469: Shadow Raven

That aura's cultivation was around the Ninth Heaven of the Void Immortal Realm; it was exactly the figure who had been ordered to probe his background in the backyard of the Four Seas Trading Firm earlier, Shadow Crow.

This person's tracking skills were indeed extraordinary; his aura was elusive, and his figure flickered in and out of existence, using crowds, building shadows, and even changes in light to conceal his tracks.

Even an ordinary True Immortal would find it difficult to discover him without intentionally searching carefully.

Unfortunately, he was tracking Gu Changge.

Under his Divine Thought, all of Shadow Crow's concealment techniques were as clear as fireflies in the night.

Every cautious pause, every disguise using the environment, even the rhythm of the immortal essence circulating within his body, and the subtle changes in his heartbeat and breathing, were all reflected with absolute clarity in Gu Changge's perception.

Gu Changge found it somewhat amusing.

This tracker was quite dedicated, but unfortunately, he had chosen the wrong target.

Since he had already been targeted, there was no need to keep a low profile anymore.

He didn't expose the man either, continuing to play the role of a wealthy Young Master who had just arrived, leading Xiao Bai on a stroll through the city.

He spent lavishly; whenever he encountered something he liked, he paid directly with Immortal Stones, drawing bursts of low exclamations from the surrounding crowd.

Shadow Crow, tracking from the shadows, witnessed all of this, and the greed in his heart grew more and more intense.

Gu Changge seemed completely oblivious to the undercurrents surging behind him.

After strolling for about half a day, the sun began to set in the west, casting a layer of golden radiance over this ancient immortal city.

"Xiao Bai, come, let's find a decent restaurant to taste the delicacies of this Immortal Realm and hear the interesting news of this place."

"Yes!" Xiao Bai's eyes brightened slightly.

The two seemed to be wandering aimlessly, but in reality, they walked with composed steps toward the most prosperous area of the city, where the Spiritual Qi was also the densest.

Soon, a nine-story pavilion with carved beams and painted rafters, possessing an extraordinary aura, came into view.

Three large characters were written in a flourishing style like flying Dragons and dancing Phoenixes on the plaque at the entrance—Drunken Immortal Tower.

Inside the tower, immortal music curled through the air, and Spiritual Qi transformed into a lingering mist; the cultivation of the guests coming and going was significantly higher.

Void Immortals were no longer rare, and occasionally, one could even perceive the aura of a True Immortal.

This tower was clearly one of the top consumption venues in Sunset City.

Gu Changge led Xiao Bai straight inside.

A waiter with keen eyes immediately stepped forward, sensing the faint pressure of a Void Immortal coming from Xiao Bai.

His attitude became even more respectful as he led the two to an elegant window seat on the third floor.

This seat had a wide view, overlooking half of the bustling street; it was a good spot.

"Bring out a few of your tower's specialty immortal brews and spiritual meals, pick the best ones," Gu Changge ordered casually.

"Yes, honored guest, please wait a moment, they will be here soon!" The waiter retreated respectfully.

Before long, several plates of dishes shimmering with spiritual light and fragrant aromas, along with a pot of jade-green immortal brew, were brought up.

The dishes were prepared with meat from unknown Spirit Beasts and Immortal Plants, full of Spiritual Qi.

The immortal brew was even more crisp and mellow, turning into strands of warm currents upon entering the mouth, nourishing the Physical Body and Divine Soul.

For ordinary Saint Realm and Void Immortal Cultivators, it was indeed a rare and good thing.

Xiao Bai ate quite happily, never refusing food that contained Spiritual Qi.

While pouring and drinking for himself, Gu Changge seemingly casually spread a strand of Divine Sense to capture the conversations throughout the restaurant.

"Have you heard? That Old Ancestor of the Liu Family in the eastern city failed his attempt to break through to the True Immortal Realm and has passed away. Sigh, I'm afraid the Liu Family is going to decline."

"Isn't it because they lacked that 'Solid Origin Immortal Plant'! If they had that plant to protect the heart vessels, it might not have been impossible.

But such spiritual items have long been monopolized by the Immortal Palace and several great families; how could Loose Cultivators like us covet them?"

"Shh! Be careful! Do you want to be invited for tea by the Immortal Palace Law Enforcement Team?"

"Hmph! What's wrong with talking? This spirit crystal tax has risen again! If this continues, forget about Cultivating, we won't even be able to afford to rent an Immortal Cave!"

"Sigh, just endure it. Who told our Sunset City, and even the entire immortal domain, to be under the control of the Chengyun Immortal Palace.

A few days ago, the daughter of the Wang Family in the south of the city was snatched away just because she was pretty and caught the eye of the nephew of an Immortal Palace deacon.

They took her by force, and when the Wang Family went to reason with them, they were beaten until they were crippled and thrown out."

