In the bamboo grove, the Fish-Dragon peeked about curiously. Its simple thought process was always devoid of a proper sense of danger, so it quickly returned to frolicking among the flowers and bamboo. Its dark yet lustrous scales attracted the attention of all without any reservation.
"Such a magnificent creature, with scales covering its body and a horn on its head! This Fish-Dragon, I fear, carries the aura of a celestial dragon in its essence. Are you planning to sell it at the Treasure Exchange Banquet, Daoist friend?" Zhao Zirui, a man, strolled over with a smile on his face. The lion cat in his arms had just yawned and was lazily squinting its eyes, forming a stark contrast to the spirited Fish-Dragon.
Yu Ci, another man, glanced at him without responding, his gaze falling on the list in his hand. On this list of cultivators entering the city, compiled by White Sun Mansion, Zhao Zirui was ranked first, with the most detailed description. This was not only because of the conspicuous large cat in his arms, but more importantly, he was known to be the strongest among all the cultivators in the city.
The information from White Sun Mansion suggested that he was at the Middle Stage of Golden Elixir cultivation. Among the visible powers in the sheer cliff city, only Jin Huan, another man, could suppress him, and as for the hidden powers... there was no need to mention them.
However, the most troublesome aspect about Zhao Zirui wasn't this, but rather the fact that he didn't come alone. He and his companions, a total of seven, even if there wasn't a second Golden Elixir cultivator among them, the weakest among the remaining six was at the Middle Stage of Nature-Connecting, Refining Yin Spirit level. These seven alone were powerful enough to walk sideways in the sheer cliff city, and even White Sun Mansion had to be somewhat wary of them.
Zhao Zirui was the leader of this elite group.
Despite not receiving the expected response, Zhao Zirui's smile remained unchanged. He continued, "Since you also plan to sell the Fish-Dragon, it doesn't matter whether it's at the Treasure Exchange Banquet or not. My brother Sha here is quite fond of your Fish-Dragon, why don't you discuss a price? We are quite wealthy..."
"I have my own plans for the Fish-Dragon," Yu Ci interrupted him, shaking the list in his hand. He did not stand up, but simply said, "The top floor is currently preparing for the Treasure Exchange Banquet and is not open to others. Please make yourselves comfortable downstairs."
At these words, Zhao Zirui remained calm, but Sha Cong, a man known for his temper, could not tolerate such cold treatment. He glared and spat out, "If you don't appreciate kindness, you're asking for trouble! Who do you think you are to tell me where to go? Let me tell you, I'm going to get that Fish-Dragon today..."
Before he could finish, Geng Fu, a man standing nearby, let out a loud cry of surprise.
At this moment, all eyes were upon him.
Being scrutinized by three individuals of exceptional cultivation levels, Geng Fu's forehead was beaded with sweat and his face was as pale as death. However, this fellow did possess some courage. Despite his hefty body and mournful expression, he managed to clearly articulate his words:
"Immortal Elders Zhao and Sha, please, this is Immortal Yu from Lichen Sect, a prominent figure in Sheer Cliff City..."
He gave a thumbs-up, his plump hand visibly trembling. Yet, his meaning was clear, and no one took issue with the slight inaccuracies in his information.
Zhao Zirui's fair face lost its smile, replaced by a look of surprise. "Lichen Sect?"
He exchanged a glance with Sha Cong, and then chuckled. "So, it's a distinguished disciple of the Lichen Sect..."
This man seemed to want to defuse the situation, but at that moment, someone else was heard climbing the stairs:
"Elder Zhao, why haven't you come down for such a long time?"
Upon hearing these words, Geng Fu's face became a spectacle of emotions.
Yu Ci glanced over, his gaze passing through the bamboo screen to see the figure striding forward. It was Jin Huan's nephew, Jin Chuan, who held the position of "central coordinator". He was dressed in a brocade robe with a jade belt, looking exceptionally handsome as he approached with a beaming smile. It was unclear when he had joined Zhao Zirui and the others.
Upon meeting Yu Ci's gaze, he expressed surprise. "Brother Yu? Right, Brother Yu is here today. In that case, Brother Yu, allow me to introduce you to a senior."
He emphasized the last two words slightly, then turned to look at Zhao Zirui. "Elder Zhao..."
The perpetual smile on Zhao Zirui's face took on a subtle change. He gently stroked the lion cat on his arm, his gaze sweeping over the two young men. Just as he was about to speak, the large cat in his arms let out a cry. Almost simultaneously, a loud bang echoed from outside the building, followed by the sounds of shattering and screaming, carried by the wind into the room.
Yu Ci, who was positioned at the outermost part of the room, turned his head slightly and saw a figure crashing through the window of the enclosed walkway on the western side of the Sky Wing Tower. Amidst the splinters and debris, the figure screamed as it fell. The ground was nearly a hundred feet below, and he was certain to die if he hit the ground. However, the piercing sound of Sword Energy from behind, hissing like a thousand threads or venomous snakes baring their fangs, was relentless in its pursuit.
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A gust of wind rose beside him. It was Zhao Zirui, who had silently leapt over the railing. A humming green light enveloped him as he flew through the air. In a blink of an eye, he reached the falling figure, grabbed him, and flung him upwards.
By this time, the thread-like Sword Energy had already arrived. The green light around Zhao Zirui fluctuated slightly, and a streak of purple light shot out, spiraling in the air and colliding with the Sword Energy, creating a series of clanging sounds. The figure he had flung was caught mid-air by Sha Cong, who had just rushed out.
