Quick Travel to the Clouds

Chapter 726 Hidden Mission 12

A month has passed in the blink of an eye, and the Underworld Market has opened for a period of one month.

The Underworld Market opens every five years and is the grandest trading event in the lower realm of Jiuli.

As the first rays of moonlight fell upon the ancient Yin-Yang Grand Array, the giant portal composed of ninety-nine runes slowly opened, and countless cultivators surged in like a tide.

Yun Chu stood at the entrance, gazing at the magnificent scene before her. The Yinming Market covered an area of ​​a hundred miles, divided into three floors above ground and three floors underground, each with a different theme.

The ground floor is the trading area for ordinary cultivators, the second floor is exclusively for Foundation Establishment cultivators, and the third floor is the domain of Golden Core cultivators. The third underground floor is even more mysterious; the deeper you go, the more precious the items traded become, and the greater the danger.

Entering the Underworld Market requires wearing a mask and cloak provided by the market to protect the privacy and safety of traders.

Yun Chu put on the silver mask engraved with a blue phoenix pattern and draped a black cloak, instantly becoming mysterious and unpredictable.

The mask is inlaid with tiny runes that can shield one from divine sense, while the cloak can conceal one's cultivation aura.

The market was brightly lit, but these were not ordinary lights; they were composed of countless firefly-like lights.

Stalls lined the streets, vendors' calls rose and fell, and all sorts of rare and exotic treasures were on display.

Some cultivators were displaying newly crafted magical artifacts, some demons were selling rare medicinal herbs, and mysterious foreign merchants were displaying strange items that even Yun Chu couldn't name.

Yun Chu and Yue Ze Zhenjun walked side by side, agreeing to split up and act separately.

True Lord Yueze wanted to purchase one of the materials for refining the Soul-Separating Pill—the Thousand-Year Cordyceps.

This medicinal herb grows in extremely cold spiritual veins. Its insect body is as clear as jade, and its stem is purplish-gold. It is one of the key materials for refining the Soul-Separating Pill.

"Fellow Daoist Yun, there are too many people and too many eyes here. I will go and search for the thousand-year-old cordyceps first. We will meet here in an hour." True Monarch Yueze's voice was clear and cold, yet it carried a hint of gentleness.

Yun Chu nodded in agreement. After watching Yue Ze Zhenjun leave, she did not immediately go to look for treasures. Instead, she activated the appraisal device and began scanning the surrounding stalls.

She weaved through the crowded streets, her appraisal device constantly providing feedback. A seemingly ordinary stone was actually the egg of an ancient mythical beast; a string of unassuming beads contained pure stellar power. Yun Chu discreetly picked up bargains, buying several treasures at extremely low prices.

Just as she was about to head to the next level, the detector suddenly vibrated slightly. Following the guidance, Yun Chu arrived at an inconspicuous corner stall, where an ordinary wooden box was displayed.

[Name]: Breath of Earth (Incomplete)

[Quality]: Legendary

Valuation: Priceless

【Characteristics】: It grows on its own, never depletes its resources, and can nurture all things.

Yun Chu's heart raced. The Breath of Earth!

This is the legendary divine soil, capable of growing on its own and never diminishing; it is a supreme treasure for cultivating spiritual herbs. Suppressing her excitement, she bought the wooden box for three hundred low-grade spirit stones.

Besides the Breath of Earth, Yun Chu also discovered a treasure map pointing to an ancient ruin; a Heavenly Crafting Stone that could increase the success rate of weapon crafting; and a rare Nine-Turn Resurrection Grass.

She carefully put away these treasures, pondering how to give them to Yue Ze.

Meanwhile, Yueze Zhenjun also found the thousand-year-old cordyceps he needed.

In the Cold Jade Pavilion of the market, an old cultivator displayed twenty thousand-year-old cordyceps, each one crystal clear and exuding a faint chill.

Yueze Zhenjun bought it for 1,500 high-grade spirit stones and also purchased some auxiliary materials.

Yun Chu had almost finished buying everything and was about to go find True Lord Yue Ze when she noticed a stall being surrounded by onlookers.

The place was packed with people, a cacophony of voices. She quietly approached and examined the item being fought over on the stall—it was just an ordinary piece of cold iron, nothing special about it.

"This is ancient cold iron, capable of forging unparalleled divine weapons!" the stall owner said confidently.

Yun Chu shook her head inwardly and was about to leave when she heard one of the voices—it was Zhang Xiu!

Zhang Xiu was only at the Golden Core stage at the moment, but his eyes gleamed with greed and ambition.

