Chapter 74: Really Displeasing

Qinghe Academy is located on Wanxing Mountain, where layers of peaks and ridges stretch out, and the lush greenery is boundless.

The green mountains behind the mountain gate stretch on endlessly; even before getting close, one can feel that the Spirit Essence here is much denser than in Jindu.

And this is just outside the mountain gate.

Below Wanxing Mountain lies Wanxing City, and the market is located within Wanxing City.

Mentioning Wanxing City, one must mention the power-holders of Wanxing City, the Ji Clan.

Wanxing City is situated in the buffer zone between the Imperial Court and the Academy, and there is an unspoken rule here: neither the Imperial Court nor the Academy interferes with this place, and Wanxing City has its own set of rules.

There are also rules between heaven and earth, and what mortals and cultivators seek are different.

Mortals seek fame, wealth, and status, while cultivators seek the Great Dao of longevity.

However, cultivators are obsessed with cultivation and do not have much time to search for rare treasures and materials, so markets selling various exotic beasts and rare treasures have emerged.

The market was opened at the boundary between the Academy and the Imperial Dynasty, and over time it gained momentum, thus creating Wanxing City.

Besides Wanxing City, there are other markets in this world, but this place truly has the most and the best goods, attracting many cultivators to come.

In the deepest part of the City Lord's Mansion, there is a small building; outside the building are restrictions, and inside the building are arrays.

On the soft couch by the window, the robes are half-open, revealing a large expanse of jade-white collarbone and chest; long, ink-black hair is draped casually behind, and jade-like fingers rest lightly on the small table, making a faint sound.

"How is the matter with the Seal?"

"Li Zhi'an is watching closely, and the Division Guards of the Tongtian Division are patrolling in shifts. It is difficult to find an opportunity to act now; after all, the Tongtian Division still has the Bi'an, and our people dare not cause a big commotion. This subordinate is incompetent; please punish me, Young Master."

"So, you failed again?"

The man's voice was as crisp as jade but permeated with coldness; the man who replied felt a chill in his heart and trembled uncontrollably.

"What is the use of keeping trash like you? You couldn't even defeat that Li Zhi'an, a mere mortal; you are not even as useful as the spirit beasts we raise. Perhaps this Young Master is too kind-hearted; I should have thrown you all into the Forbidden Hall, and after shedding a layer of skin in there, you would know how to get things done."

The man was so frightened that his legs went weak; he fell to his knees and prostrated on the ground, "Young Master, spare me! Young Master, calm your anger! Give this subordinate one more chance, and I will certainly complete the Young Master's orders."

Fresh blood stained the floor, soaking into the cracks, before the man waved his hand, "Let this not happen again, or I will throw you into the Forbidden Hall; the vicious beasts in there will surely love your skin and flesh."

"Many thanks, Young Master." The man lowered his head, stood up, and backed out, not daring to even breathe loudly.

After the man retreated, a young woman walked out from behind the screen and said with displeasure, "Incompetent trash, why do you still keep him?"

"I heard that Li Zhi'an's fiancée has chosen Qinghe Academy. If I capture her, do you think Li Zhi'an would trade the Seal for her?"

"Ji Hang, Li Zhi'an is not someone who would lose his head over beauty; I fear this will not work. We don't have much time left; the Seal must be opened within half a year, otherwise, the Ji Family will face a great catastrophe."

"How do you know it won't work without trying? That Cheng Xi is only a low-level cultivator; I heard she only obtained a blue Spirit Testing Stone, far worse than you were back then." Ji Hang sneered, clearly not holding Cheng Xi in his eyes; she was nothing but an ant.

After Ji Hang finished speaking, he looked up at Ji Tang, "My good sister, how are your studies with Liu Huaixu going? Is he willing to bring you to the Yunshan Immortal Gathering?"

A flash of pride crossed Ji Tang's eyes, "Naturally, I will be there."

"That is good; at least you haven't disgraced the Ji Family's reputation," Ji Hang said nonchalantly.

