Eternal Life Begins with Learning

"The entry fee is one Lower Grade Spirit Stone."

He had just stepped into the Marketplace, and before he could get a clear look at his surroundings, a voice sounded by his ear.

His tense body relaxed slightly. Chu Mu casually took out a Spirit Stone, but just as he was about to hand it over, his previously calm gaze froze.

’The one who spoke isn’t a person, but a Puppet?’

Chu Mu stared at the Puppet before him, which was at least half a meter taller than him, and was somewhat stunned.

The Puppet was humanoid, covered in Iron Armor with visible, shimmering patterns. It wore a black Iron Helmet, and its outstretched hand was clearly some kind of metal arm.

Under his Divine Sense Perception, it was completely lifeless. Only a terrifying Spiritual Radiance was faintly visible, and the aura of Qi Cultivation Perfection was crystal clear.

’A Human-shaped Puppet with the Combat Power of the Peak of Qi Cultivation!’

Chu Mu tentatively handed the Spirit Stone to the Puppet. A small hole suddenly opened in the Puppet’s palm and swallowed the Spirit Stone.

Within his Divine Sense Perception, a fluctuation seemed to flash through the Puppet’s arm. This fluctuation was identical to the one he had felt back at the Learning Pavilion when the clerk measured Spiritual Power.

Immediately after, the Puppet extended its other arm, and a black ring appeared in its hand.

"Hold this ring. You may stay in the Marketplace for twelve hours. If you exceed this time, you must pay another Spirit Stone. Violators will be expelled."

"To rent a stall costs three Spirit Stones, which allows you to hold it for twenty-four hours."

"Battles are strictly forbidden in the Marketplace. Violators will have their souls extracted and used as lamp fuel."

The voice emanated from the Puppet’s head, mechanical and cold. It didn’t seem much different from the robots in the sci-fi movies of his past life.

Chu Mu took the ring without a word. Possessing an inheritance of Puppetry Skill, even if he couldn’t yet understand or practice it, he still had some knowledge on the subject.

The Puppet before him was undoubtedly operating according to some pre-set program. As long as he didn’t violate its rules, it posed no threat.

’Still, with a Puppet like this guarding the gate, does this mean the Black Market might have the Artifact Refining Basics I need?’

Chu Mu’s heart leaped. He sized up the Puppet for a moment before finally turning his gaze to the Marketplace ahead. It wasn’t the valley he had imagined, but a... vast, brightly lit cavern.

The cavern was at least as large as a stadium from his past life. Its hollowed-out stone ceiling was embedded with countless Fluorescent Stones, which, from a distance, looked like a brilliant starry sky.

Beneath this starry sky were rings of wooden shacks circling the cavern. The shacks were not as magnificent or exquisite as those in the Jade Emperor Valley Marketplace; they all looked as if they had been haphazardly slapped together from a few wooden planks.

Evidently, these shacks were likely the "stalls" the Puppet had mentioned.

Subconsciously, Chu Mu began to calculate in his head. ’Hundreds of shacks mean hundreds of stalls, and the rent for each is three Spirit Stones. The right to hold a stall for twenty-four hours is one day. That’s several thousand Spirit Stones in a single day, plus the one-Spirit-Stone entry fees...’

Chu Mu pursed his lips, his gaze toward the Black Market growing feverish.

With a stride, Chu Mu stepped into the clamor of the Black Market.

There were many Cultivators in the Black Market. Along the circular street, one could see Cultivators lingering in front of nearly every stall, either asking questions, haggling, or even getting into heated arguments and shouting matches.

However, all the clamor was clearly confined to a certain area. At regular intervals along the circular street, one could see a statue-like Human-shaped Puppet.

The undisguised fluctuations of power clearly announced to all Cultivators their Combat Power at the Peak of Qi Cultivation.

Strolling slowly past the stalls, the dazzling array of various items was a real eye-opener for Chu Mu.

The strict rules of Jade Emperor Valley clearly did not exist here in the Fengming Lake Black Market.

Although the prices were mostly steep, there were no restrictions. Once a price was agreed upon, the transaction was final.

For instance, he saw the complete thirteen-layer Flame Decision Cultivation Technique he practiced at one stall. The asking price was one hundred twenty Spirit Stones, which was even slightly cheaper than buying it layer by layer from the Learning Pavilion—and this was the complete version!

Magic, for example, could be seen everywhere at these stalls, mostly sold in packages that included the relevant basic knowledge.

Things like Spirit Medicines, Ore Materials, and Magical Artifacts were also extremely common.

Chu Mu stopped and looked at a book on the stall in front of him. The title was... *Artifact Refining Basics*!

The name was very ordinary, yet also extraordinary!

