Yun Ze and Bu Bu walked along, pausing at each colored lantern to gauge the value of the items displayed.
They were surprised by what they discovered.
A cultivation technique that could lead to the ninth level of Qi Condensation was worth only three spirit stones!
A mortal artifact nearing the peak of spiritual artifacts was valued at five spirit stones, while true spiritual artifacts cost thousands!
A millennium-old Ganoderma lucidum, worth a fortune in the mortal world, was only one spirit stone here. A common medicinal herb that had absorbed a mere trace of spiritual energy in the cultivation world, and was only ten years old, cost ten spirit stones.
As for the elixirs, they were even more expensive!
An unrefined pill that could help Qi Condensation cultivators speed up their cultivation was worth one hundred spirit stones. The legendary first-grade elixir, the Foundation Establishment Pill, said to aid in breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage, was priceless and had a market price of ten thousand spirit stones per pill, yet none could be bought!
Other ordinary first-grade elixirs ranged from three thousand to eight thousand spirit stones.
Yun Ze could only shake his head in amazement.
Who knew the true value of the pot of Deng Xian that Yu Xian had gifted him!
He suspected it was close to the price of a Foundation Establishment Pill, if not comparable.
However, he had to admit, these elixirs were truly expensive! The cultivators who refined them must be rolling in wealth!
If he had the chance in the future, he wished he could learn how to refine them. He imagined it was no different from cooking, just a matter of controlling the heat.
After searching for a while, Yun Ze finally found the stall with white lanterns. A sign stood beside it, bearing two lines of text.
One line read: "All worldly matters can be inquired, all paths to immortality can be known."
The other line, written in red, stated: "If someone is inquiring at the stall, please do not disturb."
When Yun Ze arrived, a figure cloaked in black was standing before the stall, seemingly asking a question.
He and Bu Bu could only wait silently on the side.
About fifteen minutes later, the black-cloaked figure erupted with energy, smashing a fist onto the table and shouting a few words at the stall owner.
Even from such close proximity, Yun Ze couldn't make out what the person was saying, likely due to some immortal technique.
After the black-cloaked figure finished shouting, they turned to leave. It was at this moment that Yun Ze heard a voice.
"Damn it! Wasting time again!"
That voice...
It was the immortal!
He could never forget that voice!
Yun Ze's heart trembled, and he instinctively reached for the cloth bag hidden at his waist, a murderous intent surfacing!
"Hmm?"
The black-cloaked figure stopped a few steps away as if sensing something, and seemed about to turn around!
Not yet! He wasn't a match for that person!
Yun Ze quickly channeled spirit energy into his feet, activating the Shadow Pursuit. Just as the figure began to turn, his own form vanished from the spot, and his killing intent dissipated simultaneously.
Seeing only a young girl standing in the spot where the killing intent had been, the black-cloaked figure's gaze shifted to the white lantern stall further away. Seemingly misunderstanding something, they let out a cold snort and turned to leave again.
Yun Ze waited for a few breaths before withdrawing the spirit energy from the Shadow Pursuit.
"Was it him?" Bu Bu asked, as if already guessing.
"Yes."
Yun Ze clenched his fists, but dared not look at the retreating figure, fearing he would be discovered again.
If he were discovered now, it would either alert the enemy, or... he would be bitten by the viper and killed!
"Are you sure?"
"I will never forget his voice."
"What a coincidence."
Indeed, what a coincidence!
Yun Ze's gaze fell upon the stall hanging with white lanterns.
Perfect!
That person had just inquired for information, and he only needed to inquire about that person. It should be much cheaper, right?
Yun Ze and Bu Bu quickly walked forward and arrived at the white lantern stall.
A person in a white cloak, whose face and gender were indistinguishable, sat under the white candlelight. Seeing Yun Ze sit down, a hoarse voice emerged, "What do you wish to know?"
"Boss, I want to know the identity of that person just now."
The voice was also indistinguishable, so Yun Ze could only address the person as "Boss."
The Boss hesitated for a few breaths, then chuckled, "Hehehe, seeking revenge?"
