Immortality: Grinding Experience Starting as a Paper Craftsman

Chapter 112 Surrounded by Wolves, Black Market Deal

The entrance to Sunset Valley is like a giant mouth split open by the earth, from which dark red miasma bursts forth, staining the sky for miles around like an old shroud.

There were no birdsong, no beast roars, only the whistling of the wind as it passed through the canyon, and the suppressed cacophony of voices from thousands of cultivators gathered together.

The campsites are clearly divided into different levels, resembling a series of independent little worlds.

At the innermost circle, right next to the valley entrance, are three large flags fluttering in the wind.

At the very center stood the black dragon flag of the Prince of Yong'an's mansion, exuding a solemn and imposing aura. A hundred black-armored guards stood like statues, their long spears gleaming coldly in the dim light.

On the left is the Azure Cloud Banner of the Flowing Cloud Sect, with flowing cloud patterns. The tents are all plain white, exuding an air of immortal arrogance.

To the right is a verdant expanse, belonging to the Green Bamboo Sect, renowned for its alchemy. Their camp is surrounded by a spiritual plant called the Bewildering Bamboo, a lush green landscape concealing deadly danger.

Surrounding these colossal structures were the settlements of dozens of smaller sects.

The shirtless burly men of the Iron Fist Sect were roasting meat around a campfire, the female cultivators of Hundred Flowers Valley had set up a pink veil array in front of their tents, and the disciples of the Beast Taming Sect were dozing off with their own demonic beasts as pillows.

As for the outermost, messy area without even a decent tent, that was the territory of the independent cultivators.

They huddled in small groups, their eyes wary, like a pack of wild dogs waiting for scraps.

Gu Yan followed behind Li Qingge, his head bowed and eyes downcast as he entered this battlefield of carnage.

"Oh, isn't this our Princess?"

As soon as they stepped into the core area, a strange, sarcastic voice drifted over.

The speaker was an old man in front of the Liuyun Sect camp. He was dressed in the robes of a punishment hall elder, with a thin face and sinister eyes. He was none other than Mo Qianji, who had been frightened away by Gu Yan's Paper World that day.

Behind Mo Qianji was Zhao Lingfeng.

He was dressed in pure white, his face pale, and his gaze toward Gu Yan was filled with undisguised resentment and contempt.

Li Qingge paused slightly, her cool gaze sweeping over Mo Qianji, and said indifferently, "Elder Mo, instead of recuperating at the sect, you have time to come to this desolate wilderness? Aren't you afraid that your injuries will relapse and damage your foundation?"

These words struck a nerve, and Mo Qianji's face stiffened, his eyes twitching slightly.

That was the greatest humiliation of his life. His magical artifact was shattered by a mysterious person from a distance, and he was so frightened that he fled in a sorry state. This is no longer a secret in the cultivation world.

"Hmph, my injuries are none of the princess's concern."

Mo Qianji snorted coldly, his gaze passing over Li Qingge and piercing Gu Yan like two knives: "As for the princess, this trip to Sunset Valley was extremely dangerous. Aren't you afraid of dragging down the team by bringing along a good-for-nothing who only knows how to flatter?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Yan trembled slightly, shrank behind Li Qingge, and plastered a fawning smile on his face. He bowed to Mo Qianji and said, "Elder Mo is right. My cultivation is too low, and I should not have come here. However, the princess has given the order, and I have no choice but to obey. I hope Elder Mo will take care of me after we enter the valley, considering that we are both on the righteous path."

His obsequious manner only intensified Mo Qianji's contempt and drew laughter from the surrounding cultivators who were watching the spectacle.

"An inner disciple of the Flowing Cloud Sect? Is this all the character he's got?"

"I heard he was a low-ranking official who rose to power through luck, and he's also a spineless coward."

Zhao Lingfeng scoffed, stepped forward, fanning himself with a folding fan, and looked down at Gu Yan:

"Junior Brother Gu, I heard you've dealt with that Blood Swordsman? Do you know where that fiend is hiding now, having stolen my things?"

Gu Yan sneered inwardly.

