Steady Cultivation: Starting With the Perk “Work Hard, Rest Hard”
Chapter 138: The Underworld Procurement
This was a space turbulence chosen at random by Su Yuan. Someone had once murmured Su Yuan’s name here, so he had marked this coordinate.
By reactivating Mind Echo, one could come directly here.
“Old Qian, how many types of renewable specialty resources from immortal realms do you have now?” Su Yuan asked.
The white-haired youth proudly replied, “As many as three kinds!”
Su Yuan was speechless. “How is that considered many?”
Su Qian justified, “I can cultivate immortal realm resources using just ordinary spiritual energy. That’s pretty incredible, don’t you think?”
“What are they?”
“Immortal Ascension Water for tempering immortal bodies, Black Demon Flame for tempering demonic bodies, and Divine Power Crystals for tempering divine bodies. All are cultivation resources at the human-immortal level.”
“Alright, that’s enough for specialty products! But since you have immortal, demon, and divine, adding one for ghost immortal bodies would be even better.”
Su Yuan recalled some Dragon Clan scriptures and suddenly remembered a valuable item.
“Let’s go to the Underworld first.”
“Un-Underworld?” Su Qian was shocked.
Su Yuan nodded.
In truth, after death, souls go to the Underworld, the realm of the dead. Only supreme experts can freely come and go there.
“Let’s go!”
Su Yuan’s consciousness enveloped the Myriad Treasures Heaven-Earth Cauldron. In the next moment, Su Yuan directly arrived with the cauldron in a dim, gloomy world.
The sky was pitch black, thick with clouds of death energy condensed over countless years.
Countless ghosts wandered and drifted on the ground.
“This is the Underworld?” Su Qian looked around in surprise. If he weren’t living by borrowing a spiritual treasure, he probably would have ended up here too.
Su Yuan’s gaze fixed on a bone mountain in the distance, focusing on a Yellow Springs spring at the mountain’s peak, which emitted pure Yin energy.
As if sensing his gaze, a true dragon ghost immortal guarding the spring—several dozen miles long—suddenly opened its eyes.
“An aura of Yang living beings?”
The true dragon instantly locked onto Su Yuan in midair. Its pitch-black eyes flared with insane murderous intent.
“Just a mere human immortal? How dare you trespass into the Underworld.”
Su Yuan calmly said, “I want to borrow your Yellow Springs spring for a bit. As compensation, I’ll give you a chance to reverse life and death, transforming Yin to Yang.”
“Hahaha, I prefer taking it myself!”
The dragon, named Ao Ziyi, had already confirmed Su Yuan’s physical state and no longer concealed its killing intent.
Su Qian was horrified. “Su Yuan, be careful. He’s at early Earth Immortal stage.”
The dragon sneered, “I am Ao Ziyi, once a Heavenly Immortal in life. You should surrender now.”
It didn’t want Su Yuan using too much power and wasting its Yang energy.
Su Yuan curiously asked, “How did you die in your previous life?”
“Seeking death!”
Ao Ziyi’s body surged forward, death energy gathering on its claws. The Death Law and Metal Law fused, forming an even sharper and more terrifying Death Claw.
The fusion of two laws had a tangible form and unleashed power over ten times greater than a single law.
Under Ao Ziyi’s ferocious glare, Su Yuan raised his hand. Suddenly, the sky tore open, and dense starlight fell before Su Yuan, condensing into a transparent mirror surface.
“Reflection of the Star Law’s profundity? It won’t stop my attack.”
Ao Ziyi laughed lightly, swinging its claw to tear the mirror.
But the mirror suddenly projected another golden-tinged ghostly dragon claw.
The two dragon claws collided unexpectedly.
Ao Ziyi widened his eyes. The counterfeit dragon claw effortlessly tore apart his own.
The key was that the replica had the same power but easily found the weakness in his attack and destroyed it in one strike.
“How did you do that?” Ao Ziyi retreated repeatedly.
“The Great Void Golden Claw is utterly rigid and radiant, fused with Death Law. Never thought you’d come up with that!”
Ao Ziyi’s heart shook, momentarily doubting himself.
But he quickly regained composure. This was the Underworld—of course it would be fused with Death Law.
Yet, a ghost dragon claw formed from death energy and star power had already seized his momentary daze, tearing open his ghost immortal body and grabbing his ghost dragon pearl.
“No!”
Ao Ziyi’s eyes widened.
Su Yuan coldly crushed the dragon pearl.
“Ah!”
A terrified scream abruptly ended. The enormous dragon body collapsed into countless pure ghost energies and dissipated rapidly.
Su Qian’s eyes lit up. He immediately opened the cauldron’s mouth and rapidly devoured the surrounding ghost energy, gathering it all.
“This Ao Ziyi must be stupid to listen to the enemy.”
