Pure Yang!

Chapter 393 Too Easy to Make Money! Jingming Dongyang Dharma Seal

The following day, at the Yujing International Convention and Exhibition Center.

Sui Chunsheng said that this "Exhibition of Taoist Cultural Treasures and Rare Objects" was spearheaded by the Jiangnan Taoist Alliance and co-organized by Maoshan. The venue is a private exhibition hall inside the venue, which is not open to the public. Only Taoists are qualified to enter, and even so, tickets are hard to come by.

Zhang Fan was already waiting at the entrance of the convention center at eight o'clock in the morning.

"You're really early."

Just then, a familiar voice came from the side, and Fang Changle, dressed casually, swaggered over.

"If I wasn't waiting for you, I would have gone in long ago," Zhang Fan said calmly.

Last night, Fang Changle learned that Zhang Fan had returned to Yujing City, so he sent him a message, mentioned the exhibition, and invited him to come and check it out.

"Where did you get your ticket?" Fang Changle couldn't help but ask.

Originally, he had prepared a ticket specifically for Zhang Fan. Although this ticket was hard to come by, he was a descendant of Maoshan, so getting three or five tickets wouldn't be a problem.

"I got it from the Daomeng League in Jiangnan Province," Zhang Fan said casually.

"Tsk tsk, you've managed to secure a half-secure job and eat a mouthful of government grain," Fang Changle teased.

He knew that Zhang Fan had always had a good relationship with the Jiangnan Provincial Dao Alliance.

"Don't talk nonsense, it's just a free ticket."

"Let's go. This exhibition is a rare opportunity, and many of our treasures were borrowed," Fang Changle said with a light laugh.

Wu Qingnang had just taken office when he organized this event, ostensibly as a cultural exchange within the Taoist community, which could be considered a political achievement of the new official. However, the event was rushed, many treasures were still en route, and the exhibition only lasted seven days.

No one came for a long time after that. At that time, the only major event that attracted worldwide attention was the grand ceremony for the Transcendent Master to accept disciples.

At that time, even the Jiangnan Provincial Daoist Alliance itself organized a team to go to Zhenwu Mountain to offer congratulations and attend the ceremony.

Upon entering the inner area, we arrived at a secluded exhibition hall in a corner, where two staff members dressed in Taoist robes were checking tickets and greeting visitors at the entrance.

Zhang Fan glanced at it and realized that he seemed to have seen it before in the Dao Alliance of Jiangnan Province. They were both at the Spirit Master realm, which was considered a high level of cultivation in the secular world.

"That's quite a spectacle," Zhang Fan couldn't help but remark.

"The people who came to see the exhibition this time are all prominent figures. Your Chairman Wu is taking it very seriously," Fang Changle said softly.

The vice-leader of Maoshan was present on the day of the ribbon-cutting ceremony, indicating that it was a very high-level event.

Upon entering the exhibition hall, two long banners immediately catch the eye, boldly proclaiming:

My heart is like a white cloud, always free; my will is like flowing water, going wherever it pleases.

The signature reads "Zhuoqing Daoren".

“Zhuoqing…Chen Zhuoqing…” Zhang Fan’s eyes narrowed slightly.

That's the leader of the Maoshan sect.

Upon seeing the signature, his gaze was once again drawn to the two lines of large characters. The strokes were vigorous and powerful, yet their sharpness was restrained and not readily apparent. Only a great force was subtly present, filling the characters, like a vast and continuous landscape, boundless and unified.

Seeing the words is like seeing the person; just from this calligraphy, one can sense the unfathomable depth of the Maoshan sect leader.

"The weather is extraordinary," Zhang Fan couldn't help but exclaim.

He couldn't discern the profound meaning of the calligraphy, but the subtle artistic conception it evoked made him feel increasingly insignificant the more he looked at it.

"This is a piece of calligraphy that my teacher wrote many years ago. It's just a little something to add to this exhibition," Fang Changle said with a smile.

“This is more than just adding color,” Zhang Fan shook his head.

This calligraphy is probably one of the most valuable pieces in the entire exhibition hall.

The handwritten letter from the head of Maoshan Sect, regardless of its profound meaning, can be used by ordinary people to ward off evil spirits and bring good fortune to their homes and families.

Zhang Fan had also heard of the leader of the Maoshan sect.

The leaders of the ten most famous Taoist mountains in the world each have their own characteristics. Li Chengge, the leader of Laoshan Mountain, is the youngest and has the least seniority.