"Isn't that right? And then there's that Blackwater Market, where the Four Seas Trading Firm is the sole power; the price is whatever they say it is. I heard that behind them is..."

"Stop talking, stop talking, drink, drink!"

...Similar complaints, discussions, and fear and dissatisfaction toward the Immortal Palace and the various great families were passed in low voices throughout the Drunken Immortal Tower.

They sketched a true picture of low-level Cultivators struggling to survive under the oppression of the Chengyun Immortal Palace and its affiliated forces.

Gu Changge listened quietly, which gave him a clearer understanding of the current situation within the fragment of the Chengyun Immortal Domain.

Decay, monopoly, exploitation... Gu Changge put down his white jade wine cup; the plates and cups on the table were already empty.

With a slight wave of his hand, the waiter hurried over and bowed in wait.

"The bill."

Gu Changge casually swept his hand across the table.

Clink, clink, clink... Ten Immortal Stones rolled gently on the tabletop, making a crisp and pleasant sound as they collided.

The entire third floor of the Drunken Immortal Tower instantly fell silent.

All the diners, waiters, and even the gazes peeking from the shadows stared intently at those ten crystals, their pupils shrinking and their breathing involuntarily held.

Immortal Stones!

And they were Low Grade Immortal Stones of excellent quality!

"It's too much, honored guest! A meal of wine and food is at most thirty thousand spirit crystals!"

The waiter's voice trembled, and he was at a loss.

"The extra is a tip for you."

Gu Changge stood up casually, his tone indifferent, as if what he had thrown out were not ten Immortal Stones that could make True Immortals fight to the death, but ordinary pebbles.

The waiter felt as if he had been struck by lightning, then was overwhelmed by wild joy; his legs softened, and he almost knelt down.

The sound of people gasping for air echoed in the tower, and countless gazes instantly became incredibly complex.

In the shadows of the third-floor corner, Shadow Crow's finger trembled imperceptibly.

He stared intently at those ten Immortal Stones, then looked at Gu Changge's indifferent profile.

And then at the black-clothed guard beside him, who was only focused on savoring the food and had no reaction to the Immortal Stones; the last trace of hesitation in his eyes completely vanished.

"An upstart! Definitely an upstart who had great luck and obtained the legacy of a predecessor or dug up an Immortal Stone mine!

He only has a guard who has just entered the Void Immortal Realm and whose immortal essence isn't even stable yet. A god-given opportunity!"

Shadow Crow licked his dry lips, and after confirming once more that there were no hidden Dao-protector auras around, he silently transmitted his latest observations back to the guild.

"Target confirmed. Extremely wealthy. Flighty Heart-Nature, no shrewdness. Guard is weak, no Dao-protector.

Suggestion: act quickly, lest delays cause changes or we are targeted by other forces."

The information turned into invisible waves and was transmitted to the Four Seas Trading Firm.

Shadow Crow took a deep breath, like a venomous snake patiently waiting for its prey, only waiting for the guild's experts to arrive so he could strike with a thunderous blow and take down this unprecedented fat sheep.

However, just as Gu Changge led Xiao Bai to the stairs of the third floor and was about to go down.

He suddenly stopped his footsteps.

Then, under Shadow Crow's suddenly shrinking pupils and the curious gazes of all the diners in the tower.

Gu Changge slightly turned his head, his gaze seemingly casually falling upon the shadow where Shadow Crow was hiding.

The corners of his mouth curled into a faint smile that was not quite a smile.

"You've been watching for so long,"

His voice was clear and calm, yet it was like a clap of thunder, exploding in Shadow Crow's ears and also in the silent third floor.

"Was the show good?"

Shadow Crow only felt a chill rush from his spine to the back of his head, and his blood seemed to freeze instantly!

Discovered!

How is that possible?!

The Shadow Void Evasion Art he cultivated was a top-tier concealment secret technique, and when combined with a special Magic Treasure, even the Divine Thought of someone in the Early Stage of the Earth Immortal Realm might not notice if they didn't scan carefully!

This white-clothed man clearly only had a Saint Realm aura; could he have hidden his cultivation? Or did he possess a strange treasure?

But there was no time to think now! His tracks were exposed, and the plan had changed!

He had to escape immediately!

Without any hesitation, Shadow Crow's figure suddenly flickered, shooting toward the window!

"Want to leave?"

A cold shout rang out, but it wasn't Gu Changge, but Xiao Bai beside him!

Although Xiao Bai had always behaved more like a gluttonous attendant, his reactions were extremely fast.

The moment Gu Changge exposed the peeping, he had already become alert.

Seeing the dark shadow scattering now, a fierce look flashed in his eyes; without any visible movement, his figure had already shifted several zhang like a ghost, accurately blocking the path of the dark shadow!