A Money-Grabbing Business-Worth Doing!

At a bend in the mountain path, Chen Qing suddenly stopped.

The bushes behind him shook violently as Han Sha stumbled out after him. His right arm hung limp, and his robe was stained with blood and dirt. His face was as pale as if he had crawled out of a grave.

"Martial Uncle..."

Chen Qing shook his head, cutting him off. "I'm no longer your martial uncle."

Han Sha looked as if he'd been struck by lightning. His knees buckled, and he fell to the ground.

Chen Qing looked at the former chief disciple's first apprentice, took a brocade pouch from his robe, and tossed it to Han Sha. "There's half a piece of Spirit Marrow and a Disguise Talisman inside. Three hundred li north is Qingping Town. There's a Drunken Immortal Tower east of town. If you make it there alive, go find the manager and tell him I sent you to ask for work."

In the seventeen years he'd spent out in the world, he'd naturally made some connections.

Han Sha fumbled to catch the pouch. Tears mingled with blood and dripped into the dirt. He was just about to speak—

"Everyone has their own fate, but you have to bear the consequences of your choices." Chen Qing's voice was especially cool. "From today on, you have nothing to do with the Hidden Star Gate. If I hear you using the sect's name or revealing its secrets, I'll have no choice but to purge you from the sect."

Before he could finish, Han Sha was already sprawled on the ground.

Thud, thud, thud!

Three heavy kowtows made the earth tremble.

When he raised his head again, blood streamed from his forehead and his lips quivered. "This disciple... Han Sha will remember."

Chen Qing said no more and turned to leave.

Behind him, suppressed sobs were scattered by the mountain wind.

Though an interruption had delayed him, Chen Qing didn't turn back toward the mountain gate.

Along the way, he kept all five senses alert, every stirring of wind and grass within a li under his watch. An hour later, several murky auras appeared three li away. They followed him without ever drawing closer.

A thought stirred in Chen Qing's mind. He suddenly shot forward like lightning. The auras fell into disarray, chased him for half a li, then reluctantly withdrew.

Only then did he focus on the road. After crossing three mountain peaks, the view opened up before him.

A town of gray-tiled roofs and blue-brick walls nestled in a mountain hollow, cooking smoke curling into the sky.

Chen Qing's gaze swept over the peddlers carrying shoulder poles and the vendors crying out their wares. He didn't slow his steps.

The town looked ordinary on the surface, but hidden beneath it was a mystery.

He strolled through the alleys until he finally stopped before an old wall covered in moss. Then he formed a hand seal and pointed.

"Open!"

The wall rippled like water, revealing a deep, shadowy alley.

Chen Qing stepped through, and the scene before his eyes changed in an instant—

Three white jade arch bridges soared through the air, clouds and mist swirling beneath them.

A green stone stele stood at the bridgehead, inscribed with the words "Lesser Yingzhou."

People came and went across the bridges. Pavilions stood in scattered rows along their sides, while a blue-stone road stretched into the distance, lined with tightly packed stalls.

An old man hawked talismans, a burly man called out the prices of demon beast materials, and a veiled woman displayed several spirit herbs that filled the air with their fragrance. The passersby wore cloaks or masks, their auras ranging from weak to powerful.

"As expected of the Southern Coast's largest black market..."

Chen Qing had come here with his master several times. He knew the place was frequented not only by disciples of sects, but also by rogue cultivators from all over—and even by disguised demonic cultivators and demon cultivators.

"Fellow Daoist, you look unfamiliar."

In a teahouse by the bridgehead, a gray-robed old man gently stroked his teapot. The tea inside boiled without a flame as he narrowed his eyes at Chen Qing approaching.

"Chen Qing of the Hidden Star Gate." Chen Qing saluted, his voice neither servile nor arrogant. "I'm here to buy a few things."

The teacup in the old man's hand suddenly paused. He narrowed his eyes and scrutinized Chen Qing, then broke into a smile. "I recognize you now. You're Fellow Daoist Zhou's prized disciple. I remember you came here twice before, when you were still quite young. How is your master? He hasn't visited in quite some time."

"My master has passed away." Chen Qing's tone was calm. He made no attempt to hide it; the news couldn't be kept secret anyway.

