Sky Qian City

Leaving the sect's formalities were as simple as placing his identity token on the gate plaque. A golden flash later, it was done.

Ye Chuan casually accepted a gathering mission, tapped his toes lightly, and his peachwood sword carried him soaring into the sky.

The fierce wind brushed past his hair as the mountain ranges rolled beneath him like waves, the vast emerald forests and winding streams stretching as far as the eye could see.

Gazing at the boundless world and feeling the breeze against his face, Ye Chuan finally relaxed completely, a sense of freedom quietly spreading through his heart.

Ah, freedom.

"Cultivation really is exhilarating, especially when flying like this."

Pulling out a map, Ye Chuan decided to head to Tianqian City, eight hundred miles away. Before leaving the sect, he had asked around—this was the most prosperous immortal city near the Qingyun Sect, teeming with cultivators and even hosting a massive auction.

Coincidentally, the auction was set to begin in five days. Ye Chuan had timed it perfectly.

Now at the late Crystal Core stage, Ye Chuan's flying speed was incredibly fast. In just about an hour, he spotted a towering city in the distance, its walls built entirely of white jade, shimmering softly under the sunlight.

Numerous cultivators came and went, all riding their magical artifacts.

[Tianqian]

Ye Chuan noticed the city's plaque. Those cultivators approaching the city descended at the gates and entered on foot—likely due to some rule or restriction in place.

"Should I disguise myself?" Ye Chuan certainly couldn’t use Huang Haotian’s identity to sell his goods, or the Qingyun Sect would surely find out. But disguising himself wasn’t difficult.

Opening his storage space, he changed into a pure black long-sleeved outfit and put on a black triangular mask. Though it didn’t quite match the cultivation world’s aesthetic, Ye Chuan didn’t care.

Buzz— He switched his weapon back to the Crimson Peak Sword.

Good enough.

He strode straight toward the city gates.

"Hold on. Ten spirit stones for entry," a guard stopped him just as he was about to enter.

"Why don’t they need to pay?" Ye Chuan pointed at the people who had just entered without being stopped.

"They’re disciples of the Three Great Sects—exempt from fees," the guard replied.

The Three Great Sects…

Wasn’t Qingyun Sect one of them?

But Ye Chuan wasn’t here to flaunt his sect affiliation. He casually took out ten spirit stones. "Here."

"Your entry token." The guard handed him a new token and let him pass.

Ye Chuan pocketed it and stepped into Tianqian City.

Inside was bustling, filled with cultivators of all kinds—his all-black outfit didn’t even stand out.

Soon, his attention was caught by the roadside stalls. Most of the vendors were fairly strong, but who knew what they were actually selling?

"Take a look if you want," a middle-aged man lazily said as Ye Chuan approached his stall. "These are treasures scavenged from nearby secret realms. All good stuff—if you’ve got the eye for it."

Ye Chuan just smiled.

He didn’t believe a word of it. These stalls were no different from the "antique" vendors back home—mostly cheap trinkets sold through sheer deception.

Open the door, see through the trick at a glance.

Though he knew better, curiosity about the Xuanxuan Continent made him pick up and examine the strange little objects on the stall.

[Item: Lightning-Avoiding Sword (Damaged)

A broken artifact. Avoids lightning.]

[Item: Heaven-Earth Manual (Fragment)

A grandiose name for a mortal cultivation technique—and incomplete at that.]

Ye Chuan checked each item one by one, but there was nothing worthwhile. By the end, he could only shake his head. "What kind of garbage is this? Pure scam."

He’d expected as much, but this level of fraud was new even to him. Back when he sold trinkets, he’d at least slip one decent item in every few dozen.

Truly, the Xuanxuan Continent never disappointed—full of unscrupulous merchants, just like home.

"Ah, young master, you’ve got a sharp eye," the middle-aged man remarked, noticing Ye Chuan’s constant head-shaking. "Nothing here catches your fancy?"

Ye Chuan chuckled wordlessly and turned to leave.

"Wait, brother!" The man quickly called out.

Ye Chuan paused and glanced back. "Hm? What is it?"

"Since fate has brought us together, I’ve got a few real treasures here. Care to take a look?"

Ye Chuan raised an eyebrow. "Let’s see if this ‘door’ opens."

The man pulled out a few pitch-black stones from his storage pouch. "Found these by chance in a secret realm. If you know your stuff, take a look."

Ye Chuan took one and examined it.

[Item: Rock

Can be thrown at people.]

Ye Chuan: "…"

He checked the others in disbelief.

[Item: Rock

Flat. Good for skipping on water.]

[Item: Rock

I am but a tiny little rock~]

Ye Chuan’s eyelid twitched. He looked up at the vendor. "You motherf—"

Before he could finish, a voice cut in. "I’ll take those stones!"

Ye Chuan turned to see a man in white robes, holding a fan-like artifact, smiling at him. "These, I’ll buy them."

"You want them?" Ye Chuan asked.

"Indeed. Fellow Daoist, have you also discerned the mysteries within these Profound Stones? Would you be willing to yield them to me?"

Oh, he’d discerned alright.

Good for skipping on water.

"Since you want them, I won’t fight you for it." Ye Chuan shoved the rocks into the man’s arms.

The man’s smile froze for a second before he feigned delight. "Excellent! Rumor says these stones hold the legacy of a mighty expert. Today, I shall verify it myself. Sold!"

He then glanced at Ye Chuan’s expression, but the young man remained utterly unfazed.

Huh?

Strange. Why isn’t this kid reacting at all?

The man subtly signaled the vendor, who immediately declared, "Five hundred spirit stones for the lot!"

"Deal!" The man reached for his storage pouch.

Ye Chuan watched their little act expressionlessly before turning to leave without another word.

"Tch. Did he see through it?" The man in white muttered, stopping mid-payment.

The vendor scowled. "Scamming people’s getting harder these days. Hurry up, another customer’s coming!"