Chapter 762: Chapter 762

Yangzhou was vast, and parts of it belonged to the Sui Kingdom, while others fell within the range of the Ming Country.

Within the Sui Kingdom, Yangzhou City was subordinate to Jiangdu County and stood tall at the upper reaches of the Yangtze River.

Outside the city, the riverside docks were crowded with ships of all sizes, their lights twinkling.

In the midst of prosperity, a sense of desolation lingered.

Just like the Sui Kingdom now seemed to be declining among the vassal states.

When the gates of Yangzhou City opened at the hour of Mao,

merchants from all over the world and nearby peasants rushed to enter and leave the gates.

Merchant ships that arrived last night were also unloading their cargo at the docks at this time.

For a while, the noise of carts and horses abounded, and the flow of people was dense.

Since downstream from Yangzhou on the Yangtze River led directly to the sea and onwards to the Ying Country as well as the South Sea,

Yangzhou City had thus become one of the most important transit stations for the Sui Kingdom’s foreign trade, bustling on a daily basis.

Jiang Dali chose to come to Yangzhou City first to obtain the Evil Emperor relics, having already arranged to go directly to Ice and Fire Island in the South Sea after getting the relics.

Passing through in this way also saved a lot of time on the journey.

At this moment, the city gate had been open for more than half an hour.

Inside Yangzhou City, the noise of the crowd was as deafening as ever.

In the food stalls in the south of the city, quite a few people were stopping by for breakfast.

Many players experiencing the atmosphere of life in the Martial World, wearing all kinds of clothes, were also mixing in, perhaps drinking a bowl of piping hot Chaos noodles or eating a few steaming meat buns while sipping on salty tofu brain.

Some players who had come into the city as escorts, once settled among the escort agency NPCs,

often went to the breakfast stalls to treat their insides while gathering information.

Others hurried to the bustling south gate market for buying and selling.

At this time, Jiang Dali was strolling leisurely down the bustling market streets, wearing a bamboo hat and a black cloak, along with Wang Yuyan and Murong Qingqing, both also concealing their faces with bamboo hats or veils.

To prevent his overly imposing stature from attracting attention,

he had long since employed the Bone Shrinking Skill as a disguise.

Thus, although the trio appeared to be NPCs with considerable momentum in the eyes of the players, they did not cause a stir.

Otherwise, if the Black Wind Village Chief himself had descended in person, it was likely the entire Yangzhou City would tremble thrice, perhaps alarming the officials and even the stationed troops, sparking a major battle between attacking and defending the city.

This was not a good thing for Jiang Dali, who wanted to act low-profile and quietly take away the Evil Emperor relics.

At this moment, walking in the market streets, all kinds of shouting from the market stalls kept rising and falling around.

Jiang Dali seemed to relive the gaming life he had as a player in his previous life, a smile in his eye as he slowly walked past each stall.

He rarely relaxed, not heading straight to a fight as soon as he arrived somewhere.

Instead, he strolled through the streets with leisure like a rich retiree, browsing each player’s stall.

"Pass by, take a look, selling various secret martial arts manuals!"

"From the genuine Black Wind Village, the ’Iron Cloth Shirt,’ thirty taels a copy... Hey, Young Hero, just by looking at your physique, I can tell you’re destined for this martial art. Think about it, after learning, you’re likely to become a Mountain Village Disciple!"

"The Eight Desolate Disciples set for sale... Freshly made Lime Powder and itching powder, extremely irritating, poison hidden weapons refined by an Intermediate Poison Master, dreadfully venomous, high-quality double-insured Eight Desolate Head Cover, very breathable, come quickly... stock is limited..."

"...Looking for a group! Seeking members to join me in raiding escorts. Prefer Eight Desolate Disciples who know the tricks of the trade, and it’s even better if a Big Brother from the mountain village comes along, willing to pay."

"Hey!! Come take a look, basic swordsmanship manuals from the Five Mountains Sword Sects, basic light skill from the Wudang Sect, Shaolin Iron Crotch Skill, all kinds of styles available. I’ll be taking off once I sell out this batch, miss this chance and there won’t be another shop ."

The cacophony of voices entered his ears from all directions, and there were quite a few sellers who were likely Eight Desolate Disciples.

