Chapter 416: Ziyang Daoist

The middle-aged man quickly walked over to the middle-aged Daoist priest and respectfully said, "Senior Martial Uncle Lu, this senior wants to pre-order a third-tier puppet beast."

"I understand. You two may leave." The middle-aged Daoist nodded, dismissing them.

"This humble Daoist is Lu Yunpeng, with the Daoist name Ziyang. May I ask for your name, fellow Daoist?" The middle-aged Daoist smiled gently and spoke pleasantly.

Wang Changsheng cupped his fist towards Daoist Ziyang and said, "My surname is Wang. May I ask, Daoist Lu, how many spirit stones does a low-grade third-tier puppet beast cost? And how long does it take to craft one?"

"Seven hundred thousand! It will take at least five years to complete. What type of third-tier puppet beast are you interested in, fellow Daoist Wang?"

Wang Changsheng frowned. He knew third-tier puppet beasts were expensive before asking, but he never imagined a low-grade third-tier puppet beast would cost seven hundred thousand spirit stones. Based on his experience crafting puppet beasts, the selling price is usually more than double the cost. If he wasn't mistaken, the materials alone for a third-tier puppet beast would cost at least three hundred thousand spirit stones.

Daoist Ziyang smiled slightly and explained, "Crafting third-tier puppet beasts is more difficult and requires more materials, so seven hundred thousand spirit stones is not expensive. If you are truly interested in pre-ordering, six hundred and fifty thousand spirit stones is the best price we can offer."

"Never mind, that's too expensive. With six hundred and fifty thousand spirit stones, I'd rather buy a magic treasure."

"The defensive power of a third-tier puppet beast is no less than that of a first-tier defensive magic treasure, so six hundred and fifty thousand spirit stones is not expensive. If you find it too costly, our shop also offers the Nine Palace Puppets: nine high-grade second-tier puppet beasts that can jointly set up a simplified version of the third-tier formation, the Nine Palace Soul Trapping Array. Cultivators below the third stage of Core Formation will find it difficult to escape once trapped. That set costs eighty thousand spirit stones." Daoist Ziyang introduced enthusiastically.

Wang Changsheng was secretly surprised. It was the first time he had heard of combining puppet beasts with a formation. He certainly wouldn't admit he didn't have enough spirit stones. He shook his head and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Daoist Lu, but I am not interested in second-tier puppet beasts."

Daoist Ziyang was not annoyed and smiled, "You are here to attend the Guangyuan Dharma Assembly, aren't you? This humble Daoist and a few fellow Daoists are holding a small exchange meeting. Are you interested in attending, fellow Daoist Wang?"

Most high-level cultivators who attend the Guangyuan Dharma Assembly do so with the purpose of exchanging items. Some things they can't use themselves might be useful to others.

"An exchange meeting? Where and when?"

"Tomorrow evening at酉时 (you shi), at Guangyuan Residence. The entire Guangyuan Residence has been reserved by us. If you are interested, Daoist Wang, please do not be late."

"Certainly. I have other matters to attend to, so I'll be leaving now. I will definitely arrive on time tomorrow evening." Wang Changsheng agreed, then turned and went downstairs.

He visited all the large shops in Guangyuan City, and the dazzling array of goods greatly expanded his knowledge and horizons.

As dusk gradually fell, merchants took out their lighting tools. The number of cultivators on the streets increased rather than decreased, with crowds bustling and shouts echoing, creating a very lively atmosphere.

Wang Changsheng arrived at a large bluestone plaza, where there were many small stalls. The stall owners were all cultivators below the Core Formation stage. These small stalls naturally wouldn't have anything truly valuable, but with the thought of finding a bargain, Wang Changsheng still wandered around. He walked forward, his gaze quickly scanning the items on the stalls. Frankly, the goods on display were diverse, including elixirs, talismans, and magic tools, and some even sold second-tier spirit beasts. He saw many things, but Wang Changsheng didn't find any bargains, which was not surprising; finding a bargain was purely a matter of luck.

Suddenly, a fierce quarrel erupted from a stall ahead, and some curious cultivators quickly walked over. Wang Changsheng's expression shifted, and he quickly followed.

In front of a small stall, a pockmarked man in a yellow robe and a beautiful girl in a blue skirt were arguing. The stall owner was a cultivator at the eighth level of Qi Refining. The man in the yellow robe was at the Core Formation stage, and the girl in the blue skirt was at the Foundation Establishment stage.

"Senior, there's a first-come, first-served rule! This incomplete treasure map was clearly something I was looking at and was about to pay for. It's not appropriate for you to suddenly intervene!" The girl in the blue skirt frowned, showing no fear on her face.

The pockmarked man in the yellow robe glared at the girl in the blue skirt and coldly said, "You haven't paid yet, so why can't I buy it? I'll take this incomplete treasure map. One hundred spirit stones." He took out a mid-grade spirit stone and threw it to the stall owner.

The stall owner naturally dared not offend a Core Formation cultivator and handed a yellow piece of tattered cloth, two feet long and wide, to the man in the yellow robe.

Just then, a slightly hoarse female voice sounded, "Wait, Huang Fugui, you're getting bolder and bolder, bullying my direct granddaughter!"

An elderly woman in a golden robe, with a face full of wrinkles and holding a golden snake-headed staff, walked out from the crowd. The powerful spiritual pressure emanating from the old woman in the golden robe indicated she was a cultivator at the fifth level of Core Formation. To everyone's surprise, the previously aggressive Huang Fugui, upon seeing the old woman in the golden robe, was like a mouse encountering a cat. He put on a fawning smile and said, "So it's Madam Jin! No wonder! This girl looks so familiar." As he spoke, he snatched the yellow tattered cloth and stuffed it into his bosom.

"Wait, Huang Mazi, take out that so-called incomplete treasure map and let this old one have a look." The old woman in the golden robe's tone was flat, filled with an irresistible command.

Upon hearing this, Huang Mazi showed hesitation.

"What? Huang Mazi? Do my words not count?" The old woman in the golden robe's tone turned cold, and a powerful spiritual pressure surged from her.

Huang Mazi's face changed, and he quickly took out the yellow tattered cloth, handing it to the old woman in the golden robe, completely disregarding his dignity.

Seeing this scene, Wang Changsheng chuckled softly. Speaking of which, it wasn't the first time he had seen Huang Fugui. After so many years, Huang Fugui was still the same, bullying the weak and fearing the strong.

The old woman in the golden robe carefully examined the yellow tattered cloth but found nothing unusual. She returned it to Huang Fugui, saying, "It's just something of the magic tool level. Any random piece of tattered cloth is dared to be called an incomplete treasure map. Here, take it back." After all, Huang Fugui was a Core Formation cultivator, and it wasn't worth antagonizing him over a so-called incomplete treasure map.

Huang Fugui smiled awkwardly, put away the tattered yellow cloth, and quickly squeezed into the crowd.

The old woman in the golden robe glared at the girl in the blue skirt and said, "Come back with me. You're getting bolder and bolder." The girl in the blue skirt made a sour face and followed the old woman in the golden robe away.

Seeing this, the onlookers gradually dispersed.

Wang Changsheng chuckled softly and continued walking. He explored the bluestone plaza but didn't find any bargains. He didn't mind and walked back the way he came. As he passed a certain restaurant, a familiar male voice suddenly reached his ears, "Fellow Daoist Wang, what a coincidence! Second floor."

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