Green Reed Market

"The content is much the same as what Master said—basically an agreement of friendship with the Si Mu Tiger Demon. No mistakes."

Hearing Xu Chang's words, Lin Chan felt somewhat reassured for now.

Lin Chan was only at the early stage of Qi Cultivation and didn't have a Storage Bag to hold things, so these items had to stay with Xu Chang for the time being.

Before leaving, Lin Chan and Xu Chang headed to Yaoguang Peak and brought Little Li along.

"Little Li is a cat, close kin to tigers, and she has a bond with that Si Mu Tiger Demon, so we need to take her."

Lin Chan explained to Xu Chang.

Back then, Little Li had passed through the tiger demon's belly, so she was already familiar with it.

With Little Li in hand, Lin Chan would have a stand-in in a pinch, adding an extra layer of security.

"I understand."

Xu Chang nodded, giving his approval.

After that, Xu Chang produced a light, single-log canoe.

"This is a Floating Cloud Boat. It can travel above the clouds, so we'll use it to reach Wu Country. Wu Country is tens of thousands of li from Shu Mountain—Sword Riding with you wouldn't be suitable."

Xu Chang gestured for Lin Chan to sit on the canoe.

Lin Chan placed Little Li on the boat and then sat down.

Xu Chang stepped onto the Floating Cloud Boat right after, formed a hand seal, and cast a spell to control it. The boat quickly began to rise, soon reaching above the sea of clouds, where it started gliding along.

Lin Chan looked back and could faintly make out the Shu Mountains emerging through the mist, with birds soaring not far off.

The cloud boat was fast, covering thousands of li in a day.

After several days of continuous flight, Xu Chang landed the boat in a swampy area.

"Are we there, Senior Brother?"

Lin Chan asked.

He had left a Spiritual Mark on the Si Mu Tiger Demon earlier, but they hadn't yet reached its location.

"After flying for days, I'm a bit tired. Let's rest first and scout the situation. I have a good friend here, so we'll take a break at his place."

Xu Chang explained.

After reaching Foundation Establishment, in theory, one no longer needed to sleep daily like a mortal.

But Xu Chang had been controlling the Floating Cloud Boat for days, draining about thirty to forty percent of his mental energy.

They were still over a thousand li from Cuihou Peak, where the Si Mu Tiger Demon had taken hold, so Xu Chang planned to rest and meet the tiger demon in top form.

Of course, it was also to ensure that if something went wrong, he wouldn't mess up when making a getaway.

"I've put you through a lot these past few days, Senior Brother."

Lin Chan quickly said with an apologetic tone.

"No need to be so formal, Junior Brother."

Xu Chang put away the flying boat and led Lin Chan to a mountain market.

Their purpose on this trip was akin to envoys seeking peace, so neither wore casual clothes; they both donned the Dao robes of Shu Mountain.

When the market guards saw their attire, they immediately recognized their identity.

As the top sect in Rong Country and the Dao Alliance's representative there, Shu Mountain was well-known even among the loose cultivator organizations in neighboring Wu Country.

"Honored cultivators of Shu Mountain, please wait a moment. I'll go inform my master."

The guard steadied them with formal words and promptly sent someone to notify the market's owner.

"Just say that a swordsman named Xu from Shu Mountain is passing through, and I hope your master can spare a meal."

Xu Chang said with a smile.

"The honored cultivator jokes."

The guard quickly returned a flattering smile.

"The young master of this local Immortal Clan and I are close friends."

While they waited, Xu Chang explained to Lin Chan.

Xu Chang had a gentle temperament and many friends outside, each one a close bond.

Before long, a middle-aged man with graying temples came over and welcomed them inside.

After seating them in the Bamboo Tower Chamber, the middle-aged man probed the cultivation levels of Xu Chang and Lin Chan.

Lin Chan's was obvious at a glance—Qi Cultivation, third layer, a complete junior.

But Xu Chang's he couldn't discern, and his expression shifted slightly.

"Brother Xu, congratulations on reaching Foundation Establishment. I suppose I should call you 'Senior' now."

The middle-aged man said with some envy.

