Bloodline Traits Between Direct Relatives

Chen Qiu quickly stepped forward and looked over. The bearded man from earlier was already in midair, plunging through the clouds toward the bottom of the cliff at the speed of free fall. At this mountain's height, even someone in the Foundation Establishment Realm would undoubtedly die.

However—

More than a dozen breaths later.

The bearded man suddenly appeared out of thin air beside him, Fat Dragon still in his grasp. Without saying anything to either of them, he took a running start as before and leaped off the cliff again.

"How was it?"

Fat Dragon looked around, excitement rising in his voice. "Pretty good, right? It was my first time too. One or two taels of silver per trip is too expensive—I'd never been willing to try it before."

"That bearded guy and the man beside him cracking sunflower seeds are blood brothers."

"When the two brothers had just broken through to the Qi Refining Realm, they awakened an extremely special 'Bloodline Trait.'"

"This was a Trait that only direct relatives bound by blood had an exceedingly small chance of awakening."

"The Trait's effect is that the two brothers share the same bloodline, blood thicker than water. As long as they are within a hundred kilometers of each other, regardless of the environment, either one can instantly arrive at the other's side."

"No one knows what grade the Trait is exactly, but it definitely isn't low."

"After that bearded fellow broke through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, he gained another rare blue Trait—'Never Fall to Death.' No matter how high he falls from, he won't be injured."

"And so, the two brothers started this fast-route business here at Heaven-Question Market. They've been doing it for over a year now, and it's become quite a famous tale in Heaven-Question Market."

"..."

Chen Qiu stood there in silence, expressionless, momentarily at a loss for words.

"Bloodline Trait."

"Instant Teleportation."

"Never Fall to Death."

"Absolute Rule."

When these Traits were carefully linked together, they were practically invincible. He could think of countless ways to maximize the benefits of these Traits. Wouldn't doing anything be more profitable than running this fast route?

One or two taels of silver per trip.

Even if they worked all day, they would probably only earn a few Spirit Stones at most, right?

How was this any different from using the emperor's golden hoe to till the fields?

Even at the absolute worst, couldn't they set up some kind of long-distance express carriage between two cities? The profits would definitely be higher than this.

He did not know whether they could only carry one person at a time. If physical contact was enough to bring someone along, or if anyone under their control could be carried, then bringing seventeen or eighteen people in one trip should not be much of a problem.

That was only its commercial value. Strategically, they would be a ghostly, unpredictable assassination squad!

Such powerful abilities, and they used them to run a mountain-climbing fast route?

Chen Qiu only felt darkness before his eyes. Such reckless waste of Heaven's gifts made the corner of his mouth twitch slightly.

Just then—

The young man beside them, who was sitting cross-legged on the ground with his head lowered, cracking sunflower seeds and reading a picture book, spoke casually. "The one who brought you up was my younger brother. He's a little afraid of strangers and doesn't talk much."

"You can come to me when you go down the mountain too. Same price."

"How much do you make each day now?"

Chen Qiu stared at the young man as he spoke. He truly felt the two were wasting their potential. "No matter how much you make, work with me. I'll pay you three times that every day."

Although he did not have that many Spirit Stones right now, as long as the two brothers could be used by him, he believed he would soon earn a great many Spirit Stones.

"Oh."

The young man lifted his eyelids and swept a glance over Chen Qiu. Then he could not help but laugh. "You're an interesting fellow. Plenty of people have tried to recruit us, but you're the first to offer such a low price."

"In your eyes, are my brother and I only worth six Spirit Stones a day?"

"Or is that all your family fortune can afford to offer?"

"Alright, alright."

The young man waved his hand somewhat helplessly. "I can tell from your clothes that you're not from some wealthy family, and your backing isn't very substantial either. Anyone with even a little foundation would have flown up themselves. They wouldn't use our fast route."

"Enter the market over there. If fate allows it, we'll meet again someday and I'll treat you to a drink."

Chen Qiu did not say anything more. He merely turned and led Fat Dragon onto the stone-stepped path beside them. He had thought the two brothers did not realize just how formidable their abilities were, but now he could see that they understood it as clearly as a mirror.

They were merely using Heaven-Question Market to spread their names.

Then they would seek a master reliable enough to depend on.

That made sense.

Even he was tempted by what these two brothers possessed. The other factions had likely sent even more people to recruit them. As time fermented the matter, the brothers would probably be able to join a very decent faction in the end.

It was indeed a good tactic. Compared with voluntarily knocking on a door to seek refuge, being actively recruited meant they would have far greater status and confidence within the faction.

However, the two brothers clearly had not realized just how dangerous this was.

There were no shortage of people who thought, If I can't have it, no one else can either.

No matter which faction they joined, they would easily become targets for assassination by other factions afterward. Fame was a double-edged sword; it brought both advantages and disadvantages.

They had not walked far along the stone path before they saw a city. Its walls were even taller than Windward City's, carrying an even heavier, more imposing air. The sight was quite shocking, but Chen Qiu could not understand it. The city already stood atop a mountain peak, so who were they spending such enormous sums to build walls against?

It felt a little like spending money just to put on a grand front.

Fat Dragon had come here once or twice before. Now, like a tour guide, he walked at the front and began introducing the place without pause. "Once you enter that city gate, you're in the market. Entry is free—there's no charge."

"There are eighteen smaller districts inside, along with one central district."

"This gate is the Immortal-Seeking Gate, the main gate on the western wall of Heaven-Question Market."

"This market is nearly as large as Windward City. Naturally, it isn't merely a trading platform. As long as you've embarked upon the path of cultivation, almost any need you have can be satisfied here."

"The first district after entering through this gate is District Four, also known as the Life-Buying District."

"Back then, it was simply a platform for posting and accepting assassination jobs. In the end, it expanded into countless forms of cooperative trade, but the district kept the name 'Life-Buying District.'"

Chen Qiu nodded to show that he understood. After stepping through the city gate, he glanced at the main road before him, paved with blue bricks. It was rather broad, as wide as an official road, enough for eight carriages to travel abreast.

The shops on both sides of the main road were festooned with lanterns and colored decorations, lively and bustling.

It looked quite wholesome. It was hard to connect it with posting assassination jobs.

Quite a few cultivators were also sitting cross-legged along both sides of the road, many with a sign placed before them.

He looked toward the closest one, a bald man sitting cross-legged at the edge of the main road with his eyes closed. The man's upper body was bare, and he held a monk's saber in his arms. He wore only a tattered pair of hemp trousers below, with bindings around his calves. His exposed flesh was covered in healed scars.

His bald head was covered in lumps of hard flesh, and his face was pockmarked.

He looked like a ruthless man. If he did not have at least eighty or a hundred lives on his hands, it would almost be an insult to the face his parents had given him.

Yet the sign before this bald man made Chen Qiu ponder for a moment, his brows slowly drawing together before he suddenly smiled.

"Not bad."

.