’What am I lacking? I’m not lacking fundamentals in Alchemy Skill. I already perfected those in the mortal world. As long as I have enough resources, I can convert my mundane knowledge of herbs and remedies into the Alchemy Skill of the Cultivation Immortal Realm. But for my Puppet inheritance, I lack the basics! Puppetry Skill is a branch that evolved from Artifact Refining Skill. In other words, if I want to study Puppetry Skill, I first need a certain understanding of Artifact Refining Skill. And Artifact Refining Skill includes so much: Ore Materials, Artifact Patterns, Array Patterns, smelting... The main reason I’ve been wasting time at Li’s Ore Materials was to try and piece together this foundational knowledge bit by bit. Only then could I attempt to get into Puppetry Skill. How can my piecemeal efforts compare to a complete volume of *Artifact Refining Basics*? It’s no exaggeration to say that with a copy of *Artifact Refining Basics*, the missing pieces of my knowledge puzzle would be filled in an instant. It would be like getting half a foot in the door of Puppetry Skill!’

"This copy of *Artifact Refining Basics*, how many Spirit Stones?"

"No bargaining. One thousand Lower Grade Spirit Stones, and you must swear an oath not to leak its contents!"

The gray-robed man behind the stall glanced up at Chu Mu. After speaking, he seemed to think Chu Mu might have the funds and added, "You can go to the Libra Pavilion to verify its authenticity."

’Libra Pavilion?’

Chu Mu silently committed the name to memory, then shook his head. Without another word, he turned and walked away.

’One thousand Lower Grade Spirit Stones... I’m still eight hundred short myself... Puppetry Skill is important, but right now, the most crucial thing is to create a source of income from Grain Avoidance Pills. Only by establishing a source of wealth can my Cultivation improve steadily and my Immortal Path have any hope.’

Despite his craving, Chu Mu could still distinguish his priorities.

After a lap around the Marketplace, Chu Mu had a general understanding of the Fengming Mountain Black Market.

This Fengming Mountain Black Market was different from the monopolized, exclusive market of Jade Emperor Valley. It was a free trade market. This "freedom" meant that within the Marketplace, there were no restrictions; as long as something existed, it could be bought and sold.

Of course, while freedom existed within the Marketplace, it was even more rampant outside of it.

Sales were guaranteed inside, but once you left the Fengming Mountain Black Market, there were no guarantees at all. Whether you could hold onto what you obtained in the Black Market depended on your own abilities.

As for the Libra Pavilion he had just heard about, it was an organization similar to an appraisal and guarantee agency. If a buyer and seller couldn’t determine the authenticity of an item, they could have it appraised at the Libra Pavilion, which would charge a one percent commission based on the transaction’s value.

Of course, if a problem arose with an item after appraisal, the Libra Pavilion also guaranteed compensation.

A completely free trade market naturally meant a wide variety of goods were traded.

After just one lap, Chu Mu discovered that everything he currently wanted, whether it was the foundational knowledge for Alchemy or Puppetry Skill, was apparently for sale in the Fengming Valley Black Market.

He even saw a Pill Furnace for sale that was a Top Grade Magical Artifact!

’In other words, as long as I have enough Spirit Stones, I can get everything I currently want and solve all my current problems right here in this Black Market.’

"Spirit Stones..."

Chu Mu pursed his lips as two inheritances surfaced in his mind.

One of Alchemy, one of Puppetry.

One was received through another’s kindness; one was picked up for free.

’If I were to sell one, how should I sell it, and which one should it be?’

Chu Mu analyzed silently. Factually speaking, selling the Alchemy Skill inheritance left by Elder Li would be the most profitable.

After all, the knowledge in the Alchemy Inheritance was relatively basic. The Grain Avoidance Pill was also the most fundamental Pill Recipe in the Cultivation Immortal Realm. In this Black Market, it truly wasn’t anything special.

The Puppetry Skill, however, was different. Even if the Puppetry Skill inheritance in his mind was just foundational knowledge within the broader system of puppetry, this "foundation" was not like the basics of Alchemy. It was an advanced foundation!

If he were to offer it for sale, even in this Black Market, he would absolutely become a public target.

Moreover, judging from all the Puppets, the master of this Black Market was clearly an expert accomplished in Puppetry Skill. If he brought out Puppetry Skill knowledge, would he attract unwanted attention?

Not to mention, the Puppetry Skill he obtained seemed to be related to the mystery of East Lake. If he sold it, would he attract the notice of even higher-level, interested parties?

But the Alchemy Skill knowledge, in the end, was a gift born of kindness. If he sold it, how could he face Elder Li’s earnest teachings?

But if he chose not to sell the Alchemy Skill and instead sold knowledge related to Puppetry Skill, the price—no matter which of the outcomes he envisioned—seemed to be more than his present self could bear.

Chu Mu looked around the Marketplace, a conflicted expression appearing in his eyes.

Morality and reality seemed to be colliding once again.

...