Righting Wrongs on the Road

The moment they entered Tianyang City, a broad carriage road appeared before them.

All kinds of stalls lined both sides of the road. Weapons, medicinal herbs, pills, and countless other goods dazzled the eye—there was everything one could possibly want.

Carriages and horses streamed through the streets, while martial artists came and went in an endless flow.

Some martial artists were haggling with vendors, and the clamor of voices rose like a boiling cauldron.

The entire Tianyang City seemed exceptionally bustling and prosperous.

"How lively..."

Lu Changsheng marveled.

It was his first time coming down the mountain and entering a city, so everything felt novel to him. Especially after seeing how flourishing Tianyang City was, he could not help but sigh in wonder.

"This still isn't the liveliest place in Tianyang City. In the eastern part of the city, there's a Yong'an Market. That is the most bustling area in all of Tianyang City..."

Zhou Zhirou smiled faintly.

"Oh? Then I'll have to go there someday and broaden my horizons."

Lu Changsheng said with a smile.

The two entered the city and soon blended into the crowd. Martial artists flowed around them like ants, forming a dense black mass. Along the way, they chatted and laughed, while Zhou Zhirou patiently introduced Tianyang City's distinctive features.

"Hm?"

At that moment, Lu Changsheng's gaze was suddenly drawn to a pavilion.

The pavilion looked ancient and elegant, with a gold-lettered sign hanging above it. Three large words were written upon it: "Artifact Refining Pavilion."

"Junior Brother, don't tell me you've never even heard of the Artifact Refining Pavilion?"

Zhou Zhirou covered her mouth and smiled.

Lu Changsheng shook his head helplessly. He had spent the past dozen years as a Miscellaneous Servant Disciple on Lingxiao Sect's Labor Peak, so naturally his knowledge could not compare with Senior Sister Zhou's.

"This Artifact Refining Pavilion specializes in forging weapons. There is an artifact refining grandmaster here who is skilled in crafting all manner of weapons. Artifact Refiners are an extremely sought-after profession and are highly respected. Just forging one weapon for someone can earn them at least several hundred thousand Spirit Stones."

Zhou Zhirou explained.

"Several hundred thousand Spirit Stones?"

Lu Changsheng gaped in astonishment.

When he had been a Miscellaneous Servant Disciple in Lingxiao Sect, his monthly allowance had only been a dozen or so Spirit Stones. Yet an Artifact Refiner could earn several hundred thousand Spirit Stones from forging a single weapon for someone!

"Besides Artifact Refiners, alchemists are also highly respected. They can likewise receive generous rewards for refining pills for others. Look, that over there is the Alchemy Workshop."

Zhou Zhirou pointed into the distance.

Lu Changsheng looked over and saw an Alchemy Workshop not far from the Artifact Refining Pavilion. Every day, martial artists seeking pills came in an endless stream.

Lu Changsheng was immensely envious. Artifact Refiners and alchemists possessed extremely high status. Wherever they went, they were treated with great respect, and earning Spirit Stones was as easy as turning over one's hand.

"Let's go..."

After passing the Artifact Refining Pavilion, the two headed toward the center of Tianyang City under Senior Sister Zhou's lead.

Before long, a vast jade plaza came into view ahead of them.

"Senior Sister, why is the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy here so dense?"

The moment he reached the plaza, Lu Changsheng was astonished to sense that the surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy seemed to be gathering toward the center of the plaza of its own accord.

"There is a third-grade Spirit Gathering Array in Tianyang Plaza. It was set up by an Array Master and can gather Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy, so naturally the spiritual energy here is very dense."

Zhou Zhirou explained with a smile.

"Array Masters..."

Lu Changsheng understood. Array Masters were likely professions as respected as Artifact Refiners and alchemists, except their specialty was setting up formations.

"Hm?"

As the two spoke, Lu Changsheng suddenly noticed that something seemed to be happening in the plaza. Countless martial artists were continuously gathering in one direction.

"Let's go take a look..."

With that, the two walked toward the place where the martial artists had gathered.

Several hundred martial artists had formed a circle, layer upon layer. The moment Lu Changsheng and Zhou Zhirou squeezed their way in, they heard weeping.

"Young Master Qin, please spare my grandfather, sob sob sob!"

A blind young girl was kneeling on the ground, pleading helplessly.

"Spare him? Hmph! That old thing injured my spirit pet. I'll skin him alive!"

A young man in luxurious robes, whose expression was exceptionally sinister, snapped angrily.

The young man had a hooked nose and an exceedingly gloomy face, especially his pair of unusually cold, sharp eyes. Yet he wore purple-gold robes, making it clear at a glance that he came from an extraordinary background.

Beside the youth lay a Hell Spirit Hound, quietly sprawled on the ground as blood flowed from its body.

"What happened?"

Lu Changsheng asked curiously.

"Alas, this old man was traveling with his blind granddaughter. When they passed by Qin Xuan, his Hell Spirit Hound suddenly went mad and pounced at the blind girl. In his panic, the old man drew his woodcutter's blade and injured the Hell Spirit Hound. Now Qin Xuan refuses to let it go and insists on settling the score!"

A martial artist sighed.

"Something like that happened? It was clearly this fellow's own fault, yet he still wants to bully an old man?"

Lu Changsheng's face turned ashen.

"Shh, keep your voice down. He's Qin Xuan, the Qin Family's Third Young Master. He's someone we can't afford to provoke. This old man is truly unlucky to have suffered such an undeserved calamity."

The martial artist sighed.

"This bastard has grown used to running wild in Tianyang City. He has always relied on the Qin Family's power to throw his weight around and lord it over others!"

Zhou Zhirou's face was full of disgust.

"Men, give this old bastard a vicious beating!"

Qin Xuan shouted coldly.

Several burly men immediately stepped out from behind Qin Xuan. Holding iron whips, they lashed them viciously toward the frail old man.

Smack! Smack! Smack!

How could such a skinny old man endure such a savage beating? Before long, he was a mangled mass of blood and flesh, and even the onlooking martial artists could barely bear to watch.

Everyone secretly shook their heads. Qin Xuan was simply too ruthless. He was actually inflicting such cruel torture upon a weak old man.

"Young Master Qin, please don't hit my grandfather!"

The blind young girl knelt and begged.

"Get lost!"

Qin Xuan looked impatient and kicked the blind young girl aside.

However, Qin Xuan clearly was not satisfied yet. He immediately said,

"Hmph! Skin that old thing alive!"

"Yes, Young Master!"

Having received the order, several subordinates immediately drew gleaming daggers.

"Make your move!"

At that moment, a cold shout suddenly rang out. A youth dressed in green robes stepped forward from the crowd, Lu Changsheng's eyes burning with fury.

Faced with Qin Xuan's brutality, he truly could not stand by with folded arms!

"Oh? Are you trying to play the hero, kid?"

Qin Xuan cocked his head and slowly walked toward Lu Changsheng with a feminine smile on his face.

"I'll give you three breaths to apologize to this old man!"

Lu Changsheng said calmly.

Yet beneath that calm tone surged intense fury.

"Apologize? Kid, I think you're tired of living! You dare meddle in my affairs?"

Qin Xuan said in a chilling voice.