On the path to immortality, I can see destiny.

Chapter 63 Zhoujiafang Market

One morning half a month later, just as dawn was breaking, Zhao Fan had already finished getting ready.

He carefully placed the storage bag containing various demon beast materials, spiritual herbs, and some of the surplus pills he had refined close to his body, and then checked his personal magical artifacts, the Netherworld Mirror, the Golden Marrow Thorn, and the Repulsion Mask.

Today, he plans to go to Zhoujia Market to sell the materials he has accumulated and exchange them for spirit stones. He also hopes to find out if there are any more in-depth forbidden texts.

Just as they stepped out of the courtyard, they saw a familiar figure riding a slightly cumbersome iron-colored flying sword, landing unsteadily on the mountain path. It was Su Ziyan.

He saw Zhao Fan, smiled, and greeted him.

"Good morning, Brother Zhao! Are you heading out?"

"Ziyan, my fellow Daoist."

Zhao Fan nodded in response.

"I was just about to head to Zhoujiafang Market to take care of some miscellaneous items. What brings you here, fellow Daoist?"

Su Ziyan patted a wooden plaque with a hammer and chisel pattern hanging from his waist and laughed.

"What a coincidence, I'm also going to Zhoujiafang Market. I've taken on a master there, and I go to study with him for several days every month."

He glanced at Zhao Fan and said warmly.

"Zhoujiafang Market is over a thousand li away from here. Why don't we travel together? It would be good to look after each other on the road and chat about what we've seen and heard."

Zhao Fan had the same idea. He had only heard of Zhoujiafang Market, but having Su Ziyan, a colleague who had obviously been there, would save him a lot of trouble.

"That's wonderful, then I'll take the trouble to bother you."

"Hehe, fellow Daoist, don't be so polite."

On the way, Su Ziyan, as expected, became very talkative and took the initiative to introduce himself.

"Zhoujiafang Market is much bigger than the one in Yulin Mountain. It's a proper outer city district built like a celestial city, directly under the jurisdiction of the Zhou family. It's strictly regulated, but also much safer."

"I heard there are several thousand cultivators residing there, with late-stage Qi Refining cultivators everywhere, and you can even occasionally run into Foundation Establishment experts!"

"Foundation Building Stage..."

Zhao Fan's eyes flickered slightly. In Yulin Mountain, a master of the Qi Refining Peak stage was already a figure to be looked up to, and a Foundation Establishment stage master was a legendary existence.

"yes."

Su Ziyan lowered her voice.

"The Zhou family is a second-level family with a Foundation Establishment ancestor in charge, controlling a region of thousands of miles around, including our Fuling Mountain, which is nominally under their protection."

"Therefore, the market in Immortal Destiny City is bustling with activity, lined with shops. There's nothing you can't buy, as long as you have enough spirit stones."

As he spoke, he smacked his lips, clearly impressed by the prices there.

The two talked the whole way, with Su Ziyan doing most of the talking and Zhao Fan listening, occasionally asking a question or two.

Two days passed in the blink of an eye, and a majestic outline appeared on the horizon ahead.

It wasn't just mountains, but rather the faint outlines of towering city walls and rows of eaves.

Various colored streaks of light occasionally flashed across the sky, then landed at the city gate, obediently queuing up to enter the city.

"We've arrived. That's the outer city of Immortal Destiny City."

Su Ziyan pointed down and saw that the city wall was about ten feet high, built of some kind of dark blue stone, with runes and flowing light flashing on its surface, obviously with a powerful formation.

The city gate was wide open, with two entrances, one on the left and one on the right. There was a short queue at the left entrance, mostly consisting of cultivators on foot or riding low-level spirit beasts. The right entrance was only for those who flew on magical artifacts to land, and there were also cultivators on duty there.

As the two approached the city gate, they slowed down and stopped on the flat stone platform in front of the gate on the left.

