Stopover Town
Having done all this, Dongfang Yueming did not linger. He unfolded his form, transforming into a streak of azure light, and sped off towards the Central Domain.
A day later, he stopped at a mountain peak and took out the detailed map left by Xiao Tiance from his storage bag.
On the map, the vast Central Continent is clearly divided into several regions.
To enter the true core of the Cloud Water Dynasty — the Central Domain —one must traverse a vast, boundless gray area marked as the "Land of Chaos."
The map only contains a few words describing this area.
"A no-man's-land, lawless, a melting pot of all sorts, where crisis and opportunity coexist."
In the heart of this Land of Chaos, a blood-red city name stands out starkly.
[City of Chaos]
"It's said that many cultivation techniques and treasures from the Central Domain appear here..." Dongfang Yueming looked at the markings on the map, a hint of interest flashing in his eyes. "In that case, why not go and grab some benefits?"
Time passed.
Outside the Land of Chaos, there is a temporary trading point called "Stopover Town".
This is the last supply station for all warriors who want to enter the City of Chaos.
Yun Qian, Yun Han, and Qu Yutang, travel-worn, entered the largest tavern in town.
They had barely sat down when a thin, elderly man with a goatee and piercing eyes approached them with a smile.
He noticed the three young people who seemed out of place in their surroundings at a glance.
Although the man's aura was restrained, his brows carried an air of authority that came from long-held power; the icy beauty possessed an extraordinary temperament and was clearly no ordinary person either.
But the most eye-catching was the youngest girl. Although she was dressed in ordinary martial arts attire, the unconsciously revealed air of imperious arrogance, and the scrutinizing and critical gaze she gave to everything around her...
Having spent decades navigating the treacherous waters of life, what kind of monsters and demons hadn't Ma San encountered? He made his judgment almost instantly.
[This naive and spoiled air... she's probably a fledgling from some dynasty's palace!]
[This kind of inexperienced person may be quite strong, but they've definitely never been through any real storms!]
[Moreover... they must have been carrying quite a few spirit stones!]
In an instant, Ma San labeled these three men as "easy targets" in his mind.
He immediately put on a warm smile and stepped forward, "Gentlemen, it seems this is your first time in this Land of Chaos?"
Yun Qian glanced at him warily but didn't say anything.
Ma San didn't mind and continued, "I am Ma San, and I am quite well-known in this Stopover Town. Judging from your Bufan, you three must be planning to head to the City of Chaos for some adventures, right?"
"So what if he is?" Yun Han asked in a deep voice. He could sense that the seemingly ordinary old man in front of him was actually a genuine Grandmaster!
"Hehe, it's nothing, it's nothing." Ma San waved his hand, his smile becoming even more enthusiastic. "I just wanted to remind you three that this City of Chaos isn't a place anyone can enter. There are many tricks to it! Without a trustworthy guide, forget about finding treasure; you might even fall into some pit and not even know how you died!"
Upon hearing this, Yun Qian's heart stirred.
She had heard many terrifying rumors about the City of Chaos along the way, and was already somewhat uneasy.
"How much do you charge as a guide?" she asked.
A glint of light One Flash in Ma San's eyes, and he made a cross with his fingers.
"Not much, just this amount, and I guarantee you three will be safe and sound, thriving in the City of Chaos!"
"Ten low-grade spirit stones?" Yun Qian's brows furrowed instantly.
That's way too expensive!
She and Yun Han only brought thirty low-grade spirit stones from the royal treasury, and now they're going to lose a third of them!
"It's too expensive, we don't need it." Yun Qian refused without even thinking.
The smile on Ma San's face vanished instantly.
He sized the three of them up and down, his tone turning sarcastic. "Oh, so you're three penniless wretches! No money? What are you doing in City of Chaos? Go home and drink your milk!"
"You!" Yun Qian's pretty face turned cold. She had never suffered such humiliation before, and she was about to retaliate!
"What? You want to make a move?" Ma San sneered, and a Grandmaster aura, far more solid and experienced than Yun Han's, which had just broken through, suddenly erupted, suppressing the three of them!
"Little girl, let me give you a piece of advice: this isn't your palace!" He threw down this harsh remark, turned, and left, muttering under his breath, "What a waste of my time!"
Yun Qian was so angry that she trembled all over, her pretty face flushed red, but she was helpless.
Yun Han's expression was also extremely grim.
"Let's... rest for a bit and find out some news about City of Chaos first," Qu Yutang finally said calmly.
The three of them found an inn to stay in.
After making some inquiries, Yun Qian was so angry she almost flipped the table!
"Damn it! That old swindler!" she said angrily. "I've inquired! Grandmaster guides here usually don't charge more than five spirit stones! Three is already a very good price! How dare he ask us for ten!"
Meanwhile, in another corner of the tavern...
Ma San was talking in hushed tones with two other Grandmaster auras were equally formidable, their eyes gleaming with greed.
"Old Ma, how's it going? Have those three virgins taken the bait yet?"
"Hmph, don't even mention it!" Ma San spat. "They should be a fat sheep, but they won't even take out ten spirit stones!"
"Oh?" A lewd glint flashed in the other man's eyes. "Those two girls are quite pretty... Since they won't pay, how about we... try a different approach and 'trade' with them?"
Upon hearing this, Ma San exchanged a glance with the other two, and a knowing, sinister smile appeared on their faces.
"That's right, in this Land of Chaos, strength is the only true currency!"