Cultivation begins in Qingfeng Market.

On the main street of the market, the six members of Xuan Chen Valley were strolling around casually.

It must be said that under Lin Zhao's management, Cangyun Mountain Market was indeed thriving, with shops lining both sides and a constant flow of people.

Zhang Yuan walked ahead, his gaze sweeping over the surroundings, and he nodded slightly.

The junior brother, who was in the late Foundation Establishment stage, approached him and transmitted his voice, "Senior Brother Zhang, what do you think of that Lin Zhao?"

Zhang Yuan continued walking and sent a telepathic message back: "Unfathomable. Unfathomable."

The junior disciple, who was in the late Foundation Establishment stage, was taken aback: "Senior brother, you are at the peak of Foundation Establishment, ranked among the top five among the true disciples, while he is only in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, right?"

Zhang Yuan remained silent for a moment before saying, "Some people's strength cannot be measured by cultivation level. He killed nearly seventy Foundation Establishment cultivators in the battle of Dingfeng Plain. Do you think he relied on luck?"

The junior disciple, who was in the late Foundation Establishment stage, fell silent.

Zhang Yuan continued, "The disciples of the Holy Sect truly live up to their reputation."

He paused, then transmitted his voice again: "You know our real purpose in coming here this time. The Zheng family patriarch's lifespan is coming to an end, but now is a critical moment. Whoever makes the first move may attract the thunderous attack of that Core Formation True Person."

"So, under the guise of business cooperation, we'll send people in first?" asked the junior disciple who had just reached the Foundation Establishment stage.

The leading senior brother nodded: "That's right. When it comes to business, it's not unreasonable for a Foundation Establishment disciple like me to stay in the Purple Profound Dynasty for a few more days, is it? If something comes up and I'm delayed, staying for a few more years isn't unreasonable either, is it?"

The Foundation Establishment junior brother smiled.

Zheng Family Core Formation Ancestor: Ha! Ha! It's best to stay here forever; you might end up spending your whole life in the Purple Profound Dynasty.

Behind them, Su Qianxue walked side by side with another female cultivator.

The female cultivator was a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. She glanced at Su Qianxue and whispered, "Qianxue, it seems even the disciples of the Holy Sect can't resist your charm."

I just saw that Garrison Commander Lin seemed to glance at you a few more times.

Su Qianxue's expression remained unchanged: "Senior Sister is joking. Qianxue admires the Great Dao and never considers such things."

The female cultivator shook her head and said nothing more.

Su Qianxue's gaze fell on the garrison headquarters at the end of the street, lingered for a moment, and then looked away.

---

Three days later, in the evening.

In the northwest corner of Cangyun Mountain Market, there is a secluded Ling Shan Restaurant.

Lin Zhao sat in a private room on the second floor by the window, with a table of spiritual dishes in front of him. These were the signature dishes of the place, and he had specially arranged for the ingredients to be prepared and invited the best spiritual chef in the market to cook them.

The dishes were all served, and wisps of steam rose up, resembling a thin mist under the dim light.

Lin Zhao withdrew her gaze and gently tapped her fingers on the window frame, tap, tap, tap.

Su Qianxue is almost here.

He lowered his head, looked at the dishes on the table, and suddenly felt a little dazed.

The Black-spotted Beast Tide in Qingfeng Market was the second time he met this junior sister. At that time, he said he would treat her to spiritual food at Baiwei Lingshan Restaurant, but it was just a casual remark.

Later, Lin Zhao went to the Yunhai Cangming Sect, and Su Qianxue came to the Tongming Domain alone.

I've only seen him twice in the past thirty years.

One time was two years ago in Tongming Immortal City, when she invited him for tea to inquire about the auction. And now, it's happening again.

The world changes, and things are ever-changing.

Lin Zhao picked up her teacup, took a sip, and looked out the window.

He certainly remembered Yan Chiheng's teasing from three days ago—"Our garrison commander might be getting another garrison commander's wife."

He didn't bother with him at the time, but those words still took a little to heart.

Because he genuinely felt differently about this junior female student.

It's not just fellow villagers, it's not just senior female students.

