I have Immortality In The Cultivation World

Chapter 76: Chapter 76 Mystifying Array Formation

The Dan Mountain Market imposed heavy taxes, yet loose cultivators were not willing to leave for two reasons.

The first was spiritual energy, and the second was safety.

Now that theft had occurred, it certainly made the hearts of the marketplace’s loose cultivators tremble with fear, worried that the spirit stones they had painstakingly saved might vanish in an instant.

Those in the Qi Refinement Realm had lifespans of at most one hundred and fifty years, and most only lived to be around a hundred and twenty or thirty. Suffering such a great loss could lightly affect ten years of cultivation or, at worst, directly sever their path of cultivation.

“Sell shovels to those looking to strike gold, and anti-theft doors to those subject to theft. So, everyone should be willing to spend spirit stones on a protective formation, right?”

“After all, Purifying Heart Talisman, Diamond Talisman can only counteract, while Mystifying Array can prevent!”

In Zhou Yi’s usual cultivation room, a Mystifying Array had been set up inside. It was a pity that the thief did not come, thinking him too poor, or else he would have earned a substantial amount of spirit stones for nothing.

To make the core of the Mystifying Array, only a single Formation Flag needed to be drawn, with the rest of the formation’s inscription needing to be set up on-site; the total cost would not exceed one spirit stone. Once the formation was activated, it could confuse the direction and vision of anyone who entered, making cultivators who did not know how to break the array wander aimlessly.

This formation did not have a very strong protective effect, but it was more than sufficient for warning against intruders.

“Simply selling Formation Flags wouldn’t bring in many spirit stones, it’s time to meet with Elder Brother Liu and Elder Brother Zhang at the Phoenix Cry Pavilion!”

…

Phoenix Cry Pavilion.

Upon hearing that there was a method to make spirit stones, Elder Brother Liu and Elder Brother Zhang arrived at the appointed time.

In the blink of an eye, twenty years had passed, and Elder Brother Liu was over a hundred years old, his white hair turning completely snow-white, giving off a feeling of twilight.

Before discussing official business, it was important to eat and drink well, true for both immortals and mortals alike.

After three rounds of drinks.

Zhou Yi took out a Mystifying Array Flag and said, “Elder Brothers, this is the way to make money. Just set up the Mystifying Array, and your abode need not fear the great spirit stone thief.”

Since the thief only stole spiritual objects and spirit stones, a nickname of the great spirit stone thief emerged in the market.

Elder Brother Zhang was surprised that Zhou Yi understood formations, but since cultivators each had their secrets, it was taboo to inquire too deeply into one’s inheritance.

“Brother Zhu, all we know is how to fight and kill, but we don’t understand the way of formations. If you come across someone who is blind to their own good while selling Formation Flags, just come find me, and I will make sure they learn the rules.”

Elder Brother Liu’s eyes slightly narrowed as he slowly said, “Brother Zhu, are you planning to have me sell the Formation Flags?”

“If I were to sell them myself, let alone all the hassle, cultivators will surely try all kinds of ways to haggle the price down.”

Zhou Yi said, “Elder Brother Liu could set up a sign at the office, and Elder Brother Zhang, while patrolling, could inform the cultivators of each dwelling. Just set a firm price for the Mystifying Array, and the deal is done!”

Elder Brother Zhang caught on immediately; making spirit stones would be easy, and he laughed, “Brother Zhu, how much can we earn from this business?”

Zhou Yi replied, “I will sell the Mystifying Array for ten spirit stones, and Elder Brothers can charge as much as you like.”

Elder Brother Zhang quietly did some calculations and said to Elder Brother Liu, “The way of formations is mysterious and profound, and moreover, it relates to the safety of one’s life, so selling for fifteen or twenty wouldn’t be too expensive, right?”

“Fifty!”

Elder Brother Liu’s voice was old and slow, “Opportunity knocks but once, a defensive formation for a dwelling is a one-time purchase, we might as well make a big profit.”

Zhou Yi furrowed his brows and exchanged a glance with Elder Brother Zhang, puzzled by the Elder Brother Liu, who was usually kind and generous, turning so greedy all of a sudden.

Fifty spirit stones equaled the annual income of an ordinary cultivator. Given the threat of the great spirit stone thief, many would grit their teeth and pay up, but resentment would surely follow afterward.

Had Elder Brother Liu become senile as his lifespan neared its end?

Elder Brother Liu said, “Elder Brother Zhang has good relations with Commander Li of the enforcement team, and I have close ties with the Ling family. Using the authority of two official disciples, we can handle this matter in the name of the marketplace.”

Zhou Yi suddenly understood—this was like a private workshop transforming overnight into an official order!

Outside the Dan Mountain Market were four to five thousand dwellings, with an occupancy rate of about twenty to thirty percent. Although there were fewer dwellings in the central area, with high occupancy rates, the number of cultivators was not much different than the outer ring.

