Lin Chen grew increasingly suspicious.

It seemed as if there was an invisible giant hand behind him, secretly manipulating everything.

Lin Chen was helping the Righteous Alliance fight against the Demon Sect.

But at the same time, there was a force behind the Demon Sect that kept supporting it...

This seemed to have become a confrontation between Lin Chen and that force.

Lin Chen walked into the courtyard and looked up at the sky at a forty-five-degree angle.

From his angle, he could just see the majestic and grand Wenda Mountain.

"The Wenda Sect, solely pursuing the Way, indifferent to the mundane, not caring about right or wrong..."

Lin Chen withdrew his gaze and sat on the rocking chair in the courtyard.

The rocking chair gently swayed, and Lin Chen continued to ponder.

"In any case, according to the current situation of the Demon Sect, it still cannot conquer Wudu in a short time."

"At least, occupying the entire northern border of Fog Country, digesting the gains, will take a year or more..."

"And when the Demon Sect fully occupies the northern territory of the Fog Country, it will likely be when the Demon Sect officially launches its all-out attack on Wudu."

"By then, the strength of the Demon Sect will likely peak again."

Thinking of this, Lin Chen gritted his teeth.

With his current strength, he still couldn’t decide the direction of this war.

Especially since Lin Chen started doubting that there might be an even more terrifying presence behind the Blood Pupil Old Demon, he didn’t dare to act rashly.

"The most crucial thing now is to break through to Nascent Soul as soon as possible..."

"As for the situation on the side of the Righteous Alliance, there’s no rush... It takes at most half a month for me to rush back from Wenda City. Even if I return in a year, it will still be in time."

Lin Chen planned to cultivate for a period within the Wenda Sect.

The entire Wenda City was like a giant treasure, waiting for Lin Chen to trade and explore.

Previously, when trading in the Righteous Alliance, Lin Chen had to be extremely cautious with tens of thousands of Spirit Stones, constantly worrying about being besieged by the Demon Sect.

But in Wenda City, there were no such concerns at all.

Lin Chen looked up at the sky; it was noon, and he decided to stroll around the city’s marketplace.

"In the East, West, and South Cities, transactions mainly involve pills, equipment, array plates, and talismans... There’s plenty of time to visit them later."

"Only the marketplace in the North City is a bit different, worth a look."

Lin Chen swore he wasn’t aiming to visit a place of debauchery.

Hmm, he was just curious about the most prosperous North City of Wenda City.

So Lin Chen turned into a streak of escape light and flew towards North City, appearing shortly after in the Cultivator Marketplace in the northern part of the city.

The marketplace street, several feet wide, was spacious and clean.

On both sides were three-story or taller shops, brothels, gambling houses, brokerages, entertainment venues...

Looking around, there were thousands of cultivators lingering in this marketplace.

The marketplace in North City was the most bustling and was also the place frequented by the cultivators in Wenda City for entertainment.

"Tsk, tsk, the prosperity of Wenda City is indeed far beyond what the Changchun Mountain Marketplace can compare to... Just this street alone is several times larger than the Changchun Mountain Marketplace."

Lin Chen walked along the street, looking around.

Along the way, Golden Core Cultivators were not uncommon, and Lin Chen even encountered a few suspected Nascent Soul Cultivators.

After wandering for a short two-hour period, Lin Chen entered a gambling house.

Wenda City’s gambling houses were expressly for the enjoyment of cultivators, offering a wide variety of games.

Besides the most basic forms of gambling, there were also stone gambling games Lin Chen had seen in Cyan Jade Town.

They even gambled on fish!

What is gambling on fish? It’s about starving hundreds of fish for many days, then using a special secret technique to stimulate the fierceness of these Spirit Fish.

Then let these Spirit Fish fight for days, with only one fish surviving in the end.

The result of the fish gambling is that the winner takes all.

The cultivator who bets on the victorious Spirit Fish can take all the spiritual food from other cultivators.

Gambling on fish has almost a one percent chance of winning, so the odds are particularly high.

