Tucking the Heavenly Net Umbrella under his arm and carrying his book chest on his back, Qian Chen walked into Jiaobu Town.
Jiaobu Town was a small settlement that had grown around its wharves. Several major rivers nearby flowed into the Jiuzhen Great Marsh, so branching out from the great lake of Jiuzhen, waterways led in every direction. As long as one stuck to reliable shipping routes, river transport was remarkably convenient. On top of that, every year jianghu braves and travelers from all across the realm ventured deep into the marsh to gather herbs...
Rhinoceros horns, crocodile hides, and precious medicinal ingredients were shipped from here to trade across the two provinces of Jing and Jiao, amounting to tens of millions of taels of silver in annual commerce.
As expected, the town was teeming with jianghu figures. Men from local gangs tucked three-foot willow-leaf shortswords into their sashes; the swordcraft of Wu and Yue was prevalent here, and observing the way their feet shifted, Qian Chen could tell every one of them had a solid foundation.
There were also wandering travelers carrying sabers and swords coming and going, speaking in an assortment of northern and southern accents. The air hung heavy with the scent of alcohol and medicinal incense.
Myrrh, true descent incense, borneol, benzoin, storax, moss incense... these were all fragrant aromatics secreted by plants deep in the marsh. There were also cinnabar, rhino horn, crocodile hide, ivory, azurite, pollia, dendrobium, spirit pearls, fine jade... all manner of goods piled up within the shops, waiting to be carted to the docks and loaded onto ships.
Alone, carrying only an umbrella as he stepped into the town, Qian Chen looked like a white rabbit suddenly popping up among a pack of jackals. He drew assessing gazes of every sort from the hardened men roaming the jianghu...
Fortunately, in broad daylight, no one dared resort to outright violence.
Since Jiaobu Town was built entirely around its port, various shops lined the lakeshore. Taverns, brothels, aromatic dispensaries, and specialty trade shops were abundant. Qian Chen stopped at a shop to ask for directions, only then learning that while the town had no shortage of prominent wealthy houses, the only one that truly qualified as an established aristocratic clan was the Wei clan.
The Wei residence sat within Wuyi Lane, not far from the docks.
"What kind of pedigree does this Wei clan have, daring to live on an alley named Wuyi Lane?"
Qian Chen arrived before a narrow lane barely nine feet wide. Only a few households occupied it, yet their combined footprint rivaled that of the entire dock district. Each residence was a garden estate comprising multiple complexes of buildings, sprawling across grounds comparable to the Humble Administrator's Garden he had visited in his past life—truly profound courtyards and grand mansions whose overall scale was not a whit inferior to the Four Seas Hall of the previous world.
Walking at an unhurried pace from the entrance of the alley, it took Qian Chen nearly three-quarters of an hour to reach the main gates of the Wei residence.
Rows of copper studs studded the vermilion double doors. Two gold-lacquered tiger-head door knockers gripping copper rings looked majestic and fierce. Through Qian Chen's Dharma Eyes, he could see the spirits of two genuine tigers sealed within them—two magical implements consecrated with the blood of white tigers. If an ordinary ghost or specter drew near the entrance, long before the two stone lions could roar, the tiger heads on the knockers would devour it whole.
Qian Chen lifted a copper ring and tapped it twice lightly. The heavy, resonant chime rang out like a tiger's roar, carrying an imposing sense of dignity.
The estate was extraordinarily quiet. If Qian Chen had not observed the vital blood-qi of hundreds of people surging skyward through his qi-gazing sight, he might have assumed the mansion was deserted. Just a few breaths after he knocked, someone quietly cracked open a side door, and a gatekeeper dressed in black silk poked his head out. Customarily, Qian Chen would have had to present a formal visiting card specifying the date and hour of his visit, whereupon the servant would carry the card inside through several layers of stewards before finally securing a response from the master.
In this entire process, making a guest wait outside for several two-hour periods was hardly an exaggeration.
