The reason the group had returned to their own Spirit Mountain wearing masks to alter their appearances was entirely Song Qingming's doing.
On one hand, it was to conceal the news of Song Qingyu's return and prevent word of her forming Nascent Soul from leaking out.
The other purpose was that Song Qingming wanted to see for himself just how much Crimson Cloud Mountain had changed during the thirty years he had been gone.
Back in Song Family territory, with Song Yuanfang—whose background he knew well enough—in charge, Song Qingming had not worried that the family's subordinates would become difficult to control after his long absence.
But compared to that, the situation at Crimson Cloud Mountain was far more complicated.
Crimson Cloud Mountain had originally been jointly controlled by the Carefree Sect and the Heavenly Pole Sect. Not only were cultivators from both sects stationed in the Marketplace, but there were also many cultivators Song Qingming had recruited after arriving, as well as forces from smaller nearby sects such as the Tianxing Sect, all mixed together.
When Song Qingming and Huang Siyuan had left, to guard against any unforeseen changes after their departure, they had specifically invited Chen Xuanxin, a Peak Golden Core Stage expert, from the sect to oversee the place.
He wondered whether those currently managing things could truly keep the people in the Marketplace in check.
After leaving the Teleportation Platform and entering the Marketplace, Song Qingming swept his gaze ahead and discovered that the streets were bustling with an endless stream of people. There seemed to be even more cultivators here than when they had left.
At the sight, the faint worry weighing on Song Qingming's heart immediately vanished. Smiling broadly, he headed forward.
"Seventh Brother, I remember that the shops here used to have hardly