Chapter 248: Chapter 248: Secluded Land
Feng Youming was a carefree soul, and his life in the Secluded Land was especially comfortable.
His mother’s clan was the Qi Family, another dominant power in the Secluded Land, on par with the Feng Family.
Besides them, there were also the Peng Family, the Luo Family, and the Sima Family!
These few great families were entrenched here, carving up the resources among themselves.
But due to the limitations of this place, many people’s Magical Treasures were actually heirlooms passed down from previous generations after they perished...
Passed from one generation to the next, used time and again.
And perhaps the biggest disputes here were the petty squabbles between these few great families.
Perhaps out of sheer boredom, these families would get into a brawl every time an argument arose, which was finally a chance to put their Magical Treasures to use.
There was also frequent friction among the lower-level Cultivators, but since everyone belonged to one of these families, they couldn’t be too ruthless. Usually, they’d just teach the other party a lesson and be done with it.
It was nothing like the outside world, where lives were taken at the drop of a hat.
However, the inability to ascend led some to find other things to do. Their romantic relationships were a mess, and certain High-level Cultivators constantly preyed on others, stirring up trouble...
Thus, the Secluded Land had a very contradictory feel to it.
Beneath the calm surface were hidden, surging waves.
After flying for about a day, Song Wanning settled Bai Yang in a hidden cave. This place was Feng Youming’s "private forbidden ground," off-limits to outsiders, so no one ever came here.
Still worried, she set up a few Array Plates to ensure Bai Yang’s safety.
"You are to stay here and cultivate. I will call for you when I need you."
"You must remember, the outside is fraught with danger. You absolutely cannot go out without word from me, understand?"
As she spoke, Song Wanning quietly placed a Divine Soul Mark on Bai Yang so she could sense his location at any time.
Bai Yang nodded solemnly. "Master, you just have to trust me."
’Master is worried about me.’
A warmth spread through Bai Yang’s heart. Right now, his Master was the only family he had left.
Song Wanning, certain he had taken her words to heart, turned and walked out of the cave, quickly disappearing from Bai Yang’s sight.
Bai Yang gazed outside and sighed.
’I’d love to go out and have a look too, but now’s not the time. Once I’ve done what Master asked, I’ll definitely go explore properly.’
’A place with such dense Spiritual Energy must have treasures!’
...
After leaving the cave, Song Wanning didn’t hurry back to the Feng Family.
It was her first time impersonating someone else, and she couldn’t help but feel a little anxious. She decided to take a few days to rest in her guise as Feng Youming.
Arriving in the city, she ordered some food according to Feng Youming’s habits and expertly bantered with the shopkeepers.
"Hey, Netherworld Elder, have you heard? The Sima Family got into a fight with the Peng Family a few days ago!"
"Oh? Is that so?"
Song Wanning raised an eyebrow. She tore off a piece of the Demon Beast Meat in her hand, stuffed it into her mouth, and listened to the gossip with great relish.
"Who else could it be but that Elder Yu from the Peng Family? This time, she forced herself on that little genius from the Sima Family and, you know, did *that* to him!"
The Shopkeeper’s eyes twinkled as he gestured wildly with his hands and feet.
He described the scene of the two being discovered in vivid, lifelike detail.
"Hiss! That juicy?"
Song Wanning clicked her tongue, rummaging through her memories for information on that Elder Yu from the Peng Family.
Her name was Peng Yu, a Divinity Transformation Elder of the Peng Family. She was amorous by nature and considered a heroine among women.
Her lifelong loves were handsome men of all kinds, and almost none she set her sights on could escape her clutches.
As for that little genius from the Sima Family...
He was said to have ruby-red lips and pearly-white teeth, so lovely that anyone would be moved to pity. His pair of big, watery eyes could stir anyone’s soul.
Peng Yu fell for him at first sight, drugged him directly, and forced herself on him.
When the matter was discovered later, the Sima Family started a fight with the Peng Family.
"So what was the outcome?"
Song Wanning asked curiously.
"Take a guess?"
The Shopkeeper waggled his eyebrows, looking like he had even more juicy gossip to share.
"Don’t keep me in suspense!"
Song Wanning raised a hand and gave him a light rap on the head, glaring at him.
The Shopkeeper immediately broke into a grin and continued, "The result... is that the Sima Family’s little genius is now clamoring for Peng Yu to take responsibility, saying he wants to marry into the Peng Family."
"Pfft—"
Song Wanning burst out laughing.
"Looks like Peng Yu has finally met her match! But why is that Sima kid so dead set on this?"
Peng Yu’s reputation was terrible. In the past, all her conquests demanded compensation in Spirit Stones and Magical Treasures. This was the first time one had demanded to marry into her family!
"Ah, that involves another juicy scoop about the Sima Family!"
The Shopkeeper let out a lewd chuckle.
"That little genius from the Sima Family was actually born to the Sima Clan’s Elder Gu and his grandson’s wife... His position in the Sima Family has always been extremely awkward. I heard he was targeted just a few days ago and nearly died outside!"
"..."
Hearing this, the corner of Song Wanning’s mouth twitched. The Sima Clan’s Elder Gu was over a thousand years old... and his grandson’s wife was only in her forties... How could he bring himself to do that? Truly...
But these kinds of trashy melodramas happened everywhere, and she was used to it. She laughed along with the Shopkeeper for a moment, pursed her lips, and didn’t give the matter any more thought.
After her meal, she strolled through the city. The dense Spiritual Energy was refreshing and made her feel exceptionally comfortable.
Just then, a shop on the side of the street caught her attention.
"Leisure Court Residence?"
She looked at the three large words on the sign. The name was elegant, but the decor at the entrance was... rather outlandish.
Layers of flowers densely surrounded the doorway, and a large patch of thorns grew with vigor, almost completely obscuring the sign.
Its peculiar appearance was completely out of place with the rest of the city.
Song Wanning’s interest was piqued. In Feng Youming’s memories, he had never seen this shop before.
She lifted her foot, stepped inside, and was instantly enveloped by a rich floral fragrance.
"This shop of yours new? Who do you work for?"
Song Wanning, mimicking Feng Youming’s personality, swaggered in and asked.
In the Secluded Land, he had always done as he pleased, utterly unrestrained.
The Shopkeeper was a white-haired old man. Hearing her, he lifted his eyelids to reveal a pair of shrewd eyes. He blinked and said, "Well if it isn’t the Feng Family’s Netherworld Elder. Welcome, welcome. Please forgive me for not greeting you sooner!"
He walked up to Song Wanning with a chuckle and made an inviting gesture. "This way, please. This is a Peng Family shop."
"The Peng Family’s?"
Song Wanning raised her eyebrows and followed him inside.
Bypassing the main hall, she entered an extremely large inner chamber. All sorts of herbs were laid out to dry, their scent fresh and pleasant.
Song Wanning was an Alchemy Cultivator. To her, the medicinal smells that many people disliked were fragrant and enticing.
She instinctively took a deep breath, but her expression quickly changed as she looked toward a small winnowing basket to the side.
’It’s actually Five Green Vines...’
This was a primary ingredient for making aphrodisiacs.
Seeing her reaction, the Shopkeeper immediately revealed a mischievous smile and introduced, "Come, come, Netherworld Elder. This place of ours also has another name: Dream Paradise."
