Chapter 685: Man in Black, Acquaintance

Qinghe County, "Red Cloud Market".

Since the Song family created this market, in just a few decades, Red Cloud Market, under the management of the Song family, has developed into the largest market in the northeast of Wei State.

However, in the past half year, because of the invasion of demon beasts from the northern border, most of the cultivators in Qinghe County have gone to the front line of Golden Mountain Market to resist the demon beast army.

Coupled with the fact that many loose cultivators who were permanently stationed here have left Red Cloud Market in advance to take refuge in the south of Wei State, there are only a few scattered people on the streets of the market at this time, which is much colder than the prosperity of the past.

On this day, a young man dressed in black with a somewhat delicate appearance walked slowly along the streets of the market. After strolling on the street for a while, he came to the "Immortal Phoenix Tower" operated by the Song family.

"Oh! Guest, are you here for a meal or to stay at the inn?"

Just as the man in black walked into the restaurant, a waiter who was wiping tables and chairs in the lobby immediately greeted him with a smiling face.

In recent days, because there were fewer and fewer cultivators in the market, the business of the restaurant was becoming more and more bleak. The waiter, who had only entertained two tables of guests all morning, was very happy to see new guests coming in.

"I want both to stay at the inn and eat. You first help me prepare a table of banquet, order the signature dishes in your shop, that spirit fish I ate last time was quite good, remember to order it, and you can take care of the rest yourself!"

After the man in black finished speaking, he, who looked somewhat happy, raised his hand and threw a spirit stone to the waiter beside him.

"Hehe! Thank you, guest. You are talking about our shop's signature famous dish, Emerald Cloud Carp, right? Please rest assured, leave it to the little one. You follow me to the second floor to find a seat and rest for a while, and the dishes will be served to you in a moment."

Seeing that the man in black was so generous, rewarding him with a spirit stone as soon as he came up, the waiter, whose cultivation was only at the mid-stage of Qi Refining, was also full of surprise and hurriedly and respectfully led him to the best private room on the second floor.

Not long after, the waiter brought seven or eight fragrant and delicious spirit foods into the private room, placed them one by one in front of the man in black, and carefully introduced each dish on the table.

"Hmm! Not bad, it's still this taste, it's really different from what I ate outside!" After tasting the shop's signature famous dish "Emerald Cloud Carp" introduced by the waiter, the man in black nodded to him with satisfaction.

"Guest, the dishes are all served. If you have no instructions, then I will not disturb you first. If you have any needs, just call out, and I will come over immediately."

Seeing that the man in black was very satisfied with the restaurant's dishes, the waiter responded with a bit of pride and prepared to leave the private room.

"Wait a moment! I still have some things I want to ask you." Just as the waiter turned around, the man in black, who was tasting the delicious spirit food, suddenly called him again.

Seeing this, the restaurant waiter hurriedly approached and nodded with a smile: "Hehe! Guest, you have found the right person. The little one has been in Red Flame Market for more than ten years. I dare not say that I know everything about the market, but I know eight or nine out of ten.

If you want to ask anything, just say it directly, the little one will absolutely not deliberately deceive you."

"Hmm! I want to ask, do you know where the Song family's patriarch, Song Qingming, is now?"

"Song Qingming? ... Guest, you are not talking about the Core Formation Old Ancestor of the Song family of Funiu Mountain in our Qinghe County, right!"

Hearing the man in black say the three words Song Qingming lightly, the waiter was slightly stunned for a moment before he slowly reacted, and then asked the other party with a face full of surprise.

The man in black saw this and nodded calmly: "Hmm! That's who I'm talking about. Isn't your Wei State fighting with demon beasts recently? Is he also at the front line now?"

"Guest! You must not ask about this blindly. The Old Ancestor of the Song family of Funiu Mountain is a Core Formation cultivator. How could we ordinary cultivators know his whereabouts?

You should be from out of town, right? Let me tell you, Old Ancestor Song doesn't like others asking about him. I'll just treat it as if you didn't say what you just said.

Otherwise, if the market law enforcement team hears this, it will be terrible. If it's not good, you will be caught by them to dig mines in Yin Feng Ridge."

Seeing that the man in black still had an indifferent look on his face when talking about Old Ancestor Song, the waiter who had just received benefits from the other party hurriedly reminded him kindly.

"Oh! I was just asking out of curiosity, I didn't want to do anything, is it that serious?" Hearing the waiter's reminder, the man in black's face changed slightly, and he slowly put down the chopsticks in his hand.

The inn waiter saw that the other party still didn't believe it, so he hurriedly nodded and replied seriously: "Guest, how could I dare to lie to you? It's fortunate that you met me today. If it were someone else with ulterior motives, maybe they would have gone to report you to the law enforcement team by now."

