268: Sun Crystal

The next day, at a not-too-remote street corner in Juyan City, the 'Tranquil Heart Teahouse' opened for business as usual. The Shopkeeper, a seemingly refined middle-aged man, greeted the few customers with a beaming smile. Several Waiters bustled about, serving tea and water, everything proceeding normally.

Approaching noon, several tea customers dressed plainly and with ordinary appearances entered one after another, requesting a quiet private room. They were none other than the disguised Qin Feng, Ji Ruxue, and Ye Wuyou. Xia Ya, Xiao Chun, Tao Yuanyi, and others were providing support from the periphery.

Qin Feng ordered a pot of the most ordinary green tea, seemingly sipping it casually, but his mind quietly sank into his Sword Heart perception. After his Breakthrough to the Martial King Realm, his perception of auras had become even sharper and more precise. An intangible Sword Intent spread out from him like water ripples, scanning the entire teahouse with extreme subtlety.

The Shopkeeper: His aura was steady, with a hidden chill. His cultivation was at the Mid-stage Martial King level. He appeared amiable, but deep within his eyes lay a trace of imperceptible malice and vigilance, creating a faint sense of discord with his surroundings.

The Accountant behind the counter: Late-stage Grand Martial Master, with a weak and unstable aura.

The three running Waiters: Two at the Early Stage Grand Martial Master level, one at the Martial Master Peak.

From the direction of the kitchen: There were seven or eight more auras, mostly at the Martial Master level, with two stronger ones, roughly at the Mid-stage Grand Martial Master level.

In total, over ten people, which basically matched the intelligence provided by the Murong Qianye. On the surface, this place was a teahouse, but in reality, it was a transit hub for the Yin Demon Sect in Juyan City to gather intelligence, liaise with personnel, and possibly conduct some underground transactions.

Having completed the reconnaissance, Qin Feng gave a slight nod to Ji Ruxue and Ye Wuyou. The three left the payment for the tea and left the teahouse without drawing any attention.

That night, the moon was dark and the wind high.

Approaching the zi hour, most areas of Juyan City had fallen into slumber. The Tranquil Heart Teahouse had long since closed, with only a few dim lamps lit in the rear courtyard rooms.

Several figures, blending into the night like ghosts, soundlessly scaled the wall and entered. They were Qin Feng, Ji Ruxue, Ye Wuyou, and Cold Peach Blossom. Tao Yuanyi was providing a perimeter blockade to prevent any unexpected incidents.

Qin Feng, having observed the layout during the day, had already pinpointed the ventilation openings and water source locations. He signaled to Ye Wuyou, who understood immediately. Using a specially crafted thin tube, she precisely blew the colorless, odorless, highly potent Knockout Powder, which Xiao Chun had prepared in advance specifically targeting Martial Artists, into the ventilation gaps of several key rooms.

The knockout drug was extremely potent, and it had an added effect against Cultivation Techniques with a Yin-cold nature. In less than half the time it takes an incense stick to burn, the teahouse fell completely silent, leaving only extremely faint snoring sounds.

The four infiltrated like wildcats. The Shopkeeper and several higher-ranking members, while unconscious, were all cleanly and efficiently dispatched by Ji Ruxue and Ye Wuyou using unique assassin techniques, left to be discovered by the Authorities the next day.

Qin Feng then, with practiced ease, found the hidden compartment concealed in the cellar of the rear courtyard. Inside, aside from a small amount of gold and silver and a few account books recording recent transactions, there was indeed a small chest of gleaming gold coins, roughly two to three thousand pieces, likely the operational funds for the outpost's recent activities.

After storing all the gold coins in his storage space and memorizing the key information from the account books (perhaps useful in the future), Qin Feng erased all traces. The four retreated as quietly as they had come, rendezvousing with Tao Yuanyi and the others on the periphery before vanishing into the vast night.

The next morning, news that the 'Tranquil Heart Teahouse' Shopkeeper and over a dozen staff had all been killed and the warehouse looted spread like wildfire. The Authorities sent people to investigate. At the scene, aside from the unconscious people, some signs of struggle (fabricated), and an empty money chest, there weren't many clues. The initial judgment was that they had encountered highly skilled bandits or suffered revenge from an enemy; after all, the Shopkeeper usually seemed amiable, but who knew whom he might have offended in secret? Juyan City was always a place of mixed characters, and such unsolved cases happened from time to time. After recording it, the Authorities arrested a few gangs of bandits, but without finding anything concrete, the matter was eventually dropped.

Qin Feng and his group, like ordinary travelers, listened to the street gossip in their inn, keeping their achievements hidden. This unexpected windfall would nicely replenish their travel expenses and prepare them for the journey ahead.