At the same moment, a gray shadow quietly sprang from the broken side of the walkway. The Sword Energy swirling in mid-air suddenly escalated a level. Zhao Zirui also spotted the newcomer:
"Fellow Daoist, why do you cause trouble with my brother!"
The newcomer retorted with a scoff, "Since when does one need a reason to woo a woman?"
Zhao Zirui, a man of wit, burst out laughing, "Indeed, my Daoist friend, you truly grasp the essence of the matter!"
Figures moved in a dance of merging and separating, gradually widening their distance, presumably finding close combat to be too entangling. Sword energies clashed in the air, their violet light creating a tempest in the skies. The residual force swept across the ground, causing the wooden exterior of the Sky Wing Tower a mile away to creak ominously, as if on the verge of collapse.
Jin Chuan clearly did not anticipate this situation, and hurriedly took two steps forward to get a better look.
Yu Ci leaned against the railing, watching for a while before making a gesture. Geng Fu, standing nearby, hesitated before finally lumbering over, his face a picture of misery as he frequently glanced at Jin Chuan's back. Despite his pitiful appearance, he had managed to intervene timely between Yu Ci and Zhao Zirui, revealing Yu Ci's identity and helping to defuse the situation. His keen insight and courage were indeed impressive. If not for Jin Chuan's interference, the situation might have ended amicably. Yu Ci found himself regarding Geng Fu with newfound respect.
The fat innkeeper wiped the sweat from his forehead and lowered his voice, "Immortal Yu, do you have any instructions?"
No matter how low he kept his voice, he couldn't keep it from the ears of Jin Chuan, who was standing nearby. The future master of White Sun Mansion cast a cold glance at him, causing Geng Fu to nearly kneel in fear. However, Yu Ci was smiling.
"You're doing well! Pass the word along. Any treasures should be presented at the Treasure Exchange Banquet. That's the rule in this city. If Zhao Zirui and his crew behave as they did today, they need not attend the banquet. They can leave the city."
Geng Fu was taken aback and before he could respond, Jin Chuan, who had been eavesdropping, protested, "How can that be? They've brought treasures to exchange too."
"Are you sure they won't resort to force again?"
With that, Jin Chuan was silenced. Geng Fu, however, added, "Immortal Yu, they are 'foreigners'..."
When Geng Fu referred to 'foreigners', he generally meant cultivators not from Sheer Cliff City. However, in this context, it was a narrower definition, referring to individuals from outside the control of the Lichen Sect. Such individuals, who had traveled from afar, were often formidable and their backgrounds difficult to trace. If they caused trouble, they could simply leave without facing any consequences, making them particularly troublesome. Yu Ci understood his meaning, especially since these people likely hailed from the North Wilderness.
His gaze shifted, landing on the sealed corridor above. There, Sha Xin was taking out a strange object, a string of fist-sized skulls, twirling it like prayer beads while murmuring incantations, clearly performing some sort of witchcraft to heal his companions.
Information from the White Sun Mansion suggested that Zhao Zirui and his party of seven might hail from a well-known place in the Cultivation World, beyond the Broken Realm Mountain Range, across the boundless grasslands, a place known as the most barren in the world - the North Wilderness.
Legend has it that the place was barren of resources, where black sand filled the sky all year round, forming an omnipresent "Black Tide". Within it, ferocious monsters known as Demon Heads roamed. Even a master of the Golden Elixir or Vacuum Walking, if they flew carelessly into the sky, could potentially be swallowed whole. Such a harsh environment forced the inhabitants to live underground, and no established Sects could make their base there. Yet, it was a paradise for the vast number of Lone Cultivators. Over a million Lone Cultivators gathered there, forming thousands of loose factions of various sizes.
Of course, with such a chaotic mix of powers, it was not a peaceful place. According to the information from the Lichen Sect, the North Wilderness was the largest production base for Woodworm Cultivators in the world. Countless dreamy woodworms emerged from there, and countless similar people threw themselves in, seeking their kind, seeking the life they desired.
Bravery, ruthlessness, and lawlessness were the consistent styles of these people. If they started trouble in the city, it would indeed be challenging to handle.
However, Yu Ci had no intention of changing his decision. At this moment, another person was actually more deserving of his attention.
"Who is that person?"
Yu Ci was referring to the one who was fighting fiercely with Zhao Zirui. His Cultivation Level was also at the Golden Elixir Stage, and his single-minded, intricate Swordsmanship was exquisitely pure. In fact, he already had an answer, but he wanted Geng Fu to say it.
As he expected, Geng Fu responded with reverence, "It's Immortal Leader Lu!"
In Sheer Cliff City, there was only one Immortal Leader Lu, who was none other than Lu Mingyue, known as the city's top Lone Cultivator. He was probably the person closest to being a Woodworm Cultivator, seeking pleasure and companionship daily. He was also a close friend of Monk Yi Xin from the Pure Water Sect.
Yu Ci stared at the figure for a long while without speaking.
On the side, Jin Chuan suddenly laughed, "If they keep fighting like this, the Sky Wing Tower will collapse, and there won't be a need for the Treasure Exchange Banquet in eight days, right?"
Geng Fu was stunned, thinking to himself that the Sky Wing Tower couldn't collapse so easily. However, seeing Jin Chuan's tone and demeanor, he quickly agreed, "Exactly, if they keep fighting, the tower might not hold up!"
After saying this, he regretted it. As expected, seeing him respond, Jin Chuan turned to Yu Ci and respectfully said, "Elder Brother Yu, these two are too engrossed in their fight and are neglecting the protection of the tower. You need to think of a solution."
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