Chapter 109: The Underground Cavern

Night. The Taoist in black sat upon a rush mat. A chill permeated his body, shrouded in a hazy black mist. The quiet chamber was bone-chillingly cold.

On the other side of this chill lay a blazing fire. Several paper dolls stood watch before the alchemical furnace, occasionally casting in various materials. A scent of blood and vitality filled the air. These were the Blood Essence Demon Pills of Lingbo Tower—leftovers from a shipment, but useful for body tempering.

After an unknown amount of time, Lu Qian opened his eyes. A cold glint flashed within them, and the Yin-Gui True Water swirling about his body carried a faint, icy edge.

"The second strand is successfully refined."

His progress was relatively swift. Others might suffer a regression during the process, but he would not. Whatever was cultivated remained; even after years of neglect, it would not degrade.

With his cultivation complete, the pills were finished as well. Blood Essence Demon Pills were only beneficial for body tempering; taking one while condensing the *sha* would not hinder his progress.

*Water-Fire Lead-Mercury Alchemy Technique (Minor Success: 533/800)*

"Two hundred more points until Great Success, and I shall be ready to refine a Human-grade Two-Aperture Golden Pill," Lu Qian thought. The Earth-Sha exotic beasts he had obtained from Niu Xing—the Three-Headed Water Snake and the Red-Finned Carp demon pills—would finally be put to use.

The more apertures a pill had, the greater its medicinal potency. A Three-Aperture Spirit-grade Golden Pill would be even better, but time waited for no one.

*Knock, knock, knock.*

The door to the quiet chamber was rapped.

"Master, Master Tao Zhu has arrived," the cautious voice of Mochou sounded from outside. Her master usually appeared easygoing, but he most detested being disturbed.

"Very well."

Mochou stepped forward and draped a fox-fur cloak over his shoulders. With its white jade-adorned belt and collar, Lu Qian’s aura instantly shifted into that of a refined and wealthy young nobleman.

In the main hall, an elderly Taoist with white hair and beard sat in a chair. His eyes were sharp, and though steaming tea sat before him, he had no heart to taste it, as if waiting for something.

Seeing Lu Qian approach, Master Tao Zhu immediately brightened and smiled as he stepped forward: "Long time no see, Daoist Fish-Dragon!"

Master Tao Zhu was extremely courteous to Lu Qian now. He had never expected that a minor Qi-refining Taoist would not only attain the Spirit-Nurturing realm but also hook onto the massive vessel that was Lingbo Tower. His decision to befriend this man back then had truly been a magnificent investment. If the people of Lingbo Tower let just a little bit of wealth slip through their fingers, his Curio Trading House would be set for life. Why else did the manager of the neighboring Yin-Object Trading House, who commanded hundreds of men, manage to thrive? It was precisely because he had connected with the Sky-River Society.

After the two exchanged pleasantries, Master Tao Zhu said, "Daoist, the items you requested have been placed outside the courtyard."

The two then walked outside, where two carriages were parked. The ground was deeply rutted by the carriage wheels, a testament to the weight of the items they carried.

"Everything you asked for is here. Gold, silver, copper, iron, tin, lead, as well as the rarer Red-Fire Copper, Medicinal Gold, and Yin-Vein Bronze... That comes to eight hundred Dharma coins total. As an acquaintance, I’ll count it as seven hundred."

Business was business; Master Tao Zhu was a merchant after all. No matter how friendly they were, he would not give them away for free.

"Very well." Lu Qian produced a pouch of Dharma coins from his Pot-Heaven Cloth Bag. He did not use his Sword Pouch lightly in front of others, as the items within were far too precious.

"By the way, is there a market nearby that sells a wider variety of goods?" Lu Qian asked. Lingbo Tower had many things, but their prices were steep, and some of the better items required specific clearance. Furthermore, Lu Qian had many illicit items he needed to sell. The things he had obtained during the Envoy Conference were not convenient to bring out in the open.

"A larger one? Do you mean one that is more... discreet?" Master Tao Zhu immediately guessed Lu Qian’s intent. He did not pry further; in this place, who didn't have a few secrets they couldn't reveal? "Blackwater City has many private 'Ghost Markets' in the shadows, but their scale is too small. The Ghost Market in the caverns outside the city is quite significant."

Myriad Phenomena Island consisted of eight cities, each controlled by faction strongholds, with various territories carved out outside the cities as well. The goods sold by merchant guilds were regional; while there was plenty, it was not comprehensive. The most complete selection was to be found in the cavernous Ghost Market outside the city.

As the name implied, the Ghost Market was a place that could not see the light of day. It was different from other places. The caverns were more chaotic and complex, offering everything from north to south. The reason it was hidden in such a secret cavern was that most of the items traded there were illicit—either stolen goods or spoils taken from the masters of other great factions. Thus, it was a convergence of wealth from all directions.

After finalizing the trade, Master Tao Zhu took his leave.

