Half a month later, Tianyun City. Shi Yan, Han Zhong, and the contingent of Shi family guards, escorting the goods purchased from Youji Town, slowly entered the city utilizing the Earth Dragon transport.

Shi Yan and Han Zhong walked at the forefront of the procession, murmuring between themselves.

“Old Han, it’s getting late today. How about we stay the night before heading home tomorrow? Perhaps we can find a place to rest for a bit once we’re in the city?” Shi Yan said casually, his expression unconcerned.

“Where does Brother Yan plan for us to rest?” Han Zhong chuckled, a suggestive look crossing his face. “Tianyun City is the largest stronghold of the Merchant Alliance, with millions of residents. The places to find amusement here are certainly a few tiers above those smaller towns we passed through.”

“If you know the places, Old Han, just lead the way.”

“I might not have enough Crystal Coins on me. Alas, the cost of living in some places is quite high.”

“Old Han, are you trying to trick me again? Last time we were drinking at the ‘Dark Fragrance Pavilion,’ you feigned drunkenness afterward, and I covered the bill once already. What? Are you trying the same trick again?”

“…Ahem, I was genuinely drunk that time! You’ve completely wronged me!”

“I don’t care about that. If you don’t spring for it this time, I’ll take the matter up with Uncle Han Feng when we return.”

“Don’t! Brother Yan, I’ll treat! Isn’t that enough?” Han Zhong put on a mournful face, sighing deeply. “You know my elder brother’s temper. If he ever found out about my little exploits, he’d beat me half to death. Is it easy for me to take a trip out? Working so hard for the family, and I don't even have enough for simple recreation…”

“It’s a deal then. You’re treating tonight,” Shi Yan turned back and called out to the Shi family warriors behind them. “Brothers, did you all hear that?”

“We heard!”

The seven Shi family warriors shouted in unison, looking excited.

“Let’s go then.”

… In just half a month, Shi Yan had managed to truly bond with Han Zhong and the Shi family warriors.

Shi Yan carried no airs of a young master. He was proficient in indulging in strong drink and heavy meat, adept at all forms of eating, drinking, and merrymaking. When it came to women, he was entirely uninhibited, never shy in pleasure houses or lively establishments. At times, upon spotting a particularly delicate beauty, he was even more forward than the notoriously lecherous Han Zhong.

The two of them patronized numerous pleasure spots on this journey. Each time, either Shi Yan footed the bill, or Han Zhong was fleeced, but they never allowed the guards to foot the expenses.

In a short span, Shi Yan earned the sincere approval of Han Zhong and the guards.

Han Zhong felt an even stronger kinship with Shi Yan, constantly praising him for finally seeing the light—how his entire demeanor had changed for the better alongside his cultivation level increase.

Along the road, Shi Yan deliberately omitted most of his experiences in the Gloomy Forest. He only mentioned that within the ancient cave he explored, he discovered a vermilion fruit; after consuming three of them, he gained Essence Qi and awakened the Shi family’s Petrification Martial Soul.

He entirely glossed over the matters of the Blood Pool, the Undying Martial Soul, and the mysterious Martial Soul. He barely touched upon meeting Mo Yanyu or the entanglements with Mu Yudie; anything that could be skipped was omitted.

Although Han Zhong was surprised by Shi Yan’s fortunate turn of events, he didn't press persistently. He simply felt that this kid Shi Yan had stumbled upon incredible luck; eating those fruits had apparently opened up his mind as well.

Over the past half month, Shi Yan had also managed to glean a thorough understanding of the Shi family’s affairs through Han Zhong.

The body he now inhabited had left him with quite a few memories, but most of those memories were tied to the ancient ruins and scripts the original owner had studied.

He hadn't acquired much knowledge regarding the Shi family itself. Fortunately, Han Zhong harbored no defenses against him. During their several excursions to pleasure houses together, Han Zhong revealed everything Shi Yan wanted to know.

After their joint escapades, Han Zhong grew increasingly convinced that Shi Yan shared his temperament. He meticulously detailed the Shi family’s business operations and sphere of influence, and furthermore, shared countless common cultivation tenets without reservation, providing Shi Yan with much martial knowledge he previously lacked clarity on.

For instance, once a martial artist suddenly reached the Nirvana Realm, they could form a "Sea of Consciousness." Upon its formation, the martial artist could establish a wondrous connection with their Martial Soul through this Sea of Consciousness, subsequently fusing Essence Qi with the Martial Soul to unleash secret techniques, achieving effects far beyond imagination.

Or details regarding the characteristics and weaknesses of various Martial Souls: which Martial Souls in the Merchant Alliance, Blazing Fire Empire, or Divine Blessing Empire were the most formidable, what their flaws were, and how to counter them.

