Killing Dao Fruit
Chapter 169 - 166: New Ability: Deceit Market!

Chapter 169: Chapter 166: New Ability: Deceit Market!

[Money Box] Precept Taboo:

1. It randomly swallows living humans within an eight-foot radius who carry valuables; the higher the value of the possessions, the greater the likelihood of being swallowed.

On average, one out of every two people are consumed (except for the bookkeeper Wang Yuan and his affiliates, and if this ability is forcibly shut down, the money box becomes a normal chest with no spiritual response).

Not to mention, the Mountain Spirit Temple’s host is essentially only at the "True Qi Realm."

Even Senior Brother Song, who was once in the "Yin God Realm", had to remove all his possessions before daring to approach the Money Box.

It simply is a perfect trap for killing and robbing.

As long as one’s Taoist ability is below that of mages, and they carry with them a large amount of valuables that the Money Box cannot resist,

escaping with merely a bare "Yin God" would be considered a stroke of great luck.

Lady Peach Fairy, holding the Money Box, took just a small step in the Mountain Spirit Temple and half of the temple disappeared without a trace.

Only the ordinary houses made of brick and tile were left, completely unharmed.

Although Lady Peach Fairy thought Wang Yuan was too generous, she obediently left behind one-tenth of the dazzling array of treasures.

And most of them were either easily liquefiable gold and silver or beautiful jade that could be used to make talismans and magic artifacts.

After all, the Money Box is not picky; even the hardest to liquidate valuables eventually become raw materials for the "Money Sword Qi."

A moment later.

When the others noticed something was amiss on the mountain and let Wang Yuan reopen the "Yin Road" to return to the Mountain Spirit Temple, Lady Peach Fairy had already disappeared with the Money Box.

What appeared before them were ruins as if ravaged by locusts.

"Is this because the host of the Mountain Spirit Temple knew the situation was untenable, and ran away in a hurry with the Thousand-Handed Buddha and accumulated countless treasures?"

Although everyone was somewhat perplexed, after confirming the area was now safe, they divided all the remaining wealth into four shares, each taking a portion.

Other materials useful for cultivation were also distributed based on needs.

Even though only a tenth of the treasures remained, given the huge amount accumulated over many years at the Mountain Spirit Temple, it was still a windfall for them.

It was more than enough to cover dozens or even hundreds of years’ salary of the Imperial Dragon Guard.

Moreover, though there had been some danger, there had been no reduction in their numbers, nor had anyone been seriously injured; everyone was elated.

At that moment, Yuan Lang, quite content, patted his wallet and looked again at the main building of the Mountain Spirit Temple, which was still mostly intact, and suggested to the others:

"Fellows, since the Imperial Dragon Government Office won’t likely be set in the county town, instead of each finding our place, why don’t the two families co-officiate here?"

This group of magicians would be as uneasy as demons if they stayed in a county town covered by "Dragon Qi Prohibition."

Thus, most bases of the Imperial Dragon Guard are not located within city centers.

Since the Mountain Spirit Temple, this ready-made excellent location, was now unclaimed, it was perfect for reuse, to establish an Imperial Dragon Guard office there.

Otherwise, it would be a waste, especially since the Thousand-Handed Buddha "kindly" even leveled the ground for them before leaving.

After all, they were new to the area, and the Imperial Dragon Guard Office in Dengzhou Prefecture was starting from scratch; taking the Mountain Spirit Temple would save them the trouble of finding another place to settle.

With Wang Yuan’s "Five Ghosts Moving Mountains," even far from the county town, life would not be inconvenient.

"I think it’s a good idea."

"A house picked up for free must feel especially good."

"Agreed, to give these demons a chance for redemption, we’re really good people!"

However, during a subsequent thorough inspection of the entire Mountain Spirit Temple, Qiu Shaobai suddenly discovered a problem.

"What is this?"

Hunching down, he pointed at the ground with a serious expression, at the mark left by the Thousand-Handed Buddha in an attempt to resist capture by the Money Box.

"There was a brief struggle here, these don’t seem like traces of the Thousand-Handed Buddha leaving willingly; rather, it looks like it was dragged away forcibly!"

This minor trace might not mean anything to ordinary people, but to Qiu Shaobai and Yuan Lang, these veteran colonels, it suggested a good deal.

There was also something off about the few white jade walls in the temple.

It wasn’t as if someone took down the structure above first, then removed the jade bricks, but more like the bricks were removed abruptly, causing the entire wall to collapse.

This didn’t seem like the Taoist skill style of the Thousand-Handed Buddha.

’But our operation started on a whim at dusk. Who could possibly seize such a fleeting opportunity to take away such a huge bargain?

Could it be...’

Qiu Shaobai turned to look at his colleagues, secretly wondering:

’Do we have a traitor among us?’

Then he shook his head and chuckled.

’This bargain isn’t for just anyone to take.

Even someone in the "Yin God Realm" might not be able to defeat the Thousand-Handed Buddha’s "Ground Touch Seal"; if someone had that power, they might as well wipe us out in one swoop.

Perhaps, just like the "Money Sword Immortal" who once saved all of Luoyang City, it was some passing master who intervened.

Moreover, General Nie said he once had ties with King Jing, and we could soon invite Old Wang to visit this nominal ruler of Dengzhou together.

It would be good to ask if there are such hidden masters in Dengzhou Prefecture so we can be prepared.’

...

