From Family Fisherman to Water Virtue True Immortal-Chapter 171: Jade Parasol Tree

Above the central stall of the black market, several Foundation Establishment cultivators whose faces were obscured sat cross-legged in midair, unreservedly emitting the mana fluctuations of the Foundation Establishment Realm.

Li Quanqing glanced around and noticed that one of them was actually selling a Second Rank item from the Demon Path; it was unclear whether it was a spoil of war.

Suddenly, Li Quanqing stopped in front of a stall, examining the goods on display.

Stalks of hundred-year-old elemental wood that sparkled with light lay there, emanating a pleasant fragrance, including a few pieces of Second Rank wood that seemed to have been freshly chopped off a tree.

"Could this be... Jade Parasol Wood?!"

Li Quanqing’s gaze sharpened as he suddenly noticed a piece of Parasol Wood that was as green as jade, slightly thicker than a wrist, with a cross-section filled with blue and red patterns, resembling flames burning.

This piece of wood, merely by lying there, released a surge of intense heat. The fire energy was pure and flawless, grand and majestic.

"Young friend has good eyes; this is indeed a branch of Second Rank Jade Parasol Tree."

The stall owner was a cultivator dressed in green robes, with a layer of green light covering his face, his voice sounding quite aged.

Li Quanqing looked at him a few times, his voice somewhat doubtful: "Wasn’t it said that Jade Parasol Wood is only produced by the Biwu Sect? Why..."

"Are you buying or not!"

The green-robed Foundation Establishment cultivator suddenly interrupted him with an impatient tone in his voice, sending a wave of Foundation Establishment Pressure his way.

Li Quanqing, however, felt more at ease, and had some suspicions.

He had previously heard rumors that an elder at the Golden Core stage from the Biwu Sect had been seriously injured during the recruitment for the Outer Sea Beast Tide, and now there was unrest within the sect.

Now it seemed the rumors were not without foundation.

"No rush, fellow Daoist, no rush."

Li Quanqing laughed heartily, similarly displaying a trace of Foundation Establishment Power, which calmed the other party’s anger.

"So you are also a cultivator of the same path... Hmph!"

The green-robed cultivator harrumphed, speaking with a echoic voice, though his attitude became much friendlier.

Li Quanqing picked up the Jade Parasol Wood and examined it carefully. This kind of Second Rank Fire Attribute Spiritual Wood was just what he needed to craft the Flame Dragon Array.

"Fellow Daoist, I need a total of nine Second Rank Parasol Woods, plus seventy-two First Rank Jade Parasol Woods, do you have them in stock?"

Li Quanqing communicated with his Divine Sense, carrying a hint of sincerity.

"So much?"

The other party was obviously startled, with a tremble in their Divine Sense, seemingly disbelieving.

After some bargaining, Li Quanqing agreed with the other party to deliver the items at the next black market gathering.

Although he did not manage to acquire the Foundation Establishment Pill, resolving this matter still put him in a good mood.

"Now the only thing I’m missing is the Second Rank Fire Silkworm Silk."

He toured the entire black market to make sure he hadn’t missed anything, then made his way to an ice cavern.

This place was bustling with people coming and going, but only two cultivators wrapped in black robes were busy.

Various information Jade Tokens were hung all around the cavern walls, each seeking all sorts of treasures; there were dozens of them.

Clearly, this was a place directly managed by the official personnel of the black market.

After spending over a hundred Spirit Stones, Li Quanqing also hung up a Jade Token for himself, seeking to buy Second Rank Fire Attribute silkworm silk or spiritual silk.

Having completed these tasks, he left the black market feeling satisfied.

The light he rode was extremely slow, at the level of a regular Qi Refining cultivator.

After flying out for forty to fifty li and confirming that he was not followed by any robbers, Li Quanqing couldn’t help but chuckle wryly.

It seemed that tonight, he was not going to make an extra sum.

After deliberately taking a long detour, Li Quanqing eventually returned to Cold Chi Immortal City.

...

Half a month later, the Jade Parasol Wood he ordered was delivered on time, money and goods exchanged to the satisfaction of both parties.

