Chapter 18 : A Night of Chaos

Chapter 18: A Night of Chaos

Below the bustling marketplace.

Every day numerous merchant guilds arrived, and this group of traveling merchants—Shen Lie and Lu Qingqing—did not attract notice.

After all, there were countless cultivators hoping to strike it rich amid the lively market.

In just three short days, Shen Lie and Lu Qingqing had selected a location, exchanged spirit stones, and opened their shop—very quickly.

At the moment, with the market so prosperous, wasting even a single day meant missing out on earning spiritual stones.

Using their identities as inner‑door disciples of Lihuo Palace, the shop opened at an even faster pace.

Inside the shop.

“Brother Lin, Brother Li, we really owe you a lot.”

“Brother Shen, it’s not my merit—it was the clan who sent me.”

Li Erniu’s face flushed slightly; his own clanmates would know his business. That shopping list was merely the Zhou Family using his hands to carry out the deed.

However, seeing this scene, Lin Chang’an fell into silent thought.

It was understandable that the Zhou Family wanted to befriend Yun Yao—in good times it was easy, but in hard times, help was rare.

Although Yun Yao hadn’t yet reached Foundation Establishment, forging ties early would never be a loss. Even if she failed to establish, at least she had befriended an inner‑door disciple of Lihuo Palace.

If she did succeed in establishing, then it was a win in any case.

“But recently, the Zhou Family’s movements seem rather large.”

Lin Chang’an furrowed his brow—he had noticed in the past few days that the Zhou Family was quite aggressive in recruiting cultivators from outside.

“Senior Brother Lin, thank you so much.”

Little junior sister Lu Qingqing smiled, and beside her Li Erniu nodded sincerely:

“Big Brother Lin, as a Talisman Master, you know more people and have more connections than I do.”

“Junior sister, you flatter me.”

Lin Chang’an smiled and waved his hand—whether out of gratitude for Elder Lu’s introduction, or this junior sister’s gift of a book, or personal benefit, he was willing to help.

During this time, Lin Chang’an had introduced many ordinary talisman masters and some other cultivators.

After all, a shop opened by an inner‑door disciple of Lihuo Palace was far more reliable than some roadside stall.

But then Lin Chang’an’s expression flickered with hesitation—a scene that happened to be noticed by Lu Qingqing.

“Senior Brother Lin, could it be that something is troubling you?”

Shen Lie and Erniu chuckled and pretended not to have noticed, preparing to evade.

However, Lin Chang’an gently shook his head.

“It’s nothing much—just recently the marketplace has become a melting pot of dragons and snakes. I’m not sure about some illicit talismans and pills…”

Although he did not say it outright, Lin Chang’an’s meaning was clear.

“Senior Brother Lin need not worry.”

Upon hearing this, Lu Qingqing did not seem surprised; instead, she showed delight, nodded, and said:

“As long as the quality is fine, I doubt anyone dares stir trouble under the name of Lihuo Palace.”

Little junior sister Lu Qingqing was impressive—beneath her gentle words every phrase revealed the backing she had.

After all, Yun Yao was an inner‑door disciple; founding a guild had certainly been reported through proper channels.

With a sect backing them, many problems could be avoided.

“Then that’s good.”

Lin Chang’an nodded gently—among the cultivators many committed crimes, fled enemies, or had rotten character.

These people, neither high nor low, could not be accepted by sect‑backed families, and dared not show their faces openly—they could only hide in the marketplace.

He had wandered in these markets for twenty years; although he didn’t know many late‑Qi Refinement cultivators, he was well acquainted with off‑beat cultivators of various sorts.

“Thanks to you again, Big Brother Lin.”

Shen Lie and Lu Qingqing smiled broadly and discussed the bottom price with Lin Chang’an.

Between people, relationships and favors allow for longer cooperation.

Lin Chang’an nodded in agreement, secretly calculating—if his talismans were temporarily sold in small amounts through Shen Lie’s channel, it would be relatively safer.

But for long‑term plans, he really needed to quickly learn another first‑rank middle‑grade talisman.

Otherwise, always producing only so many first‑rank middle‑grade Golden Light Talismans in high quantity would sooner or later raise suspicion.

……

“Brother Lin, do you think this time the Little County Princess can achieve Foundation Establishment?”

