Developments

Night fell once more. The Luminous Pearls set into every bronze streetlamp gave off a gentle white glow, illuminating all of Cloud Arrival Market as brightly as day.

Inside a tavern, people sat in twos and threes. Most wore plain clothes, with bamboo baskets at their feet. Their bodies carried a mingled scent of vegetation and pungent earth, and most of their cultivation was at the Innate Realm—the realm preceding the Qi Refining Stage.

They were Herb Gatherers.

Although the territory occupied by the Azure Cloud Sect was vast, aside from the main peak and the areas around it where spiritual veins converged, the rest was neither covered by the grand formation nor naturally under its jurisdiction.

This region was largely unvisited and fraught with danger, but its vast lands and abundant resources, along with undiscovered spiritual veins, meant it also contained many rare and precious heavenly treasures.

Thus, the profession of Herb Gatherer came into being. They braved poisonous insects, savage beasts, and all manner of dangers to harvest valuable spirit herbs and medicinal plants, then brought them back to the market to sell to the major shops.

Yet even though these were the fruits of labor earned at the risk of their lives, the shops would often join forces to force down prices. They could not obtain sufficient cultivation resources at all, and coupled with their insignificant standing and inadequate strength, they had always been the vulnerable group in the market.

"Hey, have you heard? Old Wang, the one who gathered a Centennial Spirit Herb some time ago, was killed by a Blood Cultivator."

At a small table, a youth of about fifteen or sixteen who had been eating with his head lowered suddenly heard those words. His entire body went rigid, and his hand instinctively reached for his waist. Only after feeling that the item there was still present did he let out a long breath of relief.

"Is that true? I knew Old Wang. He was always cautious—how could he..."

"Alas, once the news leaked, naturally the Blood Cultivators set their sights on him."

"He always acted alone. How could there have been any news to leak? Though I did hear in the market that Hundred Treasures Tower deliberately revealed the news..."

"Shut up! Are you trying to get yourself killed?!" The speaker's expression changed, and he hastily cut him off. In a low voice, he said, "Some things can be said, and some things cannot. You've lived this long and still don't understand even that? If you keep this up, don't blame me for distancing myself from you and forgetting our old friendship!"

"Yes, yes, I know I was wrong." The other man gave a bitter smile. "I shouldn't spout nonsense. After all, the waters run deep here. We can't get a grip on them..."

"Uncle Zhou, pardon the interruption, but that matter you were just discussing..." The sudden voice instantly silenced the two men. Only after seeing who had come did they relax.

"So it's Xiao Yu... We were just casually chatting."

"This kid hasn't been in the market for long and doesn't understand many things. I hope you two seniors can offer me some guidance." As he spoke, Xiao Yu handed over a few coins.

These were Talisman Coins, made from Low-grade Spirit Stones and used for transactions among low-level Rogue Cultivators. One Low-grade Spirit Stone could be made into a hundred Talisman Coins.

Having accepted the benefit, the two men's expressions eased, and they quietly recounted the news they had heard.

"Leaking information, letting Blood Cultivators kill and rob them, then splitting the profits fifty-fifty... Are they truly leaving us Rogue Cultivators no way to live..." Xiao Yu gritted his teeth and touched the wooden box on his person.

This was a Centennial Spirit Herb he had paid a considerable price to wrest from a demonic beast. He had originally intended to sell it for a good price in exchange for resources for his cultivation, but who could have known...

If Hundred Treasures Tower is like this, are the other shops the same? But within a thousand li, there is only this one market. If I consume the Centennial Spirit Herb myself, my body will explode and I'll die. What else can I do... After considering it again and again, Xiao Yu still rose and walked towards another shop.

The same scene played out throughout the market. Perhaps some had guessed that the other shops in the market were also the same, but there was only this one market nearby. Without the help of an Azure Cloud Skiff, they simply could not cross the vast and perilous lands to trade at another market.

So they could only cling to the lucky thought that only Hundred Treasures Tower had a problem, and go trade at other shops.

But regardless of what they thought, Lin Chen's objective had already been achieved. The flow of customers at Hundred Treasures Tower began to shrink drastically, imperceptibly.

And within the market, under the influence of this rumor of uncertain truth, undercurrents surged.

In the peaceful world of my previous life, a rumor—or a scandal—was enough to affect or even ruin a store. Even if it held on, who knew what price it would have to pay to win back people's hearts...

And in this Cultivation World, if one wants to restore one's reputation, it's impossible without a few people dying...

Inside a guest room, Lin Chen slowly opened his eyes, a trace of cold laughter appearing on his face.

He looked westward, in the direction of Hundred Treasures Tower.