Qian Chen was not inclined to wait that long. Furthermore, having no recognizable lineage or background, handing over a visiting card would likely be ignored; he might wait outside for three days without any result. Thus, he intentionally displayed a bit of skill. With a deft fold of his fingers, he shaped a talisman paper into a paper crane and said to the gatekeeper, "Please lead the way, sir, and inform the master of the Wei estate that a fellow daoist has come to visit and requests an audience."
With that, the paper crane flapped its wings and fluttered right in front of the gatekeeper.
At this point, how could the gatekeeper dare show any slight? He hastily invited Qian Chen inside and ran off to report to the head steward... The steward had no choice but to usher Qian Chen toward the main hall to meet the head of the Wei clan, who was currently entertaining guests.
In the main hall, the patriarch of the Wei clan was hosting a banquet for a black-robed Daoist. Many sat in attendance to accompany them—not only younger members of the Wei clan, but also prominent figures from the nearby Tuolong Gang, the Four Seas Boat Fleet, the Jiuzhen Merchant League, and the Flying Fish Gang.
Wei clan head Wei Lecheng was trading toasts and enjoying the convivial atmosphere when he saw his steward approach, followed by a paper crane. The paper crane dipped its head three times in a nod, then unfolded midair into a letter that fluttered into Wei Lecheng's hand. Qian Chen had jotted down a few brief lines on the talisman paper, stating that the wandering cultivator Qian Chen came to pay his respects to the master of the Wei clan, and so forth.
Seated below Wei Lecheng was his second son, Wei Taiping. Glancing at the salutation that violated standard etiquette for calling cards, he sneered dismissively, "Nothing more than a cheap trick of the heterodox path, yet he dares flaunt it here. Since when does any random jianghu charlatan think he can knock on our Wei clan's door?"
After saying that, Wei Taiping turned to the black-robed Daoist, immediately swapping his expression for an obsequious smile.
"Daoist Priest Zhen possesses profound cultivation attainment and is yet so modest... Had that giant water-lizard from deep within the marsh not prowled close to the wharf today and nearly capsized our Wei clan's cargo boat, we would hardly have had the privilege to witness your prowess. Subduing the beast with a mere flick of the wrist filled this humble junior with utter admiration, which is why I begged repeatedly for your company... I am truly fortunate that you deigned to grace us with your presence."
The black-robed Daoist had remarkably prominent brow ridges—he was none other than the heterodox cultivator who had previously appeared at Sanyang Village.
Raising his cup with a genial smile, he said, "A trivial matter, Young Master Wei exaggerates."
Those present joined in with flattering praise. This Daoist Zhen had reached the Spell Comprehension realm and carried several magical implements on his person; among wandering cultivators, he was considered a figure of remarkable attainment. Save for Wei Lecheng, no one present could match him. Everyone knew how to keep the flattery flowing—after all, praise cost nothing, and if one could forge good karma, why spare a bit of breath?
As Qian Chen walked in behind the steward, he overheard the guests extolling Daoist Zhen's "awe-inspiring divine might" and his immense power in capturing the alligator with a single finger.
At once, he felt rather embarrassed.
*My skill at playing the jianghu flattery and reputation game isn't even at beginner level! Here I thought displaying a little trick to smoothly pass through these high gates was rather clever. Looking back now, it just makes me seem like a third-rate charlatan pitching himself. Had I known, I wouldn't have bothered with any paper crane message. The bar was set too low. If I had soared in on sword-light and cultivated the persona of an aloof sword immortal, I wouldn't be in such an awkward spot, looking like someone who's come begging for favors!*
Qian Chen reflected on his method: the other man had made a move and been invited inside with great ceremony, whereas he had "requested an audience"...
In an instant, his standing had been thoroughly outclassed!
Seeing Qian Chen enter, a strange glint flickered in Daoist Zhen's eyes. Shifting the conversation, he seemingly offhandedly remarked that Jiaobu Town was blessed with remarkable people and auspicious land, possessing exceptional fengshui, and that nearby grew a great plum tree whose canopy spanned several mu.
Catching the hint, someone picked up the thread and brought up what had recently occurred in Sanyang Village.
