Raise a sword!

Inside the cultivation room, the spiritual energy coursing through Jiang Peng's body gradually calmed down.

After a moment of recuperation, he opened his eyes, his face flushed.

"bottleneck."

It has been a year since I came to Cangshan Market.

Throughout the year, Jiang Peng made steady progress and established a firm foothold in the market.

With ample resources of medicinal pills, his cultivation speed, though not as fast as those of sect geniuses, was still quite fast among independent cultivators.

However, after finishing her cultivation practice today, Jiang Peng encountered the biggest challenge she had faced since she began cultivating.

The bottleneck in the mid-stage of Qi Refining.

"I thought that with my early external cultivation and my mid-grade spiritual root, I would have no bottleneck in the mid-stage of Qi Refining, but I didn't expect that almost half a month has passed and my cultivation has stopped improving."

Jiang Peng had felt his spiritual energy reach saturation more than ten days ago. According to the usual pattern of breaking through realms, he only needed to cultivate step by step, and the bottleneck would naturally be broken through a few days later.

But the truth told Jiang Peng that he had oversimplified things.

Recalling the many experiences she had heard from the mutual aid society gatherings over the past few months, Jiang Peng realized that it was time for her to change her cultivation method.

The common "Qi Absorption Technique" is completely incapable of fully activating the fire spirit root, which is equivalent to wasting a portion of Jiang Peng's talent.

With this in mind, Jiang Peng began to calculate her assets.

"480 spirit stones, and two talismans given by Lan Yingying... The most valuable item is the 'Hundred Poisons Technique,' but it's hard to sell."

In fact, Jiang Peng had already checked the prices of martial arts techniques in the market.

Ordinary Five Elements cultivation techniques typically require only a few dozen to a couple hundred repetitions, but most of these techniques are incomplete or have limitations.

Switching to this kind of cultivation method may seem to bring some benefits in the short term, but in reality, it will only cause trouble for your future self.

"I need a superior fire-based cultivation technique, at least a complete Qi Refining chapter."

At the gathering, Liu Qinghe mentioned that cultivation methods of the same lineage share the same origin, and as long as one cultivates the complete method, switching to another method in the future will save a lot of trouble.

Moreover, the higher the level of the cultivation technique, the more beneficial it is to the cultivator's foundation when they are at a lower level.

Jiang Peng pondered in her heart.

Authentic Five Elements cultivation techniques are not sold anywhere in the market. They are either inherited from the Cangshan Sect or are family heirlooms that various families have somehow acquired.

They would never easily pass on their knowledge to outsiders.

"The simplest way is to join the Cangshan Sect, but joining a sect comes with many restrictions... I don't lack sect resources, and it's not worth selling myself just for cultivation techniques."

"If I ask the mutual aid association, they will most likely recommend that I join a noble family or a sect, there is no difference."

After thinking it over, Jiang Peng suddenly remembered something.

......

Northeast corner of the market.

Jiang Peng stayed in her corner, and the pills on her stall were quickly sold out.

Deposits exceeded 500.

However, Jiang Peng did not leave, but waited quietly.

It's a pity that Qian Laosi isn't here, otherwise Jiang Peng would have someone to chat with to pass the time.

After joining the Song family, Qian Laosi went straight to the front lines.

However, unlike those unlucky ones who directly resisted the beast tide.

The Song family's prodigy is currently enjoying immense prestige in the upper sect, so although the Song family also went to the front lines early on, they mostly did logistical work and cleaned up the battlefield.

There are few dangers, but many benefits.

At least every time Jiang Peng saw Qian Laosi return to the market, that guy always looked beaming with joy, as if he couldn't wait for people to know that he was having a lucky streak.

Around noon.

Jiang Peng saw a beautiful figure appear in the crowd of people in the market.

The two made eye contact across the crowd, and soon the beautiful figure came closer.

"Brother Jiang, were you waiting for me all this time?" Lan Yingying glanced at Jiang Peng's empty stall, somewhat surprised.