Three men make a tiger; people's words are to be feared. You used information to have Blood Cultivators hunt me down, hoping to reap the fisherman's profit from a deal that promised boundless returns. Then I'll use rumors to destroy Hundred Treasures Tower's reputation and force the people above you to make a move...

Within Hundred Treasures Tower, in a certain room.

After a busy day, Fang Mingyuan sat in a chair to rest. Yet his expression was far from relaxed. Instead, his brows were tightly furrowed, and his knuckles tapped unconsciously against the tabletop.

"Still no news?"

"Yes." The confidant standing beside him replied.

"I see..." Fang Mingyuan stood, clasped his hands behind his back, and paced back and forth through the room.

That shouldn't be... With Wang Ping's strength, even if the interception failed, he shouldn't have lacked even the ability to escape... Could that Zhang Daoren truly be so dangerous?

Bang!

As Fang Mingyuan paced back and forth, unease rose within him. Just as he was about to give an order, a burst of commotion suddenly came from outside. Then the room's doors were slammed open!

"Bad news, Manager Fang! Something's happened!"

"What are you making such a fuss over? Where are your manners?!" Fang Mingyuan barked.

"Y-yes!" The newcomer panted heavily and hurriedly said, "Manager Fang, something's happened! Rumors are spreading everywhere in the market that our shop kills people and steals their treasures!"

What?! Fang Mingyuan's expression changed.

Had the matter been exposed?!

"Tell me the details at once!" "It happened like this..." After hearing the full account, Fang Mingyuan's face turned ashen.

It was true that Rogue Cultivators sold spirit herbs to Hundred Treasures Tower, but the Blood Cultivators' robbery and killing had absolutely nothing to do with him! After all, he did not think much of such paltry profits!

But the problem was that rumors were now spreading throughout the market. Even if he came forward to prove his innocence, it would be useless; it would only deepen the cultivators' suspicions.

With age came cunning. Fang Mingyuan naturally deduced that this news had definitely been leaked by Zhang Daoren.

He had anticipated that the other party might retaliate if he survived, so he had prepared himself to remain in the market and not leave for a long time. But he had never expected the other party to strike back in this manner!

Now that Hundred Treasures Tower's reputation had been damaged because of him, he could guess with his ass what the overseers stationed in the market—those responsible for managing the Azure Cloud Sect's affiliated shops—would do!

"Damn it!... If they were spreading word that all the shops in the market were connected to Blood Cultivators, I could still join forces with the other shop managers to suppress it. But they're only targeting the Hundred Treasures Tower. Forget helping me—the managers of those other shops will probably kick me while I'm down..."

Fang Mingyuan's face twisted viciously. He knew very well that even if these rumors spread far and wide among the low-level cultivators, they would not affect him much. At worst, he would resign from his position as manager on the surface, then continue pulling strings in secret.

The true danger was that his old opponents would seize this chance to deal him a fatal blow in the name of righteousness!

And when faced with such a situation, Fang Mingyuan did not need to think to know what the others would do!

The more Fang Mingyuan thought about it, the more agitated he became. A ruthless gleam gradually surfaced on his wrinkled face.

I might as well pin this on Wang Ping and make him the scapegoat! If he dies, then that settles everything once and for all! If he doesn't die, even better—I can use his life to resolve this matter!

Of course, that alone isn't enough. Those people who opposed me in the past will certainly kick me while I'm down. One scapegoat won't be enough; I have to blow this matter up and drag others into the water. Only then will I have a chance to escape...

At that thought, Fang Mingyuan immediately summoned a trusted confidant. "Go out and find some people to leak the news that the shops in the market are colluding with Blood Cultivators. Remember, spare no cost. You must make sure everyone knows about this!"

"This..." The confidant's expression changed.

He naturally understood that if this matter blew up and the situation spiraled out of control, it would inevitably cause massive casualties!

"What? You aren't willing?" Fang Mingyuan stared at him coldly.

"...Yes, I'll handle it at once!" The confidant had hesitated, but the cold glint in Fang Mingyuan's eyes sent a shudder through his whole body.

He did not doubt in the slightest that if he dared say no, Fang Mingyuan would kill him on the spot!

After all, he was merely a servant. Whether he lived or died, no one would care!

Watching his confidant depart, a trace of madness surfaced on Fang Mingyuan's twisted face.

He naturally knew the consequences of doing this, but so what? As long as the dead were not him, no matter how great the turmoil, it was nothing more than a trivial matter to him!

As long as I survive this time, what does it matter if some people die? These Rogue Cultivators are nothing but ants anyway. It is their honor to make some contribution to me before death!

In Fang Mingyuan's eyes, those low-level Rogue Cultivators were merely crops waiting to be harvested. They were born to serve superior people like him!

Not only that, there's that Zhang Daoren...