Su Yuan approached the Yellow Springs spring and scooped up some water emitting pure Yin energy.
He inhaled, and the Yellow Springs water entered his body. The pure Yin energy surged into his soul, nourishing it rapidly. His Nascent Soul also grew noticeably, and his mindset calmed.
“Good stuff. Occasionally absorbing Yellow Springs water during cultivation harmonizes Yin and Yang, stabilizes the mind, purifies the soul, and heals soul wounds. It’s the main ingredient in various life-death flesh-and-bone pills and a great material for forging soul-related treasures.”
Su Yuan looked at the spring and said, “Su Qian, devour this!”
After absorbing the pure ghost energy, Su Qian looked over curiously. “Is this natural?”
The Myriad Treasures Heaven-Earth Cauldron could still only devour artificially forged treasures. Its fundamental law was the Law of Creation, and it had limits.
Su Yuan said, “Try devouring it directly!”
“Got it!”
Under Su Yuan’s control, the cauldron covered the entire Yellow Springs spring and swallowed it.
“This is an artificially forged supreme treasure!” Su Qian said excitedly.
Hearing this, Su Yuan ordered, “Speed it up!”
“Understood!”
The cauldron erupted with tremendous suction, detaching the entire spring from the world and swallowing it into its unique treasure refining space.
The spring slowly vanished inside the refining space.
Seeing the speed was too slow, Su Yuan immediately used his magical power to accelerate the refining.
At that moment, the black clouds above suddenly roiled.
A gigantic dog head emerged from the black clouds, and two crimson eyes instantly locked onto Su Yuan.
Su Yuan looked up and saw two more heads alongside the giant dog’s head—a total of three heads emerging from the clouds.
“Who dares disturb the Underworld’s treasures? Die quickly!”
The giant dog shouted arrogantly.
Su Yuan’s consciousness enveloped himself and the cauldron. His body transformed into starlight and vanished from midair!
“Hmph, trying to escape? Can you evade my Nine Nether Eyes?”
The central head sneered sharply, scanning around. Its eyes penetrated the entire Underworld;
nothing could hide from its scrutiny.
Then it fell silent.
A massive three-headed giant dog emerged from the clouds.
All three heads glanced around and then exchanged looks.
“What to do?” The right head asked in confusion.
“Report honestly. Don’t know which powerful being is idle enough to dig up an ordinary spring in my Underworld.” The middle head said dryly.
“Did you understand that last technique?” The left head asked.
“No.”
Countless ghosts nearby bowed down.
“Hail the Ghost Emperor!”
The three-headed dog glanced at the ghosts, shook its head, and disappeared into the black clouds.
(To be continued)
(Continuation)
In the void turbulence.
Su Yuan and the Myriad Treasures Heaven-Earth Cauldron appeared out of thin air.
He glanced behind him;
there was nothing.
[ Ding, Reputation +865 ]
Su Yuan looked at the system panel in surprise.
[ Name ]: Su Yuan
[ Region ]: Nether Primordial Realm
[ Level ]: Slightly Famous (865/1000)
“Not bad, brother! Giving a big gift right on meeting!”
Su Yuan smiled.
“Master, what did you say?” Su Qian asked puzzled.
Su Yuan smirked, “Old Qian, you’re quite flexible with titles!”
Su Qian pretended not to understand and transformed into an immortal ship.
The ship’s surface erected a defensive barrier, resisting the turbulence’s impact and erosion.
Su Yuan chuckled and stepped inside the ship.
By now, the shops and buildings inside had fully evolved.
Su Yuan nodded with satisfaction. “Let the shops take their places!”
With a thought,
Song Cai appeared before Su Yuan out of nowhere.
Song Cai felt the abrupt environmental change but remained calm. Seeing Su Yuan, he bowed, “Greetings, Patriarch!”
“Hm, the Seven Star Trading Association has preliminarily established its framework. You deserve credit!” Su Yuan praised first.
“To help the Patriarch!” Song Cai immediately said.
“But the Seven Star Trading Association’s level is still too low,” Su Yuan added.
Song Cai embarrassedly said, “Master, our people’s cultivation levels are still too low to involve higher tiers. But recently, the association’s top fighters have been steadily improving. In a hundred years, there will be at least several at the Conjunction Realm, capable of handling higher-level trades.”
Su Yuan waved his hand. “No need to expand to all realms. I plan to build a market here. You’ll be in charge!”
Song Cai looked around the shops and buildings, puzzled. “Where exactly is this?”
“This is inside my spiritual treasure, evolved within the space turbulence. If you want to modify or add anything, discuss with Su Qian.”
Song Cai was shocked. He had heard that beyond the world lay space turbulence, where Great Ascension Realm experts couldn’t stay long before perishing. Yet here was a market. How would they attract customers?