Even the items being sold were mostly related to Black Wind Village or the Eight Desolate Disciples.

Such a scene made Jiang Dali feel quite proud.

Even in his previous life, there was no force that achieved the level of renown and popularity among the player community as he did.

Even players who had not joined Black Wind Village or even despised it, had to acknowledge the fame of Black Wind Village and its chief.

This was the result of a year’s hard work and careful planning.

Murong Qingqing and Wang Yuyan, by his side, were also surprised, now realizing the extent of Black Wind Village’s reputation among the Abnormal People, so great and so high.

Even in Yangzhou City, outside the territory of Black Wind Village, the majority of the Abnormal People here were somehow tied to Black Wind Village.

The two women watched as Jiang Dali, who put aside all matters to wander around the marketplace like an ordinary person of the Martial World, appeared to reveal another side of this man of steel.

It turned out that the iron man, who had been ceaselessly adventuring in various parts of the Martial World, also had moments to stop and appreciate the scenery along the way.

The two suppressed their doubts and many thoughts and continued accompanying Jiang Dali around the market and through the streets of Yangzhou.

Noticing that the art houses around were already starting the activity of tossing embroidered balls even in broad daylight, Murong Qingqing said with a laugh,

"Since ancient times Yangzhou has been known as a place rich in willows and pleasure quarters; whether it be wealthy businessmen, sons of the rich, or scholared bon vivants, or the unruly swordsmen, anyone who hasn’t visited can hardly call themselves a hero in the pleasure quarters...

I wonder what brings you to Yangzhou, Master Jiang? Are you planning to squander a fortune in these many art houses?"

Wang Yuyan hurriedly said, "This, this is unbecoming of a scholar; the Chief never visits such places. I know that."

Jiang Dali glanced at the art house across the street, filled with powdered beauties, and said with a light smile, "Whether it is becoming or not, I do not mind.

But, compared to going to those art houses to listen to songs and find women to accompany me in drinking, wouldn’t it be better to listen to the Junior Sect Leader of the Sky Zither Sect playing music and drinking with me?"

Murong Qingqing stomped her foot, "Chief, you really shouldn’t tease me."

"I am also versed in zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting," Wang Yuyan mused inwardly.

"Alright, I’ve brought you with me on this journey, in part to retrieve your Heavenly Demon Zither for you. Let’s not mention the minor matters anymore. Let’s go."

Jiang Dali took the lead, heading towards the West City District.

Murong Qingqing hurried to keep up, curious and excitedly said, "The two elders from my sect who took the Heavenly Demon Zither are still missing to this day. Does this mean you already have a lead, Master Jiang?"

Jiang Dali replied calmly and confidently, "Not yet. But if I want to find them, unless they hide in the deep forests and never come out, it’s quite simple."

He had already sent a letter to Manduo Villa and within the Mountain Village, instructing the person responsible for intelligence to issue such information-gathering missions and thoroughly spread the word, to find the two Sky Zither Sect elders.

Thus, today on the Jianghu Forum, there were already quite a few Eight Desolate Disciples discussing this task.

As the Eight Desolate Disciples span across the world, he believed that as more people took up the task, finding the two elders from the Sky Zither Sect who took away the Heavenly Demon Zither would just be a matter of time.

The trio quickly traveled through the streets and finally arrived at the dock in the West City District. To the puzzlement and surprise of Murong Qingqing and Wang Yuyan, Jiang Dali headed straight for a boat moored at the dock.

By the boat stood a group of strong and muscle-bound men with their shirts open, revealing shiny and buffed bodies. As they spotted Jiang Dali and the two women approaching, their bodies tensed up, focusing their gaze on Jiang Dali.

As Jiang Dali approached, the two rows of men seemed to recognize his identity and promptly made way, allowing him to lead the two women onto the boat.

"Village Chief! You’ve finally arrived."

On the boat, a burly young man with a broad face and big ears heard the commotion and immediately walked out of the cabin to greet them with respect.

Wang Yuyan, surprised to see Kou Zhong at this place, began to guess the purpose of Jiang Dali’s visit.

"Where are the Xiangxi Four Ghosts?"

Jiang Dali did not stop as he walked straight into the cabin and asked.

