Immortal Kingdom at War, Storm Clouds Gather

Encountering an Evil Entity, they kept it secret, heedless of whether their neighbors lived or died.

This was more than anyone could bear!

Su Qing immediately turned around and reported it at the central Market.

"It's not that I'm being nosy, but when I passed by the Gao Family Butcher Shop last night, I saw two Head Lanterns hanging before the courtyard gate. It was terrifying. You'd better go take a look—don't let Evil come calling!"

As an expelled disciple of Cloud Mountain, though he was no longer part of the Cloud Mountain Sect, Su Qing could still somewhat speak with the disciples stationed at White Cloud Market Town.

The steady-faced middle-aged cultivator before him, with his narrow moustache, was called Mei Lijing. They had been on fairly good terms back in the sect, so Su Qing had sought him out.

"Junior Brother Su, there is no need to worry. The Gao shop was merely visited by an Evil Entity, and Fellow Daoist Gao came to report it early this morning.

The Market has already sent people to inspect the place and instructed Fellow Daoist Gao to hire someone to set up an Exorcism Array. There should be no trouble from now on.

Besides, Fellow Daoist Gao is no soft target. Junior Brother Su, do not spread this around. If you disrupt Fellow Daoist Gao's business, there is no telling what he might do to you!"

Mei Lijing raised his brows slightly. Though he called Su Qing Junior Brother, his tone carried a trace of distance and an implicit threat.

He must have taken Gao Erqiang's money!

Su Qing understood at once.

It seemed the Gao Family Butcher Shop had not suffered much loss last night. Most likely, only the two unlucky fellows left in the shop had died.

Otherwise, Gao Erqiang would not have dared to continue doing business, and Mei Lijing would not have dared to suppress the matter!

"It would naturally be best if nothing is wrong. But this junior brother is timid. Senior Brother Mei, could you see whether you can help this junior brother find another house?"

As he spoke, a small pouch of Spirit Crystals was slipped into Mei Lijing's hand without anyone noticing.

"Junior Brother, what are you doing? Though you have been expelled from the sect, the bond between fellow disciples remains. Do not do this again in the future.

As for changing houses, Cloud Net City has been unsettled lately, and more and more cultivators have fled to White Cloud Market Town. Yet there are hardly any vacant houses in the Living Area. If Junior Brother does not mind, why not seek a place in the Spirit Field District?"

Having accepted the Spirit Crystals, Mei Lijing's tone became somewhat warmer, but he was still far from efficient in handling the matter.

Su Qing knew that either the Spirit Crystals he had offered were too few, or they were not enough to get him the house he wanted.

But he was unwilling to offer any more Spirit Crystals.

He did not want to go to the Spirit Field District. The demonic beasts there posed an even greater threat than Evil Entities.

If he changed to a house in the Living Area, he would need to pay the rent all over again—likely over a thousand additional Spirit Crystals—and continue making offerings to Mei Lijing. It was truly not worth it.

With those Spirit Crystals, wouldn't he be better off buying more Exorcism Talismans? Gao Erqiang was still staying in the Gao Family Butcher Shop without fear, so what did he have to fear!

With moving house falling through, Su Qing decided he could not let those Spirit Crystals go to waste. While the iron was hot, he learned some information from Mei Lijing that ordinary Rogue Cultivators did not know.

For instance, the war between the Cloud Mountain Immortal Kingdom and the Desiring Demon Immortal Kingdom was not going well. Cloud Dream City, one of the Cloud Mountain Immortal Kingdom's three Immortal Cities, had already been captured by the Desiring Demon Immortal Kingdom. Now, the Desiring Demon Immortal Kingdom's army of cultivators had reached the gates of Cloud Net City.

Furthermore, the beast meat and various cultivation materials White Cloud Market Town had been gathering recently were all being sent to Cloud Net City.

This also explained why the prices of all sorts of artifacts and materials in the Market's major shops had soared lately. Aside from the demonic beasts descending the mountain and driving up demand, supplies also had to be sent to Cloud Net City. The resources available to the Market's Rogue Cultivators had consequently dwindled. With supply and demand out of balance, prices naturally skyrocketed.

Of all this information, two matters troubled Su Qing the most.

First, White Cloud Market Town might expand. Not only would it incorporate the area extending beyond the original Spirit Field District, it would continue expanding all the way to the foot of Hundred Beasts Mountain.

