Chapter Seventy-One: Half a Month Later

In the world of cultivation, strength reigns supreme.

When the Law Enforcement Team from Immortal City arrives, it’s likely they’re seeking opportunities for personal gain. Should the Immortal Market descend into chaos, innocent cultivators may fall victim to the hands of the Law Enforcement Team. In that moment, the dark side of the cultivation world would finally reveal its cruel face to He Song.

Ever since He Song transmigrated here, everything he experienced had been relatively peaceful. He had encountered two moderate calamities, but the cannibalistic nature of the cultivation world had never appeared before him.

Cultivators struggle against the heavens for their fate.

Strive! Seize! Plunder! Take!

These are the true themes of the cultivation world.

For over a decade, He Song had remained within the Immortal Market, rarely interacting with outsiders. Though he was cautious enough, he never truly understood how dark the hearts of those outside could be.

This time, he left the Immortal Market merely out of prudence. As for whether the Law Enforcement Team would act as he suspected, He Song wasn’t certain—just somewhat suspicious.

But if news spread that innocent cultivators had indeed been slaughtered by the Law Enforcement Team, He Song realized he would need to be even more cautious in the future.

The human heart is unpredictable. Only caution ensures survival to the very end.

“Well, it doesn’t matter. Only Wei Fan remains within the Immortal Market. The others—Zhao Lin has already escaped, Meng Guan is in Immortal City, and Lin Cong left the Immortal Market six years ago for Qingyuan Immortal City. With Wei Fan’s strength and status, he should be safe.”

After much deliberation, He Song finally shook his head and resumed practicing the Art of Earth Escape.

The arrival of the Law Enforcement Team had little effect on He Song. Aside from the lower concentration of spiritual energy outside the Immortal Market, it even brought him some benefits.

Within the Maze Array, with no buildings nearby, He Song could practice the Stone-Breaking Finger Technique as he pleased. Inside the Immortal Market, surrounded by structures, practicing the technique had always been restrictive—one careless move could damage a house or injure a passerby.

But outside the Immortal Market, things were entirely different. There was no need to worry about damaging property or hurting others.

As long as He Song remained within the Maze Array, he could strike wherever he wished. Provided he avoided the array’s core, even if he demolished the surroundings, no one would discover it.

Therefore, half a month later, when He Song witnessed the Law Enforcement Team leave the Immortal Market and soon received Wei Fan’s message crane, the area within the Maze Array was riddled with countless pits—all the result of He Song practicing the Stone-Breaking Finger Technique on the ground.

Inside the Maze Array, He Song unfolded the thin paper in his hand. Instantly, lines of characters appeared before him:

“The Law Enforcement Team has left. Fellow Daoist, you may return to the Immortal Market.”

“However, if possible, please come to the Spirit Construction Pavilion after you return. There are important matters to discuss.”

“Wei Fan.”

Wei Fan’s message was brief, simply requesting He Song to seek him out upon his return.

He Song put away the paper, gazing thoughtfully toward the Immortal Market. But soon, he shook his head.

Half a month had passed. He Song had been monitoring the Immortal Market’s situation, but being several miles away, he couldn’t hear any news from there. As a result, he had no idea what had transpired during his absence. He only knew that much had happened, but what exactly—he would have to ask Wei Fan upon his return.

Aside from that, He Song looked around, feeling a bit helpless. Perhaps it was the freedom of leaving the Immortal Market for the first time, but he had inadvertently pitted the surrounding ground while practicing the Stone-Breaking Finger Technique.

This wouldn’t do. Now that he was about to leave, he needed to restore the area.

Otherwise, once he removed the Maze Array, the traces of destruction would be exposed for all to see. He Song certainly didn’t wish others to discover he had lived here for half a month.

Fortunately, there was a way to erase all traces of his presence quickly.

He cast the Art of Object Manipulation.

Channeling his spiritual energy, He Song swiftly filled in all the pits. After retrieving the foundations of the Maze and Spirit Gathering Arrays and storing them in his pouch, he used the Art of Object Manipulation to seal the cave as well.

Once everything was done, He Song activated the Lightness Technique and sped toward Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market.

Soon—

He Song’s figure stepped into the Immortal Market.

But as he entered, he immediately sensed something was wrong.

Within the Immortal Market, few cultivators walked the streets. Those who did appeared hurried, unwilling to linger. Once bustling streets were now sparse, devoid of their former liveliness.

Looking into the distance, many rental houses on the outskirts showed signs of destruction. Some had lost their roofs, others had collapsed walls exposing their interiors, yet no one repaired them.

He Song even spotted traces of blood in certain corners.

Sweeping his gaze across the scene, He Song’s heart sank.

Had he not seen with his own eyes that the Law Enforcement Team from Immortal City had left, and received Wei Fan’s message crane confirming their departure, He Song might have turned and left immediately.

The sight before him was utterly different from what he remembered.

When he left, the Immortal Market’s streets were lively, bustling with cultivators—thanks to a steady influx of wandering cultivators in recent years. Even the rental houses, after restoration by the Spirit Construction Pavilion six years ago, had been renewed.

But now?

Surveying the changed Immortal Market, He Song hesitated briefly but finally headed toward the Spirit Construction Pavilion.

Since he had returned, he ought to see Wei Fan first.

If the Immortal Market remained unsafe, he might have to leave again after meeting Wei Fan.

Unimpeded, He Song quickly reached the Spirit Construction Pavilion.

On the second floor, He Song ascended and saw Wei Fan sitting at a small table, waving him over.

“Wei, why has the Immortal Market changed so much in just half a month?” He Song sat beside him, frowning with concern.

Before he left, the Immortal Market had been thriving. Yet barely half a month later, it was completely transformed.

Could all these changes really be the handiwork of the Law Enforcement Team from Immortal City? If so, wasn’t their appetite a bit too voracious?