Green Reed Market

"The contents were more or less what Master said: an agreement of friendship with the Si Mu Tiger Demon. There were no flaws."

Hearing Xu Chang's words, Lin Chan finally felt somewhat at ease.

Lin Chan was only at the initial stage of Qi Cultivation and did not possess a Storage Bag capable of holding things, so these items could only remain with Xu Chang for now.

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

"Little Li is a cat, close to tigers by nature, and it has a connection with that Si Mu Tiger Demon, so we need to bring it."

Lin Chan explained to Xu Chang.

Back then, Little Li had made a trip through Four Eyes' belly, so it could be considered familiar with him.

With Little Li in hand, Lin Chan would have one more substitute in a critical moment, and one more measure of protection.

"I understand."

Xu Chang nodded, indicating his approval.

Afterward, Xu Chang took out a feather-light canoe.

"This is the Floating Cloud Boat. It can travel above the clouds, so we'll use it to go to Wu Country! Wu Country lies tens of thousands of miles from Shu Mountain; it would be inappropriate to carry you by Sword Riding."

Xu Chang gestured for Lin Chan to board the canoe.

Lin Chan set Little Li at the back of the canoe, then climbed aboard.

Xu Chang stepped onto the Floating Cloud Boat right after him. Forming hand seals and casting a spell to control it, he soon sent the Floating Cloud Boat rising into the air. Before long, it had reached the sea of clouds and began roaming above it.

Lin Chan looked back and could vaguely see the Shu Mountains emerging through the clouds and mist, while birds took flight nearby.

The cloud boat was extremely fast and could travel several thousand miles in a day.

After flying for several days straight, Xu Chang brought it down in a swamp.

"Are we there, Senior Brother?"

Lin Chan asked.

He had once left a Spiritual Mark on the Si Mu Tiger Demon, but they had not yet reached the location of the mark.

"After flying for several days, I'm somewhat tired. Let's rest first, then gather some information. I have a friend here, so we can rest at his place."

Xu Chang explained.

After Foundation Establishment, one theoretically no longer needed to sleep every day like mortals did.

But Xu Chang had controlled the Floating Cloud Boat for days, and three or four tenths of his mental energy had been depleted.

They were still over a thousand miles from Cuihou Peak, where the Si Mu Tiger Demon had taken up residence. Xu Chang intended to rest so he could meet the Tiger Demon in his best condition.

Of course, it was also to ensure that, should anything go wrong, there would be no mishap when it came time to flee.

"I've troubled you these past few days, Senior Brother."

Lin Chan hurriedly said apologetically.

"Junior Brother, there is no need to be so distant."

Xu Chang put away the flying boat and led Lin Chan into a market nestled in the mountains.

Their purpose on this trip was akin to envoys seeking peace, so neither wore casual clothing. Instead, they wore Shu Mountain Daoist robes.

The guards of the local market immediately recognized their identities upon seeing their attire.

As Rong Country's foremost sect and the Dao Alliance's voice in Rong Country, Shu Mountain was naturally well known even among the Rogue Cultivator organizations of neighboring Wu Country.

"Please wait a moment, honored cultivators of Shu Mountain. I shall immediately seek instructions from my master."

The guard addressed the two in Daoist etiquette and promptly sent someone to notify the master of the market.

"Just tell him that a swordsman surnamed Xu from Shu Mountain is passing through and hopes your master can spare us a meal."

Xu Chang said with a smile.

"You must be joking, honored cultivator."

The guard quickly responded with a deferential smile.

"The young master of the Immortal Clan here is a close friend of mine."

While they waited, Xu Chang explained to Lin Chan.

Xu Chang had a mild temperament and many friends outside. Every one of them was a friend bound to him in deep fellowship.

Before long, a middle-aged man with slightly graying temples came over and ushered the two inside.

After inviting them to sit in the Bamboo Tower Chamber, the middle-aged man probed Xu Chang and Lin Chan's cultivation.

He saw through Lin Chan's at a glance: Qi Cultivation Layer 3, plainly a junior.

But he could not discern Xu Chang's cultivation at all, and his expression changed slightly.

"Brother Xu, congratulations on successfully reaching Foundation Establishment. I ought to call you Senior now."

