Chapter 37: The Demon-Subduing Talisman

  Inside Yemeng Fortress, the long street was filled with lanterns like persimmons hanging from fruit trees. Although the sky was dull, inside the fortress it was bright and radiant.

  Yè Mù Bǎo has a long history and is also the first pass of Ròu Mù Chéng in the south, but it's actually very prosperous inside.

  Due to the geographical location, there is a unique lamp culture here. The streets and alleys are all hung with various lamps. Their city defense array is also mainly composed of twenty-eight star lamp arrays.

  Twenty-eight star lanterns normally float in the sky a thousand feet above, and when walking in the fortress, one can see twenty-eight bright and clean spirit lamps. According to legend, this lamp array was once a fifth-level grand array several thousand years ago. Several thousand years ago, Nightwood Fortress was actually Nightwood City. However, after experiencing an ultra-large-scale demonic tide, the main city was destroyed. Although the cultivators ultimately joined forces to resist the invasion of the demonic tide, Nightwood City suffered heavy casualties in the end. Finally, due to being unable to repair the grand array, it only had fourth-level power, and Nightwood City declined into Nightwood Fortress.

  However, as the former main city, Yè Mù Bǎo's foundation is naturally very deep. The castle is divided into old and new districts. The old district retains many traditional buildings that are several thousand years old, with unique shapes and a strong historical atmosphere.

  Xinjie District is a long street market opened by the two sides of Kukuri Castle and Yamakoshi Castle after Kukuri Castle surrendered to Yamakoshi Castle.

  The Shan Yue City is located behind the You Ming Forest, in an area governed by the Shan Yue tribe, who believe in totemic spirits and have a very ancient culture. The actual area of Shan Yue City is larger than that of Hai Lao City and Rui Mu City combined, occupying the southern tip of Yunzhou. However, the population of the Shan Yue tribe is small, and they adhere to tradition, having a strong prejudice against outsiders. Except for trade with merchant caravans, outsiders are generally not allowed to enter Shan Yue territory.

  Chen Yuan was also unfamiliar with the Shan Yue tribe, but in the new street district of Ye Mu City, there were many monks who specialized in selling Shan Yue tribal specialties.

  Every time he arrived at a fortress, Chen Yuan naturally wouldn't forget to practice Taobao.

  This stronghold with a history of several thousand years has produced many great masters who have reached the Congealing Dan and Yuan Ying stages. Although most of these great masters have left this place, their families are still being taken care of by them. After several thousand years, when these families decline, the magical instruments and other items of those great masters will naturally appear on the market.

  The night market of Yeshi City is also one of the most lively and attractive places.

  Browsing Taobao requires keen eyesight.

  You might accidentally find something good. Of course, most businesses are out to make a profit, and the goods on display are often in disarray with many fakes, it just depends on whether you have an eye for things.

  Chen Yuan naturally didn't rely on his own eyesight, but rather on the magical jade stele.

  Can't help but say that Ye Mu Fort has a deep foundation, Chen Yuanyou hasn't walked a hundred meters, and the jade stele is already emitting warmth. The divine snake inside is even more delighted to remind him: "There's something good, on the left side of that house, that scroll painting."

  Chen Yuan is now wealthy, directly picking up the calligraphy and painting, asking the stall owner: "How many demon crystals for this volume?"

  "Elder brother, this painting was obtained from a..." The stall owner was about to give a detailed introduction, but Chen Yuan interrupted.

  "Just quote the price, I'm not interested in its origin."

  "Thirty-two levels of demon crystal." The stall owner shut his mouth and reported a price thirty times higher than what he had bought it for.

  "Done!" Chen Yuan took out three third-grade demon crystals and threw them at him. Holding the painting scroll, he opened it directly.

  The scroll opens, and on it is a plum blossom painting with a poem written about plum blossoms.

  Chen Yuan carefully sensed it and found that there was a hidden formation technique between the painting and the words.

  "It's really good." He praised with a smile, put the calligraphy and painting into his bag, and walked away contentedly.

  The boss looked at his satisfied expression and couldn't help but think to himself, "So this calligraphy and painting is really good stuff? I should have asked for 30 third-tier ones earlier."

  All the way shopping, sometimes Yu Bei reminded him, sometimes he didn't remind him. Chen Yuanhua spent three or four pieces of fourth-grade demon crystal and bought a bunch of things.

  Some things are sold to Zhang Sheng and a few others, they are now considered the leaders of the village, although their cultivation is not good, but somehow they have to be given a full set of equipment.

  After strolling around for half a day, Chen Yuan had seen most of the big and small stalls, and was planning to go to the auction house in Ye Mu Fort when he heard someone shouting and scolding on the main street.

  "Zhang Zhihuan, you damn thing, what did you say about your Taoist symbol being able to subdue demons? It ended up getting my brother killed! You're going to pay with your life!"

