Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 14 Heed My Advice and Leave Here as Soon as Possible

"You... if you have the courage, don't you dare flee."

Han Xuanwu’s expression stiffened at those words, and he truly hesitated to strike. After spitting out a fierce threat, he sat back down with a look of resentment, his predatory eyes fixed firmly on Zhao Sheng.

Heavenly Pillar Mountain was governed by several strict taboos, the foremost being a total ban on violence during the trading assembly, otherwise...

Zhao Sheng cast a subtle, lingering glance toward a young man in the crowd dressed in a purple Magic Robe. This individual was an Inner Sect Disciple of the Purple Sun Sect, assigned to oversee the day's proceedings.

Having spent over two decades navigating the dangers of Heavenly Pillar Mountain, Zhao Sheng possessed a significant reputation despite not even being a true Cultivator.

He was known by many labels: a reckless daredevil, cunning and cold-blooded, the undisputed master of Wing Suit Flying, a man capable of ambushing those in the late stages of Qi Refining and slipping away from Foundation Establishment experts.

Because of this, several familiar herb gatherers called out greetings to him, and Zhao Sheng responded to each with a polite cupped-fist salute.

Once he located a spot surrounded by acquaintances, he turned to acknowledge the hedonistic monk, Lu Dayou, who sat nearby. "Brother Lu, it is good to see you, and the rest of your companions as well..."

As he spoke, Zhao Sheng’s brow furrowed slightly when he noticed that Lu Dayou’s group had thinned out.

Those who were missing had likely met a grim end.

Harvesting Spiritual Medicines was a perilous endeavor. One had to constantly guard against the fierce gales and thick mists of the jagged cliffs, while remaining vigilant for venomous insects, predatory birds, and Fierce Beasts. A single moment of distraction could leave one without even a corpse to bury.

Furthermore, Heavenly Pillar Mountain was far more than just a simple garden for herbs.

Lu Dayou read his expression clearly, but as a seasoned veteran of Qi Refining who had grown numb to the cycle of life and death, he merely brushed it off with a laugh and changed the subject:

"Brother Gongsun, where have you been seeking fortune lately? Traveling solitary is far too risky; you should join my crew. It is better to have allies watching your back."

Ever since Zhao Sheng pioneered the technique of Wing Suit Flying, he had become a highly sought-after partner for many small gathering teams.

The utility of Wing Suit Flying was undeniable, as it vastly improved the survival rates of many early-stage Qi Refining Cultivators who adopted it.

Consequently, while Zhao Sheng collected substantial "instruction fees," his renown continued to soar daily.

"Haha, Brother Lu, I am grateful for the offer. However, I have grown accustomed to my independence over these many years and am not well-suited for group efforts," Zhao Sheng replied, declining the invitation with a polite smile.

Cultivators were notoriously proud and looked down upon Innate Martial Artists. Despite Zhao Sheng's fame, he was no exception to their prejudice.

If he joined Lu Dayou’s group, there was no telling when he might be betrayed by his own teammates.

Zhao Sheng was well aware that he was a very tempting "fat target"!

Lu Dayou attempted to persuade him a few more times, but after seeing Zhao Sheng continually dodge the topic, his patience wore thin. He turned away with a cold expression and ignored him.

Cough, cough!

After a short while, seeing that the arrivals had slowed, the Purple Sun Sect Disciple stood up and cleared his throat twice.

The chatter around the fire died down instantly as every eye turned toward him.

The man scanned the assembly before declaring, "The hour has arrived; let the trading assembly commence. The usual regulations apply: first, no brawling; second, once a trade is finalized, there are no regrets. Third, once you step beyond the ten-mile safety perimeter, your life is your own responsibility.

Furthermore, those who wish to trade with me directly may do so. I accept Spirit Stones, Magic Artifacts, talismans, or Elixir Pills."

With that, he resumed his seat.

The market began in earnest, with several gatherers approaching the Purple Sun Sect Disciple to trade their harvested Spiritual Medicines for essential resources.

