"This junior, Qiuu Bai of the Danxia Sect, pays his respects to the True Man."
Qiuu Bai performed a deep bow, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead as his heart pounded wildly.
He never imagined that a Core Formation True Man would appear in the private room of the Nine Fragrance Tower. ’I was too quick to say the Market was completely safe,’ he thought grimly.
Danxia Square had several resident Foundation Establishment Elders and other Foundation Establishment Cultivators not from the Danxia Sect. That, combined with a Tier Two Top-Grade Array, was indeed enough to handle most unexpected situations.
But that certainly did not include a Core Formation True Man suddenly going on a rampage inside the Market.
Fortunately, the Core Formation senior at the table didn’t seem to be from the Demon Path, so his life wasn’t hanging by a thread.
Boss Luk and the two female attendants hastily left their seats and knelt. Although they had already assumed the young man’s status was high, they never expected him to be a Core Formation True Man.
In a commandery with over a hundred million people and tens of thousands of Cultivators, there were only one or two Core Formation True Men.
Any one of them was an existence who could oversee a region and found their own sect. An ordinary Cultivator might go their entire life without ever meeting one.
"All of you, rise. Little Friend Qiuu will stay and dine with me. The rest of you may leave."
The young Cultivator’s tone was nonchalant, seeming distant and ethereal.
To Boss Luk’s ears, it was like a Jade Sound from the heavens, and he scrambled to withdraw.
With a glance from the man, Qiuu Bai tremblingly sat on the edge of his stool and carefully chose his words. "I wonder if there is any way this junior can be of service to you, True Man? Please, just give the word."
"I’ve heard that the Danxia Sect holds a trade meet for Core Formation Cultivators every ten years, where various Tier Three Elixirs from the sect are made available..."
Bai Zichen put down his chopsticks and wiped his hands with a silk napkin from the side. The Nine Fragrance Tower’s Flash-Boiled Ice Dragon was indeed quite delicious.
The fish was smooth and tender. Each piece melted in his stomach into a vortex of ice and snow, bringing a wave of cool refreshment.
Though called an "Ice Dragon," it was actually a type of Tier One Spirit Fish. Its body was translucent, like an Ice Crystal, and it radiated a Cold Qi.
It lived in streams formed from glacial meltwater and was extremely difficult to catch. This, combined with its exquisite taste, made it very expensive.
A single plate like this could fetch a price of five hundred Spirit Stones.
After leaving the Ten Thousand Beasts Pavilion, he had taken a roundabout route to Danxia Square specifically for the exclusive Core Formation True Man trade meet organized by the Danxia Sect, which Wei Dao had mentioned.
Besides the Danxia Sect offering many elixirs that could aid a Core Formation True Man’s cultivation, the attending Cultivators would also bring out their own Treasures to trade.
After all, at the level of a Core Formation True Man, the Spiritual Objects they required were at least Tier Three, sometimes even involving Tier Four items.
It was extremely difficult to gather the necessary items alone. By trading amongst fellow Core Formation True Men, one could often have a fruitful harvest.
"That’s right. The trade meet has been held for a century. It started with just three or five people and has now become a relatively well-known trade meet for Core Formation seniors in the Cultivation Realm..."
Qiuu Bai immediately chimed in, starting to understand the purpose of the Core Formation True Man before him.
"This year’s trade meet is at the end of the year. If you are interested, True Man, I can introduce you to my Junior Martial Uncle Qin. I’m confident you’ll be able to secure a spot."
For this kind of trade meet, security was paramount; whether one could obtain anything was secondary.
Therefore, it wasn’t a case of "the more, the merrier," and a strict recommendation system was enforced.
The Junior Martial Uncle Qin he mentioned was none other than the Fake Pill Cultivator who had appeared in the Danxia Sect not long ago.
"Excellent. Let’s drink to that!"
Bai Zichen raised his cup and downed the Spirit Wine in one gulp.
The best Cave Mansions available for rent in Danxia Square were only Tier Two. After renting one, he didn’t rush into Cultivation. Instead, he spent his days practicing the Five Crystal Permanent Casting Body and studying books on Arrays.
