bookrandom Chapter 226 Jiangxin Market, Red Leaves by the River
Chapter 226 Jiangxin Market, Red Leaves by the River
Passing through the narrow, sheer canyon entrance, the view suddenly opens up, like a paradise just beginning to unfold.
The hustle and bustle of the world filled my ears in an instant, as if I were in another world.
Hidden here is a quaint little town, nestled against the mountains and beside the water, with its buildings arranged in a charming and orderly fashion.
Surrounded by verdant mountains, the streams flow gently, their waters crystal clear.
The people were simply dressed, but full of energy, and even better off than the people in the capital city.
The streets are lined with shops and stalls selling food, herbs, animal hides and other items, and are bustling with people.
Chu Lengyu examined it carefully and discovered that the currency people used for transactions was not specially made, but rather the same copper coins and silver coins as those used in the Great Xia Dynasty. Perhaps this was because it facilitated the exchange of goods with the outside world.
Looking at the town in front of her, Chu Lengyu recalled the history of Wushan that Master Lu Dan had told her.
In the past, cultivators were few and far between, practically as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. Wushan opened its doors wide to cultivators from all over the world, accepting all regardless of age or background, as long as they had not committed any crimes or evil deeds.
However, as outside cultivators established families and spread their influence, over the years, the number of people on the mountain increased, and the population became increasingly diverse, making management extremely difficult.
What's even more serious is that the spiritual energy of Wushan is only relatively abundant, but not inexhaustible.
As the number of cultivators surged, the consumption of spiritual energy also intensified. Gradually, the spiritual energy of Mist Mountain became insufficient to support everyone's cultivation.
Ultimately, the Bai family and several other major families jointly issued a decision: to consolidate the Mist Mountain Formation, only cultivators at the Innate Realm would be qualified to enter the Mist Mountain, and each Innate Realm cultivator could only bring a limited number of relatives and friends.
Since then, cultivators at the Acquired Realm have been confined to the Jian Guan Pengjiang area at the foot of the mountain. Only those who break through to the Innate Realm can ascend Wushan via the Lianyun Plank Road.
As the power of the major families on the mountain declined, they gradually evolved into the four lineages of plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum, which rivaled each other and held the Mist Mountain Tea Party to exchange resources.
Even so, throughout its long history, Wushan has been the only place in the world where people can cultivate themselves in seclusion, making it a place of longing for people.
Seeing that Chu Lengyu was staring intently, Yi Xiaoqi ignored her and pulled her aside, whispering, "These shops at the border are all shady; they specifically target newcomers like you."
"Those who can establish themselves here all have some connections. It's common for big businesses to bully their customers, not to mention the shady dealings of swindlers and con artists—they're experts at it all. There are no laws or regulations here to govern you; if you get cheated or taken advantage of, no one will stand up for you." (Note)
"Come on, I'll take you to Pengjiang Market. That's where you'll find the best stuff."
Upon hearing the term "marketplace," Chu Lengyu's interest was piqued.
The two walked one after the other through the bustling streets toward the river.
The Pengjiang River flows gently through this area, but its banks are covered with fiery red maple trees, which stand out against the lush mountains and forests.
Gazing at the maple forest, its vibrant red almost eerie, Chu Lengyu seemed lost in thought.
Many years ago, it seems that a demon fell here, and its corpse nourished the land, resulting in this beautiful scene of red leaves.
As expected, Yi Xiaoqi pointed to the red leaves along the riverbank and enthusiastically introduced them:
"Legend has it that long ago, a fish demon traveled upstream from the lower reaches of the Peng River until it reached this place. It coveted the spiritual essence of Wushan Mountain and attempted to possess it for itself."
"This angered the cultivators on Misty Mountain, so more than a dozen Grandmasters of the Innate Realm joined forces to attack and kill the fish demon here. The fish demon's blood stained the Peng River red, and both banks turned red as a result."
The small island in the middle of the river is the largest market for cultivators at the foot of Misty Mountain.
The Pengjiang River is vast and its waves are magnificent. There are neither bridges nor ferries here. Obviously, if you want to enter the market, crossing the river is a test of your qualifications, and you have to rely on your own abilities.
Chu Lengyu understood the key points at a glance; the setup was quite ingenious.
Not only is crossing the river a natural screening hurdle, but the stronger the individual, the more and heavier the goods they can carry to the transaction. Buyers also need to consider how much weight they can carry to safely cross the river and act according to their capabilities.
Furthermore, the market town is surrounded by water on all sides, and is open and boundless. If anyone dares to rob, they will be courting death, making it easy for the crowd to chase and bring them to justice.
Yi Xiaoqi looked at the small island in the middle of the river, eager to try. He had been practicing his lightness skill for many days, and this was the time to test his results. He was sure he could cross the Peng River steadily and safely.
At this moment, two more men arrived at the riverbank, seemingly also intending to cross the river.
Yi Xiaoqi glanced at him briefly, then looked away after realizing she didn't recognize him.
However, the two men seemed to take an interest in them, and approached with smiles, saying, "Ladies, are you troubled by how to cross the river? How about we, the two brothers, give you a ride?"
Their words carried a hint of frivolity, and their winking and gesturing disgusted Yi Xiaoqi.
She glared at her and refused directly, saying, "We have our own way of crossing the river; we don't need your help."
After saying that, Yi Xiaoqi suddenly realized that he had forgotten to ask the girl next to him, Miss Chu, how good her lightness skill was.
If someone were to fall into the river due to exhaustion while crossing it, it would truly become a laughing stock.
Although Yi Xiaoqi hadn't asked anything yet, expressions of confidence, disgust, and annoyance flashed across her face one after another, revealing that, like Lü Yun, she was straightforward and couldn't hide anything.
The two men weren't annoyed by Yi Xiaoqi's refusal; they just chuckled and stood aside, deciding to see what these two women were capable of.
Chu Lengyu tapped her toes, and a chill shot out like a sharp sword.
Kaka-
The wide Pengjiang River was instantly frozen, and even the red leaves along the riverbank were covered with a layer of frost.
A chill permeated the air, as if it were autumn.
Seeing this, Chu Lengyu knew that she still hadn't mastered the power of the Nascent Soul stage and needed to suppress it a little more.
The other three were completely dumbfounded.
Yi Xiaoqi was greatly surprised. This outward release of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth was clearly a technique only those at the Innate Realm could possess.
The Pengjiang River flows down from high places, and no one has ever been known to be able to freeze it.
She felt numb inside.
He actually "saved" a Grandmaster of the Innate Realm?!
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Note: In the old days, the martial arts world was mainly divided into the inner eight trades and the outer eight trades. The inner eight trades were called "Jin Ping Cai Gua, Pi Tuan Tiao Liu", while the outer eight trades were called "Feng Ma Yan Que, Lan Hua Ge Rong".
"Bees, hemp, swallows, and sparrows" are four types of scams categorized based on different methods of deception.
Street performers, fortune tellers, and storytellers were known for their "gold, commentary, color, and hanging" skills.
If you're interested, you can look it up yourself.