Jian Dan, entering the formation, immediately caught what Su Chui had said and asked,
"Su Daoyou, is it like this for all the cultivators here?"
"Yes, except for those who specialize in divine sense cultivation. That female cultivator just now was one of them."
After everyone had settled, the conversation turned to the issue of divine sense suppression.
"Jian Lu Daoyou, you also came through the Purple Sky Sect's spatial rift, so you must've ended up in the peripheral burial ground as well, right?"
"Yes!"
"When we were in the outer layer, our spiritual power couldn't be used, and our divine sense could only extend two zhang. As we moved into the mid-layer, our divine sense was compressed to less than one zhang. Once inside the inner layer, it's almost completely suppressed."
Jian Dan listened carefully, then turned her gaze to Jian Mao and the others, since her own divine sense wasn't restricted and she could only rely on observing her companions.
"Exactly as Su Daoyou said. Our situation is pretty similar. Because our divine senses are limited, we mostly rely on our eyes," Jian Mao admitted without hesitation.
"I've been forging artifacts for years, so my divine sense is a bit stronger than most, but still limited. The deeper you go, the harsher the restriction. After splitting from Jian Jun, I didn't enter the inner layer again.
There are also cultivators from other continents here who specialize in divine sense cultivation. They were identified with this talent from a young age and trained specially. Their divine senses are so strong, they can even control other cultivators. You'd better keep your guard up," Su Chui warned, a little concerned. He hadn't expected the trouble caused by the captain of Fu Hu's team—their divine sense specialist had made its way into their continent's team.
"Su Daoyou, no need to worry. That cultivator's already been blocked, and we've given them a small concession. As long as they don't go overboard, it's fine," Jian Dan reassured him. Jian Jing nodded beside her, signaling that the situation had been handled.
"Before, Jian Lu Zūnshàng left. That female cultivator used her divine sense to probe us and must've realized we're sword cultivators," Jian Chun added.
"Tsk, tsk, are the female cultivators here really so careless?" Jian Jing teased, glancing at Jian Chun and Wu Siyuan, making the two men's faces even darker.
Jian Dan smiled slightly before explaining, "This is just a small marketplace. Every team here is strong, from all the continents. We don't stir trouble, but we aren't afraid either. Our main goal is to trade resources and gather information. Making friendly ties with strong teams is even better; it gives us extra intelligence."
"Junior Sister is right. We don't need enemies, but we don't fear them either," Jian Mao agreed.
"Senior Brother, we walked around yesterday and got some gains. Tomorrow, you should all go out and see if there's anything else," Jian Jing suggested.
"You mean, look for cultivators from the Lingyun Continent?"
"You know me too well, Senior Brother. Who knows, we might meet someone! Didn't we already run into Su Daoyou?"
"Good!"
"Senior Sister, everyone's here. Let's divide the items!"
Jian Jing pulled out the shells and handed the black pearls to Su Chui, asking him to process them. He gladly accepted. Though he couldn't forge artifacts, preliminary processing wasn't a problem.
Then, everyone received a piece of merfolk scale. Knowing its value, they carefully stored it. Even Su Chui was thrilled to get one—it was a rare treasure for an artifact master.
Hu San grinned from ear to ear and tucked his merfolk scale away. Jian Jing reminded him not to let Di Lady's people see it, and he immediately understood. He adjusted his expression and went back to guard the stall.
Jian Jing carefully waited until all the Heavenly Sword Sect cultivators inside the formation had divided their items before swapping back Jian Xu. Su Chui stayed in a corner, focusing on the black pearls.
The rest of the day passed with Jian Dan resting and Su Chui working. Their stall gradually exchanged armor for artifacts and materials. They also put out some insect exoskeletons and damaged recovered artifacts, drawing quite a few inquiries. Most trades were barter-based; almost no one used Immortal Stones.
On the third day, Jian Mao, along with Jian Chun, Wu Siyuan, and Di Lady, went around the marketplace. Jian Jing, Kuang Dao, and Hu San stayed behind to run the stall. This time, Jian Dan had Jian Jing release five storage rings, all stripped of divine sense residue and empty.
"Junior Sister, this is pretty conspicuous," Jian Jing said.
"Can't help it. We're new here. If we want to trade for Immortal Realm items, they won't bring us in willingly. We have to lay out bait and let them come to us," Jian Dan replied, shrugging.
"Five is just right. Not too many, not too few. Once they see we have good stuff, their curiosity will naturally bring them over."
"Got it."
Jian Jing nodded. Ever since the seven of them had arrived, every step had been cautious. Knowing this was part of the Immortal Realm, they had been deliberately collecting resources. Jian Dan even risked herself to win favor with the Immortal Realm merfolk, all for the sake of trading and acquiring resources. Everyone understood this and did their best to maximize gains in the shortest time.
"Senior Sister, I rested last night. I'm much better now. Call me if you need me."
"Alright, don't worry. Take care of yourself," Jian Dan replied.
She glanced at Xiao Yue in the spirit beast pouch. The little one was refining spiritual spring water. Beside him were spirit beast meat and fruits rich with spiritual energy. Since it wasn't convenient to release Xiao Yue here, he stayed in the pouch. He had initially been reluctant, but Jian Dan's treats had won him over.
More visitors came today to check the released storage rings, even more than yesterday. They probed indirectly, while Jian Jing smiled and replied politely, making it clear that only Immortal Realm items could be exchanged for the rings.
By the end of the day, word spread that the small new team had valuable items. Strong teams were discussing trades, and some had other intentions.
When everyone returned, Su Chui had finished his work, presenting Jian Dan with a pair of black sea pearl earrings—two black pearls of the same size, smooth and shiny, shimmering with five colors. Jian Dan put them on immediately. The vitality of the pearls slowly seeped into her body. Though faint, it was better than nothing. These weren't yet refined; she could expect better results after proper processing.
"Su Daoyou, your skill is impressive. Even just preliminary handling, the quality is exquisite," Jian Dan praised.
"You flatter me, Jian Lu Daoyou," Su Chui said with a bow. He kept one hand bead for himself, wearing it on his wrist. Male cultivators generally used hand beads; Jian Jing's was a sea pearl ring on her middle finger.
The male Purple Sky Sect cultivators all wore hand strings, while Xiao Yao wore a black sea pearl necklace, which eased tensions a little. Unfortunately, the storage bracelets couldn't be opened, so no rewards could be given.