Brother Chu, I shall be by your side for a lifetime.

West of the city, Wind-Moon Street.

Wind-Moon Street in Taotie City is renowned throughout the cultivation world. Across the vast Nine Provinces, it is rare to find female cultivators willing to entertain men with their charms in brothels and pleasure houses. Yet, on this street, nearly every major establishment boasts female cultivators as their main attraction. Naturally, the refined scholars and gentlemen qualified to seek amusement here are also practitioners themselves, ensuring they do not tarnish the standing of these exceptional young women.

The long street is a tapestry of blooming flowers. In the center of the thoroughfare, ethereal fairies in colorful robes spiral and dance, moving with such lightness that they seem to glide, accompanied by fluttering butterflies and miraculous visions. At regular intervals, new stages and performances appear, all presented by the lovely maidens sent out by the brothels on either side to attract patrons.

One feels as though they have stepped into a celestial realm of dance and music.

Chu Liang walked forward slowly, his feet brushing against the soft petals covering the ground. As a practitioner who had transcended base desires, received a refined education, was currently broke, and possessed noble moral integrity, he naturally had no intention of indulging in such hedonistic pleasures here.

Arriving beneath a towering pavilion named "Moon-Grasping Tower," he leaped upward. Since the scholars and gentlemen who frequented this place were all practitioners, the Moon-Grasping Tower had no ground-level entrance; instead, a pure white curtain of light hung high above the top floor. Chu Liang’s body flickered and vanished into it, and in a blink, he arrived in the world behind the portal.

"Respectfully welcoming the Immortal’s ascension!"

The first sight to greet him was two rows of fairies in long, flowing dresses, standing on either side. Beneath their feet, clouds and mist swirled, and a gentle breeze brushed past them. Their attire was not revealing like that of ordinary courtesans; instead, it exuded a celestial aura, exposing only their shoulders and the cream-like skin of their waists and legs.

No wonder it was called the Moon-Grasping Tower. The design of the suspended entrance, coupled with the welcoming fairies, truly gave one the feeling of ascending to the celestial realm to grasp the moon.

How truly professional.

Chu Liang couldn't help but sigh with admiration. He waved a hand immediately and said, "I am here to find someone. Is Brother Wenren of the Sea King Sect here?"

Indeed, his purpose today was to seek out Wenren Mo.

Although the two had not exchanged contact details earlier, Wenren Mo, as a core disciple of a Ten-Lands sect, was high-profile and extravagant in his spending; his whereabouts were not hard to track. Earlier, Chu Liang had asked Xu Sui to conduct a brief investigation, which revealed that he was staying at the Moon-Grasping Tower, having rented a private suite long-term.

So, this fellow was practically living in a brothel.

"Are you here to visit Immortal Friend Wenren? He is staying in the Yellow Court Palace. Zhiyun, go and announce the guest."

The lead "fairy" carried herself with great dignity and ordered one of her subordinates to deliver the message. Before long, the fairy named Zhiyun returned and said softly, "Immortal Wenren invites you over, fellow Daoist."

"Very well, please lead the way," the lead fairy said with a wave of her hand.

"Many thanks." Chu Liang followed Fairy Zhiyun, traversing the mist-covered paths past pavilions and towers until they reached a building constructed of gold and jade.

A plaque hung above, inscribed with elegant, flowing calligraphy: "Yellow Court Palace."

Wow, they really put in the effort...

Chu Liang was truly impressed. He pushed the door open and finally saw his "Immortal Friend Wenren."

This fellow was busy refining pills in the room, his eyes locked onto a furnace filled with crimson divine fire. Seeing Chu Liang enter, he smiled. "Brother Chu."

"Brother Wenren," Chu Liang greeted, shaking his head with a sigh. "This roleplay is far too professional. You even have the stage set for an immortal refining pills?"

"What are you talking about..." Wenren Mo waved a hand. "I am actually refining pills. I intend to create a batch of 'Spring-Staying Beauty-Nurturing Pills' as a gift for Miss Xu."

"This is my signature move; no woman, whether mortal or cultivator, can resist it. I had originally intended this as a token of our betrothal, but since the start has been unfavorable, I have no choice but to bring it out early."

Watching his earnest expression, Chu Liang asked curiously, "How unfavorable? How far have you and Miss Xu progressed?"

"If this batch of pills pleases her, perhaps we might progress to the stage of actually speaking to one another," Wenren Mo said with full confidence.

"..." So you haven't even spoken a word to her yet.

