Chapter 95: Little Ochre Mountain

  Xuanye City’s bck market was highly complicated.

  According to Iron Hand’s expnation, this site was originally an underground fortress where local residents fought off demonic creatures from the wilderness during the World Tribution. Demonic blood was spilled everywhere, and countless remains rotted away, their foul essence sinking into the earth veins. Consequently, the nd became tainted with poisonous Baleful Qi, making it hard for cultivators to channel qi or extend their Divine Consciousnesses.

  After the World Tribution, Xuanye City was established. Because of the area’s unique conditions, few ordinary residents were willing to live here. Over time, it became a wless zone on the outskirts of the city.

  Over the years, numerous gangs and independent individuals turned their attention to this region—an area free from Divine Consciousness oversight. They gathered here, cleansed the filth, restored their ability to channel qi, and simultaneously reinforced prohibitions against Divine Consciousness. In this way, the bck market gradually took shape.

  Here, people could purchase firearms, Magical Artifacts, pills, and cultivation methods. There were also specialized “mechanist” artisans who performed modification surgeries, repcing deformed body parts with artificial organs primarily made from Evergreen Wood. This allowed one to continue channeling qi, thus avoiding a total dead end caused by physical mutation. In fact, it could even grant enhanced vitality.

  Rumor had it that as long as one had enough merit points, one could even acquire “Foundation Establishment Pills” on the bck market.

  An Jing still recalled how, when Iron Hand mentioned this, his expression revealed uncontrolble yearning.

  In the Tianyuan Realm, everyone cultivated; every individual was considered a cultivator. Yet because resources were scarce and Demonic Qi further tainted spiritual energy, only a handful of true geniuses or children of prominent families could progress further on this path.

  Even if one were lucky enough to reach the threshold of Foundation Establishment, failure at that stage would cause vital essence to leak, Divine Consciousness to colpse, and at least twenty years to be shaved off one’s lifespan.

  In addition to increasing the success rate of Foundation Establishment, the Foundation Establishment Pill could also protect a cultivator’s Purple Mansion and physical body. Even if it failed, the worst result would be a considerable loss of blood essence and the forfeiture of half a year of one’s lifespan—far less drastic by comparison.

  Yet this pill, despite its miraculous effects, was nearly impossible to produce due to the scarcity of its ingredients and the dire ck of resources. Whenever one did appear on the market, wealthy merchants and Upper City District executives would immediately snap it up at auction.

  On the bck market, Foundation Establishment Pills were essentially urban legends. Even so, they remained a cherished dream in the hearts of cultivators in the Fuchen Pins and the Lower City District.

  “Foundation Establishment Pills? Are they really that precious? Is the Tianyuan Realm so impoverished? Yet Magical Artifacts seem so widespread…”

  At the time, the Sword Spirit muttered in confusion, but An Jing understood: “Pills require natural biological resources—even if grown artificially, it’s the same principle. The Tianyuan Realm’s environment is extremely harsh, so finding a suitable spot for spirit herbs is probably quite difficult…”

  Now, pondering this, An Jing felt a sudden stirring in his heart: “The Tianyuan Realm suffered the World Tribution, and aside from a few spiritual veins, the entire world was contaminated. Cultivator civilization shrank, resources became scarce… yet they’re exceptionally advanced in Magical Artifact manufacturing and fine processing.”

  “The Huaixu Realm was likewise tainted by demons, yet its resources were much more abundant than those of the Tianyuan Realm.”

  “My preparations this time were cking. If there’s another opportunity, can I exploit demand in both realms to resell goods and gain massive cultivation resources?”

  “Also, that piece of spirit jade left over from my cultivation—could it be a precious material here in the Tianyuan Realm as well?”

  Although the Tianyuan Realm had items called spiritual energy furnaces, which seemed to serve as repcements for spirit jade, An Jing still felt the two must differ somehow.

  In any case, it would not be hard to ask about the price when the time came.

  With these thoughts stirring in his mind, An Jing presented his credentials and descended a long underground stairway into the bck market’s interior.

  Contrary to popur impressions, although it was called a “bck market,” it was merely an illegal marketpce.

