Mortal Cultivator: Lin Tianzun

Chapter 54 Tianxing Zongfang City

Just over a hundred miles ahead lay the Tianxing Sect's market. Since Lin Fan entered the Foundation Establishment stage, his magical powers had greatly improved, making this journey as effortless as a leisurely stroll in the garden. Along the way, he steered his flying sword, hurtling through the sky like a meteor. The whistling wind he stirred was like a stirring melody, and he seemed like a brilliant ray of light, piercing the sky, drawing astonishment from the mortals who occasionally looked up below.

Upon entering Yuanwu territory, Lin Fan's curiosity soared like a firework. He deliberately slowed his flight, looking around curiously like a newly arrived tourist. Firstly, he wanted to locate the Tianxing Sect's market, as this was his first visit and he had no idea where it was. Secondly, he wanted to take the opportunity to experience the unique local customs and perhaps stumble upon something new. However, after a long period of aerial observation, the mountains, rivers, and towns he saw were remarkably similar to those of Yue. Rolling green hills, shimmering through the mist, resembled a slowly unfolding ink painting, radiating a tranquil and distant atmosphere. Winding rivers, shimmering and flowing, seemed to tell the story of time. From the scattered towns, curls of smoke slowly rose, permeating a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere, imbued with the flavor of everyday life. This made Lin Fan mutter to himself: he had expected to see something completely different, yet it felt so familiar. But he knew that beneath the surface lay hidden secrets. The world of immortal cultivation in Yuanwu Kingdom surely held countless mysteries waiting for him to unearth and explore.

A short while later, Lin Fan was flying steadily on his leaf-shaped magical instrument when, without warning, the instrument beneath his feet suddenly sank, as if being grabbed by an invisible giant hand and slowly plummeting towards the ground. His previously agile and smooth, dragon-like flight path was instantly disrupted, as if the power to fly had been instantly drained away, leaving him out of control and twisting crookedly.

Faced with this sudden change, Lin Fan wasn't the least bit panicked. Instead, a subtle flicker of joy flashed across his eyes. He mused to himself, "It seems we're near the Tianxing Sect's market; otherwise, there wouldn't be such a strict no-fly ban." In the world of immortal cultivation, such a powerful ban often signifies a crucial and special area ahead, perhaps hiding some treasure.

As expected, after landing safely on the ground, he leisurely strolled north for several miles before a vast complex of buildings appeared before him. This was the Tianxing Sect's market. At first glance, it was three times larger than the Huangfeng Valley market, its imposing grandeur overwhelming one. Just one glance was enough to leave one speechless. On the streets, groups of cultivators wandered, dressed in varying attire, some simple and elegant, others ornate and flamboyant. They emanated varying degrees of spiritual energy, and from time to time, they entered and exited shops, adding a lively and mysterious atmosphere to the market.

The Tianxing Sect's market layout is unique, a stark contrast to the Huangfeng Valley's. It centers around a massive pavilion, twenty to thirty feet tall. This imposing structure towers into the clouds, its soaring eaves and brackets exuding a sense of ancient simplicity and majesty. Illuminated by the sun, it radiates a striking light, like a majestic king, proclaiming its supreme power to the world. With this pavilion as its center, scattered around it are other buildings, only one-tenth the height of the central pavilion, yet arranged in an orderly fashion, surrounding it like stars surrounding the moon. The entire market is arranged in a radiating circular pattern. From above, it resembles a magnificent, blossoming lotus, each building like a petal, unfolding from the inside out, surrounding the central pavilion. This unique layout not only vividly demonstrates the unique style of the Tianxing Sect, but also implies the strict planning and management behind it. It makes people admire its profound background and secretly wonder how many unknown and powerful means are hidden behind this sect.

On his way to the Tianxing Sect's market, Lin Fan spotted the magnificent central pavilion from afar. Due to the impressive size of the plaque hanging high above the pavilion, even from a mile or two away, he could clearly make out the three massive silver characters "Stardust Pavilion" engraved on it. The writing was powerful and penetrating, and in the sunlight, the silver characters shone with a dazzling brilliance, as if proudly proclaiming their extraordinary splendor and glory, as if boasting to the passing monks: "Look, countless treasures are hidden here!"

Lin Fan pondered inwardly, with such a striking sign, nestled in the heart of the market, it was clear this pavilion must be a shop owned by the Tianxing Sect. As a major sect of immortal cultivation in Yuanwu Country, the Tianxing Sect possessed profound heritage and immense strength, and they would undoubtedly display a wealth of rare magical artifacts, secret manuals, and other precious treasures. At this thought, Lin Fan's eyes flickered with anticipation. After all, the Tianxing Sect was renowned for its expertise in formations, and he eagerly hoped to purchase a high-level formation here, building a secure barrier for his cave dwelling and allowing him to cultivate without worry. With this thought, Lin Fan's pace quickened unconsciously. After all, on the path to immortal cultivation, every encounter with a precious item could be a crucial opportunity to enhance one's strength, determining whether his future path would be smooth sailing, a smooth climb to the top, or a bumpy one. These opportunities all depended on his success.

