Chapter 1: Red Lantern Illuminates Clear Stream, The Moon Is Brightest in One's Hometown
She was a woman dressed in beautiful silk clothes, yet her expression was bitter and sorrowful.
She hoarsely repeated her plea..
"My daughter is for sale for ten taels of silver."
Her young daughter stood by her mother's side, looking no more than two or three years old.
A sign hung around the woman's neck, displaying the daughter up for sale and a mother's love currently on offer.
The mother and daughter stood right at the entrance on the edge of the marketplace. The young daughter looked completely bewildered, foolishly cooperating with her mother as she repeated after her.
"My father is a cultivator. I will have a spirit root."
"My father is a cultivator..."
In Clear Stream Market, which was populated primarily by cultivators, paying ten taels of silver for a young girl who might possess a spirit root was actually a reasonable price.
Usually, situations like this where a child was sold occurred because her man, some unknown rogue cultivator, had been gone for a long time and had likely died out there.
However, under normal circumstances, cultivators would not buy a young girl like this. After all, one's spirit root type and quality could only be tested at the age of thirteen.
Ten years of rearing was simply too much trouble.
"Stop looking and stay close to me!"
Wang Rongyuan tightened the reins of his dapple-gray horse, giving a low warning to the two young lads following behind him.
"Yes, Uncle."
As a transmigrator possessing past-life memories, Wang Yulou was far sharper than his cousin, Wang Yu'an. He immediately retracted his gaze and shifted his attention to the other sights within Clear Stream Market.
"Uncle Rongyuan, we can buy a child who might have a spirit root for just ten taels of silver. Our Wang Clan doesn't lack the silver commonly used by mortals, so why not buy her?" Wang Yu'an asked, filled with confusion.
"A big burden dragging along a small burden—who knows what happened to that girl's father?
Have you forgotten what the family school taught you young cubs?
Recite it for me right now! The family rules that you Qi Induction stage youngsters must observe when traveling outside!" Wang Rongyuan looked sternly at Wang Yu'an.
Within the family, Wang Rongyuan was renowned for his martial prowess and unyielding willpower. His cultivation base was profound, earning him the position of Elder in the Law Transmission Hall.
Precisely because his strength was exceptional, he had taken on the task of escorting these two lads of the Yu generation to Clear Stream Market.
The moment he spoke, his authoritative demeanor made even Wang Yulou feel a surge of awe.
Wang Yulou's cousin, Wang Yu'an, turned completely pale with fright. He stammered out his grievance in response.
"When traveling, stick only to the main roads; when interacting, associate only with long-standing allies; when trading, always bargain down by ninety percent.
When trouble arises, retreat behind the crowd; when benefits appear, let fellow Daoists go first; when listening to others, believe only half of what is said.
Always keep a Thousand-Mile Talisman ready on your legs; guard your entire body, guard your entire body..."
Under the immense pressure from his uncle, Wang Yu'an, who was far away from the clan lands for the first time, found his mind completely scrambled with fear.
In his panic, he absurdly forgot the final phrase of the clan's external travel rules for the Qi Induction stage that the family had painstakingly drilled into him.
Slap! Slap!
The reason Qi Refining cultivators were called Qi Refining cultivators was because they refined a breath of spiritual energy and stored it within their dantian.
Seeing that this young cub Wang Yu'an actually dared to forget the external travel rules, Wang Rongyuan immediately channeled a stream of spiritual energy. Transforming it into a pale green, oversized palm, he delivered two resounding slaps right across Wang Yu'an's left and right cheeks.
A high-stage Qi Refining cultivator's control over spiritual energy far exceeded Wang Yulou's imagination. These two heavy slaps from Wang Rongyuan could be described as simultaneously maximizing disciplinary impact while maintaining absolute safety.
The slapping sounds were crisp and loud, delightfully resonant, making Wang Yulou's scalp tingle just listening to them.
At the same time, Wang Rongyuan controlled his strength perfectly, ensuring that Wang Yu'an was not harmed in the slightest.
"Waaah, Uncle, I was wrong! Please stop hitting me... waaah..."
Having bidden farewell to his parents and left the clan lands where he had grown up, the naturally flighty Wang Yu'an had been bouncing higher than the heavens along the way.
Now, his uncle's two sharp slaps completely shattered his flighty dreams.
"Rongwen and your mother have spoiled you far too much! How dare you forget 'guard your entire body to protect your immortal path'!"