"Oh! Are you sure you can't ask about this?"

Seeing that the waiter was so serious, the man in black was a bit unwilling to give up and took out a low-grade spirit stone from his body and placed it on the table in front of the waiter.

"Guest! This really won't work." Although the inn waiter was very tempted to see the shining spirit stone in front of him, he still shook his head decisively in the face of the man in black's inquiry.

"Alright then! I'll change to another question, it's okay not to ask about him, right!"

Seeing this, the man in black sighed slightly and asked softly: "Tell me, how is the front line fighting with the demon beasts now? Where are the cultivators of your Qinghe County fighting with the demon beasts?"

"Uh! This... this."

"What this and that, don't tell me you can't say this either. If you can't ask anything, then you go out first, don't disturb me here."

Seeing that the waiter was still stuttering, the man in black was a little unhappy, and reached out to take back the spirit stone he had just placed on the table.

"Guest, this can be said. The little one just didn't know where to start, so I thought about it for a while. You must not misunderstand." Seeing that the spirit stone in front of him was about to disappear, the inn waiter immediately interrupted the man in black's action.

"Alright then! You speak slowly, I'm not in a hurry to leave."

The man in black nodded with satisfaction, put down the spirit stone, and picked up the bowl and chopsticks on the table.

The shop waiter saw this and immediately continued: "To talk about this once-in-a-century damn demon beast turmoil, it has also harmed us ordinary cultivators.

Since the demon beast army moved south, the Song family has conscripted many cultivators in Qinghe County to go to the front line of Golden Mountain Market to resist the demon beast army, and it has been more than half a year..."

This little waiter in "Red Flame Market", although he had never been to the front line battlefield, spoke about the front line war with great passion and logic, as if he were there.

From Song Qingming's first battle to slay the "Nine-Patterned Dragon", to Song Qingyu and Huang Siyuan's siege and killing of the "Blue Feather Demon King" not long ago.

The waiter of "Immortal Phoenix Tower" could tell a little bit about the several major battles between the cultivators of "Golden Mountain Market" and the demon beasts in the past half year, which was obviously very well-informed.

"Guest, the little one has always been in the market and has never been to the front line. Some things are heard from passing guests, and there may be some discrepancies, so don't take it too seriously.

I can guarantee that I have told you everything I know. Red Flame Market is still some distance from the front line of Golden Mountain Market, so we can't know immediately what happened there."

After speaking passionately for a full stick of incense, the shop waiter told the man in black about the situation on the front line of "Golden Mountain Market" in the past half year.

However, what he said was only a general situation, and there was not much detailed information. After all, being in the rear, the news he could know about the front line was relatively limited.

"Hmm! It's okay, you've said enough, take this spirit stone!"

Hearing the man in black say this, the shop waiter hurriedly stepped forward and took the spirit stone he had been thinking about, bowed to him with a smile, and then took the initiative to withdraw from the private room.

After a while, the man in black had eaten and drunk enough and was about to get up and leave the private room when the waiter who had left not long ago walked in again somewhat anxiously.

"Guest, I'm really sorry. The people from the market law enforcement team just said that a lot of demon beasts suddenly came from Cloud Mist Mountain in the east and have arrived near the market. Our restaurant has to close first and go together to resist the demon beast attack on the city. We can't entertain you anymore.

The shopkeeper said, I'm really sorry about this, this meal will be treated as our restaurant's treat to you, you don't need to pay spirit stones anymore."

"Oh! There is such a good thing, then it really took advantage of you, then forget it, I won't stay here today." After the man in black finished listening to the waiter's words, he responded with a smile and stood up, ready to leave here.

"Guest, there are demon beasts attacking outside the market, you must not go out now, it is safer to wait until we repel the demon beasts before leaving.

Don't worry, there are still two Foundation Establishment seniors in the market, even if the demon beasts come, they will definitely not be able to break the market's protective mountain array. Once the reinforcements from Funiu Mountain arrive, we will be able to drive those demon beasts back into the mountains immediately."

Seeing the man in black get up and walk out, the shop waiter couldn't help but remind him again.

"No problem! I can't take advantage of you for nothing."

After a somewhat pleasant voice entered his ears, the shop waiter, who was still confused, looked out the door, and the man in black had already disappeared, as if he had disappeared suddenly and quickly. The shop waiter saw this and thought he was too nervous because of the demon beast attack on the city, so he shook his head to wake himself up before closing the door and walking out.

The news of the demon beast attack on the city had already spread throughout the market. The man in black, who was walking on the street, glanced at the protective mountain array that had been activated in the sky, and then followed the many cultivators who were rushing on the road to the vicinity of the market wall.

