Yun Ze’s heart trembled, and a flicker of panic flashed in his eyes!
He instinctively wanted to take a step back, intending to re-enter the barrier!
But at that moment, he felt as if all his spiritual energy was locked by something, making it impossible to circulate. He was pushed back as he tried to retreat!
What was going on!
"Kid, hand it over!"
As soon as the voice fell, a person in a black cloak slowly emerged from the bushes, their face hidden.
Just one person?
"Hand over what?"
Yun Ze instinctively pulled his hood down a bit further, pretending not to know what the other person was talking about.
"Still playing dumb, huh?"
The other person took a step forward, casually pulling out a bead that emitted a frosty white light: "This is the Barrier Breaking Bead, capable of shattering all kinds of barriers!
I noticed you pretending to be a guide on your first day, kid. It was just inconvenient to expose you in the Immortal Market!
Now that you've even taken off your gray robe, how can I not recognize you?"
A spiritual artifact!
Yun Ze frowned, never expecting such a thing to happen!
However, since he could confirm his identity, why bother with further explanations?
If he couldn't circulate spiritual energy, wouldn't it be easier to subdue him directly?
Unless…
His situation was the same as his own!
"How about it?"
The man’s lips curved upwards, and he smiled at Yun Ze, "Quickly, the Earth Soul…"
Forget it, he’d take a gamble!
*Swish!*
Yun Ze didn't waste any more words. He stepped on the Shadow Chasing boots beneath his feet and sprinted towards the capital!
Although he couldn't muster any spiritual energy, the Shadow Chasing boots were a second-tier spiritual artifact!
Their innate lightness-enhancing effect was negligible to a cultivator at the Xian He stage, but for someone in the Qi Refining stage, it was comparable to the full speed of a Qi Refining fifth-level cultivator!
Moreover, this function didn't require spiritual energy to activate; it worked as long as it was worn on the feet.
If he hadn't had this trump card, Yun Ze wouldn't have dared to formulate this plan.
Before the other person could finish speaking, a blur of afterimages streaked past him, heading towards the capital!
"A spiritual artifact?"
The other person looked at Yun Ze's retreating back, a slight curve appearing on his lips, "Who doesn't have one?"
As soon as the words fell, another blur flashed through the small grove!
Yun Ze sensed the movement behind him and instinctively turned to look.
That guy was right on his heels!
No!
He still couldn't feel any spiritual energy fluctuations from the other person. Could it be…
Yun Ze lowered his gaze to the other person's feet.
Indeed!
Those were also a pair of spiritual artifact boots!
"Hey! Why don't you stop running!"
The man's voice rang out again, "Just hand over the Earth Soul Liquid, and I won't treat you badly! One hundred thousand! I'll give you one hundred thousand spirit stones, alright?"
One hundred thousand spirit stones? Who would believe you!
Although this person had many spiritual artifacts, if he truly had one hundred thousand spirit stones, why wouldn't he buy a drop of Earth Soul Liquid himself?
Yun Ze wasn't stupid. Not only did he not stop, but he sped up again, intending to lose the other person!
Going to the Shadow Jade Pavilion alone was one thing, but having a tail following him was another.
The two of them sprinted towards the capital, and in less than ten breaths, they saw the city walls!
At this hour, the city gates were naturally closed, but besides the gates, there were other ways to enter the city!
The city walls themselves were a path!
Yun Ze climbed the city walls, and in less than three breaths, he scaled the tens of meters high wall, then leaped down from the ramparts, landing within the capital!
The other person followed closely, still shouting his offer!
In just a dozen breaths, the price he quoted had risen from one hundred thousand spirit stones to five hundred thousand spirit stones!
Although these were only first-grade spirit stones, to Yun Ze, they were still an astronomical sum!
Therefore, he became increasingly convinced that the other person couldn't actually produce that many spirit stones.
A person in Immortal Prefecture attire on the city wall saw the two of them.
However, he merely watched and didn't interfere.
