Chapter 49: Being Watched

Qin Shu activated his communicator watch and pulled up a map.

Circling around, he used his divine sense to scan the terrain. After comparing it with the map, Qin Shu knew exactly where he was.

The Cu Yue Mountain Range stretched for 10,900 kilometers, with a width of nearly 700 kilometers. Its layered peaks were home to numerous adventurers—beast hunters and medicinal gatherers—who had formed various sized awakened being settlements throughout the area.

Beyond these mountains lay another large city: Shanghua City.

There was no going back to Nine Yong City, but Shanghua City was still within reach.

Generally speaking, the influence of a large city’s family rarely extended beyond its walls. Even if they had some power in other cities, it would amount to less than a tenth of their full potential.

Qin Shu searched for nearby awakened being settlements, planning to assess the situation and inquire about recent events in the mountains.

Xiao Yan’s massive size made him too conspicuous, so Qin Shu stored him in the blood pact space. Shortly after, he found a settlement roughly the size of a small town.

Red Lotus Town, named after the Red Lotus Adventurer’s Guild, was known for its associated adventurers who braved danger for rewards. The entire town exuded a wild aura, yet beneath the surface, tensions simmered dangerously.

Walking along the green stone-paved streets, Qin Shu drew considerable attention. As a newcomer, it was natural that his presence would pique the curiosity of locals in such a close-knit community.

Rows of shops lined both sides of the street. He noticed that each store was packed, their signs bearing familiar names.

It seemed that chains from Nine Yong City had spotted the business opportunity here and opened branches in this town.

Qin Shu wasn’t particularly interested in this.

As he looked around Red Lotus Town, he saw no one hawking their wares on the street. With little interest in that, he decided to go to a restaurant. He figured he might as well eat while listening to the awakened beings brag about how badass they were.

There wasn’t much entertainment in this place, and cultivating here wasn’t safe, so hanging out with a bunch of friends and sharing stories was the biggest pastime.

Qin Shu managed to pick up some useful information from these conversations.

The Cu Yue Mountain Range, roughly seven thousand kilometers wide, could be divided into three zones: the outer layer, the inner layer, and the core.

Around the highest peak of the mountain range, Mount Yuantian, was the core zone, a seven-hundred-kilometer area where demon kings resided.

These so-called demon kings were monsters who had fully achieved human form. They were at least eighth rank, equivalent to Void Transformation awakened beings.

The other areas, centered around the various mountains that towered over fifty thousand meters, made up the inner layer. This was where fifth-rank and higher monsters ruled. Some of these areas formed large swathes, while others were like pinpoints scattered unevenly throughout.

Only the outermost region was suitable for cultivators below the Primordial Infant realm to explore safely.

Even so, those with less luck might still encounter fifth-rank or higher monsters in this outer zone.

Note: An entity could only be classified as a “monster” if it reached eighth rank or higher; anything below that was considered a “monstrous beast.”

After gathering this rough information, Qin Shu left the restaurant, his meal having cost thirteen spiritual soul coins—a steep price, considering the same dishes were twice as expensive here compared to Nine Yong City.

Returning to the streets, he headed straight for an apothecary.

The inventory at such a shop would likely reflect the general medicinal resources found within the Cu Yue Mountain Range.

As he entered the expansive store, he noted the highly modernized decor. Medicinal ingredients were neatly displayed in glass cases, ready for selection.

The shop was bustling with patrons, and employees were occupied attending to them. Consequently, no one initially noticed Qin Shu upon his arrival.

Unbothered by the lack of attention, he scanned the place and recognized many of the ingredients. As a budding pill concocting master who had already crafted the top-tier third-rank Yin-Yang Pill, his knowledge of medicinal ingredients was already quite extensive.

“Moon Silver Grass, Violet Wood Mustache, Heavenly Anesthetic…”

Most of these were second-rank ingredients that had been processed and stacked in piles.

Third- and fourth-rank ingredients were conspicuously scarce; this entire shop likely didn’t stock as much as what he carried in his space ring.

