Chapter 72: The Wrong Way to Open

"Young master, are you in need of magical implements or talismans?" The female cultivator at the Treasure Pavilion was indeed beautiful, her eyes seeming to speak on their own. Her ethereal demeanor especially caught Gu Changqing's attention. After all, no two women are alike, and female cultivators possess a grace far surpassing that of ordinary people. With spiritual energy coursing within them, complemented by robust vitality, she was truly striking. But Gu Changqing only spared her a glance before shifting his gaze to the center platform, where a snow-white robe was displayed. Intricately embroidered with spiritual patterns, the robe exuded an airy elegance, like a gust of wind. At first sight, it was impossible to look away.

"I think this robe suits me well," Gu Changqing mused aloud. After all, a white robe, a refined young master, galloping freely under the heavens—this was the dream of many. Though it was not his own, he always preferred the finest things: the best clothes, the most beautiful women.

"With your distinguished appearance and extraordinary presence, I quite agree," the Treasure Pavilion’s attendant replied with a charming smile.

With a hearty laugh, Gu Changqing retrieved the Listening Wave Sword and Yu Xuanzheng’s blade from his bag and tossed them to her. Then, he turned to examine the shelves nearby. It had to be said, the Treasure Pavilion truly had a vast array of magical implements. Just the gourds alone filled half a shelf: True Fire Gourds, Water Storing Gourds, Plague Containing Gourds, and more—each with unique abilities, able to both absorb and release their respective elements.

Gu Changqing’s eyes swept across the rack and indeed, he soon found a small verdant gourd, slightly larger than his palm. The Thunder Gourd—it could store three bolts of lightning, to be released against an enemy, its power not exceeding the ninth level of Qi Refinement. The price: two thousand eight hundred spirit stones. After all, once filled, it was equivalent to three advanced Demon-Banishing Thunder Talismans, and could be reused. Gourds, mirrors, tripods—these were all common yet diverse tools, each with their own function. There were also bows, blades, spears, swords, brushes, and many other implements.

The attendant passed the implements to others for inspection, and soon returned, saying, "The Myriad Forms Blade is a low-grade magical tool; the Listening Wave Sword is mid-grade, though its craftsmanship is rather rough, just barely qualifying as mid-grade."

"If you wish to sell these, the Myriad Forms Blade can be priced at eighty spirit stones, and the Listening Wave Sword at three hundred," she continued.

"Deal," Gu Changqing agreed without hesitation. He estimated that the Treasure Pavilion's buyback price was at most half the market value. Yet he had always been generous, unconcerned with such trifles—especially when the other party was so pleasant.

"Oh, and this as well," Gu Changqing added, tossing over the fiery herbal plant left by Yu Xuanzheng.

"A hundred-year-old Scarlet Flame Grass, seventy spirit stones."

"That’s fine," he responded.

Gu Changqing perused the Treasure Pavilion. Of what he could afford, he had no interest; and of what interested him, he lacked the spirit stones. So he lost the urge to browse any further.

He planned to wait until he arrived at the Qingjiang battlefield to assess the situation, and then return to see what to purchase. Casually, he tossed two spirit stones to the Pavilion attendant, surprising her. She quickly smiled and thanked him.

Swaggering back to the Jade Tower, Gu Changqing’s brow furrowed.

"Young master, why the sudden frown?" Li Youling, whose thoughts always revolved around Gu Changqing, immediately asked in a gentle voice.

"Is security here really so tight?" Gu Changqing muttered. He had just left a shop buying and selling magical implements, yet no one had tailed him... or perhaps someone had, and he simply hadn’t noticed?

Turning this over in his mind, Gu Changqing wondered if he had approached things the wrong way. After paying several more days’ rent, he ordered the attendant to deliver some wine and dishes to his room. Four small plates and two bowls of spirit rice cost more than five spirit stones.

The spirit rice was exquisitely fragrant and imbued with a hint of spiritual energy, sweet and tender to the taste. As for the dishes made with spirit beast meat, besides containing faint spiritual energy, they brimmed with vitality, making them inedible for ordinary people but highly nourishing for martial artists.

