Qingshi Market Inner Circle

The intense urgency in Li Chengjie's heart was like a vicious ghost chasing at his heels, driving him briskly toward the Steward's Office responsible for leasing properties within the Marketplace.

Li Chengjie had to move into the inner circle immediately. Even if only temporarily, he needed to find a safe place to land first.

The Steward's Office stood at the boundary between the inner and outer areas, inside a relatively orderly bluestone hall.

Unlike the desolation and decay of the outskirts, this place could not be called bustling, but it was at least clean and tidy. Two disciples in Flowing Cloud Sect standard blue robes stood at the entrance. Both had mid-stage Qi Refining cultivation levels, their expressions stern and their eyes vigilantly sweeping over anyone who approached.

Li Chengjie adjusted his slightly ragged breathing and robes after his hurried walk, then stepped into the hall.

The hall was rather empty. Only a handful of people stood before different windows, asking questions in low voices. The atmosphere felt somewhat oppressive.

Li Chengjie found the window marked "Leasing Inquiries." Behind it sat a Steward Disciple in his thirties, expressionless.

"Fellow Daoist, may I ask what the current price is for residences in the Marketplace's inner area?" Li Chengjie tried to keep his tone calm.

The Steward Disciple lifted his eyelids and sized Li Chengjie up. Seeing his ordinary clothes and merely Qi Refining Level 5 cultivation, a barely perceptible trace of contempt flashed through his eyes. He answered in a businesslike manner, "In the inner area, the smallest single-person residence rents for twenty Low-grade Spirit Stones per month. The Rules are 'pay three, deposit one.' The first payment requires three months' rent plus one month's deposit, eighty Spirit Stones in total. Those with insufficient Spirit Stones or no reliable proof of identity will not be processed."

Twenty Spirit Stones a month! Pay three, deposit one—eighty Spirit Stones!

Though he had been mentally prepared, the price still made Li Chengjie's heart twitch.

The ninety-five Spirit Stones in Li Chengjie's possession had been scraped together only after exhausting his Family Fortune and taking risks to refine pills. If he paid the rent, only fifteen Spirit Stones would remain. Forget buying materials to continue refining pills—even daily expenses and unexpected emergencies would leave him stretched thin.

An uncontrollable look of difficulty appeared on Li Chengjie's face. He could not help confirming, "Fellow Daoist, is there... any room for negotiation? Or are there any more... more affordable temporary accommodations?"

The Steward Disciple sneered, his voice laced with mockery. "Negotiation? Do you think this is some mortal vegetable market? That's the price. Stay if you want, leave if you don't. You know perfectly well what things are like outside right now. The safety of the inner area is worth that price! As for temporary accommodations? None. The inner area has strict Rules. Do you think just anyone can enter and stay temporarily? Either rent long-term according to the Rules, or remain outside." Seemingly too lazy to speak with Li Chengjie any further, he waved a hand. "Next!"

Li Chengjie froze where he stood, his face burning. Several gazes seemed to fall upon him from around the room, carrying scrutiny and a hint of amusement at his expense.

Eighty Spirit Stones were like a cold Heavenly Chasm stretching between him and safety.

He clenched his fists, his nails nearly digging into his flesh. In the end, he said nothing, merely lowered his head and hurried out of the Steward's Office.

When he walked out of the hall, sunlight shone upon him, but he could not feel the slightest warmth.

Eighty Spirit Stones... was he still far short?

No. Li Chengjie had ninety-five Spirit Stones, but he could not bear to spend them!

They were all Li Chengjie possessed, his only capital for surviving in this Chaotic World and pursuing the Immortal Path.

Once he handed them over, he would be penniless again. In the inner circle's exorbitantly expensive environment, how would that be any different from waiting to die?

He had to think of something quickly. Refine a few more batches of pills?

But where would he get the money for materials? Was there still enough time?

Meanwhile, in a secluded chamber within a heavily guarded pavilion at the very heart of Qingshi Market.

An elderly man in the robes of a Flowing Cloud Sect core Elder sat upright in the seat of honor. His face was lean, his eyes profound, and the faint Spirit Pressure radiating from his body revealed Foundation Establishment Realm cultivation.

