Lin Chaoyang had stepped onto the path of cultivation after stumbling upon a technique by sheer luck, so he believed firmly in the concept of "fated opportunity." However, hearing his excited words, the other three fell silent. None of them were the type to easily believe in such things.
If a truly good Secret Realm existed, how could word of it spread so easily? It would have been seized by the sects and the high-level cultivators of the great clans long ago! Why would it ever fall into the hands of ordinary people? Generally speaking, the good stuff never reached the bottom tier; if something did appear, it was usually honey coating a poison.
Wang Shan was mature and steady, his mind sharp despite his rough exterior. His style was not to trust such rumors. Sister Nan was the same, and her vigilance was even higher than Wang Shan's. As for Qi Ping, the mere mention of the word "Secret Realm" filled him with dread.
In his mind, anything associated with that word—whether due to the realm's inherent dangers or the fighting between cultivators—was guaranteed to result in many deaths. Qi Ping only wanted to farm and raise his bees in peace while steadily improving his strength. He had absolutely no interest in adventuring. Even if he hadn't awakened his Druid class, he would have been content to raise his Black Little Bees and live a life of simple comfort.
Unfortunately, Lin Chaoyang was in the height of his excitement. Being simple-minded, he didn't realize what their silence meant. To avoid dampening the boy's spirits—and to subtly warn the newcomer he had brought in—Wang Shan carefully considered his words.
"Chaoyang, Secret Realms come in many types. Some indeed offer rich rewards that can let one soar to the heavens, but those cases are rare. Most are incredibly dangerous. There could be killing arrays inside, or they could be traps set by evil cultivators. You might even run into high-level cultivators who enjoy slaughtering and looting."
"There is still plenty of time. We should wait until we've gathered all the information before making a decision. If the risk is high, you must think twice before acting."
Lin Chaoyang actually nodded in agreement. "Brother Shan is right to be thorough. I'll go gather more info and do some more research. I'll come back to discuss any new developments with you!"
Just as the three of them were nodding to themselves, thinking Wang Shan's advice had worked, Lin Chaoyang's next sentence proved it had been for naught.
"When the time comes, we'll make a meticulous plan together, seize a fortune from the realm, and then share it!"
Without waiting for an answer, he dashed off again to hunt for more rumors. It was as if the opportunity would slip through his fingers if he was a moment too slow. His infectious excitement left the three in silence once more.
After a long time, Wang Shan spoke with a complex expression. "Do you think I made a mistake bringing Chaoyang into the society? He comes from a wealthy mortal family and has no idea how treacherous the human heart can be. After gaining his fortune and entering the cultivation world, he met us. Since he hasn't seen the darker side of the world, he thinks most cultivators are good people. I'm starting to think our kindness to him might actually be harming him."
"But then again, the concept of opportunity isn't entirely a lie. Though the probability is low, Chaoyang himself started cultivating because of a lucky break. He might truly be someone with deep fortune. If we forcibly intervene, would we be hindering his Dao? Besides, we might not necessarily be right."
His words resonated deeply with Qi Ping and Sister Nan. They couldn't be certain they were right; they had simply made the more cautious choice.
"If he asks us again, we should decline and offer another gentle warning. If he insists on going, we can't force him," Sister Nan said, a rare occurrence of her speaking up.
"That works. We shouldn't interfere with another's path. We say what we can and keep our consciences clear," Wang Shan agreed.
They couldn't help but glance at Qi Ping. Both were young men, but the difference in personality was vast! It wasn't that Lin Chaoyang's character was bad—he was sincere and willing to share—but in a world like this, could such a personality truly survive? Not even Qi Ping, Wang Shan, or Sister Nan could guarantee their own survival, so they were even less inclined to try and control the destiny of others.
After the interlude with Lin Chaoyang, the three chatted a bit more before pushing the matter aside. None of them had any intention of exploring. Qi Ping and Sister Nan soon set off on their journey to the Qingshi Market.
The Qingshi Market was located in the center of Qingshi County and was managed by the Qingyuan Sect and three local clans: the Liu, Zhu, and Murong families. The relationship between these three clans and the Qingyuan Sect was extremely tight; to put it simply, these families were established by former disciples of the sect.
Their role was to manage the various affairs within their designated territories under the sect's supervision—including commerce, industry, taxes, rent collection, and security—as well as searching for talented youths to send to the sect. The Qingyuan Sect conducted annual evaluations, with a minor review every three years and a major assessment every ten. Rewards and punishments were decided based on these results.
The commercial trade at the Qingshi Market was one of the core sources of income for the county, generating massive tax and entry fees every year. To ensure a good business environment, the sect and the three clans maintained outposts there, along with an enforcement team led by at least two Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Since the county's industries primarily involved Black Little Bees, Golden-Feathered Chickens, Spirit-Condensing Fruit, and Jungle-Horned Cattle, the market was filled with chambers of commerce specialized in buying these goods. They also sold products related to these industries, along with various cultivation resources and daily necessities.
The target for Qi Ping and Sister Nan was a small establishment called the Zhiyuan Chamber of Commerce. The owner was a middle-aged man at the sixth level of Qi Condensation named Gao Zhiyuan—around the same age as Wang Shan. Most members of the Fusheng Society came here to sell their goods because the prices were slightly better than at the larger chambers. Plus, Boss Gao was a friendly man who often shared the latest news and gossip.
The society's courtyard was nearly a hundred kilometers away from the market. Even for cultivators, it took quite a while to travel that distance. By the time Qi Ping and Sister Nan reached the market along the back roads, it was already afternoon. Fortunately, the trip had been smooth, and they hadn't encountered any marauders. Qi Ping's bees had scouted ahead the entire way without finding anything suspicious.
"Qingshi Market... we're finally here."
Upon seeing the market, which radiated an aura of luxury, Qi Ping finally allowed his heart to settle. Besides selling honey and buying supplies, he planned to ask Boss Gao for information and prices regarding spirit beasts. He estimated that in about a week, his Druid level would reach Level 2, allowing him to contract his second animal companion. He needed to plan ahead to avoid another risky trip to the market.