Meng Zhang had no gains in the Ghost Market but managed to purchase desired items in the Black Market. Returning to the inn, he spent the night without any noteworthy events.
Early the next day, Meng Zhang started strolling through the Firewell Market. The market attracted various forces, including skilled tool refiners from Earthfire Sect and talented weapon craftsmen among the loose cultivators. The majority of shops in the market sold a wide variety of magic tools, with many also dealing in refining materials.
Firewell Market served not only as a prominent magic tool production base in the Flying Swan Sect's territory but also as a top material distribution center for refining. Even a large influx of refining materials wouldn't create a significant commotion in this market.
Meng Zhang devised a plan, envisioning bringing the secretly mined scarlet copper ore here for sale in the future.
The Firewell Market offered a diverse selection of magic tools, not only in variety but also in quality. Several excellent flying swords caught Meng Zhang's eye. Despite several previous fruitless attempts in Singing Sand City due to either high prices or unsatisfactory quality, he now found several promising choices.
After careful consideration and selection, Meng Zhang purchased a First Rank top-grade flying sword called "Soft Around The Finger." This flying sword was less than half a foot long and an inch wide, with no hilt, appearing as a thin, silver piece of steel.
Cultivation World commonly used two types of flying swords. One type resembled a normal long sword, allowing it to be used like a conventional weapon for both close combat and flying attacks. The other type, like "Soft Around The Finger," had no hilt and could only be used for flying attacks.
As for legendary sword pills, Meng Zhang had never seen them in person. They were nowhere to be found among the numerous shops in Firewell Market. Sword pills were said to have strict requirements for refining, involving special spirit materials and Sword Cultivator secret techniques. However, the Sword Cultivation path was not popular in the Endless Sea of Sand, and there were no powerful Sword Cultivator sects. As a result, sword pills remained elusive.
The flying sword "Soft Around The Finger" was refined using the primary material of Hundred Refining Soft Steel, making it both flexible and strong. To fully unleash its power, the user needed to have a profound understanding of flying sword techniques.
Meng Zhang spent a considerable sum of one hundred and fifty low-grade spirit stones to purchase this coveted flying sword, exceeding the usual price of a First Rank top-grade magic tool.
Although Meng Zhang had the innate talent to control two First Rank top-grade magic tools, the horror of controlling a third one was an arduous task with his Refining Qi Mid-stage cultivation base.
Like every cultivator, Meng Zhang also had a dream of mastering a flying sword. Flying swords were the most prevalent and widely used magic tools in the Cultivation World.
Though he couldn't currently soar through the skies like Fei Tian, manipulating a flying sword and making it dance through the air was still an enticing prospect.
After spending the entire day in the market and purchasing a heap of items, most of which were gifts for fellow sect members, Meng Zhang decided not to return empty-handed after such a rare journey.
In the evening, Meng Zhang, with a lingering desire, visited the Ghost Market in Firewell Market again. However, this time, he returned empty-handed without any gains.
After resting for a night, early the next day, Meng Zhang left Firewell Market and began his journey back. Once again, the Zhao Family disciple, who had been following him on a Crimson Feathered Falcon, faithfully traced his steps from the sky.
After several days on the road, under the disappointed gaze of the Zhao Family disciple, Meng Zhang rode the Wind Chasing Horse and bypassed the abandoned mine directly to return to Taiyi Sect.
Upon returning to the sect, Meng Zhang began distributing the gifts he had purchased for his sect members. He gifted a shield of earth attribute called "Fifth Earth True Shield," a First Rank middle-grade magic tool, to General Affairs Elder Tian Zhen. This shield, combined with Tian Zhen's Fifth Earth True Secrets cultivation technique, could provide formidable defense.
To Daoist Clear Spirit and the Wang family father and son, Meng Zhang gave magic tools related to spirit plants, such as "Cloud-Dispelling Rain Flag," "Spirit Tilling Hoe," and "Reaping Scythe."
For the younger disciples of the sect, Meng Zhang gifted miscellaneous items like talismans.
After the gift-giving, Meng Zhang began to refine the recently purchased flying sword, "Soft Around The Finger." It took considerable effort and time to fully refine the flying sword.
The flying sword now curved into a ring-like shape, fitting snugly around his left wrist.
Back in the Zhao Family, there was an internal debate on whether to explore the abandoned mine. However, the plan was postponed after receiving orders from Twin Success Valley. They issued a summons for all vassal forces to send experts, led by their respective leaders or sect masters, to a designated location for a joint operation against the recently emerged sand monster colonies.
Zhao Family's Patriarch, Zhao Yanbei, had to lead their experts to join the operation, leaving the abandoned mine exploration plan temporarily suspended.
As a vassal force of Twin Success Valley, Taiyi Sect also received the summons. Apart from Sect Master Meng Zhang personally leading the expedition, Taiyi Sect was required to send at least two more cultivators to accompany them.
Taiyi Sect was already short on manpower, especially since they had only three Refining Qi Mid-stage cultivators capable of fighting. Considering the tragic fate of their previous sect master, Daoist Profound Spirit, who died during a sand monster attack while on a similar mission, Meng Zhang knew he couldn't afford any mishaps.
Both Daoist Clear Spirit and Tian Zhen volunteered to join the expedition and accompany Meng Zhang. However, Meng Zhang made a decision to let Tian Zhen accompany him while leaving Daoist Clear Spirit behind to guard Taiyi Sect.
For the required third cultivator, Meng Zhang chose Fang Yong, who had been staying at Sweetwater Oasis. Meng Zhang framed it as an opportunity for Fang Yong to redeem himself. If he performed well during this mission, he could clear his past mistakes and return to Taiyi Sect.
Fang Yong was reluctant to go, fully aware of the perilous nature of the expedition. Nevertheless, he had no reasonable grounds to refuse and was forced to accompany Meng Zhang on the journey.
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