Lin Chaoyang stumbled upon a Cultivation Technique through a twist of fate, leading him into the path of Immortal Cultivation, making him a firm believer in opportunities and fortune!
However, upon hearing Lin Chaoyang's excited words, Qi Ping and the other two fell silent.
The three of them were not easily convinced by the notion of a Secret Realm.
If a good Secret Realm truly existed, why would news of it spread so easily?
It would have long been occupied by the upper echelon cultivators of sects and prominent families. How could it fall to ordinary folk?
Generally, valuable items aren't left for the lower tier. If they appear, there's a high probability they're poisoned honey.
Wang Mountain, the elder brother, was mature, steady, and meticulous. He wouldn't easily believe in such hearsay.
Sister Nan felt the same, and her vigilance was even higher than Wang Mountain's.
As for Qi Ping, he was scared upon hearing the two words "Secret Realm."
In Qi Ping's impression, anything associated with a "Secret Realm" was bound to cause numerous deaths, be it due to the inherent risks or the conflicts between cultivators.
Qi Ping now only wished to farm bees calmly and steadily enhance his strength, having no interest in taking risks.
Even if Qi Ping hadn't awakened as a Druid, he'd prefer to keep his little black bees peacefully, living a carefree mortal life.
It's a pity that Lin Chaoyang hadn't noticed the meaning behind their silence, being too caught up in his enthusiasm and simple-mindedness.
And the elder brother Wang Mountain, not wanting to dampen Lin Chaoyang's spirits and also to gently advise the newcomer he had brought back, carefully said:
"Chaoyang, Secret Realms come in many forms. Some are rich with opportunities, and obtaining one can make you soar, but such cases are rare...
"Most Secret Realms are perilous, possibly containing a Killing Array or traps set by evil cultivators, or you might encounter high-level cultivators who love to kill and plunder..."
"We still have ample time. We can wait until we gather all the information to make a decision. If the dangers are high, we must think carefully before acting..."
Unexpectedly, Lin Chaoyang nodded in agreement after listening:
"You're so meticulous, Brother Shan. I'll go inquire and research further. I'll discuss any new findings with you!"
Just as Qi Ping and the other two nodded in approval, feeling Wang Mountain's advice was effective, Lin Chaoyang's next words left them knowing Wang Mountain had spoken in vain.
"When the time comes, let's devise a comprehensive plan, seize an opportunity in the Secret Realm, and share it together!"
Before the three could respond, Lin Chaoyang dashed off to find more information about the Secret Realm, as if fearing the opportunity would slip through his fingers if he delayed a moment.
Lin Chaoyang's enthusiasm left the three silent once more.
After a long time, Wang Mountain spoke with a complex expression:
"Do you think I was wrong to bring Chaoyang into our Fusheng Association? He comes from a wealthy mortal family and has never learned the dangers of the world."
"After gaining the opportunity to enter the Immortal Cultivation Realm, he joined our Fusheng Association, not having seen the sinister side of it. With a simple mind, he seems to think most cultivators in the world are good..."
"I suddenly feel that our good intentions might be doing him harm..."
"However, not all talk of opportunities is false. Although the probability is low, Chaoyang did enter the path of Immortal Cultivation through fortune. He might indeed be a person with deep blessings; forcibly intervening might be seen as hindering his path. Besides, we might not be entirely correct..."
Wang Mountain's complex words resonated deeply with Qi Ping and Sister Nan.
They too couldn't be sure if they were right, only opting for a more cautious choice.
"If Chaoyang approaches us again, we should decline while gently advising him. If he's determined to go, we can't force him..." Sister Nan spoke up uncommonly.
"That works, as we shouldn't interfere with others' choices. Speak as we can, and have no regrets!" Wang Mountain nodded in agreement.
After Wang Mountain and Sister Nan finished speaking, they couldn't help but glance at Qi Ping. Such a vast difference in character among young people!
It's not that Lin Chaoyang's temperament was bad—he was sincere and willing to share—but could such a personality survive in this world?
Even Qi Ping, Wang Mountain, and Sister Nan weren't sure of their survival in this world, making it even harder to interfere with others' destinies.
After the episode with Lin Chaoyang and the Secret Realm, Qi Ping and the other two briefly discussed and then put the matter behind them, lacking the desire to explore further.
Qi Ping and Sister Nan soon set out on their journey to Cyan Stone Marketplace.
...
Cyan Stone Marketplace is located at the center of Qingshi County, managed by the Cyan Origin Sect and the Liu, Zhu, and Murong families in Qingshi County.
The Liu, Zhu, and Murong families have an extremely close relationship with the Cyan Origin Sect. To put it simply, these three families are developed by the disciples of the Cyan Origin Sect and can be considered familial forces formed by the sect's disciples.
The role of these familial forces is to manage various affairs within the designated territory under the overall planning and management of the Cyan Origin Sect, including commercial development, industry development, taxation, rent collection, security management, and searching for talented disciples to send into the Cyan Origin Sect.
The Cyan Origin Sect conducts annual assessments of the managers and managing families of each place, including Qingshi County, generally small assessments every three years and large assessments every ten years, with rewards and punishments determined by the assessment results.
The commercial transactions at Cyan Stone Marketplace are one of the core income sources of Qingshi County, bringing in a large amount of tax revenue and entry fees every year.
To ensure a good business environment, the marketplace is equipped with bases from the Cyan Origin Sect and the Liu, Zhu, and Murong families, forming a Law Enforcement Team with more than two Foundation Establishment cultivators specifically responsible for maintaining order and business environment within the marketplace.
Moreover, since Qingshi County's industries mainly revolve around little black bees, Golden Feather Chickens, Spirit-Storage Fruits, Jungle Horned Oxen, and so on, there are many associations within the marketplace specifically to purchase these items.
At the same time, they sell products used in these industries, along with plenty of cultivation resources and daily necessities.
Qi Ping and Sister Nan aimed to visit a small association within the marketplace called Zhiyuan Association. The owner of this association was a Sixth-Layer of Qi Refining middle-aged man named Gao Zhiyuan, about the same age as Wang Mountain.
Members of the Fusheng Association mostly sold their goods here because the prices offered were slightly higher than in larger associations.
Moreover, Boss Gao was very congenial and often shared the latest news with people.
So, Qi Ping, along with Wang Mountain and Sister Nan, preferred selling their products here, not only for the higher prices but also occasionally picking up minor news they couldn't otherwise obtain.
...
The courtyard of the Fusheng Association was about a hundred kilometers away from Cyan Stone Marketplace.
Even Qi Refining Cultivators needed quite some time to cover such a distance.
So, when Qi Ping and Sister Nan reached the Cyan Stone Marketplace by following the trail, it was already afternoon.
Luckily, the journey was smooth, with no encounters with dangerous Tribulation Cultivators.
Qi Ping's Golden Marrow Bee scouted ahead the entire way, without spotting anything suspicious.
"Cyan Stone Marketplace, finally here!"
Upon reaching Cyan Stone Marketplace, Qi Ping felt relieved as he gazed at the marketplace, brimming with an air of luxury.
Besides selling honey and purchasing daily necessities, he also planned to inquire about information and prices related to Pet Beasts from Boss Gao.
Qi Ping estimated that within a week, his Druid Talent would level up to level two, at which point he could contract a second Animal Companion.
Thus, he needed to plan ahead to avoid making another risky journey to Cyan Stone Marketplace.