128: Market

Moon Cliff Mountain.

Apart from the Zheng Family's ancestral land which possesses a second-tier Medium Grade Spiritual Vein, all other Spiritual Veins in the area are, at most, first-tier quality.

Therefore, on Moon Cliff Mountain, aside from the Zheng Family, which is a Foundation Establishment Family, all other major and minor forces nearby are at the Qi Refining Stage.

The Zheng Family is the absolute hegemon on Moon Cliff Mountain; besides the Huang Family, which is adjacent to Moon Cliff Mountain, they have almost no other rivals.

Lu Ming pondered his next actions while traveling.

"Zheng Tianming is already a flickering candle in the wind. Without his protection, the Zheng Family is not a concern, but how to get in is a troublesome matter."

A second-tier Formation is laid out there; attempting to break it by force is not something that can be achieved in a short time.

Moreover, too much commotion might attract other Cultivators from nearby.

Lu Ming didn't want to make too much of a fuss, as the fate he had planned for the Zheng Family members was too cruel, so it was better to be low-key.

After all, his true self was acting now, and it was not suitable to be too ostentatious.

So, he decided to test the waters first, planning to capture a few Zheng Family members and perform soul-searching to see if there was a solution.

Ultimately, his gaze fell upon the Market established by the Zheng Family.

Those responsible for managing the Market must hold high positions and power within the Zheng Family, right!

Thinking this, Lu Ming quickly reined in his Aura.

His body writhed, transforming into an old man with a hooked nose and a gloomy face, whose cultivation was only at the Qi Refining Stage Seventh Level.

This appearance was precisely the exclusive image of 'Wu Daoren'.

Since he was going to cause trouble, Lu Ming could only switch accounts.

He took out the long-sealed black gourd and slowly made his way towards the Market under the Zheng Family's control.

'Heh, a few short-sighted ones have arrived.'

As he approached the Zheng Family Market, he detected some restless individuals in his Divine Sense, their eyes burning with desire as they looked towards the area.

If there was unexpected wealth on the road, Lu Ming wouldn't mind taking it.

However, perhaps it was Lu Ming's casual demeanor, which made him seem very difficult to provoke.

These individuals ultimately suppressed their greed and were about to retreat.

Lu Ming was a little disappointed, thinking these people were truly cowardly! Did they have no professional ethics!

Helplessly, Lu Ming could only actively pursue them.

But these fellows were ungrateful; a dignified Foundation Establishment Cultivator kindly reasoned with them, but they wouldn't listen and even spoke wildly.

Lu Ming could only send them to their demise with a single palm strike.

Holding a few Storage Pouches, Lu Ming hummed a tune and continued his journey on the gourd.

"A good start, a good omen! The Zheng Family trip will surely be smooth!"

Another quarter of an hour passed, and Lu Ming finally arrived outside the Market established by the Zheng Family.

The Market was located in a valley, surrounded by mist.

Lu Ming could tell at a glance that this was merely an ordinary first-tier Formation.

With his current strength, his gaze could directly penetrate the Formation and see through the internal situation.

However, he was a 'Loose Cultivator' now, so it was better to follow the rules.

As the Moon Cliff Market was the only Market on the entire Moon Cliff Mountain.

Inside, besides the Zheng Family members, there were many Loose Cultivators and other Qi Refining forces coming and going.

Since the Zheng Family only had one Foundation Establishment Cultivator, the highest cultivation of the Cultivators stationed in the Market was only Qi Refining Great Perfection.

Normally, this would already be the combat ceiling of the Market.

Lu Ming's Qi Refining Stage Seventh Level cultivation wasn't particularly eye-catching, but it wouldn't be underestimated either.

If he put out too little bait, he wouldn't be able to catch a big fish.

He walked straight into the mist, which began to churn and part, revealing a path leading into the Market.

At the entrance of the Market, several Zheng Family Cultivators were stationed.

After paying one Spirit Stone according to the rules, Lu Ming was allowed to enter.

Upon entering, his vision suddenly cleared.

Inside the valley, the water was clear, the mountains green, and the scenery beautiful.

The space was open, with large pavilions and towers scattered around.

Many Cultivators came and went, making it very lively.

However, what Lu Ming was more concerned about was that there were many Mortals with no Spiritual Qi fluctuations on them!

If he wasn't mistaken, these Mortals were the descendants of the Zheng Family who had not been born with Spiritual Roots.

This was actually very common; after all, Spiritual Roots are innate, and there are many people in this world without Spiritual Roots.

It's just that these Mortal lands are usually far away from the Cultivation World.

For example, in the former Green Bamboo Market, the Murong Family would send Cultivators without Spiritual Roots to live in the Mortal World.

But it was quite rare for a Family like the Zheng Family to establish a Market and protect their Mortal clansmen.

However, this had both advantages and disadvantages.

The advantage was that once a child with a Spiritual Root was born, they could be discovered in time and sent to the Family's ancestral land for cultivation.

But the disadvantage was also obvious: too many Mortal clansmen, like a tail wagging the dog, could easily become a hindrance.

Although the Zheng Family was the local overlord, the Mortals remaining in the Cultivation World might live without worries, and they could be subtly nourished by Spiritual Qi at all times.

They couldn't hope for a long life, but they could be strong and healthy, immune to many diseases.

However, they did not live freely! They dared not be too presumptuous.

Even when facing low-level Loose Cultivators, these clansmen could only be subservient.

After all, the Cultivation World had a strict hierarchy, and the distinction between Immortals and Mortals was a natural law.

Some Cultivators could only live in shantytowns, yet some Mortals could live in palaces and towers. Wasn't this an inversion of the natural order?

Lu Ming's eyes flickered slightly.

His goal for this trip was to destroy the Zheng Family, but how should he deal with this group of Mortals?

Eradicate them? Or be merciful and let them go?

Lu Ming shook his head, laughing self-deprecatingly, feeling that he was overthinking.

With the Zheng Family's downfall, this group of Mortals, without protection, would only be completely devoured by Cultivators; he didn't need to worry too much.

Besides, Wu Daoren was the one taking action; what did it have to do with Lu Ming?

Even if a Prodigy of astonishing talent emerged from this group of Mortals.

That would just be another consumable in the golden book.

Lu Ming cast aside his complex thoughts and wandered around like a normal Loose Cultivator.

The internal layout of the Market was similar to the Green Bamboo Market, but here it was more centered around the Zheng Family, with Zheng Family businesses everywhere.

Lu Ming spread out his Divine Sense and began to search for his target.

Under the feedback of his Divine Sense, he quickly found the Zheng Family member guarding the Moon Cliff Market.

The Aura of Qi Refining Great Perfection was as conspicuous as a candle in the night.

Besides him, there were five other Cultivators at the Qi Refining Stage Ninth Level hidden in the Market.

Finding the person should have made him happy, but Lu Ming frowned.

These people were all in the core area of the Market, which was covered by layers of Formations.

Although he could break these Formations without much effort, the commotion would certainly not be small.

Moreover, these people might also have contingencies left by the Zheng Family's Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

It seemed he still had to find a way to lure them out and quietly deal with them.

'Damn it, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator personally fishing, you guys are blessed!'

Lu Ming's Divine Sense locked onto a restaurant; from the conversations of the diners, he could tell that it did not belong to the Zheng Family.

Lu Ming walked in leisurely, preparing to gather some intelligence first and plan carefully.

He didn't want to capsize in a ditch due to carelessness.

Also, he didn't need to be too hasty.

He would kill after eating his fill.