He had already received the message not to bother with the Qi Refining cultivators entering through this gate today.
Since he was told not to bother, he naturally pretended not to see them.
After entering the city, Yun Ze didn't hesitate and continued to sprint forward!
He had studied the map of the capital beforehand and quickly recalled the location of Misty Moon Alley, then rushed straight there!
He and Ji Shan had discussed placing the information at the second-to-last auction.
With only fifteen minutes until the auction began, and considering the time, he had at least another twenty-five minutes to handle this matter before heading to the Shadow Jade Pavilion!
"Six hundred thousand!"
The other person shouted another astronomical price, chasing after Yun Ze and yelling, "If you don't agree, don't blame me for taking action!"
As if it were true!
If you could actually produce six hundred thousand, why would I be running? I would have handed it over with both hands long ago!
"Fine! Still running, huh! Then don't blame me for being merciless!"
Yun Ze ignored him.
But in the next instant, he felt his spiritual energy within him begin to flow again, and a terrifying fluctuation erupted behind him!
He didn't dare to waste time turning his head. He quickly channeled spiritual energy into the Shadow Chasing boots, concealed his form, and then darted into an alley!
"Hmm?"
The terrifying fluctuation gradually disappeared. The black-cloaked figure stood in place, frowning, "Another barrier?"
Seeing him frantically pull out the Barrier Breaking Bead, Yun Ze's heart trembled, and he turned to flee!
But in the next moment, the Barrier Breaking Bead showed no reaction, merely shimmering with frost under the moonlight.
"A second-tier spiritual artifact?"
The black-cloaked figure muttered, frowning as he put away the Barrier Breaking Bead. He then shouted, "Kid! I know you're watching nearby!
Six hundred thousand spirit stones is not a small sum! If I weren't in urgent need, it wouldn't be this price! As long as you agree, we can conduct the transaction under the supervision of the Immortal Prefecture! I'll cover the commission!
You'll also gain the friendship of the Mu family!"
"What are you yelling about in the middle of the night!"
A nearby resident, woken by the noise, yelled at the black-cloaked figure without regard for anything else, "Keep making noise and I'll report you to the authorities!"
Seeing that Yun Ze hadn't responded, the black-cloaked figure assumed he had slipped away and had no choice but to stop speaking, turning to walk towards the city outskirts.
Yun Ze breathed a sigh of relief.
He had finally managed to shake off that guy.
He stepped on the Shadow Chasing boots, maintaining the spiritual energy infusion, and quickly headed towards Misty Moon Alley.
As soon as he reached the alley entrance, he froze.
This Misty Moon Alley was entirely filled with seafood merchants!
Even though it was late at night, Misty Moon Alley was still brightly lit, as if it were daytime.
Countless pavilions stood on either side of the alley, with endless streams of people coming and going. Large numbers of carriages were parked nearby, and the buildings were filled with the sounds of singing and laughter.
He couldn't help but take a deep breath, but the scent of perfume from outside the alley was almost suffocating.
If he went inside, he feared he would be overwhelmed by the cloying atmosphere in less than fifteen minutes!
This was Misty Moon Alley?!
And the Shadow Jade Pavilion was built in such a place?
Yun Ze's eyes were filled with disbelief, but he didn't believe Ji Shan and Sister Fu Yue would lie to him about such a thing, so he still stepped inside.
He held his breath and pushed through the crowd, finally traversing the kilometer-long 'small' alley and spotting a tower.
This tower was incredibly serene, completely different from the liveliness of Misty Moon Alley, appearing even desolate.
Yun Ze stepped forward, severed the spiritual energy connection with the Shadow Chasing boots, and raised his hand to knock.
"Junior Yun Ze, introduced by fellow Daoist Fu Yue."
The tower was silent. After several breaths, a voice finally sounded.
"Enter."
"Yes."
Yun Ze replied, pushed open the door, and stepped inside.
But the moment the door was pushed open, he was utterly stunned by the sight before him.