Normally, as the Cultivation Realm increases, cultivators’ lifespans also extend.
Every cultivator above the Golden Core is a living fossil, easily watching the rise and fall of dynasties, the changes of the world, as they themselves are genuine ancient relics.
In such an environment, Lu Yan never expected to encounter a cultivator selling counterfeit ancient texts.
After a moment of thought, Lu Yan immediately understood that He Dongsheng was taking advantage of his low cultivation, deceiving him under the guise of selling ancient texts.
Even the vendor beside them might have already made deals with He Dongsheng.
A purely artificially aged book with no relation to cultivation wouldn’t be worth even a single spirit stone, and yet He Dongsheng could be profiting hugely.
Encountering fabricated female cultivators and counterfeit cultivators led Lu Yan to realize that the place he was in was by no means part of a genuine cultivation realm.
Previously, he was just an ordinary person, not privy to these deeper layers of deception.
However, Lu Yan didn’t rush to expose him. After all, He Dongsheng was a mid-stage Qi Cultivator, and it wouldn’t be wise for Lu Yan to start trouble with a well-informed cultivator upon his first visit to the Cyan Valley Marketplace.
Casually tossing out a Sound Insulation Talisman to prevent eavesdropping, Lu Yan crouched down, picked up the book in He Dongsheng’s hand, and casually flipped through the pages with a slight smile:
"I would like to make a deal with you, Fellow Daoist He."
"What kind of deal?" He Dongsheng discreetly glanced at the Sound Insulation Talisman, his curiosity piqued.
Lu Yan shook the "Heavenly Dao Discussion" in his hand and said:
"If Fellow Daoist He gifts me this book, I’ll tell you how to mask the tea scent on these pages."
Hearing this, He Dongsheng’s eyes narrowed slightly, and his smile faded.
Lu Yan pinpointed the tea scent, clearly knowing the book was fake, yet hadn’t exposed it immediately.
After scrutinizing Lu Yan for a moment, He Dongsheng suddenly grinned:
Before being exposed, the book might be worth one or two spirit stones with his exaggerations, but once exposed, it becomes worthless.
Compared to a now-useless book, He Dongsheng was more curious about Lu Yan’s method.
Waving the "Heavenly Dao Discussion," Lu Yan casually remarked:
"Find an enclosed room, light a candle, and smoke the paper for several days. This will remove any distinct odor, and even if a hint of smoke remains, it’s much more plausible than the tea scent soaked into the paper."
He Dongsheng instantly looked shocked.
Not pausing, Lu Yan continued:
"But simply aging the paper is too elementary.
If Fellow Daoist He truly wishes to earn spirit stones, you could find some bronze artifacts, engrave a few phrases onto them, and then age them.
Mix vinegar with saltwater and soak the bronze in it for three days. Then place rust into the saltwater, and after it rusts, immerse it again. Dry it in the sun for three days, then take out the bronze and let it dry.
The resulting artifacts can easily pass as genuine; if you improve your techniques, the profit will surpass these useless books tenfold!"
While the smoke-aging surprised He Dongsheng, the bronze-aging method mentioned by Lu Yan left him deeply shocked, as if a new world had been unveiled to him.
After a long pause, He Dongsheng, filled with admiration, bowed to Lu Yan:
"You are truly talented, Fellow Daoist!"
"Despite my futile attempts to show off, I underestimated your skill."
Lu Yan responded with a faint smile.
Paper and bronze aging methods can be easily found in any urban resource; they aren’t hidden secrets. Lu Yan himself simply noted them from short videos.
But in the Xianxia world, such knowledge remains obscure due to the master-disciple lineage transmission, so much that even someone like He Dongsheng, who specializes in fake goods, may not know them.
Waving the "Heavenly Dao Discussion," he asked: "Is the Celestial Dao blessing you mentioned earlier from this book?"
Indeed, Lu Yan was intrigued by He Dongsheng’s earlier mention of the Celestial Dao blessing.
While not entirely correct, it somehow resonated with recent updates in the realm, surprising Lu Yan.
Were it not so, once realizing He Dongsheng’s intent to scam him, Lu Yan would have left, not wasting time to chat longer.
He Dongsheng coughed awkwardly; having grasped the forgery methods from Lu Yan, he felt compelled to confess, albeit with some embarrassment:
"Since Fellow Daoist already understands, I won’t hide from you."
"Every new customer I meet, I deliberately steer the conversation towards the Celestial Dao, sharing what seems like profound and inscrutable information, capturing their interest, and then marketing the ’Heavenly Dao Discussion’ to them.
Combined with friends helping to haggle the price down to about two spirit stones, most end up buying it, making it a bestseller."
"However, the ’Heavenly Dao Discussion’ is, in some sense, an ancient book, though penned by a madman from a mortal dynasty a few hundred years ago.
It looks like it expounds great truths, but is mixed with nonsensical ideas, impossible to prove, to the point a Foundation Establishment grand cultivator dismissed it as nonsense."
Hearing this, Lu Yan furrowed his brow, losing much of his interest in the ’Heavenly Dao Discussion’.
Still, he had gotten it for free, so he casually tossed it into his storage bag.
After a brief exchange, He Dongsheng bowed to Lu Yan:
"May I know your esteemed name, Fellow Daoist?"
Lu Yan returned the courtesy: "Lu Yan."
"Your insights today, Fellow Daoist Lu, I shall remember deeply.
Although my cultivation isn’t high, I am somewhat knowledgeable about marketplace rumors and sect news. Should you need anything, just ask, and I won’t keep secrets!"
He Dongsheng patted his chest, promising.
Though Lu Yan smiled outwardly, he understood well that He Dongsheng’s words were mere politeness.
A cultivator specializing in fakes wouldn’t genuinely change his ways with just a few words, and given the chance, he would likely deceive again, albeit less obviously next time.
Still, He Dongsheng did provide Lu Yan with a means to gather information, and with only three months for the realm update, Lu Yan had no time to spare.
"There is something I wish to inquire about, if Fellow Daoist He wouldn’t mind."
He Dongsheng immediately gestured grandly: "Feel free to ask!"
"Does Fellow Daoist He know of any demonic sect specializing in the Karma Method?"
He Dongsheng looked puzzled for a moment, his gaze turning somewhat peculiar as he looked at Lu Yan:
"Are you referring to the Red Lotus Demon Sect, Fellow Daoist Lu?"
"Please elaborate, Fellow Daoist."
He Dongsheng settled back onto his stall, explaining while searching through miscellaneous books:
"The Red Lotus Demon Sect is a relatively new sect in the demonic path, having been established for only a few thousand years, yet recognized among the major sects in the demonic path.
However, within our Southern Border Territory, their reputation isn’t significant, not only because of the distance but also due to their controversial methods."
"In the internal struggles within the demonic sects, the Karma Method of the Red Lotus Demon Sect is feared and renowned.
Most Demonic Cultivators have committed grave sins, and the Karma Method is the perfect counter against them, even providing the opportunity to cross realms in battle.
However, when facing righteous sects, the Karma Method lacks effectiveness and is instead countered by certain Profound Light Righteous Methods and Buddhist Divine Techniques, often leaving their cultivators fleeing in panic and relying on sheer cultivation prowess.
Over time, the Red Lotus Demon Sect has become a joke in both righteous and demonic paths."
Lu Yan blinked, nearly blurting out a comment.
"So, even in the cultivation realm, there’s internal conflict and deception?"