Despite his notorious lust, Han Zhong was intensely serious about martial cultivation.

He possessed intimate knowledge of all information vital for martial artists to know. Through his narration, Shi Yan finally gained a relatively comprehensive understanding of these powerful beings for the first time, grasping the subtle differences between the realms preceding the Hundred Tribulations with clarity.

Han Zhong himself was only at the Hundred Tribulations Realm. He couldn't explain the nuances of the stages beyond that point, so he naturally avoided them, only divulging knowledge he felt confident in explaining.

And this, precisely, was what Shi Yan needed most at the moment.

… Soul-Lingering Dream Tower.

Shi Yan and Han Zhong, accompanied by four Shi family warriors, were drinking and indulging themselves in a large private room on the third floor.

In the center of the ancient-style room sat a square table, a meter high, laden with a dazzling array of fine wines and delicacies. A soft carpet covered the floor beneath the table.

Shi Yan, Han Zhong, and the others were seated on the carpet, beautiful young women dressed lightly in their laps, shouting loudly, playing finger-guessing games and dice, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

“Old Han, bottoms up!” Shi Yan called out.

Han Zhong looked crestfallen, accepting his loss, and downed the wine in his cup in one go. He instinctively squeezed the full, soft chest of the girl in his embrace before picking up the dice again, grumbling, “This hand got a free benefit. I’m definitely winning this round.”

“Heh, if that counts as a benefit, then both of my hands are full of benefits,” Shi Yan grinned, slipping both hands beneath the bodice of the girl in his embrace, smiling suggestively. “Qiuxiang, you’re so well-endowed here, do you think I’ll always be luckier than him?”

Qiuxiang had fair skin and a very full bosom, her eyes wide and glistening, brimming with desire. She coyly replied, “Young Master Yan is so naughty, always teasing poor me like this.”

“You can tease me back, too,” Shi Yan said with a smile, taking a sip of strong liquor and urging, “Old Han, stop dawdling! Why haven’t you rolled yet?”

“…Yinkui and Jiushan are nearby. The Yin energy on those two is too heavy; I can feel it even from this short distance,” Han Zhong frowned, pushing the girl in his arms away, and quietly moving to the window of the private room.

He nudged the window open slightly and peered outside, using the light of the large red lantern. “It really is Bei Mingce who has come. Yinkui and Jiushan never leave Bei Mingce’s side. If they are here, Bei Mingce must be close by.”

Upon hearing that Bei Mingce was near, Shi Yan’s heart stirred, and he immediately thought of Mu Yudie and Di Yalan.

After a moment of hesitation, he also edged toward the window and opened it a bit wider, looking out coldly at the procession on the street.

It was a convoy of about thirty people. At the very front, Bei Mingce rode a snow-white Lingxiao Colt, a faint smile playing on his lips as he conversed with someone inside a palanquin carried by an Earth Dragon.

Whenever the covering curtain of the palanquin was lifted slightly, Mu Yudie’s ethereal and peerless face would flash into view.

Di Yalan rode a warhorse covered in black armor, her fiery figure gently rising and falling with the animal’s steps. A faint trace of sorrow touched her delicate brow, and she looked somewhat dispirited.

Only when Bei Mingce addressed her did she manage a weak smile; she seemed uninterested in conversation.

Two elderly men, one stout and one thin, both emanating extremely heavy Yin energy, rode black-armored warhorses, following silently behind Bei Mingce. Their eyes were slightly narrowed, as if they were resting.

As Shi Yan edged the window open further to observe them from a distance of several dozen meters, the two elders suddenly sensed something and sharply turned their heads toward this direction.

Two chilling, icy streams of Yin energy seemed to emanate from the gaze of these two elders. From dozens of meters away, Shi Yan felt a sudden chill envelop his entire body, his heart filled with dread.

The two elders seemed to recognize Han Zhong. Upon seeing Han Zhong at the window, the coldness in their eyes slightly receded, and they nodded faintly.

Under the scrutiny of the two elders, Han Zhong’s usual flirtatious grin vanished entirely. His expression became grave, and he clasped his fists in a formal salute from the window, showing respect as a junior.

The two elders nodded again, then paid Han Zhong no more attention, turning back to resume their meditative state. Their slightly narrowed eyes were both directed toward Bei Mingce’s back.

Bei Ming family’s procession did not stop; they continued advancing slowly down the street.

On the rather narrow street, there were other martial artists out seeking pleasure, but upon realizing the approaching convoy belonged to the Bei Ming family, these individuals respectfully yielded the way, not daring to utter a single complaint.

The street, which should have been congested, was cleared by the people’s voluntary deference, carving out a path for the Bei Ming family’s procession to move unimpeded.

…M