Cultivation begins with harvest.

At the top of the purple mountain peak was a simple market town, but everyone walking there was a cultivator.

The two arrived at Zilong Ridge this morning. Chen Guang slept for more than three hours and then strolled around the market with great energy. There were many good things, but the prices were not cheap.

There's absolutely no chance of finding a bargain here.

Chen Guang thought to himself that he recognized the true nature of all the spiritual items displayed in the Zilongling market by these cultivators. Some items seemed vague, but Chen Guang had verified that they were all fakes designed to rip off unsuspecting cultivators. Even with his keen eye, Chen Guang had misjudged a large portion of the spiritual items without trying to get a bargain. Chen Guang also suspected that some of the spiritual items that were kept away from him under the pretext of preventing contamination were also fakes.

He was immediately relieved that Xingfeng Market was honest and straightforward; otherwise, as a novice who couldn't even touch the goods, he would have had to pay a lot of tuition to learn how to be smart.

Come to think of it, if you don't recognize something, take it back to the market and let an expert identify it. If they still can't identify it, then you can try your luck. Why put it out here and risk selling it for a profit or a loss?

After making his fortune this way, Chen Guang lost interest in continuing.

It's worth mentioning that the main trading currency here is still the Sui Yuan, and it can even be used for transactions in the Dongdu Market. This is the credit currency certified by the Qingheng Sect, so its price is naturally stable. In addition, carrying a batch of Sui Yuan is much more convenient than carrying other things, and cultivators around the Qingheng Sect can no longer live without Sui Yuan.

Within the sect, Suiyuan can be exchanged at a 1:1 ratio. Outside the sect, in places like independent cultivator markets and family forces where it can be exchanged, Suiyuan can be exchanged for spirit rice at a 1:1 ratio. However, the price of spirit rice in Suiyuan becomes 95 Suiyuan for every 100 jin of spirit rice.

Therefore, there are examples of using Qi-Nourishing Pills as currency in this market, which is probably due to the fact that they have been outside the sect for too long.

Chen Guang didn't really like using Qi-Nourishing Pills for transactions. It was difficult to distinguish between genuine and fake pills, and the price wasn't precise enough. Both parties in a transaction always had to be prepared to make concessions before it could proceed, making it more complicated.

Disheartened, Chen Guang returned to his residence. Wan Longjing had already fed the Crimson Horse and, seeing Chen Guang's return, couldn't help but ask curiously, "Junior Brother, what good things did you buy on this trip? Let me see them!"

Chen Guang asked curiously, "Senior brother, are you so sure I bought something?"

"This is your first time leaving the sect, and there are quite a few good things here. Junior Brother, can you resist?"

Chen Guang had no choice but to tell Wan Longjing his thoughts. After listening, Wan Longjing patted the Crimson Blood Horse helplessly: "No wonder Junior Brother has made such rapid progress. He is so clear-headed. Most cultivators can't help but spend money when they leave the sect for the first time in a stronghold like Purple Dragon Ridge. By the time they understand this, they have already suffered a lot of losses."

"It's getting late, let's set off. Heading east from Zilong Ridge, the journey won't be peaceful."

The two mounted the crimson steeds and transformed into a blood-red gust of wind, heading east.

……

Traveling is tedious. Purple Dragon Ridge is famous for its Purple Bamboo, named for the winding bamboo forest that resembles a snake or dragon. On Purple Dragon Ridge, there are more than ten small, independent cultivator families who mainly survive by handling miscellaneous tasks for the Qingheng Sect cultivators. They maintain the basic operation of the market and barely manage to stand firm by relying on the special products from the Purple Bamboo Forest.

But Chen Guang had already seen enough of this scenery. His mind was now entirely focused on the tiny, azure boat hidden in his sleeve. Suddenly, a look of joy appeared on his face. Sensing something, he turned around and saw a young man in a blue robe, his youthful face still bearing traces of his former self, riding a crimson horse from behind. Seeing Chen Guang and his companion, he spurred his horse on, waving excitedly and calling out, "Senior brothers, please wait a moment!"