Kou Zhong hurried to explain, "The four elders are currently guarding the vicinity of Yanggong’s Treasure Vault. It’s said to be crafted by our predecessor Lu Miaoz, with seven extremely powerful mechanisms."

"Even the four elders could only make it to the sixth challenge, and the seventh has proven too much for them. So we had to seek your aid, Master Jiang."

As he spoke, Kou Zhong busily poured tea for Jiang Dali, who had already taken a seat.

Murong Qingqing’s delicate body shook slightly at the mention of Yanggong’s Treasure Vault, her mouth slightly agape in astonishment. She hadn’t expected that by simply following Jiang Dali on this trip, she would encounter the legendary Yanggong’s Treasure Vault?

"Is Evil King Shi Zhixuan still inside the vault?"

Jiang Dali frowned and took a sip of tea.

Kou Zhong answered, "Yes, although the Evil King is very strong, he has not been able to crack the Shadow Charm Divine Skill of the four elders, and we’ve been forcing him to flee all the way into Yanggong’s Treasure Vault, where he’s now trapped."

"You are all underestimating Evil King Shi Zhixuan too much."

Jiang Dali let out a snort and a cold laugh.

Kou Zhong was startled. "You mean to say that we’ve been played by the Evil King? Could there be other hidden paths in Yanggong’s Treasure Vault? Has Evil King Shi Zhixuan already escaped?"

Jiang Dali said calmly, "I don’t know whether there are hidden paths in Yanggong’s Treasure Vault, and the Evil King may not know either. But he would definitely not be unable to deal with the Xiangxi Four Ghosts and be forced to foolishly trap himself inside the Treasure Vault, waiting for me to find him."

Kou Zhong turned pale. "What do you mean, Village Chief?"

Jiang Dali’s gaze shimmered with brilliance as he stared at Kou Zhong, his eyes glowing calmly, "He did it intentionally. Inside Yanggong’s Treasure Vault, there are Evil Emperor Relics. He entered of his own accord."

"If I’m not mistaken, he intends to use the relics to enhance his own power with the strength of the former Demon Sect experts, and break through his Power Realm."

"Even so, the Evil King still wouldn’t be a match for you, right?"

Murong Qingqing interjected.

Jiang Dali confidently said, "But he is not alone. If I am right, before entering Yanggong’s Treasure Vault, he would have quietly spread the news, informing certain people of the vault’s location."

"Yanggong’s Treasure Vault is a treasure left by Yang Su, rumored to have mountains of gold and silver jewelry and a weapons cache that could arm an army of hundreds of thousands."

"So, with such a vault, who do you think would be tempted?"

Wang Yuyan immediately said, "The Gate Valve of Sui Kingdom? Also, the strong experts of the Sui Imperial Family? Or maybe the Demon Sect people?"

Kou Zhong exclaimed, "It looks like Evil King Shi Zhixuan is trying to muddy the waters, to make his escape. But why hasn’t there been any stir yet?"

Jiang Dali cracked a cold smile at the corner of his mouth, his look deep and meaningful as he gazed at Kou Zhong, "Because of my arrival, some people still don’t dare to expose themselves so openly. So now that I am here, the real show has officially begun!"

With that, he put down his tea cup, his eyelids fluttering slightly, ears picking up the sound of water in the distance, he said leisurely, "It seems that even when I want to keep a low profile, it’s truly impossible. This is because my strength doesn’t allow me to be low profile. I should have expected this."

Kou Zhong looked at Jiang Dali, who seemed to have anticipated everything, and suddenly felt a chill throughout his body.

Despite the cabin being warm and not at all cold, he felt as though the cold penetrated to his marrow and deep into his heart.

Yet at the same time, he felt a profound relief.

Thankfully, he had pulled back from the brink in time and hadn’t taken that step into the abyss.

The current Village Chief had reached his prime.

Commanding the world with the power to be the number one person in the Song Country’s Martial World, Conquer the World, his formidable reputation well known.

Their allegiance to the Village Chief now didn’t feel like an insult, as it had at first, but rather like they had found the right master...

(I’m asking for your monthly tickets and recommendation tickets! Only two days left until the end of the month! Please clear out your monthly tickets! There will be a monthly ticket crowdfunding event tonight at 8 o’clock.)