Chương 342: Walking Among Elders

"What would you accept in trade?" I asked, maintaining the aloof dignity expected of a Civilization Realm cultivator. The water being's form rippled slightly, perhaps its version of a thoughtful expression.

"I'm afraid I have little interest in resources produced within a blood cultivator's inner world. The... taint tends to disrupt water-element harmony." I inwardly grimaced. Of course the blood cultivator disguise would create complications. Few wanted to deal directly with practitioners of forbidden arts, and even fewer wanted materials that had absorbed blood energy. The water being studied me for a moment, then its form condensed slightly as it continued.

"However, practitioners of your... distinguished path are known for acquiring techniques from other cultivation methods through rather... unconventional means." The implication was clear: blood cultivators obtained techniques by killing their original owners.

"Perhaps you've acquired water-element techniques in your travels that might interest me?" The question was both insulting and pragmatic. The merchant clearly disapproved of blood cultivation but was willing to overlook his distaste for a valuable technique. While others might have been offended by the insinuation, it actually gave me an opening. I immediately recalled the knowledge Ke Jun had shared with me.

"I possess several water techniques," I replied.

"The Flowing Mirror Defense, which creates reflective water surfaces that return attacks at double strength. Or perhaps the Drowning Abyss Formation, which generates pockets of pressurized water around intruders." The water being's interest was obvious as its form condensed slightly.

"Interesting offerings, but perhaps insufficient for a Primordial Wellspring."

"I also know the Celestial Water Curtain technique," I said, pulling out what seemed like the most impressive-sounding of Ke Jun's water techniques.

"A defensive method that creates nine layers of water barriers, each with different properties. The outermost layer purifies foreign energy, the second reflects attacks, the third absorbs and converts offensive qi to strengthen the remaining layers, and so on." The merchant's form shifted, the flowing motion within his watery body becoming more deliberate, focused.

"The Celestial Water Curtain? A solid defensive technique from the Eastern Sea Sects. Useful for water cultivators who need to defend against multiple types of attacks simultaneously." I nodded confidently, despite knowing little about the technique's origins.

"The very same." The merchant's form rippled in what might have been consideration.

"A fair offer. The technique is valuable without being too specialized, and would complement my existing methods well. The layered approach to defense would fill gaps in my current repertoire."

"So, do we have an agreement or not?" I asked.

"The Celestial Water Curtain for your Primordial Wellspring."

"Yes, yes of course," the water being agreed eagerly.

"A most fair exchange." The exchange itself unfolded with an elegant complexity I hadn't expected. First, I transmitted the Celestial Water Curtain technique to the merchant's spiritual sense. As the information passed between us, a soft, golden light enveloped the stream of consciousness: the Nexus's famed Ethereal Light, analyzing and authenticating every detail of the technique. The light pulsed from gold to blue as it completed its verification, confirming that what I offered was indeed the genuine article.

"The Nexus accepts your offering," the merchant said with evident satisfaction. In return, he placed the jade box containing the Wellspring on what appeared to be a floating disc of pure light. Immediately, the Ethereal Light intensified, bathing the Wellspring in its revealing glow. The cube of water within seemed to respond, its internal patterns shifting more rapidly as the light assessed its true nature and value. I watched in fascination as the Ethereal Light turned a brilliant azure. The merchant nodded.

"Now, you must grant permission for the transfer to your inner world." I extended my spiritual sense toward the Wellspring, mentally accepting its entry into my domain. The space between us distorted visibly, reality folding in on itself like a piece of parchment being creased. The jade box shimmered, then simply vanished from the physical space of the Nexus. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

At the same moment, I felt a subtle change within my inner world, the addition of something new, carefully placed in the storage area I'd mentally designated.

"Use it wisely," the merchant bowed.

"Water seeks harmony, even when wielded by those who follow... different paths." I nodded.

"The Dao has many branches. Some flow with blood, others with water, but all return to the same source eventually."

"Philosophical now, are we?" Azure commented as we moved away from the merchant.

"When in Rome," I replied quietly.

"Or rather, when pretending to be a Civilization Realm cultivator, one should sound appropriately cryptic and profound." I continued exploring the Water Element sector, examining other treasures that might complement the Wellspring. Nothing else seemed quite as valuable for my specific needs, though I did make a few smaller trades for water essence stones that would help stabilize the Wellspring once I installed it in my inner world.