Chen Guang and Wan Longjing both straightened up warily, but Wan Longjing's posture was more deliberate, as if he was clearly telling the other not to come closer.

The man in the blue robe ignored him and approached a little closer, smiling as he said, "Senior brothers, my name is Liu Zaiyuan. I've heard that there are Nine-Clawed Sheep cubs in Dongdu Market, and I'd like to buy one or two. Are you also going to Dongdu Market? It's on our way."

Chen Guang still remembered that yesterday, after Wan Longjing left the area within a thousand miles of Ziling Peak, he had casually explained to him some things to be wary of in Zilong Ridge.

For example, disguising oneself as a disciple of the Qingheng Sect.

Within the sect, everyone carries their identity token, but most cultivators choose to put it away after leaving the sect. Some unscrupulous individuals take advantage of this chaos.

"And these guys don't like dressing as women... That trick is too old-fashioned. Everyone knows that encountering a strange woman in public can easily lead to trouble, so it's actually harder to strike up a conversation at first. Nowadays, a naive young man is all the rage. This kind of simple-minded, silly guy, coupled with his masculine appearance, makes many people underestimate him and less wary."

Many Qingheng Sect cultivators, due to the curse, have almost unconditionally trusted their fellow disciples.

Every year people fall for it, and the following year people continue to fall for it. It's just that some scams become more obvious after a while, but new tricks quickly emerge.

What Wan Longjing said directly matched what was happening before his eyes.

As agreed, Chen Guang made his move. After a brief exchange, Wan Longjing readily relinquished control of the team, acknowledging that Chen Guang was stronger than him in combat. This should have been a setback for Wan Longjing, but on the contrary, having witnessed so many amazing feats by Chen Guang, he accepted it easily and naturally.

A fiery serpent slithered across Chen Guang's body, scattering scorching sparks as it moved, heading straight for the man in the blue robe.

Though it is a fiery serpent, it is as sharp as a blade.

The man in the green robe suddenly reined in his horse, and the crimson horse's strong body abruptly stopped its forward charge. Its forelegs leaped high into the air, and the fire snake, which flew past a foot in front of it, turned into specks of fire and disappeared.

The man in the blue robe looked surprised and uncertain before belatedly realizing that even if the fire snake had struck him, it wouldn't have caused much harm; it was more of a deterrent and a warning.

"Since my two senior brothers don't like me, then I'll just go my own way." The man in the green robe urged his crimson horse forward and turned to run away.

Watching the other's departing figure, Wan Longjing patted his crimson horse and whispered, "Hurry up!"

Chen Guang dared not delay and urged his Crimson Blood Horse to speed up and catch up.

Unfortunately, her reconnaissance spells were not particularly outstanding, and once the figure of the man in the blue robe disappeared, she also completely lost track of him.

At this moment, Wan Longjing looked around and sighed, "I don't know if he's real or fake. There are only two of us, so we're too easy to be targeted. Crimson Blood Horses aren't unique to the Qingheng Sect. There are some second and third generation Crimson Blood Horses outside. This group collects the mane from the dead Crimson Blood Horses and puts it on, making it almost indistinguishable from a real Crimson Blood Horse. When traveling, it's best not to believe anyone except those you know or who are leaving with you. It's better to avoid getting entangled if possible."

"We've only just left Zilong Ridge, not even a hundred li away yet," Chen Guang said.

"I certainly won't harm you right now, but if I get entangled with you for too long, with so many tricks cultivators have, who knows which one I might fall for? If I'm being petty, I can apologize later if we meet in the sect and are truly fellow disciples," Wan Longjing said.

Chen Guang nodded, and he and Wan Longjing chose a side path to leave.

Beyond Ziling Peak, there are no more broad roads; naturally, one should travel whichever way suits one's needs.