He had originally intended to capture him alive. If Zhang Daoren cooperated, Fang Mingyuan would not have minded tossing him a few cultivation resources after he had filled his coffers. But who would have thought that he would be so ignorant of what was good for him? Then he could not blame Fang Mingyuan for being ruthless!

After all, Fang Mingyuan had more than one Blood Cultivator under his command. Once he weathered this crisis, he would definitely send someone after Lin Chen, capture him alive, and use him until the day he died!

Bang!

"What, is it done..." Fang Mingyuan turned his head and was about to speak, when his pupils suddenly contracted.

For the one who entered was not his confidant, but Manager Wan, who had always competed against him!

Not only that, Manager Wan had brought a squad of cultivators charging into the room. Their movements were orderly, every action disciplined—it was clearly the Hundred Treasures Tower's guard unit!

"Wan, what is the meaning of this?!" Fang Mingyuan's expression abruptly changed as he shouted sharply.

"Take him!" Manager Wan ignored Fang Mingyuan's question and simply waved his hand, giving the order.

"Let's see who dares!" Having served as the Hundred Treasures Tower's manager for many years, Fang Mingyuan's furious shout still made the cultivators beside him wary, stopping them in their tracks.

"Wan, what is the meaning of this? Are you rebelling?!"

A gloating expression appeared on Manager Wan's face. "I'm merely apprehending you, a scourge upon our tower!"

"What a joke!" A sense of unease rose within Fang Mingyuan. "This old man has always been utterly loyal to the Hundred Treasures Tower and has never harbored any improper ambitions. Do not spit blood at me!"

"Utterly loyal? Heh!" Manager Wan gave a cold laugh. "Don't you know perfectly well what you have done? If you refuse to speak, that's okay. Someone will speak for you!"

Manager Wan then clapped his hands, and a person stepped out from behind him.

"You?!" Fang Mingyuan's eyes flew wide. The person before him was Wang Ping, whom he had believed to be dead!

"Wang Ping, you dare betray me!"

Wang Ping's expression remained blank. "Manager Fang, you jest. Wang has always been loyal to the Hundred Treasures Tower, not to any one person within it!"

After that ambush, Wang Ping had realized that Lin Chen was no simple man. Rather than immediately returning to the Hundred Treasures Tower, he had stayed in the market to observe for a time, only to unexpectedly discover the rumors spreading ever farther.

He immediately sensed that something was wrong. When he could no longer contain the rumors, he guessed Lin Chen's scheme and Fang Mingyuan's response. Thus, without hesitation, he decided to strike first.

"Hehe, Fang Mingyuan, stop struggling. Be good and surrender!" Manager Wan said with a smile.

"Wait, I am a manager of the Hundred Treasures Tower. You have no right to arrest me!" Fang Mingyuan naturally understood what the other man was thinking.

He and Manager Wan had openly and secretly fought for years. Though they could not be called bitter enemies, their relationship was hardly any better! Now that he was in trouble, the other man would absolutely kick him while he was down!

"Make a move!" Manager Wan clearly did not want to waste any more words on Fang Mingyuan and boldly gave the order.

"Let's see who dares!" At that crucial moment, Fang Mingyuan actually took a token from his Storage Bag. The character "Li" was clearly inscribed upon it, and most importantly, it was surrounded by a Spirit Pressure that did not belong to the Qi Refining Stage!

"This is!" Manager Wan and Wang Ping's expressions changed drastically. "Elder Li's token!"

Elder Li was the true ruler of Cloud Arrival Market. Not only was he the superior of the many shops in the market, he was also a genuine Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivator!

"How could you possibly have Elder Li's token?!" Manager Wan's face turned livid. He had never imagined that Fang Mingyuan had connections with Elder Li!

"You need not know that. You only need to know that you have no right to arrest me, so withdraw at once!" Fang Mingyuan said forcefully, holding the token in hand.

"This..." The two turned to look at each other, a ruthless gleam appearing in their eyes.

They naturally understood that they had already offended Fang Mingyuan beyond reconciliation. If they withdrew now and allowed him to recover, then they would be the ones to suffer later!

"Kill!" They saw that intent in each other's eyes.

The dead were like extinguished lamps. They truly did not believe that a dignified Foundation Establishment Realm elder would kill them over the death of an old man unrelated to him by blood!

"You dare!" Fang Mingyuan was no fool. Seeing this, he swiftly understood what was happening and immediately brought out a Defense Spirit Artifact to protect himself!

For a moment, battle was on the verge of erupting within the room!

Yet just then, a voice as pleasant as wind chimes yet brimming with heroic spirit came from behind Wang Ping and the others.

"Manager Wan lacks the qualifications—then do I have them?" Just as the words fell, a powerful Spirit Pressure surged forth, instantly shrouding everyone!