269: Chapter 269 The Masked Old Man

"Enough."

The Masked Old Man, who had been resting with his eyes closed, raised his withered palm at some point and lightly brushed it against the phantom image of the "Thousand-Jun Suppression" giant seal that was pressing down.

There was no light, no loud explosion.

That giant seal phantom, as heavy as a mountain, actually collapsed like a sand sculpture blown away by the wind!

Along with it, the heavy pressure instantly vanished.

"?!"

Ah Fu groaned, his face turned pale, and he stumbled back half a step, his eyes filled with horror.

The Martial Skill he had executed with all his strength was actually neutralized so effortlessly by the opponent?

What was this old man's cultivation level?!

Ling Jianming's pupils also shrank sharply as he stared at the Masked Old Man, his expression darkening: "Who are you, Your Excellency? Do you intend to interfere in the affairs of my Wanren Sword Pavilion?"

The old man remained seated behind the stall, slowly putting away Ye Tian's three hundred Spirit Stones, and said raspily: "Huihai Market has the rules of Huihai Market."

"The transaction is complete, the money and goods are settled."

"Once you are out of this market, I don't care if you fight to the death."

"But within three feet of my stall..."

He paused, lifted his cloudy eyes, and glanced at Ling Jianming and Ah Fu, "No violence is allowed. If you break the rules, I'll have to clear the area."

His tone carried a terrifying aura as deep as an abyss; although only a sliver was released, it made Ling Jianming and Ah Fu's scalps tingle and their Souls tremble instantly!

This aura... was far beyond the True Martial Realm!

It might even be deeper and more terrifying than their Pavilion Master, Ling Juexiao!

Late Stage of the Sea Transformation Realm?

Or even... higher?

Ling Jianming's expression shifted, his heart filled with uncertainty and suspicion.

He knew that the waters of Huihai Market were deep and hidden old monsters, but he hadn't expected a random old man selling junk to be so terrifying!

The opponent was clearly upholding the rule that "violence is forbidden in the market's trading area," rather than specifically helping that kid.

But this rule happened to become the kid's protective talisman!

He stared fixedly at Ye Tian, who had retreated to the edge of the shadow of the old man's stall, then looked at the unfathomable Masked Old Man, his mind rapidly weighing the options.

Forcing a move might not successfully capture Ye Tian under this old monster's nose; instead, it might provoke him, which wouldn't be worth the loss.

But the temptation of the ancient sword pill was simply too great!

"Senior,"

Ling Jianming suppressed his anger and cupped his fists toward the old man, his tone much more respectful, "This person possesses a lost treasure of my Sword Pavilion, which is of great importance."

"I ask Senior to grant me some convenience and allow this Junior to take him out of the market for processing."

"My Wanren Sword Pavilion will surely offer a generous reward!"

The old man didn't even lift his eyelids, just waved his withered hand like shooing a fly: "Once out of the market, do as you please. Inside the market, be quiet."

His attitude was clear, with no room for negotiation.

Ling Jianming gritted his teeth, knowing he couldn't make a move inside the market today.

He looked coldly at Ye Tian, wishing he could devour him alive, and said word by word: "Kid, do you think you're safe hiding here? You'll have to leave this Huihai Market eventually! This Young Master will be waiting for you outside!"

"Let's see how long you can hide! Let's go!"

He waved his hand resentfully and quickly retreated with Ah Fu and the others, but they didn't leave Huihai Market. Instead, they moved to another stall not far away, pretending to check the goods while keeping their gaze locked on Ye Tian's location, clearly determined to wait for him to leave the vicinity of the old man's stall or the market itself before striking like a thunderbolt.

Seeing the conflict pause, the surrounding crowd's atmosphere became even more eerie, and low whispers broke out: "Who is that old man? Such a strong aura!"

"Never heard of him, Huihai Market is truly a place of crouching tigers and hidden dragons..."

"Wanren Sword Pavilion actually backed down? But then again, that old monster is not to be trifled with."

