Schemes of Various Households, Longchuan Fair!

"Yet these shameless few united to press down upon this old man."

"One or two would be fine, but the entire prefecture city is pressing down upon this old man alone, and this old man cannot withstand this bunch of rascals either..."

"For this reason, I struck a compromise."

"As long as they persuade those Immortal Arts Warriors with hopes of breaking through their realms to give up contending for this batch of Qi Condensation Pills, this old man will sell the pills to the respective households."

"And behold, that brat Zhang Xuan sent a letter."

"The Qin Family of Yingchuan County, the Yellow-grade Attendant Dan Shisan, has given up the contention..."

"Speaking of which, this Dan Shisan."

"Was certified by you back then, Old Zhe. This old man has not met this junior-how is he? Can he catch the eye of our office's Xuan-grade Attendant?"

After listening-

Gongsun Zhe on the side poured a mouthful of wine, smacked his lips, and wore a rogue's expression:

"How else could he be? At any rate, his Dao of Alchemy techniques are passable..."

"As for his disposition..."

"It is standard and mediocre. The time in contact has not been long, so one cannot discern much either. However, that kid with the surname Qin certainly knows how to conduct himself and is quite worldly."

"In this regard, that kid does a rather decent job."

"Moreover, to cultivate to True Martial Completion in over ten years means his aptitude shouldn't be too bad either, and his spiritual radiance ought to be somewhat more than one or two inches..."

"Only there is one point."

"That is, although the kid looks benevolent and kind, a hidden ruthlessness cannot be concealed in his gaze..."

"One imagines his methods are extraordinary, and his killing intent is extremely heavy. I'm afraid he is a born butcher! The blood staining his hands is likely not a small amount either..."

"Logically speaking..."

"Such a person is a born Artifact Refiner."

"How is it that he studied alchemy, and moreover entered the Dao, achieving learning? On this point, this old man is also utterly baffled..."

"How can a person with an extremely heavy murderous intent be so compatible with the Dao of Alchemy? Truly a strange fellow."

Having finished speaking-

Wu Yanmian stroked his beard and shook his head, everything implied in the silence.

"It is nothing more than personal affinity and the mandate of heaven."

"Let nature take its course. Having this trial in this lifetime, it is his fate as well..."

"Now it also coincides with chaotic omens. Perhaps this is a good thing too. Temporary retreat is rational, and it is always better than losing one's life..."

"In a world where men eat men, being able to stay alive is precisely the ultimate truth..."

Resting and regrouping for over half a month.

The Black Dragon Fleet temporarily docked at Yunchuan Port, and aside from leaving behind a portion of personnel.

A caravan of several hundred people hurried toward Longchuan Prefecture City. Now that the Qi Condensation Pills were out of reach, they might as well do some business and earn more cultivation resources...

Coupled with the news of troops being quartered and preparations being made for war.

Qin Lu was naturally somewhat pressed for time. Right now, being able to earn an extra portion of resources meant also being able to cultivate more elites and make preparations...

Meeting the ever-changing with the unchanging, and being fully prepared, one could barely survive in troubled times!

According to Qin Lu's thoughts-

Longchuan Prefecture City possessed the only cultivator fair in the entire prefecture.

Named: Longchuan Fair!

Its greatest backing was the imperial court, while local Immortal Clan forces carved up the interests within by means of buying shares...

The other purpose of this trip-

Was to drive a nail in right here and establish a stronghold.

Not only could it serve as a springboard for the future, but it could also better boost the momentum of his Qin Family! By the way, it could also allow him to learn of all parties' movements at the first possible moment...

Walking all the way-

Along the path, from time to time, one would encounter some large and small caravans, or chivalrous hermits roaming the pugilistic world, or even literary scholars and romantic poets seeking pleasure...

One could see the prefecture city's wealth and stability; only thus could prosperity be forged!

Though the number of warriors could not be said to be seen everywhere,

Which of those who walked outside in the world did not rely on some backing?

Compared to Yingchuan County, it was unknown how many times stronger!

A journey of several days, walking along the road.

