Shadow Crow

That aura belonged to someone around the ninth level of the Void Immortal Realm—the very same figure who had been ordered to investigate the situation at the Four Seas Trading Company’s rear courtyard.

Shadow Crow’s tracking skills were indeed extraordinary. His aura drifted in and out, while his figure appeared and vanished intermittently. He used crowds, the shadows cast by buildings, and even changes in the light to conceal his movements.

Even an ordinary True Immortal would have found it difficult to detect him without conducting a careful search.

Unfortunately for him, the person he was tracking was Gu Changge.

Under Gu Changge’s divine sense, every one of Shadow Crow’s concealment techniques was as conspicuous as a firefly in the darkness.

Every cautious pause, every attempt to use the surroundings as camouflage—even the rhythm of the immortal essence circulating through his body, along with the slightest changes in his heartbeat and breathing—was reflected in Gu Changge’s perception with perfect clarity.

Gu Changge found it rather amusing.

The tracker was certainly dedicated to his work. Unfortunately, he had chosen the wrong target.

Since he had already been noticed, there was no need to keep a low profile.

Gu Changge did not expose him. He continued playing the role of a wealthy young master who had just arrived, wandering around the city with Little White.

He spent money with exceptional extravagance. Whenever he saw something he liked, he paid directly with immortal stones, drawing waves of astonished exclamations from the surrounding crowds.

In the shadows, Shadow Crow watched it all, and the greed in his heart grew increasingly intense.

Gu Changge acted as though he had not noticed the undercurrent surging behind him.

After wandering around for roughly half a day, the sun began to set, draping the ancient immortal city in a layer of golden radiance.

“Little White, come on. Let’s find a decent restaurant, sample some of the Immortal Realm’s cuisine, and hear a few interesting stories about this place.”

“Yes!” Little White’s eyes lit up.

The two appeared to be wandering aimlessly, but in truth, they proceeded unhurriedly toward the most prosperous area in the city, where the spiritual energy was also at its densest.

Before long, a magnificent nine-story pavilion came into view. Its carved beams and painted rafters gave it an imposing air.

Three large characters, written in elegant, soaring script, adorned the sign above the entrance:

Drunken Immortal Pavilion.

Within, the soft strains of immortal music drifted through the air, while spiritual energy transformed into a thin mist that curled through the halls. The cultivation levels of the guests coming and going were clearly much higher than those elsewhere.

Void Immortals were no rarity here. Every now and then, one could even sense the aura of a True Immortal.

This was clearly one of the most prestigious and expensive establishments in Sunset City.

Gu Changge brought Little White straight inside.

A sharp-eyed attendant immediately came forward. Upon sensing the faint pressure of the Void Immortal Realm emanating from Little White, he became even more respectful and led the two of them to an elegant table by the window on the third floor.

The spot offered a sweeping view, overlooking half of the bustling street below. It was an excellent location.

“Bring us several of your finest specialty immortal brews and spirit dishes,” Gu Changge instructed casually.

“Yes, honored guests. Please wait a moment—they’ll be served shortly!” the attendant replied respectfully before withdrawing.

Before long, several dishes glimmering with spiritual light and overflowing with fragrance were brought out, along with a jug of immortal wine as green as jade.

The dishes had been prepared with the meat of unknown spirit beasts and various immortal herbs, and were brimming with spiritual energy.

The immortal wine was clear, mellow, and sweet. The moment it entered the mouth, it transformed into thin streams of warmth that nourished both the flesh and the soul.

To ordinary Saint Realm and Void Immortal cultivators, these were indeed rare delicacies.

Little White ate with great enthusiasm, eagerly devouring anything that contained spiritual energy.

Gu Changge poured himself drink after drink while seemingly spreading a wisp of his divine sense at random, capturing the conversations taking place throughout the restaurant.

“Have you heard? The ancestor of the Liu family in the eastern part of the city failed to break through to the True Immortal Realm and passed away. Sigh… the Liu family is probably going to decline.”

“That’s because they were missing the Solidifying Origin Immortal Herb! If they’d had that herb to protect his heart meridians, he might not have failed. But treasures like that have long since been monopolized by the Immortal Palace and the major clans. How could scattered cultivators like us ever hope to obtain one?”

“Shh! Watch what you say! Do you want the Immortal Palace’s enforcers to invite you over for tea?”

“Hmph! What’s wrong with talking? The spirit crystal tax has gone up again! At this rate, forget cultivating—we won’t even be able to afford a place to live!”

“Ah, just endure it. Who told us that Sunset City—and even the entire Immortal Domain—are under the control of the Chengyun Immortal Palace? A few days ago, wasn’t the daughter of Old Wang’s family in the southern part of the city taken away because one of the palace deacon’s nephews took a fancy to her? When Old Wang went to demand an explanation, they crippled him and threw him out.”

