Translator: CinderTL
Song Wen, disguised as an old man in the late nascent soul stage, entered a shop tucked away in a quiet alley.
Over the past few days, he had visited hundreds of shops of all sizes throughout Shangchu City, but had yet to find what he was looking for.
This small shop specialized in selling information. Whether seeking someone or searching for treasure, one could come here to inquire.
Inside, besides a wizened old woman behind the counter, there was no one else.
"Guest, what information are you seeking?" the old woman asked without moving from her seat, her voice flat.
"I'm curious about 'Yin-Sinking Water'," Song Wen replied. "Or perhaps 'Yin Water'..."
To avoid confusion, Song Wen carefully described the properties of Yin-Sinking Water.
After listening, the old woman paused in thought before shaking her head.
"I'm afraid I must disappoint you, guest. I've seen much in my long life, but I've never heard of such a thing. Perhaps this 'Yin-Sinking Water' has never appeared in the Qianchang Wilderness."
Song Wen felt a pang of disappointment. Without Yin-Sinking Water, his plan to enhance the Blood Sea Seal would have to be put on hold.
"What do you know about the Chi Family's Teleportation Array that leads beyond the Qianchang Wilderness?" Song Wen changed the subject.
The old woman said, "The Chi Family's Teleportation Array can transport people hundreds of millions of miles away, across the Rotting Miasma Ridge to Cloudveil City."
"Do you know anything about the situation in Cloudveil City?" Song Wen asked. He didn't want a repeat of what happened in Demon Subduing City. After finally reaching Cloudveil City, he didn't want to be held hostage by local forces. Therefore, learning about the city beforehand was essential.
The old woman replied, "I don't know much about Cloudveil City. However, the Teleportation Array is controlled by the Chi Family and Cloudveil City's Silent Zen Temple. These two major powers charge exorbitant fees for using the array and also profit handsomely by reselling unique spiritual objects from both locations. As for safety, you needn't worry too much."
Song Wen asked, "How many spirit stones does it cost to use the Teleportation Array?"
A smile played on the old woman's lips. "Using the Teleportation Array isn't as simple as just paying spirit stones. The Chi Family's Teleportation Array activates only once every ten years, and each time it can only transport ten people. These ten slots are almost entirely divided among the Three Great Families, rarely falling into the hands of outsiders."
Song Wen frowned and asked, "Is there no other way to leave the Qianchang Wilderness besides the Teleportation Array?"
The old woman said, "It's not entirely hopeless, but it's extremely risky. The Dual Polarity Sect in Rainbow City has a formation genius who can carve a sixth-tier defensive formation even at the Divine Transformation Stage. Every few decades, the sect crafts a Giant Flying Ship inscribed with a sixth-tier defensive formation and sells seats on board at a high price. However, the sect doesn't provide escorts; the passengers are responsible for piloting the ship themselves."
Rainbow City is one of many cultivator cities in the Qianchang Wilderness, and it's quite renowned throughout the region.
The Dual Polarity Sect is a powerful cultivation force under the Three Great Families, rumored to have nearly ten Divine Transformation Stage cultivators within its ranks.
Song Wen frowned. "A ship with only a sixth-tier defensive formation but no Void Refinement Stage cultivator to oversee it probably wouldn't withstand attacks from demon beasts in the Rotting Miasma Ridge."
The old woman nodded. "That's true. Whether the passengers can safely cross the Rotting Miasma Ridge depends entirely on luck. It's not uncommon for entire ships to be wiped out. The Dual Polarity Sect's only goal is to make spirit stones. The lives of the passengers mean nothing to them; there's no one from the sect on board."
Song Wen's frown deepened.
The path out of the Qianchang Wilderness seemed completely blocked.
Moreover, the Qianchang Wilderness was controlled by the Three Great Families, making it nearly impossible for him to advance to the Void Refinement Stage there.
Without Void Refinement cultivation, he couldn't cross the Rotting Miasma Ridge.
It was a dead end.
At that moment, the old woman spoke again.
"If you truly wish to leave the Qianchang Wilderness, perhaps you could try approaching the Chi Family. If you can offer them a treasure they find valuable in exchange for a Teleportation Array token, it's not entirely impossible. The Chi Family has acquired many rare treasures through such exchanges."
Song Wen clasped his hands in gratitude. "Thank you for your guidance. May I ask how much these pieces of information are worth in spirit stones?"
A strained, almost grotesque smile appeared on the old woman's wrinkled face.
"They're just trivial rumors, worth only one high-grade spirit stone."
After paying the spirit stone, Song Wen spent an additional eighty mid-grade spirit stones to purchase information about the Jiang Family.
The information was mostly common knowledge, but its comprehensiveness allowed Song Wen to gain a more precise understanding of the Jiang Family.
Leaving the shop, Song Wen returned to his rented Cultivation Cave, pondering how to escape the Qianchang Wilderness.
After a night of contemplation, he arrived at the Chi Family's headquarters the next day.
A hundred yards from the Chi Family's main gate, Song Wen was stopped by the guards.
"May I ask, Senior, what brings you to our Chi Family?"
Dozens of guards stood outside the gate. The speaker, a Nascent Soul cultivator in the Early Stage, was clearly their leader.
Song Wen's cultivation base was currently at the Early Stage of Divine Transformation. Though the guard leader had the Chi Family backing him, he still maintained a respectful tone.
"What is your name?" Song Wen asked instead of answering.
"Junior Chi Zuo," the guard replied.
"Young Chi Zuo, I have an item I wish to present to Senior Chi Qi of your family. Would you be willing to deliver it on my behalf?"
As he spoke, Song Wen produced a jade box.
Chi Zuo asked with confusion, "Why don't you deliver it to Ancestor Chi Qi yourself, Senior?"
"I'm not acquainted with Senior Chi Qi," Song Wen explained. "I only learned through rumors that he's searching for this item. Therefore, I didn't dare disturb him directly. However, the jade box contains my Communication Jade Slip. If Senior Chi Qi finds the item worthy, he can contact me through the jade slip."
"This..." Chi Zuo hesitated.
Chi Qi was a cultivator at the Void Refinement Stage—not someone a mere Nascent Soul cultivator like Chi Zuo could simply meet.
However, if the jade box truly contained something Chi Qi needed, this was undoubtedly a golden opportunity to earn his favor.
As Chi Zuo hesitated, Song Wen quietly slipped a storage pouch into his hand.
A quick scan with his Spirit Sense revealed ten high-grade spirit stones inside.
"I implore you, young friend, please help me."
Chi Zuo hesitated briefly before nodding. "Very well, I'll give it a try. But if the treasure in the jade box fails to satisfy Ancestor Chi Qi, please don't blame me, Senior."
Song Wen smiled faintly. "Of course not."
Chi Zuo asked, "May I ask your honorable title, Senior? If Ancestor Chi Qi asks, I'll need to know how to address you."
Song Wen replied, "I call myself 'Yun Xu,' a rogue cultivator."
After thanking Chi Zuo repeatedly, Song Wen turned and left.
(End of the Chapter)
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