Many cultivators would spend a few or even dozens of Spirit Stones, because once you guess correctly, it’s hundreds of times the profit.

"Fellow Daoist, do you want to gamble on fish?"

Soon after Lin Chen arrived at the place for fish gambling, a thin cultivator approached, asking in a low voice.

Lin Chen turned to look at him, only to see him quickly saying:

"Fellow Daoist, trust me! Bet on number thirty-six! I have insider information, this fish is guaranteed to win!"

Lin Chen was surprised and looked at the cultivator, nodding slightly, "Hmm, I’ll take another look first."

The thin cultivator gave Lin Chen a glance and quickly disappeared into the crowd.

In his ears, the voice of the gambling house manager rang out.

"Everyone, the first round of fish gambling will end in a quarter of an hour, those who wish to place bets do so quickly!"

"I bet on number thirty-six, one hundred Spirit Stones!"

"I bet on number eighteen, fifty Spirit Stones!"

"I bet on..."

As the countdown for fish gambling began, the surrounding cultivators’ voices rose one after another.

Lin Chen stood in a corner, looking at the hundreds of Spirit Fish being placed into the pond.

"The spirit energy of fish number thirty-six doesn’t seem to be the most abundant..."

Lin Chen shook his head, as a cultivator skilled in Qi Observation Skill could observe the state of the fish.

But from the state, the likelihood of number thirty-six surviving to the end wasn’t high.

Therefore, its odds were an astounding one to three hundred.

As long as fish number thirty-six wins, one Spirit Stone can earn three hundred Spirit Stones.

In contrast, the fish with the best state was number eighteen, the largest in size, and with the most abundant spiritual energy, yet its odds were only one to sixteen.

"Gambling on fish, if Third Senior Brother were here... he’d probably be very interested, right?"

Lin Chen chuckled, then, feeling the itch, placed a bet with a thousand Spirit Stones on fish number thirty-six.

After that, he didn’t linger but continued to wander around the marketplace.

In the afternoon, Lin Chen entered a teahouse, ordered some Spirit Fruit, and a pot of Clear Heart Tea.

Clear Heart Tea, which has the effect of calming the mind, has a slightly bitter taste but an endless aftertaste, and is deeply loved by cultivators.

But its price is quite high, with just a pot of tea costing over a hundred Spirit Stones.

Lin Chen sat in the private room on the fourth floor of the teahouse, leaning by the window, watching the people and scenery outside, basking in the sun.

He only felt that life was peaceful and harmonious.

"Ah, this is true cultivation! It’s been fifteen years since I came to the Cultivation Realm, and I’ve never felt this relaxed."

Lin Chen smacked his lips.

This Wenda City is truly a great place, as long as you have Spirit Stones and strength, it’s a paradise for cultivators.

Cultivation resources, status, treasures, even honor and beauties... everything is available.

As night began to fall, Lin Chen left the teahouse and went to the Celestial Fragrance Building, just a street away.

Since I’m here in North City, I might as well enjoy myself.

As soon as Lin Chen entered the Celestial Fragrance Building, he smelled a refreshing fragrance.

The incense in the building was just right, not too strong or too faint, making one feel refreshed and relaxed.

The first-floor hall of the Celestial Fragrance Building was spacious, with hundreds of cultivators sitting around tables in groups of threes and fives, drinking, enjoying music, and savoring gourmet food.

"Is this gentleman here alone?" At this moment, a woman in a colorful dress, with exquisite looks, approached.

Lin Chen glanced at her, Qi Refining Peak Cultivation.

The women in the Celestial Fragrance Building all had cultivation, ranging from Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment Perfection.

Their appearances were rare in the mortal world, carrying an innate charm in their gestures.

"Have they practiced a Charm Technique?"

Lin Chen furrowed his brows momentarily, then relaxed again.

Charm Techniques, used in a brothel, could be considered a practical application.

"Hmm, is there a menu? I’m a bit hungry..." Lin Chen said casually.

