Chapter 254: Yang Wenbin and Yang Wenyue

The Sword Discussion Assembly was about to begin, and every day, numerous Foundation Establishment cultivators arrived at Purple Moon Villa. A blue light flew from the distant horizon and soon after, landed at the foot of Welcoming Peak.

The blue light receded, revealing the figures of Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan.

"Is this the Purple Moon Mountain Range?" Wang Changsheng exclaimed. "It truly is a rare spiritual mountain sanctuary."

Wang Changsheng felt the abundant spiritual energy permeating the air and couldn't help but praise it. If the spiritual energy was so abundant even on the outskirts, the Yang family's stronghold must be even more replete with it.

At the foot of the mountain were two Yang family disciples. A tall, slender young man in a blue shirt approached them and respectfully asked, "Are the two esteemed seniors here for the Sword Discussion Assembly?"

"Indeed," Wang Changsheng replied. "Are there any requirements to participate in the Sword Discussion Assembly?"

"Any Foundation Establishment cultivator with a clean background can participate," the young man explained. "The assembly itself will commence in three days. Currently, it's mainly for exchanging materials. If you wish to ascend the mountain, you must first register."

Wang Changsheng fabricated two names. After the Yang family disciple registered them, he gave Wang Changsheng a square Purple Moon token, and a Qi Refining cultivator then led them up the mountain.

A quarter of an hour later, they arrived halfway up the mountain.

"Esteemed seniors," the Yang family disciple explained, "Blue Moon Pavilion is your accommodation. The token is for room access. Combat on the mountain is strictly prohibited; any violation will be severely punished. There's a plaza at the summit where other seniors conduct transactions. Our Yang family merely provides the venue and charges no fees. If you make a mistake or are defrauded, it has nothing to do with our Yang family."

"Alright, I understand," Wang Changsheng replied. "You may go about your duties."

Wang Changsheng nodded and walked towards the summit with Wang Ruyan.

At the summit was a massive bluestone plaza. On the plaza were four purple pavilions, dozens of feet tall. Besides these four pavilions, there was also a tea house and an inn. The rest were stalls of varying sizes, whose owners were cultivators, including both Yang family disciples and visiting cultivators.

Each of the four purple pavilions displayed a purple banner. The banners were embroidered with "Talismans," "Magic Weapons," "Pills," and "Pawn," respectively. The items at the stalls were diverse.

In the plaza stood a silver stele over two zhang tall, covered in extensive text.

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan approached to read it; it detailed the rewards for the Sword Discussion Assembly.

The first place reward was a set of top-grade metal-element flying swords and five thousand spirit stones. Second place received a top-grade flying magic weapon and a set of second-tier array talismans. Third place was awarded thirty catties of undiluted Profound Nether Cold Water... down to tenth place, which received a set of low-grade magic weapons.

Undiluted Heaven and Earth Spiritual Water was certainly more effective than diluted versions. However, Profound Nether Cold Water was only rewarded for third place, which meant Wang Changsheng had to achieve at least third place.

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan entered one of the purple pavilions, the one whose purple banner at the entrance was embroidered with the characters "Talismans."

As they expected, the pavilion sold everything related to talismans, from materials for crafting talisman paper to finished talismans.

A young attendant in a green shirt approached them, possessing a cultivation of Qi Refining Layer Three. "Esteemed seniors, what materials are you looking for?" he asked. "I can assist you."

"Do you have any second-tier flying talisman soldiers?" Wang Ruyan asked. "Second-tier lightning talismans would also suffice."

"I apologize, senior," the attendant replied. "We do not have second-tier flying talisman soldiers, though we do have first-tier ones. Second-tier lightning talismans are sold out. If you wish to acquire second-tier flying talisman soldiers, you can participate in the Sword Discussion Assembly; seventh place is rewarded with a mid-grade second-tier flying talisman soldier. We still have low-grade second-tier Fire Flame Talismans; would you like to purchase some?"

