Shui Su started to feel a bit nervous. She was aware that Lu Yin’s goal was to make trouble for the Autumnspring Slip, so what should she do? Stay away from Lu Yin and Ming Xiaoling? That felt a bit rude, but if Shui Su stayed with them and was dragged into their conflict, then what?
Ming Xiaolong also did not look very pleased. Why hasn’t that woman left yet?
"Let’s go," Lu Yin urged. Soon, the orchid leaf entered Ridgeplain, and the bustle of the Worldscript slowly unfolded before them.
Shui Su instantly forgot all about Lu Yin’s malintent against the Autumnspring Slip. Her eyes could not take everything in fast enough. There were book stalls everywhere, as well as other tool vendors, trade centers, and even restaurants. Fragrant aromas drifted through the air, and Shui Su inhaled deeply. She loved good food.
Far away in the distance, a group of exotic beasts released their cries. Some were indigenous to the Nine Odysseys Megaverse, while others were from destroyed megaverses. Powerful auras put a great deal of pressure on the region near the beasts, some of which were incredibly formidable. There were multiple crowds of eager cultivators who sought to purchase the creatures.
Bickering and arguing filled the air. Crowds gathered around various bookstalls, and people argued with vendors. Every person who manned a bookstall was a disciple of the Autumnspring Slip.
"Ugh, they’ve already found sixteen! Why couldn’t I find a single one?" someone passing by grumbled.
A man nearby responded with a bitter chuckle, "Brother, are you really planning on finding a character?"
"Why else would I be here?"
"Finding characters is just one part of these Worldscript festivals. They’re like trying to find a specific fish in the ocean: damn near impossible. The real attraction of these events is being able to broaden your horizons and shop for rare items. The Autumnspring Slip requires all vendors to sell their goods at a 20% discount. You won’t get prices like these anywhere else."
"That’s true... I guess the Autumnspring Slip is helping us."
"They’re also helping themselves. They’re the biggest sellers here! No matter where someone sets up a stall, they need to pay rent in the form of resources. Meanwhile, the sect contributes their characters and gains people’s goodwill. It’s impossible for them to lose out."
Ming Xiaolong put the orchid leaf away, already glaring at the Autumnspring Slip disciples with contempt. "Such petty tricks. Most sects refuse to stoop so low."
"You may not be willing to do it, but they are. That’s also why they’re slowly surpassing you," Lu Yin stated in a flat tone.
Ming Xiaolong wanted to argue, but she found that she could not. Lu Yin’s words were harsh. Just who the hell is he siding with, anyway?
"The Autumnspring Slip is the most hypocritical sect," Shui Su chimed in. This one comment prompted Ming Xiaolong to instantly find the other woman far more likable. This woman really knew how to talk.
Ming Xiaolong glanced back over at Lu Yin and huffed. "So what’s your plan?"
Lu Yin lazily stretched. "Let’s stroll around first. There’s no rush, and something interesting is about to happen. Say, does the Autumnspring Slip have a grudge against the Skyward Gate’s Luo family?"
"Not that I’ve heard of," Ming Xiaolong replied.
Soon, the three people were standing at a bookstall where the vendor was eagerly promoting a particular character. Lu Yin watched with interest. The character was “水” (water), and it could unleash a tsunami-like attack. Of course, nothing could be seen unless the character was used, but Lu Yin could sense the character’s power the moment he touched it.
This wave attack originated from the bamboo slip hanging in the sky. Reportedly, disciples of the Autumnspring Slip needed to directly write characters onto the bamboo slip in order for them to be effective.
Essentially, all the characters written by the Autumnspring Slip disciples derived their power from the mirebound artifact. If the bamboo slip was ever altered, then every character that was connected to it would become powerless.
This would be a huge disadvantage to anyone who had ever purchased a character.
Did this not count as a form of controlling profits?
The more characters that the Autumnspring Slip distributed, the more reliant on them other factions would become. Because of their investments, many would feel compelled to assist the Autumnspring Slip in a crisis.
While the Autumnspring Slip could not compare to the Everchange Valley’s history, the younger sect had already surpassed the ancient power. If the two had existed for the same length of time, then the Autumnspring Slip would likely be far more formidable, and they would likely completely outclass the Everchange Valley, Ruler Garden, and even the Four Commands Sword Sect.
This sect was simply too ambitious.
Still, they approached things in the same manner as Lu Yin; both were schemers in a world that knew nothing but open combat and cultivation. They had both introduced an entirely new method of doing things.
Ming Xiaolong glanced at Lu Yin. She was in absolutely no hurry to have him take action. In the end, both people were deliberately trying to stall.
She simply hoped that that woman would leave soon. Her presence could easily lead to unpredictable complications.
Just as Ming Xiaolong was thinking about such things, a commotion broke out in Ridgeplain. Vicious-looking people stormed into the area from all directions, and they refused to back down. A few bookstalls were overturned, which completely enraged the Autumnspring Slip disciples. However, nothing was done to stop the intruders; they were people from Deathmound.
Bang!
Someone crashed to the ground in an unseemly manner. They were a Autumnspring Slip disciple. The man shouted angrily, only to be immediately pinned to the ground by a foot. He was being stepped on by a woman with a cold expression and a gruesome scar marring her face. Cultivators could easily heal such injuries, but this woman had chosen not to do so. It was clear that she was vicious to the core.
She sneered. "Deathmound is fulfilling their duties! How dare you try to interfere? I believe that you must be harboring a criminal. Come with me!"
The disciple roared, "You destroyed my stall, and now you're even slandering me? This is the Autumnspring Slip’s territory, not your damn Deathmound!"
There was a thud, and the man was sent flying by a vicious kick.
Many other disciples gathered around, though none dared to make any moves.
Despite it being the Autumnspring Slip’s own territory, no one would dare to lay a hand on anyone from Deathmound.
This was far from an isolated incident. There were people from Deathmound everywhere. They had apparently surrounded Ridgeplain.
"They're from Deathmound’s Third Peak." Ming Xiaolong recognized the people.
Lu Yin asked, "Do they have some kind of distinguishing mark?"
"Each Deathmound Peak has its own unique style. The Third Peak consists entirely of women, and each one has a vicious appearance. No... it’s more accurate to call them 'fierce-looking.' Even naturally beautiful women deliberately scar their faces so that they will blend in with the rest of the Third Peak."
"Why?" Lu Yin asked in surprise.
"Because the Third Peak’s lord, Long Yin, has a scar on her face," Shui Su replied. When she noticed Lu Yin still looking at her, she pursed her lips. "It’s just something that I heard somewhere."
Ming Xiaolong nodded. "She has it right. The women who belong to Deathmound’s Third Peak respect Long Yin as both their master and their mother. Even when she explicitly forbade women from scarring their faces, they still find ways to get injured during battles. They’re considered quite the oddity in the Nine Odysseys Megaverse."
Lu Yin peered off into the distance. To command such loyalty from her subordinates, this Long Yin was clearly a remarkable commander.
Following Lu Yin's gaze, a woman was walking slowly towards Ridgeplain.
She wore a black robe and a bamboo hat, though her face was fully visible.
A hideous, centipede-like scar ran across her face. It was impossible to miss, and it was quite intimidating to look at.
As Lu Yin observed the woman, she looked up and met his gaze across the distance. Her expression did not change, and she revealed no surprise at being seen by Lu Yin.