Chapter 178: Chapter 178: White Stone City
Inside the ruined temple, bodies were strewn about, and blood was everywhere.
Chen Ping’an scanned his surroundings and then deftly looted the bodies.
The guards had nothing of value on them. Besides their weapons, there were only a few pieces of broken silver.
However, each of their personal weapons was of Sharp Blade Level quality and quite valuable.
Without a moment’s hesitation, Chen Ping’an used a piece of clothing as a makeshift sack and wrapped all the weapons inside.
Fang Shicheng had a good amount of silver on him, but no other valuables. Oh, right, there was a Sharp Blade Level dagger.
The richest of them all had to be Fang Rui, the Legitimate Son of the Fang Family. He had over a thousand taels in silver notes, a personal Profound Pattern Jade Pendant, a fan inlaid with gold and jade, and several other valuable trinkets. He also carried a dress sword that was more for decoration than actual combat.
In terms of quality, it was at the Sharp Blade Level!
It wasn’t that Fang Rui couldn’t afford a Fine Blade, but given his level of cultivation, it was completely unnecessary. A Sharp Blade Level weapon was more than enough for him!
Counting the Sharp Blade weapons and the various other items he had just acquired, the total value was over five thousand silver taels.
After his recent purchases of the Flying Star Swordsmanship and the Great Vajra Palm, Chen Ping’an’s pockets were once again full.
That was, of course, assuming he could successfully sell off all these items.
With the Fang Family’s power and influence, selling these items in Weishui County City was impossible. He’d have to figure out another way later on.
From what he’d gathered, as the development of the Long’an Trade Route through the Canglong Mountain Range neared completion, some merchant guilds had begun to establish through-traffic for trade. This, in turn, spurred commercial prosperity in certain areas.
The sheer volume of trade generated by an entire province, even in its trial stages, made the commerce in these select areas rival that of the cities. The existence of these places also allowed items difficult to trade on conventional markets to be circulated. Practitioners of the Evil Dao and Demon Dao often frequented them. Even some of the great Noble Families and powerful merchant guilds were known to make appearances there.
As Chen Ping’an understood it, they were, in a sense, another kind of black market. The only difference was that compared to typical black markets, the volume and scale of the transactions were much greater.
’I should check it out when I get the chance! I wonder if they sell Treasure Artifacts there?’ Chen Ping’an thought to himself.
His Martial Arts Realm had now reached the Third Stage of Inner Qi—Celestial Rain Descending Realm Perfection. At his current rate of cultivation, he could attempt to break through to the Profound Light Realm in another five or six days!
For an expert of the Profound Light Realm, a Fine Grade blade was usable, but as a primary weapon, it was somewhat lacking.
Across all of Weishui County City, any faction that could produce a Profound Light Realm expert could be called a Quasi-First-class Power.
Not every expert of this caliber possessed a Treasure Artifact. However, as long as one had spent a few years in the Profound Light Realm, obtaining a Treasure Artifact was not difficult.
With the exception of a few unlucky individuals who were doing particularly poorly, the vast majority of Profound Light Realm experts could obtain a Treasure Artifact.
However...
At this thought, Chen Ping’an couldn’t help but smirk.
Although most Profound Light Realm experts could own a Treasure Artifact, the vast majority of those were of inferior grade. In truth, they were only slightly better than a Fine Blade. In terms of sheer quality, there wasn’t much of a difference; they were only called Treasure Artifacts because they could fully channel the Divine Wonders of Profound Light.
Inferior-grade Treasure Artifacts were also known as Quasi-Treasure Artifacts!
Above Quasi-Treasure Artifacts were true Treasure Artifacts, which were also called Genuine Treasure Artifacts.
What Chen Ping’an wanted, of course, was not some so-called inferior or quasi-Treasure Artifact. He wanted a true, Genuine Treasure Artifact.
Given his current rate of progress in the Martial Dao, he would outgrow an inferior-grade Treasure Artifact in no time.
After cleaning up the scene in the ruined temple, Chen Ping’an mounted a horse and galloped toward the inn.
Tonight’s haul was impressive!
...
"Morning, big brother."
Chen Erya woke up early to find Chen Ping’an looking refreshed and full of energy.
"Morning, Nannan."
"Big brother!"
The little girl put her hands on her hips and glared at Chen Ping’an, clearly displeased.
"Hahaha... Erya, good morning."
A satisfied look appeared on the little girl’s face.
"Good morning, Young Master."
"Morning, Peony."
After finishing breakfast at the inn, Chen Ping’an took the reins of the horse-drawn carriage and set off once more.
...
Five days later, Chen Ping’an and his party finally arrived at White Stone City.
Although White Stone City was considered a small city, that was only in comparison to Weishui County City. In fact, to the surrounding towns and villages, White Stone City was a veritable behemoth.
The city walls towered dozens of feet high, with constables guarding the gates under strict security.
Much like Weishui County City, White Stone City was generally divided into four districts: South, East, North, and West. Where these four districts met, there was also a Central District.
The number of people coming and going at the gates of White Stone City wasn’t as staggering as in Weishui County City, but a long line had still formed outside. Chen Ping’an didn’t flash his credentials, simply getting in line with everyone else to enter the city.
Before Chen Ping’an had even set out, a letter announcing his appointment had been dispatched to the White Stone Town Pacification Bureau. As a result, they already knew that their new Deputy Commander was about to arrive.
By their calculations, he was due to arrive any day now.
...
Just as Chen Ping’an was about to enter White Stone City, news of the death of Fang Rui, the Legitimate Son of the Fang Family, began to circulate back in Weishui County City.
"Fang Rui is dead?"
Inside the South Town Garrison Command, Mu Wanjun listened to her subordinate’s report with a stunned expression.
"Yes, Ma’am. We’ve heard it wasn’t just Fang Rui who died, but also a steward and some guards from the Fang Family."
Mu Wanjun found this quite intriguing.
As the Legitimate Son of the Fang Family, Fang Rui was hardly an insignificant figure. While his standing didn’t compare to the handful of heirs the Fang Family was actively grooming for succession, his status within the family was still quite high thanks to his father, Fang Qixian.
Fang Qixian was an elder of the Fang Family who wielded real power, a Martial Arts Master of the Profound Light Realm!
As Fang Qixian’s youngest son—born to him late in life, no less—Fang Rui had always been thoroughly doted upon.
It was hard to imagine how Fang Qixian would react to Fang Rui’s death.
"Have you found out who did it?"
"That’s unclear at present, Ma’am. The Fang Family hasn’t released any details. However, the bodies of Fang Rui and his party were completely incinerated, burned down to skeletal remains. Any investigation will be fraught with difficulty."
"I see."
Mu Wanjun nodded, her fingers tapping lightly on the desktop. After a moment, she asked, as if it were an afterthought, "Oh, by the way, when did Fang Rui die?"
"We don’t know the exact time of death. However, he went missing five days ago. He left Weishui County City that day, and then there was no word from him at all... until his skeletal remains were discovered."
"Five days ago, you say..."
Mu Wanjun closed her eyes slightly, murmuring to herself.
’A coincidence?’
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