He was Zhao Qianfeng, the Flowing Cloud Sect Foundation Establishment Elder currently stationed at Qingshi Market.

Below him, a middle-aged man at the Ninth Level of Qi Refining, dressed in a steward's blue robe, was bowing as he reported on the Marketplace's recent situation. His face was filled with worry.

"Elder Zhao, the chaos in the outer area has worsened by the day. Robbery and Murder by rogue cultivators has become frequent. There were another three incidents last night, and the people are crying out in grievance, calling for the sect to send more patrols. Should we... transfer a small portion of the inner circle guards to strengthen patrols in the outer area? At least to steady people's hearts."

Zhao Qianfeng did not even raise his eyelids. He merely lightly stirred the Spirit tea in his hand, his tone calm and unruffled.

"Transfer inner circle guards? No."

"Not only will we not transfer any, convey my order: move every guard squad from the outer circle into the inner circle."

"From today onward, temporarily abandon the outer circle's defenses."

"What?" Steward Zhou, at the Ninth Level of Qi Refining, abruptly raised his head, his face full of shock and confusion. "Elder, this... this will likely cause the outer circle to fall completely into chaos! Those rogue cultivators and small families..."

"Chaos?" Zhao Qianfeng finally looked up, his gaze sweeping over Steward Zhou like cold lightning and silencing him at once. "Steward Zhou, do you know how much the sect has lost on the Northern Front recently?"

Steward Zhou paused, then said quietly, "This disciple has heard a little. It seems... things have not gone very smoothly."

"Not very smoothly? We are about to fail to hold the line!" Zhao Qianfeng's voice suddenly turned cold. "The Blood Fiend Cult's offensive is fierce. The sect's main forces are tied down, and resource consumption is immense. Qingshi Market is only a thousand li from the front line. Once the battle line collapses, this place will be the first to bear the brunt! The sect has already decided to strategically abandon some peripheral strongholds and concentrate its forces on defending the core regions. Qingshi Market is already on the list to be abandoned."

Steward Zhou sucked in a breath, his face instantly draining white. "Abandon... the Marketplace? Then... then us..."

"We will naturally be the last batch to withdraw." Zhao Qianjun took a sip of tea. His tone became calm again, though it carried a trace of cruel calculation. "Precisely because of that, we must stabilize the inner circle and ensure our safety and order when we withdraw. Those rogue cultivators and petty vendors in the outer circle are merely burdens. What do their lives or deaths have to do with the sect's greater plan?"

He paused, then continued, "As for now, this is our final opportunity. Pass down the order: all residences and shops in the inner circle will have their rents raised by fifty percent from this moment onward."

"At the same time, strictly limit the number of people permitted to enter the inner circle."

"Before we withdraw, we must 'raise' as many Spirit Stone resources as possible and bring them back to the sect. It can be considered our final contribution to the sect."

Steward Zhou's heart pounded with alarm. They were taking advantage of the fire to loot, preparing to rake in one final fortune before abandoning the place!

He opened his mouth, wanting to say that this would damage the sect's reputation. Yet beneath Zhao Qianjun's indifferent gaze, he ultimately did not dare speak. He could only answer hoarsely, "This disciple... understands. I will make arrangements for the transfer orders and rent increases immediately."

"Go. Move quickly, and keep the news tightly sealed. Before the withdrawal order is formally issued, I do not wish to trigger widespread panic." Zhao Qianfeng waved a hand and closed his eyes again, as though the decision he had just made were something utterly insignificant.

Li Chengjie wandered the outer streets in a daze, his heart caught in a battle between heaven and man.

Eighty Spirit Stones weighed upon him like a mountain, leaving him unable to breathe.

Go back and refine pills? The money for materials was insufficient, and that little courtyard was far too unsafe. Take the risk of hunting Demonic Beasts? His strength was insufficient; that would be no different from courting death. Sell the Azure Edge Sword? It was his only means of defense now...

Just as his mind was in complete turmoil, he suddenly saw a squad of Flowing Cloud Sect Guards that had originally been patrolling the outer area marching in neat formation toward the inner circle. They did not pause in the slightest.

"Eh? Why are they all going inside?"

"Could it be that they are abandoning the outside completely?"

People by the roadside noticed it as well and murmured uneasily.