The second-in-command of the Tuolong Gang launched into a vivid recounting of the monstrous serpent hidden within the great plum tree, and how a passing expert sensed its presence and bestowed a magical implement to slay the demon.
Throughout this, the black-robed Daoist closely observed Qian Chen's expression, yet Qian Chen appeared completely nonchalant, showing no particular reaction.
*Could it not be him? No... how could there be such a coincidence? A passing cultivator just eliminated the great serpent I spent years rearing, and now another one visits the Wei family of Jiaobu Town?*
Intent on testing the waters, the black-robed Daoist laughed and said, "Speaking of which, what a coincidence—that happened to be my doing as I passed through Sanyang Village!" With that, he watched Qian Chen's face. Hearing this, Qian Chen merely lifted his head, looking mildly puzzled. Could one say he had no reaction? There seemed to be a flicker of curiosity. But could one say he had a reaction? He showed none of the fury of someone whose credit had just been stolen...
The black-robed Daoist was not afraid of being exposed. If Qian Chen tossed out the serpent's carcass right then, it would certainly cost him face, but it would also confirm that Qian Chen was the one who had ruined his plans. Down the line, whether through schemes or force, he would find a way to get those serpent bones. As for face, what did face matter to a cultivator? Even if he lost face, would it hurt him in the slightest?
Yet Qian Chen's ambiguous reaction fell right in the grey zone between being involved and having no connection at all.
It truly made it difficult for him to tell...
*This man has quite some depth!* After turning various thoughts over in his mind, Daoist Zhen still resolved to probe him. Even if he made an enemy of this person, it was no great matter. After all, once they parted ways in the jianghu, they might never meet again; such karma carried no real burden.
In truth, Qian Chen genuinely did not care... He was merely a little surprised. This black-robed Daoist possessed no weak cultivation, and slaying a serpent demon was a minor feat, so why risk embarrassment just to claim someone else's merit? Besides, Qian Chen had no interest in bursting someone's bubble of pretension...
As the saying went: stopping someone from putting on airs was like murdering their parents...
Without further ado, he calmly paid his respects to the master of the house, Wei Lecheng.
Wei Lecheng did not snub Qian Chen either. After inviting him to take a seat, he smiled and asked, "Fellow Daoist, what brings you to our humble estate?"
Having met the head of the house, Qian Chen abandoned all unnecessary pretense and replied straightforwardly, "I intend to venture into the great marsh to gather herbs. Being unfamiliar with the routes and fearing I might lose my way, I hoped to exchange spirit pills with Patriarch Wei for a map of the marsh."
Before Wei Lecheng could answer, Daoist Zhen chimed in, "Oh! Offering spirit pills in exchange? If they are of superior quality, the trade would not be unfair. But if their quality is lacking, asking to trade them for a secret map of the marsh—a vital heirloom essential to running a clan's livelihood—would be rather improper."
He smiled and asked, "Did Fellow Daoist refine these spirit pills yourself?"
Qian Chen nodded. "They are indeed of my own making, and their quality should not be lacking. I believe they are more than sufficient to trade for a secret map."
Hearing this, Daoist Zhen shook his head. "If you know how to refine spirit pills, why are you so ignorant of the rules?" This remark caught the guests off guard; none of them understood why Daoist Zhen had suddenly turned on this visiting young Daoist. Qian Chen was also somewhat puzzled, though it was hardly enough to ruffle his temper. He replied politely, "What does Fellow Daoist mean by that?"
Only then did Daoist Zhen sweep his sleeve across the table and declare, "The heading on your greeting card marked you as a wandering jianghu traveler, which shows you have no pedigree... Pills are consumed internally, an affair of paramount importance! If an alchemist harbors foul intentions... wouldn't that tarnish the reputation of our craft? Therefore, unless refined by an alchemist of verified lineage whose background is thoroughly known, spirit pills may not circulate... For an ordinary wandering cultivator of unknown origins to demand an exchange just by brandishing a few pills—"
"—do you think that is appropriate?"