Apart from that, the seniority of the leaders of the other eight major sects and famous mountains is similar, but their experiences in their youth are quite different.

Just like the Zhongnan Mountain Sect Leader, Zhou Kongchan, he is quite conventional. He wasn't particularly outstanding when he was young, but he took every step steadily and firmly, following the established path to where he is today. He is considered one of the most consistently high achievers in his class.

The leader of Qiyun Mountain, Mo Ranchen, went astray in his youth, but once he returned to the right path, he became far superior to his fellow disciples. He's like those students in a class who don't study hard usually, but once they get serious and sprint ahead, they leave everyone else behind.

The leader of Maoshan Sect, Chen Zhuoqing, was not called by this name when he was young. The Maoshan elders changed his name to Zhuoqing. Refining turbidity to return to purity is the way of pure yang, which shows the great expectations the Maoshan elders had for him.

He was one of those who was amazing from a young age, with extraordinary talent, and was considered an excellent student in his class, always outstanding.

As for Chu Chaoran, he was an anomaly. He didn't interact much with the other students in the class, but he got along very well with people outside the class. In addition, he was the kind of weirdo who could play wildly and study very well.

He was involved in skipping classes and fighting, yet he consistently ranked at the top of his class in exams.

These kinds of students are often the most troublesome for teachers.

Upon entering the exhibition hall, the first exhibit immediately changed Zhang Fan's expression, and he abruptly stopped in his tracks.

Inside the transparent glass case, there was a wooden sword with some minor cracks on it, looking quite ordinary. There was also a description on the nameplate next to it.

On the night of the Double Ninth Festival in the third year of the Yuan Dynasty's Zhizheng era.

In Zhenwu Mountain, a woodcutter saw purple aura coming from the east, and eight figures sitting cross-legged on Zhanqi Peak. Among them, the one wearing a white robe accidentally dropped the sword at his waist, which turned into a golden light and shot straight into the cliff of Nanxuan Palace.

The following day, the bells and drums of the thirty-six temples and monasteries on Zhenwu Mountain rang out continuously for three days.

The legend of the Pure Yang Sword hanging over Zhenwu spread like wildfire, and from then on, his fame spread throughout the world.

Legend has it that the patriarch Zhang Sanfeng once attained enlightenment here, using the "tortoise and snake coiled together" formation to deduce the universe. He used this sword to suppress the dragon vein energy of Zhenwu Mountain, thus securing six hundred years of great fortune for the world.

Every year around the time of the Awakening of Insects, cinnabar runes appear on the sword's blade, a truly wondrous sight.

"The Pure Yang Magic Sword!?"

"Holy crap, isn't this treasure supposed to be hanging on the rock wall of the Southern Mysterious Palace on Zhenwu Mountain?" Zhang Fan looked surprised and couldn't help but look at Fang Changle.

He knew that this was a [Pure Yang Magic Treasure], and he had seen it once when he went to Zhenwu Mountain for tourism last time.

"You guys have such a big reputation? You even borrowed a Pure Yang magic weapon?" Zhang Fan exclaimed in amazement.

"What are you thinking? That's a pure Yang magic treasure, how could it possibly be invited down the mountain?" Fang Changle rolled her eyes.

Pure Yang magic treasures are the lifeblood of a sect or school. They are usually offered incense with utmost care, so how could they possibly be taken out for public display?

"This is a 1:1 replica," Fang Changle explained.

"A fake?" Zhang Fan glanced at it. The fake was too good to be true. The aging process was extremely meticulous. Even the patterns and cracks on it were almost identical. It would be impossible to achieve this effect without using the original as a mold.

"Why would you copy something if it's copyrighted?" Zhang Fan couldn't help but ask.

"This is made by Zhenwu Mountain itself, a one-to-one replica, made of Zhenwu Mountain spruce. It is a limited edition of 100 pieces, and the special price is only 6888 yuan. It also comes with three Zhenwu Mountain tickets."

"..."

Zhang Fan was completely dumbfounded; it was the first time he had ever heard of using a pure Yang magic weapon to make figurines and related merchandise.

"Zhenwu Mountain really produces talented people," Zhang Fan finally said after a long pause.

He bet the person who came up with this idea was definitely a young Taoist priest.

"Is anyone buying this?"

"Look at what you're saying, it sold out as soon as it was released," Fang Changle couldn't help but say.

There are only one hundred sets of this item in total, and each set has a number. Ordinary people can take it home and do nothing; just looking at it will ward off evil spirits and protect their homes.

Although it is a replica, many cultivation families and Taoist sects wanted to buy one but could not.

