Tsk tsk, amidst the gloom and mist of worry, the bickering was a lively affair indeed within the Great Hammer Hall.

Amidst the quarreling of the two "masters" Hong and Su, Yu Ci gleaned a new piece of information. It turned out that last night, during his fierce battle with that ghostly Sword Cultivation adversary, those sneaky creatures were from the Great Hammer Hall? It seemed that by sauntering off last night without a care, he had left them with quite the troublesome aftermath.

Yu Ci's conclusion was drawn from piecing together various snippets of information. There was no clear answer from the Great Hammer Hall; they only knew that the party supposed to arrive last night at the Chu River had suddenly lost contact. No sign of life nor death, yet the Lifespan Lamp left at the hall's entrance had been extinguished—a sign of ill fate.

Overnight, the situation had changed dramatically. Not only had the Great Hammer Hall's clandestine plans miscarried, but they also suffered the loss of several key combatants, their Primordial Qi greatly damaged. Even Yu Ci, who usually paid little heed to such matters, couldn't help but chuckle. It was then that another voice reached his ears:

"Senior, uh, Senior?" It was Wan Quan calling out cautiously.

Yu Ci, after all, did not possess the ability to multitask without distraction. Paying attention to that matter had caused him to be somewhat absent-minded with Wan Quan. Wan Quan was aware that this Senior's thoughts were deep and unpredictable, possibly contemplating something profound, but now that they had reached their destination, he felt compelled to give a reminder.

"Oh, where is this?"

Returning from the perspective of the Divine Chart, Yu Ci also noticed that the area before him was different from the bustle of "South Sea Street" and the chaos of the crater. Although the flow of people was dense here as well, there was an indescribable oddness to the comings and goings.

"As a junior, acting as a middleman, I can speak in any shop and have no problem listing the items Senior requires. But here, it's necessary for you to come in person."

Wan Quan's words carried a hint of mystery, a professional habit rather than a deliberate ploy.

"This is the black market?"

Yu Ci stated it plainly, and Wan Quan chuckled in affirmation.

With this reminder, Yu Ci understood what that "oddness" was all about. It was likely due to the people around him, each more or less bracing themselves, their Auras intricately interwoven, creating a palpable pressure. In fact, this was the influence of the collective mood, which rendered the atmosphere here darker than in other places.

Wan Quan led him down a narrow alleyway, explaining as they went, "I must inform Senior that the markets here are of varying grades, a mix of good and bad. The reputable ones have strict entry criteria. However, if you're not in the know, you might end up swindled out of your last penny, or worse, with your life in jeopardy. The place Junior is taking Senior to is known for its sterling reputation..."

He was cut off mid-sentence as a sudden weight pressed down on his shoulder—it was Yu Ci's hand.

Wan Quan couldn't help but shiver. Although the Great Hammer Hall had abruptly called off that deadly plan, and he had learned through various channels that the matter would likely be glossed over, he still felt a twinge of unease in Yu Ci's presence.

Fortunately, Yu Ci only inquired about something else: "To which market did that person go?"

Following the direction of his gesture, the first thing Wan Quan saw was a slender beauty draped in a dark cyan robe. Amidst the dim surroundings, the woman moved with ease, her sleeves fluttering in the breeze and revealing the white hem of her dress underneath. Even from behind, her figure piqued curiosity to see the grace of her countenance.

Of course, Wan Quan didn't dare approach. Beside the woman walked a rather handsome young man who, to Wan Quan's experienced eye—honed by years traversing the North Wilderness—appeared slightly neurotic. Yet, he was unmistakably a Golden Elixir Cultivator. Should Wan Quan get too close, he might just be blasted to smithereens with a single punch.

Turning back to Yu Ci, Wan Quan noticed him intently observing the lady, his expression worthy of contemplation.

"Could it be that he fancies this type?"

The thought inevitably crossed Wan Quan's mind, almost causing him to forget to answer. Thankfully, he quickly regained his composure and said, "Since they're taking this path, they're definitely heading to the 'Three Families Market,' which is along our way."

"Three Families Market?"

"Yes, although it has a certain... reputation, the Three Families Market is still one of the most famous in Yin Cave City, even in the whole North Wilderness. Its influence might even surpass some of the southern merchants."

Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

"If that's the case, then why bother... Oh!"

As they spoke, Yu Ci was beginning to understand. Wan Quan smiled and said, "Senior, you see clearly. Although the North Wilderness is a land of barren mountains and treacherous waters, it's a place of great fluidity, and it has never been short of rare and exotic treasures. Some of their origins aren't exactly impeccable, so to avoid trouble, it's better for markets like these to keep a low profile."

Yu Ci nodded, "The name 'Three Families Market' is quite peculiar."

"There's a reason for that," Wan Quan explained. "The market is divided into three categories: 'Hundred Streams Market,' 'Dustless Market,' and 'Zhenhua Market.' The 'Hundred Streams Market' is held daily, the 'Dustless Market' monthly, and the 'Zhenhua Market' annually. Each has its own level of prestige and the items for sale vary greatly. Combined, they are known as the 'Three Families.'"

