Chapter 132: Treasure Hunting at the Market

Facing Fang Gang’s earnest and sincere request, Xu Xuan did not hesitate, shaking his head as he said, "I cannot take you as my disciple."

Just as the remnant soul of his past life had said, a true ancient body cultivator is destined to be lonely. To stand on a level parallel to heaven and earth, one must first isolate oneself in terms of cultivation realm. It is a solitude that is difficult to comprehend.

Upon hearing this, Fang Gang felt a jolt to his body and soul. Plagued by both loss and grief, he knelt on the ground and pleaded bitterly, "I am unwilling to continue walking further and further down the wrong path. You cannot extinguish my last shred of hope."

Yu Qin felt a sudden pang of sympathy. "Brother, he is very pitiful. Can’t you help him?"

Xu Xuan’s expression darkened. Staring at Fang Gang, he sneered, "I had just arrived at the Zhang family, and you were already conspiring with Lin Hui to intimidate me?" How could Xu Xuan impart the true methods of body cultivation to someone who could almost be considered an enemy?

"That was my fault, and I beg for your forgiveness, Guest Minister Xu. But I was also being used by Lin Hui. I wasn't very familiar with him before; I just wanted to show off in front of the Young Master." Fang Gang’s face turned ashen as he kowtowed on the ground, the thuds echoing clearly.

Xu Xuan narrowed his eyes, examining him for a moment. He could tell that this man had indeed been used. In this later age, body cultivators are often looked down upon by other practitioners, let alone by someone as acerbic and petty as Lin Hui.

"We are strangers, and you even intended to harm me. Tell me, what reason do I have to help you?" Xu Xuan followed his own heart, but that did not mean he was a saint.

Fang Gang was struck speechless. Why should the other party help him? Based on today’s events alone, the two could be considered enemies.

"Guest Minister Xu, please listen to my final words." Making a last-ditch effort, Fang Gang knelt on the ground and clutched Xu Xuan’s feet tightly.

"Speak quickly; my time is limited." Xu Xuan nodded, curious to see if the man could move him.

Fang Gang took a deep breath and said with heartfelt sincerity, "Ever since I began body cultivation, every practitioner around me has looked down on me. Even those I was close to—I could feel their deep-seated disdain. Because body cultivation is considered the most useless path, discarded by the cultivation world, I have lived in a world without dignity. However, after our battle today, although I was defeated and felt lost, I heard many of the young family members exclaiming about the terror of body cultivation and showing great awe... At that moment, I felt a genuine sense of pride. I realized that body cultivators could also hold their heads high, and for the first time, I saw hope."

Xu Xuan listened quietly, while Yu Qin, standing by his side, looked on with pity and whispered, "Please, get up."

"I will not," Fang Gang said, looking up directly at Xu Xuan. "If I remember correctly, you once said, 'I am not a body cultivator destined to be cannon fodder, nor one who has gone astray and is held in contempt; I am a true body cultivator who will revive this path.' If that is so, why refuse to guide me in revitalizing this discipline?"

"You have a silver tongue. I wouldn't mind helping a friend, but we are currently on opposite sides. Why would I increase the strength of my own enemy?" Xu Xuan looked at him with a faint, inscrutable smile.

Fang Gang gritted his teeth. "I am willing to serve you as a slave for three years, to act as your beast of burden and follow your every command, to show my sincerity and dissolve this enmity. What does Guest Minister Xu think?"

"Very well." Xu Xuan was finally moved. His tone became solemn. "To become a truly powerful body cultivator, the most important thing is not talent, but great perseverance. If you can persist for three years, I will consider guiding you in body cultivation."

"Thank you, Master!" Fang Gang kowtowed repeatedly on the ground.

"Get up. From now on, live in this Green Mountain Garden compound. Build yourself a wooden hut and, while you're at it, protect this place," Xu Xuan said calmly, intending to test him.

"Yes, Master!" Fang Gang felt as if he had been granted a reprieve. Although he was now a slave, the spiritual energy in the Green Mountain Garden was far superior to other places.

That evening, Fang Gang left to settle his affairs before returning to serve as a slave.

"Three years of servitude—he truly has tenacity," Xu Xuan remarked in a low voice.

"Brother, why didn't you just agree immediately?" Yu Qin asked, feeling a bit reluctant.

Xu Xuan reached out and tapped her delicate nose, smiling, "You don't understand. Things that are too easily obtained are never cherished."

Yu Qin’s cheeks flushed a pure, rosy hue. Her heart skipped a beat; she had never been touched with such intimacy by another man. Yet, she felt his actions were perfectly natural, just like a big brother, leaving her feeling both warm and strangely lost.

Xu Xuan naturally sensed her internal shift but remained composed as he returned to his room to meditate. It was not that he had no affection for Yu Qin, nor that he hadn't considered the suggestions of his past life's remnant soul. However, his initial affection for her stemmed from a brotherly protectiveness, and even now, that feeling dominated. Whenever he thought of taking it further, he felt an inexplicable sense of shame and unease. Perhaps as time passed, this situation might change, but who could say?

The next morning, when Xu Xuan stepped out of the Spirit Pavilion, he found Fang Gang already waiting.

"Master, I have already informed the Young Master. Starting today, I will be your servant for three years," Fang Gang said, bowing respectfully.

