Now, take your hand off me first

Yet what followed was an even deeper confusion.

Why was the Heavenly Dao targeting him?

Was it because he had revealed the future of "Sacrificial Dao" in the last secret realm?

Declaring to the Heavenly Dao that he would eventually become a traitor?

Did the Heavenly Dao feel its loyal hound had turned disloyal and sought to clean house?

But if it truly wanted to kill him, why go through such convoluted means?

A single lightning tribulation would suffice.

Erasing a mere Qi Refining cultivator would be easier than crushing an ant.

Yet it went to great lengths to weave this illusion within an illusion for him...

Could it be...

[Peering into Fate]!

His gaze fell on the small line of text below.

(Will you be the great cultivator who defies the current, or a puppet dancing to Heaven's strings?)

Did "defying the current" here mean going against the flow of the River of Time?

Damn it!

Could he, too, be living a second life?

No, no.

Su Ji mentally played out the scenario based on his own personality.

If "he" had truly reached the point of defying the River of Time,

his attitude would more likely be: "Tch. The strong don’t believe in reincarnation."

Eliminating all impossibilities,

only one truth remained...

The Heavenly Dao vaguely sensed a "threat" from him.

Su Ji recalled a twisted logic:

A professional stalker’s ability to evade detection is often just as top-tier as their obsession.

His [Peering into Fate] allowed him to glimpse the "predetermined future"—essentially spying on the Heavenly Dao’s script.

So, was it possible...

That because of [Peering into Fate], the Heavenly Dao couldn’t pinpoint his existence in turn?

Thus, while aware of the threat, it couldn’t locate him precisely, let alone strike him down directly.

[On the path of cultivation, wealth, companionship, methods, and land are indispensable.]

[This is the Heavenly Dao Market—opportunities reveal themselves.]

[Trade your wealth for my Dao.]

The Heavenly Dao’s voice pulled Su Ji back from his thoughts.

Beneath his feet stretched a wide flagstone road, flanked by floating stalls adorned with dazzling treasures.

This time, Su Jiu didn’t drag him forward recklessly as she had in the illusion.

Instead, she weighed the embroidered pouch holding ten Heavenly Dao coins in her hand, then leaned in close, whispering just loud enough for the two of them to hear:

"Stay close to me this round. Don’t wander off."

Her tone was unusually stern.

"Especially that pawnshop at the entrance—see it? Don’t go near it."

Su Ji’s eyes flicked toward the gloomy building that stood out starkly against its surroundings.

"A child carrying gold through a bustling market—understand?"

Su Jiu’s breathing was light, but her sharp gaze swept across the area.

"The Heavenly Dao gave everyone ten coins. Seems fair at first glance."

"But the cheapest items here cost ten. The slightly better ones? Hundreds, even thousands."

"You want something but don’t have enough. What do you do?"

Su Ji answered without hesitation: "Kill and take it."

Su Jiu gave him an approving look. "Exactly. Steal it."

"A dead man’s coins—and anything they could pawn—become ownerless."

"Even if you don’t want to kill, others will come for you."

"The first one desperate enough to pawn their belongings will become everyone’s target."

"This is a game of patience first, strength second. Who bares their fangs first, and who... becomes prey."

Following her analysis, Su Ji scanned the area.

Just as she’d said.

The initial awe had faded, replaced by a subtle shift in the atmosphere.

Many cultivators’ eyes no longer glittered with desire for treasures but with naked greed as they sized up those around them.

Some had already begun exchanging glances, clustering in small groups, their hostile intentions plain to see.

Ah, this was the "immortal cultivation survival guide" vibe he’d expected.

The illusion of Su Jiu dragging him along like an excited child had felt off.

Though they’d only just met,

Su Ji had to admit—Su Jiu had saved him from many missteps.

She edged half a step closer, her voice barely audible: "Stay near me."

She explained further: "Lone cultivators stand out. They’re the easiest targets for the first purge."

