Btth: The Rise of Qingshan

The verdant greens of March had already begun to dot the Qingshan Town, marking the perfect time for nature's revival. It was also the liveliest season for the town, with a steady stream of carriages and horses coming and going.

The events that had unfolded in the southern part of the town had subsided, though a hint of fear lingered in the air whenever the Thousand Medicine House was mentioned.

In the early spring, countless mercenaries, having rested throughout the winter, flocked to the Magical Beast Mountain Range in droves, embarking on new expeditions.

Before the Thousand Medicine House in Qingshan Town, a caravan slowly departed. Yan Qingshan stood atop a carriage, waving farewell to Xiao Yi Xian, who was waving back from the Thousand Medicine House's entrance.

Nearly a year had passed since he awoke from his sickbed and arrived in this world. It had been over a month since his return from the Magical Beast Mountain Range.

In this second spring, he finally chose to bid farewell once more, setting out on a journey to explore the continent.

Before Yan Qingshan's departure, the situation in Qingshan Town had undergone another transformation. The Thousand Medicine House had seized the interests of the former Wolf Head Mercenary Group in the south of the town, joining the ranks of the town's three major powers alongside the other two mercenary groups.

Although the Thousand Medicine House had no Dou Master powerhouse to command it, its network of connections spanned the entire Qingshan Town and its surrounding settlements.

Furthermore, with the introduction of new, high-quality wound medicines and potent paralyzing powders, any lingering doubts had gradually dissipated.

Yan Qingshan wasn't worried about Xiao Yi Xian staying behind at the Thousand Medicine House.

During his time there, he had taught her nearly every self-defense technique he knew and had left behind a contingency plan, ensuring that no one could harm her.

The strongest individual in Qingshan Town was only a one-star Dou Master, while the contingency plan left behind by Yan Qingshan could easily obliterate the entire town, let alone a Dou Master.

However, activating the contingency plan would prematurely awaken Xiao Yi Xian's Woeful Poison Body, so he had repeatedly cautioned her against using it carelessly.

…

Wutan City, one of the smaller cities in the Jia Ma Empire, was located in the North-Western Region, nestled between Yan City in the eastern region, the Magical Beast Mountain Range in the northeastern region, and Black Rock City in the eastern province.

Wutan City was not considered a large city in the Jia Ma Empire. Its strongest inhabitants were merely high-level Dou Grandmaster nearing the Dou Spirit realm.

Within the city, the three most powerful clans—the Xiao, Jia Lie, and Aoba clans—divided the majority of the city's interests among themselves.

Wutan City did have imperial city lords and officials, but for a small city like this, which was neither an economically prosperous hub nor a crucial checkpoint, there was no need to be overly meticulous as long as taxes and imperial interests were secured.

In reality, most of the empire's towns and cities were in similar situations. Imperial authority did not extend to the countryside, and local clans shared power and governed themselves.

Clans like the three major clans of Wutan City, which controlled the majority of the city's interests, were not uncommon, and they formed the lowest tier of the empire's ruling class.

Wutan City was merely a small city in the vast Jia Ma Empire, but the Xiao clan, the leading clan in Wutan City, was not entirely unknown throughout the empire.

The Xiao clan was once a first-rate clan in the Jia Ma Empire. Its patriarch, Xiao Lin, had attained the esteemed Dou King realm and was a sworn brother to Nalan Jie, a current Commander and one of the empire's ten strongest experts.

However, with Xiao Lin's death and the lack of capable successors, the Xiao clan had declined, unable to safeguard its own interests. Its influence had shrunk from the Jia Ma Sacred City back to Wutan City.

Nevertheless, the Xiao clan remained the leading clan in Wutan City, holding the lion's share of the city's interests.

The other two major clans in Wutan City, the Aoba and Jia Lie clans, harbored resentment but dared not openly challenge the Xiao clan due to the marriage alliance between the Nalan and Xiao clans.

Wutan City's market had always opened early. Though the sun had barely painted the horizon with a hint of crimson, the streets were already bustling with activity.

A caravan of about a hundred people and twenty carriages slowly entered Wutan City's market streets, guarded by escorts.

"So this is Wutan City!"

The caravan wasn't particularly large, blending in with the other travelers in Wutan City. In the middle of the caravan, a young man lifted the curtain of a carriage, revealing a face that still retained a hint of youthful innocence.

Perhaps due to a lack of exposure to sunlight, his complexion appeared even fairer than that of some women.

A young servant driving the carriage turned his head. Though he looked even younger than Yan Qingshan, his face and short stature were the only remnants of his youth. He smiled at Yan Qingshan and said,

"Physician Yan, you're awake. We've arrived at Wutan City. Would you like to get down and take a stroll?"

"No, I'm quite content in the carriage."

Yan Qingshan shook his head but lifted the curtain and sat on the other side of the carriage frame. The servant grinned and fawned over Yan Qingshan.

"Little Liu, are you familiar with Wutan City?"

Yan Qingshan sat on the frame, casually surveying his surroundings, and asked. The servant, named Ye Xiaoliu, was a shop assistant in the caravan.

"Who doesn't know the Xiao clan in Wutan City? Look, that's the Xiao clan's market. Look at those Xiao clan guards, so majestic and imposing!"

