After entering Luofang City and observing the bustling flow of cultivators, Xie Shuci nudged Xie An.

“Xie An, do you think we’ll encounter your enemies here?” Xie Shuci asked with concern.

Xie An replied calmly, “No need to worry. Even if we encounter them, they won’t resort to violence.”

Xie Shuci half-believed and nodded slightly. It seemed that Little Blind wasn’t worried about his true identity being discovered. Furthermore, with various sects and cultivators gathered here, no one would easily take action against them.

“Alright then, let’s find an inn to settle in, and I’ll show you around later,” Xie Shuci said.

Xie An nodded gently, but unintentionally glanced back, his expression flashing with a hint of cold murderous intent.

Unaware of this, Xie Shuci looked like a curious country bumpkin who had just entered the city, widening his eyes to observe the diverse passersby.

As the secret realm was about to open, countless cultivators from outside Luofang City and many curious mortals flocked in. Inns with slightly more luxurious decorations were filled with wealthy and prestigious individuals. After wandering around for a while, Xie Shuci and Xie An finally found a relatively normal small inn, run by an elderly woman.

After settling their luggage, they left the Immortal crane in the stable. Carrying a bag of silver coins, Xie Shuci couldn’t wait to pull Xie An out of the inn.

“Madam, are there any interesting places in Luofang City?” Xie Shuci asked the innkeeper.

The inn was doing particularly well, and the innkeeper smiled, “Today, Manjiang Hall is bustling with excitement. They’ve set up a stage for all the Daoists to compete. If you become the champion, you can enjoy free food and drinks at Manjiang Hall until the secret realm closes. You two guests can go and take a look.”

Excited to hear this, Xie Shuci thanked the innkeeper and led Xie An out of the inn.

Although he wasn’t fond of violence, martial arts competitions were different! It was the most direct way to satisfy a man’s vanity and the epitome of a man’s romance. Xie Shuci was determined to join in the excitement.

As they inquired along the way, they finally found the location of Manjiang Hall. On the way, Xie Shuci got hungry and bought two sugar figurines. He wanted to give one to Xie An, but he refused to eat it. So Xie Shuci held one in each hand and walked among the crowd in a grand manner.

“Fuck! Can a human waist really be this flexible?”

Passing by an art stage, a white-clad dancer was bending down, and Xie Shuci was shocked by the flexibility of her body posture.

Compared to Xie Shuci’s excitement and surprise, Xie An remained calm and quiet. 

Perhaps because of his extraordinary appearance or distant aura, whenever passersby saw him, they couldn’t help but look twice and would instinctively avoid him, leading to the bustling streets being spacious and comfortable only around the two of them.

At this time, Xie Shuci’s attention was completely absorbed by the novelty around him. If it weren’t for Xie An occasionally pulling him, he would have almost left Xie An behind to explore on his own.

They slowly made their way to Manjiang Hall. Peering ahead, Xie Shuci could vaguely see two cultivators dressed differently engaged in a fierce battle on the stage. The crowd erupted with excitement, but the distance was too far for him to enjoy it fully.

“Xie An, it’s crowded here. Stick close to me, so you don’t get lost,” Xie Shuci advised as he turned to Xie An.

Xie An nodded and naturally reached out to grab the hand that Xie Shuci had freed.

“Alright!”

“Helian Zhu is truly outstanding in talent!”

“Yes, among the younger generation, no one can rival him. I believe he’ll become the champion today!”

Cheers erupted from the front row. Xie Shuci tugged Xie An to squeeze through the crowd. Like a slippery eel, he quickly got inside, but Xie An clearly didn’t enjoy doing such things. With three or four people separating them, Xie An tried to pull Xie Shuci back, but Xie Shuci was like an excited little puppy who hadn’t been out for a long time and ran ahead as soon as he got out the door.

The hand that had held them together was quickly separated.

At that moment, Xie Shuci didn’t even realize that he had lost his companion. He was bustling about in the crowd, occasionally receiving scolding as he made his way to the front row.

A disciple cultivator in moon-white robes held a flexible silver sword, displaying graceful movements and a bold demeanor. He advanced with a confident step, engaging in a fierce battle with another cultivator. When the sword tip pierced towards the opponent, the flexible blade suddenly coiled around the other disciple’s arm like a water snake. The disciple cried out in pain, his arm going limp, and his weapon dropped to the ground.

The disciple with the flexible sword didn’t hesitate at all. He immediately spun around, kicking the other disciple off the stage.

