Mortal: Starting with the Seven Mysterious Sects, I proved my Dao through sacrifice.

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When he first explored the immortal's cave, he triggered a restriction. A powerful suction force came from the vortex, as if it wanted to pull his soul in. Fortunately, he withdrew in time and was able to escape.

Remembering the two sets of jade slips in the stone chamber, Murong Fan resolved to explore his ancestors' cave again. However, finding a way to break the divine power was the most crucial matter at hand. Therefore, he decided to go to the Yellow Maple Valley market again to gather information.

The market in Huangfeng Valley was still bustling with activity, filled with the sounds of vendors hawking their wares and haggling. Murong Fan, dressed in a sleek blue outfit, moved through the crowd with a calm expression but sharp, eagle-like eyes.

He was no longer as bewildered as when he first entered the market, but went straight to several shops that were famous for selling ancient books, jade slips and forbidden materials.

"Fellow Daoist, do you have any jade slips containing methods to break the ancient restrictions on absorbing divine consciousness?" He walked into a shop called "Zhiwen Pavilion" and asked a shrewd-looking shopkeeper with a goatee.

The shopkeeper sized him up, noticing his composed demeanor, unlike that of an ordinary Qi Refining cultivator. He then politely said, "Ancient restrictions are unfathomable, and related texts are rare. My shop does have a few basic books like 'Introduction to Restrictions' and 'A Brief Explanation of Runes,' but as for methods to break them, we don't have any. If you really have such a need, you might want to try your luck at the 'Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion' in the center of the market. Occasionally, some extraordinary people will consign rare items there."

Murong Fan thanked the shopkeeper and then visited several other shops, but to no avail. Just as the shopkeeper had said, knowledge related to ancient restrictions was extremely valuable, and ordinary shops would never have it in stock. He was slightly disappointed, but not discouraged, and headed towards Wanbaolou.

Wanbaolou truly lives up to its reputation as the largest auction house in the market. The three-story building, with its carved beams and painted rafters, exudes an extraordinary grandeur. Inside, the building teems with people. The first floor is a sales area, displaying a dazzling array of elixirs, magical artifacts, and materials.

Murong Fan had no interest in looking closely and went straight up to the second floor. The second floor was the consignment area, with each individual counter displaying more valuable items, all under the supervision of staff.

He glanced at each item, his gaze lingering for a moment on a tortoise shell emitting a faint spiritual light, before shaking his head and walking away. Suddenly, he stopped in front of a secluded counter. Behind the counter sat an elderly man meditating with his eyes closed. Only a few items were displayed on the counter. The old man suddenly spoke, "Fellow Daoist, please wait. I have heard of what you asked earlier, but..."

Murong Fan's heart skipped a beat, but his face remained expressionless. He took out fifty low-grade spirit stones from his storage bag and placed them on the counter: "Fifty low-grade spirit stones, how about that?"

The old man glanced at the spirit stone, nodded, and said indifferently, "Young Daoist Qianji Pavilion in the Tianyue Sect of Yuanwu Kingdom may go there!" After saying that, he waved his hand to signal Murong Fan to leave.

Upon hearing this, Murong Fan immediately rushed to the Tianyue Sect Market in Yuanwu Kingdom.

Along the way, a graceful and beautiful young girl was surrounded by several monks dressed in uniform. The girl was pale and covered in dust, but her beauty could not be hidden. She clutched a cloth bag tightly in her hands, and her eyes were filled with a mixture of stubbornness and fear.

"Little girl, hand over what you're carrying, and we might spare you a beating, otherwise..." the triangular-eyed monk in the lead threatened menacingly.

"This little slut, though dressed plainly and covered in dust, is still a top-quality woman. Why don't we brothers take her in as a cultivation vessel, absorb her yin energy to improve our cultivation? That wouldn't be bad!" A fat cultivator licked his lips and said lewdly.

"This is a keepsake left to me by my mother, I absolutely cannot give it to you!" the girl said stubbornly, biting her lip.

"Relics? Hahaha, in this desolate wilderness, where the strong rule in the cultivation world, your things are now ours! And you are ours too!" The triangular-eyed cultivator grinned maliciously, reaching out to snatch the cloth bag from the girl's arms. Several other cultivators swarmed forward, ready to assault the beautiful girl.

Murong Fan frowned slightly. He wasn't one to meddle in other people's business, but seeing the girl all alone and helpless, and those cultivators being so overbearing, he couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy. Besides, he was now a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator; dealing with these Qi Refining stage minions was a piece of cake for him.

Just as the triangular-eyed monk's hand was about to touch the cloth bag, a hand suddenly grabbed his wrist. The triangular-eyed monk felt a tightness in his wrist, and a powerful force came through, making him grimace in pain.

"Huh? Who's the blind fool who dares to meddle in your grandfather's business?" the triangular-eyed cultivator roared, turning to look at the person grabbing his wrist—it was Murong Fan. When he saw the Foundation Establishment cultivator's aura emanating from Murong Fan, his expression changed drastically, and his arrogance vanished instantly: "So it's a Foundation Establishment senior! Misunderstanding, misunderstanding! We were just joking, we'll leave, we'll leave! Senior, spare my life, senior, spare my life!"

The other cultivators were also terrified, their faces turning pale, and they all retreated. Their legs trembled as they scrambled away in a sorry state.

Murong Fan released his grip and gave them a cold glance: "Get lost."

"Yes, yes!" The triangular-eyed monk felt as if he had been granted a pardon and led his men away in a sorry state.

Murong Fan originally intended to kill them all.

