Could it be that I am the cruel villain?
Chapter 125 - 102: An Unexpected "Bargain" _2

Chapter 125: Chapter 102: An Unexpected "Bargain" _2

"Years have passed, and this place has withstood countless invasions from the Southern Border Witch Clan. The most recent war occurred just over twenty years ago, and it was after that great battle that our Purple Cloud Palace built the Purple Cloud Pavilion here, gaining a certain degree of influence."

"However, it is also due to the frequent wars that the nearby mountain ranges of Shuangfeng City are littered with war scars. Among them are many experts, cultivators, and Gu Worms from the Southern Border scattered around, turning the surroundings of Shuangfeng City into a playground for Evil Cultivators and those Gold Seekers."

"The population of the entire Fengzhou is in the millions, almost constantly facing the threat of Evil Cultivators and Gu creatures. Therefore, the majority of cultivators within Shuangfeng City take it as their duty to eliminate these threats."

"Moreover, Fengzhou is the gateway to the entire Eastern Lands. Should it fall to the Southern Border, the whole Central Plains would suffer, which is why every reputable sect invests a significant amount of cultivation resources here each year."

"The purpose, of course, is to encourage the local cultivators to exorcise demons and witches, maintain local security, and not give the Southern Border any chance to rise again, even though the Southern Border Witch Clan outside Shuangfeng City is probably not few in number."

"Come, young master, take a look here."

The Shopkeeper leading the youth walked towards a crowded area. The pavilion in the distance was not small in scale, perhaps not as tall as the Purple Cloud Pavilion, but it was considerably wider.

Many people courteously made way and bowed with a smile upon seeing Xu Fu, and the plump middle-aged man also nodded with a smile. It was evident that this Shopkeeper’s personality was quite likable in the locality.

However, some people frowned or showed disdain upon seeing him. Jiang Feng noticed that most of these people had symbols on their chests or backs indicating their sect allegiance, suggesting they were from forces not on good terms with the Purple Cloud Palace.

These people likely exhibited this attitude due to conflicts between their sects.

Well, at least Jiang Feng felt that compared to Yu Ying, who wanted to control everything, this Shopkeeper was much more approachable.

"This place is the office for cultivators in our Shuangfeng City, known as the Immortal Pavilion. The Immortal Pavilion exists in various places across the world, and its purpose is naturally to help the local residents with their troubles. Please look."

He pointed to the large backdrop inside the hall.

It was engraved with various marks and script, and wooden plaques hung from it. Many people gathered inside the somewhat noisy hall, which had a total of five counters. Except for the last counter, which was unmanned, the other places were mostly occupied by people waiting patiently.

At counters marked "one" and "two," the crowds were the largest, with dozens of people. When it was one person’s turn, they presented a stone the size of a fingernail, undoubtedly causing Jiang Feng’s brows to raise.

It was a Spirit Stone.

After handing the Spirit Stone to the woman at the counter, she weighed it in her hand carefully, seeming to ascertain its authenticity. Once confirmed, she whispered something.

The Cultivator hesitated for a moment, then pointed to a wooden plaque hanging in the far-left corner.

"Please wait a moment."

The woman immediately took down the plaque and handed it over to the man, who seemed somewhat tense as he received it. He flipped it over to look at the side with a slit concealing a piece of paper.

He slowly pulled out the paper and shook it in his hand.

The anticipation on his face immediately vanished.

Biting his teeth, his expression grew ugly as he attempted to argue with the woman at the counter. But the latter only looked towards the old man sitting deep within the hall, who seemed to feel the gaze and calmly returned it.

The meaning was clear without words.

So, bowing his hands, he chose to leave.

This scene surprised Jiang Feng, as he inadvertently glanced at the content on the paper. He didn’t see the details, but the reward was three Low Grade Spirit Stones, and the task related to some wolf packs. Judging by this man’s cultivation level, which was only around the fifth level of Qi Refinement,

Jiang Feng also noticed that many Cultivators backstage of average cultivation level carried many wooden plaques out.

Some were unhurried as they hung their plaques high up, others ran quickly, stuffing their plaques into the counter hands, anxiously explaining something.

Sometimes the women at the front desk would actively approach Cultivators; glancing at them, one couldn’t discern their cultivation, which was likely above Foundation Establishment, or perhaps even at the Core Formation Stage.

He realized the world of Cultivators was quite different from what he had imagined.

"Young master need not be surprised."

While Jiang Feng was intently observing these people, the voice of Xu Fu startled the youth.

"The reason for his troubled expression is simply because the difficulty of this assignment is not easy, and based on his current realm, he should be more cautious and take assignments from the first counter."

"But he wanted to try his luck."

"To avoid cultivators deliberately picking easier tasks, the assignments are sealed inside the wooden plaques, which helps prevent inside deals. So there are always some whose luck permits them to get easier assignments."

"However, most of the tasks at the second counter are relatively easy for someone who has reached the seventh or eighth layer of Qi Refinement. The hunting dogs he has to exterminate, cultivated through witchcraft, are quite troublesome and roughly on par with his own level. The reward is only considered average."

"And picking up an assignment requires a Spirit Stone; he can only retrieve the Spirit Stone after completing the assignment. He is reluctant to give up for the time being, judging by his demeanor, he may only be able to earn one Low Grade Spirit Stone after being busy for half a month."

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