Immediately, a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator dressed in a light blue outfit with a small golden cauldron pattern embroidered on his cuffs stepped forward. His aura was steady, and his gaze was sharp as he swept over the two of them.

"Entry fee: two low-grade spirit stones per person."

"Private duels, flying, and forced buying and selling are prohibited within the city. Violators will be dealt with by the law enforcement team according to regulations. This is the jade slip containing the rules; please take a look."

The cultivator spoke succinctly, handing over two inferior jade slips.

Zhao Fan handed over two spirit stones, took the jade slip, and briefly sensed it. It did indeed contain some basic prohibition clauses.

The cultivator accepted the spirit stones and handed over a seemingly ordinary wooden token.

"This is a temporary identification card, which allows you to stay in the city for ten days. Please return it when you leave the city."

As for Su Ziyan, he was able to enter the market smoothly simply by relying on the wooden plaque at his waist.

Stepping through the city gate, one is immediately struck by the bustling crowds, the rich spiritual atmosphere, and the vibrant scene, a stark contrast to the relaxed and rustic charm of Yulin Mountain Market.

What unfolded before Zhao Fan was a wide main street, large enough for several carriages to pass side by side, with smooth bluestone slabs on the ground, clean and dust-free.

The streets are lined with buildings, with flying eaves and brackets, standing side by side.

There are magnificent shops that are several stories high, with shimmering plaques hanging at the entrances.

There were also smaller shops that specialized in a wide variety of items, which dazzled Zhao Fan.

There are more stalls along the street, which are much more organized than those in Yulin Mountain Market. They are all within the designated white stone lines and sell a wider variety of goods.

The streets were teeming with pedestrians, shoulder to shoulder, and there were a great many cultivators, with mid- to late-stage Qi Refining cultivators everywhere, dressed in various styles and with varying levels of aura strength.

Many of them looked travel-worn, some carrying swords, others exuding a sharp aura; they were clearly people who frequently traveled.

Occasionally, one can see groups of cultivators dressed in uniform and exuding an extraordinary air, seemingly disciples of certain families or small sects.

The air was filled with the sounds of bargaining, the shouts of shop assistants, and the occasional low growls and hisses of spirit beasts, creating a cacophony that gave Zhao Fan a headache.

"How about it, Fellow Daoist Zhao? Pretty impressive, right?"

Su Ziyan asked with a hint of pride, as if he had a share in this immortal city.

"This is the outer city's Baiyefang, which mainly caters to low- and mid-level cultivators like us. Further in, in the inner city area, there are even more upscale auction houses, high-class inns, and places specifically for high-level cultivators to trade. However, the prices there are higher, and the rules are stricter."

Zhao Fan was indeed taken aback by the scale of the event, but he quickly composed himself and nodded.

"Indeed extraordinary, Fellow Daoist Ziyan. Do you have any recommendations for shops in this city that offer fair prices for materials and a complete selection of books?"

"If you're looking to buy materials, I recommend Baichuan Chamber of Commerce. Their prices are relatively fair, and they're honest with everyone, young and old."

"As for classical texts..."

Su Ziyan scratched his head and continued speaking.

"If I remember correctly, Langyu Book Pavilion is the largest, containing all kinds of cultivation techniques, spells, and miscellaneous books, but it is also the most expensive."

"Bowenlou's prices are slightly lower, and the selection is quite comprehensive. What kind of books are you looking to buy, fellow Daoist?"

"Regarding the Way of Prohibition."

Zhao Fan said.

"A restriction..."

Su Ziyan thought for a moment.

"This is considered a rather niche item. Langyu Book Pavilion definitely has it, but Bowenlou might also have some in stock. You might as well go to Bowenlou first, and if they don't have it, then go to Langyu Book Pavilion."

"By the way, the Hundred Refinements Pavilion I'm going to is just around the corner on that street, not far from the Bowen Tower. I've been there for the past few days, so Brother Zhao, you can come find me anytime if you need anything."