Cultivation begins in Qingfeng Market.

Three months later.

The secret chamber of the garrison headquarters.

Lin Zhao sat cross-legged in the center of the spirit-gathering array, surrounded by five vortexes of spiritual energy of different colors.

After seventy-three days of seclusion, he finally reached the end of the mid-Foundation Establishment stage.

Many people have been stuck on this step for ten or twenty years.

But for Lin Zhao, the opportunity for a breakthrough had already arrived more than a year ago.

The days spent tempering the body with lightning not only forged its muscles and bones, but also gradually eliminated the minor hidden dangers caused by the forced absorption of large amounts of resources.

This breakthrough is simply a natural consequence.

The spiritual energy within his body circulated wildly, absorbing the almost liquid spiritual energy from the Spirit Gathering Array.

At one moment, the spiritual energy suddenly stopped—and then, it was absorbed into his body with a roar.

Lin Zhao opened his eyes; he was in the late stage of Foundation Establishment.

Lin Zhao was fifty-five years old that year.

He got up and pushed open the stone door to the secret chamber.

-----

On the twenty-third day of Lin Zhao's seclusion, a rare guest arrived at the Cangyun Mountain Garrison.

When the man announced his arrival, he identified himself as Zhu Yan of the Heavenly Fire Dynasty.

Old He greeted the man outside the garrison headquarters. He saw that the man was about thirty years old, with a gentle face and wearing a red robe.

He stood with his hands behind his back at the entrance of the market, neither looking around nor urging the guards, but simply waiting quietly.

"Peak Foundation Establishment stage." Elder He narrowed his eyes. "Not older than a hundred, considered young among cultivators."

He went downstairs to greet his guest, his face plastered with his usual smile: "Fellow Daoist Zhu has come from afar, I am so sorry for not welcoming you properly. My lord is currently in seclusion, I did not know that you have come here..."

Zhu Yan bowed respectfully, displaying impeccable manners: "Fellow Daoist He, you are too kind. I was traveling through Zixuan when I happened to see a spirit boat taking flight over your market a few days ago. I was so excited by the sight that I took the liberty of coming here to inquire about it."

He spoke politely, but Old He understood—his words, "just happened to see," clearly implied that he was specifically targeting the Chiyang Spirit Boat.

"I see." Old He's smile remained unchanged. "That spirit boat was indeed crafted by my master himself. It is a second-tier, high-grade vessel named Crimson Sun."

"Come, come, Fellow Daoist Zhu, please come inside. Let's have a chat."

The two entered the reception room and took their seats as host and guest.

As the maidservant served tea, Old He didn't rush into business. Instead, he chatted about the customs and traditions of the Heavenly Fire Dynasty and anecdotes about the Zhu family's weapon refiners.

Zhu Yan answered every question with a humble attitude, but his gaze would occasionally drift to the window—the very sky where the spirit boat had been test-flown earlier.

Old He saw this and his smile deepened.

After three cups of tea, Zhu Yan finally couldn't contain himself and brought it up: "Fellow Daoist He, regarding the Crimson Sun Spirit Boat... I wonder if your market is interested in selling it?"

"Sell?" Old He looked troubled. "Well... Fellow Daoist Zhu, you may not know, but that spirit boat was specially crafted by my family's guardian, originally intended for our own use. However..."

He drew out the word, and Zhu Yan immediately replied, "But what?"

Old He pondered for a moment, as if carefully choosing his words: "My family's guardian has recently been researching several new magical artifacts, but there are some gaps in the materials."

If suitable fire-attribute refining materials are available, it's worth exchanging them. After all, while the spirit boat is excellent, it's ultimately an inanimate object. Only with materials can more magical artifacts be refined.

Zhu Yan's eyes lit up: "What materials? Fellow Daoist He, just say so. The Heavenly Fire Dynasty may not have much else, but it has plenty of fire-attribute materials."

Old He casually mentioned a few items, all of which were rare second-tier materials. "If there were third-tier refining materials, that would be even better."

