At eighty, the Holy Sect's enchanting woman aided in achieving longevity.

"However, given your wealth, if you truly intend to sell this treasure, you might as well go to our Wanbao Chamber of Commerce's main branch in Luotian City. There, we are sure to offer you a price that will satisfy you absolutely."

The shopkeeper, Tie Zhou, smiled cautiously.

Chen Changsheng did not leave immediately, but turned his head slightly and asked in a low and abrupt voice:

"What kind of person is Gu Canghai?"

This unexpected question startled Tie Zhou. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes before he cautiously replied:

"In this Cangwu City, there is only one name that I can recall: Gu Canghai, the Grand Elder of the Cangwu Martial Academy, appointed by the royal family. He is a man of profound cultivation, upright and incorruptible, and enjoys extremely high prestige in this area. Senior, could it be... that you have some connection with Grand Elder Gu?"

"snort."

Chen Changsheng merely let out a cold snort, completely disdaining to answer the other party's question.

He flicked his sleeve slightly, turned around, and was about to step out the door.

Just then, Mu Qing'er's urgent and delicate voice suddenly rang out from the depths of his mind:

"Wait! Don't go! I want that red dress hanging in the upper left corner! Buy it for me! Now, immediately!"

Chen Changsheng stumbled with each step, nearly losing his power.

He sighed inwardly, forced to stop and turn around to look at the giant shelf.

In the most conspicuous position, hanging was a bright red dress, exquisitely tailored and petite, worn by a young girl.

Chen Changsheng raised his hand and casually pointed, glancing sideways with a cold expression, "Name your price for that dress."

Seeing the mysterious expert return, Tie Zhou was startled and quickly looked in the direction he was pointing. He immediately realized what was happening and exclaimed:

"Senior, you may not know this, but this Crimson Sun Flowing Light Dress was specially made for young girls who have not yet reached the age of marriage. The style is quite delicate, and I'm afraid... it is not very suitable for your wife."

Chen Changsheng's eyes, hidden beneath his black robe, nearly rolled to the sky. He cleared his throat and uttered two icy words:

"daughter."

In her mind's eye, Mu Qing'er instantly exploded: "Chen Changsheng! You brat, how dare you take advantage of me! You @#￥%……"

Tie Zhou immediately understood and quickly tried to ingratiate himself:

"It was originally prepared for your daughter. This dress is woven from the finest Heavenly Silkworm Cold Silk, and it is adorned with a total of eighty-one Crimson Essence Tassels, which not only ward off evil spirits and protect the body, but also nourish the blood and qi at all times. There is only one of its kind in the entire city, so the price is a bit high... It costs five hundred high-grade spirit stones."

"..."

On the surface, Chen Changsheng appeared as calm as Mount Tai, but inside, it felt as if a thousand mythical beasts were galloping through his heart.

He had just sold three top-grade fire source crystals and received three thousand low-grade spirit stones (equivalent to thirty high-grade spirit stones). He originally thought he was a nouveau riche.

As it turns out, a simple little girl's outfit from the Wanbao Merchant Guild costs five hundred high-grade spirit stones!

Why don't they just rob that heartless, despicable merchant guild?

Recalling how she had once solemnly promised Mu Qing'er that she would get her the most beautiful clothes in the world, she realized that the first one Mu Qing'er had her eye on was one she couldn't afford.

Without the slightest hesitation, the seasoned veteran Tie Zhou swept his right hand and effortlessly pulled the Crimson Sun Flowing Light Dress into his grasp, offering it up with both hands and chuckling:

"It is truly an honor for our humble shop to have you grace us with your presence today, senior, bringing with you a sixth-tier dragon-type demon core. It is only because my branch is small and poor that I cannot possibly accept your extraordinary treasure. Please forgive my presumption. This radiant dress will be a gift from me to your daughter as a token of our first meeting. Consider it a token of our..."

Tie Zhou swallowed hard, his expression becoming even more respectful and humble: "We've only just met, let's establish a good relationship with you, senior."

Five hundred high-grade spirit stones are no small sum, but if they can be used to create an opportunity to curry favor with a reclusive super expert, Tie Zhou thinks it's a huge win.

Chen Changsheng pretended to be silent for a while, then slowly reached out and took the dress.

He turned around and walked steadily toward the gate.

As he departed, only a faint, ethereal promise lingered in the air:

"I will remember this friendship."

Only after Chen Changsheng's figure completely disappeared at the end of the street did Tie Zhou breathe a sigh of relief and subconsciously wipe the cold sweat from his forehead.

The gray-clad shop assistant, trembling, approached cautiously and asked in a shaking voice, "Shopkeeper, who exactly is this person? That's a sixth-tier dragon pill... If this news gets out, won't the old monsters within thousands of miles tear down our Cangwu City?"

"You don't know anything!"

Tie Zhou glared at him fiercely. "How could someone who casually takes out a sixth-tier dragon pill and treats it like dirt possibly be from our tiny place? His true cultivation level has probably already surpassed our imagination! Why would he be afraid of others coveting it? Who knows, they might be waiting for some fool to come knocking on their door for practice!"

