Shen He was caught off guard by the thing that gave him, as a disciple, the most headache and vigilance: the assessment!
What was even more terrifying was that it wasn’t Xie Linlang conducting the assessment, but rather the Alchemist Alliance Association as a third party, ensuring a fair, just, and public evaluation. It was practically a public execution in front of everyone.
If he failed the test… forget about easily earning Spirit Stones; he might even lose his qualification to compete for the Mustard Seed Realm!
Thus, his playful mood vanished in an instant, replaced by a solemn and cautious expression.
Only then did Xie Linlang nod inwardly. For a Demonic Cultivator who had only reached the Foundation Establishment Stage, getting so excited and carried away in a place like Mountain Ring Immortal Road was truly a path to death.
He finally warned Shen He in a faint tone, “Don’t forget what the seniors said in our sect’s major lectures. As Demonic Cultivators, the most important thing is intelligence.”
Shen He took a deep breath and adjusted his mindset, feeling a bit embarrassed. “Disciple was out of line.”
Xie Linlang replied, “As long as you correct it, it’s fine. Let’s go.”
Then, Xie Linlang led Shen He to the Treasure Hunt Market.
Shen He: ?
Xie Linlang said with a mischievous tone, “I know who the new generation alchemists of the True Realm are. To them, you are the dark horse hidden in the shadows. Since that’s the case, of course, the later you reveal yourself, the better.”
Shen He: “…”
Tch, Shizun deliberately wanted to see my dumbfounded face, didn’t he? Such a bad personality.
The Treasure Hunt Market was vast, filled with stalls everywhere, each stall shimmering with the glow of formations.
Most stalls had no vendors present, only a signboard. The vendors waited in nearby teahouses.
If one wanted to inquire about an item, they could inject spiritual power or Demonic Qi into the signboard, and the vendor in the teahouse would transmit a message directly, undetectable by others—convenient and discreet.
Xie Linlang and Shen He separated, each selecting the items they wanted.
In truth, most good items were scanned by divine sense from discerning, high-level seniors before they even reached the market, so true treasures rarely slipped through.
But genuine spiritual items naturally concealed themselves, disguising their brilliance as something cheap. Only when encountering a fated person would they reveal a hint of divine light.
The Treasure Hunt Market was less about picking up bargains and more about witnessing luck.
Xie Linlang scanned most of the stalls but found nothing noteworthy.
Numerous cultivators shuttled back and forth through the Treasure Hunt Market. Xie Linlang occasionally dodged some high-rank cultivators, and sometimes gazes fell on him. Upon realizing he was a Demonic Cultivator, they regretfully looked away.
Xie Linlang paid it no mind. Due to his Crane Bone Recultivation, his aptitude was exceptional, and with his cultivation of the Treasure Tree Scripture, he naturally carried an innate aura of a Heavenly Demon.
Even if he tried his best to disguise himself, some truly high-rank cultivators or those who had cultivated the Special Pupil Technique could still spot a clue.
“What an Innate Charming Bones fellow Daoist.”
A slightly delicate voice sounded not far from Xie Linlang. “This one is Liu Yue. Might I ask which sect this fellow Daoist hails from?”
Xie Linlang paused for a beat before realizing the man was addressing him. He looked up and instantly understood.
Oh, isn’t this a cultivator from the Heavenly Charm Sect?
Only their sect would consider “Innate Charming Bones” a compliment; for anyone else, it would likely be an insult.
Xie Linlang replied indifferently, “Silent Night Palace, Xie Yu. Is fellow Daoist from the Heavenly Charm Sect?”
The cultivator named Liu Yue appeared to be in his twenties, dressed in a moon-colored long robe. His long hair was finely braided from the temples, wrapped around the back of his head, and tied into an exquisite knot with tassels hanging below like a curtain—extremely beautiful.
Liu Yue had a pair of flirtatious, beautiful peach blossom eyes, swirling with endless affection. Anyone meeting those eyes would feel their body soften slightly, a testament to his profound skill.
He smiled with pursed lips. “Silent Night Palace has such a talented disciple? Why not come to our Heavenly Charm Sect?”
Liu Yue stepped forward, seemingly wanting to link arms with Xie Linlang. “What has Xie Daoist taken a fancy to? I’ll cover the cost~”
Shen He, not far away, noticed Xie Linlang seemed to be in a dispute and hurried over. “Senior Brother, what’s wrong?”
Liu Yue’s eyes scanned Shen He like a scanner, quickly assessing him as a naive half-grown boy and immediately relegating him to the loser pile.
Ignoring Shen He, he continued smiling at Xie Linlang. “Xie Daoist?”
With someone offering to foot the bill, why not?
Xie Linlang was about to agree and ask if his junior brother, being young, could join to gain experience—aiming to double-drain Liu Yue’s wallet—when a burly man approached.
“What happened?”
This was the Treasure Hunt Market’s manager.
Liu Yue spat disdainfully in annoyance. “What a buzzkill.”
He hurriedly shoved a jade slip into Xie Linlang’s hand, then moved quickly away. His moon-white robe hem flared in a perfectly calculated arc, like a blooming lotus.
“Let’s chat again if fate allows.”
Liu Yue swiftly vanished among the Treasure Hunt stalls.
Xie Linlang was filled with question marks. He looked down at the jade slip—it was a minor spell for contacting Liu Yue.