"We need to act intimate, make them think we’re a team—not easy pickings—"

Her words cut off abruptly, morphing into a startled gasp.

"Ah—!"

Su Jiu jumped back as if electrocuted, her face burning crimson. She whirled on Su Ji, eyes blazing with fury and embarrassment.

"What are you doing?!"

Su Ji withdrew his hand, feigning perfect innocence.

"Why did you touch my tail?!"

Her voice trembled.

Su Ji countered with flawless logic:

"Didn’t you say we should act intimate?"

He gestured vaguely. "Isn’t this intimate enough?"

His brazenness left her momentarily speechless.

Her clear eyes shimmered with unshed tears of humiliation.

No one had ever dared to treat her like this...

This bastard!

She opened her mouth to retort—"You—!"

But Su Ji cut her off: "Quick, quick, shimei, act closer."

"People are staring."

He wasn’t lying.

Su Jiu felt it too.

Several pairs of eyes had locked onto them.

In this tension-choked market, any unusual movement drew scrutiny.

Their little exchange, harmless under normal circumstances, had just painted a target on their backs.

Su Ji learned fast. He doubled down, his tone dripping with shameless pragmatism.

"Shimei, you wouldn’t want others to think we’re not close and decide we’re easy prey, would you?"

Su Jiu: "..."

She bit her lip, torn between rage and reason.

Part of her wanted to storm off, but she had something irreplaceable to obtain here.

And Su Ji wasn’t wrong.

Going solo now would be suicide.

She took a deep breath, forcing down the heat in her chest, and told herself:

Fine. Whatever.

Last time, he even saw my spiritual roots. This is just fabric.

For the greater good...

Through gritted teeth, she conceded:

"Don’t touch the tail."

Su Ji tilted his head.

"Then where should I—?"

Su Jiu froze.

Had she heard him right?

What kind of brain operated like this in a life-or-death situation?

She stared at Su Ji’s face—its expression screaming ‘requesting access’—and felt a wave of exhaustion.

Finally, all her indignation collapsed into a whisper:

"...Fine."

Permission granted, Su Ji didn’t hesitate.

He stepped forward, his arm sliding around Su Jiu’s slender waist, pulling her flush against him.

Their bodies pressed together, the picture of intimacy.

Su Jiu stiffened, her cheeks so red they could rival cinnabar.

The predatory gazes on them wavered, then reluctantly shifted away.

A lone female cultivator was easy prey.

But a pair with... questionable relations? That required reconsideration.

No one knew what joint attack techniques these two might have. Acting recklessly, if they failed to kill in a single strike, they could easily land themselves in trouble.

Amid this brief standoff, a sudden change occurred!

A seemingly aged rogue cultivator, after hesitating for a long while, ultimately couldn’t resist the temptation of those rare treasures.

Gritting his teeth, he dashed toward the eerie pawnshop at the entrance of the market!

Instantly, everyone’s attention was drawn to him.

Moments later, the rogue cultivator emerged from the pawnshop, his face alight with wild joy. The pouch in his hand was visibly bulging.

He had become the richest man in the vicinity.

And also the most conspicuous target.

"Now!"

Someone shouted.

The three cultivators closest to the rogue cultivator lunged at him almost simultaneously.

The cold glint of spells and magical artifacts enveloped him in an instant.

Blood splattered.

The ecstatic expression on the rogue cultivator’s face hadn’t even faded when he was torn apart by the violent surge of spiritual energy—without even a complete scream.

His bulging pouch fell to the ground, scattering golden Heavenly Dao coins everywhere.

After a brief silence, chaos erupted.

The nearest cultivators pounced on the coins like madmen.

Soon, more joined the bloody scramble.

The once-orderly market instantly turned into a battlefield of carnage.

The slaughter had begun.

Su Jiu felt the unrestrained hand at her waist.

Su Ji remained calm.

"Junior Sister, what do we do now?"

"Right now, get your hand off me first!"