Su Yuan sensed Song Cai’s thoughts and produced a card decorated with seven stars.
If someone could see through the card, they would find embedded within it a lowest-grade Heaven-Earth Divine Seat!
This divine seat silently chanted the names of the seven stars according to a set program.
Su Yuan said, “This is the Seven Star Card. I’m granting you an ability: You can summon anyone who holds this card to the flying ship or send them back to their original world. The cardholders are the market’s customers.”
Song Cai was amazed. What kind of ability was this? The key was that it could be bestowed on others!
“This ability must not be told to anyone, understand?” Su Yuan said flatly.
“Understood, Patriarch!” Song Cai nodded seriously.
With a thought, Su Yuan loaded parts of the abilities of [World Traveler], [Mind Echo], and [Seven Stars Shine Bright] into the Heaven-Earth Divine Seat within Song Cai. The principle was simple: the divine seat was still a derivative of Su Yuan’s power and could carry some of his abilities.
It wasn’t truly granting the abilities but transferring them from his big pocket to Song Cai’s small pocket.
Song Cai immediately felt hundreds of strands of consciousness emerge in his mind. He probed one strand and saw a three-meter square view space. Inside, a cultivator seemed to be practicing, with the Seven Star Card on the table. He sensed that if he wished, he could teleport that person here.
“Don’t teleport them now. Later, they must stand on the teleportation array and inject magical power into the Seven Star Card before being teleported. Returning is the same. At least it should feel like teleporting requires the array.” Su Yuan said.
“Oh, got it!” Song Cai nodded.
“Good. Now, you arrange the Seven Star Market! Contact Sect Leader Gu and the peak elders;
they will cooperate. You can even invite Golden Immortal elders. Also, I’ll boost your power a bit!”
Su Yuan stared at the Heaven-Earth Divine Seat inside Song Cai and increased the shared power.
Part of his power transferred to Song Cai.
Song Cai’s aura instantly surged from Void Refining through Conjunction, Tribulation, Great Ascension, and reached human immortal level!
This was the convenience of divine beings: if the higher-ups wished, power enhancement was instantaneous. Conversely, if despised, one could be demoted to a mortal in an instant.
“Thank you, Patriarch!”
“This is an early reward. Just do well with the Seven Star Market!” Su Yuan said.
“Yes!”
When Song Cai looked up again, Su Yuan had disappeared.
In his place stood the white-haired youth.
“Greetings, Elder Qian!” Song Cai bowed respectfully.
“You’re climbing the immortal ladder in one step, huh!” Su Qian circled Song Cai, sighing. “You played a one-step-to-heaven chess move before.”
“All thanks to Master’s nurturing!” Song Cai cupped his hands upwards.
“Do well. If you mess this up, neither of us will have a good end!” Su Qian said.
“Don’t worry, I’m familiar with this!”
Song Cai immediately began organizing. He realized he could distribute Seven Star Cards to his subordinates. He summoned members of the Seven Star Trading Association to start setting up the market and establishing trading rules, client hierarchies, and so on.
In a top-tier mortal realm somewhere,
Gu You, who had reached early Nascent Soul stage, knocked on the sect’s main hall.
“Come in!”
An old voice came from inside.
Gu You opened the door and entered, seeing a white-haired elder resting with closed eyes.
He was nervous;
this was the sect’s founding ancestor, Li Shan, at Great Ascension Realm!
“What’s the matter?” Li Shan asked with closed eyes.
“Sect Leader, do you know the Seven Star Trading Association?” Gu You asked.
“Who hasn’t heard of the Seven Star Trading Association spread across the world recently?”
The elder opened his deep, calm eyes. “But they only deal in items below fourth or fifth rank, occasionally auctioning sixth and seventh rank treasures. They’re not a top-tier power.”
Gu You felt as if he’d been seen through but still said, “Actually, I’m a core internal member of the Seven Star Trading Association.”
He hesitated slightly.
The elder’s expression remained indifferent. “And?”
Seeing the sect leader didn’t get angry, Gu You said, “The association will hold a grand trade fair soon. The participants’ ranks are very high. I represent the association inviting you to attend!”
“Oh?” Li Shan’s lips curled. “You’re finally showing your true colors?”
Gu You’s expression changed. “Sect Leader…”
Li Shan looked at him. “You broke through from Foundation Establishment to Nascent Soul in decades. Your cultivation method is extremely profound, surely with inheritance. Did you get the scriptures from the Seven Star Trading Association?”
Gu You was stunned, then replied, “Yes, ancestor. Actually, all my methods can be purchased from the association.”
“Oh? Interesting.” Li Shan said lightly. “Few exist who can threaten me. I want to see what courage the Seven Star Trading Association has to invite me to their trade fair!”
Gu You was thrilled to have completed his task so easily!
