Chapter 374: 212, Three costs, Substitute Puppet, Song Knife’s divine command in one strike_4
This was Xu Xing’s strategy.
In short, the consequences of the Starfall Sect attempting to kill Xu Xing were not something their small Sect could bear. This held true whether Xu Xing possessed the Tide Feather Sword or not.
Therefore, Greedy Wolf True Monarch decisively handed over the *Taiyi Fen Guang Sword Classic* to Xu Xing, eliminating his own covetous thoughts.
If Xu Xing had the Tide Feather Sword, and had cultivated this sword classic, the Starfall Sect would find the cost of dealing with him unbearable.
Without it, there was no need for the Starfall Sect to covet the treasures on Xu Xing.
Giving him this sword classic, on the contrary, forged another amicable bond.
"Furthermore..." Greedy Wolf True Monarch sighed. "Indeed, the Giant Sword Daoist Monarch did teach me some swordsmanship back then."
"Thank you, Elder Taishi, for not making it difficult for this Concubine." Upon hearing this, Sect Master Fang released her worries and thanked Greedy Wolf Dao Monarch.
...
...
After leaving the Starfall Sect Blessed Land and staying for several days, Xu Xing bid farewell to Sect Master Fang and Wu Miao.
He planned to take the Sea-Crossing flying boat and return to Wangchuan Sea.
After making a name for himself in the North Wilderness, his return to Wangchuan Sea was akin to hiding in plain sight—the darkest place is often under the lamp.
「One year later.」
「Nanyan Continent, Crane Mountain Marketplace.」
Xu Xing arrived at a pavilion in Crane Mountain Marketplace bearing the "Immeasurable Sect" plaque and walked inside.
He entered the inner room.
Sitting in the High Seat, he waited for the Manager of the pavilion.
An Old Monk with graying hair hurried into the room and handed him four Storage Bags.
"Lord Chang, these are some spirit herbs and ores collected in the Market over the past three years, according to the list you provided," the Old Monk said.
The Old Monk was dressed in a light blue robe, with three water-patterned designs embroidered on the sleeves. These three water patterns were the mark of the Immeasurable Sect.
It was rumored that the Immeasurable Sect was originally a sect by the sea in South Yue Nation.
"Did you encounter any obstacles while acquiring the Spirit Materials?" Xu Xing opened each of the four Storage Bags, glanced at the Spirit Materials inside, nodded in satisfaction, and asked.
Cross-state trading. That’s where the real profits lay.
To pursue cultivating immortality without Spirit Shells or resources was to find every step arduous.
Although the blessed lands and caves of Various factions were scarce resources, history was not without examples of Freelance Cultivators spending a thousand gold pieces to borrow a sect’s blessed land to successfully condense a Nascent Soul.
"There were some people... competing with us for these resources..." The Old Monk hesitated for a moment, then spoke the truth.
According to his observations, those obstructing their actions might be connected to certain individuals within the Sect. All belonging to the Immeasurable Sect!
These resources are of great use... And they are snatching them away...
Sitting in the Grand Master Chair, Xu Xing frowned. He tapped the table a few times, paused for a moment as if choosing his words.
"Forget it. This True Monarch will report this to the Sect Master. For now, remain calm and do not alert them."
The individuals competing with the Immeasurable Sect’s Manager for resources were none other than the Shadowless Pavilion cultivators he had secretly dispatched.
As the duration of Jinglian True Monarch’s disappearance lengthened, the high-level members of the Immeasurable Sect would inevitably grow suspicious, speculating that Jinglian True Monarch was not merely preoccupied but had already perished.
His current arrangements were a countermeasure for when that time came.
The list he had given the Immeasurable Sect’s Manager contained only a portion of the Spirit Materials from Jinglian True Monarch’s cross-state trading manifest, mixed among many others. It was not enough to arouse the suspicion of the Immeasurable Sect’s high-level members.
This portion of Spirit Materials could be used for artifact refinement and practicing secret arts.
After leaving the Immeasurable Sect’s pavilion, Xu Xing returned to his Cave Mansion in Crane Mountain Marketplace where he was in seclusion. Then, using the Thousand Miles Teleportation Array, he left the Market and hurried to Small Ring Mountain.
「An hour later.」
He appeared in the Outer Sea of Wangchuan Sea.
After disguising himself, he sold off the resources he had on hand that were scarce in East Huangzhou.
Within just half a month, he had earned over two million Spirit Shells, and this was while deliberately keeping a low profile.
「Time flew by.」
In the blink of an eye, seventeen years had passed, bringing them to the 158th year of the Tiande era.
During this period, Xu Xing’s Foundation Establishment Ceremony was postponed due to sudden turmoil in South Yue Nation. The major Sects of South Yue Nation had come to blows over a treasure.
The slightest spark could ignite a wildfire, and the various Sects in North Yue Country also found no peace.
However, Xu Xing was content to maintain a low profile at this time. He resold resources every three years, making a fortune each time.
The Hundred Treasures Pavilion’s auction this time will feature a Substitute Puppet. This Substitute Puppet is a critical treasure; I must obtain it.
Exiting the Cross-State Teleportation Array and flying for a while, Xu Xing set foot on Huge Mastiff Island and, employing his old trick, entered the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.
「A short while later.」
He arrived at the third floor of the Jade Tower, where he had been during the last Hundred Treasures Pavilion auction.
"Is there still no news of Xu Xing?" Suddenly, a rough voice emanated from a neighboring Box on the third floor.
"That’s the Box of the Flying Feather Immortal Palace! Could the rumors be true?"
"Is the Flying Feather Immortal Palace going to kill Xu Xing, their renounced disciple?"
"I heard Xu Xing looted the Flying Feather Immortal Palace’s treasury. Otherwise, with his background, how could he possibly have reached the True Monarch realm without a sect’s help..."
In the first-floor hall, the cultivators present buzzed with discussion, with no shortage of schadenfreude and inflammatory remarks.
Deliberately provoking?
In his Box, Xu Xing’s eyes flashed, a cold smirk playing on his lips as he looked towards the Box from which the rough voice had come. Unfortunately, under the protection of layers of restrictive formations, he could not see the burly Han’s face. The black cloaks distributed by the Hundred Treasures Pavilion had the excellent effect of blocking cultivators’ Divine Sense Detection.
"As long as someone provides this True Monarch with information about Xu Xing, this True Monarch will not be stingy with rewards..." the burly Han continued.
"Song Knife, Xu Xing has been taken under the banner of my Mingquan Sect. Your continued pursuit of Xu Xing is tantamount to offending my Mingquan Sect..." Suddenly, a clear voice, like a silver bell, came from another Box.
What? It’s Song Knife?
The moment the person from the Mingquan Sect spoke, Xu Xing was utterly astonished. He hadn’t expected to encounter Song Knife, his old enemy, at this once-every-thirty-years auction of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.
"Nan Lu, this True Monarch’s patience has its limits! If you continue your impudence, watch your life!" Song Knife snorted coldly, then added with disdain, "The enemies I, Song Knife, have personally slain are countless!"