Returning to his crafting room, Lu Qian stood before the furnace. The steps for crafting artifacts were not much different from a mortal blacksmith’s work: refining materials, creating the base, and adding auxiliary materials. The only difference for a cultivator was the addition of steps like engraving Yin-script talismans, channeling the essence of heaven and earth, and placing seals.

Since the Myriad Heavens Profound Gold Sword Pouch was already a semi-finished product, the crafting process did not need to be repeated. He only needed to practice the techniques for imprinting the seals.

Lu Qian opened the *Myriad Heavens Profound Gold Treasure-Crafting Manual*. The manual contained a series of incantations and hand seals, divided into three layers: the first, Refining Truth with Fire; the second, Consuming Qi from the Void; and the third, Controlling Arts with Divine Will.

Lu Qian sat in meditation, silently memorizing the techniques and hand gestures. Suddenly, a breeze blew through, and flames erupted beneath the furnace. A pure white radiance illuminated the entire room. The temperature inside began to rise, and the air grew hot and distorted. Lu Qian remained unmoved, his expression blank, like a boulder.

Then, he shook his sleeve, and the mouth of his Pot-Heaven Cloth Bag opened. The heavy gold, silver, copper, and iron tumbled into the crucible to be burned by the fierce flames. One must use True Fire to refine artifacts; ordinary fire could only produce mortal tools. Only True Fire could refine the true essence of rare treasures.

A poem served as proof:
*Where do spirit treasures find their birth?*
*The crucible brings forth the greatest worth.*
*Refined by True Fire within the night,*
*They emerge to meet the heavens' light.*

After the night passed, golden molten liquid floated above the alchemical furnace. This was the essence of the five metals, tempered by the True Fire. Lu Qian formed the Gold-Casket Jade-Seal hand sign, and the bag, which seemed cast from golden thread, opened wide.

*Whoosh!*

A stream of golden energy, the thickness of a thumb, vanished into the bag. The golden liquid floating in the air instantly lost its spiritual essence and crumbled into a pile of gray powder.

He formed the Gold-Casket Jade-Seal hand sign again. Inside the Sword Pouch were sixteen layers of light membranes, each consisting of thirteen talismanic nodes. Now, the top layer had gained one Five-Metal Energy talisman. Once the other twelve talismanic nodes were filled, a layer of the seal would be complete. This was the technique of sealing.

At the same time, a scale lit up in his mind:
*Myriad Heavens Profound Gold Treasure-Crafting Manual (Initiate: 1/100)*

"The Initiate stage corresponds to the first layer. At Minor Success, I reach the second layer, where I won't need a crucible for refinement and can absorb golden energy directly."

That would be powerful indeed. If he encountered ordinary magical artifacts, he could suck them dry of their energy, instantly reducing them to ash.

The next day, outside Blackwater City.

Mountains stretched in an endless expanse, crisscrossed by a network of waterways. An Yin-spirit paper doll, draped in a hooded cloak, flew through the air. One area among the mountains was particularly unique. In the center stood a barren mountain with a circular opening at the top, resembling a volcanic crater.

He flew inside.

The surroundings suddenly grew dark, the cold was biting, and gusts of black mist swirled about. The mountain belly was hollow, covered in pitch-black openings. Eerie, chilly winds blew from the holes, and icicles hung down. If an ordinary person were to come here, they would likely freeze into an ice sculpture instantly. Following Master Tao Zhu’s directions, Lu Qian flew toward a cave in the south.

*Whoosh!* Countless black bats took flight in alarm.

Entering the cave, it was pitch black, save for a pair of bright eyes. After an unknown amount of time, the path ahead suddenly opened up, and a blinding light appeared. Before him lay a massive, boundless cavern.

There were two sources of light: green moss on the cave walls and tall, glowing green mushrooms that reached over a man's height. The cavern was filled with a hazy mist, which, under the emerald light, took on a ghastly hue. Within the green mist, a moss-covered stone gatehouse loomed. On the plaque in the center were four characters: *Cavern Ghost Market*.

Shadowy figures moved through the gloomy mist, all draped in cloaks, their faces obscured. The scene was as eerie and cold as the underworld. Dressed as he was, Lu Qian blended into the crowd without attracting notice.

Entering the market, besides the shops carved into the cave walls, most vendors simply laid their goods out on the stones. There were no stall owners to be seen; the stalls were filled with crows, human statues, paper cranes, and the like.

Lu Qian walked with interest up to a stall. Again, there was no owner, only a pair of floating human eyes and a mouth. This stall sold various strange arts: *Hawk-Eye Replacement Technique*, *Heart-Planting Method*, *Flying-Head Technique*, *Magical Artifact Body-Implantation Longevity Reference*... These were not powerful secret manuals; their defining characteristic was their strangeness.

"Are you unsatisfied, fellow Daoist? I have even more powerful ones—spells from the southern sects," the mouth floating in the air suddenly spoke.