Other gatherers practiced their trade by spreading out cloths and displaying their wares: various dried or preserved Spiritual Medicines, chipped Magic Artifacts and blades, jerked meat, water skins, mysterious ores, or the remains, talons, and teeth of demon beasts.

Zhao Sheng followed suit.

He unfastened the strap from his shoulder and emptied his pack onto the ground, arranging the items neatly.

There were three century-old Red Fruits, a hide from a Mountain-piercing Iron Armor Beast, a Green Ganoderma the size of a human face, two jade-like White Ganodermas, a small bronze blade, and a folded blue Magic Robe.

These represented his gains from the past month, yet they were not his most prized possessions.

After a long moment of hesitation, Zhao Sheng reached into his tunic and produced a translucent, shimmering white Jade Pendant.

The moment it appeared, it drew the immediate focus of everyone in the vicinity.

"A First Rank Protective Jade Pendant!" someone gasped in astonishment.

"Dammit, did Gongsun Sheng ambush another Sect Disciple?"

"Hmph, Gongsun relies on his unrivaled Qinggong to strike from the shadows. If he weren't so fast at running away, he would have been caught and skinned alive long ago."

Zhao Sheng ignored the whispers, but it wasn't long before someone approached, driven by curiosity, to ask about the price of the Protective Jade Pendant.

"I am only interested in Yellow Bud Pills, Green Jade Powder, or other Spirit Pills that aid in Cultivation."

Zhao Sheng spoke clearly, ensuring the surrounding crowd could hear his requirements.

The man laughed awkwardly upon hearing this and said, "Brother Gongsun, you are an Innate Martial Artist; such Cultivation Elixirs are useless to you. Perhaps we can negotiate? I have a bottle of Revitalizing Pills and a bottle of Innate Pills right here..."

"My apologies, but I will not consider any other offers," Zhao Sheng replied firmly.

Hmph!

The man walked off, grumbling under his breath.

However, the next person to approach caused Zhao Sheng a significant headache.

Han Xuanwu squatted directly across from him, legs wide, staring at Zhao Sheng with an intense, silent focus.

"Brother Han, is this really necessary? I haven't hidden a single thing from you. If you cannot master the Cloud Dragon Nine Transformations, it is because your physical constitution is incompatible, not because of any trickery on my part," Zhao Sheng explained earnestly.

He actually respected Han Xuanwu. The man lived by a strict code of honor, was transparent in his dealings, and, most importantly, did not harbor the usual disdain for non-cultivating Martial Artists.

Furthermore, Zhao Sheng was telling the truth; without a 'Light as a Feather' constitution, a peak human could only leap seven or eight zhang, whereas he could clear ten zhang with ease, seemingly gliding through the air.

Han Xuanwu remained silent and unconvinced. Gongsun’s reputation was quite stained among the gatherers; his words were rarely taken at face value.

Moreover, Han Xuanwu was certain that there was a hidden trick to the Cloud Dragon Nine Transformations that he was missing. With his own genius-level talent as a Martial Artist, failing to reach Great Success seemed impossible otherwise.

Zhao Sheng saw the man's stubbornness and was prepared to argue further.

Suddenly,

his nostrils flared as he caught a faint, strange scent.

Zhao Sheng’s expression shifted almost imperceptibly as he scanned the area. On the surface, the market was bustling and normal, yet the peculiar odor in the air was becoming more pronounced.

Since reaching the Innate Limit the previous year, his sense of smell had sharpened to an incredible degree, allowing him to isolate individual scents and detect things that even Cultivators missed.

He dubbed this gift his 'Spiritual Smell,' though he often joked it was a 'dog’s nose.'

This ability had been his salvation on numerous occasions over the years.

"Take my advice and get out of here immediately."

Using a technique for secret sound transmission, Zhao Sheng gave Han Xuanwu a final warning before rapidly shoving his belongings back into his pack.