Chapter 202 - 184: The Spirit Stone Order, Starting to Fence the Loot
Chapter 202: Chapter 184: The Spirit Stone Order, Starting to Fence the Loot
About half a quarter hour later, a team of Law Enforcement Cultivators rushed to the scene, clad in uniform black combat attire with the sharp characters for "Xuan Yang" embroidered on their chests.
The team was led by a middle-aged man at Early-stage Foundation Establishment with eyes as sharp as an eagle’s. He deliberately released his aura, and the surrounding clamor instantly died down.
The other members of the Law Enforcement Team, clearly well-trained, sealed off the blood-soaked intersection and swiftly began examining the corpse on the ground.
However, the perpetrator—the Foundation Establishment Cultivator—simply stood his ground. There wasn’t a trace of panic on his face; instead, he radiated disgust, as if his peace had been disturbed.
The Early-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator leading the team walked up to him and asked in a low voice, "What happened?" His tone was all business, betraying no emotion.
Seeing he was facing a Cultivator of the Same Tier, the perpetrator reined in his impatience. He raised his eyes, the corner of his mouth twitching into a barely perceptible smirk. With a swipe of his hand at his waist, three stones appeared in his palm. They shimmered with a gentle luster, their Spiritual Qi so dense it was nearly tangible—they were none other than three Middle-Grade Spirit Stones!
He offered the Spirit Stones forward. The team leader reached out and took them, his expression unchanging. He weighed them in his hand—the Spirit Stones felt heavy, their pure Spiritual Power radiating a faint heat.
The lead Cultivator gave an almost imperceptible nod. Without another word, he simply waved his hand. Several of his subordinates immediately stepped forward, swiftly bagging the corpse in a special body bag, splashing water on the ground, and washing it clean. The whole process was smooth and fluid, their proficiency chilling to the bone. This routine was clearly second nature to them.
Having paid the "Life-Buying Money," the murderous Foundation Establishment Cultivator’s lips curled into a full-blown, naked sneer of contempt. He nonchalantly brushed a speck of non-existent dust from his expensive Magical Robe, then strode away without a backward glance, his figure quickly vanishing into the bustling crowd.
Once the Law Enforcement Team had cleaned up the last trace of the incident, they too departed swiftly.
The street once again erupted with a clamor of voices. The sounds of hawking and chatter resumed, and the thick scent of cosmetics, the fresh fragrance of Spirit Plants, and the aroma of Pills quickly overpowered the smell of blood. It was as if the brutal murder moments before had been nothing but a crude illusion.
Lu Zhao stood rooted to the spot, a cold mockery spreading through his heart.
’The "order of the Immortal City"... "hiring High-Tier Cultivators"... heh.’ A look of understanding dawned in his eyes. ’So, this is the truth. This twisted order is nothing more than a projection of the will of that lofty City Lord of Xuan Yang Immortal City—that Golden Core Master!’
’Here, Spirit Stones are the iron rule, the absolute law! As long as you have enough of them, forget killing someone in the street—you could probably get away with far worse. And the so-called Law Enforcement Team? Hmph. They’re just window dressing, lackeys who maintain this deformed "prosperity" while raking in a fortune for the City Lord’s Mansion.’
’This kind of order is worse than what they have in the Bixia Marketplace. At least there, they bother to maintain a veneer of decency, to pretend to be righteous. Here, they can’t even be bothered with the pretense.’
’And it’s a far cry from the Bixia Sect. Within the sect, even with its strict hierarchy, it’s a major taboo for a High-Tier Cultivator to slaughter a Low-Tier one without reason. It’s a grave violation of the rules.’
’Not like here...’ His gaze swept over the Qi Cultivation Independent Cultivators, who cowered with bowed heads, daring not even to breathe under the pressure of the Foundation Establishment Cultivator’s aura. ’It’s all so blatant that any pretense is seen as superfluous. The lives of the weak are worthless as weeds; a single wrong word could get you killed! Here, fists and Spirit Stones are the only passes that matter!’
Having grasped the cruel nature of the Immortal City, Lu Zhao decided not to linger. He wouldn’t be staying here for long anyway. His priority was to dispose of the hot "Zheng Family assets" as soon as possible.
Lu Zhao wandered the Immortal City for another half a day. As dusk fell, he watched Xuan Yang Immortal City come alive with light. Brilliant Spirit Lamps and floating Jade Talismans illuminated the streets as bright as day, painting the picture of a celestial paradise.
