Guo Jiang sat in lotus position inside the quietest cabin of the spirit ship while the vessel crossed the vast ocean separating Yin Continent from Logun Continent. The formation sails hummed steadily beyond the wooden walls, and the rhythm gave him enough calm to circulate qi without being distracted by the movement of the ship. Reaching Banxiang had never felt like an ending to him. If anything, the higher realm had widened his understanding of how many people could still threaten him, because every increase in reputation drew attention from stronger rivals, hidden experts, and factions that preferred to test anyone whose name had begun spreading too quickly. Logun Continent concerned him for that reason. Wei Zhan was dead, but the continent had already produced several Dao-level rulers, and Guo Jiang had no reason to assume that every true expert cared about public fame. A cultivator who deliberately avoided reputation could be more danger

The carriage entered the outer streets of Jinhung while Wen Ju continued describing eastern Logun in the careful manner of someone who knew that names carried consequences. Guo Jiang had already decided that he would not use his real identity in the city, so when the old coachman asked how he should address him, he answered without hesitation. "Chen Jin." Wen Ju accepted the name and asked no further questions. Guo Jiang then returned the conversation to Qin Qigang, wanting to know how the new eastern ruler had established himself after Wei Zhan's death. According to Wen Ju, Qin Qigang had taken Wei Zhan's position and possessed cultivation approaching the threshold of Kaishi. His authority rested partly on strength and partly on the need for the eastern region to rally behind someone after losing the figure it had treated almost like a guardian deity. Guo Jiang listened without commenting on that reverence. Wei Zhan had

Guo Jiang remained beside the first stair while the attendant stood in front of him with the confidence of someone protected by the name of Prosperity Store. Several customers were still laughing, and the attendant seemed to enjoy the attention because each amused glance made his borrowed authority feel more solid. Before Guo Jiang could answer, the front doors opened and the mood of the first floor changed almost at once. A young man entered wearing expensive silk with gold-trimmed hems, embroidered shoes, and a conspicuous ornament fastening his high-tied hair, while a folding fan rested loosely in one hand. The staff recognized him immediately as Shangguan Rong of the Shangguan Clan, one of the influential families in Jinhung City. An attendant abandoned another customer in the middle of explaining a robe price and hurried over with a bow, while two other employees straightened their backs and adjusted their smiles before approaching.

Wan Huang approached the staircase with the smooth courtesy of a merchant accustomed to adjusting his posture according to the status of the customer before him. He bowed first to Shangguan Rong and barely acknowledged Guo Jiang, making his priorities clear before asking what service the Shangguan young master required. "Owner Wan, inspect these stones," Shangguan Rong said as he handed over the pouch. "This man claims he can pay for the second floor, and everyone here has agreed that your judgment will settle the matter." Wan Huang accepted the pouch with both hands, and the instant the weight settled into his palms he knew the dispute was more dangerous than the room realized. He studied one emerald against the lamp, then examined a sapphire with the efficient movements of an experienced gem merchant. He tested one edge gently against a small appraisal plate carried by the store and stopped after seeing the resistance.

Wan Huang locked the door of his private office and emptied Guo Jiang's gemstone pouch across the desk. Emeralds and sapphires rolled over the polished wood, each stone catching the lamplight with a depth of color that quickened his breathing. He picked up one emerald and turned it between his fingers, no longer pretending to doubt what he had already recognized in public. The clarity, weight, and internal color were unmistakable, and the realization that the pouch contained enough wealth to transform Prosperity Store made his earlier lie seem increasingly profitable. "Shangguan Rong could not identify these even when they were placed in his hand," Wan Huang muttered with a contemptuous smile. "A clan surname can open doors, but it does not teach a young master how to appraise treasure." He began calculating how many branches he could open in Jinhung and how much better property he could purchase near the wealthiest comm