"Scalpers are going crazy for it. On the black market, a single sword is fetching over 100,000 yuan," Fang Changle said casually.

"This……"

Zhang Fan pursed his lips, not knowing what to say. This wasn't a real magic weapon, not even a magic artifact; it was just a modern craft item. If it weren't for the name "Pure Yang Magic Sword," the cost would only be around a hundred yuan.

"What are you..."

“This one is a special edition,” Fang Changle said.

"Special edition?"

"These are specially made from lightning-struck wood. There are only ten in total, and each one is numbered. They are priced at 58888 yuan," Fang Changle said, pointing to the wooden swords in the glass case.

"This one is number 003." "They really know how to make money," Zhang Fan couldn't help but say.

"what is this?"

"A couple of days ago, a specially made Pure Yang magic sword sold for 108 million at the auction," Fang Changle said in a low voice.

"This is outrageous! Is someone trying to stir up trouble?" Zhang Fan muttered.

"Nonsense, of course someone is speculating. They buy low and sell high. How can they sell high if they don't speculate to death?" Fang Changle said matter-of-factly.

"Is Zhenwu Mountain just hyping this up themselves?" Zhang Fan said casually.

Fang Changle looked at him silently: "You said it yourself."

As they were talking, Zhang Fan was pulled aside by Fang Changle.

The exhibition hall wasn't large, but apart from the Pure Yang Magic Sword, almost everything on display was genuine.

Zhang Fan even saw a fragment of the Azure Feather Magic Treasure, a piece of white bone. Although it was only the size of a thumb, its incense and spiritual power were intense, even more so than the fragment of the Blazing Fire Seal he had obtained in Chang'an.

"This is……"

Just then, Zhang Fan abruptly stopped in his tracks. He stood in front of a display case, his gaze fixed on it.

There was a broken seal on display, about half the size of the original. The seal script on it resembled cloud patterns, and its surface shone with a faint reddish luster, like a blazing flame, captivating the eye.

“Jingming Dongyang Dharma Seal!” Zhang Fan raised an eyebrow, looking at the description on the plaque next to him.

The Longhushan Dharma Seal Golden Book ranks eighty-sixth.

"The Dharma Seal of Longhu Mountain!?" Zhang Fan's mind was greatly disturbed.

Previously, he missed the [Thunder City Demon-Imprisoning Golden Seal] in Chang'an. Unexpectedly, just a few days later, he encountered another magic seal from Longhu Mountain in Yujing City. Moreover, it was ranked higher than the [Thunder City Demon-Imprisoning Golden Seal], which was only ranked ninety-first in the Longhu Mountain Magic Seal Golden Book.

His [Powerful Demon-Suppressing Golden Seal] ranks ninety-eighth.

"You are surnamed Zhang after all, I can tell at a glance..." Fang Changle looked at Zhang Fan's expression, hesitating to speak.

"Where did this treasure come from?" Zhang Fan couldn't help but ask.

"I advise you not to think about it," Fang Changle said, shaking his head as he saw through Zhang Fan's thoughts.

"This treasure was brought to the exhibition by An Wuyang, a descendant of the Zhongnan Mountains."

"Are you safe and sound?!" Zhang Fan's heart skipped a beat.

He had naturally heard of this famous successor from Zhongnan Mountain, but he had never met him during his two trips to Chang'an.

"Is he in Yujing?" Zhang Fan pressed.

“That’s right.” Fang Changle nodded and said, “He came here this time specifically to visit Maoshan, so that the elders of the sect could refine a magic seal for him.”

An Wuyang's own magic weapon is a great seal. In order to refine this seal and improve its level and power, he searched for countless treasures. Among them, the most precious one is this [Jingming Dongyang Seal]. It was placed here for display before it was refined.

“He also has a magic seal, which is on its way. When it arrives, both of these magic seals will be used as materials to refine his great seal,” Fang Changle said in a deep voice.

"There's one more?" Zhang Fan's heart skipped a beat, as if he had guessed something.

"That's right, that's also a magic seal from Longhu Mountain, called the Thunder City Demon-Imprisoning Golden Seal!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Fan narrowed his eyes slightly, feeling that fate held a mysterious secret.

"What a coincidence!"

"What do you mean by fate?" Fang Changle asked.

"Nothing...nothing..."

Zhang Fan shook his head and whispered. He took a deep look at the [Jingming Dongyang Dharma Seal] in the display case, and reluctantly withdrew his gaze.

