Cultivation: Starting with Farming in the Spiritual Pivot Grotto

Chapter 81 Selling Fish at a Stall

Before entering the Fallen Dragon Valley, each cultivator received a jade token, which was said to be used by Bai Yujing to guide everyone out when the thirty-day period was up.

This was also proof of identity. After Li Ya presented the jade token, the cultivator on duty kindly said a few words to him.

"Fellow Daoist, according to the information on your jade token, you're from the Yunfu Sect, right? Your sect is located at camp number sixteen, section C!"

"Go inside, turn left to the end, and follow the sign on the wall; you'll find it."

Li Ya bowed in thanks and carefully looked around the camp.

The outermost layer consists of several dozen tall, dark blue stone pillars, probably numbering in the hundreds, all carved with intricate patterns.

Dozens of stone pillars are linked together to form an array, which looks like a defensive array.

Outside the camp, rows of neat and solemn blue-style tents were the guard tents of the Tai Xuan Dao soldiers, and it was perfect to use them now.

The most important thing about the camp was not the tents of the Tai Xuan Dao sect, but a bustling market.

Even though this was a temporary market, it was divided into four major areas by the Tai Xuan Dao: the trading area, the exchange area, the bounty area, and the pill area. The areas were clearly defined and well-ordered.

Li Ya first went to the Yunfu Sect's camp, changed his appearance, and inquired among the nearby cultivators, saying that Senior Brother Lingji and Senior Sister Qin had not appeared again from beginning to end.

Li Ya felt a surge of tension, but given the current situation, no news wasn't necessarily bad news.

"With this safe place, I can get through the next seventeen days even if I'm just coasting along, and besides, I don't intend to coast!"

Li Ya went directly to the cultivators who managed the market, who were several disciples of Yushu Mountain, a branch of the Tai Xuan Dao sect.

"Fellow Daoist, I need to rent a stall; it will be ready in a few days."

Li Ya handed over his jade token in a calm tone.

The disciple on duty nodded slightly, his gaze quickly sweeping over Li Ya, and said softly, "One or two moon toad coins, you can choose any empty stall. There aren't many rules at the market, just two: no private fights and no selling counterfeit goods."

"I understand."

Li Ya nodded slightly, handed over one or two moon toad coins, and then accepted a yellow talisman from the disciple on duty.

"Find a suitable empty stall, stick this talisman on it, and don't lose it, because it will cost one or two moon toad coins to replace it later."

"clear!"

Li Ya nodded slightly in acknowledgment and turned to walk towards the market trading area.

The good spots have already been taken, and the remaining spots are either extremely far in or surrounded by unfriendly competitors.

Li Ya didn't do much searching. After finding an empty stall, he raised his hand and waved it lightly. A gentle stream of true energy swept across the stall, cleaning away all the remaining dust.

He then affixed the yellow talisman to the ground, and a spiritual light appeared. The soil and stones on the ground slowly gathered together. Following the instructions of the disciple on duty, Li Ya used his true energy to shape the talisman, and soon a large vat appeared in front of him.

Then, with a slight thought, he connected with the Spirit Pivot Cave Heaven and opened a crack inside the vat.

Without a sound, more than ten pure white fish with shimmering scales quietly landed in the tank.

This is a spirit fish that Li Ya caught from the deep lake under the Dragon Blood Treasure Tree. Nourished by the dripping earth milk, the flesh of this spirit fish contains pure vitality and is rich in spiritual energy.

Li Ya didn't make any special efforts to promote his wares; instead, he sat quietly behind his stall.

Silently operating the "Five Pivots and Five Palaces Orthodox Chapter", the Gold and Red Palaces now have the Heavenly Capital Sword Pill and Heart Fire in charge.

Even when he was just using the corresponding "Golden Pivot White Palace Chapter" and "Fire Pivot Crimson Palace Chapter" normally, he gained more than the other three chapters. In order to balance the Five Imperial Palaces, he had no choice but to use these three chapters more often.

Time passed slowly, and the market was bustling with people. Most of the cultivators who passed by only glanced at the fish and left without lingering.

After all, there are countless spiritual materials and high-level spiritual objects in the Fallen Dragon Valley. A mere spiritual fish cannot be considered a top-tier rare treasure.

But before long, some observant cultivators noticed something amiss.

"Something's wrong with this spirit fish."

