Chen Cheng smiled. "I didn’t mean to lecture you. I’m just used to a poor life, so I know a few things."

"Yes. It’s rare that you’ve found success but haven’t forgotten your roots."

Shen Qingyao nodded in agreement, then said, "Oh, right, what’s inside that Worry-Relieving Album Miss Qiluo gave you earlier?"

Chen Cheng was also curious about the contents of the Worry-Relieving Album. He took out the two booklets, handed one to Shen Qingyao, and started flipping through the other himself.

He hadn’t known what was inside, but a single glance was enough to startle him. The Worry-Relieving Album was filled with illustrations of various lovemaking positions.

The artwork was remarkably fine and detailed—vivid and realistic. It was clearly the work of a master painter and could be considered a rare masterpiece.

Of course, Chen Cheng was a worldly man, so he only gave it a casual look, not bothering to study it in detail.

After a quick flip-through, he focused his attention on the text at the back of the album.

Sutra of Ultimate Bliss.

It turned out to be an Inner Breath Method, but not a proper one. It primarily focused on how to circulate one’s Qi Blood Power through Yin Yang Replenishment and Absorbing Yang to Nourish Yin, thereby strengthening it.

According to the Sutra of Ultimate Bliss, elevating one’s Martial Arts Cultivation amidst endless pleasure was the Supreme Dao.

Chen Cheng couldn’t bring himself to agree with such a deviant path, so he just skimmed through it.

However, at the very end of the Sutra of Ultimate Bliss, he was surprised to find a Heart Method Mantra. To his astonishment, its content was the very same Red Sun Root Technique he had fabricated himself.

But in the Sutra of Ultimate Bliss, this mantra had been repackaged and renamed the Supreme True Dragon Skill.

There was even an annotation: "To cultivate the Sutra of Ultimate Bliss, one must first practice the Supreme True Dragon Skill."

"Master the True Dragon Skill, and your efforts will be twice as effective."

For a moment, Chen Cheng found the situation utterly ridiculous. ’This Sutra of Ultimate Bliss Inner Breath Technique probably isn’t a real Inner Breath Technique at all,’ he thought. ’It’s likely just a hodgepodge of mantras cobbled together from various other techniques.’

’The first time I went to Le Wuji, Qiluo gave me a Worry-Relieving Album. Clearly, she must give them to other guests as well. They probably hand one out to everyone.’

’But what is the Sutra of Ultimate Sect trying to accomplish with this?’

Chen Cheng couldn’t be bothered to guess. He shook his head slightly and put the album away.

He turned his head and saw Shen Qingyao staring at him blankly. Her fine brows were slightly furrowed, and her fair, beautiful face was flushed, as if she were both embarrassed and angry.

"Brother Chen, was the Worry-Relieving Album interesting?"

Chen Cheng shook his head. "A deviant path, unfit for polite society."

"Then why were you looking at it with such relish, so engrossed?" Shen Qingyao said reproachfully.

She had only taken a single glance before she didn’t dare to look anymore, keeping her attention fixed on Chen Cheng the entire time.

She stared at him, but he didn’t seem to notice. Instead, he had been completely absorbed, looking like a total lecher.

Chen Cheng thought for a moment and realized that an unmarried young lady like Shen Qingyao naturally couldn’t look at the Worry-Relieving Album.

’The shock of seeing it must have been just as great as what she witnessed at the Worry Relief Pavilion.’

"I was thinking, if Miss Qiluo could give this Worry-Relieving Album to us, she would naturally give it to other guests as well.

What exactly is the Sutra of Ultimate Sect trying to achieve with this?"

Chen Cheng replied truthfully, his expression calm.

Seeing the clarity in Chen Cheng’s eyes, Shen Qingyao didn’t dwell on it. She pouted and said:

"Isn’t it simple? The Sutra of Ultimate Sect is a Demon Sect. They stop at nothing, so this is naturally a way to bewitch people and recruit members.

Once someone gives in to temptation and gets caught in the Sutra of Ultimate Sect’s net, they’ll be at their mercy—forced to risk life and limb for them, becoming a mere tool for acquiring resources."

"Now that you put it that way, the Sutra of Ultimate Sect really shouldn’t be underestimated." Chen Cheng nodded slowly, the realization dawning on him.

’Common folk struggle just to have enough food and clothing. But powerful experts Cultivating the Martial Dao begin to develop all kinds of avarice.’

’Hunger and cold breed thieves, while comfort and warmth breed lust. That’s the principle at play.’

’The Sutra of Ultimate Sect uses this as bait to recruit followers, and it’s undoubtedly effective. Their influence must already be immense.’

’No wonder a mere Black Market brothel is so lavishly furnished, rivaling even those in the Inner City.’

Shen Qingyao suddenly broke into a smile. "You probably figured that out long ago. So why were you so lost in thought just now? Don’t tell me you’re actually thinking of cultivating the Supreme True Dragon Skill?"

’The Supreme True Dragon Skill is just my own fabricated Red Sun Root Technique. Why would I need to cultivate it?’

