Chapter 18: Arriving at the First Pass of Yuebei!

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Qin Xi, Jiang Baiqiu, and Bu Weiwei each unfurled their scrolls to see what task awaited them upon joining the Great Thousand Sect.

The words on the scroll were succinct:

“Our Great Thousand Sect has formed a partnership with the Hehuan Sect. A month ago, we sent a Foundation Establishment disciple to study and exchange with them. She has since blended in seamlessly with the Hehuan Sect disciples.

Candidates are tasked with identifying our sect’s disciple among the Hehuan Sect members and imprinting the Great Thousand Sect seal, which she carries, onto this designated space.”

Below the message was a blank area, presumably for the seal.

“Hmm, so we need to find that Great Thousand Sect disciple somewhere in Yuebei City... but the scroll doesn’t say where the Hehuan Sect is?” Bu Weiwei frowned, scanning the scroll repeatedly but found no map or guidance.

“Looks like we have to find it ourselves,” Qin Xi concluded immediately. “Looks like a game of find-the-difference, huh?”

Qin Xi continued, “The key point is that this Great Thousand Sect disciple is definitely mingling among the Hehuan Sect. So first, we must locate the Hehuan Sect’s base!”

“The term ‘base’ seems off. The Hehuan Sect is one of the Earth Branch sects, a proper major sect after all...” Bu Weiwei started to protest but was cut off by Qin Xi.

“Don’t you get what I mean?”

“Huh?”

Bu Weiwei pondered for a moment, then hesitated slightly, “Could it be that you’re saying the Hehuan Sect is located at that place?”

“Exactly, that very place!”

“What place, what place?” Jiang Baiqiu popped her head between them, curious. “I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”

“If you call it a ‘base,’ then it must be...”

...

Nightfall.

Phoenix Authority Tower.

A five-story building of utmost luxury, its beams carved and painted, eaves curved gracefully. Bright red silk draped the entrance, clusters of blossoms adorned the facade, lanterns hung high, glowing with gold and jade brilliance.

Before even stepping inside, one could see the glazed stained-glass lamp glowing softly in the grand hall, illuminating the entire space.

“Young master, please come in~”

“The Hehuan Sect... is here?”

Bu Weiwei felt awkward, hesitating at the door, reluctant to enter.

But Jiang Baiqiu paid no mind and strode forward confidently.

Qin Xi grabbed Jiang Baiqiu’s collar, pulling her back.

“What are you doing? Weren’t we going in?” Jiang Baiqiu choked slightly from the tug, then glared at Qin Xi.

“Why the rush?” Qin Xi surveyed the lavish brothel.

This was Yuebei City’s largest and most renowned brothel, always packed with people. With the Great Thousand Sect’s test starting today, the place was even more crowded.

Everyone knew the Hehuan Sect’s hangout was likely this brothel.

So those aspiring for immortality who came to Yuebei began their explorations amidst the flowers and willows.

One by one, confident candidates entered with their scrolls, only to emerge dejected.

Of course, some entered eagerly and left satisfied.

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The joys and sorrows of people do not always connect.

Qin Xi raised an eyebrow and asked Bu Weiwei, “Are brothels legal in Great Qi?”

“Plain ones seem legal, but the raunchy ones aren’t,” Bu Weiwei answered, revealing her rich theoretical knowledge.

Suddenly, she felt something was off.

“Wait, you’re a man asking me this?”

“I’m a gentleman who admires Confucian cultivation; how could I know about such places?”

“You, Confucian cultivation?” Bu Weiwei scrutinized Qin Xi, unbelieving.

This was the same man who first deceived her by claiming to be a government official and tricked her into buying a smoked duck. How could he possibly aspire to the noble, righteous path of Confucian cultivation?

Seeing her disbelief, Qin Xi just smiled quietly and entered.

“Hey, you...” Bu Weiwei hesitated as Qin Xi walked straight into this brothel. She had recently left her village, was theoretically knowledgeable but had zero experience with such matters.

