Chapter 101: Buying Food

A quick trot, then climbing up the cloud ladder, he arrived at a floating island. Though it appeared to hover in midair, thousands of invisible beams of light connected it to the formation below.

Within the island, shaded woods thrived, birds sang, and flowers bloomed fragrantly. One might think they had reached a sacred celestial place, but it was actually a marketplace for trading ingredients.

Anything lacking intelligence and relying on brute force was mere food. Those weaker in skill who met their end had their bodies sold. However, management in Hundred Flowers Valley was strict, making it rare to see the flesh of any great demon sold here.

If such items were sold elsewhere, it was called the black market.

With eight Immortal Stones in hand, Jia Youke wanted to use them sparingly, hesitating as he waited for a flying beast to appear. A massive claw held a net that spread across the sky, filled with countless seafood—fish, shrimp, crab, turtles...

But then, Yue Qi pointed at a gray dragon the size of a hill, her voice ringing in his head, leaving him dazed!

How could a Great Immortal cultivation be borne by a mid-stage Immortal Body? Jia Youke could not withstand it. Carefully, he approached a round platform where green dragons were being sold. A masked Taoist stood there, accompanied by a few young gentlemen dressed in flowing immortal robes, engaged in bargaining.

Their lively exchange abruptly stopped upon Jia Youke’s arrival.

“Oh? A guest! Haha, Jia Youke!”

Jia Youke’s expression darkened instantly. Hundred Flowers Valley was vast, home to at least millions of immortals, yet he happened to encounter this fellow.

The other was none other than Tian Tian, one of the Twelve Outstanding Talents of Eastern City.

Tian Tian was a distant relative from a nearby village, also trained in Hundred Flowers Valley with the same treatment. However, he had been promoted to an inner disciple, living carefree and happy, earning the title of one of Eastern City’s Twelve Outstanding Talents.

Now, he had reached the late Great Immortal stage, a full cultivation level above Jia Youke.

Once, they had been friendly, but Tian Tian had sold Jueli to the second young master of the Zhang family for dual-spiritual cultivation, which angered Jia Youke. What was cultivation about? It was about freedom and dignity—not to be humiliated.

Seeing him, Jia Youke instinctively turned to avoid confrontation, but Tian Tian blocked his path.

“Why do you want to leave as soon as you see me? We used to laugh, play, cause trouble, and get drunk together. You never looked like this before!”

Jia Youke was displeased. Although fighting among disciples was strictly prohibited in Hundred Flowers Valley, especially between inner disciples, etiquette demanded a greeting upon meeting.

“Senior Brother Tian, hope you are well!” Jia Youke cupped his fist in salute but said no more.

Tian Tian was relentless, continuing, “Regarding Jueli, you should thank me. She is ambitious; after securing the Immortal Stones, she intended to become your partner, enough for you to become a Great Immortal. Look at my cultivation—how did I achieve it? Without Immortal Stones, it’s like having no luck or opportunity. I advise you to let go early to avoid inner demons!”

Jia Youke’s expression grew even darker. He cupped his fist again, preparing to leave, but two other young gentlemen near Tian Tian scrutinized him with their spiritual senses.

One blue-haired young man said, “So this is the heir of the Elegant Great Immortal Sect? His future partner sold her spiritual essence for dual cultivation with someone—a playboy. If this spreads, how can he stay put at home, focusing on cultivation instead of sneaking around?”

Another, dressed in a flowing formation skirt, chuckled, “If Jueli uses this to break through to Great Immortal, she will definitely abandon him for a better partner. But such beauty requires me to save up some Immortal Stones first!”

“Insulting Jueli’s cultivation!” Jia Youke’s face turned stormy at once. It is said that the higher level crushes the lower, yet the young man in the skirt waved his hand to dispel Jia Youke’s anger and sneered, “I am a core disciple of Donghu Manor—what I say is right!”

The blue-haired youth mocked, “He’s the twenty-first son of the Donghu Manor’s lord, the youngest son and a legend of Donghu. When he says he’ll save up, he definitely will!”

Jia Youke’s face darkened, unwilling to make the first move. Hundred Flowers Valley valued reason and order—if he attacked first, the others could punish him.

For example, turning his face strange colors, swapping his hands and feet, turning his head into a pig’s, or his rear into a straw sack...

“Enough, Guoguo!” Tian Tian stopped the blue-haired youth, waving his hand to let Jia Youke leave.

But Jia Youke longed to flee, while Yue Qi stubbornly prevented him from leaving. Under the gaze of three pairs of strange eyes, he inquired of the masked Taoist about the price of dragon meat.

“This dragon’s flesh is tough and foul-smelling—it’s from a stagnant pool. Only the dragon’s tendons are precious, highly nourishing, imbued with the essence of heaven, earth, sun, and moon. The meat is divided into ten portions, each costing ten Immortal Stones. Dragon eyes can be forged into heavy weapons—twenty per pair. The bones sell for thirty, but the marrow and skin are not for sale!”

After speaking, the masked Taoist glanced at Jia Youke, adding, “With your Immortal Body, if you cultivate Vajra Power, eating the whole dragon would still be effective.”

Upon hearing this, Jia Youke extended his eight Immortal Stones and his secret stash, about to hand them over in exchange.

Suddenly, Tian Tian snatched them with a wave of his hand. “Thanks!”

Jia Youke was furious but before he could speak, Tian Tian said, “Last time I taught you a spell, you said you’d thank me. Now that I have Immortal Stones, consider it even!”