Hearing this, Qian Chen reflected upon his own rashness. Earlier, Cui Dan had treated the pill like an invaluable treasure, which had unconsciously inflated Qian Chen's expectations for his own spirit pills. Although qi dan were indeed marvelous, worth far more than ten thousand pieces of gold to those who recognized them—so much so that trading one for a map actually demeaned its worth...
...as the old saying went: treasures are sold to those who discern their value; goods are bestowed upon those destined to receive them.
He had neither fame nor standing, nor could he openly declare himself a true transmission disciple of Taishang Dao... To produce pills refined in such an unassuming manner and propose trading them for the map that an aristocratic family relied upon for their yearly livelihood was indeed rather presumptuous. He ought to have offered hard currency whose value even the undiscerning could readily comprehend.
Such as the mountain of magical implement prototypes and raw materials piled inside his Qiankun bag!
Qian Chen nodded slightly. "It was indeed presumptuous of me! If spirit pills are unacceptable, I can also..."
Daoist Zhen raised a hand to cut him off and continued, "Therefore, according to the custom of alchemists, when arriving at a new place before making a name for oneself, selling or trading pills requires holding a pill assembly—refining pills with one's own hands before interested peers using spirit medicine provided by local fellow practitioners. This demonstrates open and honest conduct, under the supervision of all, to prevent the alchemist from tampering with the pills."
"Why not simply have interested buyers inspect them in person?" Qian Chen asked curiously. "A careful examination might not prevent every trick, but it should still reveal seventy or eighty percent of any foul play, wouldn't it?"
Daoist Zhen let out a sneer, as if this conclusively proved Qian Chen was a complete layman.
He scoffed, "If a trick is concealed within a pill, how could an ordinary cultivator detect it?"
Qian Chen was taken aback. "They can't?"
At this, even the Wei clan serving boys who had barely crossed the threshold of cultivation could not help covering their mouths and giggling, realizing he was an amateur. Only upon careful reflection did Qian Chen reach an epiphany: mundane cultivators broke through the threshold of Sensing in a far cruder manner than he had imagined. Cultivators incapable of perceiving the subtle primordial qi within spirit pills were far more numerous than he had assumed.
Whether a spirit pill's medicinal properties were pure, and perceiving the subtlety of its primordial qi... to a disciple of Daoist orthodoxy's true transmission, that was merely a matter of sweeping over it with spiritual sense.
Who could have thought that in the mortal world, this actually counted as an extraordinary skill?
Qian Chen continued his self-reflection. He had made the mistake of taking things for granted once again, constantly measuring ordinary wandering cultivators and clan scions by his own standards and horizons. Judging by Cui Dan's cultivation level, a Core Formation demonic cultivator like his mortal foe Miaokong was actually considered a titan of the demonic path in the secular realm...
Yet he had thought Miaokong could be crushed like a bug by Taishang Dao... Though against a Yuanshen Perfected One, that was indeed the case.
Still, Miaokong had wiped out the entire Louguan Dao sect!
In this secular world, a Yuanshen Perfected One was likely already a legend akin to the ancient immortals.
Even during missions in the Reincarnation Lands, in small worlds whose heritage fell far short of the Central Lands and the higher heavens, figures like the Twelve Yuan Chen whom Qian Chen had encountered were already the foremost experts of an entire realm, the very pinnacle of that world's essence.
Their knowledge and cultivation might not match common cultivators of the Central Lands, but in terms of aptitude, temperament, and foundational roots, they were already first-rate heroes.
While the Central Lands were blessed with remarkable people and land, the most exceptional handful were concentrated among the true transmissions of Daoism, Buddhism, and the demonic path. Those a notch below were scattered across the vast world, of which the mortal realm occupied barely one percent. The remaining ordinary aristocratic scions and prominent wandering cultivators, though not lacking in knowledge and cultivation, were still far inferior in temperament, grueling trials, and personal caliber to the elite of the elite who rose to become the supreme masters of an entire world.
*I thought the average caliber of cultivators in this world was roughly one-tenth of mine, but it seems I was overly optimistic! Truly, without investigation, one has no right to speak!*
Qian Chen could not help sighing with feeling. Giving Daoist Zhen a slight bow, he said, "I have been enlightened."
Chapter 52