67: The story of Qingzhu

After three rounds of wine and five courses of dishes, Lu Ming and Old Zhou and the others started chatting lively, gradually opening up.

Later, Lu Ming didn't even need to ask; they revealed all their secrets.

Lu Ming also learned some things about them.

Zhou Kang was a rough middle-aged man, likely following in his father's footsteps as a Spirit Farmer, just like Old Zhou.

However, he usually stayed in the spirit fields and rarely came to the trading area, so Lu Ming naturally hadn't seen him before.

What surprised Lu Ming, though, was that his Dao Companion, Xu Li, was a Talisman Master, and a Medium Grade First-Tier Talisman Master at that.

'He's a kept man!'

It wasn't surprising that Lu Ming thought this; Spirit Farmers were considered the lowest tier among the Hundred Arts of Cultivation, and Xu Li, as a Talisman Master, was essentially marrying down.

However, that was someone else's business, so Lu Ming didn't say anything.

He was actually more curious about what happened later at the Market.

Lu Ming had fought his way out of the beast tide, being one of the fastest to flee.

He knew nothing about the subsequent events and wasn't sure if these people were aware of what happened after Green Bamboo.

However, seeing that the time was right, Lu Ming filled a bowl of spirit wine for Zhou Kang and casually asked,

"Speaking of which, why are you all in such a state?"

Zhou Kang picked up the wine bowl, drained it, then slammed the bowl heavily on the table, sighing.

"Ah, Brother Han, why are our lives as Loose Cultivators so bitter?"

"Oh? Does Brother Zhou have something on his mind?"

Lu Ming refilled Zhou Kang's wine, asking nonchalantly.

"To be honest, we are refugees. Our former Market was hit by a beast tide, and the entire Market suffered heavy casualties.

Everything was flattened by the beast tide; our spirit fields, Spirit Medicine, and even the valuables we hadn't taken with us, all gone."

With the spirit wine in his stomach, Zhou Kang started to feel a bit drunk. He hadn't used his magical power to refine the spirit wine, seemingly hoping that being drunk would help him forget his troubles.

"Brother Zhou, a kind person always has good fortune. It's always a good thing to be alive, better than being buried in a beast tide."

Lu Ming comforted Zhou Kang.

"What good fortune? We were just lucky enough to follow a Senior to break through the encirclement."

"Senior?"

Lu Ming's expression was a bit strange; why did that sound so familiar?

"Yes, that was a notorious fierce person in our Market.

He charged into the formation alone, slaughtering everything in the beast tide, tearing a large gap in it.

We took the opportunity to escape. We originally wanted to thank him properly, but unfortunately, that Senior disappeared after leaving the Market."

"......"

Lu Ming was silent. If he wasn't mistaken, the person they were talking about was him.

It was the first time he had been praised to his face, and Lu Ming felt a little embarrassed.

However, he still asked what he wanted to know.

"What happened later? Why did Brother Zhou travel thousands of miles to the Immortal City?"

"We originally planned to find a nearby Market to settle down, but under the sweeping beast tide, some nearby Markets also suffered disasters.

And since this matter originated from our Market, other Markets that received the news were unwilling to accept us.

But what does that have to do with us! It's all because of those high and mighty Foundation Establishment Cultivators and the commotion they caused."

Zhou Kang irritably scratched his messy hair and continued.

"It is said that two Foundation Establishment Cultivators discovered an Immortal Cave in a mine in the Cloud Mist Mountain Range.

But they didn't expect there to be a Golden Core Legacy inside, and at the deepest part, a newly matured jade blood demon lotus was growing."

"jade blood demon lotus?"

This wasn't the first time Lu Ming had heard of it. At that time, he had controlled his Clone to eavesdrop on the conversation between Zheng Tianming and Old Ancestor Murong.

He had simply forgotten about it later due to all the rushing around.

"The jade blood demon lotus is a Second-Tier Top Grade spiritual item. It's not very useful for Human Race Cultivators, but it has a huge attraction for Yao Beasts. It's a treasure that can purify their Bloodline."

"However, originally there was nothing, but because the two Foundation Establishment Cultivators fought fiercely over the Cultivation Technique.

They eventually awakened a Second-Tier Yao Beast with developed intelligence, the Cloud Thunder Demon Bear, from deep within the mountain range.

That Yao Bear sensed the aura of the jade blood demon lotus and launched a beast tide."

Lu Ming finally understood upon hearing this. No wonder that Second-Tier Cloud Thunder Demon Bear had made such a big fuss; it had come sniffing out the scent.

However, thinking about how Zheng Tianming had crushed and scattered the jade blood demon lotus at the time, his intentions were so malicious; he wanted to destroy the Market.

But he had new questions.

"Why were other Markets affected?"

When he left, he clearly saw that Cloud Thunder Demon Bear staring intently at the Murong Family; how did the conflict spread?

"It's all because of that Foundation Establishment Immortal Master from our Market!"

At this point, Old Zhou interjected, his wrinkled face showing a look of resentment.

"To preserve his clansmen, he ran out alone. That Yao Bear believed the jade blood demon lotus was on him and pursued him relentlessly, causing the Markets along the way to suffer!"

"Out of necessity, we could only hide in the Cloud Mist Mountain Range, but we got lost in the mountains and only arrived here after a lot of wandering."

However, at this point, Old Zhou's face showed a schadenfreude expression.

"According to what I heard, that Senior who led us out eventually went back!"

Lu Ming: ?

Could it be that I was being narcissistic just now?

Before he could ask, Old Zhou continued.

"While the Foundation Establishment Old Ancestor was away from the Market and the rear was empty, he extracted the souls of the Foundation Establishment Old Ancestor's clansmen one by one. I heard they died horribly."

"......"

Good, good, no narcissism, it was indeed him.

However, due to the asymmetry of information, they mistakenly believed that Wu Daoren had not left but had gone back for revenge, which was consistent with their understanding of things.

Without witnessing his killing methods firsthand, it would be hard to believe that someone could take a life from thousands of miles away.

'But Old Ancestor Murong ran away, and I don't know if the Golden Core Cultivation Technique is on him...'

The main body in the Immortal Cave's eyes flickered slightly, splitting a wisp of consciousness to pay attention to the conversation there.

"If there's an opportunity, I can try to get that Cultivation Technique."

Even finding a Foundation Establishment Cultivation Technique was difficult now, and the value of a Golden Core Cultivation Technique was immeasurable.

With the golden book in hand, if he discovered Old Ancestor Murong's whereabouts, he might have a chance to scheme.

However, that was for later; for now, it was best to Breakthrough to the Qi Refining Stage Ninth Level as soon as possible.

As for Old Zhou's side, there was no special news; it was just him pouring out his grievances to the Clone.

He said something about all crows being black, and no matter where they went, it was all the same.

Lu Ming didn't care about that. His inquiry about the beast tide in Green Bamboo Market was merely to understand the cause of the incident.

Although he had some suspicions before, he was ultimately inexplicably dragged into it, forcing him to flee for thousands of miles.

If he hadn't had the golden book, he might not have escaped and could have ended up as a wandering soul under a beast's hooves.

He held grudges.

Favors could be repaid at discretion, but grudges must be repaid, a two-day course of repayment!

Especially that Zheng Tianming, once he had the strength, he would destroy his Zheng Family too!

Lu Ming could somewhat understand the Murong Family's choice; a Golden Core Cultivation Technique, who wouldn't covet it?

But Zheng Tianming wanted to overturn the entire Market for his selfish desires.

"No rush, we'll play slowly!"

Lu Ming grinned, his gaze falling on the golden book.