Sure enough, Zhao Lingfeng was still thinking about those tokens.

"Senior Brother Zhao is joking. If I had known the whereabouts of that demon, I would have reported it to the sect long ago. How could I still be alive now?"

Gu Yan wore a bitter expression, looking as if he had suffered a great injustice.

"Alright."

Li Qingge impatiently interrupted the farce. With a wave of her long sleeves, an invisible barrier appeared, cutting off the conversation of the Liuyun Sect members.

"My people are not for outsiders to teach a lesson. Zhao Lingfeng, instead of wasting your time, you should prepare a few more life-saving magical artifacts, so that you won't be unable to see the murderer's face before your head hits the ground after entering the valley."

After saying that, she didn't even look at Zhao Lingfeng's ashen face, and went straight to the Prince's tent.

Gu Yan hurriedly followed. As he passed Zhao Lingfeng, his foot slipped, and he trembled as if in fear, staggering and almost falling.

"Ouch!"

Gu Yan exclaimed in surprise, her sleeve drawing an inconspicuous arc in the air.

Unbeknownst to anyone, a paper figure, no bigger than a fingernail and as thin as a cicada's wing, was silently affixed to the heel of a passing cultivator by the strong wind.

After entering the tent, Li Qingge sat down cross-legged and began to regulate her breathing.

"Find a corner and stay there, don't wander off."

She uttered a single sentence, then closed her eyes and began circulating her internal energy to repair the injuries she had sustained in the previous battle.

Gu Yan responded meekly and retreated to a corner at the very edge of the tent.

Gu Yan responded meekly and retreated to a corner at the very edge of the tent.

He sat cross-legged, seemingly resting with his eyes closed, but in reality, the Tai Chi Diagram of Gods and Demons was running wildly in his sea of ​​consciousness.

"The world of paper, open!"

……

The outermost edge of the camp is the gathering area for independent cultivators.

A very thin man wearing a gray cloth robe and a straw hat was squatting in front of a makeshift stall.

This man was none other than Gu Yan's clone, the Blood Swordsman.

However, this time he was not wearing his usual flamboyant blood-red robe.

Gu Yan used his unparalleled paper-crafting skills to recreate the disguise, giving the Blood Swordsman a perfect camouflage.

This is a human skin mask made from century-old tree bark and animal blood. Not only has its appearance changed, but even its aura has become murky and greasy, filled with the slick smell of a street-smart rogue cultivator.

"How much is this piece of refined red copper?"

A hoarse voice came from under the straw hat.

The stall owner was an old man missing two front teeth. He glanced at him, as if certain he was a poor wretch, and said disdainfully, "Five low-grade spirit stones, no bargaining."

"Too expensive."

The Blood Swordsman shook his head and stood up.

He wasn't really looking to buy anything; he was just searching for something.

His gaze swept through the crowd, finally settling on a particular area.

That was a small black market in the southeast corner of the camp, surrounded by black curtains.

This is a trading place spontaneously organized by independent cultivators, specifically used to deal with stolen goods that cannot be brought to light.

The Blood Swordsman lowered his hat and slipped into the black market like a fish.

The black market was dimly lit, with only a few flickering will-o'-the-wisps providing illumination.

The cultivators consciously restrained their auras, not daring to make a loud noise, as the powerful cultivators behind the bustling black market were present.

The Blood Swordsman walked up to a stall with a sign that read "Treasure Pavilion".

The stall wasn't big, and the owner was a middle-aged, overweight man wearing a bright green Taoist robe.

The middle-aged fat man's clothes served as a clear message to others that he was a steward of the Green Bamboo Sect, thus attracting rogue cultivators with valuable items.

Because their territories are adjacent, the Emerald Bamboo Sect and the Flowing Cloud Sect have always been at odds and have fought many battles over the centuries in order to compete for spirit mines and resources.

It was precisely because of this that the Blood Swordsman spoke up, saying, "Buy the item?"

The fat man raised his eyelids, his beady green eyes gleaming: "I'll take it. As long as the items are good, spirit stones are no problem. If they're of dubious origin..."

