Chapter 123: Just Because I Took One More Look at You in the Crowd

"Fellow Daoist Zhou, your calculations are truly divine!"

Hearing the commotion from behind, Fang Shitong, who was fleeing alongside the others, fell silent for a moment before speaking up. The others nodded in agreement.

It was true. The first time he had called for everyone to stop, it might have been a coincidence, but to predict danger a second time and avoid it in advance was certainly no accident. He clearly possessed genuine ability. To call his judgment divine was no exaggeration.

Zhou Changwang did not reply. He was just about to lead the group on a detour when Qian Xiaoyue suddenly spoke up: "Sister Shen just sent word. They were besieged by a group of rogue cultivators and are now planning to withdraw. She asked when we would arrive at the Shuiyun Pavilion."

"You still have a sound-transmission jade slip on you?" Lu Wei'er asked in shock.

"Sister Shen left this with me, but it only works over short distances. Beyond a certain range, it’s useless," Qian Xiaoyue explained.

Zhou Changwang glanced around. The path ahead was blocked due to that Foundation Establishment battle, and even the fastest detour would take a full stick of incense's time, not to mention the need to guard against potential dangers. The marketplace was now a powder keg; no one knew what might happen next. The best course of action was to leave the marketplace as quickly as possible.

After a moment of contemplation, Zhou Changwang said decisively, "Tell Senior Shen that we have our own way out. We will meet them at Shili Slope outside the marketplace. Tell them to be careful."

"It's a long way from here to outside the marketplace, and there is fighting everywhere. We could be caught in the crossfire at any moment... There are only four of us. Will we be alright if we don't meet up with Senior Shen and the others?" Lu Wei'er asked, filled with worry.

The others were also anxious. So far, they hadn't encountered any late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators, but if they did, their safety could not be guaranteed. Naturally, they felt it would be safer to join the Shuiyun Pavilion members.

"Don't worry, just follow me," Zhou Changwang said, quietly activating his Derivation Technique. In an instant, the dangers, both large and small, on the path ahead were laid bare. He took the lead and charged forward.

Although the others were doubtful, they did not argue. Zhou Changwang pressed on without pause. With the Derivation Technique, he detected every danger immediately; even when unavoidable, he chose the path of least resistance. Soon, Fang Shitong and the others were amazed to find that they had encountered almost no cultivators and very few fights along the way. Yet, nearby, the air was thick with the scent of battle, the sounds of talismans and spells exploding, and the crashing of protective arrays. It was as if danger were deliberately avoiding them. Even when they occasionally crossed paths with murderous cultivators, the others would look at their group of four with suspicion and choose not to engage.

Indeed, the strength of their group was not to be underestimated. With three mid-stage and one early-stage Qi Refinement cultivator, unless it was a late-stage expert, average mid-stage cultivators dared not act rashly. As for late-stage cultivators above the seventh level? They hadn't encountered a single one. Even when they saw them from afar, the other parties seemed not to notice them at all and quickly headed in another direction.

After half a stick of incense, they had not encountered a single skirmish.

"Is this the South District?" Fang Shitong asked, looking at their surroundings.

"We are even further from the exit of the marketplace now. And I don't remember there being a path out of the market here, do I?" Lu Wei'er added, puzzled.

Qian Xiaoyue, trusting Zhou Changwang, remained silent.

"I am aware," Zhou Changwang replied. "At the end of the South District, there is a cliff. Below that cliff, you are technically outside the jurisdiction of the marketplace."

"But that cliff is over sixty feet high, and I've heard it's incredibly steep. Unless one is a Foundation Establishment master, no one can enter or leave that way. Even a ninth-level Qi Refinement cultivator would die falling from that height," Lu Wei'er said hesitantly.

"Fellow Daoist Zhou must have a plan, even if I don't know what it is," Fang Shitong said, remaining calm.

"I do." As he spoke, they arrived near Zhou Changwang's residence. Because the South District, especially the area where Zhou lived, was at the very edge, it was relatively remote. Although some protective arrays nearby had been shattered, the traces of battle here were light. When they reached the gate of his courtyard and saw the protective array still intact, Zhou Changwang breathed a sigh of relief and quickly opened the door.

