After confirming that Mo Wu's territory was completely empty, Ming Yuan Xiaodui's team quickly searched the entire camp one last time and then swiftly withdrew from the Greenfield Lake area.
They were lucky to be the first to arrive. The camp still had some items Lady Di hadn't taken and a few things that the Heavenly Sword Sect had deemed worthless, so everything fell into their hands.
The six survivors, who had narrowly escaped death, didn't dare linger near Greenfield Lake. Terrified of being captured again, they had long scattered.
By now, news that Mo Wu's team had been completely wiped out had spread throughout the outskirts.
Teams who'd suffered abuse from Mo Wu applauded this outcome, and some older search teams felt vindicated. It was no surprise that this kind of pest had finally been exterminated.
Meanwhile, the Heavenly Sword team, after a day's journey, finally arrived at the trading gathering.
In an open field stood a massive activated formation. At the entrance, two burly male cultivators, each over two meters tall, were stationed.
They wore matching attire: golden armor over their upper bodies, bare-chested, their exposed skin faintly gleaming like metal. Their bulging muscles showed they were skilled body cultivators. Below, they wore black pants and beast-skin boots. They were quietly talking, their slightly tanned faces bearing faint smiles.
"Hu San, go ask them," Jian Mao instructed.
Ever since leaving Ji Du's territory, Hu San had regained his freedom. Hearing the order, he immediately stepped forward. "Two seniors, may I ask if this is the site for the trading gathering?"
One of the men glanced at Hu San, then swept his eyes over the twenty or so people in the distance, answering in a deep voice:
"Yes."
"Could you tell us how to enter? Our team just came from the Burial Ground and have accumulated some items. We'd like to trade for some useful resources," Hu San said, his tone increasingly polite.
"Consider yourselves lucky. Each of you gets a piece of Immortal Stone. Once inside, find a spot and plant this sign in the ground. That'll be your trading area."
The other man tossed a black, palm-sized plaque toward Hu San, giving him a quick look. It was clear they knew Hu San was here to scout. The real decision-makers were back with the team.
"Thanks to both of you. I'll inform my team leader immediately. Please wait a moment," Hu San said, bowing respectfully before heading back.
He relayed their instructions, and Jian Mao immediately turned to Lady Di.
"Is the fee reasonable?"
"A bit more expensive than before, but if this is a big trading gathering, it's fair enough," she replied.
Since Lady Di's team had joined Mo Wu's team, it had been a long time since they'd attended such a gathering.
Jian Dan, eyes flickering, whispered to Jian Mao: "Senior Brother, they asked for Immortal Stones but didn't specify the grade. I'll give them some low-grade stones first and see their reaction."
Jian Mao nodded, accepting the storage pendant Jian Dan handed over, and the whole team moved forward.
The two guards at the entrance exchanged glances. Judging by the team's apparent strength and willingness to spend Immortal Stones, their expressions softened considerably.
"Much appreciated!"
As team leader, Jian Mao stepped forward and cupped his hands, receiving their reply before continuing:
"Our team heard from Boss Ji Du that there's a major trading gathering here. We came hoping to try our luck but didn't know Immortal Stones were required. Are there any special privileges?"
Since they were giving Immortal Stones, it was natural to ask.
"Teams who pay the Immortal Stones get a plot to set up their items. Plant the sign and you're set for the seven-day trading period. Stay within the formation and your safety is guaranteed. Plus, after trading with other teams, our organization won't take any commission," one of the men explained.
Jian Mao raised an eyebrow. It seemed even without paying, they could still enter.
The other guard seemed to guess his thoughts and added:
"If you don't want to pay Immortal Stones, you'll have to wait until the official opening tomorrow. You won't have a fixed plot, and any completed trades will incur a fee. Arriving early means you'll have to set up camp nearby and ensure your own safety. Don't think we're exaggerating—teams here all have some skill. Anyone trading here definitely has valuable items, so don't get backstabbed and lose more than you gain."
"Senior Brother, safety first. Let's listen to this big brother!" Jian Jing said in time, nudging the decision along.
Jian Mao could only nod, grit his teeth, and somewhat reluctantly take a storage pendant from his sleeve, handing it to one of the guards.
The guard took the low-grade Immortal Stones, smiled, returned the pendant, and handed over the black plaque.
"Boss, don't hesitate. As your Junior Sister said, safety comes first. Stones can always be earned again."
"Ah, we don't have a choice. These are stones our team worked hard to gather. Several of our members were injured dealing with the Face Demon Tree, and we came here hoping to exchange for items to help heal them," Jian Mao said with concern.
The two guards exchanged a glance, then noticed a few members with pale faces. They reassured them a bit before opening the formation, allowing the team inside.
Inside, a completely different scene awaited. People came and went, the area lively but orderly. A ten-meter-wide path had been leveled, with teams stationed along each side. Along the edges were neatly laid beast skins displaying items for trade. Some signs listed the desired items for purchase.
"Let's find a spot to settle first, then check out the surroundings," Jian Mao directed.
Lady Di spotted a vacant area toward the back and pointed: "Boss, there's space there, not too conspicuous. Let's go there."
On the left, another team had already set up, the right side remained empty, and behind it stood a short petrified tree trunk.
"Alright, let's check it out."
The team rushed over, liked the spot, and planted the black plaque in the ground. It activated, displaying the characters for "Bing Si." Their plot was officially theirs.
The rest was routine. They set up their formation, settled in, and Jian Mao led Jian Dan, Hu San, and Lady Di to scout the area, while the others rested and arranged their trading table.
The four left the formation and walked along the side, checking out the available trade items.
"Senior Brother, it's basically a small market here," Jian Dan noted. Nearby teams had glanced at them more than once as they left earlier.
Most of the people wandering here were male cultivators, from towering, burly ones like the entrance guards to shorter, sinister-looking types, and some half-demon-like cultivators. They also encountered two blond-haired, blue-eyed sons of sea demons. Lady Di stared at them curiously, seemingly seeing this for the first time.
Halfway along, they came to a crowded stall. A debate was ongoing, and a calm voice rang out:
"Daoyou, if you sought my appraisal and now claim it's wrong, then please find a more skilled expert!"
"Hmph! You say the item I found isn't an Immortal Artifact, so who'd pay a high price? You're ruining my chance to profit!!"