# Chapter 204: Soul-Stealing Eye
After the Red Spider Giant Ship passed by, the lake surface gradually calmed down.
The blue-robed old man let out a long breath and said, "Since the big shots of the Poison Spider Merchant Guild have come to Geofire City, those students from the Martial Market Academy probably won't dare to come here anymore."
"Perhaps," Zhang Ruochen said.
The Red Spider Giant Ship's might was indeed astonishing, but it might not necessarily intimidate the Martial Market Academy students. At least Zhang Ruochen felt no fear in his heart.
He still had to go to Geofire City.
The blue-robed old man glanced at Zhang Ruochen, a meaningful smile appearing in his eyes. He walked to the center of the small boat, poured a cup of steaming tea, and placed it before Zhang Ruochen, saying with a laugh, "The lake water is icy cold, and the cold wind pierces the bones. Young master, have a cup of hot tea to warm yourself."
Just now, while pouring the tea, the blue-robed old man's fingers had trembled slightly, and white powder particles had fallen from his fingernails into the cup.
Zhang Ruochen had naturally noticed the old man's little trick while pouring the tea. He smiled and said, "I'm not thirsty, nor am I cold. Old sir, you should drink it instead."
The expression on the blue-robed old man's face remained unchanged, still wearing a smile. "In that case, I'll leave the tea here. Young master can drink it later if you get thirsty."
The blue-robed old man placed the teacup in front of Zhang Ruochen, turned around, and was about to continue rowing.
Zhang Ruochen said, "I said, I want you to drink it. Old sir, did you not hear me clearly?"
The blue-robed old man's body halted, a sharp killing intent flashing in his eyes. He let out a sharp laugh. "Kid, you have good eyesight. I didn't expect you to see through it!"
"Whoosh!"
The blue-robed old man spun around abruptly, his arm swinging violently as he shot out thirteen half-foot-long golden needles, flying rapidly toward Zhang Ruochen, accompanied by thirteen explosive sounds of air bursting.
Each golden needle was a first-rank True Martial Treasure. On the surface of the needles, an ice-type inscription rune connected the tip and the tail. Once activated by true qi, the power they unleashed was ten times greater than ordinary golden needles.
Zhang Ruochen remained seated at the stern, completely unflustered, calm and composed.
"Whoosh——"
The thirteen golden needles flew to a position one foot in front of Zhang Ruochen, where they were blocked by a layer of true qi shield, immediately stopping and hovering in midair.
"A true qi protective shield! You're an Earth Extreme Realm expert?"
The blue-robed old man's expression changed drastically, realizing he had encountered someone he couldn't afford to provoke. He immediately leaped up, trying to jump into the lake.
"Whoosh!"
Zhang Ruochen waved his arm, and the thirteen golden needles immediately flew back, stabbing toward the blue-robed old man.
"Plop!"
The blue-robed old man was pierced through the body by the thirteen golden needles, let out a miserable scream, and fell into the lake. Soon, the lake water was stained red, and a corpse floated to the surface.
Zhang Ruochen let out a soft sigh, stood up, and infused true qi into the small boat.
"Swish!"
The small boat shot forward like an arrow released from a bowstring, chasing after the direction of the Red Spider Giant Ship, rushing deep into the Misty Hidden Lake.
About a quarter of an hour later, the mist on the lake thinned, and the outline of an island appeared before Zhang Ruochen's eyes.
Geofire City was built on this island.
The island was surrounded by steep cliffs a hundred meters high, and formations had been arranged there. Ordinary people couldn't sneak in or out of Geofire City; they could only go through the main gate carved out on the southern side of the island.
Zhang Ruochen didn't take the risk of charging straight into Geofire City. Instead, he steered the small boat to the southern main gate, paid a sum of silver coins, and was smoothly let into the city.
At this moment, the Red Spider Giant Ship was also docked at the shore. Warriors from the Poison Spider Merchant Guild were escorting batches of slaves down from the giant ship, transporting them into Geofire City.
"Hurry up, or I'll whip you to death!"
A warrior in a purple robe, holding a long whip crackling with electric light, roared fiercely.
"Crack!"
The whip lashed out, striking a mighty war slave, tearing open the skin on his back, blood dripping profusely.
Hua Qingshan walked down from the Red Spider Giant Ship with his hands behind his back, a sinister smile on his face. "That war slave has a Mysterious Extreme Realm Great Perfection cultivation. He's quite valuable. You should whip him sparingly. If you beat him to death, selling you off probably wouldn't be enough to cover the loss."
"Understood!" The warrior in the purple robe immediately knelt on the ground, trembling with cold sweat.
The person standing before him was the young master of the Poison Spider Merchant Guild, also ranked as one of the seven great experts of the younger generation in the Black Market. In the Demon Ridge's thirty-six commandery kingdoms, he was definitely a top-tier figure.
How could a mere captain of the Poison Spider Merchant Guild's guards dare to offend him?
Seeing the guard captain's terrified expression, Hua Qingshan was very satisfied. He smiled and nodded. "Where is that Smoke Dust Commandery Princess being held? Take me to see her."
The guard captain looked troubled. "The guild master has ordered that without his permission, no one is allowed to approach the Smoke Dust Commandery Princess."
"Gah gah!"
Hua Qingshan let out a sharp laugh from his throat. "Not even me?"
The guard captain gritted his teeth. "Young master, please don't make things difficult for us. We're just following orders."
"Fine! I won't make things difficult for you." Hua Qingshan smiled. "Lift your head."
"I dare not," the guard captain said, still keeping his head down.
"I told you to lift your head!" Hua Qingshan's voice turned sharp, a coldness emanating from it.
