Just when Song Qingming was still racking his brains over how to go to the market to exchange for materials for refining the formation, he didn't expect that Song Changxin would take the initiative to find him early the next morning, giving him an unexpected opportunity to collect materials.
After half an hour's journey, Song Qingming followed Song Changxin to a sacred mountain called Caolu Mountain, which was dozens of miles away from Lingyuan Mountain. This sacred mountain was not too far from the Song family. Although Song Qingming had never been here before, he had heard of it.
This mountain is also a top-grade spiritual vein. It was originally the headquarters of a small Qi-refining sect. A few decades ago, an internal conflict broke out within the sect. After a fight, this small sect, which had a weak foundation to begin with, suffered heavy losses and then gradually declined.
Most small and medium-sized sects in the world of cultivating immortals find it difficult to survive for a long time. Sects do not have bloodline connections like families, and cultivators who join halfway will find it difficult to have a deep sense of identification with the sect in a short period of time.
Once the previous leader passes away, the new successor will be unable to control the veteran cultivators within the sect. It is easy for everyone to fight for the sect's power or cultivation resources, and the sect will then decline and eventually disappear silently in the long history of the immortal cultivation world.
Today, Caolu Mountain has long been occupied by several late-stage Qi Refining cultivators from nearby areas, and it has become much more prosperous than before.
This place is close to Yunwu Mountain and is also the only way for many cultivators to go to the depths of Yunwu Mountain to hunt monsters. Many cultivators will come to this mountain to rest for a while when passing by.
These wandering cultivators decided to open an inn here, which was a place for the monks to meditate and rest. They would also hold a small trade fair here every two weeks to attract nearby monks to exchange items, which also earned them a lot of spirit stones.
Arriving at a dense forest on the south side of Caolu Mountain, Song Changxin threw out a low-level sound transmission talisman from his hand. Not long after, a circular formation gap appeared in the dense forest in front of him, revealing the true face hidden inside the formation. Then, a burst of lively voices came from the originally silent mountain.
After the two entered the formation, a large inn appeared not far ahead, with many pavilions and towers on both sides. Under the vermilion door in front of the inn, several people were talking loudly.
"Ah, it's Brother Song. I didn't expect you to come this time. I haven't seen you for several months. Are you all right?"
Only after Song Qingming approached did he realize that these people were all at the late stage of Qi Refining or above. One of them smiled and raised the dustpan in his hand to greet Song Changxin when he saw him. It was obvious that he was an old acquaintance of Uncle Jiu.
"I'm grateful for Fellow Daoist Wu's concern. I've been busy practicing at home recently. This time, I took some time out of my busy schedule to bring my nephew here to see the world. I hope you can take good care of me in the future." After saying this, he gestured to Song Qingming behind him to come forward and say hello.
"Junior Song Qingming greets several seniors." Song Qingming walked forward calmly and bowed to them.
"Hey, we are all in the same boat, there is no need to be so polite."
"The trade fair is about to begin. If we miss out on what we need, it will be more trouble than it's worth. Let's go in and talk first."
Among the people at the door, a cultivator named Zhang was a little anxious. He couldn't stand the constant politeness from the people at the door, so he urged everyone to go inside and talk.
Naturally, everyone would not forget the main purpose of coming here. They smiled and nodded and walked into the yard together.
The yard was now filled with dozens of cultivators, each with a lot of items in front of them. Song Changxin and Song Qingming found a random seat in the yard.
"Qingming, these mid-level talismans are priced at five spirit stones. If someone wants them all, I can give them two spirit stones off. If someone wants this black water stone, don't worry. It will cost at least ten spirit stones. Also, please help me collect some materials for making the talismans. The more the better."
In the afternoon, seeing that Song Qingming had gradually become familiar with some of the rules of this place, Song Changxin gave him some instructions and then left Song Qingming alone and hurried back to Lingyuan Mountain.
With so many cultivators here, it shouldn't be difficult to set up a formation. It would be even better if we could purchase some usable materials.