"What a joke! In this Jiangnan province, there's no reason why I can't get the treasure I want."

Just then, a sharp shout suddenly rang out in the small exhibition hall.

Inside the exhibition hall, there weren't many people, but everyone's attention was drawn to it.

Zhang Fan looked in the direction of the sound and saw a group of people in the corner, among whom was a familiar figure.

Bear King!

He came to the exhibition with the Xiong family of Yinshan. In fact, as a family of cultivators in Yujing City, the Xiong family also sent several treasures to the exhibition.

Back then, Xiong Ba followed Zhang Fan, and with the intervention of Xiong Sanqi, the Ghost King of Yinshan, he had already become the Xiong family's designated heir, and naturally, he was present at every occasion, big or small.

At this moment, standing in front of the Xiong family was a young man with a proud and arrogant demeanor, with a delicate young girl in his arms, heavily made up and very eye-catching.

"Mao Baiguang!" Fang Changle's gaze darkened slightly upon seeing the young man, and he immediately revealed his displeasure.

"Mao Baiguang!?"

Upon hearing the name, Zhang Fan felt it sounded incredibly familiar. After a moment's thought, he suddenly remembered: wasn't this the Maoshan disciple who had earned a special recruitment quota from the Dao Alliance with a score of 90?!

Now that his misdeeds have come to light, he seems unaffected, still surrounded by women and frequenting such occasions.

"Young Master Mao, this [Youyou Bone Flute] is a family heirloom of my Xiong family. It is truly difficult to part with it, otherwise I would be ashamed before my ancestors."

Just then, an elder of the Xiong family came out. He had white hair and beard and was old enough to be Mao Baiguang's grandfather. At the moment, he could only nod and bow, apologizing to him.

The Youyou Bone Flute is a magical treasure of Huang Yu, which has been enshrined in the Xiong family for nearly three hundred years. If it weren't for the intervention of Jiangnan Province, they would never have sent such a treasure to participate in the exhibition.

After all, given the Xiong family's resources, it was already quite an achievement to be able to cultivate a Yellow Feather Magic Treasure, and there was a high probability that it would be able to be upgraded to a Green Feather Magic Treasure.

But they are, after all, a local cultivation family in Yujing City, and the Jiangnan Provincial Dao Alliance still has to give them face.

"Old man Xiong, have you forgotten my surname? The fact that I have taken a liking to this treasure is a blessing for your Xiong family." Mao Baiguang put his arm around the slender waist of the girl next to him, not even glancing at the Xiong family elder.

"They're becoming increasingly unruly," Fang Changle snorted coldly.

"Is the Mao family really that powerful?" Zhang Fan asked casually.

Fang Changle remained silent, only nodding.

The Mao family is the direct descendant of the Maoshan lineage, possessing immense power. As such, with a large forest, all sorts of birds can be found.

"I think this guy is in big trouble soon," Zhang Fan said calmly.

"How to say?"

"When Heaven is about to bring disaster, it first bestows blessings, so that people will become arrogant and complacent," Zhang Fan said indifferently.

Disciples of prominent families, relying on the blessings and protection of their ancestors, naturally have a higher starting point and more to gain than ordinary people, which is understandable and a blessing for them.

However, if one does not cultivate virtue, Heaven will surely bring calamity, and a great catastrophe is not far off.

"This is an heirloom; we're not selling it."

Just then, Xiong Ba stepped forward. After a long absence, he was no longer the timid and submissive man he once was; his words and actions were neither humble nor arrogant.

"Kid, do you know who you're talking to?" Mao Baiguang narrowed his eyes slightly and sneered.

"I'm in a good mood today, I'll give you another chance. If you don't want to sell, that's fine too."

"From now on, it will be difficult to see your Xiong family's flags in the territory of Yujing."

If Maoshan were a dynasty, the Mao family would be royalty, while the Xiong family would be nothing more than newly retired landlords.

“Xiong Ba…” The elders of the Xiong family changed their expressions and quickly pulled the impulsive young man back.

Young people have no idea that a little bit of willful abuse of power can shake the very foundation of a so-called clan.

What you consider the foundation of your livelihood may be insignificant to others.

"Young Master Mao, we..." The elders of the Xiong family gritted their teeth and could only lower their heads.

"Are you deaf? They said they're not selling."

Just then, a detached voice suddenly rang out in the exhibition hall. Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw a young man walking straight over.

When Xiong Ba saw the person who came, he was stunned for a moment, and then his face showed surprise and delight.

"Brother Fan!"

(End of this chapter)