"This is your home, Fellow Daoist Zhou?" Fang Shitong asked in surprise.

"Correct." Zhou Changwang nodded, ushering them into his practice chamber. "I specifically dug a secret passage here that leads to the middle of the cliff face. Through this, we can reach the bottom and leave the marketplace smoothly. Once we're out in the open, we'll be safe, and we can meet Senior Shen at Shili Slope."

They entered the practice chamber, where the first thing that caught their eyes was the massive spell-casting wall, covered in deep cracks.

"Is this spirit-suppression stone? Why is it so severely damaged?" Fang Shitong asked, looking at Zhou Changwang in disbelief. "Was this caused by you, Fellow Daoist?"

Qian Xiaoyue and Lu Wei'er also noticed the wall and the lingering traces of spiritual energy and magic in the room.

"It is a spell-casting wall made of spirit-suppression stone. It is indeed very useful for practicing spells. Unfortunately, it can no longer be used. However, this was not my doing. It was like this when I moved in," Zhou Changwang said calmly. He then walked into another practice chamber and flicked a switch, revealing an underground passage.

"The spiritual energy here is so dense! No wonder your cultivation has improved so quickly, Fellow Daoist Zhou," Lu Wei'er exclaimed. Compared to her own small courtyard, the spiritual energy here was at least twice as dense.

"This is the South District, after all, and there is a small spiritual vein node here, so the energy is much higher. However, the rent is not cheap. I didn't expect that after moving from the outskirts, you would settle in here," Fang Shitong remarked, looking at Zhou Changwang thoughtfully.

"Unfortunately, I only lived here for half a year before I had to move again. Still, it is much safer than the outskirts. The outskirts are a mix of dragons and snakes; it's too dangerous. Your neighbor might be a bandit or an evil cultivator who kills for treasure at night. If you live there, you can't sleep in peace, let alone practice. Don't you agree, Fellow Daoist Fang?" Zhou Changwang looked at him with a faint, inscrutable smile.

"That is true," Fang Shitong replied, his expression unchanged.

Zhou Changwang gave him a long look but said no more. He led the way into the secret passage, followed by Qian Xiaoyue, then Lu Wei'er, with Fang Shitong bringing up the rear.

They descended until they reached the exit halfway down the cliff. "I'll go down first, then you follow. Don't worry, I'll catch you, or there’s a rope here you can use to descend part of the way," Zhou Changwang told Qian Xiaoyue.

"Don't worry, I can handle this height," she said, though she looked down with some trepidation.

Zhou Changwang nodded and turned to the others. "After Xiaoyue, it will be Lu Wei'er, and then Fellow Daoist Fang. I'll be there to catch everyone." With a flicker of spiritual light, he activated his Light Body Technique and leaped into the air. He landed smoothly, his mastery of the technique combined with his strong physique ensuring a safe descent.

He looked up and nodded at Qian Xiaoyue. She gritted her teeth and jumped. Her technique was only at the proficiency level, so she fell faster. Zhou Changwang instantly leaped up, catching her in his arms before landing gracefully.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Zhou," she said, blushing slightly.

"You're welcome." He looked back up. Facing the ten-foot drop, Lu Wei'er was hesitant, but after a few words from Fang Shitong, she gathered her courage. Fang Shitong grabbed her shoulder, held the rope with one hand, and jumped. He used a mid-grade technique, the Flying Swallow Technique. With the rope's assistance, he landed with ease, creating a brief, romantic moment of eye contact before they stood firmly on the ground.

"We are truly out of the marketplace," Fang Shitong said in shock, looking toward the distance. "And not far from Shili Slope. We've escaped the danger."

A distant, thunderous boom from the marketplace served as a silent confirmation. "Let's go," Zhou Changwang said.

They traveled through the forest, their spirits lifting as they left the conflict behind. An hour later, they arrived at Shili Slope. It was early morning, and the area was deserted. In the distance, they could see smoke rising from the marketplace and hear the terrifying sounds of battle. Many cultivators were fleeing in all directions.

