Chapter 461: Inner Peak Market, Devouring Giant Beast

Seeing how agreeable Ji Yuan was, the middle-aged man excitedly clasped his hands repeatedly in thanks.

"Thank you, Immortal Master, thank you, Immortal Master!"

The teenagers standing by also joined the middle-aged man in continuous thanks.

"Alright, keep up. Peak Crossing is not far from here."

With that, Ji Yuan and Ju Yuanzi began their trek towards Peak Crossing, with the group behind them quickly following suit.

Those behind dared not get too close, but from a short distance, they noticed the two ahead traversing as if taking a casual stroll, their hands barely touching the ground, unlike themselves who often had to use both hands and feet.

Moreover, weeds and vines seemed to float past Ji Yuan and Ju Yuanzi like wisps of silk, effortlessly sliding past their clothes. The people behind them now experienced the same ease, no longer troubled by weeds, dead branches, or thorny vines, which had previously caused them much hardship during their journey.

"How did you learn about Peak Crossing, and why are you going there?"

Ji Yuan turned to look at the six people following closely and casually asked. Seeing the middle-aged man about to bow again, he quickly added:

"When you're climbing and using all fours, don't bother bowing. If you fall, I won't save you."

"Yes, yes!"

The middle-aged man wiped sweat from his brow with his sleeve, answering as he climbed.

"To answer, Immortal Master, our Yan and Zong families' ancestors were once from Langming Kingdom in Hengzhou. According to ancient lore, our ancestors faced a great disaster and fled for several months. When they got lost in the mountains, they stumbled into an immortal realm, which was an immortal's ferry crossing. They later found ways to survive by working at the crossing or with the immortal ferrymen. Some also settled in peaceful places after descending from these immortal crossings, and we are descendants of one such branch..."

The man replied respectfully, slowly revealing his family's history.

Ju Yuanzi stroked his beard, turning back to ask:

"Then why are you going to Peak Crossing now?"

"To answer this Immortal Master, we have been living quite well in Zenan Kingdom, but recently, we received news one night that one of our ancestors gained entry to an immortal's dwelling a hundred years ago. Now, they wish to select talented descendants to guide onto the immortal path. This is nothing short of a shortcut to heaven. The dozen or so Yan and Zong descendants in Zenan Kingdom were extremely excited upon hearing this. After suitable individuals were chosen, I brought these descendants here to find Peak Crossing. However, even with an ancestral map, immortal ferry crossings remain elusive. Had we not encountered you two Immortal Masters, we mortals might have wandered aimlessly for much longer."

Actually, their ancestors once possessed a token bestowed by an immortal from Moon Deer Mountain many generations ago. Unfortunately, it had long been lost. It was said that an irresponsible descendant, generations ago, had accumulated a large gambling debt and secretly sold the token after stealing it from the ancestral shrine.

Since then, no one from either family had returned to Moon Deer Mountain, or rather, no one had successfully entered the immortal realm. This time, they came to try their luck only after receiving a message from their ancestors, and indeed, fortune favored them.

The idea of 'one person’s success bringing prosperity to all connected to them' came to Ji Yuan’s mind upon hearing the middle-aged man’s words. While not perfectly aligned with the situation, it generally reflected the benefit to the descendants.

To accommodate those behind them, Ji Yuan and Ju Yuanzi deliberately slowed their pace. The group chatted as they walked, and after about four hours, the mountain path beneath their feet gradually widened, and the troublesome thorny vines almost disappeared.

The surrounding scenery grew increasingly beautiful. The middle-aged man and the others felt the air they breathed becoming fresher. A sound of "trickling... and splashing..." reached their ears, and before them appeared a mountain stream, a bit more than a person's width.

"Water!"

A boy behind the middle-aged man instinctively cried out.

Ji Yuan and Ju Yuanzi intentionally slowed down and stopped by the stream, while the others behind them rushed forward to the water's edge.

"Drink, drink!" "This water is so clear!"

"It's spring water, it's fine, you can drink it!"

"Gulp, gulp, gulp..."

The group, without much thought, knelt by the stream and cupped their hands to drink, or simply lowered their heads to slurp the water.

"Wow, this water is so sweet!"

"Don't just drink, fill your containers!"

"Right, right, right!"

After drinking their fill to quench their thirst, they unfastened the bamboo tubes from their bodies and began filling them in the stream.

"We've arrived."

As they were busy filling their containers and drinking, they heard Ji Yuan's calm voice and instinctively looked up. In the distance, what seemed like hazy mist gradually dispersed, revealing a magnificent mountain peak that had not been visible before, appearing slightly further away.

A shorter peak seemed to support a taller one that slanted into the clouds, a mountain formation they had never seen before, as if a towering peak had fallen and been propped up by a slightly shorter mountain.

Yet, just before they reached the stream, there had been nothing there.

"Had enough to drink? If so, let's set off."

"Yes, yes, yes, we'll listen to the Immortal Master. Let's go, let's go!"

The middle-aged man grew even more excited. This was his first time seeing an immortal's ferry crossing, and if he felt this way, how much more so the teenagers behind him? Although the two who had been accompanying them were also immortals, they had walked just like mortals, exhibiting little extraordinary power.

After crossing the small stream, the path became much easier to traverse. They even occasionally encountered other people, some of whom were cultivators, and some were mortals.

