The Meteor Dojo was situated amidst a mountain range in the eastern part of the Divine Continent. Beyond these vast mountains, the land to the west was all plains, stretching all the way to the Central Pillar of Shenzhou. The Yunmeng Marsh was still hundreds of thousands of miles southwest of the Pillar.

Although this mountain range could be considered a Blessed Land, no major powers had occupied it before the Taixuan Sect established the Meteor Dojo. It was mostly home to Hidden Cultivators, with at most a few small immortal-cultivating families developing on some of the more spiritually rich lands.

Beyond these vast mountains lay a place where nearby cultivators most often gathered, called the "Xingyue Marketplace."

Though called a marketplace, it was in truth a majestic city that could easily rival the most prosperous metropolises of the mortal world. The city was lined with Treasure Pavilions; not a single one of the Divine Continent’s famous merchant guilds was absent. People came and went on the wide, bluestone-paved avenues. Individuals in strange attire, disciples from various sects, and even spirit fowl and exotic beasts thronged the bustling streets.

The reason for the city’s prosperity was its two Workshop Masters: the Nascent Soul Cultivators Star Ascendant and Venerable Moonlight. Known as the "Two Elders of Xingyue," their might was renowned throughout the region, and they even held a certain reputation across the Divine Continent.

Xingyue Square was named after these two. With Nascent Soul Cultivators presiding over it and enforcing strict rules, it gradually earned the favor of various merchant guilds, Treasure Pavilions, and countless cultivators. It had been developing and growing for several hundred years now.

"That’s why when the clan tasked me with purchasing supplies this time, I specifically brought you all on this long journey to broaden your horizons." Aboard a leaf-like Flying Boat, an old cultivator with a white beard and hair cheerfully explained to a few juniors.

"Grand-uncle, what kind of Divine Techniques do Nascent Soul Great Cultivators have?" a young junior asked, full of longing. He leaned over the edge of the Flying Boat, gazing at the majestic city coming into view in the distance.

"Nascent Soul Great Cultivators..." The old cultivator stroked his long beard and said with a sigh, "A Golden Core Mage already possesses boundless Divine Techniques. I have striven for a hundred years without seeing the faintest hope of forming a Core. As for what kind of Divine Techniques a Nascent Soul Venerable has, that is beyond my knowledge."

Seemingly having said all he wanted, the old cultivator cut the conversation short. "Alright, flying is prohibited above Xingyue Square, so we need to prepare to land..." Before he could finish, a streak of fiery light, trailing roiling black smoke and sputtering sparks, shot across the sky. It was closely followed by a rainbow of light as fast as a meteor. The two streaks flashed over the Flying Boat, and the displaced air nearly capsized their vessel. Only then did the thunderous ROAR of their flight reach them, making everyone’s ears ring.

"Uncle, could that be..." The juniors, who had never witnessed such power from mere flight, were stunned speechless. The old cultivator stared blankly as the two streaks of light flew into the distance. He then saw the rainbow of light, which had started behind, suddenly overtake the other. A beam of sword light viciously struck the fiery streak, sending it tumbling through the clouds. It then abruptly changed direction and plummeted straight toward Xingyue Marketplace.

...

The two streaks of light were none other than Yang Lian and Xu Zhuang.

Their flight speeds were originally about the same. While Xu Zhuang’s Sword Escape was exceptionally fast, the Escape Technique Yang Lian cultivated from the Celestial Fire Sect was no common art. However, Yang Lian’s Golden Core was injured. Forcing his Magical Power only worsened his injuries, and his flight was inevitably affected. Although Yang Lian used every trick he knew and managed to escape Xu Zhuang with his life several times, he could never get far before Xu Zhuang caught up to him again.

After several such encounters, Yang Lian’s injuries had worsened considerably.

Yang Lian’s Golden Core was already damaged. Even if he could escape with his life, who knew how much Spirit Medicine and how many long years of bitter cultivation it would take to repair it, or if it could even be fully restored? And now, he had to keep forcing his Magical Power to flee while being relentlessly pursued by Xu Zhuang, who would send a sword strike at him from time to time.

Feeling the agony in his body and his Golden Core, a hint of anxiety appeared on Yang Lian’s ashen face. ’If this keeps up,’ he thought, ’I’ll probably die from my injuries before Xu Zhuang even gets the chance to kill me.’

