Chapter 16: Immortal Cultivation, Only the Word Struggle

After returning to Nezier Town, Arius planned to use the Mirror of Immortal Appraisal to upgrade and enhance the Spirit Poison Bottles and Fire Talismans he had just purchased.

With those strengthened items, combined with his First Level artifact, the Three-Talent Formation Flags, he would be more than prepared to deal with the Ashfell family patriarch.

"Fellow Daoist, the total for everything comes to fifty-two spirit stone fragments."

"With the ten-percent discount, you only need to pay forty-six fragments," the elder said as he personally delivered the ten Fire Talismans, eleven bottles of Spirit Purification Pills, and three Spirit Poison Bottles to Arius.

Arius nodded in satisfaction at the price.

After carefully storing all the items, he didn't linger in the Blue Pavilion any longer. Instead, he began wandering around the rest of the Immortal Market.

Compared to the Blue Pavilion, the other shops and stalls in the market primarily catered to Skin Tempering and Blood Tempering cultivators, offering basic tools and resources.

Many stalls were cluttered with so-called "ancient treasures"—items loudly advertised but clearly fake.

The stall owners hawked their wares enthusiastically to the passing crowd:

"Freshly unearthed two-handed sword artifact from the Crimson Fiend Valley! Cuts through iron like butter—could be a Level 1 artifact! Only two spirit stone fragments!"

"Level 2 artifact fragment! Come take a look! Genuine Level 2 artifact fragment—only one spirit stone fragment to take it home!"

Arius's gaze swept across the items as he walked by. The so-called "Level 2 artifact fragment" was nothing more than a piece of dull, lifeless scrap metal.

And the ornate two-handed sword, supposedly imbued with mystical symbols and a cutting edge, was nothing more than an ordinary mundane weapon.

Even a novice cultivator could easily distinguish such fakes.

Yet, the stalls still attracted some cultivators who paused to examine the items.

Despite the abundance of counterfeit goods, these stalls occasionally featured genuine items or practical tools, drawing in hopeful or curious customers.

Some were driven by a gambler's mentality, hoping for a lucky find among the sea of frauds.

Arius spent half an hour wandering through the market, eventually purchasing a batch of treasured herb seeds. Once he was certain there was nothing else of interest, he prepared to leave the Immortal Market.

But just as he turned to go, a heated argument caught his attention.

"This is a Second Level-grade Spirit Gathering Array! Even though it's damaged, it still holds value. I absolutely won't sell it for less than twenty-five spirit stone fragments!"

"Spirit Gathering Array? If it were intact and still capable of gathering spiritual energy, then maybe the price would make sense…"

"But look at it—it's barely functional! Only one-tenth of the formation flags remain. Even if someone bought it, it'd be useless except for salvaging materials."

"And even for salvaging materials, the remaining flags are so broken down that there's barely anything left to work with."

"Ten spirit stone fragments. Take it or leave it."

Following the sound of the argument, Arius's gaze landed on two men, both at the early Blood Tempering stage, fiercely haggling over the price.

The mention of a Level 2 grade Spirit Gathering Array immediately piqued Arius's interest. His steps, which had been carrying him toward the exit, halted in an instant.

A Level 2-grade Spirit Gathering Array was designed to gather spiritual energy from its surroundings, drastically accelerating the cultivation of Level 2 cultivators.

Even the cheapest Level 2-grade array would typically sell for hundreds of lower-grade spirit stones.

Back at the Albigensians Sect, there had been several such arrays, all of which were invaluable resources.

However, the array next to the two men was in an extremely dilapidated state.

Only one-tenth of its formation flags remained, and even the most critical materials embedded in those flags had already been scavenged.

Its value had dwindled to a mere fraction of what it once was, barely one percent of its original worth.

Yet, even in its current state, as a Level 2-grade Spirit Gathering Array, it could still fetch several dozen lower-grade spirit stones.

Arius watched the two quarreling Blood Tempering cultivators, deliberating for a moment before making his decision. He would buy the array.

If the Mirror of Immortal Appraisal could repair even a portion of this array, the investment would be well worth it.

"No need to argue, gentlemen."

"Fifteen spirit stone fragments. I'll take it," Arius said, his tone calm as he approached the two men.

As he spoke, the vast vitality within his body surged outward, enveloping the area with an oppressive aura. The weight of his presence descended like a mountain on the two Blood Tempering cultivators.

"G-greetings, Senior…"

"Greetings, Senior…"

The two men immediately turned pale, bowing respectfully under the immense pressure radiating from Arius.

The man who had been attempting to bargain the price down to ten spirit stone fragments dared not utter another word.

He was only in the early stages of Blood Tempering, while Arius's aura clearly marked him as a Bone Tempering cultivator.

Though the Immortal Market prohibited fighting, the moment they stepped outside its bounds, those rules would no longer apply. For the sake of a broken Spirit Gathering Array, the man wasn't about to provoke a Bone Tempering cultivator.

The seller, on the other hand, looked reluctant. Fifteen spirit stone fragments was not the price he had hoped for.

But after weighing his options, he ultimately chose to concede.

Such was the reality of the cultivation world. If Arius had been anything less than a Bone Tempering cultivator, the seller would never have backed down.

Strength ruled supreme, and the strong commanded respect.

Fairness existed only on the foundation of power.

Arius felt no guilt over the situation.

He was no noble gentleman of righteous virtue.

He was simply one of the countless beings bound by the harsh rules of this world.

Cultivation was, at its core, a struggle.

If you didn't fight, you would be trampled. If you didn't fight, you would become a stepping stone for others.

After leaving fifteen spirit stone fragments behind, Arius collected the broken Level 2-grade Spirit Gathering Array and, with a single step, transformed into a fleeting shadow as he exited the Immortal Market.

The entire trip had taken several hours, and time was running short.

He needed to return to Nezier Town without delay and complete his preparations before the Ashfell family launched their attack.

Crossing mountains, wading through rivers, and navigating treacherous marshes, Arius moved through terrain that would have been insurmountable for ordinary mortals. To him, these obstacles were no more challenging than walking across a plain.

At full speed, the two-hundred-miles journey would take him no more than an hour.

But Arius chose not to rush. Instead, he maintained a steady pace, conserving his energy.

When traveling in the outside world, it was crucial to keep one's strength intact. If danger arose, exhaustion could lead to disaster—or even death.

This lesson, hard-earned through a century of cultivation, was deeply ingrained in Arius.