A distance of two thousand li meant nothing to Xu Changshou. He withdrew a Windwalk Talisman, slapping it onto his thigh as his speed instantly surged.

After the better part of a day's travel, he arrived at Pingyang Market.

Before entering the market, Xu Changshou disguised his soul signature to match Li Xiaoming's. Then, he activated a Thousand Faces Talisman, transforming his physical vessel into that of a plump, fair-skinned Daoist.

Bearing Li Xiaoming's soul aura beneath the visage of a total stranger, no one could pierce his disguise—provided Li Daotu was absent.

It was utterly impossible for anyone to recognize him as Xu Changshou; not even a Golden Core or Nascent Soul ancestor possessed such means. By fundamentally altering his soul and appearance to mimic Li Xiaoming, he had essentially been reborn into a different body.

This was a profound divine ability he had acquired after his reverse Body Seizing. Ordinary cultivators lacked this art entirely, and whether others who had successfully performed Body Seizing possessed it remained unknown to him.

He executed this meticulous deception purely out of caution for his own survival.

Xu Changshou treated this fabricated identity as a disposable shell. Should this shell provoke a calamity in the outside world, the karmic backlash would never trace back to his true self.

Furthermore, if hunted by powerful foes, rapidly shedding these false skins would allow him to effortlessly vanish into the mortal sea.

The setting sun bled red across the western horizon.

A plump, fair-skinned Daoist draped in a blue Daoist robe rode a Red-Scaled Horse, slowly trotting through the gates of Pingyang Market.

For absolute security, Xu Changshou had even discarded his Green Immortal Sect robes.

An ancient, weather-beaten thoroughfare carved through the heart of Pingyang Market.

Storefront banners crowded the flanks of the street, flanked by countless Rogue Cultivators hawking their wares from simple ground stalls.

An array of immortal treasures—Pills, magical armaments, spirit talismans, puppets, and Formation plates—were displayed for trade.

As the minor auction at the Wanxian Market drew near, Rogue Cultivators from across the region swarmed into Pingyang Market like a gathering storm.

Multitudes intended to board the grand long-distance flying boats here, bound to attend the auction.

Consequently, Pingyang Market overflowed with surging spiritual activity these past few days.

At the very terminus of Pingyang Market lay the colossal docks for the long-distance flying boats.

Though flying vessels moored here almost daily, the behemoth bound for Wanxian Market launched only once every three days.

After quietly making inquiries, Xu Changshou realized his timing was poor; the designated boat had departed that very dawn. He would have to wait three days for the next voyage.

Waiting was a trivial matter; it was certainly not worth the spiritual exertion of returning to the Sect.

Adjacent to the great docks stood a towering tavern known as the Pingyang Waystation.

Xu Changshou secured a private room within the Pingyang Waystation. The exorbitant cost demanded thirty fragmented Spirit Stones per day.

A mere three or four days' stay would cleanly strip an ordinary Miscellaneous Disciple of their entire monthly stipend.

Xu Changshou ordered simple spiritual provisions. After breaking his fast, he stabilized his breathing and meditated until the dawn light broke.

By noon the following day, physical hunger stirred within him, prompting him to descend to the main hall to eat.

It was then that three Qi Condensation cultivators crossed the threshold of the Pingyang Waystation, snaring Xu Changshou's immediate attention.

Among the trio walked a familiar figure: Li Linhao. Clad in a cyan Daoist robe, Li Linhao's face was a mask of placid calm.

His cultivation base resonated at the eleventh layer of Qi Condensation.

Perhaps to mask his true standing while traveling, Li Linhao wore the cyan robes of a Miscellaneous Disciple rather than the distinct purple vestments of an Inner Sect Disciple.

An impressive display of restraint.

Xu Changshou did not recognize the other two flanking Li Linhao.

The male companion, draped in the same cyan Green Immortal Sect robes as Li Linhao, occasionally leaked flashes of untamed arrogance from his brow.

The final member was a young woman of perhaps eighteen or nineteen years. Her features dripped with enchanting charm, her luminous skin faintly visible beneath the sweeping folds of her emerald dress.

The trio's realms were closely matched. Both Li Linhao and the enchantress stood at the eleventh layer of Qi Condensation, while the arrogant Green Immortal Sect youth hovered at the tenth layer.

Sweeping their gazes across the crowded hall, the three cultivators finally anchored their attention upon Xu Changshou, who occupied a table by himself.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, what of that Junior Brother over there?"