"But that kid is in trouble. Targeted by Ling Jianming and carrying a heavy treasure, he'll likely suffer as soon as he leaves Huihai Market."

"Hehe, maybe someone else will make a move before he even leaves the market..."

Some malicious gazes flickered in the shadows.

The pressure hadn't lifted; instead, it had shifted from the surface into more dangerous undercurrents.

Standing in the shadow of the old man's stall, Ye Tian seemed temporarily safe, but he was actually in the eye of the storm, surrounded by peril.

He could feel at least ten malicious auras faintly locked onto him, some from Ling Jianming's direction and others from other dark corners of the market.

He took a deep breath and bowed to the mysterious old man: "Thank you for the rescue, Senior."

The old man waved his hand without looking at him, saying indifferently: "It's just a transaction. Since you bought something, you are a guest. Protecting guests within the market is the rule."

After saying that, he closed his eyes again, seemingly indifferent to everything around him.

Ye Tian understood in his heart that the old man's intervention wasn't to help him, but to maintain the order of Huihai Market and his own "business" reputation.

Regardless, this gave him a precious breathing space.

He had to find a way to escape immediately!

Ling Jianming was waiting outside, and there were even more wolves and tigers watching within the market. The longer he delayed, the more powerful experts would be drawn by the news, potentially even alerting the Xuanjing Division or the City Lord's Mansion!

His gaze swept across the intricate passages of Huihai Market, recalling the path he had taken when entering.

Huihai Market didn't have only one exit; there were also some hidden "back doors" leading to other areas of the city or even the underground sewers, usually known only to core personnel or certain regular customers.

Perhaps... His gaze fell back onto the fragment in his hand.

It seemed to point in a certain direction...

Did that direction faintly overlap with a dark alleyway deep within Huihai Market?

Let's gamble!

He no longer hesitated, bowed once more to the old man, and then turned around. He didn't walk towards the exit he came from, nor did he try to run around the market to attract more attention. Instead, he headed toward the dark alleyway that resonated with the fragment.

"He's going inside?"

"Does he want to slip out through another exit?"

"Quick, follow him! Notify the people outside!"

"Be careful, don't follow too closely, that old man might still be watching..."

Several figures moved quietly in the shadows.

Ling Jianming's eyes also turned sharp. He whispered a few words to Ah Fu, who nodded and silently blended into the crowd with two guards, following the direction where Ye Tian had disappeared.

Ling Jianming himself led the remaining people and quickly moved toward the main exit of the market, clearly intending to strike from both inside and out, setting up an inescapable net.

Deep within Huihai Market, Ye Tian's speed didn't seem fast, yet he always managed to evade the trackers' sight at every corner.

He gripped the fragment tightly, letting the faint sense of resonance guide his way.

After many twists and turns, passing through several dead-end alleys filled with clutter and crossing a hidden door with a mechanism inside, Ye Tian felt himself going deeper and deeper into the underground area of Huihai Market.

The "tails" behind him seemed to have been shaken off a bit, but a few auras still trailed him faintly.

Finally, after passing through a narrow passage filled with the smell of salty water, a glimmer of light and the faint sound of flowing water appeared ahead.

An inconspicuous opening, half-hidden by old wooden crates, appeared at the end of the passage. From outside the opening came the sound of "splashing" water and a fresher breeze carrying the scent of aquatic plants.

It's the waterway of Falling Star Lake!

There really is a hidden exit leading to the lakeshore here!

Ye Tian was overjoyed and quickened his pace.

However, just as he reached the opening and was about to leap out...

From the shadows of the pile of old fishing nets and wooden crates by the opening, three points of eerie blue cold light thrust out without any warning!

They were incredibly fast, aimed directly at Ye Tian's throat, heart, and Dantian—three vital spots!

An ambush!

Someone had been lying in wait here all along!

They weren't Ling Jianming's people; this cold energy... were they assassins from the Shadow Calamity Tower?!

They actually managed to track him here as well?!