Three Days Later...
"We've been walking for three days straight," Chen Mo muttered, his feet dragging slightly. "There's a city ahead. Let's find an inn to rest before continuing to the Iron Body Sect."
"Stop!" Two guards at the city gate shouted. "Take out your identity badge."
Chen Mo pulled out a badge with the Chen family crest engraved on it and held it up.
One of the guards sneered, laughing arrogantly. "Chen family? AHAHA! Fine, you may enter."
Do they know about the Chen family? Chen Mo thought, his brow furrowing. That's strange. Luo City is a thousand miles away. His gaze shifted to the large board hanging over the city gate, which read: "Azure Cloud City."
Wait... why does this city name sound familiar?
The system's voice interrupted his thoughts. "Master, if I'm not mistaken, this city is under the Azure Cloudy Sect. They are a side branch of the Cloudy Valley Sect."
Inside Azure Cloud City
"Elixirs! Weapons! Jade stones! We sell all kinds of treasures!" Merchants shouted, their voices adding to the lively atmosphere of the bustling city.
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"This city is so vibrant," Chen Mo said, his gaze sweeping over the bustling streets. "Alright, let's find an inn to rest. I'm exhausted."
As chen mo moved through the crowded streets, a man stepped in front of him, offering a broad smile. "Hello, little fellow. I haven't seen you around before. You must be new here. Are you looking for an inn? I can help you find one instantly—my fees are very reasonable."
Chen Mo glanced at him coldly. "No need. I can find one myself."
The man persisted, a sly grin on his face. "Sure, you can, but I'm afraid you'll end up in a bad one. Most inns charge three times the market price! With my help, I can save you money."
Chen Mo's eyes narrowed as his expression turned cold. "I said no need. Get lost."
This brat's sharper than I thought, the man thought to himself, his smile faltering slightly. I was planning to lure him to a remote area and rob him blind. Looks like I'll have to wait until he leaves the city.
Master, did you sense it as well?
"Of course," Chen Mo replied inwardly. My senses have grown sharper since my cultivation advanced. That guy reeks of blood—he's killed many people. Even though I've adjusted my aura to appear at the Martial Disciple peak level to avoid trouble, it seems I've attracted trouble instead. He probably chose me because he thinks I'm weak.
At the Inn
"Are there any rooms available?" Chen Mo asked the receptionist.
The receptionist, an older man with sharp eyes, smiled. "Hello, little fellow. I'm afraid the only room left has a Tier-3 Energy Gathering Formation. It costs 100 spiritual stones for one night."
Chen Mo considered it briefly. Tier-3 formation? I can use its energy to loosen the bottleneck in my cultivation. Since that's the case...
He handed over 100 high-grade spiritual stones without hesitation. "It's fine. I'll take the room."
The receptionist's eyes lit up greedily as he accepted the stones. "Very well, young master. Here's your key. Enjoy your stay."
Just as Chen Mo was about to turn away, a loud voice interrupted.
"Stop! I want this room!"