Li Quanqing was basically certain that the other party was indeed a Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Biwu Sect, who appeared not to be living too well these days.

This brought him some peace of mind; the Biwu Sect and the Shuihua Sword Sect were not far from each other, and now these Golden Core Sects all seemed to be showing signs of fatigue.

On the contrary, it was a prime opportunity for the expansive growth of the Green Jade Li Family.

He waited another month, but unfortunately, there was still no news about the Fire Silkworm Silk.

After all, Fire Attribute spiritual materials were always rare, and whether it was the major shops or even within the black market, none had them in their collections.

Just as he was preparing to return to his clan, the Daoist called Three Smiles unexpectedly came to his door.

"Are you saying, you know where to purchase Second Rank Fire Silkworm Silk?"

Li Quanqing looked at the Qi Refining cultivator who paid him a visit, his eyes slightly astonished.

Since that day in the teahouse when they parted, after getting information from Master Huang Li, he hadn’t seen the other party since.

"Indeed."

Daoist Three Smiles smiled respectfully: "During this time, I’ve often heard people say that Senior Chi Longzi is eagerly seeking Fire Silkworm Silk, so I kept an eye out, and now finally, there’s a lead."

Li Quanqing nodded upon hearing this.

When he visited various stores, he indeed did not hide his identity, so it was not strange that the news spread.

"Tell me in detail about this person’s information."

Daoist Three Smiles walked into the Cave Mansion in shock, holding a cup of Spiritual Tea, not daring to neglect: "That senior is named Xuan Yuanzi, a famously good person in the Immortal City with a wide network, extremely skilled at divination..."

Li Quanqing listened, nodding from time to time; it sounded indeed like the profile of a virtuous cultivator with a far-reaching reputation.

After finding out the residence of this Xuan Yuanzi, he paid a visit that very night and was respectfully welcomed into the Cave Mansion by the doorman.

"So this is the Daoist Chi Longzi who has only recently come to the Immortal City, truly more impressive in person than by reputation!"

Xuan Yuanzi was an extremely kind-looking old man, with three strands of long beard, hair white as frost, giving off an Immortal Wind Tao Bone appearance.

"I apologize for any disturbances caused by my visit."

Li Quanqing bowed slightly, and after taking his seat, he got straight to the point: "I’ve heard that fellow Daoist has a batch of Second Rank Fire Silkworm Silk, may I know if this is true or false?"

Xuan Yuanzi laughed heartily, "Indeed, I have a bundle of Golden Shimmering Silkworm Silk, which is a private treasure of mine that I usually cherish dearly!"

"I am in urgent need of such silk to forge a Magical Treasure, and require a considerable amount. I wonder if you could part with it, willing to exchange treasures for it!"

Li Quanqing’s words were quite sincere.

Xuan Yuanzi pondered for a moment before slowly speaking, "Fire Silkworm Silk is rare and precious, but seeing how earnest you are, how about this—I’ll exchange the silk for a favor from you?"

Li Quanqing frowned slightly, somewhat puzzled, "What do you mean?"

"I have recently acquired a treasure map of the ruins of an Ancient Cultivation Cave Mansion, and I have widely invited fellow cultivators to explore it together. There may even be clues to Golden Core Spiritual Items..."

Xuan Yuanzi laid out his proposal leisurely and finally revealed his hidden agenda.

Li Quanqing: "Farewell!"

He didn’t wait for the old man to finish speaking and with a flick of his sleeve, he left straight away, completely disregarding the other’s attempts to retain him.

It wasn’t until he was out of the Cave Mansion and saw the bustling traffic on the streets that Li Quanqing fully recovered his wits.

He had been schemed!

Perhaps the arrival of the Daoist of Three Laughs was orchestrated by these people behind the scenes.

"Seeing that I’m a newly-arrived cultivator in the Immortal City with unstable foundations, they set their sights on me, thinking of laying a trap?"

"In their dreams!"

Li Quanqing sneered coldly. Though confident in his strength and numerous trump cards,

he wasn’t so foolish as to put himself in danger for a Second Rank grand formation.

As for the possibility of the treasure map being real, only an idiot would believe others were truly benevolent!