“Sect Leader, the trade fair is about seven days from now. I will lead you there.” Gu You cleared his throat. “Bring plenty of spirit stones and treasures. It’d be embarrassing if you can’t afford anything. The trade fair opens irregularly, and the next one might be far off!”
Li Shan was amused and unconcerned. If Gu You hadn’t shown potential to be the sect’s next pillar, he wouldn’t be so kind.
Still, he prepared a bit. He figured at most a few peers of the same realm would appear, and barter might be involved, so he’d bring some treasures for exchange.
Seven days passed in a flash.
Gu You searched for a while and found Li Shan at the sect entrance, calm and relaxed.
“Sect Leader, you’re here. I didn’t see you in the main hall!” Gu You teased.
“Let’s go. No time for nonsense!” Li Shan walked out.
“Wait, ancestor, that’s not the direction.” Gu You hurriedly said.
“The sect has only one gate!” Li Shan glared.
“We’ll take the teleportation array!” Gu You said.
“Our internal teleportation arrays... aren’t connected to the outer sect, right?” Li Shan suspiciously looked at Gu You.
“You’ll see soon enough!” Gu You confidently said.
Li Shan grabbed Gu You, and within a few breaths, they appeared in the sect’s teleportation hall.
Several teleportation arrays were there.
“Greetings, ancestor!” an elder immediately saluted.
Li Shan waved his hand.
Gu You casually picked an array and stepped onto it.
“Sect Leader, come up. We’re departing!” Gu You smiled.
Li Shan asked the elder, “Where does this array lead?”
“Uh, to the Extreme Ice Snow Valley thousands of miles away!”
Li Shan nodded and stepped on.
Before the elder could activate the array, Gu You took out a card.
“This is the Seven Star Card of the Seven Star Trading Association. Lighting a star makes it a One-Star Card. We’ll enter the Seven Star Market with this card!” Gu You explained.
“Oh?” Li Shan raised an eyebrow.
Gu You injected magical power into the card and loudly declared, “One-Star Card requesting entry to the Seven Star Market!”
The card glowed, enveloping both.
The teleportation array activated.
As space rippled, their figures vanished.
Li Shan felt a flash and found himself in a completely new region, surrounded by closely packed buildings that stunned him.
This was definitely not the Extreme Ice Snow Valley!
He looked up at the sky and involuntarily contracted his pupils.
A thin protective shield covered the sky, and outside were surging black lines—space turbulence!
He gasped.
“Where is this?” Li Shan immediately tensed.
Gu You chuckled inwardly and said, “Don’t panic, Sect Leader. This is the Seven Star Market, a place for trading. Fighting is forbidden here. You should suppress your aura!”
Li Shan took a deep breath, his expression grave.
He looked at Gu You deeply and said slowly, “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“I was afraid you wouldn’t dare come!” Gu You whispered.
“You…” Li Shan glared. “Am I such a coward?”
“…Yes!”
Li Shan’s face darkened. “Alright, show me around!”
Gu You led Li Shan forward, explaining, “This is the market, connected to hundreds or thousands of worlds, so there’s a huge variety of goods. Mortal realms are divided into nine ranks, with one the lowest and nine the highest. You can see the rank and item category posted outside each shop.”
Li Shan looked and indeed saw signs such as [Fifth Rank Spirit Grass from Panshan Realm for Sale]!
“Are all these shops part of the Seven Star Trading Association?”
“Most are. You can also rent a shop here to sell your own items or put items up for consignment.”
Gu You said.
Li Shan nodded and entered a shop to look around.
Inside was a young man at early Nascent Soul stage running the shop. Nascent Soul cultivators were common, but Li Shan immediately recognized that this one was only thirty years old and extremely stable in aura—a genuine sect heir genius.
“Guest, what would you like? This is Panshan Realm’s specialty shop—spirit ores, herbs, spiritual materials, and more!” The young man greeted immediately.
Li Shan shook his head. “Just browsing. What do you accept for payment?”
“Spirit stones, spirit crystals, immortal stones, demon stones—all energy-containing currency. You can pay directly or exchange at the Star Crystal Pavilion for star power crystals, which are easier to price.” The young man said.
Gu You said, “You should have brought spirit stones already.”
Li Shan nodded casually.
He looked around several more shops and finally realized all the shopkeepers were super geniuses. This made him realize the terrifying scale of the Seven Star Trading Association—one glimpse revealed the whole.
The Seven Star Trading Association was no ordinary force!
Along the way, he also saw some customer-like figures, all with Great Ascension Realm auras. They looked like invited guests.
But their auras were all unfamiliar to Li Shan, which shocked him even more. The Great Ascension experts from his realm were all known to him. These were definitely not from his world.
The Seven Star Trading Association was clearly a cross-dimensional superpower.