The teacup in the old man's hand paused again. He sighed. "What a pity." As he spoke, he took a Jade Slip from his sleeve. "This is a directory of the shops. The newly opened Five Qi Pavilion has some good wares. As for the stalls along the way..." His finger passed over several stalls. "Try not to visit them. Quality varies, and most of them are wolves that devour people without even spitting out the bones."

The Jade Slip felt cool in Chen Qing's hand. He sent out a wisp of Supreme Harmony Qi from his fingertip, and golden light immediately blazed across its surface. The information on the shops swam like living things, and several time-honored establishments were marked with the tiny words "Old Acquaintance of the Zhou Family."

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior."

"Go on."

After Chen Qing had gone some distance, the old man took a yellowed notebook from beneath the table and wrote down the words "Chen Qing." Then he added, "Disciple of Zhou Yuanjing, under thirty years old, already reached the Second Realm..."

When he put the notebook away, his brows furrowed slightly.

"When did this boy reach the Second Realm? Such a young age, such bearing... Could it be that with Old Zhou's death, the Hidden Star Gate has passed through adversity and is about to rise?"

Meanwhile.

On the cloud bridge, Chen Qing walked at an unhurried pace.

The shops floating on either side shimmered with dazzling light, but he didn't hurry to approach them. Instead, he listened carefully to snippets of conversation from the cultivators coming and going—

"Did you hear? The Sea Abyss Temple found another way to swallow the legacies of two small sects..."

"A fleet of merchant ships from the south brought a lot of good stuff."

"The Mystic Chess Academy has been recruiting talent lately. Five people have already been selected. One of them apparently has the Mystic Light Dao Body—an astonishing genius!"

After circling around once, Chen Qing had a plan. He turned his thoughts to buying and trading.

"Spirit Marrow to maintain the formation, Marrow Cleansing Grass and Lightning Struck Peach Wood Heart to consolidate and improve my realm, and talismans to replenish the warning and defensive measures..."

Once he'd worked out what he needed, his gaze settled on an old shop with a sign that read "Green Pouch Pavilion."

The shop was nearly empty. Behind the counter sat an old Daoist, dozing.

When Chen Qing entered, the old Daoist raised his eyelids. "Have a look for yourself. The price tags are underneath."

Chen Qing took his time. He first browsed the medicinal herbs, then stopped before a jade box in the corner. Inside lay several unremarkable gray stalks, but their listed price was extremely high.

Chen Qing asked, "Why is Marrow Cleansing Grass so expensive?"

"Those are newly arrived, top-grade Marrow Cleansing Grass." The old Daoist sized Chen Qing up. "You're Zhou Yuanjing's disciple? It's only been a short while, and you've already reached the Second Realm? Interesting. You do need Marrow Cleansing Grass to nurture the Second Realm."

As he spoke, he shifted in his seat and pulled a gray cloth bag from beneath the counter.

"After Fellow Daoist Zhou passed away, I thought the Hidden Star Gate was finished. But now it seems there's still hope. Take these. Consider them a congratulatory gift to an old friend's disciple for breaking through."

The bag's mouth gaped open, revealing ten stalks of Marrow Cleansing Grass. Though their appearance was imperfect, they radiated pure spiritual energy and were worth at least three pieces of Spirit Marrow!

Chen Qing was startled, then said, "Senior, this is an exceedingly generous gift!"

"Don't waste your breath!" the old Daoist said loudly. "Zhou Yuanjing saved this old Daoist's life. What are a few stalks of weeds compared to that? These ten have been sitting here for three months. When you get back, put them in a jade box to preserve their medicinal effects a little longer. They'll last you well over half a year."

"Thank you, Senior!" Chen Qing didn't refuse again.

Marrow Cleansing Grass was difficult to cultivate and required a special spirit field and spirit vein. The Hidden Star Gate didn't have the means.

"Ah," the old Daoist sighed. "There are fewer and fewer familiar faces these days. Go back and cultivate diligently."

"So Master really hadn't been bragging when he often talked about his connections."

After bidding farewell to the old Daoist at Green Pouch Pavilion, Chen Qing wandered around a few more times, then finally entered the newly opened Five Qi Pavilion.

