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Chapter 177: Inspection
Chapter 177: Inspection
"Yes!"
The elderly man's face turned solemn as he verified the authenticity of the True Transmission Token. He then promptly retrieved a box from under the counter and handed it to Fang Xing.
In his heart, however, he sighed. The True Transmission Sword Disciples of Sky Sword Sect were indeed rampant and unrestrained.
After this incident, he feared that he would have to pack up and flee.
Fang Xing took the wooden box, his eyes falling on the bright yellow talisman pasted on its surface. Seeing that the talisman was intact, he nodded to himself and took out another talisman from his storage bag.
After infusing it with a thread of spiritual power, the cinnabar ink on this talisman began to glow brightly, connecting with the strokes on the talisman of the wooden box, forming the image of a large, red tiger-headed lock.
Click!
The tiger's head let out a roar, and the lock burst open.
This was a secret technique of the Sky Sword Sect. Without this talisman of the same origin, the wooden box could not be opened.
Forcing it open would only result in its self-destruction.
Fang Xing opened the box and saw a reddish-yellow crystal inside.
Within this crystal was a fierce and scorching True Yang Qi, sealed tightly.
"Good, good... It is indeed the True Solar Qi."
He inspected it and was very satisfied.
The True Solar Qi was harder to find than many sinister energies because it came from beyond the Nine Heavens!
Only occasionally would a wisp of it penetrate the layer of gale-force winds, falling into the cultivation world.
To obtain it, one would likely need the strength of a Pseudo-Pill Master.
'It seems that the Sky Sword Sect has indeed deployed considerable resources in Zhenguo,' Fang Xing thought.
'But that's none of my concern. With this item... it is enough for my main body to advance to the Golden Core of Martial Arts.'
Although one could condense the Golden Core of Martial Arts without the cosmic Yin-Yang Qi, the foundation would be somewhat weak.
Fang Xing, of course, would not settle for that.
Additionally, he had already exhausted most of his credits in the main universe, and in the military camp, he only maintained the basic monthly requirement, rarely taking on tasks. As a result, he also had few military merits, most of which he spent on purchasing martial arts secret medicines.
Since he now had a channel in the cultivation world, his main body in the main world was content to be lazy.
The remaining military merits and credits would be just enough to exchange for a luxurious mansion and a private spaceship!
Anyway, even if his clone suffered, his main body would remain carefree.
'No... I am now the main body, and my consciousness is one... So what if I toil here? My main body can enjoy the benefits,' he thought.
'Moreover, this Zhenguo is as weak as it gets. It's perfect for testing my sword!'
Obtaining the True Solar Qi put Fang Xing in a great mood.
Initially, he had thought that there might be some twists and turns in this matter, such as the True Solar Qi being coveted and withheld by some young master of an immortal family.
Or perhaps this old shopkeeper would play tricks, asking him to complete a task before handing over the True Solar Qi.
That was usually how the plot went in storybooks.
If that were the case, he would have no qualms about drawing his sword and killing everyone involved!
He would create a massacre, forcing those behind the scenes to offer the True Solar Qi willingly!
After all, he was a Sword Cultivator, and that was the typical character setting for Sword Cultivators!
Unexpectedly, everything went smoothly.
"You've done well!"
Fang Xing glanced at the old shopkeeper, his expression softening as he tossed an upper-grade spirit stone over, "This place may already be exposed, or it may not be... You should leave now. With me here, not even a bird will be able to fly out of Qingyan Market for three hours!"
Since this old shopkeeper had helped him, Fang Xing didn't mind rewarding him.
An upper-grade spirit stone was worth ten thousand lower-grade spirit stones—a sum that ordinary Qi Refinement cultivators would never see in their lifetimes. It was more than enough to compensate the other party for all their losses.
Then, of course, he would remain in the market, giving the other party some time to escape.
Although the sects of Zhenguo might not dare to be reckless enough to harm a hidden agent of the Sky Sword Sect, if they had leaned towards the Southern Demon Path, it was another matter entirely.
"Thank you, Senior!"
Gratitude filled the old shopkeeper's expression as he grabbed the young waiter, likely a relative, and exclaimed, "Let's go!"
He was extremely decisive, not even bothering to retrieve his belongings.
Fang Xing watched with a hint of appreciation as the old man and the young waiter fled the market and immediately took off on a paper kite magical artifact. He nodded in approval.
He made his way to the market's entrance, and his consciousness enveloped the area, causing his voice to resonate in everyone's minds, "Qingyan Market is closed for three hours. Anyone who disagrees... dies!"
Boom!
At the same time, the early-stage Foundation Establishment spiritual power within him erupted, causing the Qi Refinement cultivators present to pale and fall over.
For a small market like this, most of its visitors were Qi Refinement cultivators, so having a Foundation Establishment cultivator present was already remarkable.
The Qi Refinement cultivators at the market's entrance didn't dare to offend a Foundation Establishment grand cultivator and quickly retreated back into the market, shutting the doors tightly to avoid bringing trouble upon themselves.
"Who is it that dares to cause trouble in my Qingyan Market?"
Swoosh!
A streak of green light appeared from the center of the market, and a green-robed elder with a blackwood hairpin emerged. Although he looked presentable, he was only an early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.
In his hand, he held a wooden array plate, and a second-tier array rose, resembling a large, inverted bowl of greenish-blue that sealed off the entire market.
"I am Sang Luliu of the Three Leaves Sect! May I ask which immortal realm you are from, Fellow Daoist?"
Upon seeing Fang Xing's youthful appearance, the elder's heart stirred, and his tone became extremely polite. He didn't dare to offend what seemed to be the scion of a major power.
"I am Fang Xing, True Transmission Sword Disciple of the Sky Sword Sect!"
