Chapter 59 Fish
Chapter 59 Fish
Cao You asked back:
"Brother Chen should know the six major sects, right?"
Chen Yuan nodded and said:
"I know it."
It is recorded in "Yunyou Travels" that Guiyuan Sect, Wanshou Mountain, Ziyang Sect, Tiangang Sword Sect, Mingyin Valley, and Lingyun Sect are very powerful and are the six most powerful sects in Qi State.
Cao You sighed and said:
"Seventy percent of Qi's spiritual veins are controlled by the six major sects, and the remaining thirty percent is in the hands of those immortal cultivation families. Unless we can endure the slow pace of cultivation and stay in the mountains with thin spiritual energy, we can only join the markets established by these sects and families."
"And the six major sects are in collusion. Not only is Guiyuan Sect so domineering, but the other five major sects are the same. Those immortal cultivation families are even more xenophobic and do not regard independent cultivators from other surnames as human beings. Even if independent cultivators do not stay in Huanyue Market, they will just move to another place and continue to be exploited. What's the difference?"
Chen Yuan frowned and said:
"If Fellow Daoist Cao says so, then wouldn't it be like I am the fish on the chopping board?"
Cao You smiled bitterly and said:
"That's right! Even this fish meat is not something you can just do if you want to. Take Huanyue Market for example. Guiyuan Sect has no restrictions on independent cultivators. You can come and go as you please. You can rent the spiritual fields if you want, and you can't force them if you don't want to."
"But the world of immortal cultivation lacks everything except cultivators. Even though there are only a few mortals with spiritual roots, there are so many mortals in Qi, and there are at least tens of thousands of independent cultivators. And there are only a few spiritual veins. If you don't come, there will be independent cultivators. Even the qualification to enter the market needs to be purchased with spirit stones."
“Most of the independent cultivators have incomplete inheritances, they don’t have any weapons, they don’t know how to practice, and they don’t dare to go into the mountains to hunt monsters. They can only rely on renting Guiyuan Sect’s spiritual fields, ripening spiritual herbs, and exchanging them for spiritual stones for cultivation. Therefore, Guiyuan Sect is not worried about no independent cultivators joining the market, and is even less worried about not being able to rent out spiritual fields.”
"On the contrary, the independent cultivators are afraid that they will not be able to rent spiritual fields, earn spiritual stones, and be expelled from the market. Don't be afraid of being laughed at by Brother Chen. I also rented spiritual fields for five years before, slowly accumulating spiritual stones. After my cultivation level increased to the fourth level of Qi Refining, I bought a low-grade folding fan and went into the mountains to hunt monsters. Finally, I don't have to work as a laborer for Guiyuan Sect..."
Cao You told the story slowly, his voice full of bitterness.
The spiritual veins are monopolized by the six major sects and immortal cultivation families. Unless independent cultivators do not want to improve their cultivation, they can only accept their exploitation.
As long as the six major sects can give a little advantage through their fingers and do not completely block the way forward, independent cultivators will flock to them and be willing to be preyed upon.
Only those independent cultivators who are powerful and proficient in all kinds of arts can earn a lot of spirit stones and improve their cultivation.
But they also need spiritual veins and elixirs for cultivation, and cannot do without the market system. They must contribute to the six major sects and accept their implicit exploitation.
The six major sects own spiritual lands, are high above, drive thousands of independent cultivators, and control the world of immortal cultivation in Qi State.
Free and long life has nothing to do with casual cultivation.
Chen Yuan's thoughts were swirling, but he discovered a problem from Cao You's words and said:
"The six major sects are so overbearing. Those independent cultivators with true spiritual roots can cultivate to the peak of Qi Refining in more than 20 years. Why would they join the market and be exploited?"
Cao You did not answer but asked:
"From what Brother Chen said, he shouldn't be a true spiritual root cultivator, right?"
Chen Yuan's heart moved, and he said:
"Chen is a cultivator with four spiritual roots."
Cao You showed an expected expression on his face and said:
"Brother Chen and I are both cultivators with four spiritual roots. Ninety-nine percent of the independent cultivators in Huanyue Market are cultivators with four spiritual roots. Those independent cultivators with true spiritual roots have long been accepted as disciples by the six major sects. The rest are independent cultivators with four spiritual roots. Although their aptitude is not good, they have the hope of breaking through the foundation-building stage, so they work hard to accumulate spirit stones and improve their cultivation to fight for that opportunity."
"What about the five spiritual roots cultivator?"
Cao You sneered:
"The aptitude of cultivators with five spiritual roots is too poor. They can't even break through to the late stage of Qi Refining. Moreover, there are very few independent cultivators with five spiritual roots. Even if there are a few, they only cultivate to the sixth level of Qi Refining and then become guests of ordinary kings, princes and wealthy businessmen, enjoying wealth and glory."
Chen Yuan was surprised:
"These independent cultivators are only serving as guests of the kings, nobles and wealthy businessmen, instead of abusing their power in the mortal world?"
Cao You explained:
"Brother Chen, you don't know that the six major sects strictly prohibit cultivators from enslaving and harming mortals. Violators will be severely punished. Therefore, those cultivators with five spiritual roots can only hide their identities, seek pleasure, and live out the rest of their lives."
Chen Yuan suddenly realized, and at the same time, he also solved a doubt that had been in his mind for a long time.
Wen Huazhong once said that when Master Duan Fang was collecting the souls of mortals, he did not dare to massacre the mortal villages and towns. He must have been afraid of the ban of the six major sects.