Tapping a finger at Wang Yu'an in frustration over his lack of discipline, Wang Rongyuan then turned his gaze toward Yulou.
"Yulou, make sure to remind him more often in the future. This boy, sigh!"
Wang Yulou had transmigrated from twenty-first-century China, so he naturally understood the expectations his clan uncle held for him and Yu'an.
This family elder didn't have some bizarre hobby of slapping people; he was simply driven to exasperation.
"Yes, Uncle. 'Guard your entire body to protect your immortal path'—Yulou will absolutely never dare to forget!"
As he spoke, Wang Yulou even gave Wang Yu'an a light kick.
Prompted by his older cousin's reminder, Wang Yu'an also snapped out of it and repeatedly promised.
"Me too! I will absolutely never dare to forget, never dare to forget!"
Seeing the boy mimicking Wang Yulou's stance finally allowed Wang Rongyuan to feel a slight sense of relief.
Although this rascal Wang Yu'an was a bit flighty, Yulou possessed a cautious nature. With these two kids supporting each other within Clear Stream Market, there shouldn't be any major issues.
After all, the Wang family still had elders stationed inside Clear Stream Market; it wasn't as if these two boys were completely on their own.
"Hmph. You two wait for me here. I shall go and stable the dapple-gray horse and the carriage."
Wang Rongyuan led the horse and stepped into the stabling yard located on the outer perimeter of Clear Stream Market.
—
"Yu'an, does it still hurt?"
Looking at his younger brother's swollen cheeks, Wang Yulou asked with concern.
"How could it not hurt? If you got slapped like that, you'd hurt too!"
Clutching his face, Wang Yu'an's eyes welled with tears, looking utterly aggrieved.
The two had grown up together and shared an excellent relationship. He didn't mind Wang Yulou's concern, but he felt he had been treated far too unfairly.
Was it really necessary to reward him with heavy slaps just because he forgot half a sentence of the clan rules?
Father, Mother, I miss you!
"Uh, Uncle was only doing it out of care for you. Every time Brother Yuming in the family school talks about his younger brother's matter, his eyes fill with tears.
For low-level youngsters like us in the Qi Induction stage, once we leave the protection of the family, we must be absolutely cautious and discreet in everything we do."
Wang Yulou reminded him, hovering between amusement and pity.
This younger brother of his had truly been pampered far too much by his parents.
The Brother Yuming he mentioned was the second oldest of the Yu generation, possessing an early Qi Refining cultivation base. He cultivated within the clan lands and concurrently taught the family's young children who possessed spirit roots.
His younger brother, Yuliu, had let his guard down due to his youthful nature while traveling outside for his studies. Coveting the carnal pleasures of the mortal world, he had been assassinated by rogue cultivators inside a mansion in a mundane town.
As a Foundation Establishment clan, compared to the Purple Palace aristocratic families and the major Unorthodox Sects, the Wang family was merely an insignificant speck within the Wunan Basin.
But to rogue cultivators who lived hand-to-mouth, the items carried by the disciples of the Wang family were more than enough to tempt them into taking a perilous risk.
"Brother, look over there! There's a female cultivator who isn't wearing many clothes."
However, Yulou's concern turned out to be completely wasted.
The moment that rascal Yu'an spotted a beautiful female cultivator, the pain on his face vanished instantly.
What a miracle cure!
Yulou showed a look of disdain on the surface, though a hint of gratification arose in his heart.
At least this kid Yu'an was decent enough not to forget Yulou when something good caught his eye—it wasn't a waste to dote on him.
Following Yu'an's line of sight, Yulou noticed the female cultivator standing beside a street stall in the marketplace.
Even though it was the pleasant season of mid-spring, this female cultivator seemed terribly affected by the heat. Her upper body wore only a silken, pale-yellow camisole, while her lower body was clad in a short skirt that barely covered her hip line.
The street stall displayed various stones and metals, all of which were materials used for artifact refining. Heaven knew where that rogue cultivator had managed to scavenge them from. The female cultivator was currently haggling over the price with the stall owner.
"Don't stare blindly. Who knows if she cultivates some Charm Art? If you fall under her spell, when I reach the Qi Refining stage in the future, I'll have to weep for you in the family school too."
Giving Yu'an a firm tug, Wang Yulou twisted his swollen face away from the female cultivator's backside.
