Four Seas Merchant Guild

He didn't pursue.

Jiang Ding's hand rested on his sword hilt, his eyes closed slightly as he took in the bloody battlefield, the scent of gore heavy in the air.

His spine tingled, and in just a few short minutes, his bone refining had progressed another step.

No matter the martial art, its true value was only found on the battlefield, resonating with the essence of one's life.

The merchants' employees looked at the young man amidst the corpses with awe, not daring to approach.

"Thank you, young hero, for saving my life."

After a long while, the merchant caravan manager, having bandaged his wounds, hurried over and bowed deeply. "I am Long San, a collateral descendant of the Long family from the Four Seas Merchant Guild. I will surely repay your kindness handsomely in the future."

Jiang Ding blinked. "In the future? Why not now?"

Long San's scalp tingled, and a chill ran down his spine, especially his throat. He instinctively reached for the saber at his waist.

Meeting Jiang Ding's gaze, he stopped himself.

"Is the handsome reward just a courtesy?" Jiang Ding asked, displeased.

"Never! Please wait a moment, young hero."

Long San relaxed, a smile appearing on his face. He clasped his hands and returned to his employees, borrowing some money from each. He offered over thirty taels of silver.

"Please don't be upset, young hero. I only have thirty taels on me right now. I will have a generous gift for you when we reach the prefectural city."

"That won't be necessary. This is enough. They attacked first, so I wasn't specifically saving you."

Jiang Ding accepted the silver and shook his head. "I have another request. I'm also heading to the prefectural city. Could you do me a favor and let me travel with you?"

"Young hero, we would be honored!"

Long San was overjoyed. He had been worried the bandits from Fierce Tiger Stronghold wouldn't let this go.

This was Fierce Tiger Stronghold's territory, after all, and no one dared to linger. Long San had his employees clear out a donkey cart specifically for Jiang Ding and personally accompanied him despite his injuries.

Jiang Ding took the opportunity to inquire about local matters.

"In the prefectural city, besides the yamen guarded by Marquis Zhen Dong, are there any other experts I shouldn't provoke? I'd like to be aware."

"That..."

Long San pondered for a moment. "With your skills, young hero, you naturally wouldn't care about small gangs or minor powers. There are only three individuals who could be considered great experts: the leader of the Righteousness Gang, 'Righteousness Touching the Heavens' Yang Dongsheng; the master of the Dragon Tiger Martial Hall, 'Heaven-Shaking Monkey' Old Master Yuan, whose disciples are spread throughout the East Spirit Prefecture's underworld and legitimate circles; and the head of the Zheng family, Zheng Ye, nicknamed 'Mixed Gold Saber.' It's rumored the Zheng family has a marital connection to the Marquis's mansion."

"These three are all renowned peak Inner Qi Realm experts. Setting aside their fame and influence, an Inner Qi Realm martial artist like myself would be fortunate to survive even one move against them."

Long San thought for a moment and then added:

"Actually, a few months ago, there was the Seven Profound Sect. They were even stronger than these three major powers and had occupied the East Spirit Prefecture for over a thousand years. Unfortunately, they were completely wiped out by Wei Xian, the head disciple of the Golden Saber Sect, one of the six major sects."

He spoke with reverence.

"Oh? And why was that?" Jiang Ding asked with interest. "I recall the Golden Saber Sect being a major sect near the capital. Why would they travel so far to exterminate a sect here?"

"These major sects have always acted tyrannically. Even the government rarely interferes with them in recent years. Who can say?"

"However, there are some rumors in the city."

Long San thought about it.

"Some say the Golden Saber Ancestor of the Golden Saber Sect coveted a treasure from the Seven Profound Sect called the Heavenly Sound Stone. It was left by the Seven Profound Master, who dominated the martial world a thousand years ago. Under the moonlight, it emits celestial music that aids in comprehending martial arts."

Jiang Ding's heart stirred, as if recalling something. He thought carefully, but nothing concrete came to mind.

"Others say that the Golden Saber Ancestor had an enemy connected to the Seven Profound Sect, so he sent his head disciple to slaughter the Seven Profound Sect in a fit of rage."

"And some say it was related to a beauty..."

"In short, there are all sorts of fragmented rumors," Long San said with a wry smile. "We common folk can't be sure of any of them. We just hear them to pass the time when drinking."

Jiang Ding also smiled. "Is that Golden Saber Sect head disciple still in East Spirit City? I'm starting to have second thoughts about going."

Long San's expression tensed.

"He's gone! He's gone! Rest assured, young hero. East Spirit City is just a remote backwater for a prodigy ranked ninth on the Dragon-Phoenix Ranking. If not for his master's orders, why would 'Splitting Sea Saber' Wei Xian be willing to come here?"

Splitting Sea Saber?

