Chapter 1535: The Copper Fragment
"What's wrong?" Lin Feng asked Mu Yun.
"These iron cavalry are from Qi Tian Fortress. They usually don't appear outside the main city. They only mobilize when the Nine Immortal Palaces and Heavenly Fortresses are competing for control of the Small World, to issue proclamations to the various tribes and recall their priestesses," Mu Yun said in a low voice. The iron cavalry thundered past Lin Feng and the others in an instant, causing their bodies to tremble slightly.
Mu Yun's brow was furrowed. She seemed to deeply dread the arrival of this day.
Lin Feng naturally understood what Mu Yun meant. The Nine Immortal Palaces and Heavenly Fortresses were about to begin competing for control of the Small World for the next ten thousand years. This meant that the moment determining the fate of the Small World where he had grown up for the next ten thousand years had arrived.
Soon, the iron cavalry riding demon beasts sped away like the wind, beginning to gallop across the desert.
"If it's truly early, then only one force can decide to advance the competition," Mu Yun murmured. "Cultivators from Qing Di Mountain have arrived."
Thinking of this, Mu Yun's expression tightened even more. If this were really the case, the scale this time would likely be enormous, and she wouldn't be able to escape either.
Lin Feng and the others had already arrived at the city gate. As expected, the guards were stricter than usual, conducting rigorous inspections at the entrance.
"Sir, I'm bringing some people from the tribe to Qi Tian Fortress for a visit," Mu Yun said, stepping forward and nodding slightly to a guard captain. The man clearly recognized Mu Yun and said with a smile, "Miss Mu Yun, feel free to come and go as you please."
With the guard captain's words, the guards directly let Mu Yun and the others pass. Although the priestesses were stationed in the tribes, they actually belonged to the Immortal Palaces and Heavenly Fortresses. Mu Yun was affiliated with Qi Tian Fortress, which was why she dared to claim she could sneak Lin Feng and Yu Emperor into this main city. She wouldn't have been able to get them into other cities.
Passing through the thousand-meter-high city wall, they entered the first main city of the Great World. The imposing, vast castle delivered a powerful visual impact—a magnificent structure with a style different from the Small World. In the distance, a ethereal celestial palace mansion was faintly visible, as if standing atop the sky, detached and independent.
"That's Qi Tian Fortress. Although it looks close, there's still some distance from here," Mu Yun said in a low voice. Lin Feng's gaze was fixed on that ancient castle towering in the sky. There was no longing in his eyes—only coldness. If that castle in the sky were to collapse, it would surely be a spectacular sight.
"The Nine Immortal Palaces and Heavenly Fortresses stand in a tripod-like formation. There's a buffer zone between them, connecting the nine cities. We're going to that buffer zone now. It's the most prosperous trading area, where you can obtain all kinds of things you want," Mu Yun explained to Lin Feng. Lin Feng nodded. The layout of these nine main cities was indeed peculiar—they were actually connected to each other.
"I've heard that many years ago, the Nine Immortal Palaces and Heavenly Fortresses were originally just one main city. Later, some powerful figures gradually began to divide the territory, leading to the current situation. Of course, that was so long ago that it can no longer be verified. If you cross through the buffer zone to the Great Zhou Immortal Palace, you can leave the territory of the Nine Immortal Palaces and Heavenly Fortresses and head to other main cities in the Qing Di Mountain region."
Mu Yun seemed more talkative than usual today, but she was actually deliberately explaining things to Lin Feng, telling him how to leave.
"Yun'er, why do we need to go so far? We can find a trading spot right here in Qi Tian Fortress," Rong Qing said from behind, feeling very uncomfortable seeing Mu Yun constantly talking to Lin Feng. Moreover, Qi Tian City was vast—they would have to cross the entire main city to reach the buffer zone. Why go so far? Besides, the buffer zone was a free area, a mixed bag of people, a place where none of the nine major powers interfered.
"I've never been there before, so I want to take a look," Mu Yun said, turning back. Rong Qing fell silent, glaring at Lin Feng with even more hostility. Why was Yun'er so good to this man? Could it be that the two months they had lived together had sparked feelings between them? But at least this outsider was about to leave and couldn't compete with him for Mu Yun.
Yu Emperor remained very calm. Lin Feng was cautious and mature, so there was no need for him to worry.
"You've never been to the buffer zone?" Lin Feng asked, somewhat surprised.
"Is that strange? The people in the tribes have a relatively small range of activity. It's not just us—others are the same. Even many people in Qi Tian City might never leave the Nine Immortal Palaces and Heavenly Fortresses region in their entire lives. The stronger one's talent, the more they will travel far and wide as they grow. But there will always be more mediocre people."
Lin Feng nodded. Indeed, those with strong talent were always far fewer than the mediocre. The people who had come out of the Small World with him, even in the Great World, were still considered quite talented.
"In this region, are there any powerful alchemists or strong healers?" Lin Feng asked Mu Yun. This was his most pressing concern at the moment—Yu Emperor's injuries.