He and Xu Chan had cultivated in the same generation, yet now they were worlds apart.

Xu Chang had successfully broken through to Foundation Establishment, still riding high on his success, while he himself grew increasingly weathered.

"A fortunate breakthrough, Brother Dugu, no need to stand on ceremony."

Xu Chang said modestly.

Then, Xu Chang introduced the two to each other.

"This is my junior apprentice brother, Lin Chan."

"And this is Dugu Ye, Master Dugu."

The two nodded in acknowledgment to each other.

"I humbly serve as the master of this Green Reed Market."

Dugu Ye was very humble, even when facing a junior like Lin Chan.

"Brother Xu, what brings you to Wu Country this time?" Dugu Ye asked.

"Nothing major. A Core Formation Tiger Demon escaped from our Shu Mountain territory. We've come to check on the tiger demon's situation and pay a visit. On the way, I reached your place and planned to rest for a while," Xu Chang said with a smile.

"Brother Xu, are you referring to that Core Formation Great Demon with tiger stripes on its brow that look like eyes, making it seem to have four eyes in total?" Dugu Ye knew what Xu Chang was talking about.

Wu Country's terrain was full of mountains, rivers, and marshes, with many demonic creatures.

Cuihou Peak was a thousand li from here—close enough to be concerning, far enough to be manageable.

That was a Core Formation Great Demon; reaching this place wouldn't take even a day.

The Dugu family was settled here, relying on a spirit vein to establish Green Reed Market, so they naturally paid close attention.

After all, if something truly went wrong, they would need to make escape plans early.

"That's right, Brother Dugu. Do you have any news?" Xu Chang pressed on, seeing that Dugu Ye knew of it.

"Cuihou Peak was originally occupied by a green-haired monkey demon with a century of cultivation. After the Si Mu Tiger Demon arrived, it seized the peak and has since stayed in the mountain without coming out to harm anyone. We haven't been able to uncover more information," Dugu Ye shared everything he knew.

"I see." Xu Chang nodded, then asked further, "By the way, it seems Wu Country has been having some problems lately."

"There was a severe drought in the eastern region last year. Some rogue cultivators claimed to have seen a Fire Bird fall from afar, suggesting a Demon Cultivator Grandmaster was causing chaos. But it hasn't reached our area, so Brother Xu can rest assured," Dugu Ye didn't hold back and shared all the news he had.

"Thank you for telling me, Brother Dugu. Please arrange a place for me and my junior brother to stay and rest."

"I've already sent people to prepare it; it should be cleaned up by now." Dugu Ye stood up to lead the way for the two.

"I'm imposing on you, Brother Dugu," Xu Chang said.

After that, both Lin Chan and Xu Chang were assigned rooms.

Lin Chan went to his room, lay down on the bed, and used Little Li's body to wander around Green Reed Market, wanting to see what this rogue cultivator market was really like.

Searching here and there, Lin Chan didn't find anything worth noting.

Maybe it was because the market hadn't opened for business yet.

The local rogue cultivators mostly made a living by planting a special kind of Green Reed Grass for the Dugu family, with a few relying on fishing and hunting.

After idling around for a few hours, Lin Chan returned to his room.

By then, Xu Chang had rested enough and recovered his energy.

"Brother Xu! Stay and have a Spiritual Meal before you leave." Before their departure, Dugu Ye prepared a Spiritual Meal for the two.

Xu Chang couldn't refuse and had to stay.

The Spiritual Meal prepared by the Dugu family featured a Spiritual Fish Lin Chan had never seen before—boneless flesh that melted in the mouth.

Both men and the cat ate heartily.

Of course, for Xu Chang, who had already reached Foundation Establishment, this was just a drop in the bucket.

Lin Chan and Little Li, however, benefited greatly.

The only annoyance was the woman Dugu Ye had arranged to attend to Lin Chan, who kept flaunting her charms in front of him.

"Brother Xu, when you return, feel free to stop by Green Reed Market again. Let us know along the way how the Si Mu Tiger Demon is doing. At that time, Green Reed Market will prepare another meal for Brother Xu and Young Master Lin," Dugu Ye said as he saw them off.

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