Shen Lian did not stroll around for that few days, nor did he meditate and practice his Qi. He was only looking at the sea of clouds, then ate and slept like a normal person.
Of course, the food served in the celestial markets was no ordinary food, all made of mystical ingredients without losing its freshness.
Even Shen Lian could not find anything to pick on, and his days were rather comfortable.
The only one thing that Shen Lian did not expect was that the Fengli Staff belonged to Zhao Xiaoyu. She purposely put it on auction to see if anyone would bid it on a high price because she thought that the staff had some secrets which she was not sure about.
After all, in this world, there were so many people who knew more than her. Though most attendees of the auction were not very well cultivated, there might be one or two who knew things.
Evidently, Shen Lian was there and he knew its origin, but Zhao Xiaoyu made a prompt decision and bought the item back. It was her item, to begin with; it would not hurt to offer a higher price. And then she would follow the flow of events to gift it to Shen Lian, as a sign of goodwill to resolve the conflict between them.
All these were confessed upon by Zhao Xiaoyu.
If Shen Lian wanted to find the whereabouts of the Fengsheng Beast to make the mystical herb, the upcoming events would still rely on her.
The herb made from the Fengsheng Beast could extend one's lifespan by five hundred years, with its added on benefits. But all these were not for Shen Lian's own sake, he was doing all these for Gu Caiwei.
Initially, he wanted to fuse soul and aura with Gu Caiwei using certain secret techniques, for himself to experience his own realm and achieve a breakthrough, but the shortcoming of it was that Gu Caiwei almost lost her opportunity to cultivate Primordial Spirit. She had the biggest chance to achieve Huan Dan and be a major addition to the Qing Xuan's fighting power in preparation for the Bier Discourse of Dao.
Moreover, Gu Caiwei had very limited days left. Huandan would be able to help extend her lifespan, rather than just waiting for her end to come.
The existence of the Fengsheng Beast provided an additional option for Shen Lian. If he could cultivate this mystical herb, he would be able to help Gu Caiwei survive for another five hundred years. Subsequently, even if she was to fuse soul and aura with Shen Lian, her opportunity to achieve Huandan would increase as well, with a buffering period of ten years. Maybe Gu Caiwei could even achieve Huandan on her within this ten years.
For this, Shen Lian and Zhao Xiaoyu made a pact that as long as she helped him find this Fengsheng Beast, Shen Lian would provide her assistance at the upcoming Daluo Assembly in four years' time, help her become a Saintess of Daluo.
Of course, she knew her limitations. She would only let Shen Lian assist, but not to the extent that he must help until she became Daluo's Saintess.
Daluo Saintess was not only a title. She could also carry the leftovers of Luoism's fortune. If destiny allowed, maybe she could even find Luoism's inheritance. At that time, Zhao Xiaoyu could even unite Luoism again and rebuild a grand force that could match the four main Daoist sects.
Zhao Xiaoyu never hid all these from Shen Lian as she was very sincere about it.
Shen Lian had no reason to reject. He must at least find Fengsheng Beast for Gu Caiwei's sake. Plus if he was fortunate enough to cultivate enough mystical herbs with some extra, he could keep them and benefit Qing Xuan.
This was Shen Lian's biggest harvest from the celestial market. To him, the so-called mystical items left down from miracles were not as important as the Fengsheng Beast.
After days of rising at sunrise and sleeping at sunset, Shen Lian's mood had been much relieved and kept in a good mentality to face the circumstances.
After today's Treasure Auction, he could then seek Zhao Xiaoyu's help to find the Fengsheng Beast, which he would then use to make in mystical herb and hand over to Senior Apprentice-Sister. Finally, he could make a move to Tai Su Sect to bring Ruo Xi back.
Fenghe served Shen Lian his breakfast. After eating, Shen Lian asked, "When is the Treasure Auction beginning?"
Fenghe replied, "Before the auction starts, Manager will come to invite you over. This was what he ordered yesterday. After this, Fenghe will not serve Sir anymore.
She sounded slightly disappointed.
She would not be able to Shen Lian anymore in this lifetime.
