As for dealing with the Zhao Family, spreading rumors about the Forest Spring Watch and Forest Mountain School in secret, Meng Zhang wouldn't even dare to consider such a thing. People were not fools; as long as similar rumors circulated, it wouldn't require any evidence for Foundation Building cultivators to show up at Taiyi Sect's doorstep and wipe them out directly.
Since both sides hadn't torn their faces yet, things weren't too bad. Meng Zhang put this matter aside for the time being and chatted with Jue Ying.
Black Crane flew all the way, taking more than half a day to bring Meng Zhang and Jue Ying to Firewell Market. Upon arrival, the two bid farewell and went about their own business.
Meng Zhang directly sought out Nangong Wen, an attendant of Earthfire Sect. After several trades between Taiyi Sect and Earthfire Sect, they had some acquaintance. Nangong Wen was in charge of handling exchanges with Taiyi Sect on Earthfire Sect's side.
Nangong Wen was quite different from most cultivators in Earthfire Sect. He appeared refined and gentlemanly, well-known for his integrity and the commitment to his words. Though he seemed out of place among the fiercely valiant cultivators of Earthfire Sect, Jue Ying mentioned that Nangong Wen held significant authority within the sect. Especially in external affairs and transactions, Foundation Building cultivators from Earthfire Sect often followed the opinions of this Refining Qi cultivator.
After finding Nangong Wen, Meng Zhang received a warm reception. After some cordial exchanges, they got down to business. Meng Zhang presented the prepared blueprints for the Nine Palace Windfire Banner, a combined magic tool requiring the refinement of nine different large flags. Once completed, nine people would each hold one flag and stand in specific positions, driving them with a secret technique. The nine flags, when waved together, could produce numerous illusions to bewilder and trap enemies. What's more, when united, the nine flags could release an infinite amount of wind and fire, overwhelming the enemy completely.
Nangong Wen accepted Meng Zhang's blueprints but didn't immediately respond. Instead, he consulted with Earthfire Sect's tool refiners and then provided an answer regarding the possibility of refining it. Taiyi Sect could provide scarlet copper mined from the mines, along with associated materials like Flame Crystals and Profound Gold. Meng Zhang had already spent effort refining these materials.
As for the other materials, they needed to be purchased from Earthfire Sect. After some calculations, Nangong Wen offered a fair price, including the materials and labor cost. Meng Zhang didn't haggle and reached an agreement with Nangong Wen. Leaving behind the blueprints and a deposit, he bid farewell.
Having only the blueprints without the special methods to drive it, even if Earthfire Sect refined the Nine Palace Windfire Banner, they wouldn't be able to use it. Meng Zhang wandered around Firewell Market, even visiting the ghost market, but unfortunately, there were no unexpected treasures to be found.
Thanks to Jue Ying's recommendation, Meng Zhang had become a regular customer in the black market and had a status similar to Shi Weiming's. Over the years, he occasionally came to the black market for trading and acquiring rare items from outside. However, as the items in the black market had uncertain origins, unless he urgently needed something or found a highly practical use for it, he refrained from making casual purchases.
In the past, the cold poison and yin thunder he bought from the black market had helped him defeat a heavily injured Foundation Building elder from Twin Success Valley. However, he had been unsuccessful in finding similar treasures in subsequent visits.
During this visit to the black market, Meng Zhang purchased a First Rank high-grade furnace. After several years of training, Tian Li had lived up to expectations and become a tool refiner. Although he could only refine simple small magic tools for now, the resources invested by the sect hadn't been wasted. With his future progress in refining, Taiyi Sect wouldn't need to seek help from Earthfire Sect in the field of refining.
Meng Zhang bought the furnace as a reward for Tian Li, considering it would be used within the sect, so there was no need to worry about it being illicit goods.
With his business concluded, Meng Zhang left Firewell Market. There was no flying mount available for him to hitch a ride back, so he had to ride his Wind Chasing Horse and travel the conventional way.
After several months of returning to Taiyi Sect, Sect Master Xu Chengxian from Forest Mountain School and Lin Bailin from Forest Spring Watch visited together to express their gratitude for Meng Zhang's assistance last time. Although Meng Zhang felt cautious toward the two in his heart, he warmly received them on the surface.
Xu Chengxian adopted a senior's manner, showing concern and care for Meng Zhang. The conversation subtly hinted at the close relationship between Taiyi Sect and Twin Success Valley. The two brought a generous gift as a token of appreciation. Xu Chengxian presented a First Rank flying boat as a thank-you gift for Meng Zhang.
Meng Zhang had long wanted to purchase a flying boat but had not come across a suitable one yet. Either he found the price too high, or the performance was unsatisfactory. The flying boat gifted by Xu Chengxian was outstanding among First Rank flying boats, with the ability to easily carry around ten cultivators, or more with some crowding.
Meng Zhang declined the gift multiple times, feeling unworthy of such a precious item. However, Xu Chengxian insisted, and it seemed that the gift was partly given as compensation for Meng Zhang's share of the spoils from the sale of the poisonous sand lizard's corpse. Since he had no way of refusing any further, Meng Zhang reluctantly accepted the gift.
During their conversation, Meng Zhang didn't neglect Lin Bailin. Lin Bailin had an imposing demeanor and eloquence, holding unique perspectives on many issues. Due to the time constraints during their last meeting, Meng Zhang hurriedly left without speaking much to him. Now, after talking at length with Lin Bailin, Meng Zhang felt an affinity for him, and they got along well.
Lin Bailin was also unexpectedly impressed by Meng Zhang, a seemingly insignificant Sect Master, and found him quite remarkable. The two bonded instantly and developed mutual respect and appreciation.
After spending a considerable amount of time at Taiyi Sect, Xu Chengxian and Lin Bailin took their leave under Meng Zhang's warm send-off. Once the two were gone, Meng Zhang carefully inspected the flying boat on the table.
The flying boat could be shrunk to the size of an arm for easy storage when not in use. It relied on spirit stones as the main power source and was controlled by the cultivator inputting true qi to manage flight altitude and direction.
The flying boat seemed flawless, making it a rare masterpiece. Meng Zhang wondered if Xu Chengxian's lavish gift was a genuine expression of gratitude or if there was an intention to buy his silence. Such thoughts crossed Meng Zhang's mind.
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