Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension-Chapter 541 - 349: Enfeoffment Decree_2

Zhao Sheng had just appeared there when suddenly his brow furrowed, and his Divine Sense burst forth from his body, spreading out in all directions.

His Divine Sense enveloped the nearby streets where every household had white banners hanging at their doors, and cries of mourning came from most of the homes.

Many homes were deadly quiet and empty, with few living people breathing; even many of those alive had faces covered in black sores, showing signs they would not live much longer.

Zhao Sheng couldn’t help but mutter to himself in surprise, “Hmm, what happened? Why have so many people died?”

“No!”

He suddenly felt a stir in his heart, as if realizing something, his figure flashed, suddenly turning into nothingness.

The next moment, Zhao Sheng had already appeared in the backyard of Zhao Mansion.

Upon appearing, his expression grew even grimmer, for there was no one inside or outside Zhao Mansion; nearly a hundred people from Zhao Mansion had disappeared without a trace.

“Hmph!”

Zhao Sheng snorted coldly, flicked his sleeve, and disappeared in an instant.

Moments later, after making his way through most of Chu State City, he discovered that Chu State City was completely under lockdown, with no one other than those permitted by the government allowed to leave their homes.

By now, he had learned from the people that the city had suddenly been struck by a devastating plague half a month ago.

The onset of this plague was so sudden and fierce that it took only two days from infection to death.

Unfortunately, it had erupted just as the calamity of the starving ghosts was rampant.

With two disasters striking at once, not only did many city residents die, but the fate of tens of thousands of the affected people was even worse, nearly none surviving.

Twenty days before Chu State City was locked down, people and families with connections had fled the city, leaving mostly ordinary citizens who could not leave.

Half a day later, Zhao Sheng secretly investigated the entire city and roughly estimated that at least three hundred thousand people had died in this disaster.

That’s right!

Five Wheel Wanderers and the Plague Taoist, among other evil demons of the Outer Path, flatly refused to conceal their identities, almost flaunting their defiance openly and provocatively targeting the Heavenly Dao Sect and other forces of the Righteous Path.

Zhao Sheng also quickly learned from two junior Qi Refinement cultivators that the Divine Prison had been suddenly breached with inside and outside help, and many prisoners had escaped.

This, too, had incited the Heavenly Dao Sect and the Da Gu Court to furious anger, leading them to issue a manhunt decree, offer substantial rewards, and dispatch several Golden Core Main Priests to chase down the Five Wheel Wanderers and the Plague Taoist.

However, these two had already vanished without a trace.

“Hmph, quite the audacity!” Zhao Sheng’s gaze turned icy as he disappeared from the spot in an instant.

…

Half a day later, inside the Black Market of Zhenyun Peak.

On the west side of the market, there stood a colossal pagoda-like building that covered over ten acres and rose about thirty feet high.

Two white-robed Great Hans stood motionless on either side of the grand entrance, their auras subtly revealing that they were both at Qi Refining Late Stage.

The large sign hanging above the door bore the golden characters for “Chu King’s Commerce,” with the lettering emanating a glaring golden light, making it extraordinarily conspicuous.

At this time, passersby hurried past the entrance, and occasionally, some entered the great doors of the Trading House.

This place was the largest trading hall within the Black Market.

The Chu King’s Commerce was a business formed by the Gu Family leading various major cultivation clans in Diancang Province.

“This is the place, I hope it won’t disappoint me…”

A man in a green robe muttered softly to himself before turning and heading toward the grand entrance.

This person was none other than Zhao Sheng in disguise.

“Senior, please halt, may I see your invitation?” asked a burly man in white robes as he slightly bowed, his face wearing a smile.

Seeing this, Zhao Sheng shook his head, “I do not have one.”

“I’m sorry, but without an invitation, you cannot enter.”

The white-robed burly man said sternly.

Zhao Sheng’s eyes flashed, and a strong aura slowly rose from him while his Divine Sense spread out, entering the building.