She was a regular customer of Jiang Peng's, and she would come to patronize the store every few days.

But after a year of knowing each other, her relationship with Jiang Peng was only slightly better than that of casual acquaintances.

Because of this, Lan Yingying often felt annoyed, thinking how could this person be so heartless.

How could she possibly win them over?

"It's a small matter, and I need Miss Lan's help." Jiang Peng produced a small bottle.

Lan Yingying took it without hesitation and opened it.

"Three Rejuvenation Pills? Brother Jiang is very generous. The front lines of the beast tide are currently in full swing, and Rejuvenation Pills have been speculated to be worth almost 20 spirit pills, and there is still no market for them."

Lan Yingying's eyes sparkled with a teasing smile.

"So it turns out Brother Jiang isn't ignorant of social etiquette, he just doesn't want to get close to me."

"Ahem, Miss Lan, please don't joke like that." Jiang Peng looked embarrassed.

He wasn't stupid; of course he could sense Lan Yingying's desire to take their relationship further.

It wasn't about romantic love; it was an attempt to recruit.

However, Jiang Peng naturally dislikes trouble, so he always avoids it, leaving Lan Yingying no chance to even speak.

Seeing that her teasing had reached its peak, Lan Yingying put away the pills and asked, "Speak, what is it?"

"I, Jiang, would like to see the Ghost Market. Please introduce me to it, young lady."

"Let's meet at Brother Jiang's house at midnight tonight."

As soon as she finished speaking, Lan Yingying quickly disappeared into the crowd.

Jiang Peng was still a little stunned.

"They agreed so easily?"

Even now, the market is still in wartime, maintaining the rule that entry is permitted but exit is not.

During her year in Fangshi, Jiang Peng had inquired about the Ghost Market, but even Qian Laosi couldn't give her a clear answer.

Jiang Peng believed that Liu Quan must know about this.

But Gui Shi knew immediately that it wasn't under the control of Cangshan Sect, and he didn't want to lose face in front of Liu Quan over this matter.

"It's much simpler than I imagined," Jiang Peng thought to himself.

...

At midnight, Lan Yingying appeared precisely at Jiang Peng's doorstep.

After activating the house's protective array, Jiang Peng quickly came out.

At this moment, Jiang Peng had changed into a black hooded robe, looking like someone who couldn't be seen in the light.

Lan Yingying didn't find it strange, and instead reached out her hand.

"Bring me 50 spirit stones."

Jiang Peng didn't understand why, but she did as instructed.

After receiving the spirit stone, Lan Yingying tossed a mask to Jiang Peng.

[Disguise Mask: A simple magical artifact that conceals appearance and hides cultivation level]

This was the first time Jiang Peng had ever seen the "simple magic artifact" level.

Moreover, the description of this mask doesn't even have options for dismantling or refining, which is completely different from other magical artifacts.

"This mask is the entrance ticket to the Ghost Market, costing 100 spirit stones each," Lan Yingying said. "The Ghost Market is located in the southern mountains; we'll leave the market from the south."

Jiang Peng put away her mask and asked curiously, "The market is under martial law, how are we going to get out?"

But then Lan Yingying's lips curved slightly upwards.

"The south side of the market is guarded by powerful families... The forces that can mass-produce such inferior magical artifacts and masks are the same forces that can maintain the prosperity of a ghost town. What's the big deal about letting someone leave?"

Jiang Peng raised an eyebrow and asked, "What if someone uses this as an excuse to escape the market and doesn't want to participate in the beast tide?"

"The Cangshan Sect's control over the market is more stringent than you think... Leaving isn't difficult, but when they recruit people, they can't find anyone. The person in charge just circles the name on the roster."

"At that time, although the Cangshan Sect will not pursue the matter, they will never be allowed to appear in the market again."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Peng recalled the thick booklet she had seen in Liu Quan's hands.

Yes.

Occupying such a precious cultivation ground, the Cangshan Sect never fears a lack of visitors.