Qiuhong Market

The ancient cultivator's cave dwelling where Qiuhong Market was located was divided into an inner and an outer layer. Because Qiuhong Market had been so renowned, later generations grew accustomed to referring to the entire cave dwelling as Qiuhong Market. The outer layer lay beyond the protective grand formation, which had been the true Qiuhong Market. As the restrictions weakened under the wearing of the years, and due to various other reasons, that outer area was the first to be discovered. The founder of Qiuhong Market built the market there precisely to conceal what lay beneath. Later, the market was destroyed by cloud beasts, and the site fell into ruins. The surviving restrictions were utterly obliterated by the beasts beyond any hope of repair, leading to its complete abandonment. Left exposed to the open skies, it became a den of cloud beasts. Thus, each time the protective grand formation entered its low-ebb period and cultivators gathered at Qiuhong Market, their first order of business was to join forces and purge the cloud beasts entrenched there. There was actually little to say about the protective grand formation itself. Within it raged the elements of earth, wind, water, and fire, harmonized with the cycles of yin and yang; every time one entered, the formations encountered were different. Yu Kong merely gave a rough account of what he had run into on his previous expedition, as the odds of facing the exact same formations this time were slim. What Yu Kong emphasized—and what everyone cared about most—were several sites within the cave dwelling where treasures were hidden. In its original state, the cave dwelling was a towering green mountain. Vast though the mountain was, it had already been searched from end to end. Five places were universally recognized as critical locations where treasures existed. The first to be discovered, and the place the estate's master had valued most, was a site known as the Offering Hall. The Offering Hall bore no plaque, but it stood atop the mountain summit, the highest point in the entire cave dwelling. Enshrined within was a clay statue, treated with profound reverence by the master of the estate. Many suspected that the clay statue was likely the master's ancestral patriarch, which was why some also referred to it as the Patriarch Hall. Given its prominent position, extraordinary significance, and obvious conspicuousness, the hall had been the primary target for intruders from the very beginning. Its restrictions were cracked early on, and every single treasure stored inside—all of superior quality—had been swept completely clean. Afterward, many cultivators continued to search back and forth through the Offering Hall. Someone had even overturned the clay statue, only to confirm that the place had indeed been picked clean, before finally leaving it alone. Nowadays, only a scattered few still went inside to try their luck. Next was a unique landmark second only to the Offering Hall: the Secret Heritage Jade Wall, embedded in a cliff face on the rear mountain. Sitting in quiet meditation before the Secret Heritage Jade Wall offered a chance to receive the cave dwelling master's heritage. It was said that a Core Formation cultivator had once attempted to carry the jade wall away, striking the cliff with his palm. Yet he failed to damage the wall in the slightest and was instead injured by the restriction, after which the matter came to nothing. However, to this day, no one had figured out what conditions were required to obtain the heritage. It was far more likely to sit in vain until the protective grand formation was on the verge of recovering, forcing the cultivator to leave empty-handed after a wasted journey. As a result, very few people now went to meditate before the Secret Heritage Jade Wall. Beyond these were seven structures similar to Spirit Treasure Pavilions scattered throughout the mountain. These seven sites were the primary targets for most cultivators entering the cave dwelling today. Within the Spirit Treasure Pavilions lay magic tools, medicinal pills, and jade slips alike, though the treasures and restrictions varied considerably across the seven pavilions. At times, the size of one's harvest depended not only on strength, but also on luck. Yu Kong made no secret of his goal: a Spirit Treasure Pavilion located on the rear mountain. Firstly, that pavilion was the farthest away and its restrictions were by no means weak, meaning fewer competitors would vie for it. Secondly, he had gone there on his previous trip; with prior experience, he was confident he could seize even more treasures this time. *** "Fellow Daoist Yu, another group just hurried past. Could there be a change at Qiuhong Market? Shouldn't we pick up our pace?" Watching over a dozen streaks of light shoot past at the edge of their vision, heading straight for Qiuhong Market, Old Man Muteng seemed unable to hold back any longer and pressed the question. Old Man Muteng could hardly be blamed for his impatience; this was not the first group to overtake them over the past two days. By the looks of it, the protective grand formation of Qiuhong Market appeared to have undergone a new shift. Yu Kong looked around at everyone and said, "It seems the rest of you share Daoist Muteng's thoughts. Let us set out, then." Countless cloud beasts occupied the mountains. With the passing of the years, the area had turned into a beast den, leaving no trace of Qiuhong Market behind. Encircled by the cloud beasts stood a fractured mountain. Its peak had collapsed from some external force, exposing a jagged, uneven precipice. In the center of the fracture was a bottomless, circular chasm. From within it, light of various hues spewed continuously, churned with ominous phenomena like howling gales and raging flames. The cloud beasts feared this light immensely and dared not approach, showing that its power was formidable. The chasm was the entrance to the cave dwelling. Originally concealed by restrictions, it had been laid bare after Qiuhong Market's destruction. Leaping into the chasm would bring one into the protective grand formation, though the formation was currently still at its peak strength. When the low ebb arrived, these beams of light would grow exceedingly dim, barely able to surge beyond the lip of the chasm. Only then, with the formation's might vastly diminished, would it be the optimal time to enter. At this moment, on the peaks surrounding the fractured mountain, many cultivators had already gathered. Most arrived in groups, with very few lone wolves. Qin Sang followed Yu Kong to occupy a low ridge, his gaze fixed on the chasm. Knowing very little about the protective grand formation, he could discern nothing from it. Letting his gaze drift, he finally spotted Ge Yuan and Yunyouzi. The three exchanged brief, subtle glances before looking away impassively, appearing completely like strangers. "No wonder these old ghosts are all here. The low ebb will arrive in half a month at most!" After observing closely for a long while, Yu Kong came to this conclusion, then murmured, "It is time to begin clearing the cloud beasts." Although the beasts were extraordinarily numerous, more and more cultivators were converging on the area, and none were weak. Clearing the cloud beasts was merely a matter of time. Sure enough, no sooner had Yu Kong spoken than an old man in the late Foundation Establishment stage leapt into the air, calling out in a resonant voice: "Fellow Daoists at or above the middle Foundation Establishment stage, join this old man in hunting down the cloud beast leaders! The rest of you, team up to slaughter the rank and file. All spoils shall belong to whoever slays the beast! The true treasures still await inside the cave dwelling, so let no one harm our harmony over petty scraps!" This old man clearly commanded considerable prestige, and his call was met with immediate assent. Not daring to defy the old man's directive, Yu Kong turned his head and warned in a low voice, "Do not separate. Support one another at mutually defensive angles and stay vigilant. There are too many cloud beasts; once the battle begins, chaos will reign, and sneak attacks by other cultivators are not unheard of." Qin Sang and the others had practiced this beforehand. They immediately assumed their battle formation, headed by Old Man Muteng as the strongest among them, with the coordinated Xiu sisters guarding the rear, leaving no opening for ill-intentioned opportunists. Yu Kong nodded, feeling reassured. Just as he was about to depart, someone suddenly sneered from the left: "Old Ghost Yu, you really are clinging desperately to your life. Gathering so many people—have you picked out which ones will be your scapegoats yet?" A streak of light came to a halt before them, revealing none other than Sheng Yuanzi!