Chapter 81: Trouble Arises, Searching for a Grandson

Chapter 81: Chapter 81: Trouble Arises, Searching for a Grandson

"Ha..."

The young man couldn’t help but laugh. He let go and waved his hand. "Since you like it so much, it’s yours..."

"Oh..."

Dong Xing’s eyes lit up. He quickly put the book away and cupped his hands. "Many thanks."

He then turned and hurried after Li Changsheng.

"Junior Brother, not so fast..."

The young man chuckled, looked away, and with a flip of his hand, produced another illustrated book, which he began to peruse.

The great sun slowly rose over the horizon.

Li Changsheng and Dong Xing returned to the Marketplace.

Looking at Dong Xing, who clutched the book and refused to let go,

Li Changsheng’s mouth twitched. "Senior Brother," he said helplessly, "what exactly did you come to the Marketplace for?"

Hearing this, Dong Xing glanced at the surrounding streets, then looked up at the sky. He waved his hand and said, "It’s still early. No rush."

"Forget it."

Li Changsheng shook his head, asked no more questions, and strode toward D Zone.

He didn’t stop along the way.

Soon, he was back in front of the tall tower.

Li Changsheng couldn’t help but stop and stare at it again.

’It’s hard to imagine that such a massive tower is a Magical Artifact.’

’Judging by its size alone, it must be terrifying when it moves.’

Just as he was observing the tower,

dozens of Cultivators in tight-fitting attire, each with a different demeanor, suddenly poured out of the tower in a single file.

They walked in silence, striding quickly toward C Zone.

Li Changsheng didn’t dare to stare. He took a quick glance and was about to leave.

But the next person to emerge surprised him.

Li Changsheng hesitated for a moment before calling out, "Senior Brother Feng Hui?"

Hearing his name, Feng Hui turned. He looked confused for a second when he saw Li Changsheng’s face, but then his eyes brightened. "You’re Junior Brother Li?"

A young man walking behind him looked up slightly, and his expression changed when he saw Li Changsheng.

"Huh..."

Surprise appeared in Li Changsheng’s eyes.

’It’s Liu Yong, the man I worked with to exterminate the Black Blood Moths.’

’What’s their relationship?’

Li Changsheng gave Liu Yong a slight nod, then cupped his hands toward Feng Hui and praised him, "It’s been half a year, Senior Brother. You look more distinguished than ever."

A smile spread across Feng Hui’s face. He walked over and chuckled. "You’ve got sharp eyes. I just broke through to the Late-Stage of Qi Cultivation, and you spotted it right away." He looked Li Changsheng up and down and said in surprise, "Junior Brother Li, you’ve broken through as well?"

Li Changsheng smiled, nodded, and waved his hand dismissively. "I only barely managed it by taking some Spirit Pills."

Feng Hui shook his head. "Spirit Pills are also part of cultivation."

Li Changsheng chuckled, then asked curiously, "Senior Brother, where are you all headed?"

"Well..."

At this, Feng Hui hesitated, then said in a low voice, "The big shots up top are fighting. Us little guys can only run ourselves ragged."

’The big shots are fighting? Could it be about the Spiritual Land?’

Li Changsheng’s mind raced, and he instantly made the connection to the clearing of the new Spiritual Land.

"Sigh..."

Feng Hui sighed and said softly, "Once you’re done with your business, you should leave the Marketplace quickly."

"I have things to attend to, so I can’t stay and chat."

With that, he and Liu Yong hurried to catch up with the group ahead.

Li Changsheng cupped his hands. "Take care, Senior Brother."

Without looking back, Feng Hui waved his hand and strode away.

After they had entered C Zone,

Li Changsheng withdrew his gaze, thought for a moment, and turned back toward D Zone.

「In Street Seven of C Zone.」

Feng Hui’s expression grew serious. As they walked, he asked, "You two know each other?"

Liu Yong nodded slightly and whispered, "He’s the guy I told you about, the one who controls a swarm of insects." Then he asked, puzzled, "Senior Brother Feng, how do you know him?"

