Chapter 188

188. Chapter 185: Then No Need to Play the Fool

"Did my friend just see a courtyard he liked?" the clerk's tone grew cautious.

In his experience, this customer seemed somewhat unusual.

Logically, someone picked up by the City Patrol should be on their way to certain death—how could they come to buy a house?

"No, play it again." Ding Huan said.

He had just been thinking about the recording crystal ball—he absolutely had to craft some to carry on his person.

He also needed to craft battle flags, spirit pens, and this thing too; it looked like he'd first need to learn artifact crafting.

That Han Weicheng of the Tianqi Sect really had terrible character—he saved my life, I approached him several times, yet he never held me in high regard and refused to befriend me; I had no choice.

Otherwise, I could've asked Han Weicheng for some basic artifact crafting knowledge.

The clerk dared not ask for any more crystal stones and voluntarily played it again.

"The sixth courtyard." Ding Huan stopped the clerk from continuing.

The sixth courtyard appeared sizable, with five separate rooms and a reception hall.

Most importantly, the back of the courtyard faced the West Wind River.

In case of emergency, one could jump into the West Wind River to escape.

"Sir truly has a discerning eye—this courtyard was once occupied by a sect disciple. The spiritual energy here is abundant, though the price is slightly high. If you're willing, I can take you to see the house."

Upon hearing Ding Huan instantly decide on such an expensive property, the clerk's tone became far more fawning.

"No need to see it—just tell me how many crystal stones this courtyard costs, then help me process the deed."

Ding Huan didn't care about anything else—he only wanted quiet, so he could seek the path to Foundation Establishment.

"The original price of this courtyard was three hundred and seventy crystal stones. I can offer you the lowest discount—three hundred and fifty crystal stones for you, friend."

The clerk's tone grew even more humble.

Ding Huan had no patience for idle talk—he reached into his bag and pulled out three hundred and fifty crystal stones:

"Here are the crystal stones. Hand me the deed."

The clerk had expected Ding Huan to haggle, but this customer was so generous—he hurriedly said:

"Please wait a moment, sir."

After saying this, he swiftly sent out a message.

Less than half a stick of incense later, Ding Huan's spiritual sense detected a middle-aged woman entering.

Cultivation level Qi-5—likely due to age preventing advancement, hence why she ran this business.

Anyone doing real estate here must have some connections.

"Esteemed cultivator, are you the one wishing to purchase a courtyard in the Great Crystal District?"

The middle-aged woman entered and bowed to Ding Huan in a cultivator's greeting.

Her gaze immediately fell upon the three hundred and fifty crystal stones on the counter.

"Correct. Once the deed is transferred, just send someone to guide me there." Ding Huan replied succinctly.

"Very well. Just sign your name here."

The woman produced a leather scroll etched with seals. She first erased one name from the seals, then handed it to Ding Huan.

Ding Huan glanced at it—the scroll bore the simplest rune array.

Once he carved his name into it, the deed became his private property.

If he wished to sell the house, he alone could remove his name from the deed; anyone else forcibly removing it would damage the deed.

With his current abilities, even if another's name were on it, he could easily erase it.

Generally, those who could erase runes so easily wouldn't care for houses here.

He was an exception—he began studying array arts while still at Qi Stage.

Ding Huan took the deed, carved his name into it, then tucked it into his bag.

The middle-aged woman only took three hundred crystal stones, pushing the remaining fifty back to Ding Huan and saying:

"This house will be three hundred crystal stones for you, esteemed cultivator."

Of course—she was a merchant. She must have known his identity and what he'd just done; otherwise, she'd never have unreasonably reduced the price by fifty crystal stones.

"Then thank you." Ding Huan didn't refuse—he reclaimed the fifty crystal stones.

Seeing Ding Huan take back the fifty crystal stones, the woman said: "Esteemed cultivator, shall I guide you to the small courtyard?"

"Then I'm in your debt." Ding Huan bowed.

After exiting the real estate agency, the middle-aged woman spoke:

"If I'm not mistaken, you're the new captain of the West Wind City City Patrol, aren't you? Are you connected to the Shengdao Street incident?"

She was right—she knew everything.

Of course—such a major event had occurred in West Wind City, and she dealt in real estate; not knowing would be strange.

"Your information is accurate. I am indeed the captain of the West Wind City City Patrol." Ding Huan said coolly.

The middle-aged woman smiled: "Then in the future, should my little shop face any difficulties, I'll rely heavily on Captain Ding's help."

Ding Huan laughed: "It's our duty as City Patrol—we won't shirk it."

He said that, but he didn't believe that under normal circumstances, the City Patrol didn't collect protection fees from merchants.

If there were protection fees, he could let Lao Liu handle patrols occasionally. If there weren't, he wouldn't meddle at all.

There were too many cities like West Wind City—he wasn't a saint who intervened in everything.

He wanted peace. If he meddled too much, who knew what bigger troubles might arise?

If he could control West Wind City without any trouble, he wouldn't mind doing so—it would only benefit him.

But he had just arrived here and knew nothing about West Wind City.

The woman said: "My name is Nu Rong, and I'm also under the jurisdiction of the City Lord's Mansion."