Qin Shu couldn’t help but shake his head, Makes sense. If they had high-grade medicinal ingredients, they wouldn’t be selling them here. Disappointed, he left the apothecary store and decided to leave Red Lotus Town, preparing to enter the Cu Yue Mountain Range.

As he passed through the town center, a shop with a queue of injured people caught his attention.

“Red Lotus Heavenly Medicine Pavilion.”

A white light flickered, and a soft, sweet voice called out, “Next.”

At the other end of the shop, a blood-stained man with a relaxed smile left with a spring in his step.

Qin Shu couldn’t help but stop, curious about what was happening.

A man with a severed arm walked in. The white light lit up again, and muffled groans could be heard from inside.

After about fifteen minutes, the same man walked out, now with a fully intact arm.

“Bringing the dead back to life, mending bones and flesh?” Qin Shu muttered softly.

“It’s not that dramatic,” replied an awakened being clad in battle gear, who had overheard Qin Shu. “Just mending bones, nothing more than regenerating severed limbs. ‘Mending Bones at the Red Lotus Heavenly Medicine Pavilion, one limb, twenty thousand gold’. That’s the advertisement that earned him renown.”

“That’s still quite impressive.” Qin Shu noted. “Judging by the voice inside, is the healer a man or a woman?”

“Oh, it’s definitely a woman alright. Ghosts still have eyes and legs, you know… Yu Min, the Divine Soul Flesh Spirit Mushroom, top earner in the entire Red Lotus Town. Last I heard, she’s only second to ‘Su Dongpo’s Widow’ in the Peach Blossom Valley.” The figure approached and extended a hand. “Let’s get acquainted. I’m Wang Daowi from the Tiger Union Adventurer’s Guild.”

Qin Shu shook his hand. “Qin Shu, just a lone wanderer.”

Their hands clasped, then parted.

Wang Daowi said, “Brother Qin, being at only the Foundation Establishment stage, venturing here alone is quite dangerous. Why not join our Mighty Tiger Adventurer’s Guild? With Golden Core experts in our group, as long as we don’t enter the inner layers of the Cu Yue Mountain Range, your safety is assured.”

“I appreciate your concern!” Qin Shu declined courteously, “But I don’t plan to linger here, so I’ll pass on your offer.”

“Very well!” Wang Daowi didn’t press the matter further, “This certainly isn’t a place to stay long. I’ll be taking my leave now.”

“Indeed!” Qin Shu nodded. After Wang Daowi left, he sighed, Wealth truly must not be flaunted in public; I’ve already caught attention.

It was likely due to using the golden spiritual soul card at the restaurant earlier, making him seem like an easy target for eager merchants.

His pause lasted only moments before visitors arrived at his door.

Meanwhile, Wang Daowi returned to a grand courtyard residence.

In the main hall, a burly man sat at the head, “He’s not coming, is he?”

“Indeed,” Wang Daowi responded with the utmost respect, “He claimed he had no plans to stay long.”

“Did you manage to dig up any info?” asked the burly man.

“No, sir,” replied Wang Daowi. “He claims to be a lone soul, but there’s no way a loner could unearth a golden spiritual soul card.”

“That’s irrelevant. I want that golden spiritual soul card, no matter who has it. Keep a close eye on him.”

Wang Daowi responded, “I’ve already assigned people to watch him. As soon as he steps out of town, they’ll notify us at once.”

“Good!” The burly man gave him an approving nod.

Wang Daowi continued, “However, we’re not the only ones keeping tabs on him. The neighboring Black Mountain Adventurer’s Guild has also caught wind of him.”

“Then let it be a contest of skills.”

The burly man was none other than the leader of the Mighty Tiger Adventurer’s Guild. His name was Xiong Hu, and his spiritual soul was a Gold Tiger with a gold-tier divine soul. Already over two hundred years old, he had reached the Golden Core realm.

“Report!”

Just as they finished their conversation, a report came in.

“Sir, that person has left the town.”

“So soon!” Xiong Hu was taken aback. “Which direction did he head? Was he followed?”

“He went north, but our people lost track of him.”