Chapter 78

Han City, Juxian Pavilion.

The Jade-Faced Scholar shook his white robe and stepped over the threshold.

Upon closer inspection, his eyes swirled with ink-like patterns—clearly, he was Chen Zhao's avatar.

"As for resources, the mountainside can't match the sect's interior, but for intelligence, the mountains can't compare to the mortal world."

Chen Zhao smiled faintly and closed his folding fan.

Right now, all sects and factions were everywhere: robber cultivators arrived with bloodstained sacks slung over their shoulders, and elderly men offered heavy sums for methods to extend their lives.

But the most numerous.

Were the fishermen shouldering spirit fish and water monsters, shouting their wares like common fishmongers in mortal markets.

Now that the moon hung above the willow tips, it was leisure time, and the fishermen opened their purple-black mouths, chatting and gossiping.

Chen Zhao paused to listen, unable to help but murmur in amazement.

All goods on the stalls came from the harbor, including deep-water demons like the Dragon-Headed Ink Demon—now all gutted open, revealing half their demon cores.

Spirit Qi hung thick in the air, far denser than before.

"Young man, what catches your eye?"

The dark-skinned fisherman, seeing him linger, beamed and rubbed his hands as he stepped forward.

"Comrade, do you have any Golden Galloping Beast Leather Armor?"

"What's that?"

The fisherman looked bewildered.

This thing didn't sound like anything that swam in water.

Yet he didn't find it absurd; instead, he furrowed his brow and began to think carefully.

"Huh? I think I actually heard of it somewhere."

"Could what you're referring to be connected to Gua Er Dao, which recently appeared?"

What?

A small island appeared on Han Hu?

Now it was Chen Zhao's turn to be puzzled.

He handed over a Huanglong Pill and asked the man to elaborate.

The fisherman's face split into a grin, wrinkles forming at his eyes as he spilled everything he should and shouldn't have said:

"Seven years ago, I noticed Han Hu's water level dropping. One day at sea, I happened upon a small island—I was the first to find it."

He scratched the back of his head, clearly proud:

"There were many strange things there. The Golden Galloping Beast might even be on it."

Chen Zhao froze.

Han Hu connected to other bodies of water; it was unlikely to dry up.

Unless.

The surrounding terrain had risen?

His mind stirred—he was about to inquire about the Golden Galloping Beast when a crisp female voice rang out:

"Comrade, I happen to have one. What will you offer in exchange?"

Chen Zhao turned his head and saw Sister Yang Xiao, leading a jet-black foal.

"Five middle-grade Spirit Stones, how about it?"

Since he appeared as an avatar, she naturally didn't recognize him.

"The price is fair, but I don't accept Spirit Stones right now."

Yang Xiao shook her head, showing no mercy.

The Golden Galloping Beast was full of treasures, drawing countless cultivators to gather and scramble, driving its value ever higher.

Chen Zhao couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.

His avatar had no spiritual awareness—he couldn't use a Storage Bag. Even hiding a few pills or Spirit Stones in his sleeves was the limit; how could he produce rare treasures?

And by the time his true body left the mountains, the opportunity would be long gone.

Seeing his "distress," Yang Xiao stepped back slightly and whispered:

"Comrade, if you have a purification method to remove the Incense Fire Mark on me, I'll agree to the exchange."

She'd gone to the island to hunt beasts and clashed with Ban Ruo Men disciples; one of them, as he died, triggered a sealing spell and exploded, leaving a wisp of Incense Fire that clung to her body.

Anyone who cultivates the Incense Fire Cultivation Method can see this mark as wisps of rising smoke from ten li away.

Chen Zhao was no exception.

But he had no solution either, and could only give up.

After all, the island wasn't going anywhere; spending more Spirit Stones to post a commission might still get him the item.

Just as Chen Zhao turned to leave—

A dark shadow flashed past. Only because his cultivation was exceptionally high did he sense it.

Chen Zhao stared at the man's disguised face—it was unfamiliar.

Until he pulled out a coil of rope.

"Liu Yicheng? If he's avoiding pursuit, why risk coming here?"

Chen Zhao frowned, watching him walk to an empty corner and toss the rope upward.