Chen Cheng couldn’t be bothered to explain and said coolly, "I have no need to cultivate such a technique."

Before long, the stall owner brought over the roasted Demon Beast Meat. He made a special point to introduce it, saying that it was a Tier Two Demon Wolf that had been killed just this morning and was very fresh.

Chen Cheng took a bite. The meat was tender, and the flavor was indeed savory and delicious, with a unique character.

The two of them ate roasted meat, drank wine, and chatted idly, enjoying themselves.

After eating and drinking their fill, they rested for a short while before leaving.

Before they left, Chen Cheng made sure to chat with the stall owner for a bit, spending ten taels of silver to buy some of the man’s roasted meat seasonings.

The stall owner was an honest man and threw in the recipe for free. After all, anyone who ordered ten jin of roasted Demon Beast Meat at once was a rare and valuable customer.

He wanted to leave a good impression on Chen Cheng, hoping he might gain a wealthy, repeat customer.

The Black Market wouldn’t close until late into the night. Since it was still early, Chen Cheng and Shen Qingyao were in no hurry.

They wandered around for a while more before leisurely arriving at a shop called Hundred Treasures Studio.

The Cold Crow Village Black Market was home to a great many shops—Treasure Pavilion, Treasure Artifact Pavilion, Wanda Shop, Si Tong Shop, and dozens more.

These shops had rather grand-sounding names, but the goods they sold were mostly things needed by Jianghu Martial Artists, like weapons, Elixir Pills, and Martial Arts Cultivation Technique Manuals.

The Hundred Treasures Studio’s storefront was about the same size as other similar shops, consisting of two connected two-story stone buildings.

The number of customers going in and out was no greater than at the other shops.

However, this place was the second target on Chen Cheng and Shen Qingyao’s list for investigation.

The two of them didn’t go in directly but instead observed from nearby for a while.

"Brother Chen, have you discovered anything?" Shen Qingyao had reverted to her old habit, never passing up a chance to test Chen Cheng. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Chen Cheng was gradually getting used to this. After a moment of thought, he said seriously, "The Jianghu Martial Artists going in and out of the Hundred Treasures Studio seem to have quite abundant Qi Blood Power. One or two of them even seem to be Bone Forging Realm Martial Artists."

"Whoa!" Shen Qingyao was startled. "You can even tell that? That’s truly impressive."

"It’s just a feeling. It might not be accurate," Chen Cheng said modestly.

Before they came, Shen Qingyao had briefly explained that the power behind the Hundred Treasures Studio had a significant background and was likely the Taiyi Sect from Yun State.

In the Five Northern States, the strongest power was naturally Marquis Zhenbei’s Mansion, which commanded an army of a million and exclusively occupied the lands of Shuo State and Jin State.

The other major powers were the Great Dao Sect of Su State, the Taiyi Sect of Yun State, and both the Blood Moon Sect and the Sutra of Ultimate Sect from Lin State.

For decades, it was rumored that the Taiyi Sect had grasped the destiny of the Northern Territory, producing a generation of powerful Martial Dao experts. Their strength had soared, and they dared to confront Marquis Zhenbei’s Mansion head-on, far surpassing the Great Dao Sect.

Even the Blood Moon Sect and the Sutra of Ultimate Sect from Lin State held a slight edge over the Great Dao Sect in terms of power.

The infiltrating forces under such a Major Sect were naturally not to be underestimated.

The goods at Hundred Treasures Studio were naturally extraordinary. Every month they sold Low Grade Muscle Strengthening Pills, and there were even rumors that if one was the right person, they could obtain Low Grade Bone Tempering Pills from the Shopkeeper.

Low Grade Bone Tempering Pills were a very scarce resource, even for the Four Great Clans of the Linji City Inner City.

This spoke volumes about the Taiyi Sect’s power.

Of course, this was just a rumor. Even the Demon Suppression Department wasn’t sure if it was true.

Besides Low Grade Muscle Strengthening Pills and Low Grade Bone Tempering Pills, the Hundred Treasures Studio also had many Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures that were of great benefit to Martial Artists cultivating the Martial Dao.

Shen Qingyao had mentioned that she wanted to go to Hundred Treasures Studio to try her luck and see if she could buy Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures with an ice-cold aura.

"Let’s go. We’ll see if this legendary Hundred Treasures Studio lives up to its name."

Shen Qingyao spoke and took the lead, heading toward the Hundred Treasures Studio.

Just as the two entered, a masked, middle-aged man dressed like a manager came up to greet them with a smile. "What can I get for you two distinguished guests?"

"Do you have any Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures with an ice-cold aura?" Shen Qingyao asked.

The middle-aged man said, "We do, but the price is quite steep. It’s our shop’s rule to only sell them to distinguished guests who are qualified to enter the Cloud Pavilion."

"It’s just the Cloud Pavilion. This young master is naturally qualified." Shen Qingyao said coolly, pulling out a thick stack of silver notes from her robes and handing it over.