93: overnight change

Lower District, North Checkpoint.

This was the only path to the Central District. On the towering city walls, a group of Law Enforcement Team Cultivators in silver armor were gathered together drinking and playing cards, turning a deaf ear to the distant commotion.

"Captain, the fire over there is reaching the sky. It looks like things are getting pretty intense?"

"Who gives a damn! That's just Gangs fighting. It'd be better if they all died."

The captain was a middle-aged man at the Early Foundation Establishment Stage. With a look of disdain, he said, "As long as we hold this gate and don't let those paupers rush into the Central District, we're fine."

Before his voice had even faded.

"Boom!!!"

A massive explosion erupted a hundred zhang in front of the checkpoint.

It was Li Feiyu detonating all of his "Explosive Talismans," destroying the buildings on both sides to create a temporary wall of fire. This temporarily blocked the corpse horde and successfully drew the attention of the Law Enforcement Team.

"Who's there?!"

The captain was furious and led his men onto the city wall.

Then, they saw a scene that made their scalps tingle.

The wall of fire was torn apart.

Countless pairs of crimson eyes lit up within the black mist. Hundreds, even thousands of "Corpse-transformed" surged forward like a tide. Charging at the very front was Li Feiyu's group of youths who looked like refugees.

"Open the gates! Open them quickly! Monsters are attacking the city!"

Li Feiyu shouted as he ran, but he wasn't foolish enough to charge at the checkpoint gate. Instead, he led his group and skillfully ducked into a sewer entrance at the side of the checkpoint.

"Roar—!"

Having lost their target, the corpse tide instantly slammed into the checkpoint's defensive light barrier.

Sizzle, sizzle—

Black slime corroded the light barrier, emitting a burnt stench.

"Oh no! They're Devilish creatures! And they're corrosive!"

The captain's expression changed drastically, his drunkenness completely gone. "Quick! Activate the offensive Formation! Send out a distress signal!"

Boom, boom, boom!

The roar of Spirit Light Cannons echoed through the night sky.

Meanwhile, in the secret room in Qingshi Alley.

Zhou Wannian sensed the movement over there, an imperceptible smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"It's done."

"The authorities have stepped in. This is in the bag."

As long as the Law Enforcement Team intervened, the high-level officials of Tianxing City couldn't possibly sit idly by.

Sure enough, before long, a powerful Late Foundation Establishment Stage Sword Intent sliced through the night sky. It was the resident Elder of the Qingyun Sect taking action.

The crisis was resolved.

Zhou Wannian did not lower his guard.

He remained seated on the Teleportation Formation in a combat-ready stance until the horizon turned pale, and the heart-palpitating Devilish Qi had completely dissipated... The next morning.

Sunlight pierced through the thin morning mist, shining on the sign of the "Wannian Talisman Array Shop."

Zhou Wannian removed some of the Restrictions, but he didn't open the door. Instead, he first swept the surroundings with his Divine Sense.

After confirming it was safe, he slowly opened the back door.

A strong smell of burning and blood wafted toward him.

At the alley entrance, the shopkeeper from next door who sold Spirit Medicine was gathered with several neighbors, pale-faced and discussing the tragedy of the previous night.

"It's too tragic! They say half the people in the Lower District died!"

"Although that Qingyun Sect Elder is powerful, I heard he was injured. Apparently, he was ambushed by the leader of those Devilish creatures."

"The whole city is under martial law now. The prices of all supplies have doubled!"

Zhou Wannian walked over, putting on an expression of someone who had just woken up, looking bewildered and shocked.

"Fellow Daoists, what... what major event has occurred? This old man was in the secret room studying Formations last night. How is it that I didn't hear a thing?"

Everyone looked at him as if he were a Monster, but they didn't think much of it. After all, once some Formation Masters became obsessed, they truly ignored everything happening outside.

"Old Man Han, you have no idea..."

After listening to their descriptions, Zhou Wannian let out a long sigh and shook his head.

"These are difficult times."

He lamented and then turned back to his shop.

Back behind the counter, Zhou Wannian poured himself a cup of tea.

His hand was steady; not a single drop of tea splashed out.

Did Li Feiyu survive? He didn't care.

As long as the Law Enforcement Team won, and as long as Qingshi Alley still existed, his business could continue.

"Supplies doubled..."

Zhou Wannian set down his teacup, pulled a new wooden plaque from his Storage Pouch, picked up a brush, soaked it in thick ink, and wrote a line of large characters:

[Special Offer Today: Enhanced evil warding talismans, Special Detoxification Pills.]

[Price: Triple yesterday's price.]

After finishing, he hung the wooden plaque outside.

Then, he sat behind the counter, once again rolling the two deep-sea sunken iron balls in his hand, making a rhythmic "clack-clack" sound.

Waiting for business.

This was the cultivation world.

The blood and tears of last night were merely topics of conversation over tea today.

And for those still alive, life had to go on, and business... had to be done.