Whoosh!

The object looked like hemp rope, but the instant it touched the ceiling, it suddenly opened a tiny black hole, leading nowhere he could tell.

"I came here for a mission, but who knew I'd stumble upon the one Juekong said carried the legacy?"

Liu Yicheng chuckled softly, his laugh as faint as a mosquito's hum.

I've long heard that Yang Xiao has a unique method of controlling beasts, able to command three Spirit Beasts of the same tier at once.

It was precisely this technique that allowed her to overwhelm with numbers, forcing the Ban Ruo Men's supervising disciples to self-destruct.

Liu Yicheng's eyes burned with heat.

His own realm surpasses hers, and he bears the Immortal Binding Rope and the Soul Slashing Blade Technique; once the mission is complete, he can focus entirely on dealing with this woman.

The thought alone made him eager.

He leapt upward and vanished into the black hole; not long after, he landed slowly on the first floor, clutching an ancient book.

He triggered no forbidden seals, and no one noticed.

A corner on the second floor was dedicated to piling up odd tales and anecdotes, worth little in Spirit Stones and lightly guarded.

Chen Zhao saw clearly—he had read this book before; it was nothing but folk rumors, nothing remarkable.

Is this man fully armed just to steal a gossip pamphlet?

Chen Zhao could not fathom it.

He turned his steps and trailed far behind Liu Yicheng.

Half an hour later.

The Golden Galloping Beast sold for a high price; Yang Xiao checked her gains and smiled brightly.

The Incense Fire Qi had been dispelled, and several First Grade Upper Tier pills were now in hand—truly worth the trip.

"I never expected there to be wonders and capable people below the mountain; this shopkeeper was chosen well."

She requested leave to return to her sect, planning to enter seclusion to break through the Qi Refining ninth-layer bottleneck.

Zi Shi.

Three li before the mountain gate.

Amidst the turbulent times, the streets were cold and empty, nearly devoid of people.

Though Han City had dispatched Elders to hold its posts, their spiritual senses could not cover the entire city; if something happened suddenly, they could not respond immediately.

Yang Xiao summoned her Spirit Beasts to guard her sides.

One woman and three beasts walked upon the blue stone pavement; passersby brushed past, yet vanished quietly behind them.

Not three steps.

Yang Xiao's gaze grew slightly grave; her foot halted.

Her Spirit Beasts were disappearing one by one; in the span of breaths, the street now held only her!

Without realizing it, she had stepped into an Array!

"Sister, you're in such a hurry—did you find a treasure?"

Around the corner, Liu Yicheng stepped out of the dark alley, his eyes dark and menacing, a blade's glow sharp upon his shoulder.

"Senior Brother Liu of the Immortal Binding Rope..."

Yang Xiao twisted her wrist, revealing a pair of mandarin duck daggers, gripping them tightly until her knuckles turned white.

This senior brother's reputation is too great—Qi Refining ninth layer, his methods are devious, his strength ranks among the top ten among Outer Disciples.

Her Spirit Beasts are cut off; alone, she is no match for him!

Seeing his arm slowly rise, she hastily summoned her protective light shield.

The next instant.

The black blade-light pierced straight through, slashing toward her face.

No defense could stop it; she chanted a spell to flee urgently, but the blade-light was faster—it struck her dantian squarely.

Puff!

Yang Xiao's spirit reeled violently, spitting out blood.

Yet she felt no pain—instead, her thoughts froze instantly; her soul had been severed by a third, out of nowhere!

Before she could recover, another blade-light came!

The blade-light expanded in her vision; she could not react, her face twisted in despair.

Suddenly—

A clang rang out; the Array shattered instantly. A white robe flashed before her, a longsword in hand, its blade-light as dark as ink.

The long street retained only black and white; cultivators nearby halted their cultivation, pushed open windows, and watched this poem-like, painting-like swordstroke.

Liu Yicheng's face turned pale with horror.

If encountering Liu Chen on the road made him merely unwilling to provoke, facing this sword now made him finally envision his own death and Dao's end.

The Immortal Binding Rope jerked violently; he used both hands to scramble frantically into the black hole.