Chapter 2008 - Yuan Xiangtian

The food arrived shortly afterward, and its rich aroma lifted Liu Wuxie’s spirits at once.

He placed a Steamed Immortal Snail in his mouth and savored the tender meat as it melted on his tongue. A lingering fragrance followed, reminiscent of fine wine aged for tens of thousands of years. As he swallowed, gentle warmth flowed through his limbs, soothing him like the morning sun's caress.

He next sampled a slice of Eight-Extreme Pearl Fish. Its plump, translucent flesh shone like polished pearls, releasing a rich, savory flavor across his tongue the instant he tasted it.

There was truth in the saying that fine food could soothe the mind and wash away one’s troubles.

The nearby conversation drew Liu Wuxie’s attention. He set down his chopsticks and listened quietly.

“The Azure Cloud Blacksmith Tournament is drawing near. Who do you think will claim first place this year?”

“A blacksmithing tournament? How come I’ve never heard of it?” another cultivator asked. Many of the diners, like Liu Wuxie, were newcomers to Azure Cloud City and knew nothing about the event.

“The Azure Cloud Blacksmith Tournament has a history stretching back ten thousand years. Every blacksmith shop and clan in the city takes part. Whoever wins gains the right to enter the Azure Cloud Pit and harvest Azure Cloud Truefire. Weapons forged with it far outclass ordinary artifacts in both quality and appearance,” an older cultivator explained, commanding the attention of the entire hall.

The other diners listened attentively. His account explained why the city’s streets had been unusually lively.

“Last year’s winner was the Tigerwood Blacksmith Pavilion. Its sales have risen by fifty percent this year. It’s made a fortune!” added a younger cultivator sitting across from the elder.

“When will the tournament start?”

Several cultivators abandoned their plans to depart the following day, eager instead to witness the tournament.

“Five days from now. The city’s clans and shops have spent months preparing,” the youth replied.

As the news spread, diners who had been preparing to leave lingered a little longer to hear more. Outside the Nine Crane Pavilion, the queue continued to grow.

Liu Wuxie rose after a full hour of dining. He had asked nothing, yet learned most of the important details, including the clans and workshops that were favored to win. Little separated the leading contenders, and any one of them could claim the championship. Victory would grant the winner access to Azure Cloud Truefire and the means to amass boundless wealth over the coming year.

Ran Chenghua and his companion had already departed, their patience exhausted by the wait.

Night had settled fully over Azure Cloud City by the time Liu Wuxie emerged. He followed his earlier route back toward the inn, expecting Long Yuanxiong to have completed his inquiries.

Halfway back, he halted. His sharpened senses detected a faint movement behind him, and a cold smirk curved his lips. He quickened his pace, then turned abruptly into a dark, narrow alley.

“Young Master Ran’s orders were clear. We bring him that brat’s head tonight,” the eldest of the three men whispered viciously. They slipped out of the shadows moments after Liu Wuxie disappeared around the corner, exchanging sinister glances.

The three moved nimbly into the dark alley. Unable to see even their hands before their faces, they lit torches, drew their weapons, and advanced cautiously into its depths.

A calm voice came from overhead. “I take it you’re looking for me?”

From atop a high courtyard wall, Liu Wuxie looked down at them. This was his first night in Azure Cloud City, and already someone had begun following him. He needed to end it immediately.

Ordinary cultivators didn't dress like these men or carry that faint stench of iron. They were seasoned mercenaries, with countless lives on their hands.

“You dared cross Young Master Ran, brat? Get on your knees and accept your death!” the fiercest of the three growled, brandishing his blade.

Taking Liu Wuxie’s head was all that remained to complete their mission.

Liu Wuxie frowned. Ran Chenghua had hired assassins to murder him over a petty quarrel in a restaurant. His ruthlessness seemed without limit.

“You think the three of you can force me to kneel? I don’t feel like shedding blood tonight. Go back and tell Ran Chenghua to leave me alone,” Liu Wuxie replied indifferently.

He had come only to collect the Tigerwood Blacksmith Pavilion’s outstanding tribute and had no interest in the local feuds. Once he finished the task, he would depart Azure Cloud City.

“Brother, what’s the point of talking to a dead man? Let’s finish him, get paid, and spend tonight enjoying ourselves at the Myriad Blossom Pavilion!” the other two urged impatiently.

No brothel in Azure Cloud City was more famous than the Myriad Blossom Pavilion. The woman who had accompanied Ran Chenghua to the Nine Crane Pavilion also belonged to it.

The three exchanged no further words. Fanning out to encircle Liu Wuxie, they raised their weapons and lunged like starving tigers. Their peak Divine Immortal auras whipped up a fierce gust as their blades whistled through the darkness.

“Then die!” Liu Wuxie summoned the Bloodthirst Blade and swept it diagonally in a single fluid motion.

A crimson flash split the darkness, and all three heads left their bodies before the mercenaries could understand what had happened. Not one could fathom how three peak Divine Immortals had fallen so swiftly before a mere Profound Immortal.

With a wave of his hand, Liu Wuxie summoned the Sky Devouring Divine Cauldron and pulled the corpses inside, leaving no blood behind. His figure flickered and disappeared into the night.

