Divine Transcendence

On such a bustling day in Xiaohu City, Xuanhua Spiritual Incense Shop naturally opened early and hung a welcoming sign outside the door, offering not only discounts but also doubling the limited supply of spiritual incense. Yet, even so, by noon, the limited-stock spiritual incense had all sold out. Still, customers drawn by the shop's reputation continued to stream in. Hu Tu and Muyang were busy all morning until the crowd thinned out at the beginning of the afternoon, finally giving them a chance to catch their breath and tally the accounts.

After seeing off a customer, Hu Tu turned to find the shop less crowded and not in immediate need of his attention, so he leaned against the doorway to rest for a moment. He watched the lively scene on the street and the passing customers with a hint of envy in his eyes. "What's this? You want to go out and enjoy yourself too?" Suddenly, Yuan Ming's voice startled Hu Tu. "How could I neglect the shop at its busiest?" Hu Tu quickly waved his hands in dismissal.

"Heh, you and Muyang have been working hard day in and day out. With the city's grand event underway, it's only right to give you some time off. For the next two days, you two can take turns managing the shop in the afternoon, leaving just one person on duty. I'll also give you your monthly wages in advance. Go and buy whatever you wish," Yuan Ming said. Hu Tu's face lit up with joy, and he bowed in thanks, but then his expression turned to worry as he whispered, "Boss, I've heard from customers that Changchun Temple has sent a Core Formation elder to hunt down Pu Zhengqing."

Having dealt with cultivators in the shop over the years, Hu Tu had heard about Yuan Ming's feud with Changchun Temple. Now, with a Core Formation cultivator from Changchun Temple in Xiaohu City, he couldn't help but worry for Yuan Ming. "You needn't worry about this matter. No one in the city knows I'm the hidden owner of Xuanhua Spiritual Incense Shop, and Changchun Temple won't trace anything back to you," Yuan Ming reassured him. "Boss, you misunderstand. I'm concerned for your safety," Hu Tu quickly professed his loyalty. His current status and even his first steps on the path of immortality were all thanks to Yuan Ming's support. Only if Yuan Ming was well would he be well. "I have it under control. Just keep the shop running smoothly; that's a great help to me," Yuan Ming nodded. After giving Hu Tu a few more instructions, he left the shop.

The Tianxiang Auction, held once every three years, attracted a large number of cultivators. However, not everyone could acquire their desired items at the auction. This situation allowed other shops in the city to seize the opportunity to offer discounts, and those who couldn't find what they wanted at the auction would inevitably make a purchase or two. Over time, even cultivators without an invitation to the Tianxiang Auction would come to the city during the event to take advantage of these rare discounts.

Yuan Ming weaved through the crowd and soon stepped onto the pier of the city's lake, arriving at the central Baiyu Square on the lake's heart. The water pool in the center of the square shone brightly as usual. Yuan Ming looked up for a moment before walking over. Two cultivators dressed in guard uniforms stood on either side of the tall building's entrance, their spiritual energy fluctuations indicating they were at the early stages of Foundation Establishment. Yuan Ming approached them and presented his invitation, which the guards didn't even bother to check before stepping aside. "Fellow Daoist, please enter. Before the auction officially starts, you're free to explore the building, and if you need assistance or have any questions, you can consult the patrolling guards inside."

With the Foundation Establishment guard's reminder, Yuan Ming pocketed his invitation, nodded, and passed through the gates into the building. His view instantly widened to reveal a vast hall with a giant column at its center stretching up to the ceiling. Numerous suspended walkways extended from the column, connecting it to different floors. Standing at the entrance and looking up, it resembled a giant ancient tree without leaves, its branches supporting the entire structure. Yuan Ming glanced around and saw that aside from the giant column, the first floor was lined with neatly arranged wooden stalls, some with owners already displaying items for sale, while others remained empty.

He stopped a passing guard and learned that the first floor was specifically designated for cultivators to set up their own stalls. However, they didn't need to hawk their wares themselves, as the Tianxiang Auction had arranged for staff to handle sales, and in case of any loss, full compensation would be provided to the cultivators. Yuan Ming browsed the stalls, finding the items for sale to be of mixed quality, with most stalls primarily seeking to purchase rather than sell. He quickly lost interest and headed towards the giant column, only noticing upon closer inspection that there were several small doors at its base, each leading to a spiritual elevator he had seen in teahouses before, with spirit stones fitted into the walls' array patterns and floor numbers marked.