Shen Lian roughly understood her feelings, but he would not have any reply. The soaring grand eagle could fly down at the same level as a sparrow, but his real belonging was in the big skies. Even his resting places were those in high mountains and steep cliffs, not the woods on flat ground.
Ever since his cultivation level got higher and higher, though he never bothered about status, and even mingled with the normal peasants friendly, but he was not that little doctor from past life, or the little Daoist from Qing Xia temple, not even the Young Master from the Shen family of State of Qing anymore.
He could seek fun in the middle of the normal world anytime, and also travel around this big world, explore its truth, seek the real world, and look for the path to eternity. His life would only get more exciting, and no longer the sorts that the normal peasants seek, like happily ever after.
Only at the level that Shen Lian got the revelation, that love stories like those of the Cowherd and the Weaving Girl, or the Seven Fairies and Dongyong, would never happen in real life, because the ranks of gods and normal people would have totally different quality of lives.
No matter how beautiful a monkey had grown, they would never be in a relationship with a human being.
A voice of Jingting Tongzi was heard hauling from outside, "Mister Qingxia, my King is calling for you".
Fenghe could only see Shen Lian's back disappear. She was just a smoke in Shen Lian's life journey, dispersing quickly without any trace.
At the same time, Fenghe also learned the cruelty of the ranks difference between an immortal and a mortal, but she never expected that she would encounter Shen Lian again after so many years.
When Jingting Tongzi saw Shen Lian, he bowed respectfully, a vast difference as compared to when he first met Shen Lian.
He was not scared. It was a sign of respect for Shen Lian's success.
Plus Shen Lian might not be a cultivator of the sword, but his sword skills would not be inferior to any Sword Cultivator. His original body was a Jiejian Stone, a stone where cultivators or swordsmen put down their swords or weapon before meeting the host as a sign of respect. He was then the sword of Xuantong Demon King, hence he had immense respect for someone who knew their ways of the sword.
However, even after focusing his sharp senses, he could not detect any bit of sword from Shen Lian, which confused him a bit. Were the rumors true, or had Shen Lian been able to conceal his sword will completely?
Shen Lian's robes were waving, as he moved forward, but no footsteps were heard when he stepped on the clouds. Yet, Jingting Tongzi could clearly feel some vibration in the clouds which was traveled onto his body.
It was not a strong vibration, but he could feel it. It was filled with rhythm, with not much variation, but it filled every crack of changes in his body movement. Finally, as if he was led by this rhythm, he took on a foot pattern completely identical to Shen Lian's, accompanied with a slight shiver in his body, as if a long-concealed aura was itching to be released.
As he could barely hold it, the quake from Shen Lian suddenly vanished; causing him to feel this sudden switch to a plunging sensation, which was a vast contrast from what he felt just moments ago.
He almost collapsed on the ground, and Shen Lian had to support his back with his soothing aura. That aura was injected into his body, where he finally felt a sense of chill had been drawn out from below his feet, relieving him.
It was at this moment that Jingting Tongzi had the revelation. When he was holding the Zhaohai Mirror, he was attacked by the chill frost on it, his mana was not able to fully deflect it. Only then Shen Lian helped him to force the chill poison out, or else he would be inflicted with great injury any time in the future.
He was shy to voice out his gratitude because that time was when his King took a peek at him, causing him to counter-attack and incur the injuries from the Ice Light.
At the same time, he deeply felt the manner of Shen Lian as a Daoist Master, and his charm as a Chief of the sect.
Shen Lian was merely giving Jingting Tongzi a hand to get rid of the chill poison, a help without second thoughts since the Xuantong Demon King had helped him before, he was only returning the favor in another way.
Although there were some inappropriate acts in between, those were within reasons as well.
He had no prejudice towards the cultivation of demons, especially the sorts of Xuantong Demon King who was no different from other cultivators.
The place to go this time was not one like the Qingyun Stage, but a mansion in the sky westward.
As the ancient saying went, "There is abundance of treasures in the West", which was also why the Treasure Auction was held west side of the celestial markets, as a sign of good luck.
No one insignificant was visible there. As he entered the mansion, he saw a lotus pond. There were already twelve Daoist cultivators seating in their respective boxes, including Zhao Xiaoyu.