By the time he reached the inn, it was long past midnight. Long Yuanxiong paced anxiously in the room, then hurried forward as soon as the door opened.

“You’re back, Brother Liu!”

Liu Wuxie flicked his wrist to establish a spiritual array to make the room soundproof. “Take a seat. Let’s discuss what you’ve found.”

“Brother Liu, the annual blacksmithing tournament is coming up. The Tigerwood Blacksmith Pavilion is sparing no effort to defend its title,” Long Yuanxiong said, eager to report his findings.

Liu Wuxie let him speak without interruption. Over a full hour, Long Yuanxiong reported everything he had discovered, from the pavilion’s overall combat strength to how many shops and forging workshops it possessed. By the end, his throat was dry. He took a cup of cold tea from the table and emptied it in large gulps.

“Brother Long, I appreciate all your hard work. Did you uncover anything else?” Liu Wuxie asked, grateful for the assistance Long Yuanxiong had offered so freely.

“Yes. Along with its network of allies, the Tigerwood Blacksmith Pavilion has a fierce rival. That clan took second place in last year’s tournament and has suffered under the Tigerwood Blacksmith Pavilion’s suppression for years,” Long Yuanxiong said, placing a booklet of collected information on the table.

“Good. Tomorrow, we’ll pay this clan a visit,” Liu Wuxie said as he closed the booklet. It had taken him only a few breaths to scan its contents and memorize every detail.

Back in his own room, Liu Wuxie sat cross-legged on the bed and reviewed the information.

He had underestimated the Tigerwood Blacksmith Pavilion’s strength by a considerable margin. An Immortal Lord Realm expert served as its pavilion master, and it had risen to the standing of a second-tier sect.

Dawn arrived while Liu Wuxie was still in cultivation. He opened his eyes, satisfaction shining within them as he sensed the newfound strength in his bones.

“Not bad at all. The essence of the Steamed Immortal Snails and Eight-Extreme Pearl Fish has cleansed the impurities from my bones. They’re much tougher now,” he murmured.

Having already washed up, Long Yuanxiong waited patiently outside his door.

“Time to go,” Liu Wuxie said, stepping into the hallway.

They left the inn and passed a wine workshop on the main street. There, Liu Wuxie paused to purchase a jar of fine aged wine for one hundred thousand immortal stones before they continued.

Three main gates served Azure Cloud City. Behind the northern gate stretched a mountain range, leaving that area relatively desolate. The Yuan Clan’s estate was a considerable distance away in the prosperous eastern district.

After nearly two hours of walking, they reached the Yuan Clan’s grand gates. Two servants swept fallen leaves from the stone steps. Both stopped their work and regarded the newcomers attentively.

“Young Masters, are you here to pay the Yuan Clan a visit?” one servant asked, his eyes settling on the wine jar in Liu Wuxie’s hand.

People who wanted to buy or commission weapons usually visited the clan’s shops. Visitors to the ancestral estate were generally there as guests.

“I’m Liu Wuxie, and this is my companion, Long Yuanxiong. We are disciples of the Azure Jade Palace and have come to pay our respects to your patriarch. Would you please announce our arrival?” Liu Wuxie asked courteously.

“Please give us a moment!” the servant replied hastily, awe spreading across his face at the mention of the Azure Jade Palace.

Within a radius of hundreds of thousands of kilometers, the Azure Jade Palace stood alone as the supreme power and commanded absolute reverence. Joining it was the dream of countless cultivators across the region.

About fifteen minutes later, the servant escorted a middle-aged man out of the inner courtyard.

“Steward, these are the two young gentlemen who wish to call on the Master,” the servant reported respectfully. He lacked the authority to disturb the patriarch so early, so he sought out the clan’s chief steward instead.

“My greetings to you, Young Masters,” the steward said, cupping his hands courteously. Once he confirmed they were disciples of the Azure Jade Palace, his manner grew even more deferential.

At first, he took Long Yuanxiong for the leader. The young man’s cultivation was higher, at the Golden Immortal Realm, and his noble bearing befitted a descendant of the prestigious Long Clan.

“Greetings, and please excuse our unannounced visit to your esteemed clan,” Liu Wuxie replied graciously.

Calling on a stranger without notice was somewhat presumptuous. Courtesy could ease that intrusion.

“There’s no need for such politeness. Please, come in,” the steward said warmly, gesturing for them to follow him.

They crossed the threshold and followed him up the grand staircase. Whether in population, grounds, or architecture, the second-tier Yuan Clan belonged to an entirely different class from third-tier clans such as the Chai Clan.

Along the paths, dozens of servants tended vibrant flowers and trimmed the trees. Prosperity and vitality permeated the estate, giving its surroundings a refined elegance.

The steward brought them into a grand reception hall. Maidservants promptly attended them with hot tea.

“Please make yourselves comfortable for a moment. The Patriarch will be here shortly,” the steward said, then bowed and withdrew.

After about fifteen minutes, a dignified man in his fifties entered, with the steward at his side.

“My apologies for keeping my honored guests waiting!” Yuan Xiangtian greeted them with a hearty, boisterous laugh.