Chapter 109: The Mysterious Woman Xin Lan

Ancient City of Yuantian!

Luo Hao quietly withdrew his gaze from the crystal stele. Among the bounty tasks inscribed upon it, only the tenth was within his current capability—though, of course, it was impossible for him to kill himself.

The moment Luo Hao turned around, his face underwent a drastic transformation. His once sharp and angular features now appeared waxen and pale, as if ill; a veil of despair enveloped him, making him seem a completely different person from before.

“This should avoid unnecessary trouble,” he murmured to himself. He knew well that since a manhunt order had been issued, his likeness would inevitably be circulated. Changing his appearance was his only hope to safely endure seven days. Once that period passed and he obtained the Earth-Grade Mysterious Yellow Pill, he would return to the Tian Cang Mountains.

Leaving the city center, Luo Hao began wandering the streets. His altered visage and aura left him unrecognizable, so he felt no fear of being identified.

“Skyvine! An ancient relic—an accompanying treasure of the Chaotic Azure Vine! Only two hundred thousand spirit stones!” Suddenly, a vendor with a thin moustache called out to the passing warriors from a secluded stall.

“Skyvine? No way—that’s an accompanying relic of an ancient treasure!”

“Quick, come see!”

“Could it really be Skyvine?”

In no time, warriors flooded half the street, including some formidable figures whose presence alone was terrifying.

Seeing the crowd swarm over, Luo Hao hesitated briefly before following. Accompanying relics of ancient treasures were practically legends in this era; such ancient relics had nearly vanished.

“You said there’s Skyvine. If you’re lying, you know the consequences,” a cold voice spoke near the vendor—a warrior with a sword strapped to his back.

An unsettling murderous aura radiated from him, making it impossible to meet his gaze. Luo Hao’s eyes flickered with interest. Among the onlookers, this man’s cultivation was undoubtedly top-tier. His overwhelming presence even surpassed that of Qing Tang from the Earth Demon Hall.

“That’s the Asura Bladesman Yan Qing,” someone nearby whispered in shock.

The crowd’s murmurs grew fearful. Yan Qing was known as a fearsome powerhouse.

“I heard Yan Qing once engaged in a fierce battle with the second most wanted villain on the bounty list, Residual Blade. The outcome remains unknown. Residual Blade is notorious for leaving no survivors. To survive his blade is a testament to one’s extraordinary strength,” the whispers continued.

Luo Hao nodded quietly. He had just seen Residual Blade’s cultivation reaching the Tian Gang realm. That Yan Qing survived against him meant he, too, possessed power at least on par with the Tian Gang realm.

“Calm down, folks. I’m but a humble vendor; I wouldn’t dare deceive you, Asura Bladesman Yan Qing. Do you think I want to die?” The vendor’s tone was light as he produced a rectangular brocade box in his palm.

“I’m sure you all know, the Chaotic Azure Vine has two major accompanying relics: the ancient killing weapon, the Chaotic Azure Vine Gourd, which shocked all tribes of the heavens and earth; and this, the Skyvine. Please, take a look!”

As the box opened, a throng gathered, craning their necks. Inside lay a three-finger-length ancient vine, with only a single withered leaf attached. The vine was dry and cracked, charred to a deep black. Many warriors could not sense even a trace of life force within it.

“You dare mock us? This is Skyvine? An accompanying relic of an ancient treasure? You must be courting death,” someone in the crowd exploded in anger. An ancient relic’s companion could not be a scorched, lifeless vine.

“Heh, as I said, Skyvine is an accompanying relic of an ancient treasure. The ancient era has long passed, and the Chaotic Azure Vine has vanished. To obtain even this nearly dead Skyvine is a great fortune. You just don’t know how to appreciate it,” the vendor’s expression shifted slightly as he closed the box, displeased by the crowd’s outcry.

Yan Qing, silent since the start, suddenly paled, exhaling deeply. “It is indeed Skyvine. Even near death, its internal patterns remain beyond our understanding. Such a pity it’s dying. The ancient times buried too much...” With that, he slung his sword on his back, pushed through the crowd, and left without looking back.

The surrounding warriors fell silent, clearly resonating with Yan Qing’s words. The ancient era was a time of fierce competition among myriad tribes, with supreme deities roaming and prodigies emerging by the legion.

From surviving ancient texts and ruins, one glimpses the grandeur of that bygone age—perhaps greatness so vast it ultimately decayed and vanished.

“Is this young lady intending to buy the Skyvine?” The vendor’s voice rang out again, pulling the crowd back to reality. A hand as smooth and white as polished jade rested gently on the brocade box.

The woman pressing her hand down wore a translucent veil that shrouded her face in mist, concealing her features. Dressed in pure white, her figure was accentuated perfectly by the flowing gown, and her bare, crystal-like feet hovered three inches above the ground.

“A celestial descended to the mortal realm!”

“To think such a graceful and ethereal woman exists in this world!”

Luo Hao could not help but marvel at her unparalleled aura. At first glance, she seemed otherworldly. Yet, he was also shocked—how had she appeared unnoticed? Moreover, her bare feet remained suspended just above the earth, neither touching nor too far from the surface.

“Two hundred thousand spirit stones!” a clear, ethereal voice sounded. The young lady placed a storage pouch into the vendor’s hand. The surrounding warriors gasped. Twenty thousand spirit stones handed over so casually—Luo Hao had to admit, she was truly a wealthy beauty.

“Miss, though the Skyvine is genuine, it is close to death and difficult to revive. Even if you wish to save it, vast quantities of heavenly treasures would be required. You must think carefully,” an older warrior cautioned. Indeed, while precious, this nearly dead Skyvine’s recovery was uncertain.

The white-clad girl’s starry eyes flickered slightly. Those gazing into her eyes felt as if a magnificent, dreamlike cosmos lay within. Then her ethereal voice spoke again, “Thank you for your advice, Xin Lan.”

“The spirit stones are correct?”

“Two hundred thousand, not a penny less. The Skyvine is yours, miss.” The vendor checked the payment and promptly handed over the brocade box before hastily packing up and disappearing as if fleeing.

Luo Hao watched with a wry expression, especially aghast at the vendor’s speed in leaving—truly outrageous. When he looked back, the girl named Xin Lan had vanished without a trace, leaving no lingering aura.

“Strange, where did that celestial go?” many murmured in confusion. The girl had simply disappeared before their eyes.

Luo Hao’s thoughts deepened. Just within Yuantian Ancient City, so many hidden talents and formidable figures existed. How many such warriors were concealed across the entire Tian Gu Continent? Recalling Long Ao’s final words on the Lost Battlefield, his expression grew solemn once more.

“Forget it. When the sky falls, the tall will bear it. For now, breaking through the Blood Gathering stage is my top priority. The solitary horn of the third-tier demon beast Dou Yin Rhino isn’t easy to obtain!”

Within a single day in Yuantian Ancient City, Luo Hao had come across many young powerhouses: the Little Thunder King, Sword Boy Jiang Jianli, and the mysterious Xin Lan. Each was a formidable warrior, seasoned in bloodshed and far from a sheltered flower.

This only strengthened Luo Hao’s resolve to break through the Blood Gathering stage quickly. Once achieved, his strength would improve across the board. Then, facing these young warriors, he could stand his ground with ease.

At the thought, Luo Hao clenched his fist tightly, his emotions stirring.

After a brief moment of calm, he headed toward a quaint, ancient-style dwelling within the city.