I gain ten years' worth of cultivation every day, and even geniuses will only see my doorstep!

"Senior Brother Qin!"

A voice came from below.

Qin Yuan looked down and saw a young disciple running up the steps and stopping in front of him, panting.

He recognized the disciple—he was a member of the third squad of the Sky Patrol Guard, named Zhao Zheng, a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, clever and reliable.

"Zhao Zheng? What are you doing here?"

Zhao Zheng clasped his hands in a salute, and after catching his breath, said, "Senior Brother Qin, Captain Liu asked me to convey a message—the Five Great Sects Trade Fair will be held in Wanbao City in three days, and Taiyi Sect has ten spots available. Captain Liu said that if Senior Brother Qin needs to collect any materials, he can take this opportunity to go and take a look. He has already reserved a spot for you."

Qin Yuan's heart stirred.

The Five Great Sects Trade Fair is the largest cultivator trade event in Qingzhou. It is held every three years and is hosted by the five great sects in rotation. At that time, not only the disciples and elders of the five great sects participate, but also the affiliated sects, independent cultivators, and merchants flock to the event.

He was looking for information about the whereabouts of the Wind Spirit Feather and the Mystic Ice Soul, and this trade fair came at just the right time.

"Please thank Senior Brother Liu for me," Qin Yuan said. "I will be there on time in three days."

Zhao Zheng nodded, then remembered something and said, "By the way, Captain Liu also asked me to tell Senior Brother that there might be people from the Netherworld Palace at the trade fair. Li Wanhun is also said to be in Wanbao City, so Senior Brother should be careful."

Qin Yuan's eyes flickered slightly.

Li Wanhun...

Within the Temple of the God of War, this person had repeatedly spied on him in secret, clearly still coveting what he had gained. Now that he had just successfully transcended his tribulation and his cultivation level was not yet fully stable, it was precisely the "best time to strike" in Li Wanhun's eyes.

But Qin Yuan didn't care.

The difference in combat power between him at the early stage of Void Refinement and him at the peak of Deity Transformation is like heaven and earth.

If Li Wanhun dares to make a move—

He wouldn't mind using this "Ghost King" of the Underworld Palace to test the true power of the Nine Revolutions Nascent Soul.

"I see."

Qin Yuan patted Zhao Zheng on the shoulder.

"Go back and tell Senior Brother Liu that we'll meet at Wanbao City in three days."

Three days later, Wanbao City.

This city, located in the heart of Qingzhou, does not belong to any sect but is a "free city" jointly governed by the five major sects. Private duels are prohibited within the city, and violators will be subject to joint sanctions by the five major sects—this is the only absolutely safe zone in Qingzhou.

This is why the trade fair, held every three years, attracts countless cultivators.

Some came to Taobao, some to sell their wares, some to barter, and others to build connections and gather intelligence.

Qin Yuan arrived on the first day of the trade fair.

The city gates were wide open, and cultivators thronged the area. Crowds dressed in various attire and carrying all sorts of magical treasures flowed in an endless stream. The noise, bargaining, the humming of magical treasures, and the howls of spirit beasts mingled together, creating a noisy sea.

Qin Yuan followed the flow of people into the city.

He didn't rush to the trade fair venue, but instead took a stroll around the city first.

Wanbao City is not large, only about thirty miles in circumference, but it is divided into five areas: east, west, south, north, and center. The center is the main venue for the trade fair, where the five major sects each have their own stalls; the four areas of east, west, south, and north are free trading areas, where independent cultivators and small sects can set up stalls.

Qin Yuan wandered around the North District for half an hour without finding anything.

Most of the items sold here are of grade four or lower. Occasionally, there are a few grade five items, but they are of mediocre quality and overpriced. As for the Wind Spirit Feather and the Mystic Ice Soul that he was looking for, there wasn't even a trace of them.

He turned and headed towards the main venue.

The main venue was a giant plaza with a radius of a thousand feet, surrounded by tents and stalls of various colors. The five high platforms in the very center belonged to the five major sects: Taiyi Immortal Sect, Wanjian Pavilion, Xuantian Sect, Qingmu Sect, and Youming Palace.

