Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension

"You... if you've got the guts, don't run away."

Han Xuanwu's face froze upon hearing this and he actually didn't dare to take action. After fiercely dropping a sentence, he sat back down with an unwilling expression, his tiger-like eyes unceasingly fixed on Zhao Sheng.

Heavenly Pillar Mountain had several taboos, one of which was that you must never fight during the trading assembly, or else...

Zhao Sheng glanced intentionally and unintentionally at a young man wearing a purple Magic Robe among the crowd. That person was an Inner Sect Disciple of the Purple Sun Sect, in charge of presiding over today's trading assembly.

Zhao Sheng had been mingling on Heavenly Pillar Mountain for over twenty years and although he was not even a Cultivator, his reputation was not small at all.

Daredevil, cunning and ruthless, the number one in Wing Suit Flying, innate ambushes against those in the late stages of Qi Refining, escaping from the hands of Foundation Establishment... all these were his labels.

Therefore, several familiar medicine collectors greeted him one after another, and Zhao Sheng repeatedly returned the salute with cupped fists.

Upon finding a spot where he knew many people, he turned his head and greeted the playboy monk, Lu Dayou, sitting next to him, saying, "Brother Lu is well, and the rest of you too..."

While speaking, Zhao Sheng took a glance and noticed that there were a few fewer people in Lu Dayou's team, causing him to frown slightly.

The absent ones probably met with more misfortune than luck.

One should know that picking Spiritual Medicines was never easy. One must always be careful of strong winds and mists on cliffs and precipices, and also be wary of the sudden appearance of poisonous insects, fierce birds, and Fierce Beasts. The slightest carelessness could result in there being no bones left.

What's more, was Heavenly Pillar Mountain merely a place for collecting herbs?

Lu Dayou saw through his thoughts, but as an old slicker of Qi Refinement who had long become indifferent to life and death, he simply laughed it off and shifted his attention:

"Brother Gongsun, where have you been making money recently? It's really dangerous to be alone; better to join my team. It's good to have each other's backs."

Ever since Zhao Sheng had invented the mode of Wing Suit Flying, he had become a coveted asset for many small herb collecting teams.

Because Wing Suit Flying was truly useful, and many Cultivators in the early stages of Qi Refining increased their chances of survival dramatically after learning Wing Suit Flying.

So, while earning a hefty "tuition fee," Zhao Sheng's fame grew with each passing day.

"Haha, Brother Lu, I appreciate your kindness. However, I've grown used to being idle and alone over the years and don't quite suit working with others," Zhao Sheng laughingly and tactfully declined the offer.

Cultivators were prideful and arrogant, always looking down on Innate Martial Artists. Although Zhao Sheng was quite well-known, he was no exception.

If he were to join Lu Dayou's team, who knows when he might be stabbed in the back by one of his own.

Zhao Sheng knew he was quite a "fatty" target!

Lu Dayou tried persuading him a few more times, but seeing that Zhao Sheng kept sidestepping, he finally became impatient, turned his face coldly, and stopped paying attention to him.

Cough cough!

Sometime later, seeing that no one else seemed to be approaching, the Purple Sun Sect Disciple suddenly coughed twice and stood up.

The area around the bonfire immediately quieted down, and everyone looked at him.

The man surveyed the crowd, then spoke, "The time is about right, let's start tonight's trading assembly. The same old rules: one, no fighting; two, once the goods are traded, neither party may regret the deal. Three, beyond the ten-mile safe range, everyone's life and death is in their own hands.

Additionally, those who need to may exchange with me. Whether it be Spirit Stones, Magic Artifacts, talismans or Elixir Pills."

After finishing, he sat back down.

The trading assembly started, and some medicine collectors gradually approached the Purple Sun Sect Disciple to exchange their Spiritual Medicines for things they needed.

