Chapter One: Journey to the Crimson Rock Plateau

Li Chengzhu sat cross-legged on the ground, a pile of high-grade spirit stones before him, grinning so widely that his mouth could barely close. The title of City Lord truly carried weight—no sooner had he made his announcement than cultivators from all directions rushed over, clamoring to trade with him. Among them, three experts at the Tribulation Crossing stage each bought two swords. What surprised Li Chengzhu most was that these three were triplets. To see triplets in the Immortal Realm, and all at such a high stage of cultivation, was truly eye-opening.

A Nascent Soul stage cultivator, upon hearing that a single high-grade flying sword cost fifteen high-grade spirit stones, immediately turned and fled. Li Chengzhu was momentarily worried that his price was too steep, but before long, the same cultivator flew back from afar, shouting, “To hell with it, I’ll trade a piece of ten-thousand-year Fire Crystal—no one fight me for it!”

Xiaoying, unable to watch the man suffer such a loss, handed him three swords instead, earning his endless gratitude as he departed. Li Chengzhu, on the other hand, felt his heart ache at the sight. Even so, this sale greatly enriched Li Chengzhu—aside from the two swords Xiaoying had picked out for herself, he sold fifty high-grade flying swords and ten mid-grade ones, earning four hundred and thirty-five high-grade spirit stones and a single piece of ten-thousand-year Fire Crystal.

Li Chengzhu had not anticipated such brisk sales for his high-grade flying swords. Only after asking Xiaoying did he learn that, for cultivators at the lowest level, not only were spiritual stones and forging materials scarce, but even good forging techniques were hard to come by. If it weren’t for Li Chengzhu’s bulk purchasing of materials, Little Thing’s thefts of high-level goods, and Xiaoying’s advanced forging methods, there would be no way to produce so many high-grade flying swords—indeed, even the city’s weapon shop owner only had a handful in stock.

Though they had agreed Xiaoying would only receive a five percent share, Li Chengzhu, feigning generosity, rounded up her cut and gave her the extra. Xiaoying was quite pleased, though compared to Li Chengzhu, the true boss, her gains paled in comparison.

Most of those who bought flying swords were cultivators planning to follow Gu Linglong to the Red Rock Plateau. Thus, three-quarters of the twenty high-grade spirit stones distributed to each participant ended up in Li Chengzhu’s pocket.

Xiaoying stood at his side, openly deriding Li Chengzhu for profiteering from war, calling him utterly heartless.

Flush with funds, Li Chengzhu bought several new outfits, dressing himself in dashing fashion. As he strutted down the street with a swagger, his expression was smug and self-satisfied.

The day of the summons drew near, and finally, Gu Linglong appeared at the City Lord’s manor.

Li Chengzhu cast sidelong glances at his first woman, finding her more pleasing and beautiful the longer he looked, though her ever-indifferent expression toward all things was somewhat irksome.

This time, the two met without a hint of awkwardness. Li Chengzhu, thick-skinned as ever, stared directly at Gu Linglong as though he would devour her.

Once a woman has slept in my bed, she’s mine! he vowed inwardly. I don’t care if you’re an immortal—if you’ve slept with me, you’re my woman.

Xiaoying, the true orchestrator of the affair, was a little uneasy at the side, silently praying her elder sister wouldn’t be angry.

Gu Linglong, however, remained poised and calm, paying no heed to Li Chengzhu’s passionate, domineering gaze. She merely questioned Xiaoying about the current state of those who had received the summons, to which Xiaoying answered in detail.

On the 20th day of the sixth month, in the year 4797 of the Celestial Accord, with half a month left before the appointed day, Gu Linglong finally gathered the hundred cultivators in the city who had reached the Nascent Soul stage or above, and led them toward the Red Rock Plateau. Though those at the Fusion stage and beyond could use the art of instant transmission, doing so required a vast expenditure of energy—it was no small feat to tear open space and overlap dimensions by one’s own power. Thus, such techniques were reserved for emergencies or combat. Besides, the destination was rather distant, and flying was more economical than teleporting. Moreover, many in the group were only at the Nascent Soul stage and could not use instant transmission at all, so Gu Linglong decided to lead everyone in flight to the Red Rock Plateau.

Li Chengzhu and Xiaoying joined the group, bringing the total to one hundred and three. Given that Xiaoying was in the latter stage of the Nascent Soul realm, her presence made sense. Others, however, were puzzled to see a mere middle-stage Soul Departure cultivator among them, and their curious gazes turned to Gu Linglong. She remained unmoved, intent on the journey.

Xiaoying sidled up to her boss and whispered, “Why are you following along?”

Li Chengzhu snorted, lowering his voice. “Hmph, look at that pretty boy up ahead. It’s obvious he’s got designs on my wife. If I don’t come along, how can I be at ease?”

Gu Linglong, flying ahead, seemed to falter for just a moment before, without missing a beat, she used her sword-riding technique again in a seamless transition that went unnoticed by everyone else. Li Chengzhu, keeping a close eye on her, saw it all clearly.

Xiaoying blushed, then spat, “Your wife? Shameless.”

Li Chengzhu pursed his lips and chuckled. “Do you really think your sister can’t hear us talking? With her cultivation, she certainly can. See, she’s not even objecting—why are you so anxious?”

Xiaoying quietly agreed. Glancing up at Gu Linglong, she saw her sister’s fists clenched tightly. Though she said nothing, Xiaoying could tell she had heard every word.

Li Chengzhu wore a look of smug satisfaction.

Suddenly, the man in white who had been following Gu Linglong turned and shot Li Chengzhu an icy glare.

Li Chengzhu felt a sharp spiritual attack pierce his mind. Alarmed, he quickly drew on the power of his Nascent Soul to resist, barely managing to fend off the assault.

The white-clad man uttered a surprised “hmph” but, though he longed to teach Li Chengzhu a lesson, with Gu Linglong right in front of him, he thought better of it and turned back to the journey.

Li Chengzhu paused in his tracks, and Xiaoying halted as well. “What’s wrong?” she asked.

Li Chengzhu, his face dark with anger, growled, “It’s nothing. Just got bitten by a mosquito,” then quickened his pace to catch up.

Though Xiaoying found it odd, since Li Chengzhu offered no explanation, she didn’t press the matter.

The man in white, meanwhile, was bewildered—a single strike from someone at the Grand Ascension stage should have easily overwhelmed a mere Soul Departure cultivator, yet Li Chengzhu was completely unscathed. He could only surmise that Li Chengzhu possessed some powerful defensive artifact.

That man in white shadowed Gu Linglong everywhere. Though he said and did nothing, Li Chengzhu could see his intentions toward her. What he’d said to Xiaoying had been only a jest, yet the man had actually attacked him—if not for the Nascent Soul’s celestial energy countering the assault, his mind would surely have suffered.

Li Chengzhu was furious. That man in white was so petty!

If I don’t make you pay, I’m not worthy of the name Li! he fumed.

Whether by design or not, Gu Linglong led the group in a relentless flight for three days without stopping. Those at the Fusion stage and above were fine, as their bodies contained vast reserves of spiritual energy and three days’ travel was nothing to them. Those below the Fusion stage, however, began to feel the strain—even Xiaoying’s forehead was beaded with sweat.