How could she just walk into a place like this?

But Jiang Baiqiu seemed completely unbothered, happily following inside.

Bu Weiwei’s face blushed scarlet; she couldn’t understand how Jiang Baiqiu could be so carefree.

Could real adults be like this?

But these two looked about her age, maybe a year or two older—already so mature?

Before Bu Weiwei could dwell on this, the two had already disappeared inside.

So she had no choice but to follow, her face burning like a blazing chili pepper.

The madam stood at the entrance, greeting the newcomers with a wave.

“New customers... huh? Two young ladies too?”

The old woman squinted, examining the two.

“Both stunning beauties... are you here to apply for work?”

“I, I, I...” Bu Weiwei blushed deeply, her mind overloaded, left brain proposing hypotheses, right brain immediately rebutting, and she couldn’t utter a word.

“No, no, we’re just guests,” Qin Xi chuckled. “They are.”

“Oh~ rare indeed... but if you want to indulge in such tastes, we have that too, though it’s pricier.” The madam grinned at Qin Xi.

“What kind of girls? Show me,” Jiang Baiqiu crossed her arms, curious.

The madam replied, “Miss, you’re so pretty, the only one worthy of you here is our flower queen.”

“So...” Jiang Baiqiu’s words trailed off.

The madam was hinting at her.

This young lady clearly wasn’t poor—probably a bored noble daughter seeking some excitement. Keeping her was ideal, as girls with such tastes, though rare, were loyal and hard to lose.

“I’ll order the flower...” Jiang Baiqiu hadn’t finished when suddenly a loud crash echoed at the door.

“Boom! Boom! Boom!”

A girl carrying a stone tablet charged into the Phoenix Authority Tower like a fully loaded semi-truck.

“Another girl? Also strangely beautiful, radiant as a flower,” the madam mused. What was with so many like this arriving today?

Qin Xi turned to see it was A Ling.

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Of course, the bruises on her face showed she had fallen hard.

But she seemed fine otherwise, able to move freely.

“Phew... so this is the task location?”

A Ling looked around, then approached the madam with a bow.

“Elder, could you summon all the girls in the building? I’d like to have a look.”

The madam leaned back, surprised.

“My, my, such an appetite.”

A Ling was unaware of the madam’s thoughts. After reading the task, she simply decided to carefully observe among the suspicious candidates to identify the Great Thousand Sect disciple.

“Really want all the girls?” the madam asked unsurely.

“I’ll pay well. One hundred spirit stones, how about that?” A Ling began counting out the stones.

The madam’s eyes widened. One hundred spirit stones? What luck—everyone today seemed so resourceful.

Seeing A Ling trying to snap up the flower queen, Jiang Baiqiu frowned and quickly blocked her.

“First come, first served. I was here first.”

“No worries, I’ll compensate you.” A Ling pulled out ten spirit stones.

“No, no, I want to stand my ground!” Jiang Baiqiu was a proud Confucian saint spirit root. Someone breaking the first-come-first-served rule before her was unacceptable. “I bid one hundred fifty!”

“Two hundred,” A Ling replied calmly, as if it were just a number.

“Two hundred fifty!”

“Three hundred.”

“Three hundred fifty!”

“Four hundred.”

...

When the bids reached seven hundred, A Ling finally stopped, frowning. “Will you raise more?”

“I...” Jiang Baiqiu hesitated.

Before she could speak, Qin Xi stepped forward.

“Look, miss, you seem well-off. If we keep bidding, you’ll ultimately lose out. Since it’s already seven hundred spirit stones, why don’t you give us five hundred and I won’t compete anymore?”

“...”

A Ling hesitated, then nodded.

“Alright then...”

“Thanks, and let’s part ways here!”

Qin Xi pocketed the spirit stones swiftly. Before A Ling could react, he grabbed Jiang Baiqiu with one hand and Bu Weiwei with the other, dashing out of the Phoenix Authority Tower.