Chaos Everywhere

Three months slipped quietly by amid an increasingly tense atmosphere.

As autumn deepened, even the sky above Qingshi Market seemed shrouded in an inescapable gloom. The air itself appeared stagnant, heavy with the oppressive feeling of a mountain storm about to break.

Over those three months, news about the Blood Fiend Cult arrived in scattered fragments. Truth and falsehood mingled together, but every report only deepened the panic spreading through the marketplace.

With ample Spirit Stones and diligent cultivation, Li Chengjie's cultivation level steadily rose, his Qi Refining Level 5 realm completely stabilized.

The circulation of the Mysterious Flame Art grew ever smoother and more natural, while his control over Fire-attribute Spiritual Power became increasingly refined through his extensive pill refinement.

By quietly selling off a portion of the Qi Condensation Pills he had continually skimmed, the Low-grade Spirit Stones in Li Chengjie's Storage Bag had surpassed one hundred and twenty. Such a vast sum had been unimaginable in either his previous life or this one.

Yet this growth in personal strength and accumulation of wealth seemed so insignificant beneath the war clouds drawing ever closer.

That day, Li Chengjie had just finished refining a batch of pills and was preparing to clean the Alchemical Furnace when an unusual commotion rose from the street outside—louder and more frantic than usual.

Li Chengjie's heart stirred. He exchanged a glance with the equally alarmed Chen Xing, and the two tacitly walked to the entrance of the Pill Hut, carefully peering outside.

A crowd had gathered in the street, voices buzzing with discussion. Every face was filled with anxiety and unease.

"Did you hear? Last night, Old Wang's Talisman shop at the eastern end of the marketplace was robbed! Old Wang... he's gone too!" A sharp-faced cultivator lowered his voice as he spoke to his companion, his face carrying the terror of a rabbit mourning a dead fox.

"What? Old Wang was at Qi Refining Level 6! His shop even had a Simple Formation protecting it. How could he just be gone?" His companion sucked in a cold breath.

"What good is Qi Refining Level 6? I heard three or four people came. Their methods were vicious—they broke the formation and killed him outright! They looted the place clean! The body wasn't found until this morning, and it was already cold!" The sharp-faced cultivator's voice trembled. "In times like these, there's no way to live!"

Elsewhere, several burly men who looked like members of a Monster Hunting Team were also speaking in low, grave voices.

"Damn it, we can't stay in this hellhole! Yesterday, Old Liu from our team got robbed less than five miles outside the marketplace! Luckily he ran fast. He only lost his Storage Bag—he survived."

"Five miles? Those robbery cultivators are getting bolder and bolder! They're completely lawless!"

"Where are the Flowing Cloud Sect patrols? Aren't they doing anything?"

"Doing what? How can they? They only have so many people. They can barely keep the marketplace under control, much less the outside. I heard..." One of them glanced around and lowered his voice further. "The higher-ups might be pulling people north."

"North? What exactly is happening over at Falling Eagle Gorge?" someone immediately asked anxiously.

"It doesn't look good!" The burly man's expression darkened. "A brother of mine works for the Flowing Cloud Sect. He secretly sent word back yesterday, saying the pressure at the Falling Eagle Gorge front is immense. Those Blood Fiend Cult lunatics are fighting like they don't care about their lives, and we've taken heavy casualties. Reinforcements are urgently needed! I'm afraid... I'm afraid a large number of Qingshi Market's guards will be transferred away soon!"

These words struck the small circle of people around them like thunder exploding from level ground.

"They're transferring the guards? Then what are we supposed to do?"

"Without guards, won't the marketplace become a backyard for robbery cultivators?"

"Is the Flowing Cloud Sect abandoning us?"

"No! I need to get rid of this batch of goods quickly and leave this place as soon as possible!"

Panic spread like a plague.

The Rogue Cultivators who had still been watching and hesitating were now completely thrown into disarray.

