Chapter 55: Bloodwave Conve


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Why don’t you three step outside so we can have a private chat?” Tai Xilun asked politely, yet it was evident he wouldn’t take a no for an answer. “Madam, my condolences. Please speak with my Junior Di here for the funeral arrangements."


    <span style="font-weight:400">Being pressured by an expert, Li Lang and his gang had no choice but to obey the man in red and ck robes. They exited the house and made some distance before stopping a few houses away.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“So, who are you people and what did you want with Chen Laozu?” Tai Xilun asked in a sharp tone.


    <span style="font-weight:400">The three boys exchanged looks before Li Lang sighed and stepped forward.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Chen Laozu had been hired by us to perform some tests. We came to find him this morning since he hadn’te to our scheduled meeting.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">The menacing aura of the demonic cultivator intensified at Li Lang’s words, narrowing his eyes at the boys.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Oh, you boys are doing some tests? Under which organization?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“...We aren’t under any group. It’s just us three.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Really?” His scrutinizing gaze made another pass at each of the boys. “Just the three of you kids?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Yes, I am an alchemist, so I’m just testing out some new recipes.” Li Lang responded and brought out his ring as proof.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I see…As you have just heard, Chen Laozu is dead. Do you have any ideas why that is the case? Maybe something to do with your little tests there?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“What?!” Li Lang shouted. “It shouldn’t have anything to do with us! The medicine we were testing shouldn’t have such severe effects. None of our other testers had any issues so far.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Tai Xilun stroked his chin and put on a thoughtful look.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“That is to be seen. Anyway, do you even have proof that you have hired Chen Laozu? Otherwise, we may have to take you guys in with me for further questioning.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“H-here, we have c-contracts signed with the merchant g-guild.” Wei Ping interjected, shoving some papers at the man.


    <span style="font-weight:400">The man in red and ck robes inspected the documents for a few moments before frowning.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Payment settled in Qilin silver coins, is it? What are righteous sect kids doing here the in Luminescent Domain?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“To hone my alchemy skills. I wasn’t allowed to do my tests in Yellow Qilin. That’s why I came here at the advice of Jian Beiyun from the Nightmoon Valley.” Li Lang calmly replied. “Or is that not allowed here as well?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“...No, it is allowed as long as there is consent from both parties. We aren’t like those uptight, orthodox cultivators.” Tai Xilun replied with undisguised frustration upon mention of the righteous sects. “Anyway, you can go now. We’lle find you if we have any further questions for you. Thank you for cooperating with us.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Understood, then we will part way here, then. We still have matters to attend to.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Just as the three boys took a few steps, they instantly froze when Tai Xilun called out to them once more.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Wait! Since you kids are new here, you shoulde to our headquarters on the northern edge of town if you are serious about continuing to cultivate.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“...Why?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“So you don’t know…? In the Luminescent Domain, we don’t have sects that hoard over the resources. We have a sophisticated trade system in ce to exchange resources, techniques, and more. In Emberglow City, our Bloodwave Conve is in charge of such trades.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“...Understood. We’ll go check it out when we have the time.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Tai Xilun wordlessly nodded and swiftly made his way back to the house where his junior was.


    <span style="font-weight:400">This allowed Li Lang’s party to let out a sigh of relief. They had all been on their toes when engaging with the demonic cultivator from the Bloodwave Conve. It couldn’t be helped as they all still remembered when the scene of a cultivator in the same red and ck robes had tortured the alleged murderer so publicly when they first arrived.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Having passed through such an ordeal so early in the morning, the trio rushed back to their inn.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Do you think we’ll be okay? They’re not going to suddenly show up and arrest us, are they?” Long Yi timidly asked.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“No, I don’t think they’re suspicious of us anymore.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Anymore?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“That man tried to test us in the beginning there. He interrogated us as if we may have been responsible for the death through an ident with our tests, even though he had exined to the madam of the house that Chen Laozu had been murdered. He already knew a murder happened, so it couldn’t have anything to do with our experiments.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“...You’re right! He even threatened to bring us in!”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Probably just trying to shake us up. With our exnation and Wei Ping disying our contract, they would be stupid if they still thought we were involved.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“A-anyway, we should c-consider what he s-said about visiting t-their headquarters.” Wei Ping changed the topic. “We s-should check it o-out as soon as w-we can.”