As they conversed, they had walked along a narrow path to a cliff wall. Wan Quan led the way, walking along the wall, but the beauty from before was nowhere to be seen.

Wan Quan walked and observed, treading carefully through the underground tunnels, "After the path, there are multiple routes to the market. She might have taken a different one."

Yu Ci made no particular comment, simply asking, "Which market is open today?"

"Besides the Hundred Streams Market, the Dustless Market is also open."

Wan Quan perked up, eager to explain, "Hundred Streams refers to the convergence of many streams, meaning that this market has a complex array of goods sourced from all directions. There's no deliberate selection by the market itself. Of course, since this place is not like others and outsiders can't just wander in, the quality is generally assured. By contrast, the Dustless Market's goods have all been carefully selected by the market. The term 'dustless' is akin to 'not tolerating any speck of dust in one's eyes'... Oh, here we are!"

Wan Quan leaned against the cliff wall, and his body seemed to merge into the rock layer, only to reemerge quickly, gesturing for Yu Ci to follow.

Watching Wan Quan's effortless entry and exit, Yu Ci had already located the mechanism on the cliff wall. It was a simple illusion technique, and though there might be other protective measures inside, they were of no consequence to those who followed the rules.

Breaking through the illusion of the rock layer, the setup inside was rather ordinary. According to Wan Quan, the "Three Families Market" had twenty such entrances, each leading to the "Hundred Streams Market." However, accessing the "Dustless Market" or the even more exclusive "Zhenhua Market" was not as straightforward.

Wanquan's cultivation level was hardly impressive; ordinarily, he wouldn't even qualify to enter the Hundred Streams Market, let alone bring others into the even more prestigious Dustless Market. Yet, as a competent middleman, he could leverage his various connections not just to gain entry but also to escort others into higher echelons. Now was the time to showcase his abilities:

"Senior, are we heading to..."

"The Hundred Streams Market."

Huh? This truly surprised Wanquan. The Hundred Streams Market operated daily, whereas the Dustless Market was a monthly event, a rare opportunity indeed. Could this Soul Chaser Senior really be so patient?

However, upon entering the Hundred Streams Market, Wanquan began to understand: the female cultivator in the green robe and white skirt was there, strolling around.

The Hundred Streams Market was located within a rather large domed cavern. At first glance, it seemed somewhat similar to the Hollow Market outside, with the same rock cave and stall setup, appearing quite chaotic and on a much smaller scale, with a less enthusiastic atmosphere. Many cultivators here wore hoods over their heads, giving off an air of mystery, and they spoke in hushed tones, creating a constant hum of noise that echoed through the nearly enclosed space.

The female cultivator in Wanquan's view also draped a light veil over her face, but it didn't seem very effective. In the dimly lit space, she remained conspicuously noticeable. She quickly pulled up her hood, completely obscuring her facial features. Even so, her graceful bearing still drew the attention of those around her, sparking quite a bit of conversation.

The young man at her side grew increasingly nervous.

Wanquan, too, was a man and inevitably suffered from some of the common male afflictions. Moreover, he was no saint himself. With Yu Ci's gentle demeanor and the pressure from the Great Hammer Hall lifted, his more frivolous side began to emerge: "Trying to hide only draws more attention! Now, she's caught the eyes of many... Ah, she must be a beauty, right?"

"It is indeed." Yu Ci replied with certainty.

This response unexpectedly bridged the gap between the two, and for Wan Quan, it was a pleasant surprise. It turned out that Soul Chaser, the esteemed senior, had a preference for such topics. Wan Quan realized he needed to adjust his strategy accordingly.

While pondering his next move, Yu Ci, to everyone's surprise, walked in the opposite direction of the beautiful cultivator.

Shouldn't he be approaching her now?

Wan Quan was puzzled, but Yu Ci was confident in his plan.

Yes, that female cultivator, poised and composed, was none other than Shen Wan. Yu Ci had only met her once; it was in Cliff City during the second opening of the Treasure Exchange Banquet at the Random Heart Pavilion. She was the one presiding over the event, her mind and tactics both commendable.

Yu Ci was curious about the reason a steward from the Random Heart Pavilion would come to this place. Of course, he wouldn't foolishly approach an "old acquaintance." Instead, he used the Divine Bronze Mirror to confirm and observe simultaneously, without delay.

This was the effect of consulting the Divine Chart.

During that life-threatening conflict with He Qing years ago, Yu Ci had used the Void Mirror Plate, seized from the Eastern Orthodox Sect, to provide the "genuine" Divine Bronze Mirror with the correct guidance, using an "imitation." From that moment on, despite its damaged state, the functioning of one half of the Divine Bronze Mirror had been restored to the best condition known to Yu Ci. The most direct manifestation of this was the return of the Divine Chart.

Under the guidance of the Divine Chart, within a fifty-mile radius, there was almost nothing that could escape Yu Ci's senses. Tracking the movements of a female cultivator was as easy as reaching into a bag and taking what he wanted.

Of course, the Divine Chart's capabilities, although similar to before, had some differences.

*******

I have also posted the following more chapters [All free] on: https://www.readgates.com/article/74a39e