God of Wealth Inn

The Forest of Ten Thousand Trees, the realm of life. Endless Wood Element True Qi swirled around him. He bathed in forest streams and slept within the heartwood of ancient trees. Year after year, for a full seventy years, he cultivated the divine art until he finally reached Great Perfection...

Ye Kang opened his eyes and slowly exhaled a mouthful of Turbid Qi.

His body had never felt so light, yet his strength had increased tenfold.

He opened the window, leaped onto the roof, and stood at its highest point, gazing into the distance with all Five Senses fully alert.

At once, every movement across several surrounding streets came into sharp focus.

"So this is the Xiantian Realm. It feels completely different from before."

His heart surged with joy as he raised a hand and gathered his qi.

Vigorous Wood Element True Qi poured forth, bursting with boundless vitality. At that moment, Ye Kang felt as if he had entered an entirely new world of martial arts.

"No wonder so many people spend their whole lives pursuing Xiantian. This is what it truly means to be a martial artist!"

Ye Kang leaped into the air, exhilarated, and crossed an entire row of rooftops in an instant.

"With my strength now, I could easily catch up to Dai Huanhuan even without Flying Swallow Ascending Cloud."

He quickly circled Fusheng Gate. Countless martial artists crossed his path, yet not one of them noticed him.

Of course, he didn't dare venture any farther.

There were plenty of reclusive Xiantian experts in the Imperial City. Drawing too much attention would be unwise.

Only after experiencing the might of the Xiantian Realm did Ye Kang return home.

With such a great increase in strength, his trip to Mengzhou would surely be much safer.

The next day.

After breakfast, Ye Kang dressed neatly, mounted his horse, and rode straight out of the city.

The Ninth Princess was in Mengzhou, a long journey away. Ye Kang didn't dare waste time; the sooner he got there, the better.

Although Consort Jing had told him to guard her in secret, Ye Kang didn't want to make things so complicated.

He would find the Ninth Princess and bring her straight back. It would be safe and hassle-free.

Five days later, Ye Kang rode without pause, changing horses ten times along the way, and finally entered Mengzhou.

As soon as he dismounted, he immediately stripped off his Imperial City Department uniform and changed into his own black outfit, carrying only a saber at his side.

After searching for a long while, he finally found an inn along the main road.

It was called the God of Wealth Inn.

Ye Kang concealed his aura, suppressing his strength to that of an ordinary second-rate expert, then strode inside.

"Waiter, bring me some wine!"

Ye Kang bellowed. Everyone in the inn turned to look at him.

Quite a few wore the expression of someone looking at a fool.

The waiter impatiently pointed toward the counter.

"The wine and meat are over there. Get them yourself."

Ye Kang didn't take offense. He simply went over and poured himself some wine.

"I've heard Mengzhou is a place where martial virtue thrives and Jianghu Martial Artists are as numerous as oxen. Now I've seen it for myself."

Ye Kang sighed.

In this little inn, dozens of experts had gathered. More than five of them were first-class experts.

Even the waiter was a Top-tier second-rate expert. No wonder he couldn't be bothered with Ye Kang.

The crowd had gathered around the middle of the hall, where people kept shouting and egging one another on.

"The God of Wealth Inn promised us a big-ticket item today. We've been waiting forever, so why hasn't it been brought out yet?"

"Exactly! Get Jin Baobei out here. I want to see what treasure she has that's worth inviting so many heroes and champions!"

The crowd clamored, trading all sorts of filthy jokes as laughter filled the hall.

Ye Kang understood.

So the God of Wealth Inn was a Jianghu auction house. It looked like some major treasure was going up for sale today.

Ye Kang had only come in to ask around for news, but he immediately grew interested. He went upstairs and found an unoccupied seat with a good view.

Several tables of experts were already seated on the second floor. They were completely different from the boorish martial artists below; each one was elegant and handsome.