The moment he stepped inside, his gaze passed over five-colored jade cabinets arranged according to the Five Elements. Every item was sealed within a transparent barrier that shimmered with brilliant light, spiritual energy swirling inside.

A middle-aged man in brocade robes stood behind the counter, watching him with a smile. "This Daoist friend has quite a bearing. What are you looking for?"

"I'd like to see Spirit Marrow and Earth Marrow," Chen Qing said evenly. "The finest quality you have."

The man in brocade robes clapped his hands and laughed. "What a coincidence! We've just received a batch of Spirit Marrow and Earth Fire Marrow from South Flame Continent." He led Chen Qing to a red jade cabinet and took out two fist-sized stones. One was crystal clear; flames flowed within the other.

Chen Qing took them and examined them closely. The Spirit Marrow was indeed pure, but the number on the price tag made his brows knit. The price had risen by thirty percent since his last visit.

Spirit Marrow came from Spirit Mines and was also called spirit stone. It was much like currency in the cultivation world, often used to set the value of goods, similar to silver money among ordinary people. But small sects like the Hidden Star Gate had no mines and no reliable way to obtain Spirit Marrow. They had to buy it at cultivators' markets, usually paying with spirit plants they cultivated themselves.

Such spirit plants were few in number and took a long time to grow, so naturally they had to be carefully budgeted.

After a moment, Chen Qing set down the two stones and asked, "Do you have anything else? These are too expensive."

The man in brocade robes kept smiling. "To be honest, the trade routes in the south haven't been running smoothly lately, so prices have indeed gone up." He studied Chen Qing's expression, then suddenly lowered his voice. "If you become a regular customer, we can trade by sealed bid."

Chen Qing's heart stirred.

This "sealed bid" was a unique trading method at cultivators' markets. Buyer and seller wrote down their offers on jade tokens and revealed them simultaneously, sparing themselves the awkwardness of haggling in public. Chen Qing had heard of it when he'd come here with his master, but had never tried it himself.

"Very well."

Half a quarter of an hour later, Chen Qing had two pieces of Spirit Marrow tucked into his sleeve. They were more expensive than he'd expected, but the quality was indeed excellent. It was just that the Hidden Star Gate's coffers had grown even thinner.

But as he stepped over the threshold, he nearly bumped into a hurried scholar in a blue robe.

"Shopkeeper!" The scholar waved the book in his hand. "I just got this copy of Strange Tales of the Southern Sea! I guarantee your young master hasn't heard of it! Just five pieces of Spirit Marrow!"

The brocade-robed shopkeeper gave a rueful smile. "Young Master Yu, the young master went to hear a story first thing this morning. And besides, that price..."

"Three will do!" The blue-robed scholar slapped the counter. "The best-quality ones!"

Chen Qing glanced at the thoroughly ordinary book. It had neither spiritual charm nor any unusual signs. Why was the man asking for five pieces of Spirit Marrow?

Curiosity made him stop.

The scholar seemed to notice and turned to smile at him. "Brother, are you fond of strange tales too?"

"I've read a few," Chen Qing replied noncommittally.

After watching the scholar actually trade the book for three pieces of high-quality Spirit Marrow and leave in high spirits, Chen Qing found the Spirit Marrow he'd just bought feeling a lot less precious inside his sleeve.

"Shopkeeper, this..." He couldn't help speaking up.

The man in brocade robes shook his head with a rueful smile. "Forgive me for letting you see that, honored customer. My young master likes collecting ancient tales and stories. Whenever something new comes along, he buys it just to hear something fresh. Young Master Yu sold him a piece called Book of the Nine Netherworlds last month for five pieces of Spirit Marrow. He got a taste for it, so now he comes by often."

Chen Qing was struck to the core.

Five pieces of Spirit Marrow for a novel?

This wasn't business—it was daylight robbery!

On a sudden impulse, he asked, "Has anyone ever told the secrets of the Primordial Immortal Dynasty?"

The shopkeeper paused, then said, "You must be joking, honored customer. The dynasty disappeared at least tens of thousands of years ago. Who could remember that much..."

Before he could finish, a sudden crash came from upstairs, as if a teacup had been knocked over.

"Invite this Daoist friend upstairs!"

Hearing those words, Chen Qing let out a long breath.

"Looks like I might have a chance to get in on this money-grabbing business too."