The middle-aged man spoke with some envy.

He and Xu Chang had cultivated as peers, yet now they stood worlds apart.

Xu Chang had successfully reached Foundation Establishment and was still full of youthful vigor, while he himself had grown increasingly weathered with each passing day.

"It was merely a fortunate breakthrough. Brother Dugu, there's no need to stand on ceremony."

Xu Chang said modestly.

Afterward, Xu Chang introduced them to each other.

"This is my junior brother, Lin Chan."

"This is Dugu Ye, Master Dugu."

The two also nodded to one another in greeting.

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

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

"Brother Xu, what brings you to Wu Country this time?"

Dugu Ye asked.

"It is nothing major. A Core Formation Tiger Demon escaped from our Shu Mountain territory, and we came to see how that Tiger Demon is doing and pay it a visit. Having reached your place, Brother Dugu, we intended to rest and recover for a while."

Xu Chang said with a smile.

"Brother Xu, are you speaking of the Core Formation Great Demon with tiger stripes above its brows that resemble eyes, making it seem as though it has four eyes in all?"

Dugu Ye knew what Xu Chang meant.

Wu Country was full of mountains, rivers, and marshlands, and demons were numerous as well.

Cuihou Peak was a thousand miles from here—not close, but not far either.

That was a Core Formation Great Demon. If it wished to come here, it would take less than a day.

The Dugu Family was settled here and had established Green Reed Market by relying on a spiritual vein, so they naturally paid close attention.

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

"Precisely. Does Brother Dugu have any information?"

Seeing that Dugu Ye knew of it, Xu Chang continued asking.

"Cuihou Peak was originally occupied by a Green Monkey with a hundred years of cultivation. After the Si Mu Tiger Demon arrived, it seized the place. Since then, it has remained in the mountain and has not come out to harm anyone. We have been unable to learn anything further."

Dugu Ye told him everything he knew.

"So that was the case."

Xu Chang nodded, then asked again:

"By the way, it seems some trouble has arisen in Wu Country recently."

"The eastern region suffered a severe drought last year. Some Rogue Cultivators said they saw a Fire Bird fall to the ground from afar, and it seemed a Demon Cultivator Grandmaster was causing trouble. However, it has not reached our side, so Brother Xu may rest assured."

Dugu Ye did not withhold anything and shared all the information he knew.

"Thank you for informing me, Brother Dugu. I would also ask Brother Dugu to arrange a place for my junior brother and me to stay, so that we may rest."

"I had someone prepare it already. It should have been cleaned up by now."

Dugu Ye rose as well and led the two onward.

"Sorry to impose on you, Brother Dugu."

Xu Chang said.

Afterward, Lin Chan and Xu Chang were each given a room.

After entering his room and lying on the bed, Lin Chan used Little Li's body to look around Green Reed Market, wanting to see what this Rogue Cultivator market was actually like.

After searching here and there, Lin Chan found nothing worth paying attention to.

Perhaps it was not yet time for the market to open.

The local Rogue Cultivators mostly made their living by growing a special kind of Green Reed Grass for the Dugu Family, while a small number survived by fishing and hunting.

After wandering around for several hours, Lin Chan returned to his room.

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

"Brother Xu! There is no rush to leave. Stay and have the Spiritual Meal before going."

Before their departure, Dugu Ye prepared a Spiritual Meal for the two.

Xu Chang truly could not refuse, so he could only stay.

The Spiritual Meal prepared by the Dugu Family centered on a kind of Spiritual Fish Lin Chan had never seen before. Its flesh was boneless and melted in the mouth.

The two men and the cat all ate to their hearts' content.

Of course, to Xu Chang, who had already reached Foundation Establishment, this was merely a drop in the ocean.

But Lin Chan and Little Li benefited greatly.

Only, the woman Dugu Ye had arranged to attend Lin Chan kept flaunting her charms before him, which was rather annoying.

"Brother Xu, when you return, you may also stop at our Green Reed Market. And if it is convenient, please tell us what the situation with the Si Mu Tiger Demon is. When the time comes, our Green Reed Market will prepare a meal for Brother Xu and little brother Lin as well."

Dugu Ye said this as he saw them off.