Zhu Yan frowned slightly after hearing this—these materials were indeed valuable, but they were still within his reach.

However... he definitely can't make decisions about third-tier materials.

"Elder He, how many spirit stones would a spirit boat cost based on the cost of these materials?"

Old He held up three fingers: "About thirty thousand mid-grade spirit stones."

Zhu Yan gasped.

Thirty thousand mid-grade spirit stones are definitely too expensive for a second-tier high-grade spirit boat.

The problem is, this spirit boat is a second-tier high-grade fire-attribute spirit boat that even the Heavenly Fire Dynasty doesn't possess.

If we buy them back and have the weapon refiners disassemble and study them, and if we can replicate them, we might be able to mass-produce second-tier high-grade spirit boats. That would be of immeasurable value to the dynasty.

"The price... is negotiable," Zhu Yan said through gritted teeth, "but it will take time to gather the materials and spirit stones."

Old He chuckled and waved his hand, "No rush, no rush, Fellow Daoist Zhu can take his time to consider it."

He picked up his teacup and took a sip, then suddenly seemed to remember something and lowered his voice, saying, "Speaking of which, my master recently refined a fine item, but unfortunately he can't use it and is worried about how to sell it."

Zhu Yan's heart skipped a beat: "What good stuff?"

Old He looked around, as if to make sure there were no eavesdroppers in the wall, before taking out a piece of paper from his sleeve and handing it over.

On the paper, a dark gold longsword was meticulously depicted in fine brushstrokes, with demonic patterns flowing across the blade and the hilt carved into a ferocious demon head.

The label next to it reads: Crimson Flame Demon Blade, a second-tier top-grade magic weapon with five major characteristics: it can open the Crimson Flame Forbidden Domain, can grow by devouring living beings, and has the appearance of a magic treasure.

Zhu Yan stared at the paper, his pupils suddenly shrinking.

"This...this is..."

"My family member accidentally obtained a weapon-refining blueprint."

Old He said casually, "It took him thirty years to gather the materials and five years to forge it. Unfortunately, he was a swordsman and couldn't use it."

I was planning to trade it for some good stuff during the Tongming Immortal City's centennial auction...

"A once-in-a-century auction?" Zhu Yan looked up abruptly.

Zhu Yan took a deep breath and looked down at the note again.

This time, he read it extremely slowly, word by word, as if he wanted to engrave every word into his mind.

Crimson Flame Demon Blade.

Tier 2 Supreme Item.

Crimson Flame Forbidden Zone.

It grows by consuming.

The appearance of a magical treasure...

He practiced fire-based techniques and knew all too well what those words meant.

He had seen many second-tier top-grade magic artifacts, but those with a magic domain were a feature only found in quasi-magic treasures.

Moreover, it also contains the words "devouring growth"—meaning that this blade has the potential to be upgraded to a true third-tier magic weapon in the future.

A natal magic weapon with growth potential is more precious to a cultivator who practices fire-attribute techniques than a hundred ordinary magic weapons.

"Fellow Daoist He," Zhu Yan raised his head, his voice somewhat hoarse, "this sword...what should I exchange it for?"

"Third-tier materials." Old He held up three fingers. "One piece of Glazed Jade Marrow, or one piece of Bright Light Profound Gold, or three of the seven third-tier spirit feathers. Choose one, and you will receive an equivalent amount of high-grade spirit stones."

Zhu Yan fell silent.

None of these things are things that a Foundation Establishment cultivator like him can decide.

"Well, I... I need to go back and consult with a Core Formation Realm expert."

Old Master He nodded, smiling kindly: "Of course, of course. Fellow Daoist Zhu can go back and discuss it slowly, there's no rush."

Anyway, there are still three years until the big auction, and my husband will be in seclusion for a while longer.

Zhu Yan got up to take his leave, his steps quickening slightly compared to when he arrived.

Old He escorted the person to the market entrance, watching the crimson streak of light disappear into the horizon before turning back.