Translator: Cinder Translations
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Two months later.
East Huafang Market.
Song Wen appeared in the small courtyard rented by Zhou Siyi.
During these two months, he had visited the ruins of the Longevity Palace.
The Longevity Palace was built near a remote mountain village in the mortal realm. Its entrance was a large bronze door, which originally should have had an array on it, but it had been forcibly broken, and the bronze door was shattered into pieces.
The interior of the Longevity Palace was much the same.
There should have been some traps or puppets inside, but they had all been forcibly destroyed, leaving the place in disarray.
Inside the Longevity Palace, Song Wen encountered no danger, but similarly, he didn't find anything of value.
It was only then that Song Wen realized that when he was trading with Mi He, he had been scheming against her, but Mi He had been scheming against him as well.
Mi He knew very well that the Longevity Palace was empty, with nothing of value inside.
This meant that Song Wen's hopes of finding clues about the Divine Blood Gate or the Corpse King's Rebirth Technique in the palace were completely in vain. He would have to think of another way.
"Junior Brother Ji Yin, you're back?" Zhou Siyi came out of the house.
Song Wen nodded. "Senior Sister, I plan to leave East Huafang Market. What are your plans?"
"Junior Brother, wherever you go, I will go with you," Zhou Siyi replied without hesitation.
"Senior Sister, it's not safe for you to follow me," Song Wen said.
Zhou Siyi sighed lightly. "I know. With my strength, following you would only be a burden. But after all, I am a discarded disciple of the Beastmaster Sect. If I stay in East Huafang Market too long, there's a risk of being recognized. I will have to leave eventually. It's better to leave with you."
Song Wen nodded. "Alright, then. Senior Sister, come with me to Anzhou City."
Anzhou City was the largest market under the Nine Palaces Sect, only a short distance away from the sect.
Song Wen and Zhou Siyi set off on a flying boat, traveling at a moderate pace toward the northeast.
...
One day.
On the horizon, a range of towering mountains appeared. The peaks rose and fell in layers, one after another.
Clouds and mist surrounded the mountains, with strange rocks and ancient trees scattered throughout.
"Eh? The spiritual energy here is quite rich. Why hasn't any sect claimed this place?" Song Wen wondered aloud.
His spiritual sense swept over the mountains and found that, aside from some scattered cultivators, no sects had any presence there.
Zhou Siyi explained, "This place is called the Yishi Ridge, the border area between the Mixed Yuan Temple and Nine Palaces Sect. Many years ago, when the Nine Palaces Sect fell into demonic cultivation, this was the main battlefield between the righteous and the demonic forces. Later, when the two sides reconciled, it became a neutral zone, belonging to a place with no management."
"Over time, some scattered cultivators and small families gathered here, occupying various mountain peaks. Because of the numerous factions and lack of a large sect's control, the area became chaotic and disordered. Everything here relies on strength, with conflicts happening everywhere."
Zhou Siyi pointed to the south and continued, "In that direction, about a thousand miles away, there's a market called Wu Yuan Market."
Song Wen raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"Another market? Let's go take a look."
Song Wen steered the boat in the direction of Wu Yuan Market.
Soon, the market came into view.
The market covered only about ten acres and was situated in a valley.
Unlike other markets, Wu Yuan Market appeared extremely disorganized and chaotic.
The streets were narrow and winding, with buildings scattered haphazardly on either side.
Stalls, shops, and residences were all mixed together in a disordered fashion.
Song Wen landed the boat on a street in the center of the market.
"There are quite a few cultivators here," Song Wen remarked.
Zhou Siyi replied, "This is a no-man's land, and the market is not bound by any rules. Any secret techniques, cultivation methods, or stolen goods can be traded here. It's an ideal place for disposing of stolen items. Therefore, it attracts a large number of cultivators from both righteous and demonic factions, and some even privately sell their sect's cultivation methods or prohibited elixirs and spiritual herbs."
Before she could finish, they saw a commotion about ten meters ahead, where a street vendor and a masked customer were arguing.
The customer was small in stature, and judging by the voice, he seemed young.
He was holding a jade box and was shouting in an agitated voice.
"The Rainbow Herb, you sold me is problematic. It's not from this year; it's from ten years ago! The colors on the leaves are artificially dyed."
The vendor suddenly stood up angrily.
He was tall, over seven feet, with a muscular build, which made him look imposing next to the short customer.
The vendor scolded loudly, "Don't spread nonsense here and mess up my business!"
The crowd around them stopped, watching the scene with curious looks.
"I have the Rainbow Herb right here." The customer opened the jade box and held it high. "Everyone, take a look. Is this herb from this year or ten years ago?"
The vendor's face darkened. He suddenly stepped forward in a flash, moving like lightning, and appeared right in front of the customer, exuding a powerful aura that pressed down on him.
"How can you prove the Rainbow Herb you have is from my stall? I think you're just looking for trouble!"
The customer's voice was filled with anger and resentment. He retorted, "I bought it from you just now. Are you denying it?"
"When did you buy herbs from my stall? Get lost!" The vendor shouted angrily, raising his hand to slap the customer.
Just as everyone thought the customer would be struck by the slap, he suddenly crouched down, nimbly dodging the blow.
Then, he exerted force with his legs and charged into the vendor's arms.
The vendor's eyes widened, and the fierce look in his eyes vanished, replaced by an expression of disbelief.
He slowly lowered his head and looked down.
There, lodged in his chest, was a short sword, buried to the hilt, with only the hilt visible.
Fresh blood flowed down the sword and stained his clothes.
The customer's figure flickered, quickly disappearing into the crowd. As he left, he casually snatched the vendor's storage pouch from his waist.
Several onlookers rushed forward, fighting to grab the spiritual items that had been left on the stall.
The stall was soon emptied.
"Bang!"
The vendor fell to the ground, dying with his eyes wide open.
A demonic cultivator dressed in a black cloak appeared next to the vendor's body. Without hesitation, he took out a corpse coffin and placed the vendor's body inside.
Then, he retrieved a jade bottle and collected all the blood that had spilled onto the ground.
In an instant, the vendor's entire existence, including his soul and body, was completely erased.
The onlookers dispersed, as if this scene was nothing new to them.
Seeing this, Song Wen's eyes sparkled. This was no "chaos and disorder," it was the "taste of freedom."
"This place is quite good." Song Wen said with a satisfied expression.
Zhou Siyi, wearing a veil to conceal her righteous aura and beautiful face, glanced at Song Wen with a strange look in her eyes, as if saying: "You actually think this place is good?"
(End of the Chapter)
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