Chapter 387: I’m Not Here to Seek Refuge

Heavenly Mystery Markets are ubiquitous in the inner and core circles, and there are even Heavenly Mystery Cities named after them.

While cultivators with enough merit points can access the Heavenly Mystery Treasury via the Heavenly Mystery Pillar to purchase anything they wish, these points are hard-earned, so no one would squander them.

Normally, cultivators prefer to shop at the Heavenly Mystery Commercial Alliance, as transactions there are conducted using spirit stones. Only for urgent needs or rare items do cultivators resort to using their merit points.

The presence of Heavenly Mystery Markets and Heavenly Mystery Cities greatly facilitates transactions for cultivators, provides a stable base for independent rogue cultivators who value freedom, and also accommodates a large mortal population.

This particular Heavenly Mystery Market is quite sizable. Indeed, in the core circle, no Heavenly Mystery Market is small, as the cultivators who frequent them have all cultivated Heavenly-tier methods, leading to frequent transactions that contribute to the immense wealth of the Heavenly Mystery Commercial Alliance.

At the market entrance, the young man with a blade stepped inside, and a welcoming maid immediately approached him.

In the outer circle, such welcoming maids typically have low cultivation levels. Here, however, their cultivation begins at the seventh or eighth layer, and each is remarkably attractive, easily making any newcomer feel at home.

Upon recognizing the young man, the maid's smile momentarily faltered but quickly returned. She curtsied gracefully and asked, "Greetings, Senior Brother. Are you here to buy or to sell?"

"Both."

"Please come inside, Senior Brother."

A short while later, in a private room, a Commercial Alliance manager in charge of transactions entered. The manager, appearing to be in his late forties or fifties, was a seasoned ninth-layer cultivator, evident from the pure and radiant spiritual light around him, though his chances of advancing to the Cloud River realm in this life seemed uncertain.

The manager cupped his fists and bowed, "Greetings, Fellow Daoist Yi Ye."

Inside the room, Lu Ye calmly sipped his tea.

Being recognized at a glance was nothing new to him; the Myriad Demon Ridge had long since disseminated his image across the entire battlefield, so it was only natural for the Heavenly Mystery Commercial Alliance to be attentive.

"May I know your surname?"

"My surname is Zhou."

"Fellow Daoist Zhou."

"It is a great honor and privilege for Fellow Daoist Yi Ye to visit our Heavenly Mystery Commercial Alliance. Please accept this small token of our regard." Manager Zhou said, pushing a storage bag towards Lu Ye.

Lu Ye looked at him, perplexed. Despite his numerous visits to the Heavenly Mystery Commercial Alliance, this was the first time he had received a gift upon arrival.

Manager Zhou explained with a smile, "The Commercial Alliance is a place of business; it cannot withstand the conflict between the two major factions, nor is it a sanctuary for anyone. We hope Fellow Daoist Yi Ye understands."

Lu Ye understood that they had mistakenly assumed he had come to the Commercial Alliance seeking refuge.

"I've heard of the Commercial Alliance's formidable background, Manager Zhou, so there's no need to be so modest. Moreover... Heavenly Mystery Markets and Heavenly Mystery Cities, where the Commercial Alliance is located, have always been designated as no-conflict zones. People have sought refuge in the Commercial Alliance before, so why would it be different for me?"

Manager Zhou replied, "One cannot compare. The past grievances involved were not major issues, but Fellow Daoist Yi Ye's presence now influences both major factions. Of course, if you insist on staying, the Commercial Alliance will not refuse. As long as you remain within our premises, we will naturally ensure your safety; no one would dare to harm you here. While the Commercial Alliance prospers through harmony, we are also capable of decisive action."

His words, neither humble nor arrogant, clearly conveyed the Heavenly Mystery Commercial Alliance's stance: unwilling to invite trouble, yet unafraid of it.

Lu Ye had long suspected the Heavenly Mystery Commercial Alliance had an extraordinary background. Its name alone hinted at it; across the entire Nine Provinces, it was the only power audacious enough to use "Heavenly Mystery" in its designation. No other faction, whether from the Haotian Alliance or Myriad Demon Ridge, bore those words.

"I am not here seeking refuge." Lu Ye pushed the storage bag back across the table.

Manager Zhou looked surprised. "Then I have indeed misunderstood you, Fellow Daoist."

Lu Ye then produced two more storage bags and a jade slip. "I'm here to sell some items and also to purchase some formation flags and other supplies."

Manager Zhou picked up the storage bags and jade slip. After a quick inspection, his eye twitched, and he was inwardly astonished. He wondered how many people Lu Yi Ye had killed to amass such a vast and varied collection of spoils. As for the items Lu Ye wished to purchase, listed in the jade slip, they were minor: mostly common formation flags, readily available in any quantity Lu Ye desired.

"When would you like these, Fellow Daoist?"

"That depends on when you want me to leave. I'd rather not get cornered here again; I just went through something similar a few days ago and it's left me a bit traumatized!"

"Please wait a moment, Fellow Daoist!" Manager Zhou said, turning to depart.

"Allow me to use your Commercial Alliance's Heavenly Mystery Pillar."

"Please follow me, Fellow Daoist."

Following Manager Zhou out of the private room, and guided by a maid, he entered the Heavenly Mystery Hall of the Heavenly Mystery Commercial Alliance.

The Commercial Alliance also has its own Heavenly Mystery Hall, complete with a Heavenly Mystery Pillar. This pillar is accessible to anyone, regardless of faction or alliance, though it is rumored that each use incurs a small fee in merit points.

It was essentially a usage fee.

