370: Being targeted

Xiao Chen nodded slightly. "Then roughly how many Spirit Transformation Stage Cultivators are there in the Central State?"

"It's impossible to estimate."

"Why?"

"Ever since True Lord Yuntian slaughtered the hundred Sects ten thousand years ago, the super-powers that developed later have all been pushing for the Soul Transformation Stage at any cost."

Furthermore, they have all hidden their strength. Some appear to be at Nascent Soul Stage Perfection, but in reality, they have long since reached the Soul Transformation Stage."

Xiao Chen frowned slightly. He had seen True Lord Yuntian's actions clearly through his Mirror of Intention.

In the Central State at that time, besides the Five Great Hidden Sects, the Nine Super-Powers that could contend with the Yuntian Sect had been completely wiped out.

Along with their subordinate Sects, regardless of whether they were blood-related or not, all were slaughtered to the last person.

It could be described as utterly cruel.

"Then what level of strength has your Gangli Clan reached?"

The Vajra Holy Emissary blurted out without even thinking:

"It is reported that my great-grandfather has already reached the Soul Transformation Stage, but it's unknown how many Old Ancestors are still in the Lower Realm, though there is definitely more than one."

Xiao Chen was stunned. From the emotional fluctuations in his speech, it was easy to tell that he wasn't lying.

The foundation of hidden clans was indeed profound!

"With so many at the Soul Transformation Stage, do they not undergo Ascension to the Spirit Realm?"

"I'm not sure either."

The Vajra Holy Emissary shook his head. "When I was in the clan, I was just an inconsequential person. No one can fathom the thoughts of the Old Ancestors."

"Alright."

Xiao Chen was full of doubt. Since ancient times, Immortal Ascension has been the Great Dao, the long-cherished wish of countless Cultivators.

If one reaches the Soul Transformation Stage and doesn't ascend, they only have a ten-thousand-year Lifespan at most. For someone like the Old Ancestor of the Baili Clan to prefer passing away in meditation over ascending is truly perplexing.

"However, I've heard rumors that something went wrong with the Path of Ascension."

"..."

Xiao Chen fell into deep thought. The so-called Spirit Realm was merely a higher-level plane; its essence was no different from the Lower Realm.

Both were Star Domains composed of countless cultivation planets. The only difference was that the concentration of Spiritual Qi on those planets was ten times higher.

Although Xiao Chen had truly seen this from True Lord Yuntian's memories, he still couldn't understand it.

Both are cultivation planets, both located in the world of Chaos, so why do some have high concentrations of Spiritual Qi while others have low?

When Chaos first opened, the planets created by the Creator God should have been identical, with no distinction of high or low, noble or base.

And the so-called Path of Ascension is nothing more than breaking through a barrier condensed from high-level Laws.

With so many Soul Transformation Cultivators staying in the Lower Realm, it's certainly not because they are unwilling to ascend.

Thus, Xiao Chen couldn't help but recall that faint, invisible sense of restraint Xu Qingshu felt when she advanced to the Soul Transformation Stage.

Where exactly did that restraint come from?

While he was lost in thought, Bai Su's charming Soul Sound rang in his ear: "Master, I want a hug~"

"Alright, alright, I'm coming right now."

Xiao Chen was a bit surprised. What was wrong with this Little Vixen lately, always wanting to cling to him?

Thus, after arranging for Vajra to stand guard, Xiao Chen walked straight into the ship's cabin and vanished into the System Space.

Bai Su, dressed in a Lace Maid Outfit, immediately ran over and clung to him like an accessory.

"Master, I want a kiss~"

...Three days later.

The mystic ship arrived at a small border town.

Its size was only a hundred miles across, and even the city gates were somewhat dilapidated, yet from a distance, the city looked very lively.

Xiao Chen stored the mystic ship into the System Space and stepped into the city with the Vajra Holy Emissary.

"Is this the entrance to the Yinshan Black Market?"

"Yes."

The Vajra Holy Emissary nodded. "This town is called Yinshan Town. It's usually an empty town; people only come here to do business during the half-month the Yinshan Black Market is open."

"Mhm."

The two walked through the city. On both sides were vendors selling goods, but the items they sold were no ordinary things.

Any random vendor was a Cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Stage or higher, and the items they sold were Spiritual Plants, maps, Medicinal Pills, Magical Artifacts, and so on.

Xiao Chen glanced briefly; although they were all supplies for Cultivators, most were of a relatively low Rank.

"Young Master, no need to look at the stalls in town; there's nothing good. The real treasures are inside the black market."

"Mhm."

Just then, Xiao Chen keenly sensed a gaze coming from the side.

He suddenly turned his head and saw a snow-white figure flash past on a distant Pavilion, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

"Interesting, have I been targeted as soon as I landed?" Xiao Chen thought to himself.

The Vajra Holy Emissary asked in confusion, "Young Master, what is it?"

"Nothing, let's go."

Afterward, the two arrived at a stall selling masks. A boisterous crowd of Cultivators was scrambling to buy them.

The Vajra Holy Emissary threw 4,000 Spirit Stones to the owner to buy two shapeshifting masks, handing one to Xiao Chen.

"Young Master, wear this. It can conceal your features; even a Soul Transformation Cultivator won't be able to see through your true appearance easily."

"Good."

Xiao Chen nodded and put it on. A single Yinshan Black Market had certainly made the mask-making vendor a fortune.

Continuing forward, they reached the largest Pavilion in the center of town. A grey-robed old man at the seventh level of the Nascent Soul Stage was standing at the door to receive guests.

Seeing Xiao Chen and his companion, he welcomed them with a kind face and handed a Jade Slip to each of them.

"These are the credentials to enter the Yinshan Black Market. You two honored guests may take these Jade Slips and rest in the Pavilion for a while. The Black Market Secret Realm will open exactly at midnight."

"Thank you."

Xiao Chen nodded, took the Jade Slip, and walked straight into the Pavilion. The internal space wasn't large, but it was incredibly noisy.

As far as the eye could see, there were nothing but masked Nascent Soul Cultivators conversing with each other in the elegant seating areas.

There were over three hundred of them, with cultivation levels ranging from Nascent Soul Stage First Level to Nascent Soul Stage Perfection, including dozens of female Nascent Soul Cultivators.

Xiao Chen clicked his tongue inwardly. The market hadn't even opened yet, and so many Nascent Soul Cultivators had already gathered; he couldn't imagine how popular it would be when it actually started.

The appearance of Xiao Chen's group instantly attracted many gazes, though most of those looks fell upon the Vajra Holy Emissary.

It was simply that his brawny physique was too eye-catching; as a top Body Refining Family in the Central State, the characteristics of the Gangli Clan were particularly obvious.

"Honored guests, please follow me."

A beautiful maidservant walked up with a beaming smile and led Xiao Chen and the Vajra Holy Emissary to vacant seats.

Another beautiful maidservant immediately brought a pot of fine spiritual wine and filled two cups. "Honored guests, please enjoy."

Some Nascent Soul Cultivators lowered their voices to the minimum and whispered among themselves.

"Look, look, the Gangli Clan has arrived so early. It seems many good things will appear in the black market this time!"

"Isn't that right? But it's also strange; why did only one junior from the Gangli Clan come? And who could that other kid be?"

"No need to think about it, he must be a younger generation member from some other hidden great clan."

"Makes sense. That talent is truly startling! Only about forty years old, yet he has a cultivation of the fifth level of the Nascent Soul Stage!"

This exclamation of surprise drew everyone's gaze onto Xiao Chen.