Over the next few days, Ling Tian rarely ventured outside unless it was to gather refining materials or selling his weapons. He devoted most of his time to refining Tier 1 and Tier 2 weapons, utilizing his advanced refiner expertise. During his rest hours, he focused on further refining his cultivation. To sharpen his combat skills, he set aside two hours daily to practice with his sword, diligently striving to generate Sword Intent Strands. Occasionally, he would stop by Ling Feng's residence to guide his younger brother in cultivation, ensuring that his progress was on track.
The only nuisance Ling Tian faced during this period was the need to disguise himself whenever he sold his weapons. To avoid drawing suspicion, he sold his weapons to different stores across the city. His meticulous caution ensured that none of the shopkeepers could trace the productions back to him.
Ling Tian frequently visited nearby cities in search of rare Tier 2 refining materials and ventured into the nearby forest to battle spirit beasts. While these encounters helped him hone his combat instincts, he found fighting beasts somewhat monotonous compared to sparring against skilled practitioners.
After several days, Ling Tian decided to return to the underground ring, where the thrill of combat against fierce cultivators was more suitable for his training progress. Fortunately, his return was unremarkable, and no one paid him undue attention.
One day, after finishing a series of matches, curiosity led Ling Tian to explore deeper within the underground complex. A narrow, dimly lit tunnel caught his attention, and he followed its winding path through countless twists and turns. Eventually, he arrived at the tunnel's end, where an expansive market sprawled before him.
The sheer scale of the underground market took Ling Tian by surprise. Vendors lined both sides of a bustling street, their stalls laden with weapons, refining materials, pills, and larger shops flanked the road. Ling Tian was astonished; despite his frequent visits to the underground ring, he had never heard anyone mention this hidden marketplace.
"The market must be deliberately kept secret," Ling Tian mused. "It's likely a black market, accessible only to those actively searching for it."
As Ling Tian wandered through the stalls, his keen eyes scanned for items of value. He soon spotted a vendor selling Tier 2 refining materials. Although tempted to buy the entire stock, he exercised restraint to avoid unnecessary attention. After careful selection, he picked only the highest-quality materials. The vendor, an older man with shrewd eyes, haggled fiercely, but Ling Tian's persistence prevailed, and he managed to secure the materials and spent approximately half of the earnings he made in these recent days.
Ling Tian continued his stroll, occasionally pausing to inspect other stalls. One in particular caught his attention, displaying an assortment of Tier 1 refining materials. At first glance, most of the items displayed were common Tier 1 materials. Just as he was about to lose interest, he found a metal ore with faint burn marks.
Approaching the stall, Ling Tian casually inquired, "Owner, is this everything you have for sale?"
The vendor, a burly man with a bored expression, barely glanced at Ling Tian before replying, "Yeah, just these Tier 1 materials. Pick what you want and don't waste my time. And just so you know, I don't haggle."
Ling Tian's lips curled into a subtle smile. The vendor clearly had no idea of the ore's true value—it was Thundersteel Essence, a rare Tier 3 refining material infused with traces of lightning energy. This rare metal typically formed when lightning struck a metal mine or during battles between powerful thunder-element cultivators causing metals underground to absorb the remnant lightning energy released during their fights.
Feigning indecision, Ling Tian selected two common Tier 1 materials alongside the Thundersteel Essence. The vendor, oblivious to the treasure he was selling, named a reasonable price. Ling Tian paid without hesitation, keeping his excitement hidden as he walked away.
Satisfied with his purchase, Ling Tian continued exploring the market. He came across a few shops selling weapons, pills, and even Tier 1 formations. After some deliberation, he purchased two formations: the Mist Veil Formation and the Spirit Gathering Array.
The Mist Veil Formation generates a thick mist that obscures vision in the surrounding area and confuses enemies and disrupts their sense of direction. Meanwhile, the Spirit Gathering Array increases the concentration of spiritual energy within a small radius by 10% which speeds up cultivation and recovery for anyone inside the array. Though the purchases depleted most of his remaining Spiritual Stones, Ling Tian deemed them as worthwhile purchases.
As Ling Tian prepared to leave the market, he caught a glimpse of a strange figure—a man with an emotionless face and dull eyes. The man bore an uncanny resemblance to the strange man Ling Tian had encountered before. Unease prickled at the back of Ling Tian's mind, and he quickly made his way out of the market, careful not to attract the man's attention.
Back at the underground ring's exit, Ling Tian cast a wary glance over his shoulder before slipping into the city streets. He returned to the Ling Clan grounds undetected, moving stealthily past guards and patrols until he reached his residence.
Once inside, Ling Tian changed out of his travel-worn clothes, took a refreshing shower, and began setting up the Spirit Gathering Array. The process involved placing a spiritual stone at the formation's disk center and activating the engraved formation. One spiritual stone can keep the formation active for one day.
As the array activated, Ling Tian immediately sensed a subtle increase in the concentration of spiritual energy within his room. Though the improvement was modest, he knew its cumulative effect over time would significantly enhance his cultivation efficiency.
Satisfied with his progress, Ling Tian sat cross-legged on the floor, entering a meditative state. The faint hum of the active array filled the room as he absorbed spiritual energy, his focus unwavering. As night fell, the Ling Clan grounds grew quiet. With each breath, Ling Tian drew closer to the extreme state of his current realm.