  The street was crowded with people, and this angry shout was like a thunderclap, instantly throwing the entire street into chaos. A young man hastily broke free from the crowd, followed by a giant of a man, nine feet tall, wielding a large knife and chasing after him.

  "Hey, old man, don't blame me unfairly! I already told you that the demon-suppressing talisman can only restrain second-level demonic beasts. You guys encountered a third-level one and got people killed, how can you blame me?" The young man named Zhang Zhihuan was desperately fleeing while defending himself.

  Two people chasing and fleeing, naturally no one goes to intervene, this kind of private feud happens everywhere, unless they have too much influence, the general garrison and city guards will not care.

  "This chapter is called, and it's caused trouble again. I'd better not use the second-level demon-reducing charm I bought from him." Seeing this scene, a monk next to Chen Yuan took out a yellow talisman from his hemp bag and looked at it with great fear.

  "Huh?" Chen Yuan was drawn in for an instant by this talisman and asked: "Don't you want this talisman anymore?"

  The master turned around, sensing Chen Yuan's cultivation in the Qi Refining stage, and immediately replied respectfully: "Brother Hui, this talisman is not a good one. The talismans that Zhang Ziyu refines are sometimes effective and sometimes not. If it weren't for the cheap price, its power would be decent when it works, but several people have already had accidents with it. I don't dare to use it either..."

  "How many demon crystals can you buy for me?" Chen Yuan asked directly without waiting for him to finish.

  "Fifteen first-class demon crystals." The cultivator replied.

  Chen Yuan took out two pieces of second-grade demon crystal and bought them directly from his hand.

  Chen Yuan ignored the monk's gratitude and directly reached out to touch the symbol, sensing the subtle spiritual energy within the internal method.

  Her eyes lit up quickly, and she confirmed in her heart:

  "This is indeed the Demon-Subduing Formation!"

  "That kid is a genius, a wild child born to be an Array Master, and he can actually inscribe the array on such low-grade yellow paper. Looks like he's got the makings of an Array Master." The Divine Snake also praised.

  "It seems like a loose cultivator, this kid wants to win him over!" Chen Yuan immediately made up his mind and followed the sound of the big man's shout, chasing after him with his energy.

  Zhang Zhiyuan fled in a hurry, but he was only at the middle stage of his cultivation. He didn't know if he lacked something in his fate, and his luck with wealth and fortune had always been poor. After cultivating for over a decade, he was so poor that his pockets were empty. Finally, after much difficulty, he managed to learn a spell, but it ended up costing him everything he owned. This time, he even brought upon himself a calamity that threatened his life. He felt so stifled in his heart! He almost wished he could just dash himself against the wall and die.

  But he can't die, he still has a little sister to support...

  But after all, his cultivation was not as high as that of the Fifth Elder. After a flurry of panicked and disorderly running, he was already exhausted, and the Fifth Elder's large knife was shining brightly as it chopped towards the back of his neck.

  I'm done for! Zhang's cry was a moment of despair, and a bitter tear fell from the man's eyes...

  "Clang!" A flash of steel, a blue long sword, hovered an inch from Zhang Ziyu's neck, firmly blocking the deadly knife of Da Lao Wu in mid-air.

  "Spare his life where you can, spare him a life!" Chen Yuan held a sword in one hand and had the other behind his back, displaying a heroic air as he pleaded for leniency on behalf of Zhang Zhi.

  Although Da Lao Wu felt that Chen Yuanxiu was more powerful than him, the grievance of his brother's tragic death made him unwilling to give up: "Sir, this is a personal vendetta between me and him. It's not right for you to intervene! He forged fake talismans, causing my brother's death. You want me to spare his life, but who will avenge my brother's death?"

  "You... you're talking nonsense! When I sold you the Symbol of Light, I clearly told you that its effective period is only fifteen days, and the longer you drag it out, the smaller its power will be. It's best to use it as soon as possible. Moreover, the Demon-Suppressing Symbol can only subdue second-level demonic beasts, but you encountered a third-level demonic beast and couldn't deal with it, how can you blame me?" Zhang Zhihuan immediately defended himself.

  "You! It's all because of you!" Da Lao Wu glared fiercely, but Chen Yuan pushed him back five steps with a single thrust of his Qing Shui sword.

  "I respect your fraternal feelings, but if you wrong others for revenge, it's just ignorant venting and harming the innocent." said Chen Yuandao.

  "Pshaw! That Zhang fellow has always been a peddler of counterfeit goods, you're just an outsider who doesn't know anything and yet you dare to come out and play the hero." Fifth Brother cursed with a loud "ya" sound, his anger hard to dissipate.

  "You're spitting blood at people." Zhang Zhiyuan hastily retorted back.