Daoqi Huangcheng

Chapter 22. Interesting
West of the Imperial Capital
On the gravelly riverbank, the boy squatted down, scooped up a handful of water with both hands, shook it off, and then scooped up another handful and drank it down with gusto.
As dusk fell, the shadows of the trees slanted across the ground. The boy, gripping a hiking stick, walked step by step through the woods like an ordinary person on a journey. Perhaps he had entered the territory of some wild beast, for a moment the grass rustled and a wild boar rushed out from the depths of the forest. The boy dropped his hiking stick, cried out in alarm, and took off running.

At dawn, the boy woke up in the treetop, took out a fasting pill he had brought from Jinxia Mountain from his pocket, and put it in his mouth.

When traveling, one should consume fasting pills; if in the capital, one should eat a grand meal, adapting to local customs and doing whatever one is supposed to do.

The boy yawned, shifted his body to make his back fit closer to the treetop, and made the position more comfortable.

He gazed quietly at the sky, when suddenly his eyes fell upon the Book of Three Lifetimes in his mind.

Since he became a cultivator and began using spiritual energy, the dust on the [Book of Three Lifetimes] seemed to have been wiped away, making many parts clearer.

The most obvious example is the "Treasures" section.

In the "Treasures" section, mysterious, deep, dark waters emerge from the three treasures marked with question marks. These waters flow and swirl together, forming a seamless whole, like an airtight cage imprisoning the treasures within.

The [Treasure Box of Time] is entwined with a wisp of light-colored water, which encircles the box like a shackle binding a prisoner. As time passes, the water is slowly dissipating, and when it completely disappears, it will be "unlocked" and can then be used.

There wasn't a drop of water on the [Mirror of Illusion]. Song Chen had been thinking about it these past few days, and he guessed that there used to be that mysterious dark water flowing on the mirror, but it all disappeared the moment he grabbed it. The price he paid was disturbing the karma belonging to [Xiao Fan]. That day, he felt a faint but immense terror; it was as if his throat was being tightly gripped, and even his soul was frozen.

However, perhaps because the mysterious water flow on the [Mirror of Illusion and Reality] was the least, it wasn't enough for that great terror to fully detect him.
Several days later.
Song Chen had searched the area around Wild Boar Forest thoroughly, but still found nothing unusual.

On this day, as the autumn rain drizzled, he opened his senses and carefully observed every rustle of wind and grass.

Yesterday, he was actually a little discouraged, thinking that if he still couldn't find a market for rogue cultivators, he would go back to Jinxia Mountain to take on missions and earn contribution points. But he was still unwilling to give up, so he planned to spend another three days wandering around the area.

Wow.
Hua Hua Hua.
Raindrops patter on fallen leaves, branches, withered grass, faded flowers, soil, sand, and water, producing different sounds that spread out like ripples in the air.

The sound of many wild animals running echoed through the forest, their footsteps crashing against the trees and vines.
Just then, a hidden fluctuation of spiritual energy suddenly came from not far away, and the fluctuation of spiritual energy was rapidly moving in a certain direction.

Song Chen's pupils contracted slightly, he restrained his aura, and then followed the fluctuation of spiritual energy.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the fluctuations of spiritual energy suddenly stopped.

A figure in a yellow brocade robe stood before a mountain wall, turned his head and said, "Come out."

Song Chen didn't move.

The figure in the yellow brocade robe said sternly, "You've been following me for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, and now you're all this way. Do I have to ask you to come out? What are your intentions? Come out and explain yourself!"

Song Chen was also helpless. His magic was pitifully scarce, and his tracking and other abilities were all unorthodox methods he used to conceal his aura.

He thought the other party hadn't noticed, but in fact, the other party already knew.

He slowly emerged from behind a nearby rock, his mind alert, the [Taibai Sword Intent] within him poised to be unleashed. He cupped his hands in greeting and cut to the chase: "Fellow Daoist, please forgive me. I heard there was a market for independent cultivators here, so I came to take a look, but I haven't seen it for several days. I saw you hurrying along and thought you might be going to the market, so I followed you. I only wish to enter the market; I have no other intentions."

The figure in the yellow brocade robe was a tall, old cultivator with white hair and beard, who looked like he didn't have much time left to live. After all, the Qi Gathering Realm doesn't extend lifespan; only by breaking through to the Qi Gathering Realm can one's lifespan increase by two hundred years.

The old cultivator in the yellow robe sized up Song Chen, glancing at the human skin mask on his face, before chuckling and asking, "What do you want?"