Meanwhile, on another mountain peak.

Lady Peach Fairy, Nie Hongying, Huang Wu, and the ghost baby avatar held in Huang Wu’s arms were all staring at the "Money Box" on the ground.

After devouring the highly nutritious "Thousand-Handed Buddha," it had stimulated a whole new ability.

Both the "Yin Yang Heart Bell" and the "Money Box" came from the "Deceit Market" and both possessed the potential for growth.

However, the "Money Box" reached its first growth phase earlier than the "Yin Yang Heart Bell."

Wang Yuan, who had rushed over in the form of an Earth Official ghost baby to join the excitement, glanced at the new description in the biography, raised his little short hand, and couldn’t wait to say to the "Money Box":

"Open the ’Deceit Market’!"

A beam of red divine light suddenly shot out from the "Money Box," opening a portal in front of them that resembled a magnificent archway.

Standing one and a half meters tall, with golden tiles and vermilion doors, the eaves hung with strings of mottled copper bells.

The large vermilion doors were inlaid with iron characters, "Justice" on the left and "Reaching the Sky" on the right.

An inscription reading "No Deceiving" hung above the door lintel.

Clang!

The vermilion doors swung wide open, and a line of people stepped through the threshold, enveloped in thick white mist, entering one by one.

"Wow, it’s huge!"

"It really is the Deceit Market; it’s just like a bustling town, except for the absence of people."

What appeared before them was a vast marketplace similar to the initial "Wealth Qi Building," complete with pavilions, towers, shops, and stalls... everything one could ask for.

Especially since hundreds of stalls were planned along the street, each stall had a greenish lantern hanging in front, marking the stall numbers.

It looked very meticulously planned.

On the boundary of this Deceit Market, comparable to the size of a small town, was a vast expanse of white fog.

It seemed as though a giant dome had enveloped the Deceit Market beneath it.

After roaming around the empty Deceit Market for a while,

Wang Yuan realized that this Deceit Market, carved out between the Underworld and the Yang World, was somewhat similar to the "Deceit Realm: Mid Yuan Festival" he had encountered inside the Owl God Tomb.

Most of the items were mere illusions existing only within the Deceit Market; despite having physical forms, they could not be taken away.

To have this Deceit Market operate normally, it would still need to attract merchants and customers to reside.

Moreover, just like the Mid Yuan Festival had its own killing rules, this place naturally had its own too.

Precept Taboo:

"With the ’Money Box’ as the core, a phantom Deceit Market unfolds, ensuring fair trade, deceiving neither old nor young.

The ledger owner may extract a transaction tax within the Deceit Market, which could be in the form of money, physical objects, Yin Morality, life spans...etc., but the specific amount is determined by the Deceit Market based on the principle of fairness.

All ’cheaters’ who violate the rules will be subjected to penalties such as ’expulsion,’ ’heavy taxation,’ ’being devoured,’ and so on depending on the severity of the violation.

Those who are devoured will forever become part of the Deceit Market, and not even a ’Yin God Realm’ Magician can resist this rule."

Six is the ultimate number in Yin, besides the "Money Box," which can be opened at any time.

The "Deceit Market" can open six portals at once, gathering merchants and customers from up to three hundred miles away in this domain created between the Yang World and the Underworld.

"The Cultivation World is full of pitfalls, and Magicians fear being deceived the most in transactions. This item is indeed excellent for doing business in the Cultivation World; it is a business class Divine Artifact.

It’s also the first foundation laid by our ’Yin Mountain Taoism’—properly managed, it could become a major source of income aside from demon extermination and demon slaying.

The grand venture of collective cultivation has thus stepped up to a new level.

Lady Immortal, I’ll leave this place in your care."

Lady Peach Fairy replied with a bright smile and a sweet voice:

"Yes, Dharma Master!"

As someone who had once sold many ’Blood Ginseng Poisons’ as a crafty merchant, she was naturally well-versed in this area.

Moreover, ’Yin Mountain Taoism’ did not yet have its own Taoist ground, and given Wang Yuan’s current situation, it was unlikely that he would settle down just yet.

This ’Deceit Market,’ not fixed in any location, had arrived just in time.

Wang Yuan gently waved his hand while nestled in Huang Wu’s arms.

Boom, boom, boom...

Immediately, a corner of the Deceit Market split open to form a three-section independent courtyard, with a towering pagoda rising within the garden, ascending six stories high.

Standing on the rooftop, one could see the entire misty Deceit Market at a glance.

It was said that the Sage Realm of Green Seal could independently create an ’Inner Realm,’ attached to the Great Thousand World, forging a small heaven and earth of its own.

This ’Deceit Market,’ nowhere and yet everywhere within the Yang World, had just that sort of essence to it.

The baby Wang Yuan looked far into the distance with admiration and said:

"I always knew we were destined for the Mountain Spirit Temple; fortune favors the bold, and coming to the Imperial Dragon Guard really paid off!

From today onwards, we too are property owners."

In bringing down the Mountain Spirit, Wang Yuan had his fill!

Overnight, he had not only acquired the Earth Official ghost baby and the new ability ’Deceit Market,’ but also collected enough wealth to muster another wave of ’Money Sword Qi.’

Even the ’Dharma Seal’ he had always wanted to engrave and the materials to create a Soul Nourishing Lamp for Huang Wu’s wet nurse were all gathered at the Mountain Spirit Temple.