On the way back, Li Erniu couldn’t help but ask curiously.

Lin Chang’an shook his head and sighed deeply:

“Erniu, even competition among Lihuo Palace inner‑door disciples is so fierce; imagine how difficult it is for ordinary cultivators like us to seek Foundation Establishment.”

Hearing this, Li Erniu shook his head vaguely.

“Luckily, we’re only at Qi Refining Stage Four, so we don’t have to worry about so much.”

At Li Erniu’s optimistic tone, Lin Chang’an quietly smiled and looked up at the bustling marketplace, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

How many more people had come for Foundation Establishment pills this time, and how many would succeed?

If he had not awakened his golden finger, he probably wouldn’t dare to hope for Foundation Establishment himself.

……

The calm before pioneering in Qingzhu Mountain Marketplace was suddenly shattered one night ten days later.

Lin Chang’an, who had been cultivating inside his room, was abruptly awakened by a roaring sound coming from the marketplace.

“How is that possible!”

That familiar sound made Lin Chang’an’s face change drastically—it was the sound of the marketplace’s protective array formation.

The last time it rang was fifteen years ago during a beast tide—he still remembered it vividly.

He quickly drew the low‑grade artifact Green Bamboo Sword from his storage pouch.

Just as he stepped out, he saw the array’s protective barrier flashing in the night sky above the market.

“Big Brother Lin, what’s happening!”

Neighbour Li Erniu hurried over with his family, fearfully trailing behind.

“Someone is attacking the marketplace! Erniu, hide quickly.”

Lin Chang’an was shocked—at this moment, the most dangerous threat wasn’t the attackers from outside, but the people within the marketplace.

Under the night sky, the flashing lights of the array above the marketplace illuminated everything as Li Erniu’s terrified pupils recalled the scene from fifteen years ago.

At the same time, the entire market boiled over into chaos, becoming extremely noisy.

Before the protective barrier could fully activate, a blood‑covered cultivator rushed in, shouting:

“It’s a beast attack! The demon‑beasts from the Yunwu Mountains have broken out.”

Outside the market, pack after pack of demon‑beasts charged towards it, driven by howls.

……

Meanwhile, at the Wang Family’s estate.

“Ancestral Elder, these beasts have finally come.”

The Wang Family’s Chief Elder couldn’t help but laugh loudly.

“The marketplace’s grand array is activated—this time I want to see how many mid‑grade spirit stones the Zhou Family can spare to maintain the array.”

The two second‑rank demon‑beast cubs used earlier were just bait.

A beast attack on the market isn’t unusual, but if the array failed, that would be serious.

Both the Wang Family and Zhou Family were sect‑affiliated under Lihuo Palace and responsible for maintaining market stability.

In Qingzhu Mountain Marketplace, the Wang Family and Zhou Family, positioned east and west, each managed part of the grand array.

This level of array consumed mid‑grade spirit stones.

And mid‑grade spirit stones are precious to Foundation Establishment cultivators.

……

The Beast‑Controlling Zhou Family struck the bronze bell, and countless cultivators’ spirit beasts roared in agitation.

“Guard the marketplace’s grand array.”

The Beast‑Controlling Zhou Family’s head ancestor, face filled with fury, finally realized the Wang Family’s treacherous scheme.

They were ruthless—it was cutting off the source at its roots!

“Summon all Zhou Family cultivators to prepare for defense!”

……

At the same time, some mysterious cultivators who had infiltrated the marketplace exchanged perplexed glances.

“What’s going on? We haven’t started our action yet, so why is the market already in chaos?”

Their leader glared at the turmoil and revealed a feral grin:

“Anyway, our Shensword Sect will launch war on Lihuo Palace sooner or later—this is a god‑sent opportunity.”

The Yue Kingdom had three major sects—Shensword Sect, Lihuo Palace, and Xuanyin Pavilion.

And the Shensword Sect was the strongest.

However, cultivators hidden within the market didn’t need the Shensword Sect to stir trouble.

The grand array had only just been activated, yet the market itself was already in disarray.

All over, cultivators wore faces of excitement, restlessness, and many twisted in rage.

They looted and plundered—shops were smashed, and cultivators fought each other in naked greed.

Someone shouted “Foundation Establishment pills!” and countless cultivators’ eyes turned red.