Lin Fan stepped into the Tianxing Pavilion with steady steps, and suddenly his vision opened up. A magnificent circular hall came into view. Atop the dome, densely packed night-shining pearls lined the sky like countless stars. They emanated a soft, bright light, pouring down, illuminating every corner of the hall with crystal clarity, as if day had arrived prematurely. The hall was immense, stretching several dozen feet in radius. Standing within it, Lin Fan felt insignificant, like a drop in the ocean, lost in the vastness of space. His sense of insignificance was like that of a speck of dust in the vast universe.

In the center of the hall, an exquisite counter stood quietly. Behind it, the shopkeeper, dressed in elegant attire, was concentrating on checking the accounts. Noticing Lin Fan's entrance, he nodded slightly, displaying the courtesy expected of a major sect's store. Inside, several cultivators were intently selecting items for cultivation. Some conversed in low voices, discussing the merits of magical weapons, while others meticulously examined the artifacts in their hands, attempting to uncover their hidden secrets, immersed in the joy of shopping. The shop was also filled with a dozen young women, all employed by the store's maids. Dressed in elegant attire and graceful in manner, they displayed proper etiquette and refinement, adding a gentle touch to the store, lending a touch of warmth to this spiritually charged space. Along the walls are rows of shelves made of paulownia wood. The paulownia wood emits a light wood fragrance, which interweaves and blends with the rich spiritual atmosphere in the pavilion, creating a simple and mysterious atmosphere, as if bringing people into a world of cultivation full of fantasy, making people want to explore every corner.

The shelves are overflowing with a dazzling array of items for cultivating immortality. Materials of varying colors are neatly stacked. Some radiate a strange luster, as if imbued with unfathomable powers, inviting the urge to touch and explore their secrets. Others tremble subtly, brimming with vitality and energy, as if they themselves are living beings, revealing the wonders of the world of cultivation. Elixirs rest quietly within jade bottles, the caps slightly ajar, releasing subtle hints of medicinal power. The scent is invigorating, seemingly instantly dispelling physical fatigue and mental gloom, restoring one's spirit and allowing them to fully dedicate themselves to cultivation. Magical instruments of various shapes are neatly displayed. Some are simple and heavy, exuding an air of time-honored beauty, as if speaking of a long history and carrying ancient memories; others are exquisite and dynamic, showcasing the ingenuity and wisdom of the craftsman. Each piece imbues itself with powerful spiritual energy, as if poised to unleash devastating power at any moment, a formidable threat that cannot be underestimated. Talismans hang in bundles, their runes shimmering, whispering ancient Taoist secrets and bearing the wisdom of their ancestors. Each rune seems to possess a unique magical power, capable of unleashing unexpected effects at crucial moments. Cinnabar, vibrant in color and plump in texture, exudes a mysterious aura, as if concealing untold secrets, waiting to be uncovered by those destined to discover them. Perhaps within lies the key to a breakthrough. Fresh and tender spiritual herbs, dewdrops rolling on their leaves, exude a rich vitality, as if to evoke the thriving power of life, filled with hope and energy, bringing joy to the human heart. The intricately carved array plates, with energy glimmering between their intricate patterns, seem poised to activate a powerful formation at any moment, safeguarding the cultivator on their perilous journey and providing their unwavering support.

At this moment, a sharp-eyed maid quickly stepped forward, her face filled with a warm smile. She bowed and said, "Welcome to Tianxing Pavilion to shop, fellow Taoist. I'm Wang Yuxin, a shop assistant here. I don't know what you'd like to buy, but I can give you some guidance."

Lin Fan turned his head upon hearing the voice, and saw a young girl who looked about seventeen or eighteen years old. She was dressed in a blue standard robe with delicate cloud patterns embroidered on the corners. It fluttered slightly in the wind, making her look particularly elegant and free. The young girl's cultivation level was at the eighth level of Qi training, and a faint spiritual fluctuation emanated from her body, revealing her identity as an immortal cultivator. It was obvious at a glance that she was not an ordinary person, but a fellow cultivator striving on the path of immortal cultivation. A flicker of determination flashed in Lin Fan's eyes, and his tone was firm and unquestionable: "I want a spirit gathering array, and also a magic array that combines attack, defense, and illusion. The path of immortal cultivation is full of dangers, so the more powerful the magic array, the better. As for spirit stones, I have plenty, so there is no need to worry about that."