Yang Lian forced himself to calm down and sent a voice transmission, not begging but stating directly, "Xu Zhuang, spare my life. I will swear on my Dao Heart never to retaliate and to always keep a wide berth from you. In addition, I will immediately offer you nine Celestial Fire Spirit Pills, one measure each of Five Elements Divine Sand and Jade Sun Divine Sand, and two volumes of Daoist arts—not the True Inheritance of Heavenly Fire..."

He rattled off the items one by one, as quick and clear as someone reading a menu, promising a fortune unimaginable to most Golden Core Mages.

Upon receiving the transmission, Xu Zhuang gave a wry smile. "Yang Lian, let’s not even talk about how you’ve provoked me time and again. Now that I’ve damaged your Golden Core, we’re mortal enemies. No matter what you promise, I can’t be at ease unless I kill you."

"Besides, all that wealth you have on you? Won’t it all be mine once I kill you?" In the middle of their exchange, another beam of sword light shot out. Yang Lian had to force himself to block it with a Magical Artifact, and couldn’t stop himself from spitting another mouthful of essence blood, which fell to the ground like a shooting star of Celestial Fire.

"Xu Zhuang, Fellow Daoist Xu!" Yang Lian said sincerely, "We had no quarrel to begin with. It was my mistake to take out my grudge against Yue Junlan on you. If you just spare my life, we can let bygones be bygones, and I will have no complaints... Fellow Daoist, this is not a threat, but my father is a Venerable of the Celestial Fire Sect, with hopes of attaining the Primordial Spirit realm. He holds great authority. My mother is a daughter of your esteemed sect’s Chen Family. Although she married my father, she has not cut ties with her clan. If you kill me, Fellow Daoist, others who don’t know the reason might misunderstand and blame you. Killing me will bring you far more harm than good!"

In the midst of the chase, they had unknowingly flown out from between the mountains. A great city suddenly appeared before them. Yang Lian heard Xu Zhuang’s leisurely voice say, "Fellow Daoist, your words come from the heart, and I have learned much. After I kill you, I will of course clarify the facts to your father." And with that, another sword strike came right for him!

"AH! Xu Zhuang!" This strike was the straw that broke the camel’s back. The Magical Artifacts Yang Lian summoned again were completely unable to block the sword’s might. The beam of light shattered the artifacts and, with power to spare, struck Yang Lian, sending him tumbling through the clouds. Suddenly, Yang Lian’s gaze once again fell upon the city, and he saw figures flying up to meet them.

’Xingyue Marketplace! Even in that fleeting glimpse, the name leaped forth from his memory. ’A place presided over by Nascent Soul Cultivators, where flight and combat are forbidden! Those people flying up must be the marketplace’s Law Enforcement Cultivators!’ Elation surged in Yang Lian’s heart. He mustered the last of his strength and plummeted towards them, shouting, "Fellow Daoists, save me!"

Yang Lian was not wrong. The figures flying up were indeed the Law Enforcement Cultivators of Xingyue Marketplace. The two in the lead were also Golden Core Cultivators, and the corners of their mouths twitched when they heard his cry. The two combatants had been fighting their way straight toward Xingyue Square, and had in fact already entered its "airspace." However, while the two Workshop Masters were Nascent Soul Cultivators, the Law Enforcement Cultivators were led by only one Middle-Grade Golden Core Cultivator, with a Low-Grade Golden Core Cultivator as his deputy.

These two had been rampaging through Xingyue Square’s airspace, making no effort to conceal their auras. The two leaders had naturally sensed them long ago. But they had also sensed that both were Top-Grade Golden Core Cultivators. Not only were they no match for them... but Top-Grade Golden Core Cultivators were exceedingly rare and usually had powerful sect backing. Even the Workshop Masters, for all their Nascent Soul venerability, might not wish to confront such individuals.

The two leaders had intended to play dead and just let them fight their way past, but unexpectedly, the pair had headed straight for the city. Now, they had no choice but to fly up to meet them. Before they could even figure out how to respond, they heard the man in the fiery streak of light shout, "Fellow Daoists, save me!" as he fell behind their group.

With that cry, they had no choice but to intervene, no matter how reluctant they were. Otherwise, the reputation of Xingyue Marketplace, and by extension its Workshop Masters, would suffer. The lead commander took a deep breath and sent a voice transmission: "Fellow Daoists, please halt! Flight and combat are forbidden around Xingyue Marketplace..."

Before he could finish his sentence, a beam of sword light tore through the air and slashed down.