"...Does selling information require knowing such things?" Yun Ze did not answer directly, only frowning in response.
"No enmity, ten spirit stones."
"Enmity, then it's half price, with a bonus message."
Hmm?
It seemed that person had offended the Boss just now.
Yun Ze's lips curved upwards, but thinking of the three spirit stones in his cloth bag, he couldn't help but feel helpless. He had no choice but to brace himself and say, "Can three spirit stones work? Without the bonus message."
The white cloak remained silent, only tapping the tabletop with a hand.
Yun Ze looked down and saw that a line of text was also carved on the tabletop...
Information is priceless, prices are not negotiable.
Truly demanding.
Yun Ze frowned in frustration and had to stand up, cupping his hands towards the white cloak, "Please wait a moment, Boss, I'll be right back."
He was only two spirit stones short, so he would have to ask Brother Yu for another loan.
"You, what is this enmity?"
Just as Yun Ze was about to turn and leave, the white cloak spoke again, "If this information is valuable, it can be exchanged for two spirit stones."
"...A deadly feud."
Yun Ze finally revealed the matter, explaining, "He killed my parents and used an evil technique to create demonic artifacts. Either he lives or I live in this world.
Boss, is this information worth two spirit stones?"
"It is!"
The white cloak's voice carried no discernible emotion, as if it had been processed. Then, they tapped the table again, "Pay first, then receive the information."
"Thank you!"
Yun Ze's heart rejoiced. He had already troubled Yu Xian enough and truly did not want to owe any more favors.
He quickly took out three spirit stones from his cloth bag, placed them on the table, and pushed them towards the white cloak.
The white cloak swept their sleeve, collecting them, and slowly began to speak, "This person is an outer disciple of the Gui Wu Sword Sect, with a cultivation of ninth-level Qi Condensation.
The Gui Wu Sword Sect is being led by Ji Kun this time, who is at the late stage of Core Formation. He is accompanied by three Foundation Establishment disciples and nine Qi Condensation disciples.
Among the Qi Condensation disciples, there are four males and five females. I have seen two of the males. This person is one of the other two, and should be called... Chen Xiao."
"As for the bonus message, he is looking for an immortal jade pendant lost in the mortal world. That was the question he just asked me."
"Chen Xiao."
Yun Ze frowned and mulled over the name. When he heard "Gui Wu Sword Sect," his heart couldn't help but tremble.
Senior Xiao had instructed him to participate in this Ascension Assembly and join the Gui Wu Sword Sect. He had also said that he would meet the enemy who killed his parents at this Ascension Assembly.
Seeing him now, it was indeed true!
However, he didn't think too deeply, merely believing that Senior Xiao's foresight was divine and that this information had been obtained through immortal means.
"Thank you, Boss."
Yun Ze cupped his hands in thanks again and turned to leave. But as he turned, the white cloak's voice rang out once more.
"One hundred meters to your left, there is a stall with black lanterns. You can exchange the bag at your waist for a life. Just say I introduced you, and you'll get a discount."
"Perhaps not."
Yun Ze turned to look at the Boss, "Some grudges must be avenged personally."
"Then I wish you good luck."
"Thank you."
Yun Ze replied, then turned and walked towards the end of the immortal market.
He had accomplished what he set out to do, had no spirit stones left, and the time was almost up. Naturally, it was time to find Yu Xian.
Although his mind was filled with thoughts of revenge, he still wanted to see what Yu Xian meant by truly broadening his horizons.
The two walked towards the end of the immortal market, noticing that the pedestrians were all heading in that direction, suggesting something significant was about to happen.
When Yun Ze reached the end of the immortal market, it was already crowded with people. However, he immediately spotted Yu Xian, sitting on Brother Donkey and carrying a wooden board.
Just as he was about to push through the crowd, he saw a familiar figure flash by.
Him again!
Seeing him again, Yun Ze's excitement diminished somewhat, and an idea popped into his mind.
The Shadow Pursuit was a second-grade spiritual artifact, undetectable by those below the Core Formation stage. He was only at the ninth level of Qi Condensation.
Did that mean he could approach the person stealthily, and then... kill them and take their artifact!