Cultivation through Skin Making

Cold Pool Valley Market, a mixing pot of fish and dragons, yet its vast scale and numerous participants are unparalleled in the history of the Three Kingdoms.

Song Yan estimated in his mind, feeling there must be at least ten thousand people here.

Among these ten thousand people, a large portion were Jianghu folks.

The alliance between Nanwu Sword Sect and Puppet Sect is a significant event, naturally, the "little brothers" below must come to "support."

The righteous and evil sects within the Jianghu also need to temporarily make peace, uniting against external enemies.

Song Yan walked around, only quietly placing the Fox Demon Shadow Puppet in a shady spot after finding a few secluded corners. Once he left, the Fox Demon Shadow Puppet expanded from the shadow, transforming into an ordinary-looking cultivator that wouldn't attract attention even upon a glance.

After wandering a few circles, on one of the occasions when it coincided with Song Yan again, Song Yan discreetly handed him a storage bag.

Although a storage bag is precious, on Paperman Peak, it is not impossible to exchange one.

After completing these tasks, Song Yan led Yuzhuang Little Lady to indulge in delicious food and drink.

Cao Yuzhuang was captured at eight, entering the Demon Sect, and has been living in fear every day. Today, following Song Yan into this top-tier market, witnessing the aroma wafting from the food district, her craving was already stirred.

Song Yan joined her, feasting heartily.

Meanwhile...

The Fox Demon Puppet was executing Song Yan's true purchasing intentions.

Song Yan initially intended to buy a mask, but unexpectedly stumbled upon a stall hawking "Anonymous Suits."

He went forward to take a look.

Goodness, this one has a business acumen.

Masks, cloaks, Qi Concealment Talismans, all prepared in a set.

The stall owner saw him linger, standing up with a smile: "Cultivators harbor many secrets, and no one wants to be exposed easily. Although fighting is prohibited in the Cold Pool Valley Market, who knows once outside. For safety, would the friend like to buy this outfit?"

As he explained, a cultivator passing by suddenly turned back, purchased a set, wore it, and marched off proudly.

Only then did Song Yan cautiously count out 4 Profound Jade Beans from the storage bag, placed them in his palm, counted them again, and then reluctantly handed them out, asking: "Can't it be just a bit cheaper?"

The stall owner sighed: "Small business, it's difficult for me too."

Song Yan sighed along, then exchanged money for goods, quickly putting on the set, testing its effect, grumbled over trivial things, saying words like "not worth the price, bought at a loss" before leaving.

After he moved away, the stall owner couldn't help but mutter: "Penniless... didn't even bring enough money to the market, what can one buy?"

...

...

After changing into the suit, Song Yan started eyeing flying swords.

Currently, his main offensive technique is indeed the "Black and White Double Evil."

One hand with White Evil Devouring Profound, one hand with Black Death Fury.

Moreover, a "Two-Handed Sword" can catch people off guard, after all... no one knows he uses two swords, and there are hardly any in the entire Nanwu Sword Sect who use two swords.

As for, "Hundred Forms Divine Control," "Divine Swallowing Hundred Forms," "Hundred Forms Demon Body," "Skin Painting Slave Soul Technique," these all belong to the "Soul Control" class of techniques.

Not to mention those "Manufacturing Class" techniques, even "Hundred Forms Demon Body," the action is quite conspicuous, with plenty of "Casting Animation"... it's not very agile nor suitable for small area magical battles. Once used, regardless of power or appearance, it immediately puts oneself in the "spotlight."

"Hundred Forms Demon Body" suits for instant kill, decisive hit, and going all out, but not quite for battles.

Therefore, he needs a flying sword.

After walking some distance, he had already left the bustling area of the Cold Pool Valley Market.

Here, the vendors were quite spaced apart, the lighting was dim, and the goods sold at the stalls were items only usable by high-tier cultivators within the Refining Profound Realm.

Song Yan soon selected a stall selling flying swords.

The stall owner directly asked: "Do you want high-tier or middle-tier?"

High-tier refers to the Seventh Layer of Refining Profound and above.

Middle-tier is from the fourth to sixth layer.

Song Yan said: "High-tier."

The stall owner glanced at him, noticing the other's well-hidden aura, without saying much, directly took out several flying swords beginning introductions one by one.

Song Yan pointed to the best among them, saying: "This one."

The stall owner stated: "My friend, 28 small Profound Jades, rest assured about the quality, among the high-tier also considered top-grade, usable throughout the entire Refining Profound Realm."

Song Yan pointed again: "This one."

The stall owner said: "This one is 22 small Profound Jades..."

Finished speaking, he raised an eyebrow, slightly furrowed: "Which one do you want?"

Song Yan said: "Both."

Then, decisively paid 5 Profound Crystals, placed both flying swords into his storage space, swiftly departing.

The stall owner stared dumbfounded at his back, scratching his head.

Buying two flying swords in one go, it was the first time he encountered this...

Song Yan's thought was simple.

If Old Demon Gu Huangzi intends to confine him, it's possible he may seize his only flying sword.

After all, as a sword cultivator, being without a flying sword is akin to a tiger without teeth.

Hence, buying two is prudent.

If it were not for insufficient money and storage space, he might have bought more.

Walking a few more steps, he suddenly noticed a stall with "Array Flag" floating behind.

Array Flags, once laid out, can harness Profound Qi to create an array.

The biggest difference between arrays and talismans is, the latter usually targets individuals and has a time limit; whereas arrays target areas, and can function endlessly as long as there is enough Profound Qi.

Talismans are available in almost every market, but Array Flags are rare indeed...

