Translator: Cinder Translations
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Before long, the attendant returned, followed by a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.
"Junior Lei Feiguang greets Senior. May I ask for Senior's esteemed name?" The cultivator bowed respectfully to Song Wen.
"Cui Huo," Song Wen replied briefly.
"Greetings, Senior Cui. May I ask what brings you to me?" Lei Feiguang inquired courteously.
Song Wen glanced at the bustling activity inside the shop before responding, "This isn't a suitable place to talk. Is there somewhere more private?"
Lei Feiguang gestured toward the rear courtyard. "Please follow me, Senior."
Under Lei Feiguang's guidance, the two entered a quiet tearoom in the courtyard. After inviting Song Wen to sit and pouring him tea, Lei Feiguang began the conversation.
"Senior Cui looks unfamiliar. I assume you're not a local cultivator?"
Song Wen sipped the tea, praised it as "excellent," and then spoke slowly.
"You guessed correctly, Manager Lei. I am a wandering cultivator who used to cultivate in the Nine Palaces Sect's territory."
Lei Feiguang nodded. "The Nine Palaces Sect has betrayed the righteous path and allied with demonic forces. Judging by your balanced aura, Senior, you seem to practice righteous techniques. It must have been challenging to cultivate a righteous art in demonic lands."
Song Wen replied, "Manager Lei, you're not wrong. Cultivating righteous techniques in the Nine Palaces Sect's territory is indeed dangerous. However, it has its advantages. The demonic path doesn't regulate cultivation resources as strictly as the righteous path, which benefits independent cultivators like me."
After some small talk, Lei Feiguang got to the point. "May I ask what business Senior has with me?"
Song Wen said, "I would like to ask for your help in acquiring a Golden Core stage wood-attribute cultivation method. Rest assured, you will be well compensated."
Lei Feiguang hesitated before replying, "It's not that I'm unwilling, but my abilities are limited. Golden Core stage cultivation techniques are extremely rare and are treasured by all factions. They are seldom shared, let alone sold."
He paused before continuing, "Didn't you say earlier that the demonic path is more lenient with resources? Didn't you acquire a Golden Core stage cultivation technique while in the Nine Palaces Sect's territory?"
Song Wen sighed. "I did obtain a technique, but it's a demonic one. My primary practice is the wood-attribute art Spiritual Wood Transformation Scripture. The demonic technique conflicts with it and is unsuitable for me."
Lei Feiguang suggested, "If acquiring a technique is so difficult, why not consider joining a faction like my Lei Clan? The Lei Clan is led by a Nascent Soul ancestor, and although we're slightly weaker than major sects like the Beastmaster Sect or the He Huan Sect, we are still formidable. With your Golden Core stage cultivation base, you would be highly valued, receiving both resources and techniques."
Song Wen appeared surprised. "Manager Lei, you're part of the Lei Clan?"
Lei Feiguang nodded with pride. Being part of the Lei Clan was clearly a source of honor for him.
After a moment of thought, Song Wen replied, "I appreciate the offer, but I currently have no plans to join any faction."
With a wave of his hand, Song Wen placed two gleaming spirit stones on the wooden table.
Lei Feiguang's eyes lit up upon seeing the items—two top-grade spirit stones.
"Senior, what is the meaning of this?" he asked cautiously.
Song Wen pushed the stones toward Lei Feiguang. "This is your fee for the trouble. Whether or not you can obtain the technique, these two spirit stones are yours. If you succeed, I will reward you with ten times the amount. Additionally, the cost of the technique itself will be covered separately."
"This..." Lei Feiguang hesitated briefly before accepting the spirit stones.
"Rest assured, Senior, I will do my best."
"Thank you," Song Wen said with a slight bow. "Could you provide me with a communication jade slip so we can stay in touch?"
"Of course."
After exchanging jade slips and chatting a little longer, Song Wen took his leave.
The next morning, at dawn...
Sunlight pierced through the surrounding mist, casting a silvery glow over the Ghost Market, making it look as if it were covered in a blanket of white.
At this time, the Ghost Market had already closed.
Lei Feiguang instructed his subordinates to close the shop doors, then stood up and left the market, heading toward the Lei Clan.
Upon arriving at the Lei Clan, he approached a cave dwelling.
"Youngster Lei Feiguang requests to meet Elder Mingxu," Lei Feiguang respectfully called out.
After a moment, the stone door of the cave opened.
"Come in," came the deep voice of Lei Mingxu from inside.
There was a hint of impatience in his tone, indicating that he was in a bad mood at the moment.
The previous day, the ancestor Lei Yue had personally gone to Qingcang Mountain to rescue Lei Weiyue and, in the process, kill those who had abducted her.
However, it turned out to be a trap. They had been lured away while Lei Yue was ambushed.
Lei Weiyue had betrayed the Lei Clan and had rescued Zhou Siyi from the prison, causing the ancestor's plans to extend his lifespan to fall apart.
Enraged, Lei Yue had executed all the family members guarding the prison.
Following this, Lei Yue had sent half of the clan to search for Lei Weiyue and Zhou Siyi, while he himself went to the Beastmaster Sect to retrieve Zhou Siyi's soul lamp. However, upon using the soul-searching technique, the lamp showed no reaction.
This made Lei Yue realize that the enemy had come prepared, using a treasure that could block soul fluctuations. It was no longer possible to find Zhou Siyi.
Thus, Lei Yue recalled his people and instead began searching for a replacement for Zhou Siyi.
Among the entire Lei Clan, Lei Mingxu was the only one who had seen the mysterious Nascent Soul cultivator.
He had had the opportunity to stop Lei Weiyue and Zhou Siyi but, despite the formation being in place, had been overwhelmed by the pressure from the Nascent Soul cultivator and could only watch as they escaped the Lei Clan.
Lei Mingxu deeply regretted this failure.
Although Lei Yue did not outwardly express dissatisfaction, Lei Mingxu could clearly feel that the ancestor was very displeased with him.
"Greetings, Elder Mingxu." Once inside the cave, Lei Feiguang bowed respectfully.
Lei Mingxu, with his back turned, did not move, showing his impatience as he coldly spoke, "What do you want?"
Lei Feiguang, not noticing the dissatisfaction in Lei Mingxu's tone, spoke excitedly, "I've found a fat sheep in the Ghost Market. If we capture him, there will be great rewards."
This wasn't the first time the two of them secretly killed independent cultivators.
Lei Feiguang primarily sought the spirit stones and treasures of these cultivators, while Lei Mingxu simply enjoyed hunting cultivators, especially talented ones or beautiful female cultivators.
Killing geniuses and beauties gave him a thrilling sense of dominance over life and death.
Lei Feiguang had expected that Lei Mingxu would agree as he always had before, but to his surprise, Lei Mingxu remained unmoved.
"I'm not interested," Lei Mingxu coldly replied.
"Elder, this one is a Golden Core stage independent cultivator," Lei Feiguang said, feeling a bit anxious when he heard the refusal. He quickly tried to persuade him.
"Golden Core stage? And an independent cultivator?" Lei Mingxu's interest was piqued. He turned to face Lei Feiguang.
Lei Feiguang nodded and briefly explained the situation, mentioning that Song Wen was looking to purchase a cultivation method.
"He cultivates the Spiritual Wood Transformation Scripture?"
Lei Mingxu suddenly stood up, his eyes gleaming as he stared intently at Lei Feiguang.
(End of the Chapter)
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