"You should be the one to be careful. I also possess dual spirit roots! Even though mine are metal and earth, which makes me slightly inferior to your water and fire attributes when it comes to the artificing path, I am much stronger in magical combat!"
The swollen-faced boy stubbornly argued, though he couldn't help but twist his head right back around.
It was practically a case of a passionate female cultivator completely mesmerizing an innocent young boy.
An underdressed female immortal was something that could never be seen within the clan lands!
A thirteen-year-old youth had already developed an interest in the matters of men and women. This was precisely the reason why the family immediately dispatched them to different places to study techniques once their spirit roots were tested.
They were sent out to master arts unavailable within the family, and ideally, find a Dao companion with absolute talent along the way to help the Wang family grow stronger and larger!
Seeing his younger brother acting like such a love-struck fool, Wang Yulou increased his strength. Utilizing his level-two Qi Induction cultivation base, he pressed down with both hands, forcefully suppressing the smitten boy.
"Brother, you're just relying on your higher cultivation base to bully me..."
Wang Yulou shook his head. They had tested their spirit roots together and started drawing Qi at the same time. If you're still at level one, who else can you blame but yourself?
"I think you truly need to be careful, Yu'an. The temptations of the outside world far exceed just this.
The dazzling world blinds the eyes; without sufficient mental fortitude, one will trip up sooner or later. Yu'an, oh Yu'an, what am I going to do with you in the future?"
"Hmph. It must be because she cultivates a Charm Art. Yes, it's definitely because of that."
A man's stubbornness knew no bounds. Yulou couldn't even be bothered to respond to his foolish younger brother anymore.
However, he didn't harbor any actual disgust. Yu'an's temperament was actually quite normal. After all, not everyone was like him, carrying the memories of a past life through transmigration.
—
The Wunan Basin, spanning over twenty thousand li in length and breadth, possessed an area roughly equivalent to the Eurasian continent on the planet of Wang Yulou's previous life.
Within the basin, there were three Major Sects and seven Unorthodox Sects, collectively known as the Ten Sects.
Beneath the Ten Sects lay thousands upon thousands of cultivation families and minor sects of varying sizes.
Clear Stream Market was situated in the northwestern region of the Wunan Basin, operating under the jurisdiction of the unorthodox Red Lantern Illumination Sect. It was a marketplace catering to Qi Refining cultivators.
Due to the long-term presence of a Foundation Establishment cultivator overseeing the area, it had maintained an excellent reputation over several centuries, and its business thrived.
Inside Clear Stream Market, the stabling yard at the edge of the marketplace was bustling with people today.
Cultivators at the Qi Refining stage were already capable of flying on magical artifacts, but activating an artifact required a continuous expenditure of spiritual energy, and flying through the sky was far too conspicuous.
Therefore, even when Qi Refining cultivators traveled, they would generally rush along the ground at high speeds rather than foolishly flying through midair.
However, the Wang family actually possessed its own shops, inns, and courtyards within Clear Stream Market. Forget stabling a single dapple-gray horse; stabling ten would not be an issue.
Wang Rongyuan's specific visit to the marketplace stabling yard was for a purpose far more complicated than merely stabling a horse.
After securing the horse and carriage, he quietly stepped into a shop that dealt in medicines for spiritual beasts.
The shop owner was also a Qi Refining cultivator, possessing a sly and peculiar appearance that looked distinctly untrustworthy. At this moment, he was lounging on a chair, enjoying a massage from a female Qi Induction cultivator.
"Old Wang?"
Seeing Wang Rongyuan enter, the owner waved his hand to dismiss the female cultivator, propped himself up from the lounging chair, and asked.
"I wondered why I kept hearing crows cawing all day today. Nothing good ever happens when you visit my place. Speak up~"
Wang Rongyuan sat down opposite the owner with a confident air, familiarly pouring himself a cup of tea.
"A dog's mouth can't spit out ivory, Old Ghost. Is there any news regarding the item I asked you to look for?"
Taking a sip of the rank-nine Gu Clan's Spirit Tea, Wang Rongyuan looked toward the information broker known as Old Ghost.
"The Three Friends of Wumeng claim they know nothing. The bandit leader at Echoing Water Shoals claims to have news, but he wants fifty spirit stones upfront before he'll tell you.
A Patch of Red doesn't want money, but he also minored in the artificing path. If the item is found, he intends to use it himself..."