Ye Xiaoliu pointed to a market diagonally in front of them, his eyes gleaming as he spoke of the guards.

"The Xiao clan guards' equipment is top-notch, and being a guard is much more respectable and safer than being a mercenary.

My greatest wish in this life is to join a big clan as a guard after advancing to the Dou Zhe realm. Unfortunately, I'm only at the fourth stage of Dou Qi. I don't know when I'll become a Dou Zhe."

"Xiao Yan is here!"

"Welcome Young Master!"

"The Xiao clan's little devil is here!"

"Young Master is so handsome!"

…

The market ahead suddenly erupted in commotion. Yan Qingshan focused his gaze on the distance.

A young man, around eleven or twelve years old, entered the market surrounded by a group of boys and girls. Wherever he went, he was greeted with cheers and praise.

Any occasional grumbles were drowned out by the chorus of laughter.

The young man handled the situation with practiced ease, smiling and basking in the adulation, like a seasoned celebrity. However, few noticed his slight anxiety, and the smile on his lips seemed a bit stiff.

"Physician Yan, did you see that? That's the Xiao clan's Third Young Master, a true prodigy, a legendary figure in the empire."

Ye Xiaoliu pointed to the departing young man, his voice filled with envy.

"I've heard that the Xiao clan's Third Young Master is exceptionally talented. He started cultivating at the age of four, reached the ninth stage of Dou Zhi Qi at the age of ten, and became a Dou Zhe at the age of eleven.

He's twelve this year, but his birthday hasn't passed yet. With several months of cultivation, he must be more than a one-star Dou Zhe by now!

More importantly, the Xiao clan's Third Young Master is engaged to Miss Nalan Yanran, the daughter of one of the empire's three major clans. His life is simply..."

"Twelve years old, I see."

Yan Qingshan glanced at the departing Xiao Yan and muttered something incomprehensible before returning to the carriage.

"Little Liu, I'm going to cultivate now. Please don't let anyone disturb me for the time being..."

"What a weirdo, always cultivating... Giddy up..."

Ye Xiaoliu, who had been chatting enthusiastically, suddenly found himself without a companion. Not daring to bother Yan Qingshan, he muttered a few complaints and reluctantly resumed driving the carriage.

"It seems Xiao Yan's cultivation has already started to falter. His Qi Cyclone hasn't stabilized even after several months of becoming a Dou Zhe. But there are still three years until it begins, that's good..."

Inside the carriage, Yan Qingshan sat cross-legged. Xiao Yan's subtle anomalies had naturally not escaped his notice. His purpose in passing through Wutan City this time was to confirm the specific timeline of the plot's development.

Xiao Yan had just turned twelve, and his unstable aura after breaking through to the Dou Zhe realm indicated that Yao Lao had begun to awaken. What followed would be three years of being a cripple, but that had nothing to do with Yan Qingshan.

Having confirmed the specific timeline, he had accomplished his goal in Wutan City. His plans became clearer, and he closed his eyes, sat cross-legged, and resumed his deep cultivation.

"Strange, such a powerful spiritual fluctuation, an alchemist?"

The carriage carrying Yan Qingshan slowly passed through the market, and as it went by Xiao Yan's group, a beautiful girl around eleven or twelve years old beside Xiao Yan turned her head to look at the carriage, a hint of doubt in her eyes.

…

Black Rock City, a large city located in the eastern province of the Jia Ma Empire, ranked among the top of all the large cities in the empire.

The central area of Black Rock City was its most prosperous and bustling economic hub. Having bid farewell to the caravan, Yan Qingshan arrived at this vibrant center.

The streets teemed with people and carriages, giant winged birds soared overhead, and numerous mercenary groups entered and exited, creating a lively scene.

In such a prime location, those who could occupy a spot to set up shop were either local powerhouses or influential outsiders.

Miteer Auction House, the largest chamber of commerce in the Jia Ma Empire, Miteer Auction House of Commerce has strongholds and important chain business bases in many large and small cities in the Jia Ma Empire.

As one of the three major clans of the empire, the Miteer clan's business extended throughout the entire Jia Ma Empire and even beyond.

The Miteer clan had a long history, having developed in the Jia Ma Empire for hundreds of years, and its connections were complex. According to rumors, this wealthy clan even had ties to the Jia Ma Empire's royal family.

At the front desk of the Miteer Auction House, a figure shrouded in black robes, concealing their gender, paused for a moment before heading towards the appraisal room.

The appraisal room was spacious, and an middle-aged man was inside. Hearing the sound, he looked up and frowned at the clearly disguised figure in black robes.

However, when he noticed the storage ring on the person's fair right hand, he quickly put on a professional and enthusiastic smile. "Sir, are you here for an appraisal?"

"Yes!"

From beneath the black robes, a slightly dry and aged voice drifted out. The person raised their right hand, revealing a golden crown encrusted with countless gems on the counter.

Upon seeing the golden crown, the middle-aged man's expression turned serious. He picked up a magnifying glass and carefully examined the crown, his expression slightly changing.

When he looked up again, he spoke with utmost respect. "Please wait a moment, sir. I'll go find our chief appraiser, Elder Zheng."