Hearing Nu Rong's words, Ding Huan felt she was about to say something, and immediately said:

"Sister Rong, I've just arrived in Xifeng City and don't yet understand many things—I'd appreciate your guidance."

Originally, Ding Huan had planned to return to the City Patrol and ask those few soldiers.

He knew very well that those few City Patrol soldiers wouldn't reveal much to him.

Nu Rong silently nodded in satisfaction; she had only hinted slightly, and Ding Huan immediately understood—no wonder he had established his authority on Shengdao Street.

"Ding Daoist, do you know why Xifeng City has no ruler?" Nu Rong asked.

Ding Huan shook his head—he had wanted to know this very thing.

Nu Rong sighed:

"This matter is long-winded, but since I'm free now, let's walk and talk as we go…"

The matter was indeed complex, but from Nu Rong's account, Ding Huan finally grasped the general picture.

Many years ago, Xifeng City was very famous—even within the Great Star Sword Dao, it was well known.

You should know that in the outer regions of the Dao cultivation world, small countries like the Blazing Star Lord Country, established by sect disciples, can be found everywhere.

As for the Dao cultivation cities within such small countries, there are even more countless in number.

Xifeng City became prosperous and renowned because of Zangjian Mountain.

Zangjian Mountain lies just dozens of li behind Xifeng City.

Hidden within Zangjian Mountain is a peerless immortal sword—a true immortal artifact.

Because of this immortal sword's presence, Zangjian Mountain often gave birth to top-tier famous swords.

Many cultivators seeking the swords born from the immortal sword had to go to Zangjian Mountain to find them.

To reach Zangjian Mountain and seek those top-tier swords, one had to pass through Xifeng City.

Xifeng City thus became a hub for all Dao cultivators.

The Great Star Sword Dao was dominated by sword cultivators, who craved famous swords above all.

This elevated Xifeng City's status even further, earning it protection from the Great Star Sword Dao.

A lordship was the lowest tier in the Dao cultivation world, and for a common city within a lordship to gain a sect's favor was exceedingly rare.

Xifeng City achieved it—demonstrating how utterly dominant it once was.

But Zangjian Mountain's fame spread so far that it reached the Ascension Realm.

This became the turning point of Xifeng City's decline.

Ji Ji Xinting, the strongest in the Ascension Realm, heard of this and came to Zangjian Mountain, taking away the peerless immortal sword.

With the immortal sword gone, Zangjian Mountain fell into ruin and was soon covered in toxic mist.

This toxic mist barred all entry—let alone the birth of precious swords.

Without Zangjian Mountain, Xifeng City was nothing, and slowly it decayed, becoming merely a refuge for low-tier cultivators.

A city that contributed nothing to itself, the Zhuoxing Lordship paid no attention to it and left it unmanaged.

The City Lord of Xifeng was replaced again and again; each new City Lord came here solely to seek the chance for Foundation Establishment.

They cared nothing whether Xifeng City thrived or decayed, as long as it didn't interfere with their Foundation Establishment.

Today, Xifeng City is divided into three parts: one is the central district under the City Lord's Mansion.

Beicheng and Xicheng are controlled by Gu Zhanjian; anyone in these two areas must pay a certain amount of crystal stones to Gu Zhanjian.

Dongcheng and Nancheng are governed by Pan Qi; merchants in these two areas must also pay crystal stones to Pan Qi.

Hearing this, Ding Huan asked:

"Sister Rong, if I understand you correctly, the place I'm staying is under the City Lord's Mansion?"

Nu Rong nodded:

"That's exactly what I'm trying to tell you—your residence is officially designated as part of the City Lord's Mansion, the central district.

But Gu Zhanjian's people often sell houses in the Great Crystal Zone. So I suspect your current house has been occupied by someone else."

"Do they have property deeds?" Ding Huan asked.

"No, they don't—but Gu Zhanjian is usually arrogant, so most of the time, to avoid conflict, we don't sell houses in the Great Crystal Zone.

If you don't wish to live there, I can help you switch or refund it," Nu Rong said.

Ding Huan glanced at Nu Rong:

"Sister Rong, you run a good business. If that's the case, I'll go see my house first—if the occupant is reasonable, wouldn't that be better?"

Nu Rong didn't know if she understood Ding Huan's words, but she didn't continue discussing the house; instead, she changed the subject:

"There's another thing I must tell you: the Shengdao Street where you showed your power today belongs to Pan Qi. Pan Qi is currently away from Xifeng City, which is why you faced no interference when you acted there.

But when Pan Qi returns, this matter won't end so easily."

Hearing this, Ding Huan understood Nu Rong was trying to befriend him.

"Thank you, Sister Rong," Ding Huan said, acknowledging the debt of her warning.

At this moment, Ding Huan had already formed a preliminary plan: originally, he had intended to find a quiet place to pursue Foundation Establishment in peace.

According to Nu Rong's account, Xifeng City operated under the rule of "might makes right"—neither the lordship nor any sect would intervene.

In other words, he had no need to play the humble servant.

If so, why not simply take control of Xifeng City for himself?

A city under his own control would let him know every stir and whisper the moment it happened.