realm and touched the threshold for breakthrough, that was effectively the same as being able to break through.

In other words, roughly one thousand Pure Yang Grand Pills were enough for him to condense a Crimson Golden Core.

After breaking through, he did not deliberately go out to celebrate with anyone. Instead, he continued consolidating his condition.

Half a month later, he sensed the fluctuations of Li Hanqiu’s psychic consciousness.

"Is the ten-year auction at the East Sea Immortal Market about to begin?" Yaoguang immediately left his cultivation room.

Outside the mountain, Li Hanqiu was already waiting.

"I didn’t disturb your cultivation, did I?" Li Hanqiu asked with a smile.

"It’s fine." Yaoguang looked at him. "Have you refined them?"

"I refined the Void Disk three months ago, and the World-Stabilizing Ring was also fully refined a month ago." As Li Hanqiu spoke, he opened his hand, and the Void Disk immediately manifested in it, expanding at once to a diameter of ten meters.

Although extending it to a ten-meter diameter was itself a type of spatial application, not the slightest trace of Dao resonance from the Great Dao of the void leaked out during the process. It was estimated that even if a Void-Piercing Realm expert inspected it carefully, they would only regard this treasure as a top-tier spirit treasure.

"Then let’s set out," Yaoguang said.

"Do you need to make any preparations?"

"I’m already prepared."

"Then we’ll leave quietly. I’ve already instructed Li Qingshan that the sect must act with utmost caution for the time being. As for us, we’ll secure enough Pure Yang Grand Pills as quickly as possible and return just as fast." As Li Hanqiu spoke, he brought Yaoguang onto the Void Disk.

He glanced down at the Nine Heavens Sect below...

With both of them leaving this time, the Nine Heavens Sect was effectively at its weakest. Even a single Radiant Sun Golden Core cultivator would be enough to destroy the entire sect.

Yet, they had no choice but to make this trip. All they could hope for was for everything to go smoothly, that they could leave quickly and return just as quickly.

***

Time was tight. Li Hanqiu held nothing back as he traveled with Yaoguang.

To avoid exposing the Void Disk too early and alerting others, he did not activate the Dao Artifact for void traversal.

However, as a Void-Piercing Realm expert, even while riding spatial ripples and facing the resistance of the spiritual qi on the North Sea Star, he still maintained a speed of fifteen kilometers per second.

In less than half an hour, they had already left the Yunchuan Mountains and entered the territory of the Great Shang Immortal Dynasty.

The two did not venture deep into its territory. Instead, they followed along the border, crossing several regions in succession as they headed toward the East Sea State.

As its name suggested, the East Sea State was a vast region largely covered by the ocean, containing hundreds of islands of varying sizes. The East Sea Immortal Market was established on the third-largest island in this province.

After three days of travel, covering millions of kilometers, a massive island over five hundred kilometers in diameter appeared before them.

Although this island was not the capital of the East Sea State, its economy was even more prosperous.

As they approached, countless palaces, pavilions, and courtyards could be seen across the island.

Core Formation cultivators flew back and forth through the air on flying swords.

Below, large ships carried specialties from the East Sea State and neighboring regions, traveling between the islands.

With the once-per-decade auction approaching, Radiant Sun Golden Core experts, who were rarely seen under normal circumstances, had become a common sight during this period.

Some high-status Golden Core cultivators even rode dragon-horses or dragon-eagles through the sky, creating grand spectacles that drew the attention of countless onlookers.[1]

"We’ve arrived at the East Sea Immortal Market," Li Hanqiu said, glancing at the time. "We’re two days early."

From his tone, Yaoguang could tell that every extra day they were away meant another day of danger for the Nine Heavens Sect.

"It’s fine. If there’s danger, Sect Master Li will send us a message. We can fully activate the Void Disk and return using void traversal in no time. Besides, we’ll stay here fifteen days at most, and more likely around ten days. With us being away for such a short time, the chances for someone to target the Nine Heavens Sect just as we are away aren't high." He offered a word of reassurance.

Li Hanqiu smiled, knowing he had been overly cautious.

He looked down at the many palaces, pavilions, and shops shrouded in arrays below and said, "Shall we take a look around?"

"No need. With what we currently have, we can’t afford anything worthwhile. It’s better to wait until after the auction, then return under a different identity," Yaoguang said after some thought. "The Great Shang's bounty list was updated two months ago. I’ll go get a copy."

"I’ll go instead," Li Hanqiu said. "Your strength is not bad, but your realm is too low. The people handing out bounty lists may not give you one for free. You can’t reveal your strength everywhere you go."

"That works." As Yaoguang spoke, he took out two spirit-treasure-level masks.

These masks were not especially sophisticated. Even an Azure Golden Core cultivator could tell that they were disguised once they had them on.

However, noticing a disguise was one thing. Seeing through a spirit treasure to uncover their true identities was another.

Moreover, during the East Sea Immortal Market's auction, many people like them wished to conceal their identities. Few would go out of their way to expose someone when it was clear they intended to remain hidden.

Li Hanqiu went to the administrative office of the immortal market and released some of his Void-Piercing Realm aura. Someone quickly came out to receive him personally.

After he stated his request, the bounty list was promptly delivered.

Not long after, it even attracted the attention of a high-ranking official within the office. Sensing that Li Hanqiu’s aura was somewhat unfamiliar, the official politely inquired whether he had any intention of joining the Great Shang Immortal Dynasty.

When he learned that Li Hanqiu was not from the surrounding regions and had only come upon hearing about the auction, the official immediately presented him with a VIP invitation to the immortal market auction.

Throughout the entire exchange, Yaoguang remained silent.

The official did not pay him much attention either.

After the two left the office, Yaoguang could not help but remark, "On the North Sea Star, only after reaching the Crimson Golden Core Realm does one gain a bit of standing. The Radiant Sun Golden Core Realm can be considered rising above the masses. But to truly earn everyone’s respect, one must reach the Void-Piercing Realm."

"I’m only relying on your secret art to disguise myself as a true Void-Piercing Realm expert," Li Hanqiu said. "If the officials here discovered that I’m not a true Void-Piercing Realm cultivator, but merely a Void-Piercing Realm battle immortal, I might not receive such treatment."

"The treatment for a battle immortal at the Void-Piercing Realm is not as good as that of a true Void-Piercing Realm, but the difference isn’t that great," Yaoguang replied.

"It’s very different. A true Void-Piercing Realm cultivator is genuinely respected and treated with reverence. No one dares slight them. But a Void-Piercing Realm battle immortal... Others are only being polite on the surface. To put it bluntly, they don’t bother arguing with someone they consider as good as dead. Everything is just for show. Once real benefits are involved, those Azure Golden Core cultivators would absolutely dare to point at a Void-Piercing Realm battle immortal and say, ‘Who do you think you are?’" Li Hanqiu shook his head and did not continue the topic.

He opened the bounty list, his gaze immediately landing on the top entry.

Gu Zhenyi, leader of the Black Fire Alliance, aged 622. Azure Golden Core cultivator. Possesses three supreme divine abilities and nine great divine abilities. Maximum combat power: 1,090,000. Bounty: 650,000 Pure Yang Grand Pills.

1. Dragon-horses and dragon-eagles are Chinese mythological creatures. ☜