Some hurried back to their residences to pack their valuables, while others began madly dumping their supplies, seeking only to exchange them for Spirit Stones and flee as quickly as possible. The scene descended into utter chaos.

Listening to the discussion outside, Chen Xing's face instantly turned as white as paper. His body swayed faintly, and he nearly lost his footing. Li Chengjie hurriedly supported him.

"It's over... it's over..." Chen Xing's lips trembled as he repeated those two words. "The guards are being transferred... Qingshi Market... it's really going to become a Shura Field!"

Chen Xing suddenly grabbed Li Chengjie's arm like he was clutching his last lifeline. His fingernails dug deeply into Li Chengjie's flesh. "Chengjie! Did you hear that? We have to leave! Right now! If we wait any longer, it'll be too late!"

Li Chengjie could clearly feel Chen Xing's trembling body and the fear rising from the depths of his soul.

Li Chengjie frowned tightly, his heart equally heavy.

The situation had deteriorated faster than he had expected.

The Flowing Cloud Sect was transferring guards from border marketplaces to reinforce the front lines. This was undoubtedly a clear signal—the war was pressing, and these outlying regions would very likely be temporarily abandoned.

"Furnace Master, calm down." Li Chengjie's voice was low, carrying a strangely calming power. "It's even more chaotic outside now. If we rush out recklessly, it may be even more dangerous."

"Then what do we do? Wait here to die?" Chen Xing was nearly in tears, his face filled with despair. "Those robbery cultivators even dared to rob Old Wang's shop. Our Pill Hut... this little bit of property we have..."

At that moment, the Bronze Ancient Bell at the center of the marketplace—the symbol of the Flowing Cloud Sect's authority—was not rung. Yet a murderous atmosphere quietly began spreading outward from that direction.

Faintly, they could see squads of Flowing Cloud Sect cultivators in blue robes gathering together. Though their faces could not be made out clearly, the solemn atmosphere and the faint sounds of armor scraping against armor confirmed the rumors they had just heard.

The authorities had made no formal announcement, but this scene was more shocking than any announcement could have been.

Outside the Alchemical Furnace, the chaos escalated.

Curses, wails, and shouts of people fighting over goods rose without end.

"This piece of Ink Iron Steel was clearly the one I saw first!"

"Get lost! Who cares about first come, first served now? Hand over the Spirit Stones!"

"My Storage Bag! Thief!"

"Murder!"

Li Chengjie even saw two cultivators nearby draw their swords over a spiritual herb that appeared to be of decent age. As sword light flashed, Fresh Blood quickly splattered across the ground.

The collapse of order took only an instant.

Chen Xing braced himself against the Alchemical Furnace's main doors, his body shaking like chaff in a sieve.

Li Douzi had curled up in a corner in terror, clutching his head and not daring to even look outside.

Li Chengjie took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. Panic could not solve anything. He quickly assessed the situation before him:

First, Qingshi Market would inevitably fall into great turmoil in the short term. Staying here carried an extremely high risk.

Second, following Chen Xing to Falling Cloud City was an option, but the journey was long and equally dangerous. And once they reached Falling Cloud City, everything would have to begin anew, leaving him inevitably more constrained by Chen Xing.

Third, he now possessed Qi Refining Level 5 cultivation, over a hundred Spirit Stones, and considerable skill in refining Qi Condensation Pills. He was not without the means to survive on his own.

Fourth, and most importantly—strength! He needed greater strength to face the present crisis and the uncertainties of the future.

His gaze turned once more to the simple panel in his mind:

Name: Li Chengjie
Cultivation Level: Fifth Level of Qi Refining
Cultivation Art: Mysterious Flame Art (Entered the Hall 96/100)
Available Replication Points: 0
Replication Count: 0 (Cooling Down, Time Remaining: Approximately Five Months)
Replication Point Recharge: One Low-grade Spirit Stone = One Replication Point