At the foot of Misty Mountain.
A man in a black robe, carrying a huge chest, was quickly making his way up the mountain.
Cautious...
His movements were very light.
He didn't even dare to fly.
Every now and then, he glanced behind him.
It was as if he was afraid of being discovered.
"Hahahaha, the Holy Ground of the Eastern State is nothing special after all, I, Zhang San, have successfully escaped!"
The man in the black robe laughed softly to himself.
His laugh was full of wild arrogance.
His name was Zhang San!
This was a name that made all the major forces in East State pale at its mention!
In the span of three years, he had circulated among the various sects' forces in East State, stealing their secret texts and books, even the sole Cultivation Holy Land of East State had not escaped his poisonous clutches.
People called him the lawless madman, Zhang San!
Indeed, he had recently stolen all the books of the Cultivation Holy Land's Scripture Pavilion and set the entire pavilion ablaze, causing countless experts of the Holy Land to pursue him.
This was why he was so cautious in his escape.
Now he had come to the foot of Misty Mountain, planning to go up the mountain to lay low for a while.
He hastened his advance up the mountain.
Suddenly,
he sensed something and abruptly stopped.
He looked up toward the peak of Misty Mountain.
"This is the aura of the 'Dao'! There's a cultivator at the Divinity Transformation Realm on the mountain top? Could it be the lapdogs from those Holy Lands have caught up?"
"Impossible! Not to mention my divine skill of concealing my aura is excellent, if that bunch of lapdogs had caught up, they wouldn't reveal the aura of the 'Dao'; they'd probably have just attacked me directly."
"As I focus more carefully, this strand of 'Dao' aura, it's very weak, nowhere near as vast as the Dao intent of the Divinity Transformation Realm."
Zhang San's gaze was intense as he stared in the direction of the mountain peak.
He existed at the Nascent Soul Peak Realm, just a moment of comprehension away from stepping into the Divinity Transformation Realm.
Thus, he was particularly sensitive to the aura of the 'Dao'.
He could feel it.
The Dao intent at the mountain peak was very faint.
The figure on the mountain peak was either a halfway-step to the Divinity Transformation Realm or someone who had just broken through to the Divinity Transformation Realm not long ago...
In any case, he had no need to be afraid.
Zhang San thought this, continuing to carry the big chest as he walked onward.
At that moment, a voice drifted over.
"Fellow daoist, please halt."
Zhang San was startled and looked up.
A man in a white robe, stepping on clouds, arrived before him, blocking his way. The man's demeanor was ethereal and elusive, like a banished immortal. At a glance, he seemed like a peerless powerhouse arriving on the scene.
Zhang San's pupils shrank, and he became inwardly guarded.
And the newcomer was none other than Chu Yuan.
Chu Yuan faced Zhang San, hands clasped behind his back, and said indifferently, "Fellow daoist, what lies ahead is the territory of my sect, I would ask that you stop here."
Your sect?
There's a sect on the mountain??
That's not right!
Since when was there a sect on Misty Mountain?
He wasn't aware of it.
But still, that's not the point...
The point is not that.
Was the Dao intent from earlier revealed by the disciple of the sect above?
Zhang San maintained a composed exterior.
He set down the huge chest behind him and spoke slowly.
"May I inquire, who are you, sir? And what is the denomination of the sect above?"
Mana secretly surged within him.
Ready to act at a moment's notice.
The aura of the person before him was too transcendental, giving him the impression that he was facing the master of a Holy Land.
He dared not underestimate him.
Chu Yuan's reply was as gentle and light as the clouds: "On the mountain lies the Wayless Sect, and I am its Sect Master."
"Our sect is but a small one, fellow daoist need not be overly concerned. There's only myself and a single disciple cultivating here. We favor tranquility and wish not to be disturbed. If fellow daoist has no other business, please descend the mountain."
There are only you and a single disciple cultivating up there?
"That intent just now, was it the aura emitted by your disciple?"
"All disciples are in the Divinity Transformation Realm..."
"Then what Realm could this Sect Master be in???"
"Above the Divinity Transformation Realm, the Tribulation Transcending Stage??"
"No wonder!"
"No wonder this fellow's demeanor is so extraordinary; it turns out he's an old monster at the Tribulation Transcending Stage..."
"But this old guy hasn't realized I'm a law-defying rebel."
"I could totally slip away!"
Zhang San's eyes glittered with fortune, and he clasped his hands together, "Since senior doesn't wish to be disturbed, then this junior will take his leave!"
Having said that, without a hint of hesitation, he turned around to leave.
After walking a few steps.
Just as he was about to take off into the air.
A voice arose eerily from behind.
"Fellow Daoist, you've forgotten your box."
Zhang San was startled by the voice, almost falling over in shock; he turned around to see the large box he had left behind.
He cursed himself for being careless at heart.
He went over to pick up the box and expressed his gratitude.
"Thank you for the reminder, senior. If there's nothing else, then this junior really must be going."
Chu Yuan, however, spoke again, "Fellow Daoist, that box is rather large; what exactly is inside it?"
Inside were all the secret manuals and secret arts I had stolen from various Sects.
Could I say that?
If I did, I'm afraid this old man would start a crusade in the name of exorcising demons!
Definitely can't say that; can only continue to lie!
Zhang San tried to keep his facial expression calm, took a deep breath, and then said, "Senior, inside this box are all items this junior uses to make a living, all some fake Cultivation Secret Arts, meant to be sold to Mortals who are at the end of their lifespans, yet delusionally aspire to immortality."
Fake Cultivation Secret Arts?
Fake?
Great, if they're fake!
The Hall of Law Transmission in his Wayless Sect was empty; it would be excellent to buy some fake Secret Arts to dupe the Disciples.
Chu Yuan, clearly interested, said, "Fake Cultivation Secret Arts? Let me have a look."
Dammit, even fake Secret Arts interest you???
Grumbling inwardly, Zhang San dared not make any sudden moves, dutifully setting the large box down.
He quickly unlocked the box.
Opening it.
"Senior, these are all fake Cultivation Secret Arts; they must not be taken seriously. Even if one cultivates them for seventy or eighty years, nothing much will come of it."
"If senior lacks Cultivation Secret Arts, this junior does have some here. With just a word from senior, this junior would present them all to you."
While saying this.
He also kept inching backwards, fearing Chu Yuan might suddenly suppress him.
Chu Yuan rolled his eyes, not bothering with this guy's antics.
Randomly calling him senior and whatnot; he just ignored it all.
He walked towards the large box.
Reaching inside, he picked up one of the books.
True Body of Heavenly Dao!
The name was rather mighty and powerful, pity it was fake.
Opening it to take a glance.
The first line made Chu Yuan laugh.
It assumed that a Cultivator at the Divinity Transformation Realm, while comprehending the Dao, imagined the Heavenly Dao in their mind, communicated with it, and absorbed the Power of the Heavenly Dao into oneself, integrating it to become accustomed to the Power of the Heavenly Dao.
In battle, one would invoke the Power of the Heavenly Dao into one's body, forming the True Body of Heavenly Dao. The more proficient the Cultivation, the more blessings one would receive!
This, at a glance, was clearly a scam!
Turning to the second book...
On the Postnatal Care of the Immortal Pig.
Pfft!
Chu Yuan laughed inwardly like a 200-pound fat man, but his outer appearance remained nonchalant.
He put the books down, looked at Zhang San and said indifferently.
"I'll buy all of these, just weigh them and give me a price per pound."
Zhang San: "???"
Price by the pound???
These were all secret manuals and Secret Arts from the major Sects, and you want to price them by the pound???