In order to save some spirit stones, independent cultivators will choose some stable and safe places to exchange some resources and items. This can save a lot of spirit stones compared to going to the market. After all, whether buying or selling in the market, people have to make money.
There are gatherings of independent cultivators like this in many places in Qinghe County. Song Qingming has participated in them several times in the past with his family elders, so he is not unfamiliar with them.
This morning, he wanted to ask Uncle Jiu to let him go to the market again to sell the formation he had made, but Song Changxin said that he would take him to a closer place to do business. This saved Song Qingming a lot of trouble.
Of course, Uncle Jiu also found someone who could help him collect materials for making talismans in the future.
The gathering place in front of us was organized by the three late-stage Qi Refining cultivators who were entrenched here. It was held every half a month and could gather fifty or sixty cultivators at a time.
Most of the items traded are just some materials, talismans, and low-level elixirs. If you want to buy good things, you have to go to Qinghefang.
Most of the monks setting up stalls here are familiar faces, and they have the "Three Elders of Caolu" to act as guarantors. The market atmosphere is pretty good, and there are very few cases of fraud.
Not long after Song Qingming set up his stall, several cultivators came up and began to ask how to sell his formation.
"Low-grade Five Elements Formation, fifteen spirit stones or spirit rice of equal value"
Several people wanted to exchange some of their extra low-grade spiritual objects, but they were all decisively rejected by Song Qingming. Although these things were of equal value, they were not what he needed. What he needed most were spirit stones.
Seeing that Song Qingming was sitting there with no intention of giving in, the few of them had no choice but to give up and leave.
After the people surrounding his stall dispersed, Song Qingming took the time to look around the nearby stalls. He gradually discovered that there were quite a few people selling things at this exchange fair, but there were not many who brought out useful things like his.
Most of the items sold are starting materials, ores, some less popular talismans, and obsolete low-level magic tools.
There are also some cunning and treacherous people who take out useless things that have been piling up in their hands for years, but they are reluctant to sell them at a low price in the market, so they want to try their luck at the exchange meeting to see if they can meet buyers who happen to need these things.
Just as Song Qingming was looking around curiously, a crisp sound interrupted him.
"How many spirit stones does this formation cost?"
Song Qingming turned around and saw that the person asking the question was a woman in yellow, about twenty years old.
"Fifteen spirit stones!"
"Would you sell it for ten spirit stones and a bottle of Qi Refining Powder?"
Hearing the gentle voice of the person again, Song Qingming was slightly stunned, then quickly agreed.
"Can!"
Although the effects of pills like Lianqi Powder that can increase cultivation are not very good, they are also considered hard currency. Whether you exchange them with other members of the clan or go directly to the family's gold storage building, you can exchange them for spirit stones at any time.
After taking the pills and spirit stones handed over by the other party, Song Qingming confirmed that they were correct before handing the formation in his hand to the other party.
After successfully completing the transaction, Song Qingming felt in a good mood as the business was finally open.
His luck was pretty good at the end of the day. Not only did he successfully sell his two sets of formations, but he also sold all of Uncle Jiu's talismans. The only thing he was most worried about was the black stone. He had no idea what it was, and after it was displayed for a whole day, few people took a look at it.
Not only did Song Qingming sell these items, he also collected a lot of materials for making talismans and refining formations. The local cultivators often went to Yunwu Mountain to hunt monsters, and they had a lot of these low-level materials in their hands. As long as the price was not lower than the purchase price in the market, Song Qingming easily collected a lot of the materials he wanted.
It was almost dusk when they left Caolu Mountain. Song Qingming quickened his pace and arrived back at Lingyuan Mountain just before the sun set.
Before leaving, Song Qingming went to meet several masters of Pinglu Mountain. These three people were veteran cultivators from Qinghe County, and they also liked to make friends with nearby cultivators. After Song Qingming explained his purpose, he soon received a token of passage like Uncle Jiu.
He will definitely come to this place often in the future.