He waited a moment, then shook his head, about to leave.

“Senior, please wait. My name is Fang Zhuo, one of the managers of the auction house. May I know how to address you?” Just then, a handsome young man in his twenties wearing a light red robe hurried out from the door, calling out to Zhao Sheng very politely.

“Daoist Fang is courteous. My surname is Zhao. I am a Loose Cultivator,” Zhao Sheng replied, turning to face him with a calm inquiry.

“So it is Senior Zhao. You might be unaware since you have just arrived in Chu State City, but due to recent unusual circumstances, our establishment has had to implement an invite-only policy,” Fang Zhuo explained.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Sheng’s face briefly showed a hint of surprise, but he quickly regained his composure.

“Daoist Zhuo, might it be possible for an old man like me to obtain one such invitation?” Zhao Sheng asked, his mind quickly turning.

“Senior merely needs to pass a test to come in. Given your cultivation at the Foundation Establishment Realm, passing the test should not be difficult,” Fang Zhuo said with a light smile.

Zhao Sheng successfully entered the auction hall after spending the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

Later, in a quiet room on the third floor, Zhao Sheng had a placid expression, but his eyes flickered as if pondering something.

In front of him on a Jade Table, several Jade Boxes were placed.

At that moment, Fang Zhuo sat opposite him, carefully assessing the Spirit Pills within the Jade Boxes, his face gradually showing delight.

A while later, Fang Zhuo closed the Jade Box and said thoughtfully, “Senior’s Alchemy Skill is admirable. This third-tier Demon-expelling Pill has clear Elixir Patterns and is of excellent quality, at least top-grade. Such a Treasure Pill should fetch at least seventy to eighty thousand Spirit Stones. May I ask what Treasure you wish to exchange it for?”

“You finish looking at the other boxes first,” Zhao Sheng said.

As he spoke, he waved his right hand and all the lids of the Jade Boxes on the table flipped open, revealing inside one Elixir after another, sending wafts of Elixir Fragrance and showing miraculous signs.

“This is… a Resurrection Pill… a Blood Spirit Foundation Establishment Pill… a Plague Avoiding Pill… all are Middle-Upper Grade,” Fang Zhuo, shocked by the Spirit Pills within the boxes, was left dumbfounded.

“I would like to exchange for an Enfeoffment Decree. I just don’t know if Chu King’s Commerce possesses such a Treasure,” Zhao Sheng said, then nonchalantly picked up a teacup and took a sip.

Thump, thump, thump!

Fang Zhuo quickly closed all the Jade Boxes and then couldn’t help but gasp deeply twice, with a troubled expression, he said, “Senior, this is a bit difficult for me. How precious is an Enfeoffment Decree, how could it be easily bought or sold by a Trading House?”

Zhao Sheng put down his teacup and casually remarked, “Oh, is that so? Perhaps the price I offered was too low, or perhaps you simply don’t have the authority to trade? Have your superior come out then! This deal is too much for you to handle.”

“Senior, please wait a moment!” Fang Zhuo’s expression changed upon hearing this, and after some thought, he stood up with difficulty, bowed, and hurriedly left the room.

About the time it takes to drink a cup of tea later, a middle-aged man with stern features and a beaming smile walked in, holding a golden box about a foot in size.

He sat down, casually pushed the golden box across to Zhao Sheng, then flicked a light with his finger, a ray of white light entered the box.

The box’s sealing vanished instantly, then popped open, and a layer of Divine Light burst forth, emanating a majestic and sacred aura.

Zhao Sheng narrowed his eyes slightly, only to see a dark golden seal taking the shape of Heavenly Round and Earthly Square, exuding layers of soft Divine Light within the golden box.

Yet this seal seemed somewhat illusory, as if existing between reality and fantasy.

“Is this… the legendary Enfeoffment Decree?” Zhao Sheng said as he witnessed this scene, a flicker of unusualness flashing through the depths of his eyes.