The six major sects are treating mortals as fields, and the independent cultivators that grow there are like leeks. Once they are cut, another crop will grow again, generation after generation, without end.
Chen Yuan suddenly remembered the words of the young man in black:
"The path to becoming an immortal is to go against the will of heaven, to fight for one's life, to fight against heaven, against earth, against people, and against oneself..."
The real world of cultivating immortals is so cruel.
But Chen Yuan's determination was firm and he was not shaken by this.
No matter how difficult the road is, he will fight his way out!
Chen Yuan regained his composure and said:
"The opportunity that Fellow Daoist Cao mentioned, is it the Foundation Establishment Pill?"
It is recorded in "Yunyou Travels" that if a Qi-refining cultivator wants to build a foundation, he must take foundation-building pills.
However, the name of the Foundation Establishment Pill was not mentioned in the four skills that Chen Yuan obtained, which made him quite confused.
Cao You shook his head and said, "The Foundation Building Pill is only one of them. There is also the Immortal Ascension Order."
Chen Yuan's eyes flashed, and he said:
"The Immortal Ascension Order? I hope Fellow Daoist Cao can help me solve this problem."
Cao You said:
"The Foundation Building Pill is an indispensable item for building the foundation. The spiritual herbs required are too precious and have disappeared in the outside world. Only the six major sects have the ability to refine it. If a casual cultivator wants to obtain a Foundation Building Pill, he can only offer extremely precious magic weapons, spiritual herbs, exercises, and spiritual objects in exchange for one from the six major sects. It is a rare opportunity."
"But this is not the only way to build a foundation. The six major sects will auction the Ascension Order every year. Those who hold the Ascension Order can participate in the Ascension Conference held every ten years. After passing the conference, they can join the six major sects and naturally have the opportunity to build a foundation."
Chen Yuan frowned and said:
"This Immortal Ascension Order is related to foundation building, and it needs to be auctioned off, so it must be very valuable. In the end, won't it all fall into the hands of those alchemists, weapon refiners, and talisman makers?"
Cao You shook his head and said:
"Brother Chen, you don't know that the Ascension Conference requires fighting and it is extremely fierce. Although those alchemists and weapon refiners have no shortage of spirit stones, they put all their energy into studying the various arts of cultivation and are not good at fighting. Most of the Ascension Orders still fall into the hands of cultivators who are good at fighting."
Chen Yuan suddenly realized and bowed:
"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Cao, for clearing up my doubts. If I hadn't met Fellow Daoist Cao, I would have been completely in the dark and would have definitely taken a lot of detours after entering Huanyue Market."
Cao You smiled and said:
"Brother Chen, you are too polite. I have no way to repay you for saving my life, but answering my questions is nothing. Besides, I can only give you a rough idea in such a short time. For the details of Huanyue Market, you need to experience it yourself."
……
A day later, the two finally crossed the Qingyang Mountains and came to the foot of a mountain shrouded in thick white fog.
Chen Yuan used all his strength to activate the Sky Eye Technique, and was able to see through the white fog and barely see the vague scenes inside.
Cao You led Chen Yuan into the white mist and said:
"Brother Chen, please follow me. This mist is the Soul Locking Formation set up by Guiyuan Sect. It can lock the spiritual energy and prevent it from leaking out. Mortals will get lost if they enter, but it is no obstacle to cultivators like us."
Chen Yuan followed behind Cao You, used the light body technique to enter the white fog, and walked forward along a mountain road.
This mountain road can only accommodate two or three people and is surrounded by towering mountain walls.
A quarter of an hour later, the two finally reached the end of the path, and a strange scene slowly unfolded before Chen Yuan's eyes.
This is a vast valley with rows of buildings and busy streets, just like the bustling streets in the mortal world.
There were many vendors on both sides of the street, and monks would stop from time to time to bargain with them.
At the end of the valley is a thousand-foot-high mountain with many mansions built on it, with carved beams and painted buildings, flying eaves and pointed corners, which are extremely luxurious.
There are densely packed spiritual fields on the surrounding mountains. In each field, there is a cultivator sitting inside, injecting magic power into an array plate to ripen the spiritual herbs.
Chen Yuan and Cao You stood on a high platform about ten feet above the ground, overlooking the entire valley.
Next to the two of them, there were more than a dozen similar platforms with steps. Several monks were walking down the steps and entering the valley.
Cao You smiled and said:
"Brother Chen, this is Huanyue Market. I will take you to get the pass token. Outsiders have three days to stay. If you don't have a pass token within these three days, you will be expelled from the market."
Afterwards, the two men walked down the platform, and Cao You led Chen Yuan through two streets and came to a three-story building with a plaque that read "Fantasy Moon Pavilion".
Several casual students were queuing in front of a counter. They waited for a quarter of an hour before it was their turn.
Behind the counter was a skinny old man with a thick spiritual energy and the cultivation level of the tenth level of Qi Refining.
Cao You bowed to the skinny old man and said:
"Deacon He, this is Fellow Daoist Chen Yuan. He is new to Huanyue Market and would like to exchange for a pass token."
Deacon He glanced at Chen Yuan and said calmly:
"Five spirit stones. If you want to continue to stay in Huanyue Market after one year, you must pay another five spirit stones."
Chen Yuan took out five spirit stones and placed them on the counter.
Deacon He raised his hand and the five spirit stones disappeared. He took out a jade token and handed it to Chen Yuan, saying:
"Please keep the token. If you lose it, you will need to apply for a new one. In addition, independent cultivators who enter Huanyue Market need to rent a cave. Which one would you like to rent?"
(End of this chapter)