CHAPTER 516: CHAPTER 517: QINGHE BRANCH

After a long journey of ten days, the representative teams from the Ten Countries finally arrived at Qinghe City.

"This is Qinghe City, so different from Ka City."

Ouyang Chenchen jumped down from the horse carriage and looked around.

Compared to Qinghe City, Ka City seemed like a small witch meeting a great wizard, as the mercenaries coming and going here were much stronger than those in Ka City.

No wonder the team leaders chose Qinghe City as the final competition venue for the Competition Among Ten Countries. This place indeed was extraordinary, with various landscapes surrounding the city that were different from other areas in Great Chu.

Before the team members could admire the scenery of Qinghe City, several tall young men and women emerged from the city gate.

They all exuded a special aura unique to mercenaries, dressed in crimson robes embroidered with the words "Qinghe Inn."

Seeing them, the passing mercenaries showed expressions of respect.

Although located at the junction of several countries, Qinghe City, as a Mercenary City, stood independently from these countries. Unlike other cities governed by a city lord or other officials, the highest authority here was held by the local inn host.

These young men and women in crimson robes were the mercenaries from Qinghe Inn, ordered by the host to welcome the teams from the Ten Countries.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Qinghe City. The host has prepared a banquet at a restaurant in the city to entertain all the team leaders."

The leading young man, with a head full of red hair and approximately twenty-five or twenty-six years old.

His voice was hearty, and the Gang Qi around him was undisguised, indicating he was a strong practitioner at the level of Wuji Water Seal. The lady beside him was beautiful, with a Wenhua Water Seal shining brightly on her forehead.

These two were the left and right arms of the Qinghe Inn’s host. As for the members of the teams from the Ten Countries, they were also accommodated in different guesthouses within the city.

The team leaders went to the banquet, while other team members went to rest in the guesthouses, which suited Feng Bailing’s plans perfectly. After arriving at Qinghe City, she was eager to check out the situation at the Qinghe Branch of the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce.

The Great Chu Representative Team was settled in the Fuman Building in the west of the city. Feng Bailing and Dugu Xiaojin and others went to settle into the inn and then strolled around the city.

On the way, Dongfang Yong together with Feng Luochen and Hong Xuan went to the inn and parted ways from Feng Bailing and the others.

Meanwhile, in Fuman Building, Nalan Yan’er had just finished listening to a report from her subordinate.

Her beautiful eyes narrowed.

"Is everything you said true? Does Princess Consort Wu possess a Heavenly Weapon?"

"Absolutely true, Crown Princess Consort. The Heavenly Weapon in Princess Consort Wu’s hands can split open monster’s heads, and its power is extraordinary. Otherwise, how could she have saved so many people?"

A former substitute member of the Great Chu Team A, after witnessing the might of the Heavenly Weapon in Feng Bailing’s hands, came to report, just as Dongfang Yu went to the banquet, he reported the matter to Nalan Yan’er.

"Mother, they have Heavenly Weapons, and we have Heavenly Weapons too, there’s nothing to fear."

Dongfang Jin saw the worried expression on his mother’s face and was somewhat dismissive.

Dugu Xiaojin’s mother had little power, even with a Heavenly Weapon, it wouldn’t be very effective, at most, it could be used for self-defense.

Nalan Yan’er waved her hand, signaling the subordinate to leave first.

She paced back and forth in the room, somewhat agitated.

"Jinjin, you have no idea how cunning that woman Feng Bailing is. How did she acquire her Heavenly Weapon? Elder Liu clearly stated that there aren’t many Heavenly Weapons in the market. According to that team member’s description, the quality of Feng Bailing’s Heavenly Weapon seems to be even better than yours. I must find Elder Liu and persuade him to help us forge a few better Heavenly Weapons, no matter what."

Nalan Yan’er absolutely could not accept that Feng Bailing possessed a Heavenly Weapon of superior quality to hers.

She heard from Elder Liu that the Qinghe Netherworld Market was substantial in size, and Elder Liu would also be there during this period; it was a perfect opportunity for her to acquire a few more Heavenly Weapons.

In the bustling streets of Qinghe City, Feng Bailing was accompanied by Dugu Xiaojin, and Xiaojin was with the White Wolf King.

Along the way, Feng Bailing reminded Xiaojin several times to keep an eye on the White Wolf and not let it run amok.

Once on the street, the White Wolf was very lively, darting from east to west, its tall and fierce appearance frightened many passersby.

Seeing the Queen Mother with a headache, Dugu Xiaojin could only take the White Wolf back to the inn first.

Feng Bailing, in the busiest street of the city, immediately saw a grand three-story building.

Qinghe City, located in the northwest, mostly features the rugged architectural style of the northwest, but this building in front of her was resplendent and majestic, no less imposing than the Imperial Palace of Great Chu, with "Qinghe Netherworld Market" hanging at the front.

As one of the nine major Mercenary Cities, the Netherworld Market in Qinghe City was thriving, constantly frequented by mercenaries from various places.

Feng Bailing searched around Qinghe City and eventually found a branch of the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce in an inconspicuous street corner.

Unlike the bustling scenes of the Netherworld Market, the Qinghe branch was much quieter, with hardly any visitors compared to the thriving main Phoenix Chamber of Commerce in Chu City.

It was not that the Qinghe branch lacked business; the Netherworld Market had been operating locally for decades with a stable clientele. Recently, the Netherworld Market had cultivated new medicinal herbs, which improved its reputation among the mercenaries who naturally preferred to go to Minming City to buy their medicinal herbs and equipment.

As for the Qinghe branch, a newly established small branch overshadowed by the Netherworld Market, most mercenaries didn’t even notice that there was an additional small chamber of commerce in Qinghe City.

Feng Bailing walked into a quiet alley, disguised herself as Feng San, then entered the Qinghe branch.

"Medicine liquid, top-quality medicine liquid, good value for money, come take a look, come see!"

Just as Feng Bailing arrived at the entrance of the Qinghe branch, she heard a familiar hawking voice; it was Zhang Erfa, shouting at the top of his lungs at the door.

However, his hawking voice was quickly drowned out by the noisy crowd, and no one entered the Qinghe branch. Zhang Erfa looked troubled with his furrowed brow, arranging the bottles and jars in front of him.

The bottles and jars contained the latest refined medicine liquids by Feng San. Seeing Zhang Erfa’s situation, Feng Bailing realized these medicine liquids were not selling well.

Hearing the footsteps, Zhang Erfa’s heart leapt with joy, and he greeted with a big smile.

"This customer, take a look at our Qinghe branch’s medicine liquid, it’s very effective, and the price is only..."

He hadn’t finished speaking when he saw the person and suddenly fell silent.

"Second Brother Zhang, you’ve gained another skill point recently," Feng Bailing teased.

Now, from Zhang Erfa, hardly a shadow of a mercenary could be seen.

"Hey, Feng San, don’t make fun of me," Zhang Erfa said, somewhat embarrassed, scratching his head.

"Sorry, Feng San, I’ve been here for nearly half a month, and I haven’t sold a single bottle of medicine. It’s strange, our medicine is so good and priced so cheaply, but they just don’t buy it; they insist on going to the Netherworld Market to buy those expensive medicinal herbs."