Song Chen was also sizing up the old man.

He realized he couldn't see through the old man in front of him.

This person's level of understanding is very likely higher than his.

The old cultivator in the yellow robe said, "The market here was moved a few days ago. I was originally a seller in the market, but I usually travel around and let my disciples set up stalls here to sell their goods."

I just didn't expect that my disciple was so careless; he forgot a few things here when the market was being relocated. I've come back to retrieve them.

"You're lucky to have met me. Tell me, what do you want? Cultivation techniques? Elixirs? Treasures? Talismans?"

Song Chen's eyes narrowed into slits.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a silver note with a face value of seven hundred taels of gold.

He shuddered and asked, "What can I buy with this?"

The old cultivator in the yellow robe looked at the silver note, a hint of disappointment on his face. Then his expression became strange, both ferocious and restrained, clearly indicating his hesitation.

Song Chen put away the silver note and said, "Then forget it."

As the word "了" fell, the rain around him suddenly stopped, as if time had stood still. Each droplet was enveloped in watery spiritual energy. If someone were to crash into the rain at this moment, it would feel like hitting thousands of flying darts, and they would be pierced into a bloody sieve.

The old cultivator in the yellow robe praised, "What superb water control technique, what superb qi concealment technique!"

Song Chen closed his five fingers, and the spiritual energy around the rain dissipated, causing it to fall again. The strange looks in the old cultivator's eyes disappeared, and he smiled and said, "If you don't want to trade, then please do so."

Song Chen cupped his hands in greeting, slowly retreated, and then sped away once he was a certain distance away.

The rain scene flashed by on both sides.

He moved for a moment, then stopped, intending to turn back.

But in an instant, he changed his mind.

The old man's identity and purpose were unknown; he was not someone to be trifled with.

As for what he said about losing something and coming back to retrieve it, Song Chen simply dismissed it as nonsense.

The old man in the yellow robe sensed Song Chen's departure and, after many twists and turns, stopped at the edge of a cliff.

Immediately afterwards, he threw out a talisman.

The talisman emitted golden light, forming an invisible wall.

He then slightly brought two fingers together and stroked his eyes.

A faint barrier suddenly appeared before the cliff, within which a deep market street was vaguely visible.
However, the market street has been abandoned, and the original shop owners here have obviously left in a hurry, so the shops are extremely messy.

The old man in the yellow robe took a deep breath, then gritted his teeth and said, "I was injured and my lifespan was shortened in my early years. I am not even ninety years old yet, but I already feel that my time is up."

The people from this market town left in such a hurry that they must have left behind some treasures.

If I just go inside and pick up some bargains to exchange for money, I'm sure I can buy a Longevity Fruit.

"I am truly unwilling! I am a cultivator; ten years of glory are still glory."

Immediately, he muttered incantations, flicked his hand, and threw out a palm-sized straw puppet.

The straw man quickly swelled up, growing to a height of seven feet. On its tattered face, two eyes drawn with cinnabar ink gleamed with an eerie light, making it look quite frightening.

The old man in the yellow robe threw out another spirit knife.

The straw man picked up the spirit knife and walked towards the barrier on the cliff.

bite.
The ripples of the barrier expanded.

The straw man went inside.

The old man in the yellow robe began to wait with a mixture of nervousness and anticipation.

Almost the instant the straw man stepped in, a large, tattered, cracked, blood-red hand burst out from the barrier, crushing the straw man and grabbing the old man.

A hoarse, strange sound came from the barrier.

"Anyone dares to come back? They're incredibly audacious. Since you're here, you might as well not leave."

The old man in the yellow robe hurriedly pleaded, "Senior, spare my life! Senior, spare my life!"

The owner of the blood-red hand didn't waste any words. He raised a finger, fixed it on the man's brow, and began searching his soul.

After a moment, the strange voice muttered, "So it's just a piece of trash who came here to pick up scraps."

Immediately, he loosened his grip and was about to throw the old man in the yellow robe aside.

But just as he was about to let go, the hand suddenly stopped.

Then, the strange voice turned surprised: "Clearly a human, yet possessing the power of a marrow-devouring crane demon? This..."

boom!
A crimson waterfall burst directly out of the barrier.

The unconscious old man in the yellow robe was carelessly tossed into the barrier like trash.

A terrifying, eerie laugh rang out.

"Hehehehehehehe, interesting, interesting!!"

(End of this chapter)