Chapter 57: New Moon City, Black Moon Merchant Guild

New Moon City, nestled in the eastern part of the central Cloud Wind Empire, sprawls across the landscape with a scale a full ten times that of Flow Cloud City. Within and without its bounds, numerous sects and clans stand tall, and the Cloud Wind Royal Family has established their Imperial Secret Office here. Even the Xiao Clan and the Burning Heaven Sect maintain branches in this city. Thus, countless young cultivators from all corners of the world arrive in pursuit of joining these powerful sects, seeking to advance along the path of cultivation.

On this day, a young man in dark robes walked slowly toward the eastern gate of New Moon City. He appeared to be no more than sixteen or seventeen, his face still bearing a youthful softness, yet his eyes held a depth and resolve far beyond his years. His expression bore an uncharacteristic maturity and composure for one so young. His pace was deliberate, each step pressing into the hard earth leaving a shallow imprint, accompanied by beads of sweat glistening like stars in the sunlight.

The journey from Qinglin Town to New Moon City spanned seven hundred kilometers, and Yun Che had taken over a month to complete it. It wasn’t for lack of desire to hurry—he simply couldn’t.

The day he departed from Qinglin Town, Luo Li had tasked him with procuring a weight of over four hundred jin—yet Yun Che, ever the stubborn soul, spent every last golden jade coin he possessed on a piece of raw iron weighing six hundred and sixty jin from a small blacksmith’s shop in Qinglin Town. He packed his provisions and set off on foot, choosing not to purchase a spiritual horse, instead shouldering the six hundred and sixty jin of iron.

For a cultivator at the nascent stage, such a weight was nothing. But for one on the cusp of entering the spiritual realm, it was a burden no different from a mountain.

On the first day of bearing the iron, every step drained Yun Che’s spiritual energy, his shoulders aching, his spine feeling as though it might snap. After four hundred paces, his spiritual energy was entirely depleted, and he collapsed under the weight, unable to rise for a moment. Yet, with a brief rest, he showed no sign of resistance, shouldering the iron once more and continuing onward, step by step.

Thus began Yun Che’s seven hundred-kilometer trek. His sustenance consisted solely of dried rations and his own crafted low-grade recovery pills, drinking only the waterfall water prepared in the Red Dragon Mountains.

The sweat he left behind in his wake was enough to form a substantial stream.

Yun Che’s terrible resolve once again left Luo Li in awe. For the entire journey, he never once set down the iron he carried. Even as his body grew weak, his back bled, he never showed the slightest sign of resentment or pain, remaining steadfastly calm.

From the initial labored steps to the gradual adaptation, Yun Che’s spiritual energy within his meridians was exhausted and restored thousands of times over, growing denser and richer with each cycle. Weeks prior, signs of a breakthrough had already emerged, yet Yun Che deliberately held back, suppressing his spiritual energy’s ascent. His cultivation had surged too violently before, and he needed to stabilize his power, ensuring his body could fully adapt and master it.

That day, the gates of New Moon City finally appeared in his line of sight.

“At last, we’ve arrived,” Yun Che walked forward, a faint smile playing on his lips.

“Now, when you face spiritual beasts at your level, victory is assured. But low-grade beasts lack intelligence and rely on simple tactics. To become truly powerful, you must engage in battles with others. Let this city be your starting point.”

Luo Li spoke with a weary smile.

“Yes!” Yun Che nodded, his gaze unflinching, filled with a quiet thrill and anticipation.

“Now, remove the iron from your back. Your body has fully adapted to the surge in your spiritual energy… no, it’s likely strong enough to withstand a few more levels.”

The iron was set down with a heavy thud, leaving a deep dent in the earth. In that instant, Yun Che felt as though the weight had vanished entirely. A slight breath, and he leaped over five zhang into the air, landing smoothly. With a swift motion of his right hand, a cluster of crimson flames erupted from his palm, flickering and dying, then reigniting and extinguishing at his will—effortless, fluid control.

“Here’s some good news: your body can now barely endure the first level of the Demon God realm. That means, when you face an opponent you cannot defeat, you may try unlocking that first level.”

“The first level right now?” Yun Che’s eyes widened in surprise.

“It’s a stretch, really. Only as a last resort. With your current spiritual energy and physique, it shouldn’t be life-threatening, though I can’t guarantee it won’t cause lasting harm. Before reaching the seventh level of cultivation, it’s best not to use it.”