Second, the Rogue Cultivators within White Cloud Market Town might very well be conscripted to serve in Cloud Net City—unless they had enough Spirit Crystals to pay the exemption tax!

"When mountain rain is about to come, wind fills the tower. As a Rogue Cultivator now, Junior Brother should think more about how to save up Spirit Crystals. Best not meddle in other idle matters!"

Gao Erqiang had evidently stuffed Mei Lijing with enough Spirit Crystals that, even after Su Qing left, Mei Lijing did not forget to offer him this reminder.

Su Qing quickly promised, "Naturally. This junior brother knows what to do. Please rest assured, Senior Brother!"

Gao Erqiang was not even afraid of Evil Entities. He was clearly one of those formidable individuals. There was no need for Su Qing to offend him.

After leaving the sect's station,

he headed straight for the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.

Mei Lijing said that once an Exorcism Array had been set up, the Gao Family Butcher Shop would no longer attract Evil Entities. Su Qing was not so optimistic.

"I need to stock up on more Exorcism Talismans. If there's an opportunity, it would be best to acquire an Exorcism Array!"

Upon entering the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, Shopkeeper Liu happened to be present this time, discussing business with several Rogue Cultivators.

He had not come to sell Puppets this time, so there was no need to trouble Shopkeeper Liu. Seeing Tong Xin seemingly slacking off, he quickly called him over.

"Fellow Daoist Su, you've finally come! Last time, this little one was blind and failed to see the merits of your Puppet. When the shopkeeper returned, he scolded me terribly!"

Tong Xin began with a flood of grievances.

Logically speaking, there had been nothing wrong with him rejecting Su Qing's Lizard Warrior last time. A Tier-1 Mid-Grade Puppet required an initial investment of three thousand Spirit Crystals just to obtain one. If he had accepted that order, that would have been what earned him a scolding from the shopkeeper.

Who would have thought that the Lizard Warrior would become famous in a single battle? Over the past few days, quite a few Rogue Cultivators had come to the shop asking about it. The more people asked, the darker the shopkeeper's face became, and the worse Tong Xin was scolded.

"It is not your fault, Fellow Daoist. Who has never misjudged something? Later, I'll put in a good word for you with Shopkeeper Liu. Our business is not just a one-time affair. If we cannot cooperate over the Lizard Warrior, there will still be another time!"

Su Qing did not mind saying a few kind words for Tong Xin before Shopkeeper Liu. Half a year ago, when he had fallen on hard times, Tong Xin had been the one to handle his first business deal. Su Qing still remembered that kindness.

"That would be wonderful. Has Fellow Daoist Su developed another new Puppet?" Tong Xin asked hopefully.

"New Type of Puppets do not grow like cabbages. How could I obtain one whenever I please? This time, I came to buy some Evil-warding items. I ask Fellow Daoist to introduce a few."

"Evil warding? Have you run into something unclean, Fellow Daoist?" Tong Xin was startled and silently took two steps back.

Su Qing rolled his eyes at him and said irritably, "I haven't run into anything unclean. I'm simply preparing for the worst. Living in the Living Area, I'm not afraid of anything else—Evil Entities are what I fear most!"

Seeing that Su Qing's eyes were clear and his demeanor natural, with nothing amiss about him, Tong Xin came closer again and said enthusiastically:

"You have come to the right place, Fellow Daoist. Other artifacts have been selling briskly in our shop lately, but Evil-warding items are still well stocked. They can be divided into four categories.

The talisman category includes three kinds: Evil Warding Talismans, Exorcism Talismans, and Evil Suppressing Talismans. They are respectively Tier 1 Lower Grade, Tier-1 Mid-Grade, and Tier-1 High-Grade. If Fellow Daoist often cultivates in seclusion at home and does not go out much, I recommend the Evil Suppressing Talisman.

The magic artifact category includes the Warm Sun Jade Pendant, Misty-Sun Treasure Umbrella, and Pixiu Belt, likewise corresponding to Tier 1 lower, middle, and high grades. As for Tier 2 Magic Artifacts, Fellow Daoist can ask the shopkeeper. This humble one does not know much about them.

For formations, our shop currently has only the Golden Light Array among Tier 1 formations. Nor are there any Formation Masters in the Market capable of setting up other Exorcism Arrays.

As for miscellaneous items, there are the Merit Wooden Fish, Hundred Year Incense Burner, and so on. It is hard to say whether such miscellaneous items are useful or not, but they are cheap enough. Some Rogue Cultivators buy them simply for peace of mind."