123: Chapter 123 Returning to Zhenbei to Deliver the Mission, Wenmi Wenxin's Business

By the time he returned to Zhenbei City, it was already nearly noon.

Ye Qing first went to the Mission Hall to submit the reconnaissance mission.

The Jade Slip recording the Yao Race's deployment and meeting content at Black Wind Ridge caused the deacon in charge of receiving the mission to change his expression several times; he immediately paid the bounty according to the highest specifications, totaling ten thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones.

The deacon even specifically asked if Ye Qing was willing to accept direct employment from the City Lord's Mansion, with preferential treatment.

Ye Qing politely declined, saying only that he was a Loose Cultivator and was used to being alone.

After leaving the Mission Hall, Ye Qing did not rush back to the inn, but instead wandered aimlessly through the city.

The atmosphere in Zhenbei City was a bit more tense than yesterday.

The number of patrolling guards on the streets had noticeably increased, and long queues had formed at the entrances of many shops, all filled with Cultivators scrambling to purchase military supplies such as Medicinal Pills and Talismans.

Some defensive Magical Artifacts that were usually expensive were now displayed in prominent positions, being sold at a discount.

"It seems everyone knows that a great war is imminent."

Ye Qing sighed inwardly and turned into a relatively quiet street.

Both sides of this street were mostly small shops dealing in ancient books, sundries, or buying antique items; there were few customers, forming a stark contrast to the bustle of the main street.

He walked to a shop with a small frontage and a sign hanging that read "Hundred-Know Pavilion," and stopped.

He had noticed this shop when he passed by last time. It mainly dealt in various ancient books, Incomplete Manuals, and some ancient objects of unknown purpose. The owner was a Foundation Establishment Stage White-haired Elder who looked quite learned.

Ye Qing pushed open the shop door and walked in.

The light inside the shop was somewhat dim, and the air was filled with a mixture of old paper and wood.

The shelves all around were densely packed with various books and scrolls, some new and some old, some complete and some incomplete.

The White-haired Elder was wearing a pair of reading glasses, sitting behind the counter, holding a yellowed ancient book, and reading it with great interest.

"Welcome, welcome! What would you like to see, Fellow Daoist? This shop has a wide variety of ancient books, miscellaneous books, and records of strange stories; I guarantee you will be satisfied!"

Seeing a customer arrive, the elder quickly put down the ancient book in his hand and greeted him enthusiastically.

"Shopkeeper, do you have any detailed records here regarding the 'Heavenly Demon Imperial Court,' the 'Patrol Envoy,' and the great war between the Human Race and the Yao Race in recent years?" Ye Qing asked straight to the point.

He felt it was necessary for him to have a more comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the power structure of this world.

Upon hearing this, the White-haired Elder's eyes flashed with a sharp light.

He looked Ye Qing up and down and smiled: "Fellow Daoist, you have asked the right person. If we are talking about who in Zhenbei City knows the most about the 'Heavenly Demon Imperial Court' and those old matters, apart from those few in the City Lord's Mansion, I am afraid it would be this old man."

As he spoke, he turned around and began to rummage through the bookshelf behind him, which was piled high with scrolls.

A moment later, he took out three scrolls tied with animal hide ropes that looked quite old and placed them on the counter.

"These three scrolls are the 'Great Wilderness Region Records: Yao Race Chapter,' 'Heavenly Demon Imperial Court Chronicles: Summary of the Last Hundred Years,' and 'Zhenbei City War Records,' respectively. Basically, they cover most of the content you want to understand, Fellow Daoist. As for the price... five hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones in total."

Five hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones was not a cheap price.

But Ye Qing did not bargain; he paid the Spirit Stones readily and took the three animal hide scrolls.

He did not read them on the spot, but instead put them into his Storage Pouch and cupped his hands at the elder: "Many thanks, Shopkeeper."

"You are too polite! Take care, Fellow Daoist! If there is anything you don't understand, you can come back and discuss it with me at any time." The elder waved his hand with a smile.

Ye Qing left the Hundred-Know Pavilion and returned to the private courtyard of Yuelai Inn.

After setting up a soundproofing Restriction, he finally took out the three animal hide scrolls and began to read them carefully.

This reading lasted for a whole day and night.

When he put down the last scroll, 'Zhenbei City War Records,' a look of deep thought appeared on his face.

"So that's how it is... This 'Heavenly Demon Imperial Court' truly has a deep foundation and is filled with experts. Just the Yao King-level existences recorded on the surface number in the dozens, and among them, there are even terrifying existences that surpass the Nascent Soul Stage."

"And that 'Patrol Envoy' is a position of real power within the Heavenly Demon Imperial Court, specifically responsible for external warfare. Every Patrol Envoy is an outstanding figure among the Yao Kings, with unfathomable cultivation."

"The great war between the Human Race and the Yao Race has been going on for hundreds of years. Both sides have had their victories and defeats, but overall, the Human Race has always been on the defensive, only able to rely on a few large cities to barely hold on."

"And Zhenbei City, as the forefront of the Human Race's resistance against the Heavenly Demon Imperial Court, has experienced countless baptisms of blood and fire. That mysterious Nascent Soul Old Ancestor in the city is said to be a legendary figure who fought his way out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood."

"Now, this newly appointed 'Patrol Envoy' of the Heavenly Demon Imperial Court seems ambitious, wanting to break the existing balance and drive the Human Race's forces completely out of the southwest region of the Great Wilderness Region in one fell swoop. Zhenbei City bears the brunt of this."

Ye Qing rubbed his somewhat throbbing temples and sorted through this information in his mind.

"The situation is even more severe than I imagined. I am afraid this Zhenbei City truly cannot hold. Even if it can be held, it will inevitably pay an extremely heavy price."

"Although I have confidence in my own strength, I do not want to be inexplicably drawn into this kind of large-scale war and become cannon fodder or someone else's pawn."

"It seems it is time to consider an escape route. I must find an opportunity to leave Zhenbei City, this place of trouble, and go deeper into the Great Wilderness Region, or to other safer places, to continue my great endeavor of farming."

He made up his mind and began to think about his next plan of action.

"However, before leaving, perhaps I can... do something else."

A sharp glint flashed in his eyes, and his gaze turned outside the window, toward the direction of the Zhenbei City Lord's Mansion.