The Heavenly Mystery Hall was empty. Lu Ye approached the Heavenly Mystery Pillar, activated his imprint, and linked to the Heavenly Mystery Treasury.

As anticipated, using the Commercial Alliance's Heavenly Mystery Pillar to access the Heavenly Mystery Treasury cost fifty merit points.

While fifty merit points might not seem like a vast sum, they were by no means negligible. At Lu Ye's current cultivation level, it would require him to kill several Heavenly-tier cultivators to earn that amount.

He checked his merit point balance: 9,843, which was the total after the fifty-point usage fee had been deducted.

At the Three Saints Academy, he had completely depleted his remaining merit points to purchase formation flags for setting up arrays. Yet, in less than three months, he had accumulated nearly ten thousand more.

Across the entire Spirit Creek Battlefield, in terms of merit point accumulation speed, it was probable that no one in history could rival Lu Ye.

This was primarily due to the sheer number of enemies he eliminated, particularly when he was at the Heavenly Seven cultivation level. Killing a Heavenly Seven opponent only yielded ten merit points, but a Heavenly Eight granted twenty-two, and a Heavenly Nine, a substantial thirty-six.

The merit points earned from defeating enemies of a higher cultivation level multiplied significantly.

Lu Ye considered briefly, then spent 8,000 merit points to acquire forty portions of Earth Core Fire, leaving him with only 1,843 merit points.

At present, the primary use of merit points for him was purchasing Earth Core Fire for his Talent Tree to absorb, thereby unlocking new spirit patterns.

He always kept some merit points in reserve for unforeseen needs, rarely spending them all.

No sooner had he exited the Heavenly Mystery Hall than Manager Zhou was already waiting outside. Their efficiency was remarkable, likely to ensure Lu Ye didn't linger at the Heavenly Mystery Commercial Alliance.

Handing back two storage bags, Manager Zhou said, "Here are the formation flags you requested, Fellow Daoist. Please verify the contents."

Lu Ye opened the storage bags, gave them a quick inspection, and nodded slightly.

He didn't bother to calculate the value of the formation flags versus the items he had sold, knowing that in the current climate, the Heavenly Mystery Commercial Alliance certainly wouldn't try to shortchange him.

They were likely eager for him to leave quickly, to avoid drawing trouble to their location.

Putting away the storage bags, Lu Ye walked towards the exit.

In the main hall, several pairs of eyes were fixed on him. These were clearly Myriad Demon Ridge cultivators who had arrived after receiving the news, though there were only four or five of them.

From his entry into the Commercial Alliance until now, barely a quarter of an hour had passed, yet the Myriad Demon Ridge had already caught wind of his presence. It was evident that numerous Myriad Demon Ridge cultivators were likely rushing towards this location at that very moment.

If he didn't leave quickly, he would surely be surrounded again!

Stepping out of the Commercial Alliance, Lu Ye summoned his spirit boat and, with a surge of spiritual power, launched himself skyward.

No sooner had he departed than those few Myriad Demon Ridge cultivators gave chase. Simultaneously, a larger contingent of Myriad Demon Ridge cultivators who had just arrived outside the market rushed in pursuit.

Instantly, streaks of light crisscrossed the sky with astonishing momentum. As they gave chase, the Myriad Demon Ridge cultivators continuously sent out messages in all directions, calling for reinforcements.

"Watch out, he's coming back for a fight!" someone suddenly exclaimed in alarm.

The numerous Myriad Demon Ridge cultivators looked up to see that Lu Ye had indeed changed direction, boldly charging back towards them, all by himself.

Even with dozens of Myriad Demon Ridge cultivators gathered, a sense of panic inevitably crept in.

The battle above the Myriad Poison Forest had given them a firsthand taste of Lu Ye's terrifying power; even a thousand people had failed to corner him, so how could a mere few dozen possibly succeed now?

However, avoiding battle was entirely impossible. Their artifact-flight speed wasn't as great as his, and attempting to retreat would only result in being picked off one by one.

Thus, the leading Heavenly Nine cultivator immediately roared, "Engage him!"

Dozens of cultivators immediately formed a battle array, watching the rapidly approaching figure with nervous apprehension.

Artifacts and spells were launched first. Lu Ye deftly weaved through the barrage of attacks, guardian spirit patterns occasionally flaring on his body to deflect unavoidable assaults.

Nine spiritual artifacts flew from his weapon box, carving a path forward as they rapidly closed in on the enemy formation.

At the forefront, several body cultivators stood with grim expressions, each wielding their protective spiritual artifacts.

Lu Ye collided with the body cultivator who had the lowest cultivation. As a loud crash reverberated, his long blade, wreathed in fire, struck down.

That body cultivator instantly plummeted like a falling meteor. Lu Ye's figure, unimpeded, cut directly through the enemy formation, his Mountain-Shattering Blade swinging, leaving a spray of blood.

As he tore through the enemy lines, several more individuals followed the body cultivator's downward trajectory.

In a single exchange, several perished, and the expressions of the dozens of Myriad Demon Ridge cultivators grew increasingly grim.

The Heavenly Nine cultivator leading them bellowed, "Don't panic! He can't keep this up for many more attacks!"

Although they had lost a few people, Lu Ye had also sustained numerous attacks during that brief exchange. However, his guardian spirit patterns had deflected them all, leaving him unscathed.

Nonetheless, such combat was highly draining on his spiritual power. Heavenly-tier cultivators were not foolish; they knew Lu Ye couldn't maintain such ferocity indefinitely.

Moreover, if they could delay Lu Ye here until more comrades arrived, the loss of a few individuals would be a worthwhile sacrifice.