"But... I just secretly sensed his spiritual energy fluctuations, and it seems he's only just entered the initial stage?"

"So you're just too inexperienced!"

Tie Zhou patted his shoulder earnestly, "At that level of great power, one has long since returned to simplicity, one's aura merging with heaven and earth. If he wants you to see him as an ordinary person, then you will only see him as an ordinary person. In the future, keep your eyes open and never judge a master by the strength of their spiritual power!"

"Yes, yes, the shopkeeper is right."

The shop assistant nodded repeatedly, then brought out a black wooden box. "By the way, shopkeeper, before he took out the demon core, he also sold three fire source crystals, and... they were all top-grade, flawless!"

"What?!"

Tie Zhou gasped, hurriedly snatching the box to examine it. His voice trembled as he exclaimed, "A flawless fire-elemental tempering technique... This person is very likely a top-tier grandmaster from one of the legendary hidden holy lands in Zhongzhou! No wonder..."

At this moment, Chen Changsheng, who had already shed his black robe in a secluded alley and returned to his original youthful appearance, was leisurely strolling down the street.

In her mind, Mu Qing'er's resentment almost materialized: "Chen Changsheng, how dare you tell outsiders that I am your daughter?"

"It's just a stopgap measure, a stopgap measure after all."

Chen Changsheng chuckled inwardly, "I can't exactly tell people that I bought it for my Demon Emperor master who's hidden in my soul, can I? But then again, a dress that costs five hundred high-grade spirit stones... I've never worn such expensive fabric in both of my lives combined."

"Hmph, I bestowed upon you the supreme cultivation technique and served as your guide. Now, all I ask in return is a piece of clothing, and you have the nerve to complain."

She paused, then her voice lowered again: "But you were truly audacious just now. If the Wanbao Merchant Guild had intended to kill and rob us, given my current weakened state, we would both be dead today."

"On the contrary."

Chen Changsheng's lips curled up slightly. "The more confident I appear, the more suspicious they become, treating treasures like dirt. That's called psychological warfare. Besides, how can I act with impunity in Cangwu City if I don't make a name for myself? Those truly rare and powerful treasures in the merchant guilds are always sold only to the top powers. If I don't create a sufficiently formidable and terrifying identity, I won't be able to buy what I need even if I have the money."

Half an hour later, Chen Changsheng arrived at the core area of ​​Cangwu City.

Here stands a vast and magnificent mansion—the Cangwu Martial Mansion.

As the most prestigious training academy established by the royal family in the region, it attracts countless young geniuses every year who are eager to join it.

Chen Changsheng strode towards the gate, but was stopped at the bottom of the steps by two composed gatekeepers with their swords drawn.

"This is a restricted area of ​​the Martial Academy. No one other than a disciple of this academy is allowed to enter."

The guard's face was stern, and his voice was methodical.

Chen Changsheng was not angry. He reached into his robes and slowly pulled out an ancient bronze token that looked quite old. He handed it to the other party and said, "This junior has come to see your esteemed elder, Gu Canghai. This was a gift from my father. May I ask if it can convey my message?"

The guard was initially impatient, but when his gaze fell on the bronze token and he saw the two characters "Canghai" engraved on it, as well as the unique elder's emblem, his expression suddenly changed.

"This is... the Grand Elder's personal token, the Canghai Token?"

The guard hurriedly sheathed his sword, his previous arrogance vanished, and he bowed respectfully.

"So you are the distinguished guest with the token. The Grand Elder is currently in meditation in the backyard. Please follow me!"

Chen Changsheng took back the token, sighing inwardly.

When my father left this token to me, he only said that if I encountered any difficulties, I could come to Cangwu City to find Gu Canghai. I never expected that this token would have such a high privilege in the Martial Academy.

Led by the guards, Chen Changsheng passed through layers of corridors and finally arrived at a quiet courtyard.

Sitting on a stone bench in the center of the courtyard was a middle-aged man dressed in a dark robe, with a dignified face that also revealed a hint of worry.

This person was none other than Gu Canghai, the renowned Grand Elder of the Martial Academy.

"Elder, a young man carrying your private order requests an audience." The guard bowed and withdrew.

Gu Canghai raised his head with some confusion, his gaze falling on Chen Changsheng's young face, his brows furrowing slightly:

"Young man, why do you possess the Canghai Token that I bestowed upon you eighty years ago? Who exactly are you?"

Chen Changsheng stepped forward, bowed respectfully as a junior, and spoke in a manner that was neither humble nor arrogant:

"I am Chen Changsheng, from a remote border region in the east. My father's name is Haotian."

"Who are you talking about? Haotian?!"

Upon hearing the name "Haotian," Gu Canghai reacted extremely strongly!

This usually strong man, who could remain calm even if Mount Tai collapsed in front of him, was so surprised that he stood up abruptly.

The movement was so large that it even knocked over the purple clay teacup on the stone table, shattering it into pieces.

He rushed to Chen Changsheng, grabbed Chen Changsheng's shoulders with both hands, his eyes filled with uncontrollable excitement and joy: "You are Brother Haotian's flesh and blood? Where is he? Has he also come to Cangwu City?"

Chen Changsheng shook his head, his expression darkening.