Black Market Entry Talisman, time to go fishing!

The guards busied themselves, but their gazes towards Ren and the others completely changed.

Nobody knows.

Why would this group of incredibly powerful young people ask about Exchange Tower, who disappeared many years ago?

After the mountain road was reopened, the caravan moved forward slowly.

Han Zhong specially ordered that the most spacious carriage be arranged.

Fugaku, however, refused outright.

"I walk."

Han Zhong taken aback.

"Senior, the journey is long, you don't need to squeeze in with the guards outside..."

Fugaku waved his hand.

I'm used to walking.

He walked to the flank of the caravan, observing the position and formation of the guards as he went.

At first, the guards were a little uncomfortable.

But after walking for a short while, Fugaku stopped and pointed to two hillsides ahead.

"The trees there are too dense; once the convoy passes through, visibility on both sides will be lost."

"If ambushers roll stones from above and then block the road from the front, the guards will not be able to return to provide immediate support."

One of the guards retorted, "Those are just ordinary hillsides; where would so many ambushes come from?"

Fugaku picked up a pebble and flicked it towards the bushes on his left.

The gravel pierced through the branches and leaves, striking a half-buried piece of thick wood.

Click!

The loosened timber revealed a previously hidden earthen slope.

The guard's expression changed.

If rolling logs were placed in that area beforehand, caravans would have no way to avoid them when passing by.

Fugaku then pointed to the right.

"The ground here is soft; if the trucks get stuck in the mud, the convoy will break apart."

"The guards should send someone to scout ahead of time."

The guards exchanged glances and all dropped their disdain.

The young guard who had been injured earlier clasped his hands in a fist salute.

"Thank you for your guidance, senior."

"I told them to go around this area."

Fugaku nodded, remaining at the edge of the group.

Han Zhong walked to Ren's side and sighed softly.

"Young Master Lu's circle is truly full of hidden talents."

"This senior's understanding of guard formation is even better than the old instructors I've consulted."

Ren did not respond.

Han Zhong couldn't help but continue explaining the situation in Chaotic Star City.

"Chaotic Star City is located at the junction of the Aolong Kingdom, the Barbarian Saint Kingdom, and the Nine Swords Kingdom, and all three Trade Road pass through here."

"The city is a chaotic mess, with Merchant Guilds, mercenary groups, powerful families, and black market forces all vying for power."

"In battles below the Transcendent level, as long as they don't escalate too much, the City Lord's Estate generally won't intervene."

Ren asked, "Where is the Chaotic Star City Lord?"

Han Zhong lowered his voice even further.

"The City Lord's Estate is the place that Chaotic Star City truly shouldn't mess with."

"The Chaotic Star City Lord is Transcendent powerhouse who has been stationed here for many years. No matter how powerful the Three Great Kingdoms are, they must abide by the rules when entering the city."

Ren raised his eyes.

In the memories left behind by the Heaven-Mending Clone, Chaotic Star City was once the place where Exchange Tower's foundation was deepest.

Now, news of the remnants of the Exchange Tower also points to this place.

How is the City Lord's Estate doing lately?

Han Zhong shook his head.

"We businessmen dare not pry into matters concerning the higher-ups."

"But in the past two years, Chaotic Star City has indeed been quite turbulent. The number of Desolate Beast outside the city has increased, and the black market forces have become increasingly rampant, so many caravans dare not travel alone."

Ren noted down these details and didn't ask any further questions.

When the caravan stopped at a post station, it temporarily stopped to replenish its water supply.

Not far away, several teenagers were arguing over a Desolate Beast soul crystal.

"I discovered it first!"

A thin, frail boy clutched the soul crystal, his voice urgent.

Another tall boy scoffed.

"So what if you found out?"

"With your useless Martial Soul, it's a waste to give you a soul crystal."

"Hand it over, and you can at least get a few copper soul coins in return."

The skinny boy gritted his teeth.

"My Martial Soul is weak, but that doesn't mean I'll always be weak!"

"You?"

The tall boy snatched the soul crystal and shoved him backward, causing him to stagger.

"You're not even Soul Master, yet you dare to compete with us?"

People around saw it, but no one was willing to intervene.