Since the demon beast turmoil began, not only the demon beasts moving south from the northern border, but also demon beasts from all over the Floating Cloud Mountain Range would take the opportunity to come out and attack the human territory.

The cultivators of Qinghe County not only need to deal with the demon beast army moving south from "Golden Mountain Market" in the north, but also need to deal with the demon beasts that attack at any time from "Cloud Mist Mountain" in the east.

Although there are no third-level Core Formation Demon Kings in "Cloud Mist Mountain", there are still many low-level demon beasts of the first and second levels. Every time there is a demon beast turmoil, they will also come out of the deep mountains in the east and attack various places in Qinghe County.

Therefore, every time there is a demon beast turmoil, the cultivators of Qinghe County will also fixedly leave a part of the people to guard the east of Qinghe County to deal with the demon beast army that may invade Qinghe County at any time.

"Red Flame Market" created by the Song family is located just deep in "Cloud Mist Mountain".

Before the demon beast turmoil started, this place was often harassed by nearby demon beasts, and it was not the first time in the past half year that demon beasts had come to attack the market.

After many cultivators in the market gathered to the west of "Red Flame Market", two sword lights flew from the middle of the market and landed directly on the city wall, showing two figures, a man and a woman.

These two are the Foundation Establishment cultivators arranged by the Song family to be responsible for guarding "Red Flame Market", Song Changze and Liu Yuxin.

Song Changze, who was in seclusion with Song Qingyu, had already left seclusion a few months ago, and his cultivation had successfully broken through to the seventh layer of Foundation Establishment, becoming a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Liu Yuxin has been guarding "Red Flame Market" for these years. With a keen business mind, she has also earned a lot of spirit stones relying on the market over the years and has never lacked any cultivation resources.

Now Liu Yuxin's cultivation has also been practiced very steadily to the peak of the sixth layer of Foundation Establishment, and it is not far from breaking through to the late stage of Foundation Establishment.

Song Changze, standing on the city wall, scanned the large-scale army of nearly a thousand demon beasts rushing from a distance, frowned slightly, and said to Liu Yuxin beside him: "Why are there so many demon beasts, and there are five Foundation Establishment demon beasts? Let's not go out rashly first. Let's wait until the 16th uncle sends someone over before acting together!"

Hearing Song Changze's words, Liu Yuxin shook her head lightly with a solemn face: "Hmm! What you considered is not bad, but it will take at least an hour for Senior Yuanfang and the others to rush over. So many low-level demon beasts attacking the array will consume a lot of our spirit stones.

Now the spirit stones in the market's inventory were just transported to the front line of Golden Mountain Market a few days ago. Now we don't have many spirit stones to support the operation of the array. Hiding inside all the time is probably not a long-term plan. We still have to find a way to hold back the demon beast army."

"Do you have any good strategies?" After hearing Liu Yuxin's analysis, Song Changze was silent for a moment, did not deny the other party's words, and asked Liu Yuxin again.

"Let all cultivators go to the city wall first to help support the front protective mountain array. We will lead the law enforcement team to bypass from the east of the market first. After the battle starts here, take advantage of their unpreparedness to sneak attack them from behind.

As long as we can interrupt one wave of their attack on the city and distract the demon beast army, we will definitely be able to hold on until Senior Yuanfang and the others arrive." Liu Yuxin said her plan calmly and seriously.

"Let everyone go outside the market to hold back the demon beast army, will the method you said be a bit too dangerous?"

"Now we are weak, if we want to block the demon beast army, where is there any method that doesn't take risks? If you have a better way, you might as well say it, and we can also refer to it." Liu Yuxin said with a light smile.

"There is no time to think too much now, just follow the method you said. In short, everyone must pay attention to safety!"

After making up his mind, Song Changze designated several late-stage Qi Refining cultivators of the Song family to help command the remaining people to guard the city, and then organized the more than a hundred cultivators of the law enforcement team responsible for guarding the market's safety, and left the market from the east of the market first.

Just as Song Changze and the others went out, the demon beast army had also arrived at the city wall of the market and began to desperately attack the protective mountain array of "Red Flame Market".

The protective mountain array of "Red Flame Market" was only second-level high-grade. Facing the continuous siege of nearly a thousand demon beasts outside, it soon began to sway. Many low-level cultivators on the city wall hurriedly injected their own magic power into the array to help stabilize the protective mountain array.

At the same time, the law enforcement team cultivators sent by Song Changze and Liu Yuxin had also quietly groped from the side of the market and soon arrived at the rear of the demon beast army that was attacking the city with all its strength.

Just as they were about to launch a sneak attack, a black escape light suddenly appeared in front of the demon beast army, and then a man in black with a very strange face appeared above the demon beast army.

"Eh! Who is this person?"