Xu Xuan nodded. "Look after the Green Mountain Garden, and occasionally, accompany me when I go out."

Fang Gang complied, building a wooden hut in the courtyard and taking up residence there.

Over the next few days, Xu Xuan did not immediately rush to reach a higher level. Instead, he meditated on more of his past-life memories and insights, strengthening himself and consolidating his cultivation.

On the third day, Zhang Feng visited with a smile on his face. "Yu Han’s sixteenth birthday is approaching. Today, I will take Brother Xu to tour Yellow Dragon City."

In the cultivation world, the sixteenth birthday is a significant milestone, making this celebration important for many. Given that the host was Zhang Yu Han, the greatest beauty in Yellow Dragon City, one could imagine the grandeur of the event.

Xu Xuan agreed and set off with Zhang Feng, while Fang Gang followed closely behind.

"I didn't expect Brother Xu to have a follower now," Zhang Feng teased.

Only after leaving the Zhang estate did Xu Xuan realize that whenever Zhang Feng went out, he was always accompanied by at least one "follower." This time, it was a dark-faced, middle-aged man who remained silent but was clearly impossible to shake off. Xu Xuan felt a bit embarrassed—it turned out this was a master at the Spirit Refinement stage.

Moreover, as they stepped out, he vaguely sensed that many others were following in the shadows. As a young master of a major clan, this came as no surprise to Xu Xuan.

This outing served two purposes: to pick out a gift for Zhang Yu Han and to familiarize Xu Xuan with the environment of Yellow Dragon City. Through Zhang Feng’s explanations along the way, Xu Xuan gained a deeper understanding of the high-level power dynamics within the city.

By the time evening arrived, the two reached the commercial trade center.

"It only becomes truly lively here at night. I’ll take you to a place I’m sure you’ve never been," Zhang Feng said mysteriously.

"Oh?" Seeing his cryptic expression, Xu Xuan’s interest was piqued.

Before long, Zhang Feng led Xu Xuan to a street glowing with a rosy light. There were many elegant pavilions, and occasionally, captivating women would lean out, beckoning to passersby with sweet-scented breaths. The dark-faced middle-aged man following them revealed a strange expression.

"Are you referring to the Spirit Courtesan House?" Xu Xuan’s eyes flashed.

Zhang Feng looked surprised. "I didn't expect Brother Xu to know of such a place. I thought you had never been to one."

"I’ve only heard whispers of it," Xu Xuan said with an awkward smile. "I heard that the female spiritual cultivators in the 'Spirit Courtesan House' use unconventional cultivation methods to help patrons improve their own cultivation."

"That only applies to the high-end houses. Common spirit courtesans can at most help refine one's cultivation realm," Zhang Feng said with a smile. "In the high-end places you mentioned, those spirit women all possess a certain level of cultivation and use special techniques to boost their patrons' energy with their own Yin essence. But such services are strictly limited, as the women must consume their own Yin essence and need a month or two, or even longer, to recover before they can serve another."

"There is only one such high-end establishment in Yellow Dragon City. It is incredibly expensive; an ordinary practitioner might not be able to afford it even once in a lifetime. However, if you are willing, Brother Xu, I would be happy to treat you once, hahaha..." Zhang Feng was clearly in high spirits, pointing toward a red, translucent, antique-style pleasure boat floating in mid-air.

Xu Xuan looked closely and saw three dazzling characters on the glowing red boat: Heavenly Dream Pavilion.

"Master, this 'Heavenly Dream Ship' is the place every practitioner in Yellow Dragon City dreams of visiting, but unfortunately, the prices are too extravagant," Fang Gang sighed with longing.

At this moment, Zhang Feng was offering to treat Xu Xuan to such a high-end venue—a place where one could not only enjoy themselves but also boost their cultivation. It was killing two birds with one stone.

"Thank you for your kindness, Brother Zhang, but... let's go pick out the gift first," Xu Xuan felt tempted, but he exercised restraint. After all, who wouldn't be tempted by a place that offered both pleasure and cultivation gains?

Zhang Feng was somewhat surprised, and the servant Fang Gang sighed in frustration. He could never hope for such a treat and truly wondered if Xu Xuan was made of iron.

Leaving the red-light district, they soon reached the bustling free market. The market was characterized by the freedom to trade and barter, with a vast array of goods on display. Even Spirit Refinement masters often wandered here, hoping to discover hidden treasures.

Even Zhang Feng and his party paused to browse.

Xu Xuan suddenly remembered his last visit, when the remnant soul of his past life had tried to use a secret technique to search for unknown treasures. He couldn't let this opportunity slip by again.

"Very well, I shall attempt to use this soul-searching technique, but I will fall into a deep slumber for half a month afterward," the remnant soul said.

As soon as the voice faded, a sea of memory stars appeared in Xu Xuan’s mind. A strange soul fluctuation surged from him, instantly covering the entire free market.

In that instant, Xu Xuan felt his senses elevated to an unimaginable height. Everything around him, no matter how small, flashed through his mind in minute detail, like light moving across time. A profound and mysterious power allowed him to "scan" every single item in the free market in a heartbeat.

Xu Xuan had not expected the remnant soul's secret technique to be so formidable. The instant, microscopic perception made him feel as powerful as a god, analyzing every object in the market to its core. In this wondrous state, he felt that no treasure could escape his eyes.