Upon hearing this, Ji Tang's expression changed abruptly, and her look turned cold, "What reputation does the Ji Family have? The reputation of being a watchdog for others? Ji Hang, you don't really think that because you can cover the sky with one hand in Wanxing City, you can do whatever you want, do you? If you want to truly be above others, come back when you have obtained the key to the Star Gate before you act so arrogantly."

Ji Tang flicked her long sleeves and vanished from the spot instantly.

Ji Hang, on the soft couch, stood up and walked to the window, reaching out to pull at his robes casually. After a long while, he sneered, "Thinking that becoming Liu Huaixu's disciple means you can call the shots in the Ji Family? Heh..."

Fool!

At this moment, Cheng Xi and the others had just stepped into Wanxing City.

Looking up, the Wanxing Mountain range crisscrossed, the climate was pleasant, the scenery was beautiful, and there were countless strange peaks.

The most eye-catching part of Wanxing Mountain is the Qinghe Academy built on the outermost mountainside. Qinghe Academy has a history of nearly a thousand years and is renowned as the head of the four great academies; many brilliant and talented individuals have emerged from the academy.

Accompanying Cheng Xi were Li An and Yan Shengyu, as well as Xuan Nongying and Fan Mingxin, who were on good terms with Yan Shengyu. Traveling together, these two also became familiar with Cheng Xi.

The five of them first found an inn to stay in, then inquired about the location of the market.

Only then did they learn that there was more than one market in Wanxing City. The waiter saw that they were new students reporting for duty and advised them to visit the smaller markets first; the market run by the City Lord's Mansion was indeed comprehensive and of high quality, but the prices were also very expensive.

Many small markets, on the other hand, had fair prices, though the goods were not as comprehensive, and as for quality, one could only rely on one's own discernment to choose.

Cheng Xi found this interesting, and they unanimously decided to visit the small market first, so the five of them headed toward the southwest corner as the waiter had introduced.

Once out the door, there were many spirit carts on the street carrying passengers, and the variety of spirit beasts was dazzling, but the prices were also quite "beautiful."

Apart from the Talisman Beads in Cheng Xi's possession, even Yan Shengyu was not extravagant enough to choose a spirit cart for transport at will.

In the end, the five of them pooled five Talisman Beads and chose a Green-Eyed Beast Cart.

The Green-Eyed Beast has sharp teeth and green eyes; it looks like an ox but has the body of a horse. It is the cheapest spirit beast in Wanxing City, possessing great strength and speed, and is very popular among the common people.

Commonly known as the "economical and practical beast."

Cheng Xi had never seen this kind of spirit beast in her previous life; or rather, since stepping into the territory of Wanxing City, she had discovered that the cultivator world of this space-time was completely different from her previous life.

Take this Green-Eyed Beast, for example.

It took less than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea for the Green-Eyed Beast Cart to deliver them to the entrance of the market. The group got off the cart, and the beast cart turned and left immediately.

In the market, gold and silver are not used, only Talisman Beads. Talisman Beads are divided into high, medium, and low grades; low-grade Talisman Beads are the most common, medium-grade Talisman Beads can occasionally be seen, but high-grade Talisman Beads are hard to find.

Cheng Xi squatted down in front of a small stall and reached out toward a stone entwined with gold and slightly greenish, but who knew that another hand had grabbed the stone faster than her.

"Boss, how much for this Gold-Entwined Stone?"

Cheng Xi found the voice somewhat familiar, and upon turning her head, she met a somewhat familiar face.

Jiang Weiran!

Jiang Weiran noticed the gaze of the woman beside him and looked up. At this glance, he almost lost his grip on the Gold-Entwined Stone in his hand, and with a look of astonishment, he blurted out, "Cheng Xi? You... why are you here?"

Cheng Xi scrutinized Jiang Weiran, seeing him dressed in a Dharma Robe, holding a Dharma Artifact, with red lips and white teeth; one look and it was clear he was living quite well.

Recalling the time Cheng Fenglan was turned away and humiliated by the Duchess of Zhen, she narrowed her eyes slightly.