Chapter 654: Giving a Grand Gift

The servant departed in a bit of a rush, but Song Changsheng paid it no mind. He took a few steps forward, ignoring the unfriendly Red Simurgh, and walked up to Cyan Simurgh, with whom he’d had more contact.

Before he could even speak, Cyan Simurgh pushed open the door and said, “Fellow Daoist, please come in. I’ve already informed the Young Master.”

“Thank you.”

Song Changsheng offered his thanks and entered the room.

Peng Siying, dressed in a simple white long dress, was standing by the window, quietly gazing outside.

Seeing this, Song Changsheng felt a hint of hesitation.

He had originally come to ask Peng Siying to help him get a High-tier Physician from the Wanlong Trading Company to treat Zhuang Yuechan. This was no small matter for Peng Siying; it might even require her father to step in.

But the servant just now had said that Peng Siying had been arguing with her family.

‘If I bring it up at a time like this, won’t I just be putting her in a difficult position?’

“Fellow Daoist Song, you’re here. It was a bit lively outside just now, and I got lost watching. I didn’t even notice you arrive.” Peng Siying smiled apologetically, then quickly beckoned for Song Changsheng to take a seat.

“Why not go out and take a look?”

“Because I don’t want to see certain people I’d rather avoid,” Peng Siying replied faintly, reaching out to pour Song Changsheng a cup of Spirit Tea.

Before Song Changsheng could speak, she smiled and said, “Yesterday, I heard from Red Simurgh that there was quite a commotion over at the Meteorite Mountain Range. The story is that two Purple Mansion Cultivators of unknown origin went on a killing spree and rescued the Female Cultivator who obtained the Geng Metal Qi.

You were one of those two, weren’t you, Fellow Daoist?”

Seeing that she didn’t want to dwell on that topic, Song Changsheng went along with the change of subject. “It was my senior brother and I. We were lucky to fight our way out with her.

I also have to thank you for gathering information for me, Fellow Daoist. If we had been even a little later, the consequences would have been unthinkable.”

“It was nothing.”

Peng Siying shook her head nonchalantly, then rested her chin in her hands and asked curiously, “That person must be more than just a sect-mate to you, right? For you to risk your life like that.”

Hearing this, Song Changsheng seemed a bit lost in thought for a moment. He then nodded solemnly and said, “She’s someone very important to me.”

“I really envy your lives. They’re so full of excitement. It’s not like mine… I’ve been carefully sheltered since I was little. My dad is dead set on me inheriting his mantle, but he’s never once considered what I truly want.” A sad expression clouded Peng Siying’s face.

Song Changsheng’s lips twitched. ‘If she said something like that out in public, she’d probably get beaten to death.’

‘So many people would kill for a life like hers.’

‘But as the saying goes, people always imagine the paths not taken are paved with flowers.’

‘Without experiencing it firsthand, no one can ever know if that kind of life is what they truly want.’

‘Still, for now, Song Changsheng would love to have a life like that. A powerful father looking out for you, countless people at your beck and call, and the backing of a colossal Commerce Association that spans multiple realms… As long as you don’t go looking for trouble, you’d never have to worry about survival. How great would that be?’

‘Unfortunately, being born into the right family is a skill, and so is transmigrating.’

“Ahem.” Song Changsheng coughed lightly twice to interrupt Peng Siying’s humble-bragging. He said softly, “Fellow Daoist, as you know, I come from the frontier regions of the Daqi Cultivation World. It’s extremely far from here—a journey of nearly three months. I was wondering if you knew of any way to shorten the trip?”

So as not to add to Peng Siying’s troubles, Song Changsheng had settled for the next-best option: to return to Luoxia City as soon as possible and find the Great City Lord.

‘A Commerce Association like the Wanlong Commerce Association, which spans multiple Cultivation Realms, must have bases in various places. They surely have Space Arrays capable of teleporting between realms.’

‘If I could just borrow one, I could get back to Luoxia City in no time. With Peng Siying’s status, that shouldn’t be too difficult.’

“Shorten the trip? Are you in a hurry?” Hearing that Song Changsheng was preparing to leave, a flash of disappointment crossed Peng Siying’s eyes. ‘I finally met someone I like, and he’s already leaving so soon.’

