Cultivation begins in Qingfeng Market.

For the next period of time, the market was very calm.

Zhu Yan didn't come back after he went back, but he would send messages every few days.

"Shoulder, another letter has arrived from Tianhuo."

Every few days, Old He would bring a talisman to Lin Zhao, and his smile grew deeper each time.

The messages were all the same: asking about the spirit boat's formation structure, the efficiency of the core spirit stones, the maximum speed, and whether it could be disassembled for inspection...

Lin Zhao would only reply with three words after hearing this: "Keep dragging it out."

Finally, the Heavenly Fire Dynasty could no longer hold back.

A team of twelve weapon refiners arrived at Cangyun Mountain, led by three second-tier weapon refiners.

Then the two sides engaged in a difficult tug-of-war. In fact, Lin Zhao would not provide the refining blueprint for the spirit boat that they wanted most, as there were many minor issues and disputes.

After several months of back-and-forth negotiations, the deal was finally struck: 10,000 mid-grade spirit stones, plus some second-tier high-grade materials, in exchange for a Crimson Sun Spirit Boat.

The price is 30% higher than a normal second-tier top-grade magic weapon, and the spirit boat is still in the Cangyun Mountain market.

Only after all the spirit stone resources have been handed over can the cultivators of the Heavenly Fire Dynasty depart.

However, Lin Zhao could tell that they actually wanted the crafting blueprints for the spirit boat more than the spirit boat itself.

After seeing them off, Old He turned back to his residence and reported the matter to Lin Zhao.

"What about the third-tier materials?" Lin Zhao asked.

"It's hopeless for now." Old He shook his head. "Zhu Yan can't make the decision, and the Core Formation cultivators on Tianhuo's side..."

They didn't treat this as a top priority, since while second-tier top-grade magic weapons are rare, magic treasures are the preferred choice for Core Formation.

Lin Zhao nodded, unsurprised.

Tier 3 materials belong to Core Formation cultivators.

Zhu Yan, being at the peak of Foundation Establishment, could not truly influence the decisions of a Core Formation cultivator.

"Let's talk slowly," Lin Zhao said. "Anyway, the big auction in Xiancheng is still a few years away."

---

Meanwhile, things were quite lively in the Zi Xuan Dynasty that year.

Hundreds of Foundation Establishment cultivators poured into the dynasty's territory from all directions; some were independent cultivators, and others were elders from small families.

There were also people like Zhou Yuanqing and his group—more than thirty disciples from various sects, a large and imposing group, who considered themselves invincible.

Zhou Yuanqing did indeed "do a lot of things".

In the first month, he led his men into a market town in Dongping County.

They said they wanted to "borrow some resources," and then all the resources on an entire street vanished.

The following month, they ran into another invading squad.

In the end, they wiped out all eighteen Foundation Establishment cultivators on the other side, while Zhou Yuanqing's side lost three early Foundation Establishment cultivators.

In the third month, they almost chose the largest independent cultivator market in Xihe County.

That market town was overseen by one cultivator at the peak of Foundation Establishment and three cultivators at the late stage of Foundation Establishment.

Zhou Yuanqing led his men in a strong attack, but ultimately failed—the rogue cultivators brought in reinforcements.

More than forty Foundation Establishment cultivators arrived and, in coordination with the market's formation, surrounded Zhou Yuanqing and his group.

Zhou Yuanqing did not want to use his trump card or reveal his identity as a disciple of the Holy Sect.

The group of cultivators hesitated for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn before finally making way for them to leave.

……

These messages were all relayed back by those ten Foundation Establishment cultivators.

They disguised themselves as independent cultivators and mingled with teams from various places, sending image stones and communication talismans to Cangyun Mountain every day.

Lin Zhao specially prepared a secret room in the basement of the garrison headquarters, with an information map of the Zi Xuan Dynasty hanging on the wall.

"The Prince Xin's Mansion and the Prince Ning's Mansion have been destroyed."

Yan Chiheng held the newly arrived recording stone, his tone tinged with schadenfreude.

Old He leaned closer to look, and the screen displayed the ruins of two princely mansions that had been razed to the ground.