“No way!” Jia Youke found unexpected courage to refuse. Tian Tian’s expression darkened with annoyance. “I taught you a spell—you should repay me! Even if it goes to the enforcement office, you must pay!”

With a wave, Tian Tian completed the transaction with the masked Taoist, took the dragon tendons, and strode away.

The masked Taoist muttered a few words and was about to leave, but Yue Qi refused to let him go, insisting he stay.

Jia Youke clearly heard the mutterings—debts among cultivators were the hardest to repay.

But what exactly had Tian Tian taught him? Some unspeakable dual cultivation demon arts. Jia Youke had only been curious about cultivation techniques, yet it became a granted spell.

And granting spells in exchange for Immortal Stones or items was legitimate and proper.

Jia Youke felt like a mute suffering in silence.

He called out to the masked Taoist, whose aura surged—he was truly an Xuan Immortal!

After retreating about ten paces, just as the Taoist was about to leave hurriedly, Jia Youke shouted, “Sir, please wait! Sir, please wait!”

He took a box from the green earring that Yue Qi had given him and handed it over, transmitting his voice, “Please look, please look!”

The Taoist’s eyes flickered with shock as he peered through the box. Upon discovering its contents, his expression changed drastically, and he snatched it away, absorbing it into his Soul River. He grabbed Jia Youke’s hand, secretly locking his immortal soul, urgently whispering, “Where did you get this? Speak quickly!”

Facing a life threat in broad daylight, Jia Youke trembled and replied, “I’m a patrol guard. This fell from a meteorite that crashed the other day. I picked up a piece but didn’t know what it was, so I wanted to ask.”

The Taoist relaxed his grip and asked, “What do you want to exchange it for?”

“For food, food!” Jia Youke stammered.

The Taoist handed him a pet pouch containing the essence of beasts hunted over the past six months, meant for refining pills to enhance mount strength.

Jia Youke hurriedly said, “This is enough, enough.” Then cautiously asked, “This thing is so valuable, should I look for more to trade with you?”

“No need! I’ll find it myself!”

The Taoist left without another word, leaving Jia Youke dumbfounded, unsure why he was instructed to respond that way through the earring.

Only Old Bear Three inside muttered curses, “The Immortal Realm is nothing special, just a higher starting point—no big deal!”

He then bought some fish, crabs, and even lobsters that had attained intelligence, all bowing to the buyer, begging for mercy. Some compassionate cultivators would buy and release them, but most were ignorant and bought them simply to eat.

He left quickly, but returned even faster. Upon arriving home, he activated all anti-spy formations, sensing a chill run through him. Unbeknownst to him, chains were already fastened to his scapula and immortal soul.

A chill gripped Jia Youke’s heart as he blurted out, “Sir, elder, I have done as you asked. You can’t go back on your word, can you?”

The green orb earring beside his ear was silent. If he had any strength left, he would have held it in his palm, kneeling in supplication.

After a moment, laughter echoed inside the cave, and cold mist spread throughout, freezing everything around. When it drifted to him, his body felt as if burned by fire, shedding a layer of skin.

Jia Youke’s face changed drastically. An ice figure appeared beside him, smiling. Upon seeing who it was, he felt utterly devastated—it was the blue-haired youth named Guoguo.

Before he could understand why, the ice figure said, “Don’t worry, your soul will be frozen to dust; no one will know how you died. Rest in peace!”

“Wait, wait, wait!” Jia Youke cried out three times, steadying his nerves. He asked confusedly, “How did I offend you?”

“You didn’t offend me; you offended the youngest son of the Donghu Manor’s lord, the Donghu Legend. He is about to ascend to Xuan Immortal and must have a clear mind. He learned your future partner was to dual-cultivate spiritually with the second young master of Bing Heng, and he didn’t like it. So after you die, he’ll take Jueli under his control and mock the Zhang family!”

This tangled web of grudges left Jia Youke bewildered. Battles among immortals invariably harm mortals; even one like him with an Immortal Body could not escape.

“I’m a disciple of Hundred Flowers Valley and a patrol guard. If something happens to me, the enforcement office will investigate. Hundred Flowers Valley is strict about this…”

Before he finished, the ice figure waved his hand, freezing him stiff. Then chuckled, “Don’t worry, your formation malfunctioned and you were instantly frozen to death. Your soul shattered, leaving no evidence. The enforcement office? Haha, I am the enforcement office! Nickname Guoguo!”

After Jia Youke was instantly frozen to death, the ice figure waved, thickening the mist inside the cave. This state would persist until discovered.

Once Jia Youke’s soul was confirmed shattered and untraceable, the ice figure slowly warmed up and vanished like mist. The only gap in the formation gradually resealed itself naturally.

The mist thickened. Jia Youke’s body was not completely frozen solid but enveloped in this icy fog that specifically attacked the soul—known as the Soul-Shattering Ice Spirit!

This type of ice spirit often originates from millennia-old glaciers and is released when interacting with certain formations. It harms Great Immortals somewhat but is lethal to Immortal Bodies like Jia Youke’s.

Thus, such accidents occasionally occur.

Just as Jia Youke thought he was dead and the surroundings fell into chaos, a bright light appeared. The child from before reappeared.

“Ding ding ding! Found you, no hiding!”

“Hiding!” Looking at where his immortal soul lingered, Jia Youke trembled, overwhelmed by endless murderous energy washing over his soul, along with a creeping deathly aura.

“Where is this?” Jia Youke asked hurriedly, but Yue Qi hopped about, clamoring to leave, disappearing along with a bear-faced man.

The story continues.