"Indeed, city schemes run deep..." frёeωebɳovel.com

"Better to return, better to return!"

Looking upon the vast Immortal City, after two months away from home, a sudden longing to return welled up inside him.

That very night, under the deep dark sky, as clouds gathered and stars were hidden,

he quietly departed from Cold Chi Immortal City without any attachment and flew directly towards the direction of the Shuihua Sea Domain.

...

Riding the Red Dragon Puppet, Li Quanqing traveled seven or eight hundred li in one go before he began to feel somewhat reassured.

"Still not safe enough, let’s fly a bit further, then cast the Water Escape Technique to completely conceal my aura."

He looked up at the fluttering snowflakes in the howling wind and snow. This sea area was still under the control of Cold Chi Immortal City.

The Red Dragon Puppet breathed Spiritual Energy, wreathed in a fiery glow, and whooshed through the air with a speed that could match a Second Rank Demon Bird soaring through the sky.

During these days, Li Quanqing had also exchanged all his Low-Grade Spirit Stones, which he had no use for, into Mid-Grade Spirit Stones through official channels of the Immortal City.

It took a hundred and ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones to exchange for one Mid-Grade Spirit Stone. The exchange rate was somewhat extortionate.

Fortunately, there was no limit on the amount of Spirit Stone exchanges.

Li Quanqing now carried over two hundred sixty Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, enough for the Red Dragon Puppet to battle for days and nights on end, giving him plenty of confidence.

Just as he was nearing the edge of the stormy region, a loud bang suddenly echoed from behind, sending a shockwave powerful enough to deafen ears.

Immediately following, an imposing Mana fluctuation burst forth, illuminating the night sky, sweeping through the high-altitude, and flying rapidly in his direction.

"I knew it, nothing good would happen!"

Li Quanqing thought angrily as he controlled the Red Dragon Puppet to burst forward, breaking through the snowstorm and returning to the unclaimed open sea area.

"Fellow Daoist, save me, save me!"

A cry for help came from behind, which sounded somewhat familiar.

Li Quanqing looked back and to his surprise, it was actually Mu Daoist who was in trouble.

At this moment, Mu Daoist was controlling a green escape light, being chased and put through the wringer by two Foundation Establishment cultivators cloaked in black robes, calling out repeatedly in desperate straits.

"A joint setup?"

A suspicion arose in Li Quanqing’s mind. He dared not linger and urged the Red Dragon to swiftly flee the scene.

"Fellow Daoist, you can’t just ignore my plight!"

Mu Daoist let out a strange cry, his speed suddenly surged, and he rapidly drew near, heading straight for Li Quanqing.

"Scram!!"

Li Quanqing roared in anger, raising his hand and slashing out a Sky-reaching Sword Qi that was majestic and grand, with flames reaching heavenwards!

The Sword Qi swept through, encompassing the three Foundation Establishment cultivators, lighting up the night sky with fire.

"Fellow Daoist, are you set on thorough extermination!?"

Mu Daoist’s expression changed, and he hastily dove backwards, using the two Foundation Establishment rogue cultivators as shields against the sword.

The fiery red glow dissipated, revealing the two men’s disheveled appearance, their robes in tatters and bodies covered in sword marks, and they even had scales growing all over.

"...Half-demon?"

Li Quanqing’s brow furrowed, observing their overwhelming Demon Energy, he was utterly speechless.

"Well then, it turns out to be you half-demon creatures causing trouble; no wonder you targeted this old man!"

Mu Daoist continued to hop and shout, "Fellow Daoist, let’s join forces against them, slay demons, eliminate evil, and protect the path!"

Li Quanqing observed carefully and found that this person indeed was not with the half-demons.

However, he had no desire to be involved in this mess and was ready to leave.

Suddenly, Mu Daoist took out a bead from his Storage Bag, which transformed into an earthy-yellow rope, spanning several li in the blink of an eye, winding around the tail of the Red Dragon Puppet.

A surge of earth’s Essence Qi burst forth, causing both man and puppet to slow down as if mired in a marsh, instantly reducing their speed.

"Goddammit!!"

Seeing this, Li Quanqing’s face nearly turned green.

This old Daoist was truly shameless!