"No, thank you," Wang Ruyan replied.

Exiting the purple pavilion, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan toured the other three purple pavilions.

Wang Ruyan purchased two bottles of mid-grade second-tier Spring Sprout Pills, which contained pure wood spiritual energy and were suitable for her cultivation.

They strolled around, their gaze quickly sweeping over the items at the stalls. The items on display were varied, including refining materials, alchemy ingredients, spirit beasts, and talismans, as well as some objects even the stall owners couldn't identify.

Suddenly, Wang Ruyan tugged at Wang Changsheng's sleeve and transmitted a message: "Husband, a self-detonating magic weapon."

Wang Changsheng followed Wang Ruyan's gaze and saw a red, spherical bead the size of a longan fruit. Its surface was covered in spiritual patterns, and judging by its spiritual energy fluctuations, it was clearly a top-grade magic weapon.

Next to it was a sign with small text that read: "Self-detonating magic weapon: Fire Thunder Bead, immense power. Seeking a set of wood-element flying swords, no fewer than five, each at least mid-grade magic weapons."

The stall owner was a young man in a green shirt, in his early twenties, with regular features, a fair complexion, and a cultivation of Foundation Establishment Layer Five.

"Fellow Daoist, one magic weapon for a whole set?" Wang Changsheng said, crouching down with a smile. "You're quite the shrewd merchant."

"If fellow Daoist has what I'm looking for," the young man replied calmly, "we can discuss it in detail elsewhere. I assure you, you won't suffer any loss. Otherwise, please don't disturb my business."

"I do have what you're looking for," Wang Changsheng said. "Let's discuss it at the tea house." He then stood up and walked towards the tea house with Wang Ruyan.

The young man in green hesitated briefly, then packed up his stall and followed them.

Not long after, Wang Changsheng and the other two appeared in a private room.

Wang Changsheng got straight to the point, taking out six green flying swords, each about two feet long. Each sword blade was about an inch wide, and the hilt was carved with a lifelike green snake.

Complete sets of magic weapons were generally popular. Wang Changsheng had originally intended to give this set of Green Snake Swords to Wang Qingshan once he reached Foundation Establishment. However, Wang Ruyan had too few life-saving measures, so Wang Changsheng intended to purchase self-detonating magic weapons or second-tier talismans for her self-defense.

"This set of Green Snake Swords has six swords in total!" Wang Changsheng said with a slight smile. "Each one is a mid-grade magic weapon. Fellow Daoist Han, it would take at least two Fire Thunder Beads to exchange for this set of Green Snake Swords."

The young man in green carefully examined the six Green Snake Swords, without showing any surprise on his face, clearly an experienced practitioner. Without further ado, he took out two Fire Thunder Beads from his spatial pouch and handed them to Wang Changsheng.

After Wang Changsheng verified the items, he and Wang Ruyan departed.

They toured the plaza once more but found nothing else to their liking.

Wang Changsheng found an empty spot and set up several mid-grade second-tier puppet beasts, second-tier talismans, and some second-tier demonic beast materials. He placed a sign that read: "Exchanging for Heaven and Earth Spiritual Water, any quantity."

"My dear," Wang Changsheng said to Wang Ruyan, "I'll guard the stall. You should go back and rest! You can take over for me tomorrow."

Wang Ruyan agreed and returned to their lodging to rest.

The items Wang Changsheng offered were all excellent, and many cultivators inquired about them, wishing to purchase them with spirit stones or exchange them for other items, but Wang Changsheng refused them all.

Two days quickly passed. More and more cultivators arrived at the Purple Moon Mountain Range, and the number of stalls steadily increased.

Wang Changsheng continued to guard the stall, while Wang Ruyan roamed around to see if she could find any Heaven and Earth Spiritual Water.

"How about two hundred catties of diluted Profound Nether Cold Water for your three mid-grade second-tier puppet beasts?"