Upon reaching this point, Ji Yuan and Ju Yuanzi parted ways with the middle-aged man and the five youths. They had brought them this far; all that remained was for them to slowly ascend the mountain. The terrain around Peak Crossing was not steep, and there was a wide mountain path with even some pavilions and stalls along the sides, so the six could make their way up on their own.

About fifteen minutes after parting with the six, Ji Yuan and Ju Yuanzi reached the area above Peak Crossing. The actual ferry crossing was on the outer peak, while the inner peak had already developed into a considerable complex of buildings.

This market comprised dozens of large buildings and many smaller ones, including inns and taverns. Some were run by mortals, while others were managed by cultivators. Some buildings were unremarkable, while others shimmered with light.

The flow of people was considerable, giving the place a bustling appearance. Ji Yuan even saw several obvious spirit-beings strolling about, with some mortals instinctively giving them a wide berth.

Standing outside, Ji Yuan watched all this with surprise. Although he had anticipated seeing something similar after disembarking from the Nine Peaks Mountain flying boat, he had not expected it to be so bustling—it truly felt like a genuine market.

"Hehehe, I didn't expect Peak Crossing to be so lively after so many years!"

Ju Yuanzi remarked with a chuckle, addressing Ji Yuan.

"Mr. Ji, shall we also take a look around? In the world of cultivation, such scenes only appear at various ferry crossings."

As he spoke, Ju Yuanzi cast a thin stream of light, then stepped with Ji Yuan into this "bustling market" of the cultivation world.

For any establishment to thrive here, even mortal-run shops were no longer ordinary. Impeccable service was a must; no irritable mortal would dare to lose their temper. Food, tools, and small trinkets were all perfected to the highest degree.

Furthermore, items revered as treasures in the mortal world, such as calligraphy and paintings by masters or artifacts meticulously crafted by skilled artisans, also found a market here. After all, these objects contained the spirit of their creators and often possessed a unique charm, sometimes even intriguing cultivators like Ji Yuan.

Thus, some astute vendors specialized in collecting items from the mortal world that might appeal to immortals and brought them here.

If a mortal could earn some miraculous item from an immortal using such objects, they would truly become rich.

However, cultivators were not entirely detached from the mortal world; they also possessed gold and silver. Unless truly exceptional, such items were usually paid for with mundane currency, not just casually exchanged for immortal artifacts.

Besides gold and silver circulating among mortals, immortals could barter with each other, and there were also "hard currencies" like elemental essences and spirit elixirs, whose inherent value meant no one would refuse them.

Ji Yuan and Ju Yuanzi walked through the bustling market, and those with keen eyes tried to maintain a respectful distance from the pair.

One, in a plain long robe, exuded an extraordinary demeanor; the other, with a long white beard and youthful face, clearly seemed beyond mortal. Yet, on a sensory level, they appeared like ordinary people, combined with an air of serene composure and fresh curiosity about their surroundings.

Without needing much thought, it was almost certain they were highly accomplished immortal elders who rarely ventured out. Such individuals possessed unfathomable cultivation, and their Dharma eyes saw through the world; anyone with sense would show them respect.

"Revered Ju, Mr. Ji!"

Wei Yuansheng's voice came, and then Qiu Feng, Yang Ming, and the others from Jade Embrace Mountain appeared in Ji Yuan's and Ju Yuanzi's sight. Wei Yuansheng even jogged directly towards them, stopping in front of the two.

"Mr. Ji, so the cultivation world has such lively places! I thought it was always like Jade Embrace Mountain!"

"Heh heh, I was quite surprised myself!"

As they spoke, Qiu Feng and the others also approached, bowing to Ji Yuan and Ju Yuanzi. This time, Jade Embrace Mountain had sent over a dozen people, from Revered Masters to disciples. Ji Yuan recognized some, while others he had never met, but most of them recognized Ji Yuan.

"Revered Ju, Mr. Ji, since you've also arrived so early, we might as well take the Profound Heart Mansion's inter-realm flying boat. If they aren't delayed en route, they should reach Peak Crossing in two days, and then we'll arrive at Hengzhou in the Northern Reaches in approximately two and a half months."

"What do you think, Mr. Ji?"

Ju Yuanzi asked Ji Yuan, who nodded.

"Heh heh, you decide. I'm just a country bumpkin who hasn't seen much of the world."

Such words were to be taken lightly; even though Ji Yuan was amiable, no one from Jade Embrace Mountain dared to mock him.

Seeing Ji Yuan nod, Ju Yuanzi then spoke decisively.

"Since Mr. Ji has no objections, we shall take the Profound Heart Mansion's flying boat."

Ji Yuan couldn't help but think of the old dragon Ying Hong. If the old dragon were here, he would surely have teased Ji Yuan right after he spoke. The people from Jade Embrace Mountain were sometimes too rigid.

Whoosh... whoosh...

At this moment, the clouds and mist swirling around the mountain peaks were suddenly stirred. Gusts of air, whistling, turned into strong winds, though by the time they reached the market, they had become mere gentle breezes. Nevertheless, many people, including Ji Yuan, instinctively looked up.

A colossal creature vaguely revealed itself within the clouds.

"Ooooh-woooh"

A long, distant cry echoed. It was a massive demonic beast with fin-like appendages on its sides and top. By its sheer size, it was practically a mountain, appearing even larger than the towering Peak Crossing itself.

"That's the Sky-Swallowing Beast of Weimei Sect, one of the most renowned realm-ferries!"

Ju Yuanzi watched as the gigantic beast soared towards the outer peak in the distance, offering this explanation to Ji Yuan.