Only a marketplace of Cold Pool Valley's stature could harbor such things.

Song Yan saw someone in front of the stall, so he patiently waited until the person left before swiftly approaching.

...

...

"Eat slowly."

Song Yan's "main body" watched as Yuzhuang, the young lady, devoured her food ravenously.

He also liked such places filled with the aroma of human life.

Tossing a Profound Jade Bean, Song Yan shouted, "Waiter, whatever your signature dishes are, just bring them out."

The waiter, upon seeing the Profound Jade Bean, came running with bright eyes, took the bean, giggled, and said, "I will surely satisfy the guest," before running off.

Yuzhuang, the young lady, looked up at him with her face blank.

Song Yan laughed, "What's the matter?"

The young lady replied, "Master, I'm thirsty..."

Song Yan scanned the surroundings and noticed a place selling drinks not far away, so he prepared to get up but stopped just as he moved.

As he stopped, a woman came to a halt on the road ahead.

Dressed in a Pure Silver Sword Robe, her face was dignified, her chest open, her long legs proud and strong, her expression cold as frost, yet she seemed troubled for some reason, unclear what had happened...

Though her temperament had changed, wasn't this former Qi Yao, and who was Su Yao now?

Song Yan took a gold bean and handed it to Yuzhuang, the young lady, saying, "Go buy some drinks, buy a lot."

He still had a lot of gold and silver stored in the storage space, mainly for convenience when spending outside. Large denominations were mostly in the form of beans. As for drinks and such, they were cheap outside, but here, who knew what rare ingredients they might contain, requiring gold.

Yuzhuang, the young lady, wiped her mouth, took the gold bean, and left the seat.

On the other side, Su Yao suddenly turned and walked away.

Song Yan called out, "Don't recognize me?"

Su Yao turned back, unexpectedly bowed, and said, "Senior Brother Song, there are instructions from the sect; if we see you, we are to notify immediately, and then an elder will come to see you."

Listening to her extremely formal tone, Song Yan nodded and said, "Then you go notify."

Su Yao turned, walked a few steps, and suddenly stopped, turned her head, and said, "Actually... Senior Brother did save my life back then. So, if Senior Brother has any requests, I will try my best to fulfill them."

Song Yan looked at her and suddenly said, "There is indeed something."

Su Yao came back, sat in the seat Yuzhuang, the young lady, had just occupied, and asked, "What is it?"

Song Yan observed her, noticing her anxiety had grown, and said, "What happened?"

Su Yao said, "Just a major upheaval within the clan... Senior Brother should tell me what you want me to do."

Song Yan said, "Previously, I was actually following Elder Changyi."

Su Yao's pretty face immediately showed surprise, "You were following my big brother?"

Song Yan nodded softly, then looked at her complexly, beginning to tell her about Su Changyi.

These... were all things he had learned when he was with Mr. Su San.

And based on these words, he naturally crafted a tale to explain his identity.

Su Changyi was the eldest of the seven siblings of the Su Family and an elder of the Nanwu Sword Sect, coincidentally in charge of some of the Nanwu Sword Sect's spies operating outside.

Listening, Su Yao lowered her head silently and suddenly said, "Our Su family's old patriarch is gone... and so is Third Brother..."

Song Yan was stunned, immediately realizing: the backing of the Fox Stabbing Alliance must have been the Su family's old patriarch, now... they've been completely defeated?

Unclear whether the First Lady Fox was injured...

But then again, the death of the Su family's old patriarch would undoubtedly have a significant impact within the Nanwu Sword Sect.

Every force has factions for war and conservative factions...

And the Su family was the faction for war.

For a moment, he was also silent.

Due to the connection with Su Changyi, plus their previous special relationship, Su Yao spoke a bit more, sighing, "Big Brother was deep in thought, yet I didn't expect you were with our family... Just that in the future, our Su family won't have much voice in the Nanwu Sword Sect, even if you achieve great merit, there won't be much benefit.

Later, the ones who will inevitably question you will be the elders of the Sun family; a wise bird chooses a tree to nest. If you have the chance, switch to them."

After speaking, she smiled bitterly, an indescribable sadness.

Song Yan also felt the enormous change in her.

When first met, she was the lively figure of a female knight, then later, seemed filled with murderous intent after turning dark... until now, in her words, there was maturity and worldly wisdom, no longer naive.

Time, indeed, ages people...

"Alright, tell me what you want to do then." Su Yao composed herself and said calmly, "I don't like leaving favors unrepayed."

Song Yan slightly turned his head, glanced at Yuzhuang, the young lady, waiting for drinks, and said softly, "If there comes a day she appears in the Nanwu Sword Sect, give her a place to stay."

After speaking, he added in an even softer voice, "She has a Profound Root, can cultivate."

Su Yao said, "Wei Kingdom Royalty?"

Song Yan nodded and said, "Cao Yuzhuang, taken up the mountain when she was eight."

Su Yao looked at him strangely and said, "Do you always treat your Furnace so well?"

Then she said, "I met Qiu Lianyue in the Wu Kingdom... She's now one of the managers of a large caravan and has not remarried."

Song Yan remained silent...

Su Yao glanced at him and continued, "I promise you, as long as she comes to the Wu Kingdom, I will treat her like my own sister and teach her to cultivate."

After speaking, she took out a jade pendant from her bosom, handed it to Song Yan, and said, "Let her bring this to Nanwu; be it Jianghu, government, or sect, others will recognize it upon seeing, and they will send her to the Su family."

A starved camel is still bigger than a horse; even if my Su family no longer has the old patriarch, we still hold some prestige."

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