Yun Che had been eager to test the first level’s sensation and see the strength of the spiritual technique that would follow, but he heeded Luo Li’s warning, suppressing the urge. If his body couldn’t handle it, the damage might be irreversible—far too great a risk.

Approaching New Moon City, the towering walls rose before him, radiating an overwhelming pressure. Beneath the massive gates, people flowed ceaselessly, the city bustling with a vitality unseen in Flow Cloud City. Entering the streets, Yun Che marveled at the endless rows of buildings and shops, the streets teeming with people, the noise like a rushing tide, vibrant and alive. Men, women, the young, and the old—all bore some trace of spiritual energy, strong or faint.

“A true metropolis,” Yun Che sighed, contrasting it with Flow Cloud City, which now seemed like a mere enlarged village.

“Good sir, where is the Black Moon Merchant Guild?” Yun Che called out to a kindly-looking middle-aged man, bowing politely.

“The Black Moon Merchant Guild?” the man glanced him over, his plain attire and youthful appearance raising an eyebrow, before pointing westward. “Go straight for about seven blocks, then turn right and keep walking. But youth, such places as the Black Moon Guild—buying or selling there requires considerable capital.”

Yun Che nodded, thanked him, and followed the direction. After seven long blocks and a right turn, he walked another half-hour until the crowd thinned, the atmosphere shifting entirely. A massive sign bearing a black moon hung before him, the characters “Black Moon Merchant Guild” inscribed beneath it. Though just four characters, they carried an inexplicable aura of authority. Unlike the bustling streets, few passed through here, their footsteps hurried, their mouths sealed, as if fearing to disturb the silence.

“The Black Moon Merchant Guild, just as Grandfather said,” Yun Che murmured.

The Black Moon Merchant Guild, headquartered in the first and largest empire of the Tianxuan Continent—the Divine Falcon Empire—had branches across every nation and major city. As the first and most powerful merchant guild in Tianxuan, it had thrived for nearly a millennium, never once declining, growing stronger each year, becoming a force capable of swaying the winds of the world.

The Guild was no mere trading house. Its influence was vast enough to dominate the entire Tianxuan Continent. When Xiao Lie spoke of it, he had solemnly noted that even the four great sects of the Cloud Wind Empire dared not offend it.

The Guild’s laws were strict and unforgiving, ensuring near-perfect fairness in all transactions, never favoring any side. Yet it dealt only in the finest goods, dismissing lower-grade items with contempt. Thus, its wares were beyond the reach of ordinary families. For powerful sects and forces, many resources came from the Guild. Its monthly auction, held once a month, was always attended by the most prominent figures.

Confirming the Guild’s location, Yun Che found a secluded corner and withdrew a small vial of pre-refined pill from his Tian Duo Zhu, quickly applying it to his face.

“What are you doing?” Luo Li asked curiously.

Yun Che said nothing. When he lifted his head, the youthful face was gone, replaced by a stern, weathered middle-aged man’s visage, his eyes now bearing a profound weariness. He applied more of the pill to his hands, making them appear withered, then donned a tattered cloak, swapping his dark robes, and pulled a hood over his head, casting half his face into shadow.

“You can alter your appearance?” Luo Li exclaimed in surprise.

“For a divine physician, that’s child’s play,” Yun Che smirked, his face hardening into a cold, rigid mask, his voice turning gravelly. “The Black Moon Merchant Guild, wherever it appears, commands respect. As long as one’s status is sufficient, the Guild will buy or sell anything… perhaps even clothes for beautiful women. Shall we go see?”

As he spoke the last words, Yun Che clearly heard Luo Li let out a soft “mmph.”

To common folk, the Guild inspired deep reverence, so they hurried past without a glance, fearing any misstep. Yun Che’s peculiar demeanor drew attention, yet as he walked steadily into the Guild, their gazes held a hint of awe—those who traded with the Guild were no ordinary folk.

Inside, the Guild was vast, its silence heavy with an unseen pressure. Ordinary visitors were stifled by its atmosphere, struggling to draw breath. Towering shelves displayed an endless array of goods—herbs, elixirs, weapons, armor, gemstones, low-grade spiritual beast pills, even esoteric techniques—all priced beyond reach. None were affordable for common families.

The Black Moon Merchant Guild’s treasures were beyond imagination, each item a testament to its power and prestige.