Translator: CinderTL
Whether it was Song Wen's words that had an effect, or Feng Xin simply realized that lying to Song Wen would gain him nothing, he hesitated briefly before flipping his hand to reveal a crystal—the very type he had been mining earlier.
"Senior Ji, I've been mining Worry-Free Stones," Feng Xin reported.
Song Wen examined the crystal in Feng Xin's hand, his brow furrowing in confusion. "Worry-Free Stone? What use does it have?"
"Senior doesn't know about Worry-Free Stones?" Feng Xin blurted out, his surprise evident. But before Song Wen could reply, he began to explain.
"These stones contain pure Primordial Qi. When combined with corpse qi, nether ghost qi, and certain poisons, they can be used to create Worry-Free Bewitching Qi. Just a wisp of this substance can make one... feel like an immortal, their mind adrift in a blissful haze, forgetting all their troubles."
"If what you say is true, little friend, this substance is a corrupting influence. Why are you so determined to find it?" Song Wen asked.
Feng Xin grinned, "Senior, you may not be aware, but for most cultivators, Worry-Free Bewitching Qi is indeed a deadly poison to be avoided at all costs. However, there are always those who crave pleasure, especially arrogant young masters and ladies who know no bounds. They seek only to live in a drunken dream, and they flock to Worry-Free Bewitching Qi like moths to a flame."
He held up a crystal stone and continued, "Just this single Worry-Free Stone can fetch thirty high-grade spirit stones. During my recent expedition, I acquired fourteen such stones, all of which I offer to you, Senior, in gratitude for saving my life."
As he spoke, crystal stones materialized one after another before him.
Song Wen waved his hand in refusal. "No need. I have no interest in such things. Keep them for yourself."
Seeing Song Wen's resolute expression, Feng Xin said no more and stored the stones away.
"Little friend Feng," Song Wen asked, "where did you learn about the Worry-Free Stones in this area? And where do you plan to trade them?"
To refine Worry-Free Bewitching Qi, one needs not only Worry-Free Stones but also corpse qi and Yin Energy. Given that the Southern Nether Continent views rogue cultivators as demons and monsters, such a forbidden substance could never be openly traded.
Feng Xin must have a secret channel, one that allowed him to obtain information about the Worry-Free Stone and secretly trade in this forbidden substance.
After all, given Feng Xin's cultivation level, he couldn't have blindly searched the Primordial Qi Death Zone. He must have known beforehand that the Worry-Free Stone was located there. Moreover, he couldn't have personally peddled the stones to those decadent young masters who craved them; someone else must have been selling them.
Song Wen planned to use Feng Xin to contact more cultivators who frequented the Primordial Qi Death Zone, hoping to use them to explore the mountain valley where the Six Fiends Hall was located.
"In Yangshi City, there's an inn called the Moon-Drawing Pavilion," Feng Xin said. "The shopkeeper there not only posts bounty missions related to the Primordial Qi Death Zone but also buys and sells unique treasures from the region."
Song Wen asked, "Are you acquainted with this shopkeeper, little friend?"
Feng Xin replied, "My cultivation level is too low for the shopkeeper to take me seriously. However, my aunt has some connections with him and can exchange a few words."
"In that case," Song Wen said, "would you mind introducing me?"
"It's a trivial matter," Feng Xin assured him.
Yangshi City was not large, covering only a few dozen li, yet it was bustling with traffic.
People came and went endlessly within the city—there were cultivators as well as ordinary mortals. It was a city where immortals and common folk mingled.
Under Feng Xin's guidance, Song Wen arrived at an inn called Moon Drawing Pavilion.
The inn was quite sizable—the largest in the city.
Entering through the main gate and passing the front hall, rows of separate, self-contained courtyards came into view.
Following a winding path, the two eventually stopped before a courtyard deep within the inn.
"Aunt, your nephew has come to pay his respects," Feng Xin said, knocking on the door.
A moment later—
With a creak, the courtyard gate was opened from the inside, revealing a woman who still retained a mature, lingering charm.
She wore a crimson gauze dress as thin as mist, its front half-open, revealing a plain white bandeau embroidered with twin lotus flowers beneath.
The bandeau sat low, exposing a stretch of snow-white cleavage.
Below, she wore only a pale moon-colored pair of underpants—very short, barely reaching the tops of her thighs. Her long, jade-like legs flickered into view beneath the gauze skirt.
Her red lips curved slightly upward, a lazy, seductive glint at the corners of her eyes. With slender, pale fingers, she lightly tapped Feng Xin on the forehead.
"Well, well, you heartless little thing—so you still remember to come see your aunt?"
Her voice sounded as if it were mixed with honey, the ending rising slightly, making one's heart itch.
Next, her gaze shifted to Song Wen.
"This fellow daoist looks unfamiliar. May I ask your name?"
Before Song Wen could answer, Feng Xin quickly interjected.
"Aunt, this is Senior Ji Lin. While I was mining Worry-Free Stones in the Primordial Qi Death Zone, I was suddenly attacked by a fifth-tier vengeful spirit. Fortunately, Senior Ji intervened and saved me, allowing me to escape with my life."
A faint smile bloomed on the woman's face, carrying a hint of alluring charm.
"So you've saved my nephew's life? Please, come in."
She turned slightly, gesturing toward the courtyard with a graceful wave.
"Greetings, Fellow Daoist Feng. Please, go ahead," Song Wen replied politely.
During their journey here, Feng Xin had introduced Song Wen to this woman.
Her name was Feng Youyou, and she was a late divine transformation stage cultivator. Song Wen, too, was currently displaying a late divine transformation stage cultivation level.
Feng Youyou didn't insist further and stepped into the courtyard.
Feng Xin and Song Wen followed behind her, arriving at a stone table beneath a large tree in the courtyard.
After inviting Song Wen to sit, Feng Youyou said, "Thank you, Fellow Daoist Ji, for saving my nephew's life. After his father's death, he's become my only family in this world."
"Fellow Daoist Feng, you flatter me. It was merely a trivial matter," Song Wen replied.
As he spoke, Song Wen's gaze deliberately, yet subtly, drifted toward the cleavage visible at Feng Youyou's chest.
Feng Youyou noticed Song Wen's gaze but remained unfazed, even subtly puffing out her chest.
After a few polite exchanges, Feng Youyou shifted the conversation.
"Fellow Daoist Ji, what brings you to my humble abode?"
Song Wen replied, "I heard from Little Friend Feng Xin that you have connections in Yangshi City and can obtain rare items from the Primordial Qi Death Zone, which you then sell for spirit stones. As a rogue cultivator, I've always struggled financially. I was hoping you could share some insights on which items from the Death Zone are easiest to sell."
Feng Youyou narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing Song Wen.
"You wish to earn spirit stones?"
Song Wen nodded, his tone tinged with melancholy.
"We rogue cultivators may appear free, but we're like floating duckweed, lacking the protection of a sect or the guidance of a master. We must risk our lives for even the most basic cultivation resources, and most of us live in poverty. I am no exception."
"You speak truly, Fellow Daoist. Life as a rogue cultivator is indeed harsh."
Feng Youyou's gaze shifted, as if struck by a sudden thought. She continued, "Manager Yin has recently been recruiting Divine Transformation Stage cultivators for an expedition to the Primordial Qi Death Zone to retrieve a treasure. I've already agreed to join him. However, whether you can join us is not my decision alone. We'll need Manager Yin and the other two fellow daoists to agree."
(End of the Chapter)
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