The fat man chuckled, revealing a knowing look: "Then my Green Bamboo Sect likes it even more."

The Blood Swordsman didn't speak, but reached into his robes, pulled out a diamond-shaped token, waved it in front of the fat man, and then quickly withdrew it.

Although the token only appeared for a moment, the unique sunset pattern on it and the flowing spiritual energy fluctuations made the fat man's eyes widen instantly.

"A sunset order?!"

The fat man nearly jumped out of his chair. He slammed his hand on the table, his voice trembling, "Fellow Daoist, this thing... you have it?"

It should be noted that tokens for Sunset Valley are extremely rare.

Even the three major powers were unearthed from the most obscure corners.

Without this token, one cannot enter the core area of ​​Sunset Valley, because there is a powerful restriction set up by a Nascent Soul cultivator, which cannot be broken by brute force.

"Shhh."

The Blood Swordsman held up a finger to his lips and whispered, "Keep your voice down. This stuff is hot. If the Flowing Cloud Sect finds out..."

"Screw him!"

The fat man wore a disdainful expression, but his eyes gleamed with greed: "Once it's in the hands of my Emerald Bamboo Sect, it's an opportunity for my Emerald Bamboo Sect. Do you think the Flowing Cloud Sect can steal it?"

"Fellow Daoist, name your price."

The Blood Swordsman extended three fingers.

"Three thousand mid-grade spirit stones?" The fat man frowned. "That's a bit expensive, but..."

"No."

The Blood Swordsman interrupted him, a cold smile playing on his lips beneath his bamboo hat: "I want three Grade Two Qi-Strengthening Pills, plus a Grade Three High-Rank talisman that can conceal one's aura—the Shadow Escape Talisman."

"What?!"

The fat man gasped, "A second-grade Qi-stabilizing pill is fine; that's only really useful for Foundation Establishment cultivators. But a Shadow Escape Talisman is a life-saving treasure, priceless and unavailable..."

"That means there's nothing to talk about."

The Blood Swordsman pretended to leave, feigning indifference, and said, "I heard that the elders of the Iron Fist Sect are also looking to buy this item..."

"Wait! Wait!"

The fat man grew anxious, grabbed the Blood Swordsman's sleeve, and gritted his teeth, saying, "Deal! But I don't have a Shadow Cloak talisman on me, so you'll have to come with me to the main camp to get it."

"Need not."

The Blood Swordsman shook off his hand and said coldly, "Put the item under that withered old crooked tree outside the camp in fifteen minutes. Cash on delivery. No waiting after that."

After saying that, the Blood Swordsman's figure flickered, and using the cover of the nearby stalls, he instantly disappeared into the vast sea of ​​people.

The fat man was stunned for a moment, then a fierce and excited glint flashed in his eyes. He immediately took out a communication talisman and reported to the sect elder.

……

Fifteen minutes later.

Flowing Cloud Sect camp.

Zhao Lingfeng was sitting in the tent, wiping the long sword in his hand with a gloomy expression.

Ever since he was humiliated by the Blood Swordsman, his mental state has been fractured. If he cannot kill that demon with his own hands, he will probably never be able to achieve the Golden Core stage in this lifetime.

"Report!"

A disciple rushed into the tent in a panic, his voice urgent: "Senior Brother Zhao! Something terrible has happened! A fight has broken out outside!"

Zhao Lingfeng frowned and shouted, "Who's fighting? Could it be that the demonic cultivators have broken in?"

No...no.

The disciple swallowed hard and stammered, "It's the Emerald Bamboo Sect! Elder Wang from the Emerald Bamboo Sect was just showing off at the camp gate, saying he had just bought a Sunset Token from a mysterious rogue cultivator! He also said..."

"What else is there to say?!"

Zhao Lingfeng's heart skipped a beat; he had a bad feeling.

"They even said... this token has our Flowing Cloud Sect's mark on it, implying that our Flowing Cloud Sect is incompetent, unable to even protect its own token, and deserves to be used as a stepping stone for them!"

"Bang!"