Before Song Changze and Liu Yuxin in the distance could figure out what was going on, the man in black moved his spirit light and swung several powerful sword lights, which directly passed through the body of a late-stage Foundation Establishment demon beast leading the demon beast army, and cut it into two pieces with one sword.

Seeing this shocking scene, those low-level demon beasts attacking the city were startled and dodged to the side.

Before they could react, the man in black in mid-air swung several more sword lights, killing two nearby second-level demon beasts directly on the battlefield.

This man in black, just with a casual blow, could easily kill a second-level demon beast with not low cultivation. In just a moment, dozens of demon beasts died tragically in his hands on the battlefield, including three leading Foundation Establishment demon beasts.

"This is! Core Formation cultivator?" Seeing this somewhat shocking scene in front of him, Song Changze's open mouth was a bit unable to close, and his face was full of disbelief.

Since breaking through his cultivation a few months ago, Song Changze, who received the order from the family Old Ancestor, has been guarding "Red Flame Market".

In recent times, because of the demon beast turmoil, there were fewer and fewer cultivators in the market, and he was a bit unable to understand why a Core Formation cultivator would suddenly appear here at this time to help them deal with the attacking demon beast army.

"What are you all standing there for? It's a good opportunity, why don't you hurry over to help!"

Just when Song Changze and the others were still a bit stunned, Liu Yuxin hurriedly reminded them loudly, and the people who reacted then killed toward the demon beast army that was already a bit chaotic below the market.

At the same time, many Qi Refining cultivators remaining in the market also discovered the abnormal situation outside.

Seeing the demon beast army that was still aggressively attacking the market just now, now facing the powerful attack of a Core Formation cultivator, they began to panic and retreat.

The many cultivators of "Red Flame Market" who did not want to miss this rare opportunity to make contributions immediately rushed out of the array and chased the demon beast army that was constantly retreating.

The waiter of "Immortal Phoenix Tower" who was mixed in the market army felt a sense of inexplicable familiarity when he saw the man in black showing off his power in the sky, but when he thought that the person who ate before was clearly only a Qi Refining cultivator, he shook his head lightly.

"It's not likely to be him, I must have misread it!"

With the help of the suddenly appearing black-clothed cultivator, this Core Formation powerhouse, the people in "Red Flame Market" repelled the attack of the demon beast army without much effort.

Until the remaining demon beast remnants were chased by the many cultivators of "Red Flame Market" back to the depths of "Cloud Mist Mountain", Song Changze and the others still couldn't believe that this battle, which was originally somewhat dangerous, ended so quickly and easily.

After repelling the demon beast army, Song Changze and Liu Yuxin immediately turned around and came to the man in black who had just helped them repel the demon beast army and bowed respectfully.

"Juniors Song Changze, Liu Yuxin, have met the senior, thank you senior for your help just now, helping us repel the demon beast army."

The man in black scanned the two people in front of him calmly, then slowly put his eyes on Song Changze beside him, nodded slightly to him and asked:

"Are you from the Song family of Funiu Mountain?"

"Senior is right, the junior is indeed a person of the Song family of Funiu Mountain, who was ordered by the Old Ancestor to guard Red Flame Market. Today, thanks to the senior's great kindness, if the senior doesn't mind, why not return to the market with us, so that I can fulfill the duty of a landlord."

"No need! This is just a matter of lifting a hand!" Hearing Song Changze's invitation, the man in black refused his kindness immediately without even thinking.

Just when Song Changze's face was slightly embarrassed, the man in black said softly to him: "I have known your family's Old Ancestor for a long time, and I came to Qinghe County this time to find him for something. If you have time now, why not take me to the front line of Golden Mountain Market!"

"So the senior is an acquaintance of our family's Old Ancestor, I hope the senior will forgive me for my rudeness just now. Golden Mountain Market is only more than two thousand li away from here. If the senior wants to go now, the junior is willing to serve!"

Hearing that the man in black was an acquaintance of his family's Old Ancestor, the originally nervous expression on Song Changze's face immediately relaxed, and he immediately agreed to the other party's request with a smile.

The three Old Ancestors of the Song family all had experiences of traveling abroad after forming the Core.

Especially after Huang Siyuan joined the "Heavenly Pill Alliance", she often went to the East Sea immortal cultivation world and got to know many Core Formation cultivators in the "Heavenly Pill Alliance". Over the years, there would occasionally be fellow Daoists passing by Funiu Mountain who would specifically visit her.

Hearing the words of the man in black, Song Changze thought that the other party was looking for Huang Siyuan, so he didn't ask much. After explaining to Liu Yuxin beside him, he took the initiative to board a third-level mid-grade flying boat that the man in black had just taken out.

This high-level flying boat with an exquisite appearance, under the control of the man in black, soon left the place and turned into a green light, flying north quickly.