“Exactly. And there’s also Blackwater Market, where the Four Seas Trading Company has a complete monopoly. They charge whatever they want. I heard that behind them is—”

“Stop talking, stop talking. Just drink!”

…

Similar complaints and muttered discussions could be heard throughout the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, along with fear and resentment toward the Immortal Palace and the various great clans.

Together, they painted a vivid picture of the harsh reality faced by the lower-level cultivators, struggling to survive under the oppression of the Chengyun Immortal Palace and its affiliated forces.

Corruption, monopolies, exploitation…

Gu Changge set down his white jade wine cup. Every dish and drop of wine on the table had been consumed.

He raised a hand slightly, and the attendant hurried over, bowing as he waited for instructions.

“Bring the bill.”

Gu Changge casually brushed his hand across the tabletop.

Clink, clink, clink…

Ten immortal stones rolled gently across the table, colliding with one another and producing crisp, pleasant sounds.

The entire third floor of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion fell silent.

Every diner and attendant—even the hidden gazes watching from the shadows—stared fixedly at the ten crystals. Their pupils contracted, and they instinctively held their breath.

Immortal stones!

And they were all exceptionally fine-grade low-grade immortal stones!

“You’ve given too much, honored guest. A meal like this costs no more than thirty thousand spirit crystals!” The attendant’s voice trembled, and he was at a complete loss for what to do.

“Keep the rest as a reward.”

Gu Changge rose casually, his tone utterly indifferent. He acted as though he had not just thrown out ten immortal stones—enough to make even True Immortals fight tooth and nail—but ordinary pebbles.

The attendant looked as though he had been struck by lightning. Then, as overwhelming delight flooded over him, his legs went weak, and he nearly fell to his knees.

A collective gasp rang through the restaurant, while countless gazes instantly became incredibly complicated.

In the shadows at the corner of the third floor, Shadow Crow’s fingers trembled almost imperceptibly.

He stared fixedly at the ten immortal stones, then at Gu Changge’s unconcerned profile.

He glanced at the black-clad guard beside him, who was focused solely on savoring the food and showed no reaction whatsoever to the immortal stones.

The last trace of hesitation in Shadow Crow’s heart vanished completely.

“An upstart! He must have stumbled upon some incredible stroke of luck, inherited the legacy of some predecessor, or unearthed an immortal stone vein. An upstart, without a doubt!

“He only has a guard who has just entered the Void Immortal Realm, and whose immortal essence is still unstable. This is a gift from heaven!”

Shadow Crow licked his dry lips. After once again confirming that there were no hidden protectors nearby, he silently transmitted his latest observations back to the trading company.

“Target confirmed. Extremely wealthy. Reckless and shallow-minded, with no discernible schemes. Guard is weak. No hidden protector.

“Recommendation: strike immediately. Any delay may lead to complications, or allow other forces to notice the target.”

The information transformed into an invisible wave and traveled toward the Four Seas Trading Company.

Shadow Crow drew a deep breath. Like a venomous snake patiently waiting for its prey, he waited for the experts from the trading company to arrive. Then, with a thunderous strike, they would seize this unprecedentedly fat sheep.

However, just as Gu Changge and Little White reached the staircase on the third floor and were about to head downstairs, he suddenly stopped.

Then, under Shadow Crow’s abruptly constricting gaze and the puzzled looks of every diner in the restaurant, Gu Changge slightly turned his head.

His eyes seemed to land casually upon the patch of shadow where Shadow Crow was hiding.

The corners of his lips curled into a half-smile.

“You’ve been watching for quite some time…”

His voice was clear and calm, yet it rang out like a thunderclap, exploding beside Shadow Crow’s ears and throughout the silence of the third floor.

“Enjoying the show?”

Shadow Crow felt a chill shoot from his spine straight to the back of his head, his blood seeming to freeze in an instant.

He had been discovered!

How was that possible?!

The Dark Shadow Void-Escape Art he cultivated was a top-tier concealment technique. Combined with his special magical treasure, even the divine sense of an early-stage Earth Immortal might not have detected him without a careful search!

This white-robed man clearly possessed only the aura of the Saint Realm. Could he have concealed his cultivation? Or perhaps he carried some extraordinary treasure?

But there was no time to think about it now!

His whereabouts had been exposed, and the plan had changed.

He had to escape immediately!

Without the slightest hesitation, Shadow Crow’s figure abruptly blurred as he shot toward the window!

“Trying to leave?”

A cold shout rang out—but it came not from Gu Changge, but from Little White beside him!

Although Little White had always acted more like a gluttonous attendant, his reactions were extraordinarily swift.

The instant Gu Changge exposed the hidden observer, he had already become alert.

Now, seeing the black shadow scatter in all directions, a fierce glint flashed in his eyes. Without any visible movement, his figure had already crossed several yards like a ghost, blocking the black shadow with uncanny precision!