"This was so sudden and unexpected," Lu Wei'er lamented, looking at the chaos. "When Xiaoyue mentioned the coming unrest, I was hesitant to leave. I don't know what I would have done without you."

"You're too kind, Sister Wei'er," Qian Xiaoyue said.

"Indeed, Fellow Daoist Lu. If anyone should be thanking anyone, it's me thanking you. If you hadn't suggested I join you, I might still be wandering in the marketplace, and I don't know how I would have ended up," Fang Shitong said. He then turned to Zhou Changwang. "Fellow Daoist Zhou, you've always been hostile toward me. I assume you discovered something in the past?"

"Oh?" Zhou Changwang looked at him without answering. Qian Xiaoyue tensed, moving closer to Zhou Changwang.

"I have indeed killed people for treasure in the past," Fang Shitong admitted. Lu Wei'er's expression changed, and she also moved closer to Zhou Changwang.

"But I am not the kind of bandit you think I am," Fang Shitong said with a bitter smile. "Have you heard of the Green Leaf Alliance? My junior brother and I joined it long ago. We mainly take on assassination missions, but we only target those with notorious reputations who have committed heinous crimes. Half a year ago, we were tracking a sixth-level Qi Refinement cultivator when the Feng family's conscription forced everyone to the Fengming Dock marketplace. We followed our target here and killed him on the outskirts. I suppose that is why you misunderstood me, Fellow Daoist Zhou."

"Whether it was a misunderstanding or not is debatable," Zhou Changwang said noncommittally.

"On the night of the chaos, my junior brother and I entered the inner city out of curiosity. He died there. We only looked at a late-stage cultivator who was fighting three sixth-level ones. When the late-stage cultivator slaughtered them and charged at us, I fled. I heard my brother scream, but I didn't dare look back... When he died, I realized how weak I was. I was terrified. Killers are always killed in turn. I decided to quit. For the past six months, I haven't taken a single mission." Fang Shitong looked at Zhou Changwang. "You are right to be wary, but there is no need to be so defensive. Even when my brother was alive, we never attacked ordinary cultivators."

"A cultivator must always be cautious. As long as you have no malicious intentions, Fellow Daoist, I have no reason to act against you," Zhou Changwang replied. This honest exchange eased the tension, though it did not completely dissolve the barrier between them.

"Fellow Daoist Zhou, I've just contacted Sister Shen. They are still on the outskirts, but they'll be here soon," Qian Xiaoyue said, putting away her jade slip.

"That's good." Zhou Changwang watched the marketplace. With his Spirit Vision, he could see most of the area. The initial chaos was subsiding, though flashes of powerful magic in the East District suggested Foundation Establishment masters were still fighting. The outskirts were the most chaotic, filled with the sounds of breaking arrays and screams. At the gates, many who thought they had escaped were suddenly ambushed by other cultivators. Even in daylight, the greed of the cultivators drove them to commit ruthless acts against one another.

Suddenly, a late-stage Qi Refinement cultivator charged toward them. Zhou Changwang and his group tightened their formation. The man didn't even look at them until he was about to pass by, at which point he stopped and looked coldly at Fang Shitong. "Oh? Killing intent? Do you recognize me?"

Zhou Changwang was stunned but immediately alert. A seventh-level cultivator.

"So it's you, kid," the man sneered. "You got away last time, let's see if you can run now." He summoned his flying sword.

"Retreat!" Zhou Changwang shouted. He didn't hesitate, pointing his finger forward. Instantly, his spiritual light flared—he activated his Protective Technique, Light Body Technique, and Sword Control Technique simultaneously. He pulled a stack of talismans from his sleeve and flung them forward.

*Boom!*

Lightning and fireballs erupted. He didn't stop there; he summoned a massive tortoise-shell artifact, which erupted with light to shield him, and manifested his own flying sword. Everything happened in the blink of an eye. Though he didn't know why this man had targeted them, he didn't wait for an explanation. He struck first.