Within a secluded residence, Yue Xuan listened to his subordinate's report with a dark expression.
"He's still drinking tea in the tavern?"
"Yes, Prince. It's been nearly three hours since he went in, and he shows no sign of coming out at all."
Yue Xuan smashed the stone table beside him with an angry palm strike.
"He's toying with us!"
The Tribulation Transcendence elder behind him spoke slowly.
"Prince, please remain calm."
"This boy possesses an extraordinary temperament. The more he behaves like this, the more it proves that he is waiting."
"Waiting for us to make the first move—or waiting for us to lose our patience."
Yue Xuan ground his teeth.
"So we're just going to waste away here?"
"He's a turtle in a jar now. The moment he dares leave the city will be the day he dies!"
The elder nodded.
"The city is protected by the Nine Provinces Auction House's formation. It would be unwise to act here."
"Pass down the order. Everyone is to stay alert and watch him without interruption for twelve hours. I refuse to believe he can stay in that tavern for the rest of his life."
The order was relayed, and the cultivators assigned to watch him could only suppress their irritation and continue lying in wait.
Yet they had all underestimated Chen Changqing's patience.
The first day.
Chen Changqing remained in the tavern until dawn before paying his bill and leaving.
Every watcher perked up at once.
But Chen Changqing did not leave the city. Instead, he began strolling through it like a tourist.
He visited the largest Magical Artifact pavilion in the city, picking through a pile of Peak-grade Spirit Treasures, only to buy nothing in the end.
Then he went to a pill shop, smelled the fragrance of various