    <em><span style="font-weight:400">New resources I haven’t seen before? I must get my hands on them to analyze!</em>


    <span style="font-weight:400">Long Yi shrugged at the new suggestion.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Huh, isn’t that just resources for demonic cultivators? I don’t think I want to see what that entails. I mean, they absorb cultivation from others, right?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“No, Wei Ping is right. We should still check it out. There is probably so much we don’t know about demonic cultivators, thanks to propaganda. We should see for ourselves.” Li Lang decisively dered. “Let’s go in the afternoon after I finish refining a batch of pills!”


    <hr>


    <span style="font-weight:400">“So this should be it, huh?” Long Yi muttered.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Standing before the three boys was the entrance to Bloodwave Conve’s headquarters. There was a massive entrance at the front that appeared like any building, except it was merged with the cliff wall behind it.


    <span style="font-weight:400">There were intricate engravings that decorated the front of the building. The building itself was built by directly carving into the cliff and stretched for as far as the eyes could see.


    <span style="font-weight:400">There was a steady stream of traffic going in and out of the ce, and the three boys soon joined it.


    <span style="font-weight:400">When they entered the grand lobby, the first thing they saw was the gigantic signs hanging above each of the passageways branching out from the lobby. While they were overwhelmed at the scene, thankfully, there was an information counter near the front.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Wee to Bloodwave Conve’s bazaar. How may I help you?” A young woman greeted.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Hey, you don’t think she’s a demonic cultivator, is she?” Long Yi whispered to hispanions.


    <span style="font-weight:400">The receptionist chuckled, having overheard his question.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“No, I’m not, but I’m still a member of the conve and it is my job to be here.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Both Li Lang and Wei Ping directed an annoyed look at Long Yi’s careless question but quickly ignored him to converse with the receptionist.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Apologies for ourpanion. We’re kind of new around here, so he’s curious about everything he sees.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Thedy smiled at the kids as she replied.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Don’t worry about it. If you’re new here, then do you want me to give you a basic rundown of this ce?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">The three kids nodded in unison.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Well, we try to keep it simple with the signs telling where you need to go. Basically, you can exchange resources you find from the underground expanse here for Qi stones, and buy resources you require as well. However, not everything can be bought with Qi stones, and you will have to barter in some cases.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">The kids nced over at the signs one by one. From each sign, it was evident numerous types of resources were traded. It ranged from martial arts to crafting materials, but one thing stood out among them all.


    <span style="font-weight:400">The widest path leads to an area for Qi beasts.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Umm, seems like Qi beasts are quite popr here.” Long Yi muttered.


    <span style="font-weight:400">The reception directed a weird look at therge boy’s words.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Of course, Qi beasts are vital for any demonic cultivator to progress in their cultivation.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I see. Thank you for your exnation.” Li Lang quickly cut in and replied.


    <span style="font-weight:400">The kids then bowed before taking their leave.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Let’s go to the Qi beast area. I’m curious.” Li Lang announced as he led the group.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Huh, why? You heard thedy. She said it’s mainly useful for demonic cultivators.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Exactly. We’ve always been told demonic cultivators absorb cultivations from other cultivators to progress. But based on what the receptionist said and from our conversations with Jian Beiyun, it seems they can absorb a Qi beast’s cultivation as well. And I want to see that in action.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Right…In that case, if their techniques work with Qi beasts, then howe they’re known for absorbing cultivation from other humans?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“T-there must be s-some drawbacks, then.” Wei Ping answered.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Exactly what I thought. Let’s hurry. I want to see how it works. Maybe it’ll give me some clues on other ways to progress our cultivation or even practice demonic cultivation myself.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“What?!” Long Yi couldn’t help but yelp.


    <span style="font-weight:400">His outburst had drawn the attention of everyone around them, but they quickly went about their own business.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Calm down, Long Yi. I’m just hypothetically speaking. We’ll have to investigate its pros and cons first.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Still…To entertain the idea of demonic cultivations. Have we fallen astray?” Long Yi replied as he hung his head.