Upon hearing this, Wang Yuxin was startled at first, then a flicker of unconcealable surprise flashed across her eyes. Her lips curled upwards, a smile spreading across her face as she quickly bowed and said, "Oh, my, fellow Daoist, you are so generous and magnanimous! You are truly an honored guest of our Tianxing Pavilion! Don't worry, the arrays we treasure in our pavilion are all top-notch, and will surely meet your high standards."

Wang Yuxin quickly stepped forward, carefully rummaged through the shelves, and pulled out an octagonal array disc engraved with runes. She carefully handed it to Lin Fan. "Fellow Daoist, please take a look at this Spirit Gathering Array Disc. It's constructed from millennia-old cold iron, supplemented with spirit copper and spirit wood. The runes engraved on it are all spirit-gathering spells. Once activated, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth for miles around the cave will surge in like a tidal wave, increasing its concentration by three levels. Cultivating within this array for a long time will likely increase your cultivation speed by about a level."

After setting down the Spirit Gathering Array, Wang Yuxin turned and retrieved a rather peculiar object from the back of the shelf. This object resembled a small compass, radiating a multicolored halo. A circle of tiny sword-shaped magical instruments hovered around the edge of the compass, with runes flowing on them and a faint, sharp sword energy emanating from them. "This is the 'Illusionary Spirit Formation of All Things Returning to One' that is treasured in our pavilion. It combines powerful attack, defense and illusion. When defending, it can instantly hold up a layer of spiritual power shield. This shield is as solid as a rock. Even a strong man in the late stage of foundation building can only cause a slight ripple. When attacking, those suspended sword-shaped magic weapons can transform into thousands of sword shadows, launching a no-dead-angle attack on the enemy. Each sword shadow contains terrifying lethality. The illusion is even more unique. Once triggered, the entire area around the cave will be transformed into a foggy forest. When the enemy steps into it, not only will it be difficult to distinguish the direction, but they will also be confused by various illusions, and their strength will be greatly reduced." Wang Yuxin spoke eloquently, explaining the magical features of the magic formation one by one. Her words were full of confidence and pride in her own products, as if she was showing Lin Fan one rare treasure after another, trying to convince him that this was the treasure he had been searching for.

Lin Fan stared intently at the two magic circles before him, his right hand gently stroking his chin as he fell into deep thought. After a moment, he nodded slightly and said in a deep voice, "Yes, these two magic circles are exactly what I want. Name your price."

"The Spirit Gathering Array costs one thousand low-level spirit stones, and the Illusionary Spirit Array costs one thousand five hundred low-level spirit stones, a total of two thousand five hundred low-level spirit stones." Wang Yuxin had a standard smile on her face, with a hint of expectation in her eyes. She quoted the price carefully. She wanted to make the deal happen, but was also worried that the price was too high and would discourage customers. Her heart was filled with anxiety and expectation. After all, this was a big deal, and it would bring many benefits to her if she made it.

"Okay, get it for me. I wonder if you sell formation books here, ordinary introductory books will do." Lin Fan knew that the Tianxing Sect was good at formations, and it was impossible for them to sell the things they used to make a living. What was sold outside were just some ordinary stuff, but it was enough for him, maybe he could find new ideas from them.

"Yes, of course." Wang Yuxin responded quickly, turning around and quickly going to get a small booklet with the title "Introduction to Formation Techniques" on it. "This one costs 200 low-level spirit stones."

Lin Fan's expression was calm, his words concise and to the point. As soon as he finished speaking, he raised his hand and slapped his storage bag. With a crisp clink, twenty-seven mid-level spirit stones appeared in his palm. He handed them to Wang Yuxin casually, his movements casual and decisive, as if these spirit stones were just ordinary objects. His gestures were a casual display of his wealth and decisiveness, and he didn't care about the value of the spirit stones at all. In his opinion, as long as he could buy something useful, the spirit stones were worth spending.

Wang Yuxin's eyes flashed with surprise upon seeing this. She quickly took the spirit stone with both hands, and after carefully inspecting it, her smile widened even more. "Thank you for your patronage, fellow Daoist!" Wang Yuxin said, quickly presenting the already carefully wrapped magic array box with both hands, her gesture respectful and enthusiastic. "Your generosity is truly a great honor to our humble shop! If you need anything in the future, I hope you will keep our shop in good stead. You are always welcome to come back."

Lin Fan accepted the brocade box, nodded slightly, and stowed it safely away in his storage bag, also placing the "Introduction to Formation Techniques" inside. Without further ado, he turned and slowly left Tianxing Pavilion with steady steps. Wang Yuxin was left standing there, watching Lin Fan's departing figure, her warm smile still plastered on her face. She secretly calculated how much benefit this lucrative deal would bring her. This deal was undoubtedly a rare opportunity for her. Not only could she earn a generous commission, but she might even gain the shopkeeper's appreciation and take a more solid step forward on her path to immortality.

(End of this chapter)