The entrance fee for Cloudheaven Market was only ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones, and that was a market established by a Golden Core family!

Seeing that Gu Changhuan neither handed over Spirit Stones nor reacted, the guard captain grew impatient. "Are you going in or not? If not, make way, and stop standing here getting in everyone's way!"

He spat on the ground. "Another penniless nobody thinking he can come to Linyao Market. Nice clothes don't fool anyone."

Gu Changhuan heard every word. He frowned, and his aura surged outward in an instant.

The captain felt as though his chest had been struck by a heavy hammer. He spat a mouthful of blood and flew backward through the air.

"Foundation Establishment..."

The other guards hurriedly bowed when they realized Gu Changhuan was a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Inwardly, they were delighted. Captain Qian, who bullied everyone with his backer's support, had finally picked on the wrong person.

"Senior, please calm your anger! Captain Qian is a disciple of Senior Zhao of Linyao Market, and he raised the entrance fee on his own authority! It has nothing to do with us! Besides, Foundation Establishment cultivators like Senior do not need to pay any entry fee."

Their tone practically screamed: Senior, if you want to hit someone, hit him alone! He was the one trying to cheat you out of your Spirit Stones; we are completely innocent!

Captain Qian lay several meters away, his vision darkening. Panic filled him. He had only been using his position to extort a few extra Spirit Stones from rogue cultivators. How could he have known he would meet a Foundation Establishment cultivator hiding his aura?

Whether he could keep his life now was uncertain.

Gu Changhuan did not intend to kill him. Killing the captain would be easy; offending the Foundation Establishment cultivator behind him was another matter.

An old man who looked close to death approached, leaning on a dragon-headed cane.

Captain Qian scrambled to his feet upon seeing the newcomer. He ducked behind the old man, wearing an expression that implied he had found a reliable backer and was ready for revenge.

"Senior Bai! He attacked me! He has no respect for our market!"

The old man ignored Captain Qian entirely.

"Ahem. Please, Fellow Daoist, tell me what has upset you. If they have done something wrong, I will see that it is put right. I am Daoist Baixing, one of this market's managers."

Daoist Baixing's words made Captain Qian's expression turn grim.

Gu Changhuan cupped his hands toward Daoist Baixing, his expression remaining cold.

"Having me explain this would be one-sided. Better let these guards tell the tale."

Under the gaze of two Foundation Establishment experts and Captain Qian's murderous glare, one guard recounted everything in detail.

Upon hearing the account, Daoist Baixing flew into a rage. No wonder fewer people had been coming to Linyao Market lately; it turned out this subordinate was undermining them from within!

Charging more at the gate was driving away the very customers they depended on.

"Then you were justified in teaching him a lesson. Still, I hope you will spare him and let us deal with him.

"I assure you, we will not sweep this aside. He broke our rules and nearly ruined the market we have spent close to a century building. But he is an old friend's disciple, and I must inform his master."

As Daoist Baixing spoke, the fury in his eyes nearly overwhelmed Captain Qian.

Hearing this, Captain Qian collapsed to the ground, his face drained of color. He had never anticipated such an outcome.

He had only taken a few extra Spirit Stones. How had it come to this?

His only remaining hope was his master. If his master intervened, he might still survive.

"Very well, Fellow Daoist Bai. I will leave him to you." Gu Changhuan shook his head at the captain, who had gone limp with fear.

What a fool. He likely still did not understand where he went wrong.

Gu Changhuan had hoped to enter quietly. Instead, he had run into this fool.

Daoist Baixing hauled Captain Qian up by the collar.

"I haven't asked your name yet, Fellow Daoist."

"My surname is Wang," Gu Changhuan said with a slight smile.

Daoist Baixing knew the terrifyingly young cultivator before him was likely using a false name, but he nodded nonetheless.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, may I visit you in a few days to let you know how this has been resolved?"

"Then I shall await Daoist Bai's visit," Gu Changhuan replied.

After exchanging a few courtesies, Daoist Baixing left, carrying Captain Qian with him.

Gu Changhuan continued for several meters and rounded a corner. The space opened out before him.

He had expected a market built inside a mountain to be dim and cramped, but he had underestimated the ingenuity of cultivators.

It reminded him of a huge shopping mall from his previous life. The mountain had been hollowed out, with five pillars of different colors supporting it and lighting the space. Shops lined the walls in rings on five levels, linked by stairways. Several sets of steps in front of him led to different levels.

People and shops filled each ring. The sound echoed inside the mountain, making it seem even livelier than Nine Perches Market.

In terms of Spiritual Qi, however, this place could not compare to Nine Perches Market; the concentration here was barely Second Tier High Grade. Yet for rogue cultivators, it was a rare sanctuary.

Establishing this market must have required immense effort. Simply hollowing out the mountain on this scale was a monumental task.

Gu Changhuan looked at the directional stele before him and admired the cleverness of whoever had planned Linyao Market.

The stone inscription clearly listed:

Second Level: Cave Abode Rentals

Third Level: Rogue Cultivators' Plaza

Fourth Level: Shops

The sign said nothing about the first or fifth levels. He would find out in time. For now, after a day of travel, he wanted somewhere to rest.

He would rent a cave abode on the second level. He planned to stay here for a while.

He stepped onto the staircase and headed upward.

On reaching the second level, Gu Changhuan looked down toward the bottom. He could make out no buildings, only the shimmer of water.

At the top of the stairs, a young cultivator at the sixth layer of Qi Condensation sat behind a desk.

Seeing a customer approach, the youth quickly assumed a professional demeanor.

"Looking to rent a cave abode, Fellow Daoist?"

Gu Changhuan nodded. "Somewhere inconspicuous. Price is not a problem."

The youth opened an illustrated ledger on the desk.

After a brief pause, he turned the ledger toward Gu Changhuan.

"What do you think of this dwelling, Fellow Daoist? It includes a meditation chamber, living quarters, a medicine garden, a fire room, a spirit beast chamber, and a reception hall. The location is very secluded."

Gu Changhuan examined the details carefully and nodded in satisfaction.

"Three Low-Grade Spirit Stones a day. Would you like to...?"

Gu Changhuan produced ninety Low-Grade Spirit Stones from his storage pouch.

"Let's rent it for a month first."

The young man's eyes lit up as though the God of Wealth himself had arrived. He eagerly showed Gu Changhuan the way.