Li Youling ate half a bowl of rice and a bit of beast meat before she was overwhelmed, her face flushing red. She retreated to one side to practice the Three Swallow Fist for nearly half an hour before she recovered.

"You’ll stay here these next few days; I have some matters to attend to," Gu Changqing told her after finishing his meal. He tossed her thirty-odd spirit stones and left the remaining food from his pack.

"Don’t worry, young master. I’ll wait for you here at the inn," Li Youling replied sweetly. With cultivators everywhere, she dared not venture out without him, fearing trouble.

Before leaving, Gu Changqing summoned the innkeeper and tossed him a spirit stone. "Where in or around the city would you advise avoiding?"

"You ask the right person, sir," replied the attendant. "The city is generally safe, so long as you don’t break the main prohibitions—no private duels, no trespassing into others’ estates, and so on. Outside the city is another matter, especially in the Ancient Barbarian Mountains…"

The Ancient Barbarian Mountains stretched for thousands of miles, with the Nine Mountains and Twelve Ridges occupying only a small part. Only the three main roads saw frequent traffic by cultivators; elsewhere, it was not uncommon for travelers to be ambushed and killed.

Gu Changqing nodded with a grin, thinking, "So this is the proper way to go about things."

Still, it was already too late in the evening. From a distance, the layered mountains seemed right behind Yuxian City, but they were actually dozens of miles away—and even if he went, there was no guarantee of an encounter.

He felt that this passive approach was inefficient; he would have to find a way to be more proactive.

"By the way, if you see any old books with treasure maps tucked inside at the market, be very careful!" the attendant added in a low voice.

Gu Changqing’s eyes lit up; he tossed the attendant another spirit stone. Generosity, indeed, brings good fortune.

The marketplace was at a corner of the central city—a place where cultivators privately traded goods. Gu Changqing hadn’t had time to visit yet.

Next time, he planned to check the old books there, in case some treasure map lay hidden within. Who knew what he might find?

Leaving the Jade Tower, Gu Changqing found a secluded spot, summoned his will, and returned to his villa bedroom at River View Garden. He took a shower, checked his phone for missed messages, and called Qiao Renxia and Zeng Shiqian, asking them to drive him to the Qingjiang battlefield.

While waiting, Gu Changqing tried on several outfits before the mirror, finally settling on a white mandarin-collared shirt embroidered with gold at the hem, the top three buttons undone. He paired it with white trousers, grabbed his bag, and went downstairs to wait.

Half an hour later, the two finally arrived. Zeng Shiqian was surprised by Gu Changqing’s villa but, recalling the man’s abilities, found it only natural.

"Captain!"

"We’ll take two cars to the Qingjiang battlefield," Gu Changqing said as he walked outside, "then you two will drive one back."

"Captain, you’re heading to the Qingjiang battlefield as well?" Qiao Renxia asked in astonishment. "I’ve seen it mentioned all over the forums, but I have no idea what’s really going on there. But if you’re going, nothing will go wrong!"

"Of course not," Gu Changqing replied matter-of-factly, settling into the backseat and closing his eyes to rest.

Over three hours later, close to midnight, their car was stopped in a cordoned-off area.

"Military restricted zone. No entry," a squad of soldiers approached the vehicle.

Ahead, a vast section had been sealed off with barricades, the road completely blocked. In the distance, tents and temporary shelters were ablaze with light, searchlights sweeping the surroundings.

Crowds of people bustled about—at least a thousand visible, and surely more beyond sight, perhaps ten thousand or more. In the distance, thick fog blanketed everything, obscuring all from view.

"What a spectacle—so strict!" Qiao Renxia turned. "Captain, looks like this is as far as we go!"

"You two head back," Gu Changqing instructed. He opened the car door. "Ankang Chongming Division, Gu Changqing. Notify your superiors!"

Chapter Three is out! The last chapter was longer; this one is a bit shorter.

Finally, I can get some sleep.

(End of this chapter)