"When he first came to the Marketplace, I was the one who escorted him to the Spirit Field Hall."

Feng Hui shook his head and chuckled. "I never expected him to have such skills."

A gloomy look flickered across Liu Yong’s face. He said softly, "His swarm is very powerful. Senior Brother Feng, why don’t you ask Steward Jiao to..."

Feng Hui frowned and cut him off. "Let’s not drag him into this." He paused, then sighed. "You too. Couldn’t you have just stayed out of it? Why did you have to get involved?"

Liu Yong pressed his lips together and said nothing.

Feng Hui turned his head and warned him in a low voice, "Remember, when we get to the Demon Hunting Corps’ encampment, do not, under any circumstances, take the lead."

"Let them make the first move and provoke them. All we have to do is cheer them on."

"Okay."

Liu Yong nodded calmly, but what he was truly thinking, no one knew.

As the two of them walked down Street Seven in C Zone, a commotion reached their ears.

Not far from them, a crowd of over a hundred people had gathered around a platform.

As they got closer, they could feel waves of Spiritual Power rolling toward them.

When the group drew near, the clamor of the crowd grew even more intense.

.

「At the end of Street Eight in D Zone.」

Li Changsheng looked up at Chang’s Pill Pavilion and stepped inside.

At this time, the Pill Pavilion was empty except for a few attendants in blue, who were gathered together, chatting idly.

Seeing Li Changsheng and his companion enter the shop,

one of the attendants’ eyes lit up. He hurried over and said respectfully, "Sir, what kind of pills are you looking to buy? Just let me know."

Li Changsheng asked, "How much for a single Refining Jade Pill?"

The attendant paused for a second, then quickly replied, "Sir, a single Refining Jade Pill costs thirty-three Spirit Stones."

Li Changsheng considered his finances and said, "Give me three."

"Right away, sir. Please wait a moment."

The attendant gave a respectful bow and hurried into the back room.

After a moment,

the attendant returned carrying a round tray with a pill bottle on it. He said respectfully, "Sir, please inspect it."

Li Changsheng picked up the jade bottle, examined it, then nodded and put it away. He then took out ninety-nine Spirit Stones, placed them on the tray, and turned to leave the Pill Pavilion.

Once they were back on the street, Li Changsheng turned to Dong Xing and said helplessly, "Senior Brother, what is it you actually want to buy? If you’re not buying anything, I’m heading back."

Dong Xing finally tore his eyes away from his book, looked up at the sky, and said, "Actually, I’m here looking for Yaoyao. A while ago, she said she’d be home soon, but it’s been many days and she still hasn’t returned."

"I got worried, so I came to the Marketplace to find her."

Li Changsheng frowned. "Then go look for her."

Dong Xing gave a bitter smile. "I don’t know where she is."

Li Changsheng was speechless. "..."

"Didn’t she give you an address?"

Dong Xing shook his head. "She said she often has to go out on missions and doesn’t have a fixed place to rest."

"Then what are you going to do?"

Li Changsheng spread his hands. "Putting aside the possibility that she’s out on a mission, even if she isn’t, the Marketplace is huge. Where would you even start looking for her?"

Dong Xing’s whole face scrunched up. "I... I don’t know either."

Li Changsheng asked, "Why not just go back for now? Maybe she’ll return in a few days."

Dong Xing hesitated, then asked carefully, "Junior Brother, could you... could you have your swarm look for her...?"

"No." Li Changsheng cut him off before he could even finish.

’Is he kidding? The Marketplace is full of Cultivators stronger than me. I’m not looking for a death wish.’

’Besides, my spirit insects aren’t dogs. How could they possibly find her?’

"I..."

Dong Xing opened his mouth, then forced a smile. "Well... in that case, Junior Brother, you head back first. I’ll search the Marketplace a bit more."

Li Changsheng turned and started to walk away. After a few yards, he paused.

"I’ll wait for you outside the east gate until Noon. If you’re not there by then, I’m going back without you."

He strode off without waiting for Dong Xing’s reply.