CHAPTER 352: CHAPTER 352: LEGENDS AND IMMORTAL PEACH

"Oh dear, how many spirit stones would this fetch?" The Bear Demon pondered that the Nine Bends Vine’s hemostatic effect was comparable to the Iron Thistle Grass, but the former was relatively milder, and taking it directly caused fewer side effects.

The Iron Thistle Grass in the herb shop was priced at 450 spirit stones, so wouldn’t the Nine Bends Vine be even more expensive?

Jiang Yuan stepped forward with a smile and said, "To be honest, I am new here and not very familiar with the Wo Hu Temple Market. Since we have met, could you kindly explain these spirit medicines to me?"

"I’m sorry to trouble you." The Bear Demon chuckled awkwardly, coveting the spirit medicine and making some polite remarks before accepting it, and pointed out, "The Wo Hu Temple Market is divided into nine layers: upper, middle, and lower. The lowest three layers are all small businesses, covering all aspects of clothing, food, housing, and transportation. If you need to eat, rest, or tailor clothes, buy low-level talismans, you can find them in the lower three layers.

We are currently in the middle three layers, selling spirit medicines, elixirs, arrays, weapons, and magical treasures, with relatively higher consumption. However, these layers are often mixed with good and bad, so you have to keep your eyes peeled when purchasing.

The top three layers of those shops have no spending limits.

The most impressive is the Treasure Pavilion, where everything inside is guaranteed to be genuine but pricy. The first floor has ordinary cultivator supplies; the second floor holds high-grade elixirs and magical treasures; the third floor is the legendary auction house that only entertains distinguished guests."

At this point, the Bear Demon looked at the lavish Treasure Pavilion with a deep fascination in his eyes, "I have no right to enter, but I’ve heard, just heard, that in the auction house on the third floor of the Treasure Pavilion, you can encounter all kinds of rare treasures. Of course, their expenses are no longer spirit stones but immortal jade. Sometimes even immortal jade isn’t enough; you need barter instead."

Jiang Yuan glanced at the "tool" lying in the storage bag—a mysterious referral letter from the jewelry merchant.

By handing this letter to the Pavilion Master of the Wo Hu Temple Market’s Treasure Pavilion, he can unlock the entry qualification for the third-floor auction.

"Look, friend, from the mountain’s peak, there’s a large gate. Leaving from there will take you to Wo Hu Temple." The Bear Demon gestured for him to hurry, slightly excitedly saying, "I assume you came to this Wo Hu Temple Market while seeking opportunities. If you don’t find an inn to stay in, when the market closes at dawn, you’ll have to camp outside Wo Hu Temple."

Following him quickly to the top, there appeared an old, nondescript archway.

Stepping through, the scene changed, and the bustling market vanished. Jiang Yuan found himself standing on a spacious platform outside the archway, directly facing a majestic tiger-like mountain cliff under the bright moonlight.

On the tiger’s head stood a dilapidated temple, seemingly constructed like a sharp sword piercing into the tiger’s head at first glance.

Now, that temple seemed unoccupied, with many parts in disrepair. Just beyond the collapsed courtyard walls, there was a peach tree, evidently ancient, with its trunk twisted, dangling slightly from the "tiger’s forehead" cliff, adorned with large, bowl-like pink peaches that were captivating.

Though distant and shrouded in a semi-transparent barrier visible to the naked eye, Jiang Yuan couldn’t yet identify the immortal peaches using his system.

And outside this semi-transparent barrier had long gathered numerous cultivators, "tiger head" above stirred like a dense mass of ants; further down, the mountainside had scattered camps with people.

"Rumor has it that this Wo Hu Temple has a rather fantastical origin." The Bear Demon shaded his eyes while patiently explaining, looking at the tempting immortal peaches, "The Wilderness World is rich in spiritual energy, all beings born inherently contain their own spiritual power, not ordinary entities but demon beasts. Upon gaining insight, they cultivate as demon cultivators.

However, the world is vast and full of wonders. It’s said that in ancient times, there was a tiger-like demon beast in this area that, despite not gaining insight, was naturally blessed with great divine power, and for a time, even many demon cultivators couldn’t overcome it. Until a Buddhist cultivator traveling here identified it—turned out to be a playful demon tiger, raised by celestial immortals, causing much bloodshed after descending.

The Buddhist cultivator battled the demon tiger for three days and nights. As the tiger was about to lose, it transformed into a large mountain trying to evade calamity.

The Buddhist cultivator chuckled, wielding a sword which turned into Wo Hu Temple, subduing the demon tiger, reprimanding it and stating it must repay its wrongdoing by restoring spiritual power to this world. Thus, he tossed the held peach flower, which took root and grew into an immortal peach tree, also a purifying array hub, keeping the demon tiger stationed and expelling its inner violent nature.

The legend claims when the sins are cleansed, and violent dispositions are gone, the demon tiger shall live again and ascend to the Upper Realm."

Jiang Yuan didn’t expect to find a "guide" while seeking a cheap spirit medicine that narrated a legendary story. Now, looking at the opposite mountain increasingly resembling a hiding tiger.

"So many cultivators want to vie for the immortal peaches; though the tree is large, it can’t bear too many fruits—afraid there’ll be a fierce battle." Too distant, he couldn’t see the realms of the cultivators gathered before the barrier clearly.

The Bear Demon nodded, "Whenever heavenly or earth treasures emerge, a conflict surely ensues. As for loose cultivators like me, I can only watch from afar to see if I can pick up a chance.

Rumors are rampant these days, stating powerful demon cultivators from prominent sects, family clans not yet surfaced have secretly divided the immortal peaches among themselves. Don’t let the multitude of cultivators who’ve secured prime spots early fool you; should those sects and families unite, who can oppose them? If true, alas..."

The attraction of the immortal peaches capable of extending one’s lifespan was indeed immense. Jiang Yuan looked at the increasingly conglomerating different factions, feeling uncertain.

"Will the barrier dissipate automatically when the immortal peaches mature?" He curiously asked, "Using a teleportation talisman to pluck the peaches instantly and teleport away might have some chance, right!"

Isn’t it all written like this in stories? When barriers scatter, usually the chosen ones can outpace others to reach the treasure’s location.

The Bear Demon waved his hand with a smile, "You’ve misunderstood, friend. That barrier is deliberately set to protect the immortal peaches; how could it disperse?

On the contrary, when the peaches mature, the barrier becomes even stronger, and the entire Wo Hu Mountain is supported by an array, preventing arbitrary teleportation. At that time, those cultivators challenging the barrier can receive acknowledgment and gain an immortal peach."

Jiang Yuan listened with a puzzled expression, "Challenging the barrier for acknowledgment? Sounds fair enough. Then why were you sighing?"

"It’s said the Buddhist cultivator took the demon tiger, planted the immortal peach, then ascended and left; the barrier grants peaches to those with destiny—it sounds fair, doesn’t it?" The other party responded with a troubled expression, "But you can’t guard against loopholes!

Take those sects and families, they drive off other cultivators together, don’t all the opportunities for immortal peaches become theirs? This peach tree only bears two or three dozen fruits, finding twenty to thirty talented youths is simple for them.

Now it depends on whether, when these much-anticipated loose cultivators unite to resist the sects and families, can they not let them dominate? If they can confront them, then maybe we still have a slim chance."

So not rushing to approach now is waiting for them to fight so they can swoop in?

Jiang Yuan thought, what if others are thinking the same thing?

Still need to gather more intel about the status of the immortal peaches since the Bear Demon’s words are hearsay and not necessarily completely accurate. If it’s truly as he says, how can I lead the small courtyard group and successfully pluck a couple of peaches to taste?