But he knew that beneath this facade lay a bottomless mire.
Lu Zhao was no longer in the mood to wander. Following the signs, he soon found a seven-story White Jade Tower that stood out from its surroundings: the Immortal Residence Pavilion. It was one of the establishments in the Immortal City authorized to rent out cave mansions.
Lu Zhao saw a constant stream of Cultivators coming and going; some looked confident and ambitious, while others seemed rushed and preoccupied.
Just as Lu Zhao stepped inside, a middle-aged Steward at Late-stage Qi Cultivation greeted him. The man wore a blue Daoist Robe and had shrewd, intelligent eyes.
"Greetings, fellow cultivator. What kind of cave mansion are you looking to rent?" the Steward asked in a calm voice, handing over a smooth Jade Scroll. "The details are all recorded within. You may choose based on the Spirit Vein’s foundation, the density of the Spiritual Qi, the strength of the Protective Array, and the available amenities."
Lu Zhao probed the Jade Scroll with his Divine Thought. Even though he had prepared himself, he couldn’t help but feel a jolt. ’Expensive! This is outrageously expensive!’ The most basic Tier One Lower Grade cave mansion cost ten Lower Grade Spirit Stones per month.
He needed a private place to deal with his "loot" and rest for a short time. In the end, Lu Zhao chose a Tier One High-Grade Spirit Vein cave mansion in the outer A-district.
"A-C-7 Courtyard," the Steward confirmed, his voice steady. "Tier One High-Grade Spirit Vein, standard with a basic Defensive Array and a private Quiet Chamber. The monthly rent is one hundred Lower Grade Spirit Stones. With one month’s rent as deposit, the total comes to two hundred Lower Grade Spirit Stones."
The figure the Steward quoted sent a physical pang of pain through Lu Zhao. ’For this price,’ he thought, ’I could have rented a place with a Tier Two Lower Grade Spirit Vein in the Bixia Sect Marketplace for a month!’
Suppressing the thought that this place was a complete ripoff, Lu Zhao calmly took out the Spirit Stones and paid. In return, he received a Control Jade Talisman inscribed with intricate patterns.
Led by an attendant, Lu Zhao arrived at the small courtyard of the rented cave mansion.
In the night, a bluestone wall enclosed a private space where an exquisite two-story building stood silently. He activated the Jade Talisman. With a soft hum, a pale-blue screen of light rippled upwards, completely enveloping the courtyard and shielding it from the noise and potential gazes of the outside world.
Stepping into the Quiet Chamber, he was met with a dense wave of Spiritual Qi. It was much better than he had anticipated, nearly on par with a Tier Two Lower Grade Spirit Vein back in the Bixia Sect.
’The Spirit Stones were spent, but I certainly got the protection and Spiritual Qi I paid for.’ Lu Zhao carefully inspected the array’s operation and checked every corner, his tense nerves finally easing slightly. At least for now, he had a safe place.
After settling in, Lu Zhao didn’t rest. He changed into a plain gray Daoist Robe, faded from countless washings. He suppressed his aura to the level of the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer and used his Breath Concealment and Shapeshifting Skill to blur his features into unremarkable mediocrity. He hung a drab, inconspicuous Storage Bag at his waist. His transformation complete, he silently melted into the night. First order of business—fencing the goods!
The main street of Xuan Yang Immortal City grew even more boisterous after nightfall. Huge, floating lanterns cast a soft, bright glow, illuminating the street as if it were day, while the magical lights of various shops swirled. The air was a mixture of fragrant, roasting Spirit Beast Meat, the distinct bitter-herbal scent of Pills, and the decadent sounds of string and bamboo instruments drifting from a tall pavilion in the distance. It was the very picture of prosperity.
Yet, beneath this dazzling splendor, there was an undercurrent of unspoken anxiety and debauchery.
His gaze swept past several impressive, massive storefronts before finally settling on the most magnificent of them all: a nine-story White Jade Tower.
The entire tower glowed with a gentle luster, each block of White Jade seemingly flowing with Spiritual Qi. Bathed in the light of countless lamps, it resembled a Moon Palace Jade Tower. On the massive, gilded plaque above the entrance, the three words "Hundred Treasures Tower" were written with an imposing air. In the bottom-right corner, an inconspicuous flame insignia revealed its terrifying backer: the City Lord of Xuan Yang Immortal City!
’Let’s start here,’ Lu Zhao mused. ’Time to test the waters of Xuan Yang Immortal City.’ He took a deep breath and stepped inside the tower.