Five days later, Ganzi Mountain north of Luandu County.
Amid the rolling mountains, beneath an inconspicuous low hill, lay a vast karst cave.
Water murmured through the cave. Scattered Luminous Algae on the sharp stalactites overhead gave off a soft, pearly glow, dispelling the darkness within.
At the center of the cave was a platform about the size of two living rooms, where more than a dozen masked people had gathered.
"I have ten Void-Treading Talismans. They let you walk through the air at the speed of two horses, and each one can travel at least a hundred li. I'll trade them for six White Jade Coins, or four bottles of Fasting Pills." A tall man wearing a red ghost mask spoke up.
"Give them to me. I'll give you two bottles of Fasting Pills and two hundred jin of Yellow Sprout Rice. How about it?" The wizened old man in the monkey mask across from him was the first to answer.
"Deal!" The Ghost-Mask Person nodded at once.
"If you have any more, I can trade for some as well. I'll use White Jade Coins." Monkey Mask Elder continued.
The Ghost-Mask Person hesitated briefly before finally shaking his head. "Forget it. I need them too."
"Elder Sun, have you heard something?" A person wearing a pig mask beside him looked at the monkey-masked old man and asked.
Elder Sun nodded slightly. "Pingfu Workshop in neighboring Jiangyang County was wiped out by the Black-skinned Hounds. I'm preparing to leave Luandu County."
Everyone's breathing lightened involuntarily at those words, and the atmosphere immediately grew grave.
"Damn Black-skinned Hounds!" the Ghost-Mask Person cursed.
His words immediately struck a chord with the others, who chimed in indignantly.
"We dignified Qi Refining cultivators are actually being driven around by a pack of mortals! Those