However, considering that this place was within the territory of the Yuanwu Kingdom, he ultimately gave up the idea.

The young girl, still shaken, looked at Murong Fan with eyes full of gratitude: "Thank you so much for saving my life, senior! I am Lin Qingzhao. May I ask your esteemed name, senior?"

"It was nothing, no need for thanks," Murong Fan said calmly, not wanting to dwell on it further.

The young woman stopped Murong Fan and said, "My father said that a drop of kindness should be repaid with a spring of gratitude. Why won't you leave your name, my benefactor? I will certainly repay you in the future!"

"Miss Lin, you flatter me. My surname is Murong, and what I did just now was nothing more than a small favor, nothing to mention," Murong Fan said calmly.

"Where does Young Master Murong wish to go?" Miss Lin asked sweetly.

"I'm going to the Tianyue Sect Market to visit the Qianji Pavilion." Seeing the other party's persistence, and knowing that he had come for this very reason, Murong Fan no longer concealed anything and said calmly.

"Oh, Young Master Murong is so handsome and dashing, you must be meeting a female cultivator today, right?" Miss Lin teased with a shy smile.

Murong Fan did not answer her question, but continued on his way.

"Is Young Master Murong going to the Thousand Machines Pavilion in the Tianyue Sect Market?" Upon hearing this, Miss Lin paused slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes. She then smiled and said, "That's quite a coincidence—my family runs a shop in the Tianyue Sect Market, and my father is none other than Lin Xiaotian, the Pavilion Master of the Thousand Machines Pavilion. I came down the mountain disguised to purchase spiritual materials for the pavilion, but I was attacked on the way. Fortunately, you saved me, Young Master. Since you are going to the Thousand Machines Pavilion, I can also introduce you to it along the way."

Unexpectedly, this girl he had just met was the daughter of the Thousand Machines Pavilion Master. He nodded calmly, "I see, thank you, Miss Lin."

With the clue to breaking the cave's seal so close, he suppressed his inner turmoil and focused his gaze on the cloth bundle in Lin Qingzhao's arms: "Was what was stolen from you just now something important, young lady?"

Lin Qingzhao stroked the cloth bundle in her arms and said softly, "These are just some of my mother's belongings. Although the Thousand Machines Pavilion is based on intelligence, it would be a laughing stock if word got out that the Pavilion Master's daughter had encountered danger abroad. My father will definitely thank Young Master Murong personally for saving my life. He might really be able to help with the matter of the ancient restrictions—the Thousand Machines Pavilion's 'Complete Record of Ten Thousand Restrictions' might hold the answer you're looking for."

Murong Fan was secretly delighted; it was truly a case of finding something without even looking for it. He pondered for a moment and said, "To be honest, I do have something I wish to ask the Pavilion Master of Qianji Pavilion. I wonder if Miss Lin could introduce me?"

"An introduction is no problem," Lin Qingzhao said playfully, her eyes twinkling. "However, Young Master Murong, you saved my life, and I haven't repaid that kindness yet. How about this, you come back to Qianji Pavilion with me. My father is extremely hospitable and will definitely treat you warmly. If you need anything then, just tell my father. He's very knowledgeable and experienced; perhaps he can really help you."

Seeing that her words were sincere and not insincere, Murong Fan nodded and said, "In that case, thank you very much, Miss Lin."

"Don't mention it," Lin Qingzhao smiled and led Murong Fan toward the market not far ahead. "Young Master Murong, our Thousand Machines Pavilion is not only well-informed, but also has many rare treasures hidden inside. I'll show you around later; maybe you'll find something you like."

As they walked and talked, Murong Fan learned a lot about the Tianyue Sect's market and the Qianji Pavilion from Lin Qingzhao.

The Tianyue Sect's market is much larger than Huangfeng Valley's, with more cultivators and a more diverse and freer mix of people. However, it is equally governed by strict rules and is directly controlled by the Tianyue Sect. The fact that Qianji Pavilion can establish itself in such a complex market and even become an intelligence hub speaks volumes about its strength.

Before long, the two arrived at the entrance of the market. Two massive blue stone archways stood at the entrance, inscribed with the four powerful characters "Tianyue Market," emitting a faint spiritual light. Disciples of the Tianyue Sect stood guard at the entrance, checking the cultivators entering the market.

Lin Qingzhao was clearly a familiar face here; the disciples on duty all bowed respectfully to her, saying, "Miss Lin."

Lin Qingzhao nodded slightly and led Murong Fan straight inside. Upon entering the market, a scene even more bustling and lively than that of Huangfeng Valley Market came into view.

Shops lined both sides of the street, their calls rising and falling in a cacophony of hawkers' cries. Cultivators thronged the area, their attire becoming increasingly diverse. There were sect disciples clad in magnificent robes, lone cultivators carrying long swords with aloof expressions, and even some strangely dressed, eerie alien cultivators.

"Young Master Murong, this way please. Qianji Pavilion is located in the central area of ​​the market." Lin Qingzhao led Murong Fan through the crowd with familiarity, winding his way to a pavilion that looked inconspicuous, but whose entrance was always guarded by two Foundation Establishment cultivators with solid auras. On the plaque above the pavilion were the three ancient seal characters "Qianji Pavilion".

Compared to the surrounding opulent shops, Qianji Pavilion appears somewhat low-key, but its understated demeanor makes it all the more formidable.

"We've arrived. This is our Thousand Machines Pavilion," Lin Qingzhao said to Murong Fan with a smile. "Father should be inside. I'll take you to see him now."

Murong Fan could not hide his excitement; the method to break the ancient restriction had finally been found.