“Amazing!” Xie Shuci applauded enthusiastically along with the crowd. Cheers continued to resound from the audience.

Helian Zhu stepped to the edge of the stage, kicked the opponent’s weapon off the platform, and clasped his hands around the flexible sword, bowing politely. 

His expression was openly arrogant, it seemed he didn’t care about the disciple who had fallen below the stage.

The defeated disciple blushed, his face showing embarrassment as he quickly picked up his weapon, pushing through the crowd and leaving.

Xie Shuci was still enjoying the spectacle when he was suddenly pushed aside. Before he could stabilize his footing, he stumbled forward.

“Fuck? Can’t you watch where you’re going?”

Xie Shuci managed to steady himself after stumbling and nearly falling flat on his face. If I fell in front of so many people, wouldn’t I, Young Master Xie lose my face?

Rolling his eyes, Xie Shuci was about to go back when Helian Zhu on the stage called out to him, “This Brother, do you want to give it a try?”

Xie Shuci turned around in confusion, realizing that the disciple on the stage with the flexible sword was looking at him with a playful expression.

Xie Shuci pointed at himself, “Are you talking to me?”

Helian Zhu raised an eyebrow, “Otherwise?”

“No, no, I can’t.” Xie Shuci quickly shook his head. He wanted to join in the fun, but wouldn’t it be embarrassing for him to go up and compete?

Helian Zhu snorted coldly, raising his chin disdainfully. “Coward.”

Three big question marks seemed to pop up on Xie Shuci’s forehead. “Who are you calling a coward?”

Xie Shuci was confused. He was just standing there, minding his own business, and now he was inexplicably being called a coward. He was a man of peace, so who did he offend?

“If you dare not even step up to the stage to compete, what else would you be if not a coward?” Helian Zhu retorted with contempt.

“Who says I dare not? I’m just giving you face so that you won’t be the one embarrassed later.” Xie Shuci pretended to speak with a serious tone, imitating the disciples’ mannerisms as he looked down upon Helian Zhu.

Helian Zhu was a rare genius among his peers, an exceptional existence in the sect. No one had ever dared to underestimate him like this!

Now, being ridiculed by an apparently casual cultivator, he was immediately filled with anger. “Then let’s have a match and see who will be the one embarrassed!”

Xie Shuci didn’t dare to go up, so he could only rely on his quick wit and sharp tongue. If he went up there, he would probably end up getting chased and beaten by people.

“I won’t compete with you. What can you do to me?” Xie Shuci continued. “I cherish peace and don’t like to resort to violence to solve problems.”

Helian Zhu’s neck nearly twisted from frustration. “Enough nonsense, be a man, and come up!”

Xie Shuci felt that he was not a man. He was still a pure and innocent young boy both physically and mentally.

Just as Xie Shuci was about to speak, a mellow male voice sounded from behind, laced with a shallow hint of laughter. The voice wasn’t loud, but it was clear and pleasing to the ears.

“This young man is carrying a bronze cauldron with him, so he should be an alchemist. Young master Helian, publicly challenging an alchemist to a duel in front of everyone, even if you win, it’s hardly commendable.”

Xie Shuci turned around to find a man sitting in a wooden wheelchair. The man had an extraordinary appearance and a gentle aura. A warm smile adorned his face, and when he caught Xie Shuci’s gaze, he nodded slightly in response.

Upon hearing his words, both Helian Zhu on the stage and the people below shifted their attention to Xie Shuci.

For convenience, when Xie Shuci left his hometown, he bought a waist pouch, similar to a modern-day bag, to carry around the things in his hands. He stored some silver coins and pills in it, and there was also a small bronze cauldron. He thought the cauldron was of little use and perhaps he could pawn it at some shop.

Seeing everyone’s focus on his small waist pouch, Xie Shuci slowly lowered his head, only to find that the corner of the bronze cauldron was visible. He decided to take it out.

“It’s truly a bronze pill cauldron!”

“This young man is indeed an alchemist!”

“Helian Family’s disciples really have some audacity, actually trying to challenge an alchemist to a duel? Aren’t they afraid of becoming the laughingstock of others?”

“Yeah, it’s the first time I’ve seen someone pick a fight with an alchemist. Shameless, really.”

Alchemists, in general, were kind-hearted healers and required a special constitution. Therefore, alchemists were both rare and precious. Among all types of cultivators in the cultivation world, alchemists held the most esteemed status. Although they generally lacked combat power, there was an unwritten rule in the cultivation world that no one could harm or offend alchemists. Anyone who did so would face the wrath of all the disciples from various sects.