“Yes. I’ve already taken over as Clan Leader, and it’s not good to be away from the clan for too long. The sooner I return, the less the elders and clan members will worry.”

“You became Clan Leader and you can still run all the way to Gusu to save someone? My dad is just a Chairman, and I barely see him all year round.” Peng Siying felt this was unfair and said with a pout.

Song Changsheng broke into a sweat. ‘Can the Song Clan and the Wanlong Commerce Association even be compared on the same level?’

“The Commerce Association’s affairs are complex. Chairman Peng manages a thousand things a day, so it’s normal for him to be busy. How could a small clan like the Song Clan possibly compare?” As a fellow man, Song Changsheng still offered a quiet defense for Father Peng.

But Peng Siying just rolled her eyes and said, “Don’t bother making excuses for him. Someone who truly cares about you will come to see you even if they’re ten thousand miles away. ‘Having no time’ is just a pretext.”

Song Changsheng: “…”

“Alright, let’s not talk about this anymore. Didn’t you want to head back early? I do have a way, actually.”

“Please, enlighten me, Fellow Daoist,” Song Changsheng said, overjoyed.

Peng Siying smiled mysteriously. “The Black Market.”

“The Black Market?”

“Of course! Think about how we met.

The underground Black Market connects several Cultivation Realms via Space Transmission Arrays. Through the Black Market, you can teleport to any place that has a Black Market outpost. It’s very useful.”

“This… why have I never heard of this?” Song Changsheng was stunned.

“Because it’s against the Black Market’s rules. Of course you wouldn’t know about it. The only reason I can use it is by relying on my dad’s reputation.”

As she spoke, Peng Siying took out a pure black wooden tablet. On it, her surname, ‘Peng,’ was written elegantly in Cinnabar.

“Take this and go find the people from the underground Black Market. Take good care of it, okay? This Token is a limited edition.”

“If you give it to me, what about you?” Looking at the wooden tablet before him, Song Changsheng felt a little moved.

“This lady’s face is my pass. This tablet is pretty much useless in my hands anyway. If you feel bad about taking it, just consider it a sale. You can send me eighty or a hundred thousand Spirit Stones for it someday.”

Hearing this, Song Changsheng’s heart stirred. Though he knew Peng Siying was joking, it wasn’t a bad idea.

Besides, ever since they’d met, he had always been the one troubling Peng Siying. It was one thing to owe her a favor, but if this kept up, even someone as thick-skinned as Song Changsheng would start to feel embarrassed. He had to give her something in return.

He reached out, took the wooden tablet, and glanced toward the door. “What I’m about to tell you is of the utmost importance, and I will only tell it to you, Fellow Daoist.”

Peng Siying raised an eyebrow at his words but didn’t overthink it. She reached out and activated the room’s Restriction, blocking the Divine Thoughts of Cyan Simurgh and Red Simurgh.

Then, Song Changsheng gave her a simplified and edited account, explaining that the Golden Profound Cave was the final resting place of Jade Rinse True Monarch.

Upon hearing this, an expression of utter disbelief appeared on Peng Siying’s face. The place where Jade Rinse True Monarch had passed away… this news was simply too explosive.

“No wonder no one could find it after searching for so long. So it was in the Meteorite Mountain Range. No wonder, no wonder.”

“This matter is of great importance. I hope you won’t reveal that I’m the one who told you, Fellow Daoist, or I’ll be in big trouble later on. Also, I can’t guarantee that Jade Rinse True Monarch’s inheritance is still there. Whether you go or not is for you to decide.

Remember, you must prepare thoroughly before you go. We’re talking about a True Monarch, after all. You can never be too careful,” Song Changsheng warned in a grave voice.

“Why would you tell me something so important? That’s a True Monarch’s inheritance we’re talking about,” Peng Siying asked, puzzled.

Song Changsheng smiled and said, “First, to repay the favor I owe you. And second… you should only bite off what you can chew. A True Monarch’s inheritance is not something I can get involved with. For me, that’s not a fateful opportunity—it’s a Life-Ending Talisman.

So, you absolutely cannot say that I’m the one who told you. Otherwise, it will inevitably cause some trouble.”

“Don’t worry. My lips are sealed. I won’t breathe a single word of this.”

Song Changsheng nodded slightly. He naturally trusted Peng Siying’s character—not just because of everything she had done, but also because of a gut feeling…