Even Wu Qingzi had come back. Judging from his expression face, he seemed just fine.
He was originated from the Taishang Daoist Sect after all. Even if he had done abnormal acts under the absurd state, he was still able to find a method to overcome it.
Shen Lian found an empty box to sit in. All the boxes here were levitating mid-air, not stationary, but slowing revolving around the center of the pond.
Shen Lian naturally figured out the close attraction between the pond and the boxes, just like the gravitational pull between the stars and planets, never ending. It looked like every item in this levitating mansion was a mystical instrument. Shen Lian was utterly impressed with this showcase of Xuantong Demon King's wealth.
Then there was another three Daoist cultivators, who looked like they were together, two male and one female, whose cultivation levels seemingly lower than Huandan.
Shen Lian did not detect them with his spiritual consciousness, nor could he recognize their origins. Three of them entered a box.
As the three went into the box, the female dressed in green, looking like she was twenty eight years old, with eyes as clear as the spring, and glowing teeth as neat as the white sheets, whispered to one of the green robed male, "Fifth Senior Apprentice-Brother, that delicate looking young man there, he was the one who was walking with Zhao the witch. What do you think their relationship is?"
The green robed male replied, "Junior Apprentice-Sister, Fairy Zhao has never harmed anyone, why did you call her a witch?"
The green dressed female stuck her tongue out, "Senior Apprentice-Brother, you must be attracted to the witch. If Honored Master finds out about this, he will surely punish you to meditate facing the wall for half a year.
The other male who looked older than the other two intervened, "You two cut it out. We are out here to bring back the flower of the Evergreen Tree, not for you both to sightsee."
The green dressed girl said, "Third Senior Apprentice-Brother, I was only looking on. But Fifth Senior Apprentice-Brother must have his eyes on the Zhao witch's body now. Humph, I want to see that young mister too. Actually, I think if he was a female, he would be better looking than the Zhao witch."
Good thing the boxes were naturally sound proof, or else Shen Lian would not know whether to laugh or cry after hearing this conversation.
Shen Lian did not stroll around for that few days, nor did he meditate and practice his Qi. He was only looking at the sea of clouds, then ate and slept like a normal person.
Of course, the food served in the celestial markets was no ordinary food, all made of mystical ingredients without losing its freshness.
Even Shen Lian could not find anything to pick on, and his days were rather comfortable.
The only one thing that Shen Lian did not expect was that the Fengli Staff belonged to Zhao Xiaoyu. She purposely put it on auction to see if anyone would bid it on a high price because she thought that the staff had some secrets which she was not sure about.
After all, in this world, there were so many people who knew more than her. Though most attendees of the auction were not very well cultivated, there might be one or two who knew things.
Evidently, Shen Lian was there and he knew its origin, but Zhao Xiaoyu made a prompt decision and bought the item back. It was her item, to begin with; it would not hurt to offer a higher price. And then she would follow the flow of events to gift it to Shen Lian, as a sign of goodwill to resolve the conflict between them.
All these were confessed upon by Zhao Xiaoyu.
If Shen Lian wanted to find the whereabouts of the Fengsheng Beast to make the mystical herb, the upcoming events would still rely on her.
The herb made from the Fengsheng Beast could extend one's lifespan by five hundred years, with its added on benefits. But all these were not for Shen Lian's own sake, he was doing all these for Gu Caiwei.
Initially, he wanted to fuse soul and aura with Gu Caiwei using certain secret techniques, for himself to experience his own realm and achieve a breakthrough, but the shortcoming of it was that Gu Caiwei almost lost her opportunity to cultivate Primordial Spirit. She had the biggest chance to achieve Huan Dan and be a major addition to the Qing Xuan's fighting power in preparation for the Bier Discourse of Dao.
Moreover, Gu Caiwei had very limited days left. Huandan would be able to help extend her lifespan, rather than just waiting for her end to come.
The existence of the Fengsheng Beast provided an additional option for Shen Lian. If he could cultivate this mystical herb, he would be able to help Gu Caiwei survive for another five hundred years. Subsequently, even if she was to fuse soul and aura with Shen Lian, her opportunity to achieve Huandan would increase as well, with a buffering period of ten years. Maybe Gu Caiwei could even achieve Huandan on her within this ten years.
