Chapter 178: Chapter 9: Guide, Shopkeeper, Vajra Pestle (2)

Fang Cheng chuckled lightly. He stared at the young woman’s radiant face, his gaze burning as he said, "You certainly have a way with words, my friend. But I truly do love this treasure. Do you happen to have any free time today? I would like to host a banquet to thank you."

The young woman smiled, pursing her lips. "Unfortunately, I have important matters to attend to today. How about I return the favor and invite you another day?"

Fang Cheng said nonchalantly, "Then another day it is. Please, take the Spirit Stones."

With that, he took out the Spirit Stones and completed the transaction with the young woman. The exchange of goods and money was settled.

Seeing how generously and unreservedly he spent, Li Chan grew even more delighted, knowing he had stumbled upon a great opportunity.

The young woman hesitated for a moment before saying softly, "I don’t know where you are staying, my friend. I could pay you a personal visit later..."

Fang Cheng smiled. "I haven’t decided on a place yet. Once I have, I’ll have Li Chan come and inform you."

The young woman glanced at Li Chan and nodded gently.

Afterward, the young woman personally saw the two of them out of Qibao Studio. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Fang Cheng mounted his giant tiger, bid farewell to the beautiful shopkeeper, and left with Li Chan.

...

「A short while later.」

Fang Cheng and Li Chan were in a private room on the top floor of a luxurious restaurant in the Immortal City.

Li Chan stared at the sumptuous spread of Spiritual Cuisine before him, secretly swallowing his saliva.

This meal had cost a full two thousand Spirit Stones. It was a dazzling array of delicacies, overflowing with Spiritual Qi and an enticing aroma.

He had never even heard of many of the dishes’ names.

Fang Cheng sat with a commanding presence at the table, savoring the Immortal City’s delicacies. He leisurely gazed at the city view outside the window and said with a smile, "Li Chan, you helped me out today. Sit down and eat with me. I have something to ask you."

Li Chan sat down, his posture reserved. "Please ask, Senior."

Fang Cheng asked, "What’s the story with the shopkeeper of Qibao Studio?"

Li Chan’s heart stirred at the question. He recalled the young woman’s slightly flirtatious and passionate demeanor as they left Qibao Studio, and he couldn’t help but try to guess at Fang Cheng’s intentions. He chose his words carefully, "In response to your question, Senior, Qibao Studio is a property of the Tang Family, a top-tier family on Divine Pillar Mountain. The shopkeeper’s name is Tang Mengru. She is one of the Tang Family’s many Elders and is primarily responsible for the affairs of their Immortal City courtyard and Qibao Studio."

He paused for a moment before continuing, "Tang Mengru’s husband was originally a Loose Cultivator in the Immortal City. While traveling abroad, he saved a Life Talisman Realm Elder from Taihao Mountain. To repay the karmic debt, that Elder recommended him to join Taihao Mountain. Unexpectedly, he rose to prominence and is now a major figure there. Tang Mengru herself only advanced to the Life Talisman Realm with her husband’s help."

Sipping the sweet, smooth Spirit Wine, Fang Cheng asked curiously, "If that’s the case, why doesn’t Shopkeeper Tang go to Taihao Mountain to cultivate with her husband?"

Li Chan’s expression turned strange. He lowered his voice and said, "According to the grapevine, Shopkeeper Tang’s husband found a new lover at Taihao Mountain. The two had a major falling out, which is why Shopkeeper Tang returned to Divine Pillar Mountain and has been focusing on her family’s business in recent years."

"I see." Fang Cheng nodded in satisfaction.

’Earlier today at Qibao Studio, I was struck by a whim and couldn’t resist testing the Tier Two Love Gu. Judging by Shopkeeper Tang’s reaction, it seems to be working quite well.’

’However, we spent very little time together, and Li Chan was present. I’ll need to observe further to see its true effect.’

Li Chan continued to try and read Fang Cheng’s mind. "Senior, the best inn in the Immortal City is Tianya Sea Pavilion. Should I go and book a superior room for you?"

Fang Cheng glanced at him. "No rush. I have a few more questions about the Immortal City."

Though Li Chan’s cultivation was only at the Fourth Layer of Sensing, he certainly knew a lot.

In a short time, he had given Fang Cheng a rough overview of the major and minor goings-on in the Immortal City.

The Lord of the Immortal City had been famous for a long time. He was known as the number one expert on Divine Pillar Mountain, his cultivation had reached the Peak of Life Talisman, and he possessed a powerful Third-tier Magical Artifact. He had once single-handedly slain a Tier Three Demon Beast!

Moreover, this City Lord had an unbreakable bond with a Life Soul Realm Elder from Taihao Mountain. After that Elder from Taihao Mountain personally set up the Immortal City Array, it too became an exceedingly rare existence among Tier Three Arrays.

One could say that within Divine Pillar Immortal City, the City Lord’s capabilities were not necessarily inferior to those of a Life Soul Cultivator.

The great azure hand of light that Fang Cheng had drawn out that day was but a small fraction of the Immortal City Array’s power. Even the power later re-activated by the Immortal City Elder was only one-tenth of the Grand Array’s true strength.

The City Lord had not taken many disciples. He had only four personal disciples, who were known as the Four Young Masters of the Immortal City.

Each of the Four Young Masters had their own followers and influence. Their fame on Divine Pillar Mountain was no less than that of the Elders from top-tier families.

Among them, the Third Young Master enjoyed dressing as a man, loved to drink, was widely connected, and had earned the title ’Wine Immortal’.

No one knew this Third Young Master’s maiden name. She usually called herself Cen San, and outsiders often referred to her as the Third Young Master.

Those who had grudges against her often called her Cen San Niang.

The Third Young Master was in charge of the Immortal City Patrol and was constantly recruiting Guests. Anyone who could pass the three rounds of assessment would be allowed to enter the Third Young Master’s Mansion. They would be granted a residence, two beautiful concubines, and an annual stipend of ten thousand Lower-Grade Spirit Stones.

Furthermore, all the Cultivation Techniques and Secret Techniques in the Third Young Master’s Mansion were open to Guests.

Of course, if something happened in the Immortal City, the Guests could not refuse. They were often required to run errands for the Third Young Master or stand guard at the various city towers.

To become a Guest in the Third Young Master’s Mansion, one needed at least an Early-stage Life Talisman Cultivation. Many Loose Cultivators had put a great deal of effort into this, but very few were able to pass the three rounds of assessment.

"This Third Young Master is quite an interesting person." Fang Cheng smiled faintly. ’I have a plan.’

He took out a bag of Spirit Stones and handed it to Li Chan. "Go book me a fine room at Tianya Sea Pavilion. While you’re at it, go to the Third Young Master’s Mansion and register my name. I want to test the mettle of this Third Young Master."