This time, he wasn’t heading to the Sea Demon Pavilion for another round of Essence Harmonization. It was merely a final stroll through the city before his departure, a last chance to see if there was anything worth purchasing.

Jiang Chen glanced over at Tie Zhu, who was walking alongside Li Xianglin. The two were deep in conversation, laughing easily. A realization dawned on him. *Ah, so Junior Brother Tie is finally making his move.*

Just then, the group passed by a Spirit Rice emporium.

With a quick word to the others, Jiang Chen broke away and stepped inside.

As expected, the scale of Mystic Heart City dwarfed the loose cultivator market back in Green City. This was especially true for the selection of Spirit Rice, which boasted several more varieties than he was used to seeing. He figured it must have some connection to the Linghe Sect.

After making a few inquiries, Jiang Chen got a feel for the local prices. Frankly, they were slightly steeper here than in the markets he frequented. He noted the going rates for Tier-1 and Tier-2 Spirit Rice, but his attention was caught by something else.

There was a local specialty known as Sea Rice, and it was considerably cheaper.

Jiang Chen examined it closely. The grains fell into a unique category, somewhere between Tier-1 and Tier-2. In terms of both quality and Spirit Qi concentration, it couldn’t compare to the latter but was a clear step up from the former. Its market price reflected this middle-ground status, making it the most popular choice among local cultivators.

His curiosity piqued, Jiang Chen purchased 500 pounds of the Sea Rice, specifically requesting the unhusked version. He planned not only to sample its taste but also to try cultivating a small patch for himself.

When Jiang Chen emerged from the emporium, he found Jin Fugui and the others waiting for him near the entrance to Mystic Heart City’s Shattered Demon Market. He offered a small smile and started walking toward them.

But as he moved, that prickling sensation of being watched returned.

The smile on his face froze. His eyes darted across the bustling crowd as he unfurled his spiritual sense, sweeping it over the area inch by inch. The problem was, their proximity to the Shattered Demon Market meant the street was a chaotic throng of cultivators of every stripe. It was impossible to pinpoint the source of the gaze.

To remain hidden from his senses meant one of two things: either they possessed an exceptionally advanced concealment technique, or their cultivation surpassed the Foundation Establishment realm.

The former was of little concern.

The latter, however, demanded his full attention.

When he was alone, he could come and go as he pleased. But this time, he was with friends. In short, making a clean getaway would be complicated.

Just as his mind raced with suspicion, someone approached—not furtively, but striding over with open purpose.

“Are you Jiang Chen?” a voice asked from behind him.

Jiang Chen stopped, turning to regard the speaker with a wary expression. “And you are?”

The person before him was young, barely a teenager. He wore loose-fitting martial robes, the collar casually unfastened, and when he smiled, the corners of his mouth stretched into a wide, almost feral grin. His eyes were unnaturally bright, as if they held captured starlight, and they studied Jiang Chen with an intense, undisguised curiosity.

The young man chuckled. “My sister sent me to get you.” He proudly flashed a dragon-patterned token hanging from his waist. “The name’s Long Chenyuan!”

The name and the token clicked into place. “The Long Clan?” Jiang Chen asked, his mind instantly connecting the dots.

Besides the City Lord’s Manor, Mystic Heart City was ruled by five great clans. The Long Clan was one of them, rumored to have deep ties with one of the abyssal sea races.

Long Chenyuan jabbed a thumb toward a nearby pavilion. “My sister’s up there!”

Jiang Chen followed his gesture and saw an open window on the top floor. Framed within it was the beautiful face of Long Xiyao. She wasn’t alone. Standing beside her was a mysterious woman whose features were obscured by a moon-white veil.

It took no effort to guess the veiled woman’s identity: Fairy Beiyun.

Only then did it hit him. He’d been so preoccupied with his recent breakthroughs that he’d completely forgotten about their deal. The Calyx Boat was still unsold.

He immediately caught Jin Fugui’s eye across the way and gave a subtle nod. Years of friendship made the silent command perfectly clear. Without another word, Jin Fugui led Tie Zhu and Li Xianglin into the Shattered Demon Market.

Jiang Chen turned back to Long Chenyuan and jerked his chin. “Lead the way.”

Long Chenyuan clicked his tongue in amazement. *So this is what a true immortal sect disciple is like?* In all of Mystic Heart City, no one outside his family dared to order him around. Yet this stranger, relying on nothing but his status, treated him with such casual authority. It wasn’t contempt, but a complete absence of the deference or flattery he was used to.

A moment later, they arrived at the pavilion, which was clearly one of The Long Clan’s many properties. As Long Chenyuan approached, staff members both inside and out greeted him with warm enthusiasm.

“Alright, alright,” Long Chenyuan said, waving them off. “Can’t you see I have a guest?”

*This kid isn’t so bad,* Jiang Chen mused. *No arrogance to him.*

They ascended the stairs to the highest floor, where a single private room occupied the entire level. Several young male and female servants stood guard at the door.

Long Chenyuan hollered toward the room. “Sis, I brought him!”

The door swung open to reveal Long Xiyao, hands on her hips and a look of displeasure on her face. “You’re a scion of The Long Clan! We taught you etiquette and propriety since you were a child. Have you forgotten all of it?”

Long Chenyuan scoffed. “You’re one to talk! You kick my door in every morning, you throw dead rats in my bed, and you’re always finding new excuses to swindle me out of my Spirit Stones!”

Long Xiyao froze, a flush of embarrassment creeping up her neck.

From behind her veil, the corner of Mu Beiyun’s mouth twitched. “Fellow Daoist Jiang,” she said in a soft, placating voice, “perhaps we should get down to business.”

Jiang Chen stepped into the private room. As he did, Long Xiyao stormed out, pulling the door shut behind her.

He had just taken a seat, ready to begin the transaction, when a muffled “Ouch!” came from outside. Unsurprisingly, it sounded like Long Xiyao was administering some sisterly justice to Long Chenyuan.

Mu Beiyun shook her head gently. With a flick of her wrist, a Storage Bag appeared in her hand. “As we agreed, here are ten thousand Mid-grade Spirit Stones, one Shattered Moon Flowing Frost, and my… handkerchief.”

Jiang Chen accepted the bag. A quick sweep of his spiritual sense confirmed the contents. He nodded. “Your sincerity is clear, Fairy Beiyun. The Calyx Boat is yours.”

Seeing the treasure she had longed for, Mu Beiyun breathed a sigh of relief. She cradled the miniature boat in her hands, her eyes tracing its delicate lines. For a moment, a rare, almost girlish delight shone in her gaze.

Jiang Chen offered a polite smile and rose to his feet. “Since our transaction is concluded, I will take my leave.”

Mu Beiyun’s head snapped up, her eyes locking onto his. “When are we going on a date?”

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