The inner area is protected by the Dan Ding Sect’s formations, let alone a spirit stone thief, even Foundation Establishment cultivators can’t break through!

Even with a rough estimate, this is a huge deal, involving about one hundred thousand spirit stones worth of fluid trade.

The official disciples of the Dan Ding Sect are also cultivators in the Qi Refinement Realm. After Brother Liu mediates, they absolutely can’t refuse such a number of spirit stones.

“No wonder everyone likes to take official orders…”

Zhou Yi’s thoughts raced, knowing that he absolutely shouldn’t stand out in this matter, just quietly making a fortune would suffice, so he took the initiative to lower the price, “Brothers, I am willing to supply formation flags for five spirit stones each.”

“Brother Zhu is very reasonable!”

Brother Liu praised, “I suffered quite a few losses back in the day before I understood the logic of stepping back to see the vast ocean and sky.”

“Ah, one should eat as much as their bowl can hold.”

Zhou Yi asked curiously, “Brother Liu isn’t short of spirit stones, why so eager today?”

Brother Zhang raised an eyebrow and waited for Brother Liu to explain. Exploiting all the loose cultivators’ spirit stones in the name of formations would inevitably invite resentment, and even with the marketplace bearing most of the grudges, one couldn’t escape being resented.

“I’m getting on in years, and my life will come to an end in just a decade or so. I need to arrange for matters after my passing sooner rather than later to avoid being forgotten once I’m gone.”

Brother Liu explained, “There’s a junior in my clan with the talent of a three-spirit root, and I don’t want him to delay his path like me, so I plan to directly buy merits to exchange for a recorded disciple spot!”

Merits are credentials granted by Dan Mountain to cultivators who have contributed to the sect, and accumulating enough can lead to enrollment into the sect’s walls as a recorded disciple of the Dan Ding Sect.

The Dan Ding Sect does not supply cultivation resources to recorded disciples, nor do they receive teachings from immortals or true masters, but they can still exchange merits to inherit cultivation techniques and the four arts.

The source of merits is mainly marketplace tasks, such as pursuing demonic cultivators and eradicating disruptive demons, and so forth.

The amount of merits required to become a recorded disciple is astronomical for ordinary cultivators, naturally giving rise to a black market for the trading of merits. Although the value of merits cannot be transferred, the heads of evil cultivators can be bought and sold, with the buyer simply submitting the tasks to claim the rewards.

Dan Mountain turns a blind eye to this, as those who have a lot of spirit stones to purchase merits are either from cultivator families or possess unique skills.

The Dan Ding Sect only provided an opportunity that costs nothing, so it can’t lose out no matter what.

Upon hearing this, Brother Zhang showed envy. With the same three-spirit root talent, someone else directly became a recorded disciple, holding hope for future Foundation Establishment.

“Hmm.”

Brother Liu assured, “I shall handle all the arrangements and operations for this matter. When my life ends and I pass away, all consequences will naturally dissipate. In the future, if you brothers meet someone from my clan, I ask that you look after them a bit.”

“Haha, sure, no problem!”

“Once admitted to the Dan Ding Sect, I will have to address you as senior brother!”

Zhou Yi and Brother Zhang nodded in agreement, as having someone willing to take the lead was something they couldn’t ask for more.

They then discussed the details, such as the two official disciples naturally taking the lion’s share, the specific proportions they would receive, how much of the profit needed to be shared with other recorded disciples involved in the matter, and urging Zhou Yi to speed up the creation of the formation flags.

Array Masters are the rarest among the four arts of immortal cultivation, but there are also a few in the marketplace. Since others are selling Mystifying Array flags at low prices, Dan Mountain can’t well interfere.

Zhou Yi promised, “I already have a plan for this matter.”

After much pondering and finalizing the details, seeing that they were going to earn a large number of spirit stones, they naturally had reason to celebrate.

Brother Liu, having someone to succeed him, generously declared that he would settle the bill this time.

His white hair didn’t prevent him from being vigorous in his old age; mere mortals can still be radiant like pear blossoms outshining begonias, much less those who pursue the path of cultivation!

Zhou Yi, after his dual cultivation, had slightly improved in mana, but he didn’t forget the important matters, personally visiting to invite the four loose cultivator Array Masters available in Dan Mountain Marketplace.

Among the four arts—Array, Artifact, Alchemy, Talisman—Talisman techniques are most prevalent, Alchemy and Artifact Refining are the most lucrative, and Array is the most difficult!

Without a master’s guidance, an Array Master would need to study for decades to barely grasp the basics. They can’t see results as quickly as with Talisman Scripting, and they don’t earn spirit stones as efficiently as Alchemy or Artifact Refining, only bearing a prestigious reputation.

The four Array Masters, upon hearing that they could earn a significant amount of spirit stones, neither believing nor doubting, did not refuse the invitation to gather.