During his youth in the Yunxia Mountains, Lin Zhao naturally thought about finding a Daoist partner.

When I was seventeen or eighteen, I would sometimes imagine what my future partner would be like.

But later, as he became engrossed in cultivation, those thoughts faded away.

Later, he joined a sect and has come this far. He has met many female cultivators, but few of them are memorable to him.

Su Qianxue is one of them.

She was the most outstanding female figure he encountered during his youth.

It's rare to find a female cultivator in a small place like Qingfeng Market who dares to venture into the Dangtongming Domain alone.

Moreover, their personalities were compatible—both were ascetics, single-mindedly devoted to the path of enlightenment.

Two years ago at the market, Lin Zhao obtained several genuine Foundation Establishment Pills, and had two of them taken back with him.

His parents recently sent a message through someone, asking him if he had met anyone suitable while he was away.

He didn't reply.

If I really had to consider a Daoist partner, Su Qianxue might be an option.

but……

Lin Zhao looked out the window, her gaze distant.

But in the end, it was all for naught.

He could tell that Su Qianxue was a true ascetic.

Her resolute decision to leave Qingfeng Market and come to Tongming Domain to make a living back then says it all.

Don't let her aloof appearance fool you; she's actually quite lively inside, sometimes even taking advantage of situations, and can be a bit shameless...

But those are all superficial appearances.

Her core pursuit is the path of immortality cultivation; in essence, she is a true cultivator.

In this respect, she is the same as Lin Zhao.

If only back then...

This thought suddenly popped into Lin Zhao's mind.

If the Lin family had been a Foundation Establishment family back then, they would have been a suitable match for her. If they had met more often during their youth...

If he hadn't created the Celestial Sword Dao back then, hadn't joined the Cloud Sea Azure Sea Sect, and had instead stayed in the Tongming Domain—

Perhaps, they really will cross paths.

Perhaps, something really will happen between them.

But life doesn't offer "what ifs".

He has already seen a wider sky.

From the Yunxia Mountains to the Yunhai Cangming Sect, from Zhenhai Cliff to Tongming Immortal City, from Tianyun Market to Cangyun Mountain.

His steps will not stop.

Ever since he gained the ability to use his innate divine power, Lin Zhao had a vague feeling that his future was to create a new world and become the master of a world.

There are also vague legends within the sect that the cultivation of a Nascent Soul Celestial Lord is the birth of a Dharma Realm.

The Dharma realm continues to evolve and grow, ultimately pointing towards the path of the world.

His innate talent and supernatural abilities were surprisingly similar.

Therefore, he will not stop.

Lin Zhao snapped out of her thoughts and took another sip of tea.

Of course, he didn't just invite Su Qianxue here today to catch up.

There's more important business to attend to.

First, to investigate the true purpose of Xuan Chen Valley.

Was this an action taken by Zhou Yuanqing and his group alone, or was it a genuine attempt by high-ranking Core Formation cultivators within the valley to intervene in the affairs of the Zixuan Dynasty?

The Zheng family patriarch has been setting up this scheme for decades, and now all sorts of strange and powerful figures have arrived. He needs to figure out what Xuan Chen Valley is thinking.

Secondly, there's a business deal I need to discuss with her.

Recently, a new batch of refining materials has appeared in the Heavenly Fire Dynasty—Fire Pattern Copper Essence, a second-grade superior quality, suitable for refining fire-attribute magic weapons.

This item is not uncommon in the Heavenly Fire Dynasty, but it is a rare commodity in Zixuan and Nanli.

The Heavenly Fire Dynasty is usually relatively closed off, and its business dealings with markets and other entities do not yet involve resources of this caliber.

Xuan Chen Valley and the Tian Huo Dynasty have a long history of trade relations, so they should be able to acquire a considerable amount.

He wanted Su Qianxue to help him make a connection and obtain resources directly from Xuanchen Valley.

Of course, the benefits that are due will not be lacking.

Footsteps came from the stairwell.

He looked up, his gaze falling toward the doorway.

The door was pushed open, and a figure in moonlight walked in.

Su Qianxue.