As I turned to leave the water sector, something caught my attention: a spiritual projection that seemed to weave unsteadily between stalls, radiating the aura of a Life Realm cultivator. Unlike most traders who moved with purpose and precision, this one drifted haphazardly, occasionally bumping into displays or other traders.

"Is that... is that cultivator drunk?" I asked in disbelief. Azure's voice held amusement.

"It would appear so. Quite an achievement, considering this is merely a spiritual projection. His actual body must be exceptionally intoxicated to affect his manifestation here." I observed the figure more closely. There was something familiar about the way he moved, the slight tilt of his head as he examined treasures...

"Wait," I murmured.

"Could that be Elder Chen Yong?" The thought was absurd. What were the chances that in this infinite marketplace, I would encounter my own master? Before I could decide whether to approach or avoid the figure, it turned in my direction. The light projection faced me directly, and though it had no discernible facial features, I could sense the moment of recognition.

The figure's aura contracted sharply, like someone holding their breath in fear, and then it promptly turned and retreated in the opposite direction with surprising speed for someone who had appeared drunk just moments before. It took me a second to understand what had happened. Then it hit me. I currently appeared as a Civilization Realm blood cultivator.

To a Life Realm practitioner, I must have seemed like a walking nightmare, a predator several realms above them with a cultivation path notorious for consuming the essence of others. No wonder the figure had fled. Whether it was Elder Chen Yong or not, I had unintentionally terrified someone powerful enough to be considered a major sect elder.

"I just scared the cultivation equivalent of a general," I muttered to Azure, a mixture of amusement and guilt swirling within me.

"The disguise is working as intended," Azure replied dryly.

"Though perhaps too effectively." I sent a silent apology toward the retreating figure. If that was indeed Elder Chen Yong, I'd have to be extra respectful during our next training session to make up for the inadvertent spiritual trauma I'd just inflicted. Pushing aside thoughts of my master, I turned my attention back to the marketplace. I had the Wellspring, which would likely be enough for my breakthrough, but exploring more of the Nexus seemed sensible while I had the chance.

Who knew when I might be able to return? I drifted toward an area where the ambient light shifted to a deep purple tinged with black.

"The forbidden arts section, I presume?" I asked Azure.

"Indeed. Blood cultivation, soul arts, curse techniques, and other practices frowned upon by orthodox sects," Azure explained.

"This is actually where techniques like the ones Ke Jun provided would fetch the highest value. Many cultivators come to the Nexus specifically searching for such forbidden knowledge." I nodded, moving deeper into the shadows. The stalls here were more subdued, their proprietors more guarded. Many treasures were kept hidden from casual view, revealed only when proper interest was expressed.

I browsed with casual interest, noting techniques that manipulated souls, artifacts that could steal cultivation bases, and pills that granted power at terrible cost. As I turned a corner between two particularly dark stalls, I found myself on a collision course with another figure, a crimson silhouette that marked another blood cultivator. Too distracted by my observations to react quickly, I nearly crashed into him before registering his presence.

The cultivator stepped back sharply, a flicker of alarm crossing his spiritual projection. From his aura, I could tell he was at the Life Realm, powerful by most standards, but significantly weaker than my current disguise. Before I could apologize or move past him, the Life Realm blood cultivator did something unexpected, he bowed deeply.

"This junior apologizes for his carelessness," he said, his voice laced with careful deference.

"I failed to watch my path and nearly inconvenienced the senior. Please forgive my transgression." I froze, caught completely off-guard by this display. In my actual cultivation base as a Qi Condensation disciple, I was accustomed to being the one showing deference to others. The only other time I'd experienced anything like this was during my visit to the Starhaven Realm, where everyone had mistakenly believed my cultivation to be far higher than it actually was. But this was different.

This wasn't some confused mortal or low-level cultivator, this was a genuine Life Realm practitioner, someone who could obliterate mountains with a gesture. In the real world, such a figure would barely acknowledge my existence except perhaps to instruct me to perform some menial task. Yet here he was, bowing deeply before me, waiting for my response. I needed to respond appropriately or risk revealing my deception.

A true Civilization Realm blood cultivator wouldn't be flustered by deference from a lower realm practitioner. But how would such a being react? With cruelty? Dismissal? Or perhaps cold indifference? I had only seconds to decide before my hesitation became suspicious...