  In fact, the underground area was well-lit, and each shop looked surprisingly proper. Aside from the security guards and enforcers at the doors—whose fierce expressions and imposing presences were undeniable—most passersby wore neat attire and acted composed, covering their faces only with veils or cloaks.

  Someone did notice An Jing’s rather tattered rain cloak—damaged by a sinborn demon’s attack—and gave him a few extra gnces, but soon looked away, showing no further interest.

  Do not concern yourself with others—this was the unspoken rule of the bck market.

  The bck market’s interior was surprisingly quiet, almost more orderly than most rge-scale markets.

  “Sir, what would you like to purchase?”

  As soon as An Jing stepped through the entrance, a staff member with a dignified, graceful appearance approached and asked in a warm tone.

  This level of service and the bck market’s overall ambiance differed greatly from what An Jing had encountered upon first arriving in the Tianyuan Realm—when he stumbled into a gang fight and Huo Qing was compelled to take the bme. It was as if they were two entirely separate worlds.

  —Was this pce truly a “bck market”? Or was it actually a cndestine venture run by a major power in Xuanye City?

  An Jing grew more alert internally, but outwardly replied calmly, “The Five Metals found underground, precious iron from the mountains, and various refined forging materials.”

  “In addition, I need weapons suited to dealing with monstrous fiends.”

  The staff member nodded politely and asked, “Will you be purchasing the Five Metals forging materials in bulk or smaller amounts? Also, do you have particur requirements for the weapons?”

  “Small quantities of forging materials,” An Jing replied. “As for the weapons… I need something effective against demons with high regenerative abilities and strong bodies. I’d prefer ice or fire, and if there’s a lightning option, that’s even better.”

  “That requirement… seems aimed at a particur type of demon?” The staff member thought for a moment before lightly shaking her head. “You’ll likely need a custom-made piece at an artifact refining shop.”

  “No problem,” An Jing said, recognizing his request might be a bit specialized. “Let’s handle the forging materials first.”

  “In that case, please come with me.” The staff member smiled and led him to a particur shop on the third underground level, then bowed and departed.

  Little Ochre Mountain.

  Beneath a crimson sign y a pale golden dawn. A golden sun rising over a reddish-brown mountain formed the trademark of Little Ochre Mountain.

  A female cultivator, also concealing her face, noticed the new customer. She stood and greeted him with a smile: “Sir, how can we be of service?”

  Her voice was altered, revealing little, though her genuine enthusiasm was evident. An Jing paid it no heed and said, “I’ll have a look on my own first.”

  “Please, take your time. Would you like any expnations?”

  Hearing that, the shopkeeper said nothing further. She switched on the shop’s lights, revealing rows of transparent dispy cases. Each held samples of metal ingots or raw ores—minerals and jade—each beled with a price.

  “No need.” An Jing declined, noticing the shopkeeper seemed almost overly eager. Relying on his Sword Spirit’s insight, he preferred not to reveal too much.

  He walked forward slowly, examining each item one by one.

  The Little Ochre Mountain shop offered a broad assortment of ores. Among them were the “earth-based Five Metals” needed for the Radiant White Spirit Divine Restriction, refined mystic iron, violet tin, crimson copper, as well as sun gold and moon silver. They even had regur gold and silver at very low prices.

  Among the Purified Five Metals, the most critical component was the yang-attribute Geng Metal Qi.

  Geng Metal carried Baleful Qi. Associated with the celestial star Taibai, it embodied lethal force and unwavering strength, forming the bedrock of the Radiant White Spirit Divine Restriction.

  One had to employ furnace fire and hammering to refine Geng Metal Qi, making higher purity all the more valuable. The metal ingots in the Little Ochre Mountain shop were so pure that even the Sword Spirit was taken aback.

  (End of Chapter)

  *Since 庚 (Gēng) has appeared quite a bit, I guess I should expin what it is and why I'm not transting it. 庚 (Gēng) is the seventh of the Ten Heavenly Stems (天干). Each of these Stems corresponds to a particur aspect of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements. In that framework:

  庚 = “Yang Metal” (the active, strong, unyielding side of the Metal element)