Two days of travel, day and night.
Under the guidance of Li Bo, the coachman, the carriage traversed continuous mountain roads and dense forest paths, arriving at a bustling town outside the Star Dou Great Forest.
This was one of the famous distribution centers on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest—Qingshan Town.
It was already late, and the sun was slowly sinking into the western mountains, casting golden-red afterglows onto the bluestone streets, reflecting the shadows of the bustling crowds and carriages.
Lifting the curtain, Tang Chuan's eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at the scene before him, seeing three powerful characters written on the stone archway at the town entrance: "Qingshan Town".
And beyond the stone archway was a noisy crowd and a lively market.
Shops lined both sides of the street, and stalls selling various Spirit Master supplies were everywhere.
There were gleaming short swords, iron chains for hunting Spirit Beasts, bags for storing food, simple but practical outdoor tents, and even poisonous powders and trap Materials specifically for hunting Spirit Beasts.
Even in the nearby square, groups of Spirit Masters were loudly recruiting companions to form temporary teams, preparing to enter the forest to hunt Spirit Beasts.
"Qingshan Town, it's even more prosperous than I imagined…" Tang Chuan murmured softly.
He withdrew his gaze and once again took out a bag of bronze coins to Li Bo, saying:
"You've worked hard, Li Bo. Please wait for me outside the town for two days."
Li Bo nodded, said nothing more, cracked his whip, and drove away, gradually disappearing into the distance.
Carrying his backpack, Tang Chuan got off the carriage and immediately blended into the crowd, soon stopping in front of a three-story inn named "Kelaiju".
This inn was not luxurious, but it was the quietest and cleanest one on the entire street.
The innkeeper was a lean old man. Seeing that Tang Chuan was young but had a steady demeanor, he didn't waste words, only asking: "How many days will you be staying?"
Tang Chuan pondered for a moment, then said: "Two days to start, might extend."
The innkeeper nodded, collected the money, and then had a waiter lead him to a window-side room on the second floor.
The room was small, with one bed, one table, and one chair. The window faced the main street of Qingshan Town, allowing a clear view of the passing Spirit Masters.
Tang Chuan put down his luggage and was about to take off his clothes to rest when suddenly, the sound of carriage wheels grinding on the ground came from outside the inn's window.
He subconsciously turned to look, and through the window, he saw two exquisitely decorated, luxurious carriages slowly stopping in front of Kelaiju.
A blue-backed, gold-patterned emblem hung on the carriages, featuring a blue ice crystal surrounded by seven wave-like patterns, strongly suggesting a Sect or Academy.
The coachman lifted the curtain.
The next moment, one slender figure after another emerged from the carriages.
Seven young women, uniformly dressed in well-tailored blue uniforms, with the ice crystal emblem embroidered on their chests and silver-edged ribbons tied at their waists, exuded a fresh aura.
Each of them was beautiful, with delicate features, each possessing her own unique charm.
When all of them stepped into the inn together, a refreshing fragrance wafted through the air, causing even the air to momentarily still.
In an instant, the pedestrians, drinkers, and waiters on the street were all stunned.
"Who… who are these girls?"
"They're too beautiful, aren't they? Each one looks like a fairy…"
"Are you stupid? Look at the clothes they're wearing and the emblem on the carriage. Those are Tian Shui Academy's clothes! These girls are all Spirit Masters!"
"Tian Shui Academy? Is that the famous school that only recruits female Spirit Masters?"
"Tsk tsk tsk, seven of them, each one a rare beauty…"
Discussions immediately erupted.
Seeing this, the innkeeper of Kelaiju also quickly went forward, a smile plastered on his face, saying: "Young ladies, are you here to stay? We can arrange rooms for you to rest right away."
Before the innkeeper could get close, he saw a middle-aged woman emerge from behind the seven young women.
The woman wore a plain grey robe, with a tall stature and a stern expression. Though she wore no makeup, she possessed an air of natural authority, clearly the leading teacher of these seven young women.
"We need four quiet and secluded rooms, preferably not too close to other guests," the middle-aged woman spoke, her voice calm but undeniable.
"Also, please send meals to the rooms; no other disturbances are needed."
Hearing this, the innkeeper's originally fawning face immediately became even more respectful, as he repeatedly nodded and bowed, saying: "Alright, alright! Please come upstairs, our Kelaiju has the quietest east-side wing, facing the backyard. The entire third floor is empty, and I'll arrange for a waiter to lead the way right now."
With that, he shouted loudly: "Xiao Liuzi, quickly take these esteemed guests to the third-floor east wing! Make sure the bed sheets and quilts are all freshly changed!"
A quick-witted young waiter immediately came forward and respectfully guided everyone upstairs.
Through the gap in the window, Tang Chuan looked downstairs and saw the seven young women from Tian Shui Academy following the middle-aged woman, entering the inn one by one.
"It's… someone from Tian Shui Academy."
His gaze swept back and forth among the seven, finally settling on one of the slender, cold and beautiful young women, a slight ripple passing through his eyes.
"This must be Shui Bing'er, right? The leader of Tian Shui Academy. I didn't expect to meet them here."
"It seems they are also going into the Star Dou Great Forest to find suitable spirit rings."
At this point, he frowned slightly and murmured softly:
"These seven, plus their leading teacher, are probably not weak in strength. If I encounter them on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest… I'll have to be extra careful."
Slowly closing the window, Tang Chuan stepped back from the wooden window and casually bolted the door.
… … … …
Early the next morning, as dawn broke and the morning mist had not yet fully dispersed.
Tang Chuan had already gotten up, washed, and left the inn with his small package. His steps were steady, his eyes firm, and he was fully prepared in his heart.
Following the cobblestone streets, he quickly arrived at the market in the center of town.
Although it was near the Star Dou Great Forest, it was exceptionally lively due to the frequent coming and going of Spirit Masters. Many small vendors had already opened their stalls, calling out their wares. On the weapon stalls along the street, various weapons were dazzlingly displayed:
Steel knives, long swords, heavy hammers, short axes… everything imaginable.
Tang Chuan walked around a few stalls and finally stopped in front of a blacksmith shop.
This blacksmith shop looked unassuming, but it was covered in coal slag, and the forge was still burning. A burly blacksmith was bare-chested, swinging a hammer to pound an iron blank.
Tang Chuan got straight to the point: "Boss, do you have iron spears? Sturdy, practical, not flashy, just able to pierce Spirit Beasts."
Hearing this, the blacksmith grinned and pointed to a black iron long spear leaning against the weapon rack nearby.
"This 'Wind Piercing Spear' is made of hundred-refined coarse steel. It has no fancy patterns, but it's hard and heavy, suitable for low-Rank Spirit Masters like you for self-defense."
Tang Chuan picked up the iron spear, weighed it in his hand. The shaft was cold, the grip excellent, heavy but not dull, and the spearhead was sharp, faintly exuding a chill.
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