Yuan Ming entered a spiritual elevator and pressed the spirit stone marked with the number two. The elevator smoothly ascended within the column, bringing him to the suspended walkway connected to the second floor. It was then that Yuan Ming realized that, unlike the first floor, the other floors appeared to be circular in design, accessible both by spiritual elevator and suspended walkway. The second floor, unlike the first, had large display stands lining the walls, each decorated in distinct regional and sect styles. To Yuan Ming's left was a stand themed with lush flowers and greenery, with tender vines covering every corner, and on the walls, large pink blossoms bloomed, their pistils covered with round glass domes, each containing various softly glowing elixirs, a sight quite intriguing.

Yuan Ming approached curiously, only to discover that the stand belonged to Shengye Sect, with many of its disciples milling about, including Luo Xing'er. She was not dressed in the sect's disciple attire but in a carefully tailored light green gown, the skirt billowing like lotus leaves in a pond, a sheer ribbon tied around her slender waist, and a piece of green jade hanging from the end of a white silk ribbon, peeking out from the folds of her skirt like a boat in a lotus pond. Hearing someone approach, Luo Xing'er looked up, and upon seeing Yuan Ming, her face lit up with joy, and she hurried over to him.

"Ah... It's Senior Ha Gong. Are you here for the Tianxiang Auction too?" Yuan Ming nodded, surveying the stand: "I happen to have an invitation, so I came to have a look. What are you selling here?" "These are elixirs developed by our sect's elders from ancient formulas. If Senior Ha Gong is interested, let me introduce them to you," Luo Xing'er offered. Yuan Ming was about to decline when he suddenly heard someone behind him ask, "Are you Ha Gong?" He turned to see a kindly old man with white hair and beard, smiling broadly, his eyes crinkled into lines. Behind the old man stood four Foundation Establishment cultivators, all dressed alike, some of whom Yuan Ming even recognized as the Changchun Temple cultivators he had met at the Scattered Cultivators Association with Lu Shen.

Luo Xing'er recognized these people too, and her whole body stiffened, her grip on Yuan Ming's arm tightening nervously. Yuan Ming smiled, patted the back of her hand, and withdrew his arm, giving her a reassuring look before bowing to the old man. "I am indeed Ha Gong. May I ask who the senior is?" The old man, a Core Formation cultivator, replied with a smile, "I am Zuo Qinghui, an elder of Changchun Temple. I am here to eradicate the evil soul cultivator Pu Zhengqing. Our disciples here have already mentioned your name to me. I had intended to contact you through Shengye Sect, but I didn't expect to meet you here." "Senior Zuo is too kind. May I inquire as to why you are seeking me?" Yuan Ming asked. "Nothing serious, just wanted to ask about the details of your encounter with Pu Zhengqing. But now that I see you, you're even younger than I imagined. With such talent, it's a waste to remain a scattered cultivator. Would you consider joining Changchun Temple to help us eliminate Pu Zhengqing?" Zuo Qinghui proposed.

"Senior's offer honors me greatly, but I am accustomed to my freedom and do not wish to join a sect at this time. Please forgive me," Yuan Ming replied. At his words, Zuo Qinghui remained silent, but someone behind him showed anger. "Ha Gong, think it over carefully. Many people wish to join our Changchun Temple but have no way in. If you refuse today, don't regret it later." Yuan Ming was unmoved, not even glancing at the man, his gaze still on Zuo Qinghui. Unlike his disciples, Zuo Qinghui was not angered but maintained his smile.

"Perhaps you fear that as a scattered cultivator, joining a sect would lead to exclusion. You need not worry about that. My invitation is not just to recruit talent but also because I see potential in you and wish to find a personal disciple. If you agree, from then on, you will be my disciple, Zuo Qinghui, and no one in the sect will dare trouble you."

Hearing Zuo Qinghui's words, his disciples were astonished, and the nearby Shengye Sect disciples were filled with envy. However, Yuan Ming's stance remained firm: "I already have a master and cannot change allegiance. Please forgive me." Now, even Zuo Qinghui's smile faded slightly, and his Changchun Temple disciples were visibly angry. "The recent censorship is severe, giving us more motivation to update faster. Please take a moment to exit reading mode. Thank you."

Some people die, but they are not completely dead...

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