"Acceptable."

Li Linhao cast a brief glance over Xu Changshou and offered a slight nod.

Only then did the three slowly close the distance to Xu Changshou's table.

"You there, Fellow Daoist. Do you wish to join our party?"

The youth with the arrogant brow looked down upon Xu Changshou from on high, his tone dripping with condescension.

"Apologies, I have no interest," Xu Changshou replied, his brow furrowing.

"Hehehe!"

The woman in the emerald dress abruptly burst into laughter: "Junior Brother Yang, speaking with such insolence, only a ghost would willingly join your side."

"Fellow Daoist Yang, we walk the outside world. Guard your tongue."

Li Linhao shot the youth a chilling glare. Yang Jieyuan shrank his neck back in silence, though the disdain in his eyes as he looked at Xu Changshou remained unconcealed.

Li Linhao cupped his fists respectfully: "Fellow Daoist, this poor Daoist is Li Linhao of the Green Immortal Sect. This is my Junior Brother, Yang Jieyuan, and this Fellow Daoist is Su Miaomiao of the Joyous Union Sect."

The Joyous Union Sect?

Xu Changshou swept a surprised gaze over Su Miaomiao. He hadn't expected her to hail from the Joyous Union Sect, initially assuming she was also a disciple of the Green Immortal Sect.

"Fellow Daoists, for what reason do you seek this poor Daoist?"

Even as Xu Changshou spoke smoothly, his hand beneath the table discreetly palmed a cluster of lethal talismans.

Walking the razor's edge of caution, he prepared for the instant Li Linhao and his group revealed murderous intent.

Su Miaomiao smiled sweetly: "It is like this. We are venturing to Wanxian Market and intend to travel as a united front, but we lack a final member. If Fellow Daoist is willing, we may brave the journey together."

"Form a party?"

Xu Changshou allowed a thoughtful expression to mask his features.

The path to Wanxian Market was vast and treacherous. Ordinary cultivators traveling such distances inevitably sought companions to guard their flanks.

Regardless of prior ties, forging a temporary alliance allowed them to pool their strength, ensuring mutual support against lurking perils.

A larger formation naturally deterred opportunistic predators.

Thus, banding together was standard practice in the chaotic wastes.

Of course, such fleeting alliances possessed zero true loyalty. In the face of absolute death, no one would sacrifice their Dao for a stranger.

Countless fiends even used the guise of companionship to butcher their own teammates for their Spirit Stones and treasures.

Driving a blade into a brother's back was as common as breathing in the Cultivation world.

Traveling alone invited death.

Traveling together guaranteed nothing, offering little more than a fragile psychological comfort against the terrors of the wild.

"Fellow Daoist may set his heart at ease. Both we and Fellow Daoist Su hail from orthodox, distinguished Sects; we would never act without honor," Li Linhao promised.

"Uh..."

Xu Changshou was rendered utterly speechless. The vicious couple who had ambushed and sought to slaughter him in the Thunder Marsh had originated from this very Joyous Union Sect.

Xu Changshou suspected Li Linhao had rarely stepped beyond his Sect's protective arrays, clinging to the naive delusion that disciples of distinguished Sects were incapable of vile atrocities.

Yet, upon further reflection, Xu Changshou instantly crushed that thought. Li Linhao's great-grandfather was a Golden Core almighty hailing from a terrifyingly powerful cultivation clan. How could the boy remain blind to the absolute malice of the Cultivation world?

He spoke these hollow words solely to lower Xu Changshou's guard.

"Very well, I am willing to join."

Xu Changshou nodded deeply.

He had known Li Linhao long enough to grasp the foundation of his character. Given Li Linhao's staggering personal wealth, he would hardly stoop to murdering a nameless rogue cultivator for scraps.

Su Miaomiao immediately blossomed with a radiant smile: "By what title should we address this Fellow Daoist?"

"This poor Daoist is Wang Hai."

Heh. Landlord Wang returns to the mortal realm.

"So it is Fellow Daoist Wang. Today's spiritual repast shall be my treat. Junior Brother Yang, go order more delicacies."

Li Linhao commanded with an easy smile. Yang Jieyuan instantly moved to obey, verifying that he was little more than Li Linhao's loyal attendant, bound to follow his every dictate.

"Hehe! I shall share a seat with Fellow Daoist Wang."

Su Miaomiao flashed an intoxicating smile, settling gracefully beside Xu Changshou while fixing him with an aggressively flirtatious gaze.