Wang Rongyuan nodded as he listened, quietly pouring himself another cup of tea and continuing to drink.
After counting off the well-known rogue cultivators in the vicinity on his fingers, the Qi Refining shop owner known as Old Ghost spread his hands and said,
"Old Wang, the situation is exactly as it stands.
The rumor regarding the remains of that Foundation Establishment cultivator from Hidden Dragon Abbey only appeared once, but the minor clans, independent cultivators, and rogue cultivators around our Clear Stream Market have been searching for five years already.
Not a single shred of additional news has surfaced. It's highly likely that this person never even existed."
Wang Rongyuan poured himself yet another cup of spirit tea and said,
"Keep searching. If it is found, I only want his artificing journal—just a copy will suffice. I don't want anything else."
Old Ghost shook his head in confusion.
"Even the people from Hidden Dragon Abbey themselves can't find it. What chance do we independent cultivators have?
Furthermore, those rogue cultivators are all raised by the major clans. If a major clan obtains the remains, they will certainly not sit by and watch the artificing journal leak outside."
Noticing that the teapot was already empty of spirit tea, Wang Rongyuan rose, preparing to depart.
"Just keep looking. Rogue cultivators are rogue cultivators, and major clans are major clans. Once the remains are found, they must pass through the hands of the rogue cultivators; there will be an opportunity."
Staring at Wang Rongyuan's departing back, Old Ghost clicked his tongue slightly in surprise.
Could it be that the Foundation Establishment Ancestor of the Wang family inside the Red Lantern Illumination Sect possessed some exclusive piece of information?
As he pondered, he picked up the teapot.
"I'll curse your entire lineage!"
Old Ghost's shout was so loud that Wang Rongyuan, who was already outside the door, managed to hear it clearly. A slight smile played upon his lips as he quickened his pace to leave.
The Gu clan's rank-nine spirit tea?
He was finishing it all!
If he didn't finish it, wouldn't the five spirit stones of information fee he gave him be entirely wasted?
Since there wasn't a single piece of useful information, merely draining his pot of spirit tea was already highly generous!
—
"Come, I shall first take you two to have a meal. We possess industries here in Clear Stream Market as well. Since this is your first time, I'll show you around so you can recognize the path."
Wang Rongyuan patted Yulou's shoulder, then delivered a light kick to Yu'an's backside.
"Move a bit faster. I still need to take you two to perform the apprenticeship rites later."
You're completely biased, aren't you?
Yu'an felt aggrieved in his heart, but he didn't dare to utter a word.
"Uncle, why does Clear Stream Market seem so crowded? I remember Brother Yuming mentioning that there are only a few thousand cultivators here?"
Walking beside his clan uncle, Yulou asked in a low voice.
"Excellent. Being able to notice that the number of people here is abnormal—Yu'an, learn a thing or two from Yulou.
An excessive number of people usually indicates that a change has occurred, or some special event is taking place.
When traveling outside, your eyes must observe six—no, ten directions, and your ears must listen to all quarters."
Wang Rongyuan first poked Yu'an before launching into an explanation.
"The Red Lantern Illumination Sect changed its sect master the year before last. The new sect master hails from a prominent merchant family in Wunan and is exceptionally skilled in business operations. He established a new management plan for all the marketplaces operating under the Red Lantern Illumination Sect.
One of the regulations states that a branch of the sect's Merit Hall will be deployed to rotate through the various marketplaces under their command, making it convenient for independent cultivators and minor families to trade.
The reason for the recent surge in cultivators within Clear Stream Market is because the Merit Hall branch will arrive here in half a month. Many major merchant houses that are usually only found in large marketplaces have also paid a sum of spirit stones to accompany the branch here."
Hailing from a prominent merchant family, a new management plan...
As a former 996 corporate drone, Yulou detected something amiss.
What was the Red Lantern Illumination Sect up to?
Before he could ponder further, Wang Rongyuan led the two of them into a restaurant named 'Flavorful Bistro'.
"It's Elder Rongyuan! Elder Rongyuan has arrived!" The leading waiter spotted Wang Rongyuan and immediately beamed with joy, rushing forward while shouting out a loud welcome.
"What are you shouting for!"
Wang Rongyuan disliked this kind of superficial, noisy flattery. He reprimanded the waiter before leading Yulou and Yu'an into the rear hall.
A middle-aged man dressed in a purple brocade robe, looking rather portly and affluent, came forward to greet them,