This so-called betrayal was not of the flesh, but of information.
Besides the rogue cultivators who had flocked on the first day hoping to strike it rich, two other forces had been inquiring about his whereabouts for the past three days.
One of them was the silver-haired elder who had bid against Yu Xian.
He had been patrolling the immortal market for cultivators without lanterns when he happened to see the silver-haired elder inquiring at Luo Shang's stall.
Although he couldn't hear what they discussed at the time, Luo Shang later sold him the information about the silver-haired elder's inquiry for a friendly price of one spirit stone.
The silver-haired elder was looking for his whereabouts.
Luo Shang hadn't revealed any clues to the silver-haired elder, only adding a sentence to supplement Yun Ze's established persona...
She dared not speak!
This had thoroughly solidified Yun Ze's mysterious persona, yet the silver-haired elder had not given up, as if obsessed with the Earth Soul Liquid, insisting on finding it.
The second force, while not as persistent, employed terrifying methods!
However, according to the cultivators coming and going in the immortal market, that force was close to turning the entire Tangshan Dynasty upside down!
They had even offered a bounty of fifty thousand spirit stones for a drop of Earth Soul Liquid, with ten thousand of those stones redeemable for a Foundation Establishment Pill!
That was a clear profit of a Foundation Establishment Pill!
If Yun Ze hadn't agreed to the bet with Yu Xian, he might have already traded it away!
What was the point of being a proper Foundation Establishment cultivator or not?
He didn't know how long it would take him to reach Foundation Establishment, so securing a Foundation Establishment Pill first was the safest bet!
If he were to sell his information to these two forces, he might actually get a good price!
But... how should he sell it?
Yun Ze pondered for an entire night and finally came up with a foolproof plan the next morning!
Seeing the sun rise, he hurried to find Ji Shan.
"Brother Shan, are you free?"
"Little Yun."
Ji Shan, having just emerged from his night of cultivation, saw Yun Ze approaching. "What is it?"
"If I have something I want to auction, what's the procedure?"
"Auction?"
Ji Shan was taken aback for a moment, then, as if realizing something, hurriedly advised, "Little Yun, don't be foolish!
There are many spiritual items to expand the Qi Sea, but Earth Soul Liquid is extremely rare. Don't abandon the root for the branches!"
"Don't worry, Brother Shan, I'm not selling Earth Soul Liquid, but..."
Yun Ze raised his hand and pointed to himself: "Me."
"You? You want to sell yourself?"
"This..."
Ji Shan frowned, looking helpless. "Little Yun, I'm not trying to be difficult, but ever since the Immortal Emperor established the Immortal Mansion nine thousand years ago, slavery has been abolished. Even if you want to sell yourself, we wouldn't dare to accept!"
"Who said I'm selling myself!"
Yun Ze chuckled helplessly. "I mean selling my information!"
"Selling your..."
Upon hearing this, Ji Shan had a general idea of what Yun Ze meant. He lowered his head in thought for a few moments, then looked up and asked, "This information can indeed be put up for auction, but Little Yun, have you thought it through?
Our Immortal Gathering will not sell false information. If you truly wish to sell it, you must reveal your true hiding place."
"I've decided!"
Yun Ze nodded emphatically. He knew what Ji Shan was worried about, so he laid out his entire plan.
"Brother Shan, don't worry, I know what you're concerned about. I'll leave the Immortal Gathering in advance and find a place to stay. You can then use that place as the information for the auction.
After the auction ends, the Immortal Gathering will close, right? I'll sneak back before the next day begins. That way, no one will suspect I'm in the Immortal Gathering, and it won't cause you any unnecessary trouble."
"That's not what I meant..." Ji Shan said with a wry smile.
"But I have to consider this."
Yun Ze looked intently at Ji Shan. "Brother Shan, you've all been very good to me. Since I'm going on an adventure, I shouldn't let you take the blame.
Take a look at this plan and see if there are any flaws. If not, we'll start tonight.
Oh, and half of the money from auctioning the information will be given to you."
Ji Shan frowned. "Little..."
"Brother Shan, please don't refuse!"
Yun Ze interrupted him immediately. "You've helped me for so long, this is just a small token of my appreciation. If you don't accept it, you're looking down on me!"