Seeing Lin Chen’s reaction, a trace of surprise appeared on the woman’s lovely face.

Although her cultivation wasn’t high, her Charming Skill had reached Great Success, even causing Foundation Establishment Cultivators to falter.

The person in front of her was at least a Late Period Foundation Establishment Cultivator!

With this thought, the woman’s attitude became respectful, she saluted Lin Chen and said:

"My name is Wan’Er, would you like to head to a private room upstairs, senior?"

"No need, I find it quite fine here." Lin Chen shook his head.

Soon, Wan’Er handed over a menu, and Lin Chen began to order.

"Dragon and Phoenix Spirit Soup, six hundred Spirit Stones a bowl."

"Golden Jade Immortal, one hundred eighty Spirit Stones per serving."

"Purple Smoke Chicken, eighty Spirit Stones each."

"Centennial Dragon Tongue Wine, five hundred Spirit Stones a jug..."

Lin Chen blinked, the prices on this menu were indeed not cheap.

Even the cheapest cold dish started at thirty Spirit Stones, with some expensive dishes reaching over ten thousand Spirit Stones per serving.

Pointing at the menu, Lin Chen asked:

"Why are the meals at this Celestial Fragrance Building so expensive?"

The girl named Wan’Er replied:

"Senior, you may not know. Our meals are crafted by top-tier Food Cultivators, with careful attention from materials to cooking, not only are they delicious, but they greatly benefit cultivation."

Food Cultivator?

Lin Chen listened, revealing a look of interest.

The so-called Food Cultivator is one among the Hundred Skills of Cultivation.

They are adept at cooking gourmet food, locking the food’s intrinsic taste and Spiritual Energy.

Eating food crafted by Food Cultivators can greatly aid cultivation, similar to consuming Pills.

Compared to tasteless Pills, obviously, gourmet food appeals more to cultivators.

Lin Chen nodded slightly and asked, "Is this Purple Swallow Chicken a delicacy from Yanlai Country?"

Upon hearing this, Wan’Er showed a look of surprise and nodded, saying:

"Senior, you are indeed well-informed, this Purple Smoke Chicken is indeed from Yanlai Country."

Lin Chen nodded, pointed at the menu, and said:

"Order a Purple Swallow Chicken, a Golden Jade Immortal... and a glass of Centennial Dragon Tongue Wine."

Lin Chen simply ordered a few dishes and a drink, then quietly waited in the hall.

During this time, several cultivators in luxurious clothing, reeking of alcohol, approached to chat with Lin Chen.

Lin Chen declined them all, just sitting quietly in a corner of the hall, eating his meal.

The Celestial Fragrance Building deserves its reputation as one of the top three elegant places in Wenda City.

The Purple Swallow Chicken melted in the mouth, fragrant and delicious, even better than what Lin Chen had in Yanlai City.

The other dishes were also rare in the mortal world, surpassing anything Lin Chen had tasted in his previous thirty-plus years.

After eating, a pot of wine left a lingering aroma in his mouth, making it irresistible.

In the air was a special fragrance, making one feel joyous.

In his ears was rare music, making one feel like a spring breeze.

Before his eyes were fairies skilled in singing and dancing, scantily clad, mesmerizing.

In his mouth were exotic delicacies he had never tasted, stirring his Qi and Blood, making him long for more.

Lin Chen silently sat in the corner, observing everything around him.

After a long time, cultivators gradually departed.

Some left the Celestial Fragrance Building, while others went upstairs to spend the night in deep conversations with the fairies.

At this moment, Wan’Er approached again and asked:

"Senior, are you staying in the building tonight?"

Lin Chen shook his head, paid the bill, and turned to leave the Celestial Fragrance Building.

Before leaving, he glanced at the myriad expressions of cultivators within the building, and thought of the battles between the Righteous Alliance and the Demon Sect.

For a moment, it felt as if he were inside an Illusion Realm.

After a pause, Lin Chen sighed and said:

"Inside the window, there’s an indulgence in extravagance, outside the window, flames of war rage on..."