Sasuke stopped in his tracks.

He looked at the unsteady boy, his expression gradually turning cold.

He, too, once lived in Itachi's shadow.

When people mention Sasuke Uchiha, the first thing that comes to mind is always Itachi Uchiha's younger brother.

Sasuke slowly gripped the hilt of his sword.

Ren said, "Don't move."

Sasuke turned his head.

He did nothing wrong.

The weak are looked down upon, not because they have done anything wrong.

Ren said, "But relying on the pity of others won't help you get rid of being looked down upon."

"You must first grasp your own knife."

Sasuke fell silent.

The thin boy did not continue arguing.

He wiped the dirt from the corner of his mouth, stared at the stolen soul crystal, and turned to leave.

Sasuke watched his retreating figure and slowly released his grip on the hilt of his sword.

"I see."

After nightfall, the caravan stopped to rest in a sheltered clearing.

The guards took turns keeping watch at night.

A campfire was lit, its Kakkō illuminating the weary faces of the people.

Kaguya sat in the shadows of the carriage, her Byakugan activated, her gaze piercing through the trees and the night.

Several miles away.

Three unfamiliar Soul Master were hiding in the bushes.

They didn't approach, but kept their eyes fixed on the caravan, their gazes repeatedly sweeping over Han Zhong's truck and the direction of Ren and the others.

Kaguya turned her head to the side.

Three people followed us the whole way.

Ren looked up.

"How strong are you?"

"Very weak."

"But they would stop to observe every so often, and never left."

Fugaku frowned.

Should we take it first?

Ren shook his head.

They may not be coming for us.

"Shisui, don't disturb them."

Let's see who slips up.

Shisui nodded, his figure blending into the shadows of the trees.

Late at night.

Most of the caravan members were already asleep.

Only the night patrol guarded the fire, occasionally glancing into the woods.

Near Han Zhong's truck, three dark figures crouched low and slowly approached, stepping on the grass.

One of them, holding a short knife, had just reached the back of the carriage when he suddenly felt a chill on his neck.

A Kunai against the back of his neck.

Shisui stood behind him, her voice very soft.

"Don't move."

The man's body froze instantly.

He was about to call for help when he saw his two companions standing stiffly in the distance.

The weasel stood under the tree, its eyes gleaming crimson.

Their lips trembled incessantly, yet they couldn't utter a single sound.

"Genjutsu!"

The man in black, who had been restrained, collapsed to his knees.

Soon, Han Zhong, Fugaku, and several guards were summoned.

The three followers were tied up in front of the fire.

Han Zhong looked at them, his face turning ashen with anger.

Who are you people?

Why target Han's caravan?

One of them kept his mouth shut.

Shisui Kunai in his hand forward an inch.

The cold, sharp blade pressed against the skin and flesh.

The man's face turned deathly pale, and he immediately shouted, "I'll talk! I'll tell you everything!"

"We come from the Black Market of Chaotic Star City!"

"I've been ordered to search for an ancient ring with black and white Pattern on the mountain path!"

Han Zhong frowned.

"Ancient Ring?"

The man nodded repeatedly.

Rumors are circulating in the black market that Exchange Tower's old items will be circulating there.

"We don't know where that ancient ring is; we can only keep an eye on the caravans that frequently travel along the mountain path."

"Was the Desolate Beast attack a few days ago also related to you?"

Han Zhong's voice suddenly rose.

The man in black lowered his head.

"Some people on the black market use flesh and blood, along with medicinal powder, to lure Desolate Beast."

"We were only responsible for surveillance; as for anything else... we really don't know!"

Han Zhong's chest heaved with anger.

"Brute!"

They don't even spare ordinary merchant caravans!

Seeing Han Zhong's anger growing, the man in black hurriedly pulled out a talisman from his pocket.

"This is a black market entry token!"

"A clandestine transaction will take place on the black market in three days."

"The grand finale is a storage ring engraved with black and white Pattern!"

Ren took the talisman.

The back of the talisman was covered with a blood-red mark, but the surface appeared normal.

He lightly swept his fingertips with his True Essence.

An extremely subtle tracking mark was hidden within the layers of the talisman paper.

Ren's expression remained unchanged.