Free Web NovelChapter 100: Chapter 100: Didn’t You Set Me Up Before?
Jiang Xu looked toward the sky with his Spiritual Eye Technique.
The surrounding air contained different types of Spiritual Qi.
Spiritual Qi of the Five Elements attributes—Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth—was the most abundant. And because the Marketplace was near the Endless Forest, Wood Attribute Spiritual Qi was the most plentiful of all.
In addition to the Five Elements Spiritual Qi, there was also some extremely rare Exotic Spiritual Qi.
This included Wind, Thunder, and Ice Attribute Spiritual Qi.
After a moment of thought, Jiang Xu set up the Seven Extremes Array he had purchased.
As expected, he could see the Seven Extremes Array’s weak points and internal nodes with perfect clarity.
The Array’s concealment function was rendered completely useless.
Jiang Xu could tell.
If he were to use his Spiritual Eye Technique on his own Concealing Breath Spell, the latter would be utterly defeated.
After all, even a normal Spiritual Eye Technique was enough to counter the Concealing Breath Spell.
Jiang Xu scanned his surroundings with the Spiritual Eye Technique.
Previously, he couldn’t perceive the Cultivation of other Cultivators from a great distance. Now, however, Jiang Xu could see the Realm and Magical Power fluctuations of Cultivators more than a thousand meters away.
However, with so many Cultivators in the Marketplace, the interference was severe, so he wasn’t entirely sure of his maximum range.
’With this, I shouldn’t have to worry about running into someone pretending to be weak to get the drop on me, right?’
Jiang Xu checked the time. It was already afternoon, so he took out some Talisman Paper, intending to begin his daily Talisman Making.
After finishing one, Jiang Xu was struck by a sudden idea. He activated his Spiritual Eye Technique and examined the Talisman.
At a glance, he could clearly see the distribution of Magical Power across the Talisman. Every flaw was laid bare: spots where he had accidentally injected too much Spiritual Power, areas where the fine details were lacking.
Lost in thought, Jiang Xu took out the Tier One Upper Grade Talisman made by Elder Li.
He examined the Talisman and found it to be practically perfect. Every detail was handled flawlessly. It wasn’t just a by-the-book creation; the maker had integrated their own understanding, making slight modifications that were clearly a significant improvement upon the standard design.
To make an analogy, this was the quality of a Talisman made by someone whose skill had reached the Master Level, perhaps even slightly beyond.
’Such an understanding of the Talisman Dao... he truly deserves to be called a genius. But even a genius like that can’t glean the slightest insight from the Cloud Seal Celestial Book? I wonder if my panel would be able to do anything with it.’
...
The next day, Jiang Xu saw that his storefront was once again swarmed with people. His heart sank; he knew at once that something big had happened.
So, as he opened for business, he pieced together the gist of the new situation.
It was just as Leng Qingqiu had said a month ago.
A widely renowned and influential Tier Three Array Master, who was also a Loose Cultivator, had joined the effort to break the Restriction.
This person’s skills were formidable, and his reputation was well-deserved. He had already broken through several difficult barriers in succession, and it seemed that the breach of the Inner Area’s Restriction was imminent.
Thus, the Profound Origin Sect began preparing to advance into the Inner Area. In other words, the Secret Realm was now open.
Of course, if the Secret Realm were only open to the Profound Origin Sect, the Loose Cultivators in the Marketplace wouldn’t be this enthusiastic.
However, the Loose Cultivator Array Master who was helping the Profound Origin Sect had stated that one of his conditions was that the greater population of Loose Cultivators be allowed to enter the Secret Realm, giving them a chance to forge a path on their slim road to longevity.
As a result, the Profound Origin Sect granted the Loose Cultivators three hundred slots to enter the Secret Realm.
In an instant, this nameless Loose Cultivator Array Master was hailed as a deity by the masses of Loose Cultivators. Some, in an even greater exaggeration, directly erected an Eternal Life Stele in his honor.
However, the Secret Realm’s Restriction was not the only obstacle the Profound Origin Sect faced in its attempt to develop it.
The rival Three Sects were also watching like hungry tigers.
Although the Three Sects’ overall strength couldn’t compare to the Profound Origin Sect and the Celestial Blade Sect, they excelled at sabotage. Even if they couldn’t occupy the Secret Realm themselves, they could still cause enough trouble and be enough of a nuisance to make life miserable for the Profound Origin Sect. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com
So, the Profound Origin Sect negotiated a temporary truce with the Three Sects. The Three Sects would return all their captives and pay a certain amount of Spirit Stones as compensation. In return, the Profound Origin Sect would grant them a portion of the entry slots for the Secret Realm.
During the few days Jiang Xu had spent in seclusion, the chosen members from the Profound Origin Sect and the other sects had already gathered near the Secret Realm to make their final preparations.
As for the Loose Cultivators, the first two hundred and fifty slots had already been allocated, and those chosen were already nearing the location.
The last fifty slots were still being contested.
...
’Aren’t they breaking through the Inner Area’s Restriction a little too quickly?’
Jiang Xu wondered if the Profound Origin Sect’s Tier Three Array Masters were just that incompetent, that they couldn’t even compare to a Loose Cultivator.
The moment the man arrived, progress shot forward, whereas the Profound Origin Sect’s own Array Masters had made no headway for months.
Just as Jiang Xu paused his business for the day and was about to close the door, wondering when would be a good time to leave, the bell on the door tinkled.
"Sorry, we’re closed for the day," Jiang Xu said as he continued tidying up.
"I’m not here to buy Talismans. I’m here for you!"
Hearing the familiar voice, Jiang Xu turned around, stunned.
A girl as exquisite as a painting stood in the doorway, her gaze meeting Jiang Xu’s impassively.
"Sen... Senior Sister Leng?"
Jiang Xu rubbed his eyes, making sure he wasn’t seeing things.
"Is there something I can help you with?" Jiang Xu asked, suddenly recalling how he’d eavesdropped on her Sound Transmission Talisman a month ago.
’Don’t tell me she tracked me down just for that trivial matter?’
’That’s way too petty!’
"See for yourself."
Leng Qingqiu pulled out a set of orders and handed them to Jiang Xu.
Jiang Xu took them and read. The orders stated that due to his outstanding Talisman Making abilities, he was being specially granted a slot to enter the Secret Realm and was to join the main party.
"...?"
Jiang Xu’s face was a mask of confusion.
"Enough talk. We’re leaving for the Secret Realm now, with me!" Leng Qingqiu urged impatiently.
"Wait, what’s going on? This is so sudden... Ah, hold on, I remember another mission that was just as sudden. I didn’t have any time to prepare, and I almost got myself killed..."
Jiang Xu stared intently at Leng Qingqiu, making her feel uncomfortable.
"What are you staring at me for? Get moving!" Leng Qingqiu snapped, feeling awkward under his gaze.
"Um, Senior Sister Leng, I still have some talisman-making tools at home. Can you wait for me? I’ll be right back."
Jiang Xu wanted to use this opportunity to slip away.
"Here." Leng Qingqiu directly handed Jiang Xu a Storage Bag.
Jiang Xu opened it to find a full, comprehensive set of talisman-making tools inside.
It even included a complete copy of the *Initial Understanding of Talisman Dao*.
"But my Magical Artifacts are still..."
"Here."
This time, she handed over a set of Tier One Middle Grade Magical Artifacts.
"But I still haven’t gotten my pillow! I can’t sleep at night without it..." A cold sweat broke out on Jiang Xu’s brow; he couldn’t believe he was resorting to such an excuse.