"I'll offer five hundred high-grade spirit stones!" Zhang Xiu shouted.

"Six hundred!" another person retorted.

The stall owner let the two bid, the highest bidder wins. Yun Chu's heart stirred, ready to cause trouble, she also placed a bid. Just as she was about to speak, a cool aura came from behind her—True Monarch Yue Ze had appeared!

"But we still need to look around," True Lord Yueze transmitted his voice, which was as clear as an icy spring.

Yun Chu took a step back and bumped into Yue Ze Zhenjun's arms. She could feel the faint chill emanating from him, as well as the reassuring power within him. Yue Ze Zhenjun reached out to steady her, his movements gentle yet firm.

Yun Chu replied telepathically, "True Lord, let's go. We'll come back tomorrow. We still have a month left. I found quite a few good things today; I'll give them to you when I get back."

Yue Ze hummed in agreement and escorted her away from the crowd. His hand gently rested on Yun Chu's shoulder, both as protection and as a declaration—this woman was already taken.

Back in the courtyard, Yun Chu immediately took out the good things she had bought. The Star-Sinking Iron, the Heavenly Crafting Stone, and the Nine-Turn Resurrection Grass were all displayed on the table. Finally, she took out the Breath Soil and a stone that emitted a soft glow.

"This is... a Life Space Stone?" For the first time, Yueze Zhenjun's voice fluctuated.

Yun Chu nodded: "Exactly. Combined with the Breath Soil, spiritual herbs can be cultivated within it, yielding a hundred-year-old spiritual herb in a year."

When Yue Ze Zhenjun heard that it was the Life Space Stone and the Breath Soil, he was stunned! These were legendary items, treasures that countless powerful beings dreamed of, and she actually gave them to him! Yue Ze Zhenjun looked at Yun Chu, his eyes flashing with complex emotions.

"Why did you give me such a valuable gift?" Yueze Zhenjun's voice was low, with a slight, almost imperceptible tremor.

Yun Chu looked him straight in the eye, without any hesitation: "Because I like you, I'm giving you these things as a way to pursue you."

Yue Ze was startled by Yun Chu's directness, and shock flashed in his icy blue eyes. He had lived for over sixty years and seen countless female cultivators who admired him, but no one had ever expressed their feelings so directly.

"Do you know that I cultivate ice-based techniques, and my heart is as still as water, making it difficult for me to be moved by emotions?" Yue Ze Zhenjun's voice returned to calm, but carried a hint of probing.

Yun Chu smiled slightly: "That's precisely why I want to give it a try. Wouldn't it be even more meaningful if I could melt the True Lord's heart?"

Moonlight streamed through the window and fell upon the two of them, adding a touch of haziness to the tranquil courtyard.

Looking at the straightforward woman before him, Yueze Zhenjun felt a crack appear in the ice that had formed in his heart.

Seeing that True Monarch Yueze was still hesitating, Yun Chu stepped forward and, without further ado, placed the Breath Soil and the Life Space Stone into his hands: "True Monarch, you must accept these two treasures. I know what you're worried about, but please believe me, I'm giving them to you not for any other purpose, but simply because I like you."

"This is my heartfelt gift; you don't need to feel guilty."

Yueze Zhenjun wanted to decline, but Yun Chu held his hand: "First, refine them through a contract and feel their power. The Life Space Stone needs to establish a connection with its master to exert its maximum effect, while the Breath Soil needs your cold energy to nourish it and function."

Seeing Yun Chu's resolute gaze, Yue Ze Zhenjun finally stopped refusing. He closed his eyes and began to establish a connection with the Life Space Stone.

As his divine sense probed in, the Life Space Stone emitted a soft light, gradually merging with him. When he opened his eyes again, there was a hint of warmth in them.

"Thank you, Yun Chu." Yue Ze Zhenjun's voice remained cool, but with a touch of warmth in it. "I will cherish these two treasures."

The moonlight, as clear as water, bathed the two of them, as if gilding the moment with a layer of silvery glow.

The hustle and bustle of the Yinming Market seemed to have faded away, leaving only the tranquility and warmth of this small courtyard.

Yun Chu knew that she had planted a seed in the heart of this ice-type genius, and all she had to do was patiently wait for that seed to take root, sprout, and eventually grow into a towering tree.

Yueze Zhenjun gripped the Life Space Stone in his hand, feeling the vibrant life force contained within. At this moment, ripples spread across his frozen heart, and the layer of ice finally began to melt.