That night, at the zi hour, Qin Feng checked the System again.

[White Intelligence]: The old Shopkeeper of the Juyan City long-established 'Hundred Refinements Workshop' has been frowning and sighing to everyone he meets lately. Three pieces of 'Molten Fire Essence Gold' that he had treasured for years, intending to forge an Earth Rank top-grade fire-attribute divine weapon, have vanished without a trace. The old Shopkeeper suspects an inside job and has privately offered a bounty of one thousand gold coins for clues. Observant individuals have noticed that the workshop apprentice 'Zhao Xiaochui' has been spending lavishly recently and frequently lingers at the 'Wealth Gambling Den' in the southern city district, his behavior suspicious.

A piece of street gossip, perhaps a chance for a small fortune or just watching some excitement.

[Yellow Intelligence]: The Third Miss of the Juyan City Lord's Mansion will hold an open martial arts competition to choose a husband in the city's central square seven days from now. The conditions are simple and brutal: under thirty years old, and anyone who can defeat her head-on qualifies. Rumor has it that the Third Miss's cultivation is openly at the Peak Grand Martial Master level, but she has secretly broken through to the Mid-stage Martial King level. She Cultivates the family's Earth Rank fire-attribute Cultivation Technique, the 'Blazing Sun Art', and her Move, the Blazing Flame Palm, is fierce and overbearing. She is beautiful, but her temper is fiery. Previously, seventeen overconfident challengers have already been severely injured by her on the spot, with broken bones being the least of their injuries.

A martial arts competition to choose a husband? The City Lord's daughter? A hidden Mid-stage Martial King? This might be an Opportunity to quickly gain fame or get close to the City Lord's Mansion, but the risk is significant. That Third Miss shows no mercy.

[Blue Intelligence]: Within the Secret Vault of the Juyan City Lord's Mansion, a pair of rare treasures is stored—'sun crystal stones'. These stones are formed from earth vein fire essence absorbing a thousand years of solar energy essence. They contain the purest Yang fire-attribute energy and have incredible miraculous effects for fire-attribute Martial Artists' cultivation, greatly purifying True Essence, strengthening fire-attribute Divine Abilities, and even aiding in breaking through Bottlenecks. The City Lord treasures them immensely, planning to use them as the top-tier dowry for his third daughter's future marriage. This item also holds immense attraction for fire-attribute Divine Beasts like the Fire Qilin. If consumed by a juvenile Fire Qilin, it can greatly accelerate its growth, even directly triggering a Bloodline evolution, advancing it by one minor Realm.

Blue intelligence! And it's about the rare Heaven And Earth Treasure, the 'sun crystal stone'! More importantly, it holds immense benefits for Little Fire!

Qin Feng's spirits lifted. Ever since Little Fire's last outburst to delay Zhongli Wu and taking that heavy kick, although its injuries had improved under Xiao Chun's nurturing vitality, its Origin Qi was clearly depleted, and its growth had stagnated. This sun crystal stone was practically a tailor-made tonic and evolution Opportunity for it!

But here's the problem... These crystals are the dowry the City Lord is preparing for his daughter, stored in the City Lord's Mansion's Secret Vault. The security is bound to be extremely tight. Furthermore, according to the yellow intelligence, approaching and obtaining them through the 'martial arts competition to choose a husband' seems like the most direct route—becoming the Third Miss's husband would naturally provide an Opportunity to access the dowry, perhaps even obtain it early?

But the conditions of that competition... Defeating the Third Miss, a Mid-stage Martial King, and her 'Blazing Flame Palm'? Qin Feng had only just returned to the Early Stage Martial King level, his Realm not yet stabilized. Facing an opponent of the same level who Cultivates an Earth Rank fire-attribute technique, even if he defeated her, would he really have to marry that hot-tempered Third Miss? That was not his intention.

"sun crystal stone... Is it only produced in Juyan City? This item is probably a strictly controlled secret treasure of the City Lord's Mansion." Qin Feng frowned in thought. "Little Fire performed a great service last time and hasn't fully recovered from its injuries. This item is crucial for it... I must find a way to get it."

"The martial arts competition to choose a husband... Perhaps it's an entry point, but I absolutely cannot participate in the conventional way." Qin Feng's eyes flickered as he began to think rapidly. Perhaps he could disguise himself and enter the competition, finding a way to only receive attacks without 'qualifying'? Or exploit a loophole in the rules? Or... approach it from another angle.

It seemed that before heading to the imperial capital, they would have to stay in Juyan City a bit longer. For Little Fire's evolution, and for other possible Opportunities, they might have to wade into these muddy waters.