At the Taiyi Immortal Sect's stall, Liu Suifeng stood with his hands behind his back, talking to a disciple of the Ten Thousand Swords Pavilion. Upon seeing Qin Yuan, he smiled slightly and came forward.

"Junior Brother Qin, you've come at the right time." He lowered his voice, "I just received news that there is a Xuanbing Soul at the Xuantian Sect's stall."

Qin Yuan's eyes lit up.

"really?"

"It's pretty much true," Liu Suifeng said. "It was brought by a disciple of the Ice Element lineage of the Xuan Tian Sect. They say they intend to exchange it for a Lightning Element treasure. If you have something like a Lightning Tribulation Core, you might be able to succeed."

The core of the lightning tribulation.

When Qin Yuan underwent the Nine Heavens Tribulation, he did collect some "Tribulation Cores" formed from the remnants of heavenly lightning. These were one of the materials he intended to use to refine the "Seed of Stars," but since he already possessed the complete remnants of the Nine Heavens Tribulation, these cores were dispensable.

He nodded: "I'll go take a look."

Liu Suifeng said, "I'll go with you. I have some connections with Lei Dong at the Xuantian Sect, so I can help you make the connection."

The two walked through the crowd and arrived at the Xuantian Sect's stall.

The Xuantian Sect's stall was slightly smaller than the Taiyi Sect's, but it was also surrounded by people. Leading the group was a woman in blue, with a cold face and an aura as frosty as ice—it was Ling Shuanghua.

Standing beside her was a burly young man, whose body was faintly crackling with lightning—Lei Dong.

As soon as Qin Yuan and Liu Suifeng appeared, Lei Dong looked up.

"Qin Yuan." He grinned, his fighting spirit undisguised. "I heard you survived the Nine Heavens Tribulation? Too bad I didn't see it with my own eyes. When will we have a spar?"

Qin Yuan said calmly, "I'm available anytime."

The light in Lei Dong's eyes shone even brighter.

Ling Shuanghua glanced at Qin Yuan, her gaze lingering on his face for a moment before looking away.

"What brings Qin Daozi here?"

Qin Yuan cut to the chase: "I've heard that your sect possesses the Mysterious Ice Soul, and I'm willing to exchange it for the Thunder Tribulation Core."

He took out a fist-sized, dark purple crystal with flowing lightning patterns on its surface from his storage ring.

As soon as the core of the lightning tribulation appeared, a collective gasp filled the air around them.

The core of the lightning tribulation, formed from the lightning tribulation of the nine heavens, is an excellent material for refining lightning-type treasures, and its value far exceeds that of ordinary Xuanbing Soul!

Lei Dong's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Great stuff!" he blurted out. "Senior Sister Ling, let's trade our Xuanbing Soul for it!"

Ling Shuanghua ignored him.

She looked at Qin Yuan and said calmly, "The Xuanbing Soul is indeed in my possession. However, while the Thunder Tribulation Core is precious, it is not what I need. If Qin Daozi wishes to exchange it, he must offer an ice-type treasure, or—"

She paused.

"—Do me a favor."

Qin Yuan asked, "What kind of busy work?"

Ling Shuanghua remained silent for a moment.

"It's not convenient to talk about this here." She glanced at Liu Suifeng. "If Qin Daozi is sincere, we can have a private talk at the Zuixianlou Restaurant in the east of the city tonight at midnight."

Lei Dong was stunned for a moment, and his gaze toward Ling Shuanghua became strange.

Liu Suifeng's lips curled up slightly, and he wisely remained silent.

Qin Yuan pondered for a moment.

The Essence of Profound Ice is one of the key materials for him to break through to the third level, and he is determined to obtain it. Although Ling Shuanghua is aloof, she is not a treacherous person and should not set a trap for him.

"Alright." He nodded. "Tonight at midnight, at Zuixianlou."

Ling Shuanghua nodded slightly and said no more.

Qin Yuan and Liu Suifeng turned and left.

After leaving the area of ​​the Xuantian Sect's booth, Liu Suifeng finally couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Junior Brother Qin, do you know what Ling Shuanghua's status is in the Xuan Tian Sect?"

Qin Yuan shook his head.