Chapter 396: A Girl of Humble Birth
Translator: Henyee Translations | Editor: Henyee Translations
Gray Stone City.
There was a relatively large cultivation city at the edge of the Black Mist Direlands. At the same time, it was an area with abundant cultivation resources in a radius of tens of thousands of kilometers. Most of the resources needed by cultivators of various races like the Black Fiend Valley were mainly transferred from this place.
At the peak of the human race, there were Body Integration Realm experts guarding Gray Stone City. But now, even sects are rarely stationed there. Most of the cities were filled with cultivation families formed by caravans.
The number of living beings of the other races was, on the other hand, increasing.
Boom.
On this day, the An Family caravan’s flying ship landed steadily on the platform on the left side of the city. Just as the array formation was put away, several blue-robed cultivators emitting obvious demon aura walked over. The leading eagle-beaked cultivator said coldly, “The parking fee is 100 spirit stones.”
An Zhi frowned. “Wasn’t it 50 pieces in the past? Why did it increase so much? The Eagle Beak cultivator snorted coldly and said, “Gray Stone City is under the control of our demon race, so the parking fee naturally has to increase. Cut the c.r.a.p and pay quickly, or your flying ship will be confiscated!
Behind An Zhi, An Yue and the members of the An family’s caravan revealed anger. However, the eagle-beaked cultivator was not afraid at all. Instead, he said disdainfully, “Why? Do you still want to attack? Add another 30 spirit stones, or the flying ship will stay.”
An Zhi could only obediently pay 130 spirit stones. In the periphery of the Black Mist Direlands, the purchasing power of spirit stones was relatively strong. Although this bit of spirit stones was nothing to a cultivation family like the An family with tens of thousands of years of heritage, paying more than a hundred spirit stones at a single stop was clearly no different from s.n.a.t.c.hing. However, the demons were powerful, and before she figured out the situation, she did not dare to easily start a conflict.
They walked into the city gate. They had to pay another sum of spirit stones. It was not until they arrived at the An family’s caravan camp in Gray Stone City that An Yue gritted her teeth angrily and said, “Aren’t the demons too domineering? They’re asking for so many fees. Aren’t they afraid that the caravan will leave?”
An Zhi shook her head and looked at Shen Ping. “In the past, Gray Stone City was jointly controlled by the demon Shi Hu and the Jing family of the human race. Now, it seems that something has happened. Moreover, I speculate that the demon race should only target our human race. If they charge like this for the other races, it will definitely incur the anger of many races. That Shi Hu will not do that.”
With that, she continued, “Senior Shen, rest in my An family’s residence for the time being. I’ll inform Senior Shen after I investigate the situation in the city. It won’t be too late for you to make other plans then.”
Shen Ping nodded. He originally wanted to settle down in Gray Stone City first and cultivate to increase his strength. However, if the situation in Gray Stone City was chaotic, there was no need to stay here.
Soon, An Zhi brought Shen Ping to a quiet room in the backyard. There was an independent quiet room inside. After chatting for a while, An Zhi left.
Shen Ping sized it up slightly and set up some alert array formations. Then, he sat down cross-legged and began to take out the beast skin level of the Talisman Beast Scripture to read. Before the situation stabilized, he was not in a hurry to enter the Strange Beast Gate.
As for cultivation, there was no hurry. After all, after knowing that there was a special energy like the strange rock, he naturally wanted to use the power of a strange beast to condense his Nascent Soul and not ordinary Golden Core magic power.
In the blink of an eye, several days pa.s.sed. An Zhi’s voice sounded outside the room in the backyard. Shen Ping opened his eyes. He frowned. He sensed that other than An Zhi, there were two unfamiliar Golden Core auras. He stood up and walked out. As expected, he saw two young-looking men and women beside An Zhi. The two of them were wearing black robes, and the patterns of high-grade magic clothes could be clearly seen inside. Moreover, the decorations they wore were extraordinary. They were at least high-grade magic treasures.
He glanced around and subconsciously looked at the woman. Her face was not hidden, and her facial features had the exquisite look of a daughter from a humble family. There was a pitiful look at the corners of her eyes, making one unable to help but pity her. Shen Ping could tell that this was not a pretense, but a natural weakness.
Although he had seen the Holy Maiden, who could be said to be beautiful, if he chose, he would still lean towards this kind of exquisite girl.
An Zhi was the first to speak. “Senior Shen, these two are the descendants of the Jing family.”
The handsome male cultivator hurriedly bowed and said, “Jing Yan greets
Senior Shen.”
Soon, the exquisite woman beside him said weakly, “Jing Huilan greets Senior Shen.”
Shen Ping said indifferently, ”1 don’t deserve to be called ‘Senior1. The two of you are both in the late-stage of the Golden Core realm. Speaking of which, you should be the senior.”
Jing Huilan shook her head gently. “Senior, there’s no need to be humble. Since I can find this place, it means that you must have something extraordinary. To be honest, my brother and I are wanted by Shi Hu of the Demon Race.” Shen Ping looked a little surprised, but he quickly frowned and looked at An Zhi. “Fellow Daoist An, are you looking for trouble for yourself?” There was a hint of dissatisfaction in his tone. He had come to Gray Stone City mainly to cultivate peacefully, but An Zhi had actually brought trouble to his door. An Zhi smiled bitterly and explained, “Senior Shen, these two came personally.
Jing Huilan also said unhurriedly, “Senior Shen, don’t misunderstand. My brother and I don’t know Fellow Daoist An. The reason why we can find this place is because I am good at divination. I calculated that this place is a sign of good fortune, so I shamelessly came to visit.
“Divination?” Shen Ping’s heart skipped a beat. Such techniques were extremely rare in the cultivation world. He had once encountered one in the Linhai Immortal City of the Nine Continents Tower, but he had not interacted much with her. He did not expect to encounter it again in Gray Stone City.
He thought of the underground palace of the Strange Beast Gate. He made a decision in his heart, but he still said on the surface, “I’m afraid the two of you have found the wrong person. How can I help you?”
With that, he turned around and returned to his room.
Bam. Unexpectedly, Jing Huilan and her brother, Jing Yan, knelt on the ground. A weak voice sounded. “Senior Shen, on the account that we’re all humans, please take us in. If you’re willing, I’m willing to accompany and serve you from now on.”
An Zhi, who was standing at the side, was extremely surprised. She knew that this pair of genius cultivators from the Jing family had cultivated to the late-stage of the Golden Core realm in nearly two hundred years. Their spiritual roots were outstanding, and it was even possible for them to break through to the Divine Transformation realm and reach the Void Refinement Realm in the future.
She did not expect geniuses like them, who also have extraordinary statuses to actually humiliate themselves like this. However, Shen Ping was not moved at all. He closed the door of the room and entered the quiet room.
The Jing siblings still did not get up. Ten days pa.s.sed. They were all still kneeling in front of the door.
An Zhi and An Yue could not stand it anymore. They wanted to knock on the door a few times but stopped. After all, they were not familiar with Shen Ping and did not dare to intercede on their own.
“The two of you should go back! My strength is limited. I can’t help you take revenge.”
From the situation in Gray Stone City, Shen Ping had guessed that the Jing family had encountered some unforeseen event. Therefore, it was not difficult to understand why the two of them were acting like this. Although he did not know why they were so sure that he could help, he would not interfere even if he had the strength..