In fact, according to Lu Yuanshan’s idea, to expand the Spirit Field, funds must rely on the sale of this batch of Spirit Rice, and it must be done flawlessly.
If they are robbed en route, and Lu Changfeng and others are outmatched, they can rely on the speed of the Cloud Stepping Beast to escape, which is quite practical.
The rental price for five Cloud Stepping Beasts is ten Spirit Stones, with a rental period of three months. The Sect can afford this amount of Spirit Stones and shouldn’t skimp on it.
Lu Yuanshan is still very cautious, thorough, and knows how to prioritize.
"These Spirit Beasts are useful, but also expensive. Renting one costs two Spirit Stones. When will the Sect have its own Cloud Stepping Beast?"
Lu Changfeng muttered a few times, unable to help but touch the Cloud Stepping Beast, showing much affection for this kind of Spirit Beast.
Once the Spirit Rice was packed and sorted, along with the cleaned batch of Tree Cave Fox pelts, Lu Changfeng led eight disciples, setting off towards Qinghe Market.
This trip will not only involve selling Spirit Rice and Tree Cave Fox pelts but also purchasing some goods.
Regarding the Spirit Field, they will purchase many fertilizers, grain seeds, Spiritual Hoe tools, and the like, to facilitate the expansion of the Spirit Field.
For the Medicinal Garden, they will purchase seeds of Spirit Medicines like Clear Heart Grass, Orchid Vine, and Purple Cloud Reishi to expand the planting scale.
Of course, upon return, they will also be escorted by the Cloud Stepping Beasts. After all, they rented them for three months, so they must use the time fully; otherwise, it would feel like a waste.
Throughout the journey, Lu Changfeng tries to make haste, choosing to walk rather than sit, fly rather than walk, and move as quickly as possible.
The facts prove Lu Yuanshan’s decision to rent the Cloud Stepping Beasts was correct.
After traveling over three hundred miles and passing by Shuangjiao Mountain, Lu Yuanshan and his party encountered the gaze of six desolate Loose Cultivators.
This group of Loose Cultivators varied in age, having roamed within a hundred miles around Shuangjiao Mountain for years. Their talent was not very good, and due to the scarcity of cultivation resources, they resorted to robbery.
Such Loose Cultivators are very common in the Chu Kingdom’s Cultivation Realm. Some are peak Qi Cultivators who, driven by greed, would intercept Sect or family cultivators for a single Foundation Establishment Pill, risking their lives.
Such people are driven by desire and greed, capable of any deed, entirely lacking in mercy and morality.
This group of Shuangjiao Mountain Loose Cultivators had strength around the Sixth-Layer Qi Cultivation level, forming a small group. The leader had a scar on his face and was nicknamed Scarface, with cultivation reaching the Seventh-Layer Qi Cultivation, which constituted considerable combat power.
For the past two years, they have tempted fate, engaging in several robberies. Having tasted the benefits, their boldness became unstoppable, eyeing Lu Changfeng’s group this time.
However, this time, their attempt ended in vain.
Upon realizing that this group of Shuangjiao Mountain Loose Cultivators harbored malicious intent, Lu Changfeng immediately became alert, instructing the disciples to quicken their pace, urging the Cloud Stepping Beasts to move at full speed, fleeing swiftly.
Whether or not they could win, ensuring safety by fleeing was the right choice.
This was exactly Lu Changfeng’s thinking.
So much so that when they fled, it left the Shuangjiao Mountain Loose Cultivators eating dust, watching helplessly as the prize flew away right before their eyes.
In truth, there was no other choice. Full-speed Cloud Stepping Beasts, even when carrying Spirit Rice, couldn’t be pursued by Qi Cultivators.
If able to flee and avoid magical combat, Lu Changfeng was certainly willing to; after all, the time had come to truly showcase the value of the Cloud Stepping Beasts.
In fleeing, Lu Changfeng and the others left the Shuangjiao Mountain Loose Cultivators attempting to chase. After pursuing for dozens of miles, they fell increasingly behind, eventually losing sight of Lu Changfeng’s party altogether.
"Stop chasing, these Sect cultivators are too slippery!"
Ultimately, with their heads hung low, they had to give up and discuss waiting for the next unfortunate target.
Escaping the pursuit of these Loose Cultivator robbers, Lu Changfeng didn’t simply focus on fleeing; he quietly remembered the features of those people.
Following this, the journey became much smoother.
It took about a day for the group to arrive at Qinghe Market.
Qinghe Market is located near the East Bank of Lingxi State’s longest river, the Lingxi, founded by the Heaven-Facing Sect, established over three hundred years ago.
The Heaven-Facing Sect is a major sect in the Chu Kingdom, with a Golden Core Ancestor seated within, carrying a millennium-long legacy. Its power is formidable and ranks first in both strength and status within the Chu Kingdom, influencing even the royal succession.
Under the Heaven-Facing Sect’s banner, Qinghe Market has developed rapidly over the years, attracting many cultivation clans, Loose Cultivators, and Sect cultivators to trade within.
It is noteworthy that over a hundred years ago, Qinghe Market had a scandal where, due to a Foundation Establishment Pill auction, a greedy loose cultivator attempted to rob within the market. This incident significantly damaged the market’s reputation.
Afterward, the Heaven-Facing Sect issued an announcement to restore the market’s reputation. Within fifty miles of Qinghe Market, no conflicts involving weapons were allowed, and violators would be executed by the Heaven-Facing Sect without leniency.
Thanks to this rule, Qinghe Market’s reputation gradually recovered and has continued to grow, attracting more merchants and cultivators.
For this reason, Qinghe Market ranks third among the markets in Lushan County.
Upon entering the boundaries of Qinghe Market, Lu Changfeng and his party finally relaxed their guard.
In recent decades, Qinghe Market has been very safe, and no one dares to create trouble within the market, safeguarding the Sect’s face, securing safety.
No aerial activities are allowed within the market, so they walked in, entering the market.
The market has six streets, with various shops lining both sides of the streets.
Lu Changfeng arrived in the evening, and the market was not cold and desolate but still bustling.
The market remains open for twelve hours a day, allowing transactions at any time.
Even late at night, a ghost market appears.
In the ghost market, various Magical Treasures, Spiritual Artifacts, Elixirs, and techniques with unknown origins and varying quality circulate, attracting many Loose Cultivators to try their luck.
Trading in the ghost market is mostly discreet, yet the rule against weapons remains enforced.
Lu Changfeng wasn’t visiting the market for the first time and deftly found the Sect’s shop.
During its peak, the Cyan Mountain Sect controlled more than ten shops in the market. Unfortunately, in the past thirty years, its power waned, forcing it to sell many shops, leaving only one struggling to survive.
This shop is named Cyan Mountain Residence.
Lu Yuanshan entered Cyan Mountain Residence, where the managing disciple, surnamed Xu, named Xu Yecheng, was a Third-Layer Qi Cultivation cultivator. He managed the shop alongside another disciple, Qian Yingcai, with great diligence.
Their cultivation level was low, and their talent was average, but they were likable. Following the Sect’s principle of utilizing resources to their fullest, they were tasked with managing the shop.
Seeing Lu Yuanshan enter, Xu Yecheng immediately stepped forward to greet: "Elder Lu, you’ve arrived, please, come inside and have a seat."
Lu Changfeng nodded and pointed at the Cloud Stepping Beasts: "No need, let’s unload the Spirit Rice first. This year’s batch needs to be sold quickly to exchange for Spirit Stones."
Xu Yecheng responded and promptly called the shop assistants to help with unloading.