A cultivator dressed in gray cloth robes, with five bottles of firewood, rice, oil, and salt hanging from his waist, stared intently at the spirit fish in the water, his eyes filled with astonishment.

"Fellow Daoist, may I pick up this fish and take a closer look?"

"Fellow Daoist, please make yourself at home," Li Ya said calmly.

A moment later, the cultivator Xu was overjoyed: "It's been a long time since I've encountered ingredients of such high quality."

His eyes lit up with joy, and he quickly asked, "Fellow Daoist, how much? I want to buy them all."

Li Ya shook his head slightly and quoted a reasonable price: "One or two coins for each moon toad."

This price is actually too high; it's significantly higher than the actual price of the spirit fish.

After a moment's thought, the cultivator nodded decisively: "Alright, I'll take them all. If you can catch any more spirit fish of this quality, send them all to the Immortal Pavilion. I'll take as many as you have."

He immediately paid and took the fish and left. Li Ya had originally thought he could sell them all in one day, but he never expected that they would be bought up by someone else.

After thinking for a moment, Li Ya put up a sign on his stall advertising high prices for seeds and then mingled into the crowd.

Without actively seeking information or striking up conversations, one can simply stroll quietly through the market and listen to the chatter of the surrounding monks.

Ling Shu then quickly sorted, identified, and categorized the various voices and fragmented information, piling them up layer by layer to gradually build a clear picture of the situation.

Time passed slowly, and night deepened, but the market remained bustling with people, showing no signs of abating.

Just before midnight, the normally flowing spiritual light of the great array suddenly trembled.

Several figures in snow-white broke through the barrier. Listening to the words of the surrounding cultivators, the one in the lead was Ning Xuanqi.

"What a show-off! He has the main door but chooses to go through the side door instead."

Li Ya couldn't help but grumble inwardly, and then headed to the Tai Xuan Dao cultivator's palace, intending to meet Ning Xuanqi.

Yan Wangji entrusted everything to the person in charge, as Li Ya didn't trust anyone else, since spirit objects could move people's hearts.

If I were to be accused of murder and robbery, or of killing a cultivator of the Tai Xuan Dao, then I would be finished.

The Tai Xuan Dao Palace was heavily guarded. Upon seeing Li Ya approach, a disciple immediately raised his hand to stop him, speaking in a solemn and respectful tone: "This is the Tai Xuan Dao's territory. Outsiders are not allowed to enter without permission. Fellow Daoist, please stop."

Li Ya remained calm: "I have important matters to report to your esteemed sect leader Ning Xuanqi, and Senior Brother Yan has something I need to convey to him."

Upon hearing this, the disciple on duty immediately became serious.

Yan Wangji had been missing for several days. Upon hearing news, the disciples on duty dared not be negligent. One of them immediately turned around and went inside to report, while the other stayed at his post.

A moment later, the disciple who had delivered the message quickly returned, raised his hand in a salute to Li Ya, and said, "Senior Brother invites you inside to meet me."

Li Ya nodded slightly and followed him to the side hall.

The side hall is simply and neatly arranged, without any luxurious decorations. There is only a long table and several wooden benches, with the plaque of the Tai Xuan Dao sect hanging in the center, which reads "Upright and Righteous."

Ning Xuanqi was standing in the hall when he heard footsteps and slowly turned around.

His gaze was clear and unwavering, devoid of any haughty arrogance, calmly settling on Li Ya.

"Fellow Daoist, you are aware of Junior Brother Yan's disappearance. I have only one question: Has Junior Brother Yan perished?"

Ning Xuanqi was the first to speak and ask.

Li Ya nodded silently, and without any further pleasantries, recounted everything that had happened to him.

He then took out the Sumeru bag containing Yan Wangji's remains, which he had prepared in advance, as well as the Sumeru bracelet with an ancient style.

Ning Xuanqi took the Sumeru bag and simply said, "Please trouble you to rest in the quiet room for a while, fellow Daoist. I will be there shortly."

After Li Ya left, Ning Xuanqi took out Yan Wangji's body and placed it into his Sumeru magic artifact.

He then used the Tai Xuan Secret Method to unseal the Sumeru Bracelet, saw the fragments of the dragon pearl inside, and let out a heavy sigh.

"Junior brother, why bother? I've told you countless times to protect yourself. Being alive is more important than anything else."