Cultivating immortality begins with formations.

The tactic of making an example of someone to scare others has indeed been effective.

Since then, the market has become much calmer, and there have been no more reports of raiders, robbers, or people breaking into shops to steal treasures, kill, or commit arson.

During this peaceful period, Lu Yuan handed over eighteen Qi-gathering array plates to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion in one go.

This was also his task as a guest elder of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, which lasted for half a year.

And it only took him a month.

"Old Luo, if I hand over the Qi Gathering Array Plate again within the next six months, you'd better exchange it for spirit stones."

Lu Yuan had previously inquired and learned that the auction at Jiulingfang Market would begin in three months.

He wanted to use these three months to accumulate more spirit stones.

At that time, he will not only want the longevity pill, but also, if the array diagram appears, he will definitely get it.

"Of course."

"From now on, the Hundred Treasures Pavilion will still purchase each Qi Gathering Array Plate for 120 low-grade spirit stones."

"Can."

Seeing that only a month had passed and Lu Yuan had already engraved eighteen Qi-gathering array plates, Manager Luo's face was beaming with joy.

But then, as if suddenly remembering something, he spoke again, "Unfortunately, you only have a low-grade spiritual root..."

Amazed by Lu Yuan's mastery of formations, Manager Luo expressed considerable regret in his words.

It's not impossible for someone with a low-grade spiritual root to establish a foundation, but the effort and massive resources required are simply immeasurable.

Even if one truly succeeds in establishing a foundation.

To continue cultivating, one must have a great opportunity to find rare and precious materials that can enhance one's spiritual root aptitude.

Otherwise, there is almost no possibility of forming a golden core.

In the cultivation world, it is generally acknowledged that the limit for those with inferior spiritual roots is only the Foundation Establishment stage.

Lu Yuan was well aware of this, so he was not in a hurry to improve his cultivation level.

His current cultivation speed is sufficient for him.

After leaving the Treasure Pavilion, Lu Yuan headed towards Willow Leaf Alley.

Tomorrow, Ji Ming will leave the market and join the demon-slaying team to head to the Nine Ridges Mountains to kill the Yinluo Palace cultivators.

Several of his fellow villagers had already made arrangements to go and see him off.

To be honest.

Lu Yuan couldn't understand why, since Yinluo Palace had already been destroyed, they didn't gather their remaining strength, stay away from the market, and perhaps make a comeback in the future.

Walking on the streets of Fangshi.

Lu Yuanyuan could see from afar that the city wall built by the strongmen and craftsmen was basically completed, and its height was several tens of feet.

In the previous life, this height would have been no more than ten stories, but in Jiulingfang City, it was already a behemoth.

And based on previous observations...

This city wall contains several large arrays, which, once activated, would make the city as impregnable as a fortress.

This city wall is a watershed; going out of the city gate leads to the outer city of the market.

The city walls are not currently in use and can be freely entered and exited, so many cultivators passing by simply stop and observe.

Many cultivators strolled along the foot of the city wall as if they were on a leisurely visit, completely at ease.

They were unaware of how much this city wall would change the layout of the market.

When Lu Yuan arrived at Willow Leaf Lane, he heard the pharmacist complaining to Ji Ming and Zhang Dashan: "What's wrong with the market? We've only just calmed down, and that old scoundrel surnamed Li is already raising the rent. He's really not giving us independent cultivators a single chance to make a living."

Willow Leaf Lane is located on the outer edge of the city's outskirts, and is slightly better off than the shantytowns.

The cultivators living here are mostly independent cultivators who have established themselves in the market by relying on a particular skill.

They didn't earn much to begin with, and after deducting living expenses and cultivation, there was hardly anything left. Now, with the rent increase, these struggling independent cultivators have no ability to withstand risks at all.

Of the four, the pharmacist was always a cultured old man who rarely swore, but he was clearly quite angry at this moment.

"Brother Lu, this time I'm not the last one to arrive."

Zhang Dashan was the first to see Lu Yuan enter the courtyard and immediately made a teasing remark.

He worked as a spirit planter for the Zhou family, living in the spirit fields around the market. He was always the last to arrive at the daily gatherings.

"I'm sorry I'm late."

