The Market's central district, Qingyun Lane.
This place was worlds apart from the Shantytown outside.
The streets were broad and clean, paved with neat blue stone slabs. Evergreen spirit trees lined both sides, and the air was thick with Spiritual Power, several times richer than outside.
More importantly, the area was enveloped by a first-tier, superior-grade protective array set up by the Taihang Sect.
Unless a mighty Foundation Establishment cultivator came in person to attack by force, this place was as impregnable as a fortress.
Of course, that safety came at a price.
"Bing Number Thirty-Six Courtyard. A private courtyard with a Spirit Gathering Array. Rent is five Low-Grade Spirit Stones a month, with one month's rent as a deposit and three months paid in advance."
Inside the Rental Agency, a middle-aged steward in brocade robes didn't even raise his eyelids as he toyed with his abacus, his tone indifferent.
Five Spirit Stones!
In the Shantytown, that would have been enough for Chen Ping to live on for half a year!
Chen Ping's heart bled, but he didn't dare let the slightest trace of pain show on his face. Instead, he had to put on a calm air, as if "this much money was nothing."
"All right. I'll take it."
Chen Ping pulled twenty Spirit Stones from his clothes—more than half of everything he owned—and lined them up neatly on the counter.
Only then did the steward look up at Chen Ping. Seeing his plain clothes and composed bearing, and the gentle, graceful figure of the woman beside him, though she wore a veiled hat, the steward nodded.
"You're a man of your word, fellow Daoist."
The steward pocketed the Spirit Stones, then handed Chen Ping a jade token engraved with the words "Qingyun" and a specially made array key.