Other medicine collectors skillfully laid out a cloth and placed various items on it, such as assorted dried or well-preserved Spiritual Medicines, various damaged Magic Artifacts and swords, dried meat, water flasks, some unknown ores or demon beast remains, claws, teeth, and so on.

Zhao Sheng did the same.

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He unbuckled the strap from his back and dumped the contents of his backpack onto the ground, then spread them out one by one.

Three century-old Red Fruits, a scroll of Mountain-piercing Iron Armor Beast Skin, a Green Ganoderma as big as a face, two tender White Ganoderma like jade, a small bronze knife, and a neatly folded blue Magic Robe.

The above items were his harvest from the past month, but they were not the most important.

Zhao Sheng hesitated for a long time before finally pulling out a crystal clear, glowing white round Jade Pendant from his chest.

As soon as this item appeared, it immediately drew the attention of those nearby.

"A First Rank Protective Jade Pendant!" someone exclaimed in surprise.

"F***, has Gongsun Sheng launched another sneak attack on some Sect's Disciple?"

"Hmph, Gongsun relies on his peerless Qinggong to often strike from behind. If it weren't for his strong ability to escape, he would have long been caught and flayed."

Zhao Sheng paid no mind to the surrounding chatter, but by now, someone had already approached, unable to restrain their curiosity, asking how to exchange for the Protective Jade Pendant.

"I only exchange for Yellow Bud Pills, Green Jade Powder, and other Spirit Pills that increase cultivation."

In the face of the inquirer, Zhao Sheng raised his voice slightly, deliberately letting others hear.

Upon hearing his words, the man laughed awkwardly and said, "Brother Gongsun, as an Innate Martial Artist, you have no use for these Cultivation Elixirs. Perhaps we could change the terms, I have a bottle of Revitalizing Pills and a bottle of Innate Pills here, take a look..."

"Sorry, I won't exchange for anything else," Zhao Sheng refused without hesitation.

Hmph!

The man walked away muttering to himself.

Another person who approached, however, gave Zhao Sheng a great headache.

Han Xuanwu spread his legs apart, squatting opposite him, staring at Zhao Sheng with intense focus, not uttering a word.

"Brother Han, do you have to be like this! I really haven't held back anything, if you can't master Cloud Dragon Nine Transformations, it's because your constitution doesn't suit it, it's not my fault," Zhao Sheng earnestly pleaded.

He had a good impression of Han Xuanwu. This man adhered to the code of honor of the Martial World, acted openly and aboveboard, and most importantly, he never discriminated against ordinary Martial Artists.

Additionally, what Zhao Sheng said was true, without a Light as a Feather constitution, a normal person at their peak could only span seven or eight zhang with a step, not ten zhang like him, traversing the air with ease.

Han Xuanwu remained silently resolute. Gongsun's reputation among the medicine collectors had become quite notorious; his words could not be trusted.

Moreover, Han Xuanwu was certain there must be some secrets to mastering Cloud Dragon Nine Transformations that he wasn't aware of, otherwise, with his talent as a Martial Artist prodigy, he couldn't possibly fail to reach Great Success.

Zhao Sheng saw that the other party was determined to persist, and was about to try to persuasively reason with him further.

Suddenly,

his nose twitched violently, detecting a faint yet peculiar scent.

Zhao Sheng's expression changed subtly as he quietly surveyed his surroundings. Everything appeared normal, with bustling transactions underway, but the strange scent in the air grew progressively stronger.

Ever since reaching the Innate Limit last year, his sense of smell had become exceptionally acute, enabling him to distinguish each complex scent in the air and detect odors that even Cultivators were unable to sense.

He had come to call this extraordinary ability Spiritual Smell, also known as "dog's nose."

In recent years, the ability had played a significant role in saving his life multiple times.

"Take my advice, leave this place as soon as you can."

Using the skill of covert sound transmission, Zhao Sheng finished warning Han Xuanwu and swiftly packed the items on the ground back into his backpack.

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