Jiang Ding was speechless. These people really knew how to boast. Even a Golden Core True Person wouldn't dare claim to split the sea.

"Such a prodigy is a true great man!"

Long San said with a hint of longing. "I saw it with my own eyes that day. The gold and silver treasures alone, plundered from the Seven Profound Sect mountain, filled over a dozen large carts. The last cart, filled with beauties in a flower carriage, was truly breathtaking. I heard that the Seven Profound Sect Master's wife, 'Bell Sound Fairy,' was among them."

"She was the dream girl that great figures like Old Master Yuan and the Zheng family head couldn't obtain in their youth. By chance, the Seven Profound Sect Master won her heart, but now... alas."

"Oh, right."

Jiang Ding remembered something. "Didn't the Seven Profound Sect also have a Dragon-Phoenix Ranking prodigy, something like 'Flying Snow Fairy'? Did she also fall into the hands of that 'Splitting Sea Saber'?"

"Are you referring to 'Flying Snow Fairy' Gong Caiyu, ranked ninety-eighth on the Dragon-Phoenix Ranking? She is the daughter of Bell Sound Fairy and is also a beauty of unparalleled grace. I didn't see her that day, and I haven't heard anything about her since."

As they chatted casually, gazing at the beautiful mountain scenery slowly receding outside the window, Jiang Ding gained a general impression of East Spirit City.

Along the way, the merchant caravan stopped frequently at small towns and villages to replenish food and water and rest their animals. Jiang Ding also had the opportunity to witness some local customs and traditions.

Overall, it was roughly similar to the ancient feudal society of the Immortal Sects.

Body Refining Realm martial artists possess hundreds of pounds of brute strength in a single arm. Inner Qi Realm martial artists are even more powerful, but it seems they have no intention of using this strength for agricultural or handicraft production to improve productivity.

The vast majority of martial artists choose violent professions such as escorts, guards, gang members, and soldiers, which do not directly produce goods, even though they constantly face life and death and cannot be considered safe or stable.

Four to five hours later, just as Jiang Ding was contemplating whether to stay up all night, a tall city appeared in the distance.

Getting closer, he noticed the city walls were as high as eleven to twelve meters and fifteen to sixteen meters wide. The city gate was heavily guarded by armored soldiers who stood motionless even in the sweltering heat.

People carrying firewood, selling goods, singing opera, and emptying chamber pots – citizens from all walks of life lined up to enter the city in an orderly fashion.

Jiang Ding carefully observed the soldiers and his expression turned serious: "The soldiers inside the city are indeed quite elite."

The three realms of Body Refining and the Inner Qi Realm are still mortal. Once trapped in a city or on open plains and besieged by an army armed with powerful bows and crossbows, no matter how strong they are, they cannot withstand it and will surely die.

"Naturally."

Long San said solemnly: "Marquis Zhen Dong is one of the Twelve Generals of Heavenly Clouds who followed the Great Ancestor to establish the empire. He ranks ninth in the Heavenly Clouds Pavilion. His military command and martial arts are naturally superb and have not declined to this day."

"Although it is said there are three major powers within the city, none of them can compare to the Marquis's mansion."

At the city gate, tax collectors charged one copper coin per person as an entrance fee, with goods charged separately. Seeing Long San's calm expression, it seemed they neither overcharged nor undercharged, nor were there any of the expected difficulties.

Jiang Ding had no copper coins, so Long San paid for him.

After entering the city, Jiang Ding cupped his hands towards Long San: "I wish to open a general store in the city. Manager Long, could you introduce me to some channels? I don't seek a prime location, just a place to settle down temporarily. The commission will certainly not let you suffer a loss."

This was his plan: open a general store and purchase various specimens dug up and caught by locals for a certain amount of money.

Of course, the requirements for the specimens would be very strict, and training would be provided in advance.

"Hey, hey, hey..."

Long San took half a step back, waving his hands repeatedly: "Young hero, you flatter me. You saved my life. You only need to give me instructions for these small matters. Why go to such lengths?"

"Not so." Jiang Ding said seriously: "As I said before, since I have already accepted your generous gift, this matter is settled. Do not mention it again."

"Young hero, a mere few dozen taels of silver..."

"No, it's enough." Jiang Ding smiled: "You are also a businessman, so you naturally know that the value of things is never fixed. As long as the buyer and seller agree, the transaction is complete, and there should be no further entanglement."

"Alas, young hero, I cannot argue with you. Since you want to open a shop, I will send a trusted employee who is familiar with these matters to assist you later. There is no need to discuss the commission again."

Long San gave a wry smile.

A small businessman opening a general store did not match this sword-wielding youth in green who killed without blinking. It felt too incongruous.

Of course, he did not ask further. This was someone else's business.