The pavilions and towers were reduced to charred rubble, and the palace's protective array was uprooted, leaving only a few bottomless pits.

"These people are insane." Old He gasped. "Two royal palaces combined have over twenty Foundation Establishment cultivators and thousands of royal family members—and they just wiped them out like that?"

"Disguised as a Tribulation Cultivator," Yan Chiheng sneered. "But who would believe it? Do all the Tribulation Cultivators in the Purple Profound Realm combined have the guts to do that?"

Lin Zhao stared at the light screen without saying a word.

He was thinking about something else.

The ancestor of the Zheng family.

Just how big a scheme did this old man devise?

He spent decades spreading rumors that his lifespan was coming to an end, luring in hundreds of Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Now he watched helplessly as two royal palaces were destroyed—more than twenty Foundation Establishment cultivators and thousands of royal bloodlines were just bait in his eyes.

"He's probably not trying to hook up with Foundation Establishment cultivators," Lin Zhao said softly.

Yan Chiheng and Old He both looked at him at the same time.

"He's probably trying to hook a Core Formation cultivator."

The sealed room fell silent.

Yan Chiheng opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Old He also felt a chill run down his spine.

"I've heard a saying," Lin Zhao suddenly smiled, a faint smile, "that goes something like this: you want their interest, but they want your principal."

He shifted his gaze back to the light screen, looking at the remaining embers on the ruins.

"Anyway, we're not in a hurry. Let them have their fun; these guys aren't far from death."

----

In the fourth year since Lin Zhao arrived in the market, a heavy snow fell over the Zi Xuan Dynasty that winter, and many people died that year.

Lin Zhao sat cross-legged by the Nine Luminaries Thunder Pool, his body wreathed in fine electric light.

After more than a year of nurturing, the Thunder Pool has almost recovered, and the spiritual liquid has accumulated to 70%.

His supernatural power, the Nine Luminaries Thunder Claw, was also fully completed half a month ago.

Once the Nine Luminaries Thunder Pool is restored to its magical treasure form, his combat power will reach its current peak.

At that time, in this market, relying on magical treasures and the Four Spirits statue formation, even a Core Formation True Person would be considered to have arrived.

"It's not that we can't fight."

Lin Zhao murmured to herself.

Just then, hurried footsteps came from outside the secret room.

"grown ups!"

Old He's voice trembled slightly, a rare occurrence, "Something's happened in the capital!"

Lin Zhao got up, pushed open the door, and went out.

Yan Chiheng was already in the main hall of the garrison. A recording stone floated in front of him, projecting a light screen outwards.

The scene on the light screen silenced the three people present for a few moments.

That's the capital.

To be precise, it was the skies above the capital.

A gigantic humanoid phantom soared into the sky, but the phantom was slowly dissipating.

"The extraordinary phenomenon of achieving the Core Formation stage and passing away peacefully." Yan Chiheng's voice was very low. "Is this... real?"

Old He stared at the light screen, his brows furrowed: "Is that old bastard really dead? Or... is he faking it?"

Both of them looked at Lin Zhao at the same time.

Lin Zhao stood in front of the light screen, hands behind his back, motionless.

The face was illuminated and dimmed by the light and shadow, making it impossible to discern any expression.

After a long silence, he spoke.

"Keep an eye on it."

The snow was still falling, and countless cultivators were frantically rushing towards the capital.

Lin Zhao withdrew his gaze and turned to walk towards the secret room.

"We're still young," he said without turning his head. "We can afford to wait."

The footsteps gradually faded into the distance.

In the end, only Yan Chiheng remained in the hall, along with the recording stone that was still displaying strange phenomena.

He looked in the direction Lin Zhao had left, and suddenly chuckled.

I don't know whether to laugh at those fools who were rushing to their deaths, or at myself for having been tempted for a moment just now.

The relics of a Core Formation cultivator: third-tier magic weapons, third-tier spiritual items, and various spirit stone resources.

With Yan Chiheng's talent, if he were to obtain it, he could likely reach the peak of Foundation Establishment within ten years, and then form his Core...

"Damn it," he muttered, putting away the recording stone. "Continue cultivating, who cares if he's really dead or just pretending."