The teacup in Zhao Lingfeng's hand was crushed to pieces, and scalding tea flowed down between his fingers.

The three tokens that were traded with the Blood River Sect were claimed to have been stolen by demonic cultivators.

Now that this demonic cultivator dares to sell the token, does he see through the Flowing Cloud Sect's plan to attack the Blood River Sect in Sunset Valley?

"The Blood Swordsman..."

Zhao Lingfeng gritted his teeth and squeezed out those three words.

Of course he knew it wasn't sold by a rogue cultivator. That so-called rogue cultivator must be an accomplice of the Blood Swordsman, or perhaps he himself in disguise!

This is not just a provocation, it's a slap in the face for Zhao Lingfeng in front of the entire cultivation world of Yong'an County!

"Gather manpower!"

Zhao Lingfeng suddenly stood up, and a burst of violent spiritual power overturned the tent.

"Come with me to the Emerald Bamboo Sect! If we don't retrieve the token today, what face will our Flowing Cloud Sect have left!"

……

In the center of the camp, the atmosphere was tense and ready to fight.

The Green Bamboo Sect was clearly well-prepared.

A short, stout elder with a mustache, who was at the Golden Core stage, was playing with the token in his hand, smiling as he watched Zhao Lingfeng and the others rushing over menacingly.

"Oh, isn't this my nephew Zhao?"

Elder Wang said with a forced smile, "Why are you so angry? Are you jealous that my Green Bamboo Sect has obtained such an opportunity?"

"Old Wang! Hand over the token!"

Zhao Lingfeng drew his longsword, the tip pointing directly at Elder Wang: "Those are stolen goods that the demonic cultivators snatched from me! If you dare to accept stolen goods, you are colluding with the demonic cultivators!"

"swag?"

Elder Wang chuckled and held the token high so that all the surrounding cultivators could see it clearly.

"Did you write your name on this? You think you can just steal it because you say so? I bought it with real money! Besides..."

Elder Wang's tone shifted, his eyes sharpening: "Even if you stole it, it's because you were less skilled. The cultivation world is a dog-eat-dog world; treasures belong to the virtuous. You couldn't even protect your own possessions, and you have the nerve to blame others?"

"you!"

Zhao Lingfeng trembled with rage, and Mo Qianji behind him also had a gloomy expression. He took a step forward, and the pressure of the Golden Core stage erupted.

"Fatty Wang, you dare talk about morality? If you don't hand over the token today, don't blame me for showing no mercy!"

"You think I'm afraid of you!"

Several powerful auras also rose within the Green Bamboo Sect's camp.

The two sides faced off, their magical weapons shimmering in the air, threatening to escalate into a large-scale battle.

The surrounding rogue cultivators excitedly stepped back, craning their necks to watch the spectacle.

This kind of dogfighting among major sects is truly a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle.

And on the verge of this chaos.

Gu Yan was standing at the entrance of the Prince's mansion tent, looking over there on tiptoe like a country bumpkin who had never seen the world.

The Blood Swordsman had already obtained the Grade 2 Qi-Consolidating Pill and the Grade 3 Shadow Escape Talisman, and was currently hiding in a cave a few miles away, digesting his spoils.

But this token is just the beginning.

He still had two pieces in his hand.

"Let's fight, the more exciting the better."

Gu Yan silently recited in his heart.

"Only by stirring up the water can I, this fish, swim more freely."

Just as the two sides were on the verge of a fight, with tensions running high, a critical moment arrived.

"Boom!"

The earth suddenly began to tremble violently.

The dark red miasma that had been hanging over the canyon began to churn like boiling water and retreat wildly to both sides.

An ancient and weathered pillar of light, imbued with the aura of a demon god, shot up from the bottom of the valley and pierced the sky.

Everyone froze.

Whether it was Zhao Lingfeng, Elder Wang, or those rogue cultivators who were just watching the show, they all turned their heads to look at the pillar of light.

A haughty voice, disregarding the world, boomed from everyone's consciousness: "Sunset Valley, open!"

Gu Yan took a deep breath, his eyes becoming clear and sharp.