One man held a Folding Fan, while two attendant maids behind him massaged his shoulders and legs.

When he spotted Ye Kang, he raised his wine cup from across the room and said, "Friend, you look unfamiliar. First time here?"

Ye Kang raised his own cup. "I'm from Jiangping Prefecture. This is my first time in Mengzhou."

The Elegant Young Master smiled faintly. "No wonder you dared to sit in that seat. If I were you, I'd leave while I still could."

Ye Kang merely took a sip of wine and showed no sign of leaving.

Then he asked, "What does the God of Wealth Inn do?"

The Elegant Young Master didn't press him. Instead, he answered openly, "It's naturally a place to make a fortune. It's one of the Martial World's hubs in Mengzhou. People often sell stolen goods here and put out word of various things."

As soon as he finished speaking, the young master pointed with his Folding Fan.

"Jin Baobei has arrived. She's the Innkeeper of the God of Wealth Inn, and one of Mengzhou's best-connected people."

Ye Kang looked over. A voluptuous beauty in revealing clothes and a translucent red shawl swayed out below, fanning herself.

The whole inn fell silent.

"What's the rush, heroes? When has Jin Baobei ever deceived you?"

"Enough talk, Innkeeper! Bring out the main course! We're all waiting!"

"Exactly! We came all the way from our sects. Don't disappoint us!"

Jin Baobei planted her hands on her hips.

"Very well, I won't keep you in suspense. Someone, bring it out!"

She raised her jade-white hands and clapped softly.

Two strongmen carried out a two-handed saber.

"This is the Swift Wind Thunderous Saber. It was forged from Outer Heavens thundersteel and infused with a single low-grade soul jade. When swung, it can unleash lightning, split mountains, and shatter stone. Nothing can stand in its way."

At Jin Baobei's introduction, the experts below nodded, their faces lighting with interest.

The Elegant Young Master's eyes gleamed as he exclaimed, "What a fine saber! I must have it!"

Ye Kang wasn't surprised by their reaction.

The saber was indeed impressive. In the hands of a first-class expert, it could greatly increase their combat strength. With it, they could even fight a Super First-Class expert.

Unfortunately, in Ye Kang's eyes, it was nothing but scrap metal.

The pair of sledgehammers belonging to Luan Xiong of the Giant Wolf Gang were about the same grade. Against Hundred Flowers Sword Qi, they were no better than tofu.

Just as Ye Kang was starting to lose interest, a group of people walked in from outside.

"The Swift Wind Thunderous Saber is mine. I, Wang Hai, claim it."

A dozen men entered, all wearing bamboo hats and black clothes, each carrying a saber.

The man at their head was powerfully built, yet his face was lean and sinister.

"It's Wang Hai of the Golden Saber Sect!"

"A Super First-Class expert! I heard he's been pursuing Jin Baobei for ages. It's no surprise he came here."

"Too bad. With Wang Hai making a move, the rest of us don't stand a chance at getting the saber."

The crowd murmured, instinctively retreating half a step.

The God of Wealth Inn was only a small establishment, after all. A Super First-Class expert was already the strongest person here.

Wang Hai removed his bamboo hat and swept his gaze around the room. Then he spotted Ye Kang upstairs.

In an instant, a chill erupted from him, and a faint killing intent shot straight toward Ye Kang.

Ye Kang was baffled.

What had he done?

Why was Wang Hai trying to kill him?

At that moment, the Elegant Young Master beside him raised a hand, looking innocent. "I warned you. The seat you took belongs to Wang Hai."

Ye Kang was speechless.

That man had clearly done it on purpose.

Just then, Wang Hai flung his bamboo hat straight at Ye Kang.

With a bang, it smashed through the railing.

Ye Kang tilted his head slightly. The bamboo hat shot past him and embedded itself in the wall behind.

The force behind it was immense. Wang Hai had clearly aimed to take his head off.

"Those who don't know the rules die."