Lu Yuan cupped his hands and smiled.

"Haha, I've only been here a short time either."

"I feel really bad that you had to make this trip because of Ji's matter."

Ji Ming apologized and bowed in greeting.

"Why be so polite between us? I brought a jar of fine wine with me today. Let's drink until we drop tonight."

"it is good."

"Let's make this clear first, no one is allowed to use their spiritual power to dispel the smell of alcohol."

In a harmonious atmosphere, the three invited the pharmacist to sit in the main seat before taking their own seats.

"The market has changed a lot these days. Xiao Lu, you live in the center of the market and work at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. Do you know any inside information?"

The old doctor was still thinking about the rent increase, so he asked Lu Yuan about it.

The three of them now know that Lu Yuan is in the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, and his ability to gather information is far superior to that of them, the scattered cultivators living on the outskirts.

Lu Yuan nodded with a serious expression and then told the three of them the information he had heard from Manager Luo without reservation.

"I see."

The old man stroked his beard and sighed, "I thought that after successfully mastering the Qi Condensation Pill, my days would only get better and better, but I never expected such a change to happen."

Even a speck of dust in the era, falling on a rogue cultivator, feels like a mountain, pressing down on them and making it hard to breathe.

Ji Ming and Zhang Dashan were also somewhat depressed.

The market is divided into an inner and outer city, controlling the range of the second-order spirit-gathering array. Those who are most affected are the market residents.

"Eh."

"Master Yao, can you now refine Qi Condensation Pills?"

Zhang Dashan suddenly realized what was happening, looked at the old doctor, and was overjoyed.

"Hehe~"

"I never imagined that my alchemy skills would improve so much in my old age..."

The old doctor chuckled.

Lu Yuan also stood up to offer his congratulations: "Master Yao is already a renowned physician in the secular world. Perhaps in the future, he will also become a master alchemist in the cultivation world."

"That's for sure." Zhang Dashan also stood up and raised his glass.

Ji Ming, who lived with the old doctor, already knew about this matter and said with a smile, "The old doctor said he wanted to give you a surprise, so he didn't let me tell you in advance."

The three rose to offer their congratulations, and the old physician also slowly rose, his face full of satisfaction: "What I am most proud of is not my medical skills..."

"From the secular world to the marketplace, seeing the three of you support each other and never forget your original aspirations is the greatest joy of my life."

Lu Yuanyi nodded in agreement.

What happens in the future is another matter, but at this moment, the friendship between the three has only grown stronger.

Most importantly, the old doctor possessed a pair of discerning eyes.

"I'm already an old man, I don't even dare to think about Foundation Establishment anymore. I only hope that the three of you will have good fortune and live long lives on the path of immortality."

"Dry!"

Seeing that Elder Yao had taken the lead in drinking his wine to the brim, Lu Yuan and the other two followed suit.

The old man is over eighty years old today, and his cultivation level is at the fourth level of Qi Refining. He has been stagnant for a long time. If he cannot break through within a few years, his physical functions will decline, and he will probably pass away.

"Master Yao, please don't say that. I once heard in the market that there was a senior who was ninety-three years old when he finally achieved the Foundation Establishment stage. You are not even ninety yet, and your alchemy skills have improved. It is the perfect time to strive. You must not lose heart."

Lu Yuan offered words of comfort.

He wasn't making things up to fool the old man; he had actually heard it from Manager Luo during a casual chat.

"Yes, I think you, Elder Yao, will live to be at least a hundred years old," Zhang Dashan chimed in without a care in the world.

"One hundred years old is not enough, you need to be at least two hundred. Besides, you don't have any offspring yet, so I think the widow Zhang next door would be quite suitable."

Ji Ming is usually a fake serious person, but he was joking and laughing at this moment, trying to rekindle Yao Lao's spirit.

"You guys..."

The old doctor laughed heartily and said, "Alright. Then I'll set a small goal for myself: to live to be a hundred years old."

"And one more thing..."

"I wouldn't be interested in Widow Zhang. Although I'm old, I still prefer young women."

In a short time.

The atmosphere became lively again, and the four of them laughed and raised their glasses to drink together. In this cannibalistic market, they had finally preserved that genuine friendship.