"I was just about to tell you. Among the Nine Immortal Palaces and Heavenly Fortresses, there is one special force: the Medicine King Immortal Palace. They specialize in alchemy and have some powerful healers who are very skilled at treating injuries. But they won't easily heal anyone," Mu Yun replied. In the Great World, alchemists and pill refiners were common professions, unlike in the Small World where they were rare. There were also powerful talisman masters and formation masters who specialized in unique abilities.
"Great Zhou Immortal Palace, Medicine King Immortal Palace." Lin Feng memorized both forces. It was fortunate to have Mu Yun by his side, allowing him to easily obtain such useful information. But for now, he couldn't directly take Yu Emperor to the Medicine King Immortal Palace—that would likely bring more trouble than good.
They chatted along the way, and Mu Yun told him many more things about the Great World, including the specific identities of the Nine Immortal Palaces and Heavenly Fortresses and their locations. The direct ruler of the Great Zhou Immortal Palace was said to specialize in the Golden Sacred Qi technique, which immediately made Lin Feng think of two people: Zhou Tianruo and Zhou Tianxiao.
Although Qi Tian City was just a main city on the edge of the Great World, its vastness was terrifying to Lin Feng. It took them an entire day to cross the city and reach the buffer zone, even though they later traveled at full speed along the shortest route. This showed just how enormous the main city was.
Now, Lin Feng was walking along the streets of the buffer zone connecting the nine main cities. As expected, it was even more crowded than Qi Tian City. Although Mu Yun had never been here, she had heard of it. The trading street they were on was especially bustling, with a dazzling array of goods. Lin Feng saw Sacred Artifacts that were extremely precious in the Small World casually laid out on the ground for trade, some even being high-grade Sacred Artifacts, leaving him speechless.
"Old man, what is this scrap copper?" Mu Yun crouched down in front of a stall, looking at a piece of broken copper on the ground, and asked softly.
"Scrap copper? Little girl, I obtained this scrap copper from the Wuji Cave Dwelling. Do you know the Wuji Cave Dwelling? It was the cave dwelling of the Wuji Heavenly Emperor. The Wuji Heavenly Emperor once mastered the Three Thousand Grand Array Dao, slaughtering everything. When his array was deployed, even gods and Buddhas were slain," the old man said, puffing up his beard and glaring at Mu Yun for calling it scrap copper. He spoke with great animation, his murky eyes seeming to brighten.
"How do you trade?" Mu Yun interrupted him and asked.
"One hundred Arcane Fragments," the old man said.
"Yun'er, he's a swindler. Let's go," Rong Qing said, rolling his eyes at the mention of one hundred Arcane Fragments. Did they take them for fools? It was just a piece of scrap copper.
"Little brat, don't talk nonsense. Do you know who the Wuji Heavenly Emperor is? He controlled the Three Thousand Grand Array Dao and one hundred and eight thousand minor array daos, deriving the grand arrays of all heavens, omnipotent..." The old man spoke with relish, making Rong Qing roll his eyes again. What did the Wuji Heavenly Emperor have to do with this piece of scrap copper? Something from the Wuji Heavenly Emperor's cave dwelling? Who was he trying to fool? Even if it were from the Wuji Heavenly Emperor's cave dwelling, it could still be an ordinary item.
Mu Yun also shook her head and stood up. One hundred Arcane Fragments was too high a price.
"Let's go," Mu Yun said to Lin Feng. "I just felt this copper piece was a bit unusual, but I didn't find anything special when I held it."
Lin Feng shrugged. This old man really dared to ask for an exorbitant price.
"Hey, hey, wait!" The old man grabbed Lin Feng's pant leg as he was about to turn and leave, shouting, "Your girlfriend likes it. Don't you want to give it to her? I'll sell it to you for ten Arcane Fragments. I guarantee this is definitely from the Wuji Heavenly Emperor. Look, it even has the characters 'Wuji' engraved on it."
Lin Feng frowned slightly, but he saw that the small copper piece did indeed have the characters "Wuji" on it.
"Hmm?" Lin Feng's eyes suddenly flickered. He took the copper piece and examined it closely, releasing his martial soul. His eyes turned pitch black as he stared at the copper piece.
Lin Feng's action made Mu Yun and the others stop. Rong Qing, however, shot an unpleasant look at the old man and Lin Feng. The old man had actually called Yun'er Lin Feng's girlfriend.
"Five Arcane Fragments. Deal or not?" Lin Feng withdrew his pitch-black eyes and said to the old man.
A sly glint flashed in the old man's eyes. "Eight. Can't go any lower."
"Forget it, then." Lin Feng tossed the copper piece back to the old man, who quickly said, "Alright, five. Deal!"
Lin Feng took the copper piece back, gave the old man five Arcane Fragments, and put the copper piece away.
PS: The third chapter might be a bit late. Thank you to all the brothers for the tips. Since there are many tippers, I won't list them all. Thank you, everyone. Keep asking for some flowers and tips!
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