Fang Xing replied, his arms crossed behind his back.
Previously, Fang Xing had been discreet and quick in his actions to ensure that the True Solar Qi remained secure. Now that he had obtained it, he had no qualms left.
Fang Xing directly introduced himself, as Duan Jian Zhenren hadn't specified how to conduct the investigation.
Whether it was done covertly or openly, it was still an investigation!
He wanted to see who would dare to step forward? This was a strategy to stir up trouble and draw attention to himself as a big target, so that no one would pay attention to the old shopkeeper.
"He's actually a True Transmission Disciple of Sky Sword Sect? To seal off the market? But could it be that there are peddlers here who dare to cheat and deceive a True Transmission Disciple?"
Upon hearing that Fang Xing was a Nascent Soul stage disciple, Sang Luliu immediately showed great respect and quickly bowed, then angrily exclaimed, "I will order the Enforcement Team to search every cultivator in the market... We must find the one the True Transmission is looking for, flay their skin and draw out their tendons, and light their soul on fire with the Sky Lantern!"
His eyes turned red with anger, and if this matter caused the Three Leaves Sect to offend the Sky Sword Sect, he would have the heart to tear that cultivator to shreds.
"You have a clever mind, but who could deceive me?"
Fang Xing smiled, then suddenly raised his voice so that everyone nearby could hear, "I am here under the orders of my sect's master to investigate whether the three major sects of Zhenguo have colluded with the Demon Path... Now I suspect that there may be Demon Cultivators hiding in this market, so I will seal it off for three hours to inspect. Do you have any objections?"
Sang Luliu quickly shook his head at Fang Xing's stern gaze, and then he felt like cutting off his own ears.
What had he just heard?
The Sky Sword Sect is investigating whether the three major sects have colluded with the Demon Path?
Could there be Demon Cultivators hiding in their market?
If they weren't careful, this could bring about a calamity as disastrous as the sky falling!
'Is this person really a True Transmission Disciple of the Sky Sword Sect? Could he be a madman for shouting it out like that?' Sang Luliu thought, his eyes narrowing as he stroked the array plate, a glint of murderous intent flashing in his eyes.
When people are pushed to desperation, they often have the urge to take drastic action.
Of course, with so many people around, there was little use in silencing them now.
As for why he wanted to silence them? It was naturally because this matter was too big, and the Three Leaves Sect did not want to be implicated in any way.
If killing Fang Xing would completely detach them from this incident, the sect would probably send everyone to kill him without hesitation!
Alas...
Sang Luliu immediately hid his thoughts deep within, bowing respectfully, "I will do my best to assist the True Transmission... But may I ask if the True Transmission has a token of identity?"
He wasn't a fool, and immediately suspected Fang Xing's identity.
"Can you recognize this?"
Fang Xing casually tossed over his True Transmission Disciple token.
Sang Luliu examined it and the last bit of hope in his heart faded away. He transmitted his voice, "Enforcement Team, immediately seal off the market. Anyone who tries to escape... Kill without mercy!"
...
Within the Qingyan Market, there were cries and howls of despair.
The Enforcement Team searched and interrogated everyone, but while they didn't find any Demon Cultivators, they did discover quite a few wanted cultivators who stole from other cultivators.
These Qi Refinement stage cultivators were trapped within the second-tier array, with no way to escape. They fought desperately against the Enforcement Team.
Sounds of explosions and clashing magical artifacts filled the air.
"Good tea..."
Fang Xing sat at the top of an eight-story pavilion in the center of the market, his face calm as he sipped a cup of spiritual tea.
"This tea was originally an ordinary breed, but it was later transplanted onto our sect's second-tier spirit vein. After generations of careful breeding by tea connoisseurs, we finally obtained this 'Three Leaves Tea' breed."
Sang Luliu smiled, "If you like it, Fellow Daoist Fang, I can give you a few pounds..."
"Thank you."
Fang Xing didn't feel embarrassed at all and enjoyed a few more spirit cakes before a graceful female cultivator hurried over, "Ancestor... We've searched the market, killing thirteen cultivators, and there are also twenty-seven others who couldn't prove their identities... What should we do with them?"
"There are all sorts of people in the market, please forgive us for any inconvenience, Fellow Daoist." Sang Luliu apologized to Fang Xing with a bow.
In reality, it was an unspoken rule that the market would harbor cultivators who stole from others, as long as they paid a fee.
If they were truly strict and refused to tolerate any misdeeds, the market would only drive away honest cultivators and eventually decline due to competition with other markets.
"It's fine..."
Fang Xing took out a jet-black mirror from his storage bag, "This is a Demon-Detecting Mirror, a second-tier superior-grade artifact... Ordinary Demon Cultivators can't hide their demonic aura from it. Go and use it to check them, and if they're innocent, let them go..."
"Yes!"
The female cultivator held the 'Demon-Detecting Mirror' with both hands, not knowing what to do.
Sang Luliu stood up, a bitter smile on his face, "In this market, aside from me, no one else can activate this spiritual artifact. I'll have to do it myself..."
In his heart, he felt a twinge of envy for the True Transmission Disciples of the Nascent Soul stage sects.
This second-tier superior artifact was something he didn't even possess, and a single one was almost worth his entire fortune.
But to the True Transmission Disciples of the Nascent Soul stage sects, it was something they could easily take out.
'Although this matter is troublesome, it's also an opportunity. If we can build a connection with the Sky Sword Sect, a Nascent Soul stage sect, what is Qing Xuan Zong in comparison?'
Sang Luliu's thoughts shifted, and he immediately smiled, "I'll go and examine the Demon Cultivators, Qing'er, you accompany this esteemed guest well..."
(End of Chapter)
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