This rule was similar to the “Red Cross” on the battlefield, an entity that must not be violated or harmed. [1]

As the discussions grew louder, there were some individuals who were envious of Helian Zhu’s talent and took the opportunity to make trouble for him.

Helian Zhu’s face grew increasingly unpleasant, he gritted his teeth as he asked, “Are you an alchemist?”

Xie Shuci blinked innocently and raised the bronze pill cauldron in his hand. He replied with a question, “What do you think?”

“You still have the nerve to question others?”

“Bronze is the most precious material for alchemical cauldrons. Usually, only the prominent families of alchemists can produce one.”

“I wonder if this young man can refine the Resurrection Pill? I have prepared all the necessary materials. If you can refine it, I will pay handsomely for it.”

Xie Shuci was relishing the treatment of being admired by everyone, and his tail was about to wag in the sky. “It’s nothing, it’s nothing. I’m not someone who cares about money. Alchemy depends purely on my mood.”

Xie Shuci was truly a master at bragging, and he did it without any trace of guilt.

Although Helian Zhu was criticized harshly, there were rules in the cultivation world that one must never easily offend alchemists. Even their Helian Family had a considerable need for pills from other alchemists. 

Moreover, alchemists were extremely scarce, so they had to sympathize with each other. Once someone harmed or stole from an alchemist, they would face the enmity of all alchemists and probably never obtain a single pill ever again.

In this situation, Helian Zhu couldn’t vent his anger freely. His face turned from red to pale, and he questioned, “You’re an alchemist, why don’t you stay at home and refine pills? Why come here?”

Xie Shuci rolled his eyes at him and retorted, “Is your home the one who made the rules? Why are you meddling so much?”

Helian Zhu was almost driven to the brink of madness by Xie Shuci’s words. Seeing the situation getting out of control, the person in charge of the Manjiang Hall stepped in to mediate.

“Everyone, please calm down to avoid scaring the young alchemist. Today’s matter was indeed an accident. In order to apologize to the young master, before the closure of the secret realm, the young master can dine with his companions at Manjiang Hall, and we won’t charge any payment.”

The head of Manjiang Hall stepped forward to resolve the situation, and the others didn’t continue arguing.

Xie Shuci didn’t expect that trying to join in the fun would get him a free pie from the sky. He felt a bit light-headed for a moment.

At the same time, the sound of galloping hooves suddenly resounded from the back of the crowd.

Several disciples from the Helian family jumped off their horses and gracefully landed on the stage, flying over the heads of the crowd.

“Senior Brother, something big has happened! All twelve female disciples from the Hehuan Sect were ruthlessly killed in the city!” one of the disciples said as he half-kneeled before Helian Zhu.

After hearing this, the expressions of the cultivators present turned solemn.

The ‘Furnace’ cultivation method of the Hehuan Sect had always been seen as despicable by the outside world. However, no one dared to question their strength. Most of the disciples who came to the secret realm this time were powerful cultivators from various sects, and the Hehuan Sect was no exception. Who could have the ability to kill twelve high-level disciples of the Hehuan Sect at the same time?

Just as everyone was puzzled, the disciple continued with a trembling voice, “All twelve bodies were severed by a single slash across the Golden Core. It directly cut off their life channels. This person’s heart is malicious, and the killing method is the same as the path of slaughter…”

As he spoke, the disciple’s teeth chattered, revealing a frightened expression.

Countless gasps resounded in the crowd, and some of the spirited young disciples’ faces turned pale.

Xie Shuci was initially a bit scared, but when he saw that others seemed even more frightened, he couldn’t help but feel puzzled. Why were these cultivators, who were accustomed to fighting, so afraid?

And that moment, he heard the disciple continue, “This person’s heart is malicious, and the killing method is the same as the path of slaughter… There’s no mistaking it, the way of killing is similar to Xiao Xun’s!”

Xie Shuci’s mind buzzed, and everything became blank in an instant.

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[1] The “Red Cross” is a well-known international humanitarian organization that provides aid and assistance to people affected by conflict, disasters, and emergencies. The Red Cross is known for its emblem, a red cross on a white background, which signifies protection and neutrality in times of war and conflict.

During armed conflicts, the Red Cross and its volunteers work to provide medical care, food, shelter, and other essential services to civilians and combatants alike, regardless of their affiliation. The organization follows strict principles of neutrality, impartiality, and independence, ensuring that its humanitarian efforts are not influenced by political, religious, or military interests.