Though, that was to be expected. Xu Hongqiu appeared to be a heroic woman of firm mind and decisive nature, far from an ordinary girl. Even if such a woman harbored romantic feelings, she would never be easily swayed by a profligate man like common girls.

If Brother Wenren were to chase such a target, he wouldn't have a shred of hope even in a hundred years.

Of course, if he had even a shred of hope, Chu Liang wouldn't have come today. It was precisely because he knew Xu Hongqiu would never fancy Wenren Mo that Chu Liang felt safe proceeding with his plan.

"I happen to have something here that might allow you to put those pills aside for now. At the very least, it will definitely allow you to reach the step of speaking with Miss Xu," Chu Liang said with a smile.

"Oh?" Wenren Mo became instantly interested. "What is it?"

"Miss Xu came to Taotie City to investigate the Ten Thousand Beasts Hall. The recent unrest there is related to this, but I know she has made little progress," Chu Liang said. "I happen to have substantive evidence in my possession that can directly resolve the Ten Thousand Beasts Hall case and ensure her success."

"What kind of evidence?" Wenren Mo was slightly agitated. He had naturally heard of the Ten Thousand Beasts Hall case; having followed Xu Hongqiu from south to north, he was not entirely in the dark. But that Chu Liang actually possessed substantive evidence was truly surprising.

"It is an account book detailing how internal members of the Ten Thousand Beasts Hall colluded with outsiders to steal and sell spirit beasts," Chu Liang said.

"You actually have such a thing?" Wenren Mo grabbed Chu Liang’s hand. "If Miss Xu receives this, she will surely be delighted! Brother Chu, give this to me, and I shall be your friend for life!"

"I am here precisely to give it to Brother Wenren," Chu Liang smiled.

"To obtain such a thing, Brother Chu must have paid a significant price. I certainly cannot let you suffer a loss for nothing," Wenren Mo immediately began to ponder. "What can I offer in return?"

He is truly sharp, Brother Wenren.

Chu Liang nodded inwardly. Dealing with someone who has read "Emotional Intelligence" is always comfortable; they don't wait for you to name a price before scrambling to find something to trade. It made for a very pleasant business transaction.

"Brother Wenren and I are kindred spirits; talking of money would be vulgar," Chu Liang said with a smile.

This remark was a hint, meant to tell Wenren Mo not to offer Spirit Stones.

Just like when he went to the Ten Thousand Beasts Hall to stir up trouble—why did he demand spirit beasts as compensation for the medicine costs? For one, if he demanded Spirit Stones, it would be difficult to get the value of a fifth-realm spirit beast. For another, if he received Spirit Stones, the final outcome was predictable...

Anything involving his master meant that if there were profits, there was a high chance of a three-to-seven split.

The painful memory of the last time still lingered in Chu Liang's heart!

On the other hand, by requesting spirit beasts or treasures, these were things that Di Nüfeng neither valued nor had a use for, and in the end, they would inevitably fall into his own hands.

Upon hearing this, Wenren Mo naturally grasped the message Chu Liang was conveying.

No money?

This was actually a bit difficult, as it left him with a great deal of room to maneuver. Finding something that wasn't a loss for him while also satisfying Chu Liang was indeed a challenge.

After a long moment, he produced a vibrant red orb, the size of a fist, glowing with divine light in his palm.

"This Red Lotus Treasure Orb was a lucky find I picked up a couple of days ago. Although it is highly valuable, it doesn't quite align with the cultivation method I practice, and I was planning to sell it. If it can be used to compensate Brother Chu, that would be perfect."

He handed the Red Lotus Treasure Orb to Chu Liang.

"This item can emit divine light to pierce through the underworld, illuminating a thousand miles in the dark of night. It can also manifest the Red Lotus Divine Fire, which is the bane of ghosts and evil spirits. If Brother Chu can make use of it, please accept it."

"Sigh, very well," Chu Liang accepted it with feigned reluctance.

After examining the Red Lotus Treasure Orb, he found that Wenren Mo had not exaggerated; it was indeed a treasure of supreme Yang energy. By injecting True Qi, one could manifest divine light or divine fire. The higher the cultivation, the greater the power; it was a treasure he could use for a long time.

He then handed the account book he had obtained from the three little ones to Wenren Mo and said, "Then, I leave this evidence for Brother Wenren to deliver to Miss Xu."

With the matter concluded, he rose to take his leave. As they parted, Wenren Mo enthusiastically tried to persuade him to stay.

"Brother Chu, since you’re already here, why not choose a fairy and experience the feeling of ascension?" he laughed.

"No, no," Chu Liang waved his hands in refusal. "I'll ascend another day."