The Five Crystal Permanent Casting Body went without saying; this Body Refining Technique was his greatest hidden trump card.
Everyone said that Master Bai of the Qingfeng Sect was exceptionally gifted, with unparalleled Sword Dao Talent, and was destined to become one of the top Sword Cultivators in the Cultivation Realm.
His enemies, both overt and hidden, would surely focus on countermeasures against his Flying Sword when plotting against him.
He hadn’t forgotten the pathetic state of the Sun Concealing Sword Sect’s Supreme Elder after his Flying Sword failed him in the Burial Immortal Valley.
Although that had to do with Wan Qi’s failure to master the realm of Refining Sword into Silk, it at least proved that there were many Cultivation Techniques and Divine Powers in the Cultivation Realm capable of countering Flying Swords.
When you were put on a pedestal for everyone to study and analyze, they were bound to find a weakness to exploit.
Therefore, it was essential to have another, unknown trump card besides his Flying Sword.
No one, not even within the Qingfeng Sect, knew the extent of Bai Zichen’s mastery of the Five Crystal Glaze Body. The only witness, Meng Shigui, had long since been reduced to dust by the Glazed Fire Divine Body.
He was sure no one in the Cultivation Realm would ever guess that beneath the skin of an Unparalleled Sword Cultivator was a powerful Body Refining Cultivator.
’The Five Crystal Permanent Casting Body can cause a world-altering change in the hardness of my skin and bones, making them comparable to a Low-Grade Magical Treasure... It also grants a certain self-healing effect after being injured. I can regrow severed limbs and regenerate flesh from bare bone without any external aid, relying solely on my own power.’
As his Visualization ended, the five-colored hue deep within Bai Zichen’s skin intensified slightly.
Among Demon Beasts with powerful bloodlines, some would occasionally awaken the Immortal Body divine technique, allowing them to recover from even the gravest injuries in an instant.
Such Demon Beasts had tenacious life force and were extremely difficult to kill.
In the most extreme cases, they could survive having their heads smashed or hearts removed, and would simply regrow them.
The self-healing effect of the Five Crystal Permanent Casting Body was naturally no match for a Demon Beast’s Immortal Body, but it was still a remarkably practical divine technique.
After all, Body Refining Cultivators frequently engaged in close-quarters Combat, so the probability of getting injured, wounded, or losing a limb was quite high.
Once he mastered both the Five Crystal Permanent Casting Body and the Glazed Fire Divine Body, he could rank among the absolute top tier of Core Formation True Men, even without using his Flying Sword.
As for studying Arrays, it was mainly because it was unbelievable that a Core Formation True Man like himself didn’t have a single Tier Two skill from the Hundred Skills of Cultivation.
Sword Refinement had high environmental requirements, but Array research could be done anytime, anywhere.
Moreover, his long-term goal, the Star River Sword Array, was also a type of Array, strictly speaking.
If his own Realm in the Dao of Arrays was too low, it might hinder his future comprehension and study of the Star River Sword Array.
Several days later, the path outside the unremarkable Cave Mansion was cleared, with not a single pedestrian in sight.
A tall Cultivator with a pair of red eyebrows walked up to the Cave Mansion, raised his hand, and tossed a Jade Scroll into the mansion’s Array.
Bai Zichen’s eyes snapped open. He grabbed the Communication Jade Scroll, and a sweep of his Divine Sense revealed the visitor’s identity.
’His Divine Sense and True Essence fluctuations are the same as an Early-Stage Core Formation Cultivator’s, but a closer look reveals that his Divine Sense and True Essence are disconnected, which is very different from a normal Core Formation Cultivator... After all, his strength comes entirely from a Demon Pill. He can’t compare to a Cultivator who has truly passed the stage of entrusting their Divine Sense.’
A Fake Pill Cultivator in Danxia Square... the visitor’s identity was obvious. It was none other than the Danxia Sect’s Qin Chu.
"An honored guest has arrived, and I failed to greet you from afar... Might you be Fellow Daoist Qin?"