All villages and towns passed, regardless of size, had at least one or two warrior households, and larger strategic towns possessed no fewer than dozens of forces...

The practice of cultivation flourished!

Coupled with the prefecture territory, the earth-vein spiritual essence was even more grand and majestic.

Even without the assistance of pills, there were still quite a few with outstanding natural talents who relied on their endowment and the geographical advantage to achieve success in cultivation!

All kinds of spiritual items emerged in an endless stream as well!

For instance-

Among the Hundred Arts Office, there were merely thirteen Rank-1 Alchemists, nine of whom were located in the prefecture territory. Although pills remained a scarce resource...

Yet compared to Yingchuan County, a tiny county,

Acquiring pills was much easier, choices were also more diverse, and liquidity far surpassed that of a single county...

At this moment-

The caravan traveled to a high vantage point and gazed into the distance.

They saw a majestic, giant city resembling an ancient primordial fierce beast, crouching upon the vast and boundless plain, towering, magnificent, and extraordinary!

Blue bricks and stone strips grew with moss, and even after enduring hundreds or thousands of years of erosion, they still stood firm.

Upon entering the city-

One could see tall buildings and courtyards flourishing like a forest, human voices boiling like a river of people!

On the streets, it was even more a throng of carriages and horses, with monster-beasts pulling carts that caused countless people to look up in awe, alongside scions of major clans in diverse attire walking among the common folk...

Everyone was dressed in brocade and fine silk, with shouts rising in all directions!

There were peddling cries, chanting sounds, dog barks, and all matters of life converging here to compose a breathtaking melody...

"Chu Shan, you make the trip personally to request a decree from the yamen and procure a courtyard mansion capable of housing a hundred people."

"Money is no object; it must be quiet and bright. The rest of you follow Wang Jian's lead and find a place to temporarily camp and stay behind..."

"Han Fei, you accompany me on a trip."

Qin Lu made arrangements step by step-

And immediately walked toward the south of the city together with Han Fei, for that was precisely where Longchuan Fair was located.

As for why he brought Han Fei along...

Mm...

A person of status strolling the streets always needed a servant to set them off, not to mention that he could also help carry things. Coupled with this kid Han Fei...

Indeed, he was quite a talent!

Although he lacked the talent for cultivation, his literary grace and clever wit were truly quite commendable.

When the time came in the future-

Qin Lu even intended to heavily employ him, making him yet another capable minister of the Qin Family who could shoulder heavy burdens, so that he could both assist and counterbalance the Yan Family!

It was impossible to let the Yan Family monopolize the county government's authority all along...

Stepping into the south city-

The prosperous yet sparsely populated place was: Longchuan Fair!

When they walked up to an arched gate.

Both guards emitted the auras of the True Martial Seventh Realm!

"To enter the immortal fair..."

"Mortals must pay one hundred taels of mundane silver, while True Martial Realm warriors must pay one stalk of ten-year-old medicinal herb."

Hearing this-

Qin Lu raised an eyebrow, lifted his jade token, and motioned it toward the two of them:

"Is this thing of any use?"

The two of them were startled at first, and then upon seeing the three large characters "Hundred Arts Office" on the jade token, they were instantly alarmed!

Coupled with this person's aura, they couldn't see through it in the slightest!

At this-

How could the two of them still not know that they had run into a senior expert this time!

"This humble subordinate pays respects to the senior!"

"Your junior belongs to the prefecture's patrol guards and inadvertently offended the Hundred Arts Office. I beg the superior to spare us!"

"According to the imperial court's rules, Hundred Arts Office attendants may pass through unimpeded in the fairs of all prefectures and commanderies throughout the country without needing to pay any fees..."

The two of them changed their faces at lightning speed, leaving Han Fei utterly dumbfounded...

"Do not be surprised, Han Fei."

"Even Qi Condensation cultivators are still human, and being human, they have misgivings and respect for status..."

Having spoken-

Qin Lu hung the token in a conspicuous place at his waist, flashing his identity, which could also serve as a warning to those blind, blockheaded fellows...