Li Chengjie's heart sank. An intensely ominous premonition surged into his chest.

Li Chengjie did not dare delay any longer. Gritting his teeth, he decided to return to his small courtyard first and take the remaining few materials and all his belongings with him. Even if he had to crouch in some corner near the inner circle, it would be better than staying in that completely unprotected courtyard.

Li Chengjie quickened his pace, almost running through streets that had grown increasingly deserted and dilapidated. The air was filled with a suffocating panic.

When he finally caught sight of that familiar shabby little courtyard at the very edge of the Marketplace, his heart instantly turned cold.

The courtyard gate was half-open. The clutter he had carefully braced against the door before leaving lay scattered to one side, and the bolt had been broken cleanly in two. Someone had clearly forced their way in with brute strength!

Li Chengjie's heart pounded wildly. He abruptly drew the Azure Edge Sword from his back, spread out his divine sense with all his strength, and carefully approached.

The courtyard was a total mess. The chest where he stored odds and ends had been overturned, and several old robes had been torn apart and tossed everywhere.

Li Chengjie rushed into the only bedroom. The sight before him made his eyes split with fury—the loose stone slab in the corner had been pried up, and the scraps of medicinal ingredients he had hidden there, intending to see whether they could be put to use, had long since vanished without a trace!

The entire little courtyard had been turned upside down. Every valuable item had been swept away.

Fortunately, he had kept his most important Alchemical Furnace and Spirit Stones on him, and the Azure Edge Sword had never left his side. Otherwise, this time he truly would have lost everything.

Looking at the complete wreckage before him, Li Chengjie felt ice-cold all over, fear and anger intertwining within him.

If he had not happened to go out to sell pills and gather information, he would likely have become a cold corpse like Liu Mazi by now!

There could be no more lucking out! He could not remain in this outer-circle hell for even one more moment!

No matter how expensive the eighty Spirit Stones in rent were, they could not compare to his life!

Li Chengjie forcibly suppressed the shock, fury, and fear in his heart. His gaze became incomparably resolute.

Li Cheng turned around without hesitation and ran wildly toward the inner circle's Steward's Office once more.

Even if it cost him everything, he had to move into the inner circle immediately!

When Li Chengjie rushed into the Steward's Office hall again, panting for breath, he discovered that a small line had formed before the leasing window. The atmosphere was even more restless and uneasy than before.

Everyone's faces were filled with panic and urgency as they discussed the matter in low voices.

"What is going on? Why did the price suddenly rise?"

"Thirty Spirit Stones a month? And we still have to pay three months' rent and one month's deposit? That... that is one hundred and twenty Low-grade Spirit Stones! Wasn't it only twenty before?"

"What does the Flowing Cloud Sect mean by this? Things outside are already in such chaos. Instead of protecting us, they are raising prices at a time like this?"

"I heard that all the guard squads outside have withdrawn into the inner circle! They are abandoning us!"

Hearing these discussions, Li Chengjie felt as though he had been struck by lightning. His whole body froze.

Thirty Spirit Stones a month! Pay three, deposit one—one hundred and twenty Spirit Stones!

The ninety-five Spirit Stones in Li Chengjie's possession had originally placed him only one step away from the eighty-Stone target. Now they seemed so laughable. He was a full twenty-five Spirit Stones short of the new threshold of one hundred and twenty!

That cruel reality was like icy water dumped over his head, instantly extinguishing more than half of the determined fire that had just flared within him.

Behind the window sat the same Steward Disciple. Now, however, his face carried a trace of impatience and condescension. "What are you making such a racket for? Marketplace resources are tight, and the Protective Formation consumes enormous amounts. The rent increase is a sect regulation! Rent if you can afford it, and if you cannot, stop blocking the way! Keep making noise, and you will be punished for disrupting order!"

The cold rebuke silenced the people in line. Only stifled breathing and despairing eyes remained.

Li Chengjie looked at that cold window, then at the cultivators as desperate as himself. He remembered the little courtyard that had been turned upside down and could no longer offer even the slightest sense of safety. An immense powerlessness swept over him.

Li Chengjie had been unwilling even to spend eighty Spirit Stones, yet now he had to face the astronomical sum of one hundred and twenty!