Opening the Cave Mansion’s main gate, Bai Zichen stepped out and bowed to his visitor in greeting.
In the Cultivation Realm, Core Formation True Men often looked down on Fake Pill Cultivators, reluctant to acknowledge them as fellow daoists.
After all, the vast difference in their lifespans created a clear and undeniable gap in their status.
"As the host here, it should have been I who welcomed Master Bai. The discourtesy is mine."
Qin Chu’s voice was soft and effeminate, a stark contrast to his physical appearance.
Since he hadn’t altered his appearance or deliberately hidden his identity, it was perfectly normal for the Danxia Sect to have discovered his true identity within a few days, given Bai Zichen’s current fame in the Cultivation Realm.
This was also intentional on his part. It wouldn’t be so easy for a Core Formation True Man of unknown origin to join the trade meet.
"I heard from a sect disciple that Master Bai wishes to participate in the upcoming Pill King Conference?"
After exchanging pleasantries, the two sat down, and Qin Chu got straight to the point.
"With Master Bai’s reputation, participating in the Pill King Conference is naturally no problem. However, there are a few points I must make you aware of... First, for the elixirs our Sect provides, the highest bidder wins, but each guest may only win the bid for one type of elixir. Second, after the Pill King Conference, there will be a bartering session spontaneously organized by the True Men. Our Sect offers no guarantee for any of the Treasures in that session. The authenticity, value, and any potential entanglements behind the items are the sole responsibility of the two trading parties, and have nothing to do with the Danxia Sect."
After confirming the visitor’s identity, Qin Chu had immediately gone to communicate with Master Zhu.
The two of them had reached a consensus: they absolutely had to get Bai Zichen into the Pill King Conference.
This was no ordinary Core Formation True Man, but an Unparalleled Sword Cultivator with a limitless future who had slain Daoist Hex with his sword. Many in the Cultivation Realm were already bestowing upon him the title of one with Nascent Soul Form.
Moreover, the Qingfeng Sect and the Ghost Spirit Sect were mortal enemies. Although the great war between the Righteous and Demonic Dao had quieted down after the leaders on both sides were either killed or went missing, it didn’t mean the war was truly over.
How could the Danxia Sect miss the opportunity to pull a Core Formation True Man who was a natural opponent of the Demon Path into their own camp?
Master Zhu had also instructed Qin Chu that if Bai Zichen made any private requests regarding Spirit Pills, he should agree to them directly.
However, Bai Zichen was satisfied with just getting a spot in the Pill King Conference and raised no other requests.
"Good. Since I will be attending, I will naturally abide by the Danxia Sect’s rules."
Bai Zichen accepted an object shaped like an elixir. Looking closely, he saw it was made of soft jade.
"This is the token for participating in the Pill King Conference. In three months, we will await your arrival at the foot of Danxia Mountain, Master Bai."
As the one responsible for all of the Danxia Sect’s miscellaneous affairs, Qin Chu did not stay long and soon took his leave politely.
After spending three months in his Cave Mansion, Bai Zichen successfully became a Tier One Peak Array Master.
After becoming a Core Formation True Man, all of the Sect’s scriptures and legacies were open to him.
Therefore, he now possessed the complete Array legacies from Tier One to Tier Three, and the Artifact Refining legacies from Tier One to Tier Four.
He just needed to settle down in his own Cave Mansion, and then he could begin studying them in earnest.
Danxia Mountain was not far from the Market, less than a thousand li away. The Seeking Truth Ship arrived in a flash.
The mountain wasn’t particularly towering, consisting of several peaks a few hundred zhang high.
But its advantage was the extremely stable and gentle Earth Fire within the mountain, which was perfect for Alchemy. That was why the founding ancestor of the Danxia Sect established the Mountain Gate here.
The soft jade elixir-token pulsed with red light, guiding his path, and finally stopped before a Jade Pool.
This place was within the range of the Danxia Sect’s Grand Array, but not in the core area. It was at a distance where the array could threaten a Core Formation True Man but not deliver a fatal blow.
Evidently, the Danxia Sect had carefully considered the location for holding the Pill King Conference.