For this, Shen Lian and Zhao Xiaoyu made a pact that as long as she helped him find this Fengsheng Beast, Shen Lian would provide her assistance at the upcoming Daluo Assembly in four years' time, help her become a Saintess of Daluo.
Of course, she knew her limitations. She would only let Shen Lian assist, but not to the extent that he must help until she became Daluo's Saintess.
Daluo Saintess was not only a title. She could also carry the leftovers of Luoism's fortune. If destiny allowed, maybe she could even find Luoism's inheritance. At that time, Zhao Xiaoyu could even unite Luoism again and rebuild a grand force that could match the four main Daoist sects.
Zhao Xiaoyu never hid all these from Shen Lian as she was very sincere about it.
Shen Lian had no reason to reject. He must at least find Fengsheng Beast for Gu Caiwei's sake. Plus if he was fortunate enough to cultivate enough mystical herbs with some extra, he could keep them and benefit Qing Xuan.
This was Shen Lian's biggest harvest from the celestial market. To him, the so-called mystical items left down from miracles were not as important as the Fengsheng Beast.
After days of rising at sunrise and sleeping at sunset, Shen Lian's mood had been much relieved and kept in a good mentality to face the circumstances.
After today's Treasure Auction, he could then seek Zhao Xiaoyu's help to find the Fengsheng Beast, which he would then use to make in mystical herb and hand over to Senior Apprentice-Sister. Finally, he could make a move to Tai Su Sect to bring Ruo Xi back.
Fenghe served Shen Lian his breakfast. After eating, Shen Lian asked, "When is the Treasure Auction beginning?"
Fenghe replied, "Before the auction starts, Manager will come to invite you over. This was what he ordered yesterday. After this, Fenghe will not serve Sir anymore.
She sounded slightly disappointed.
She would not be able to Shen Lian anymore in this lifetime.
Shen Lian roughly understood her feelings, but he would not have any reply. The soaring grand eagle could fly down at the same level as a sparrow, but his real belonging was in the big skies. Even his resting places were those in high mountains and steep cliffs, not the woods on flat ground.
Ever since his cultivation level got higher and higher, though he never bothered about status, and even mingled with the normal peasants friendly, but he was not that little doctor from past life, or the little Daoist from Qing Xia temple, not even the Young Master from the Shen family of State of Qing anymore.
He could seek fun in the middle of the normal world anytime, and also travel around this big world, explore its truth, seek the real world, and look for the path to eternity. His life would only get more exciting, and no longer the sorts that the normal peasants seek, like happily ever after.
Only at the level that Shen Lian got the revelation, that love stories like those of the Cowherd and the Weaving Girl, or the Seven Fairies and Dongyong, would never happen in real life, because the ranks of gods and normal people would have totally different quality of lives.
No matter how beautiful a monkey had grown, they would never be in a relationship with a human being.
A voice of Jingting Tongzi was heard hauling from outside, "Mister Qingxia, my King is calling for you".
Fenghe could only see Shen Lian's back disappear. She was just a smoke in Shen Lian's life journey, dispersing quickly without any trace.
At the same time, Fenghe also learned the cruelty of the ranks difference between an immortal and a mortal, but she never expected that she would encounter Shen Lian again after so many years.
When Jingting Tongzi saw Shen Lian, he bowed respectfully, a vast difference as compared to when he first met Shen Lian.
He was not scared. It was a sign of respect for Shen Lian's success.
Plus Shen Lian might not be a cultivator of the sword, but his sword skills would not be inferior to any Sword Cultivator. His original body was a Jiejian Stone, a stone where cultivators or swordsmen put down their swords or weapon before meeting the host as a sign of respect. He was then the sword of Xuantong Demon King, hence he had immense respect for someone who knew their ways of the sword.
However, even after focusing his sharp senses, he could not detect any bit of sword from Shen Lian, which confused him a bit. Were the rumors true, or had Shen Lian been able to conceal his sword will completely?
