"Old Guo, why the rush? If you’d waited a few more days, the price of what you’re buying might have dropped quite a bit."

"Sigh... It can’t be helped. I’ve decided to leave today; I really can’t stay here any longer. We’ve been friends for so many years, come on, help me out!"

"Business is business. I’m not the one in charge; I really can’t give you any more of a discount."

"I mean, what’s the point of guarding a few barren Spirit Fields? With your charcoal-burning skill, you could make a living anywhere."

"Even though Dawan Village, where you’ve sought refuge, is now under the protection of the Shen Family—and the Tian Nan Shen Family’s name is certainly great—a reputation isn’t always useful when you’re out in the wilds."

"After all, if someone attacks you in the middle of nowhere and covers their tracks, the Shen Family can’t cross thousands of miles to investigate a crime in some remote mountain forest and find the culprits, can they? No matter how great their name is."

"If you want real protection, you’d be better off finding a stronger backer. I heard a while ago that the Shen Family member in charge of your Dawan Village is only at the Qi Introduction Third Layer. It’s a miracle you even made it here safely."

"I’m telling you, you should come over to our side. The Family Protection Mutual Aid Alliance is headed by an expert at the Qi Introduction Late Stage. With your skill, you could even sell your goods through the Alliance’s network. You might find much better prospects for growth."

Somewhere in the Workshop,

Guo Cheng was haggling with a clerk at a stall.

The clerk, shaking his head with an earnest expression, laid out the pros and cons for him, all while trying to convince him to switch sides.

Guo Cheng could only bow his head and force a bitter smile.

Inwardly, however, he was grumbling to himself.

’There’s a saying among Mortal Martial Artists: once you’re in the Martial World, you can’t always do as you please.’

’Switching allegiances is never that simple.’

’Besides, he wasn’t some country bumpkin who knew nothing. He’d spent the first half of his life wandering, and it had taught him a thing or two about the schemes of the Immortal Cultivation World.’

’Before you join, they’ll sweet-talk you endlessly, making it seem like you’ll soar to the heavens and become an Immortal progenitor the moment you’re in.’

’But if you actually fall for it and jump in, you’ll probably be eaten alive, bones and all!’

’Take the Li Family, for instance, one of the six villages that sought refuge in Dawan Village.’

’The Li Family was only established a few decades ago, making them newcomers.’

’And how did the Li Family get their start?’

’Wasn’t it because the previous masters of Li Family Village, some Minor Immortal Cultivation Clan, fell into a major trap? They were bled dry, forced to sell off their lands and ancestral holdings to escape, and the Li Family just swooped in to pick up the pieces for cheap.’

’In this world, there are too many traps, too many tricks.’

’When you’ve found a big tree to shelter under, you don’t just up and move.’

’Besides, staying with Young Master Shen... the future with him might not necessarily be worse than with your Family Protection Mutual Aid Alliance, even with its Qi Introduction Late Stage expert.’

’If you knew that Young Master Shen is only fifteen or sixteen, and he slaughters Qi Introduction Sixth Layer Cultivators as easily as killing dogs, I wonder what your reaction would be then.’

’A young man with such limitless potential... if you’re not trying to get on his good side, you at least should be doing everything you can not to offend him!’

Guo Cheng’s feelings on the matter were complex.

Of course, he didn’t say any of this out loud.

For one, his social awareness wasn’t that poor.

And for another, Shen Changchuan had recently ordered them not to speak of the battle against the men in black in the forest.

Guo Cheng and the others didn’t know what Young Master Shen was planning.

If he simply announced his achievements, it would be enough to make a name for himself.

But whether they understood or not didn’t matter.

They could only do as they were told.

He had bragged about it a bit to his old friend from the Sanhe Chamber of Commerce, but that was before Shen Changchuan issued the gag order.

He hadn’t spoken of it since. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

After a great deal of haggling, Guo Cheng managed to shave a few Spirit Stones off the price.

Still, compared to the price it might have dropped to in a few days, he had ended up overpaying by two or three Spirit Stones.

In the end, though, Guo Cheng could only grit his teeth and pay the extra few Spirit Stones.

Similar scenes played out for the others in his group.

It wasn’t always the Family Protection Mutual Aid Alliance trying to poach them, of course.

Instead, others had simply noticed how desperate the various Patriarchs were,

and had driven a merciless bargain.

This left the leaders of the various villages thoroughly frustrated.

Although Shen Changchuan had recently earned over three hundred Spirit Stones from selling Spirit Grain and miscellaneous loot,

in reality, more than half of that came from the spoils of battle.

Only about a hundred Spirit Stones had actually come from cultivating the Spirit Fields.

And for Minor Immortal Cultivation Clans like theirs,

the income was far, far less.

To them, every single Spirit Stone was precious, each one representing a long period of hard work cultivating their Spirit Fields.

But painful as it was, they had no other choice.

They hastily completed their transactions,

and gathered with the Mortal Martial Artists early the next morning, ready for the journey home.

The Patriarchs were not some rash young fools with "naive and stupid" written all over their faces.

As men who had seen something of the world, they showed no hint of their inner frustration.

After all, having fled without a fight from the men in black not long ago, they were somewhat worried Shen Changchuan would bring up old grievances.

Once everyone was gathered,

Shen Changchuan paid them little mind and simply led the group away.

’Senior Shen Tingchu, an expert of the Soul Emergence Realm, came here personally to warn me that something major is about to happen.’

’If even a Soul Emergence Realm expert considers it a major event, then it’s definitely nothing to trifle with!’

’And thinking back, the behavior of Patriarch Wu of the Wu Family, Wu Yuanzhi, was also extremely strange. I wonder if it’s all connected...’

’Forget it. I’m still too weak right now. With even Soul Emergence Realm experts getting involved, if I get swept up in this, I’m afraid I’ll end up as cannon fodder, just like Senior Shen Tingchu said. Better to get out of here as fast as I can.’

Shen Changchuan couldn’t imagine what could cause such a major upheaval in the long-peaceful Wu Family Collection.

But since Senior Shen Tingchu of the Soul Emergence Realm had warned him in person,

Shen Changchuan had decisively chosen to flee.

After all, it pays to listen to good advice.

Shen Changchuan didn’t think he was smart enough to not only survive the coming chaos but also profit from it.

Besides,

his gains from this trip to the Wu Family Collection were already substantial.

There was no need to get greedy and wish for more.

All he had to do was return, successfully master all thirty-six Magic skills he had purchased, refine the ten Top Grade Qi Introduction Pills, and take the Concentration Qi Pill.

The Qi Introduction Late Stage was already within his grasp.

There was no need to take any risks.

"Full speed! We need to get back as quickly as possible!"

Shen Changchuan commanded in a low voice.

Soon,

the convoy left the gates of the Wu Family Collection,

following the wide road out of the city until it merged into the vast mountains and disappeared into the distance.

At the same time,

in the dark corners of the city,

several unseen gazes seemed to exchange a silent understanding before a few of them vanished.

Then, all was calm again.

It was as if nothing had happened at all.