Those Who Know the Times Are Heroes

Zhou Changwang was startled.

This was no small matter.

Though the Bai Lineage ancestor's injury had nothing to do with him, not even by the remotest connection—

he was currently in Phoenix-Cry Cove Market.

And Phoenix-Cry Cove Market was managed by the Bai Lineage.

Turmoil at the top would naturally stir up wave after wave below.

Not to mention that this was a world where martial force and strength decided victory or defeat. Order was exceedingly fragile, so the upheaval it caused would be all the more violent.

"Who has been harboring designs, then?"

Zhou Changwang could not help asking.

"The Chen Lineage? The Wu Lineage? Or perhaps outside forces?

Who knows?"

Qian Xiaoyue shook her head helplessly. "I'm only a minor Rogue Cultivator myself. What I know is limited.

I only hope that when things erupt, we won't be caught up in it."

"Then have you considered moving into the market's inner city? Hiding from the disaster that may come?"

Thinking of Manager Chen's earlier warning, Zhou Changwang could not help suggesting it.

As for the Chen Lineage and the Wu Lineage, he knew of them too.

They were both cultivation lineages in the vicinity.

They held considerable influence within Phoenix-Cry Cove Market.

The Chen Lineage had three Foundation True Cultivators. Their patriarch had even reached the seventh level of Foundation Establishment, not much weaker than the Bai Lineage ancestor.

The Wu Lineage, meanwhile, had two Foundation True Cultivators. Their patriarch, Wu Yongchang, was a powerful sword cultivator at the fourth level of Foundation Establishment. Though the other Foundation True Cultivator in the lineage was only at the first level of Foundation Establishment, he was a second-rank alchemist. Rumor had it that he could refine Foundation Establishment Pills and had friends far and wide.

Naturally, the residences of the three great cultivation lineages were not within the market.

This place was merely one of their points of contention for profit.

"Can't afford the rent."

Qian Xiaoyue rolled her eyes at Zhou Changwang, then said, "And if you're trying to avoid disaster... if a fight truly breaks out, the inner city may not be any safer than the outer districts.

After all, that is the main battlefield, a place high-level cultivators will fight over.

One spell can affect dozens of meters. With your strength and mine, we'd probably die the moment we came face-to-face.

We might as well keep huddling in the outskirts. It may be chaotic, but the threats we encounter will be far smaller."

"That's true."

Zhou Changwang nodded in agreement.

He actually understood that whether somewhere was dangerous or not was relative.

If chaos erupted, powerful cultivators might step in to suppress it within the inner city. But out here on the outskirts, that might not be the case.

The more chaotic it became, the more dangerous it would be.

Because many bandit cultivators—even Rogue Cultivators who usually seemed honest and ordinary—would regard such chaos as a feast.

"And two bandit cultivators live right beside me?"

At that thought, Zhou Changwang's heart sank again.

He returned home, weighed down by worry.

When his father asked, he only said that he had gone to Qian Xiaoyue to buy some talisman paper. He did not say much else.

His father would soon be leaving for the mortal world to live out his days in peace. Naturally, Zhou Changwang did not want him to worry.

I only hope nothing changes in the next few days.

Zhou Changwang muttered inwardly.

Yet the next day, Zhou Changwang still went out.

He had to make more preparations for the changes that might come.

Not only did he need some talismans for self-defense, he also had to acquire some spells—especially defensive ones, which were essential for low-level Rogue Cultivators to preserve their lives.

Thus, early the next morning, he hurried out.

He happened to run into the pair of brothers living next door, and he even greeted them amicably.

He had to greet them. Now that he knew they were bandit cultivators, did he still dare put on a sour face? Was he not afraid they would be the first to turn their blades on him?

He only hoped to become a familiar face, so that for the sake of their acquaintance, they might spare him...

"I'm not cowardly. Those who know the times are heroes."

After leaving, Zhou Changwang consoled himself.

This time, since it concerned his own safety, Zhou Changwang did not dare buy things from the Rogue Cultivator Market again. Instead, he headed straight for the cluster of major shops to the east.

As he stepped onto East Street,

Zhou Changwang could clearly see that the road was much broader. Though the foot traffic was not as heavy as at the Rogue Cultivator Market, every person there had a far more extraordinary aura.

Mid-stage Qi Refining Realm cultivators could be seen everywhere, and there were quite a few high-level cultivators as well. Even the low-level cultivators walking among them wore luxurious Dharma robes, their every gesture unlike that of ordinary Rogue Cultivators.

This was the market's East Street.

Everything here was tied to Spirit Stones.

Zhou Changwang, however, did not feel much about it.

He had visited plenty of commercial districts in his previous life. While working in sales, he had even followed certain supervisors to enjoy various commercial services a few times, so he did not feel out of place.

Only when he saw Heavenly Fragrance House did he involuntarily look over a few more times.

Though it was only early morning, the occasional wealthy patrons emerging from within, along with the female cultivators who came out to greet and see them off—graceful in figure, every movement brimming with seductive charm—were enough to make people unable to look away.

Especially when one of those female cultivators suddenly beamed and smiled at Zhou Changwang.

Zhou Changwang froze at first, then shuddered sharply and hurried away in quick little steps.

"A demoness, a true demoness.

No wonder those fond of such pursuits can never quit. With that charm technique, no man could withstand it..."

Zhou Changwang muttered inwardly, shaking his head.

He knew that among the spirit farmers, there was one who had once been renowned as an expert at tending fields, with an average yield of seven hundred jin per mu. Yet after becoming addicted to such pursuits, over ten mu of his Spirit Fields had nearly gone to ruin. He only checked on them once every three to five days, and by harvest, getting two or three hundred jin per mu was already considered good.

As Zhou Changwang was thinking this and preparing to leave, his gaze suddenly halted on another wealthy patron emerging from Heavenly Fragrance House.

Wang Chang? It was precisely the spirit farmer he had just thought of, the one who had neglected his fields because he frequented Heavenly Fragrance House.

Though they knew each other, they were not close. Xu Zhong, on the other hand, had quite a bit of friendship with him, since they were comrades-in-arms who often visited Heavenly Fragrance House.

Just a few days ago, Zhou Changwang had heard Xu Zhong complain that Wang Chang had borrowed Spirit Stones from him. He had not expected to see the man here at such a time.

"Zhou Changwang?

What, do you want to go in and take a look too?"

Unexpectedly, Wang Chang had sharp eyes and recognized Zhou Changwang at once. Grinning, he walked over and slung an arm around Zhou Changwang's shoulder as if they were exceptionally familiar.

"No, I was only passing by."

Zhou Changwang shook his head directly and calmly pushed his arm away.

"If you're interested, I'll bring you here next time. I guarantee you'll be satisfied, with pleasures beyond measure."

Wang Chang did not mind. He quickly spoke up, an inexplicably pleased smile spreading across his face.

"No need. I'm not interested in that.

Brother Wang, I have matters to attend to. Farewell."

Zhou Changwang had no desire to become entangled with him. He merely cupped his hands, then hurried away.

After shaking off Wang Chang, Zhou Changwang was in no pleasant mood. The man had reminded him of a cousin from his previous life, who had first indulged in women, then gambling. In what should have been the prime of his life, he had piled himself beneath crushing debts. Then one day, he had suddenly come knocking, thrown an arm around Zhou Changwang's shoulder just like that, and borrowed a sum from him. Years had passed without so much as an echo.