The guard captain was very afraid of Hua Qingshan, so he had no choice but to lift his head and look at him.
A strange smile appeared on Hua Qingshan's face. Green threads appeared in his pupils, eventually turning completely into an eerie green, emitting a demonic light. "Take me to see the Smoke Dust Commandery Princess."
"Yes!"
The guard captain's gaze became dazed, like a puppet. He stood up and walked toward Geofire City.
"An inner palace student of the Martial Market Academy, a commandery princess of the Thousand Water Commandery Kingdom. How exciting. Heh heh!" Hua Qingshan's voice was dark and low as he followed.
After Hua Qingshan and the guard captain left, Zhang Ruochen walked out from a small alley, speaking as if to himself: "The younger generation of the Black Market actually has such a strong expert, and he's even mastered the Soul-Stealing Eye."
The "Soul-Stealing Eye" was a very profound spirit-grade upper-class martial technique. It was extremely difficult to cultivate, mysterious and unpredictable, and very few people could successfully master it.
In Zhang Ruochen's impression, only Heaven Extreme Realm warriors could rely on their powerful martial souls to successfully cultivate the "Soul-Stealing Eye."
But Zhang Ruochen could tell that Hua Qingshan's martial arts cultivation hadn't reached the Heaven Extreme Realm. This showed that his talent was absolutely extraordinary. In particular, his spiritual power had definitely reached the twenty-fifth rank or above.
Only with powerful spiritual power could one control the "Soul-Stealing Eye."
In the Black Market, more than half of the evil cultivators who had successfully cultivated the Soul-Stealing Eye were notorious flower thieves. Under the power of the Soul-Stealing Eye, what woman could resist them?
At the same time, they also had to absorb the yin energy from women to consolidate their martial souls, lest they be devoured by the backlash of the Soul-Stealing Eye.
"This is a good opportunity to find Senior Sister Huang."
Zhang Ruochen released the power of his Space Domain, distorting space, and instantly disappeared, as if he had become invisible.
At Zhang Ruochen's current level, after using the power of Space Distortion, unless it was a Heaven Extreme Realm expert, no one could see through him.
Although the Poison Spider Young Master's cultivation was powerful, Zhang Ruochen had no choice but to follow him. After all, Huang Yanchen was now his fiancée.
Even if it cost him his life, he had to bring Huang Yanchen out.
Concealing his traces, Zhang Ruochen quietly followed behind Hua Qingshan, arriving at the Poison Spider Merchant Guild's branch in Geofire City.
Under the guard captain's guidance, Hua Qingshan arrived outside a courtyard that had formation inscription runes arranged around it. Hua Qingshan waved his hand lightly, and the guard captain withdrew.
Two maids immediately knelt and bowed to Hua Qingshan. "Greetings, young master."
Hua Qingshan said, "Is the Smoke Dust Commandery Princess imprisoned inside?"
"Yes," the two maids said simultaneously.
Hua Qingshan smiled and waved his hand. "Both of you, withdraw. There's nothing for you here."
"But, young master..."
Both maids were martial arts experts, their cultivation reaching the Earth Extreme Realm. They were among the top-tier warriors in the Poison Spider Merchant Guild, responsible for guarding the Smoke Dust Commandery Princess.
They were about to say something more, but when they saw Hua Qingshan's eyes, they immediately became dazed. They bowed to Hua Qingshan and said, "As you command."
Then the two maids withdrew.
Hua Qingshan smiled and shook his head, then walked into the courtyard.
He had just stepped inside when he stopped and let out a dry laugh. "Still trying to hide? Come out!"
Zhang Ruochen, standing fifty steps away, was slightly startled. He immediately stopped in his tracks. Had Hua Qingshan actually discovered him?
Just as Zhang Ruochen was about to make a forceful move, two sharp sounds of breaking air rang out.
"Swish! Swish!"
Two figures flew out, fast as lightning, charging into the courtyard. One stood in front of Hua Qingshan, the other behind him.
Both were wearing the martial robes of inner palace students from the Martial Market Academy. Their cultivations were considerable—one wielded a war blade, the other a long spear.
"Haha! The inner palace students of the Martial Market Academy have arrived in Geofire City so quickly. Interesting. What are your names?" Hua Qingshan appeared completely calm and composed, squinting as he looked at the two inner palace students before him.
"Zuo Sheng!" said the man holding the long spear, standing proudly, exuding a strong heroic aura. His cultivation had reached the Earth Extreme Realm Small Extreme Position.
Hua Qingshan shook his head. "Never heard of you. I've heard there's someone named Zuo Lengxuan among the inner palace students of the Martial Market Academy. His martial arts cultivation seems decent."
"He's my cousin," Zuo Sheng said.
Hua Qingshan smiled. "So you're also from the Zuo family of the Great Qian Commandery Kingdom. Your cultivation is far inferior to your cousin's."
The other student, wielding a war blade, was short and thin, with thick black eyebrows. He glared at Zuo Sheng and shouted, "Why waste so many words with him? Let's save the person first, alright?"
Hua Qingshan turned his gaze and smiled. "And what's your name?"
"Kid, listen carefully. Your grandfather's name is Chang Qiqi."
After announcing his name, the short, thin student immediately leaped up, taking three steps through the air, and flew close to Hua Qingshan. Each step landed on empty space without touching the ground. Gripping his double blades, he slashed downward at Hua Qingshan.
Though short and thin, the power Chang Qiqi unleashed was astonishing. Wind and thunder roared from within the war blades, and four purple lightning bolts surged out from the blade edges, following the blade qi, striking toward the top of Hua Qingshan's head.