Shen Lian's robes were waving, as he moved forward, but no footsteps were heard when he stepped on the clouds. Yet, Jingting Tongzi could clearly feel some vibration in the clouds which was traveled onto his body.
It was not a strong vibration, but he could feel it. It was filled with rhythm, with not much variation, but it filled every crack of changes in his body movement. Finally, as if he was led by this rhythm, he took on a foot pattern completely identical to Shen Lian's, accompanied with a slight shiver in his body, as if a long-concealed aura was itching to be released.
As he could barely hold it, the quake from Shen Lian suddenly vanished; causing him to feel this sudden switch to a plunging sensation, which was a vast contrast from what he felt just moments ago.
He almost collapsed on the ground, and Shen Lian had to support his back with his soothing aura. That aura was injected into his body, where he finally felt a sense of chill had been drawn out from below his feet, relieving him.
It was at this moment that Jingting Tongzi had the revelation. When he was holding the Zhaohai Mirror, he was attacked by the chill frost on it, his mana was not able to fully deflect it. Only then Shen Lian helped him to force the chill poison out, or else he would be inflicted with great injury any time in the future.
He was shy to voice out his gratitude because that time was when his King took a peek at him, causing him to counter-attack and incur the injuries from the Ice Light.
At the same time, he deeply felt the manner of Shen Lian as a Daoist Master, and his charm as a Chief of the sect.
Shen Lian was merely giving Jingting Tongzi a hand to get rid of the chill poison, a help without second thoughts since the Xuantong Demon King had helped him before, he was only returning the favor in another way.
Although there were some inappropriate acts in between, those were within reasons as well.
He had no prejudice towards the cultivation of demons, especially the sorts of Xuantong Demon King who was no different from other cultivators.
The place to go this time was not one like the Qingyun Stage, but a mansion in the sky westward.
As the ancient saying went, "There is abundance of treasures in the West", which was also why the Treasure Auction was held west side of the celestial markets, as a sign of good luck.
No one insignificant was visible there. As he entered the mansion, he saw a lotus pond. There were already twelve Daoist cultivators seating in their respective boxes, including Zhao Xiaoyu.
Even Wu Qingzi had come back. Judging from his expression face, he seemed just fine.
He was originated from the Taishang Daoist Sect after all. Even if he had done abnormal acts under the absurd state, he was still able to find a method to overcome it.
Shen Lian found an empty box to sit in. All the boxes here were levitating mid-air, not stationary, but slowing revolving around the center of the pond.
Shen Lian naturally figured out the close attraction between the pond and the boxes, just like the gravitational pull between the stars and planets, never ending. It looked like every item in this levitating mansion was a mystical instrument. Shen Lian was utterly impressed with this showcase of Xuantong Demon King's wealth.
Then there was another three Daoist cultivators, who looked like they were together, two male and one female, whose cultivation levels seemingly lower than Huandan.
Shen Lian did not detect them with his spiritual consciousness, nor could he recognize their origins. Three of them entered a box.
As the three went into the box, the female dressed in green, looking like she was twenty eight years old, with eyes as clear as the spring, and glowing teeth as neat as the white sheets, whispered to one of the green robed male, "Fifth Senior Apprentice-Brother, that delicate looking young man there, he was the one who was walking with Zhao the witch. What do you think their relationship is?"
The green robed male replied, "Junior Apprentice-Sister, Fairy Zhao has never harmed anyone, why did you call her a witch?"
The green dressed female stuck her tongue out, "Senior Apprentice-Brother, you must be attracted to the witch. If Honored Master finds out about this, he will surely punish you to meditate facing the wall for half a year.
The other male who looked older than the other two intervened, "You two cut it out. We are out here to bring back the flower of the Evergreen Tree, not for you both to sightsee."
The green dressed girl said, "Third Senior Apprentice-Brother, I was only looking on. But Fifth Senior Apprentice-Brother must have his eyes on the Zhao witch's body now. Humph, I want to see that young mister too. Actually, I think if he was a female, he would be better looking than the Zhao witch."
Good thing the boxes were naturally sound proof, or else Shen Lian would not know whether to laugh or cry after hearing this conversation.