Ji Shan remained silent, seemingly contemplating something.
"Little Yun, I'll accept on his behalf."
Fu Yue's voice suddenly came from behind Ji Shan.
Yun Ze turned his head and saw her slowly walking towards them.
"What do you mean, 'accept on his behalf'?"
Ji Shan turned and frowned. "If Little Yun goes out, he'll have to bear the risks!"
"Where there's no risk, there's no reward? To ascend the path of immortality, one must fight for every step!"
Fu Yue stopped in front of Ji Shan. "Fight against others, fight against the heavens! If you don't have this courage, you might as well live as a hermit in the mountains!"
"You... alas! Forget it, I can't argue with you!"
Ji Shan looked back at Yun Ze. "Little Yun, have you truly made up your mind? If you don't take this risky step, you'll only miss out on a spiritual item.
But if something unfortunate happens to you, then all would be lost."
"Brother Shan, I think Sister Fu Yue is right!"
Yun Ze said without hesitation. "Fight against others, fight against the heavens! If you don't have this courage, what kind of immortal cultivation is this!
I am willing to try!"
"...Alas."
Ji Shan paused for several breaths, then sighed. "Since you insist, then it's decided.
However, don't run around then. Let your Sister Fu Yue suggest a place for you to try your luck, and perhaps you'll escape this ordeal."
"Hmm?"
Fu Yue let out a soft hum and looked at Ji Shan. "Are you referring to... that place?"
"Yes."
Ji Shan nodded. "Nowadays, apart from the Immortal Gathering and that place, Little Yun is likely unsafe anywhere else."
"Brother Shan, Sister Fu Yue."
Yun Ze looked at them with curiosity. "What place are you talking about?"
"Shadow Green Pavilion."
Fu Yue uttered three words calmly, a hint of reminiscence flashing in her eyes. "My former sect."
"Immortal Sect!?"
Yun Ze's heart trembled.
He never expected that there would be an immortal sect within the Tangshan Dynasty!
"It's not exactly the true Shadow Green Pavilion, it's just..."
Fu Yue paused here, her expression somewhat strange. "Never mind, you'll understand when you get there.
First, go to the capital, find Smoke Moon Alley, and walk straight to the end. You'll see a smoky green tower, that's the Shadow Green Pavilion. Just say I introduced you."
"Okay!"
"In that case, I'll go with Fu Yue to spread the word. You should get some rest, you'll be busy tonight.
As for Bu Bu... she can stay here. A young girl won't break any rules, and if you don't return the next day, she can cover your shift."
"Alright!"
Yun Ze knew this was another special arrangement from Ji Shan and looked at him sincerely.
"Brother Shan, thank you!"
"Don't mention it!"
Ji Shan placed a hand on his shoulder. "I consider you a brother! As brothers, we don't need to say such things!"
...
The sun soon set.
After bidding farewell to Ji Shan and Fu Yue, Yun Ze told Bu Bu about his upcoming arrangements and then remained in the tent, cultivating silently.
He had estimated his Qi Sea filling speed over the past few days and calculated that it would take at least another year to reach the peak of Qi Refining third level.
At this pace, even if he didn't expand his Qi Sea further, without any fortunate encounters, it would take nearly ten years to reach Qi Refining ninth level!
Ten years!
It is said that a gentleman's revenge is never too late, but some hatreds cannot afford to wait even a day!
This was why he felt Fu Yue was right earlier.
Isn't the path of immortal cultivation a constant struggle against others and against heaven!
As night gradually fell, Yun Ze sold more than half of his three hundred stalls and then sold lanterns to nearly a thousand cultivators!
This was nearly a third more than yesterday!
As the Ascension Assembly approached, more and more cultivators were coming to join the excitement.
Who knew what kind of grand spectacle the capital would be when the Ascension Assembly truly began!
When there was only a quarter of an hour left before the auction began, Yun Ze saw that no one was around. He took off his grey robe, placed it with his fan next to the lanterns, changed into a plain cloak, and walked out.
Shadow Green Pavilion.
He wondered what this so-called immortal sect was like.
But the moment Yun Ze stepped out of the barrier, a voice sounded from above!
"Finally caught you!"