"Though we now know that the Hundred-Eyed Giant Toad is about to reproduce, we still don't know exactly when. How are we supposed to determine the timing?"
Chen An's question seemed anticipated by Xiaodao. With confidence, she replied, "Based on the current state of this giant eye, the toad will begin reproducing within a month at most."
"If we return to the Poison Swamp in a month, we'll surely seize the perfect opportunity to take it down."
Chen An was slightly surprised by how much Xiaodao knew about the Hundred-Eyed Giant Toad, down to the exact timing of its reproduction.
In comparison, he, who arguably had a more urgent need to slay the beast, had done far less preparation before venturing into the Poison Swamp. Of course, his lack of resources played a significant role in this.
Still, Xiaodao's depth of knowledge and meticulous preparation couldn't help but make Chen An suspicious. Was her goal just to claim the Zhao family's reward?
"You should know," Xiaodao warned with a faintly displeased tone as if reading his doubts, "that every cultivator has their secrets. Meddling in others' affairs can bring about one's demise."
Chen An, however, was unfazed.
"We're about to work together, and this collaboration could very well involve life and death. You should understand that I cannot entrust my life to someone I don't fully trust."
Xiaodao fell silent, seemingly wrestling with her thoughts. However, in the end, she refrained from revealing her true intentions. Instead, she explained earnestly, "My actions are directed against the Zhao family and have nothing to do with you. Until the Hundred-Eyed Giant Toad is killed, you have no reason to distrust me."
"We're on the same path. If you still harbor doubts, perhaps there's no point in continuing this cooperation."
In the end, Xiaodao's words, particularly her mention of them being "on the same path," resonated with Chen An. She was right—if she bore malicious intent, someone as perceptive as him would have sensed it by now.
With his doubts dispelled, Chen An nodded. Xiaodao, evidently satisfied, then asked, "Since we've agreed, shall we now head for Xixia City?"
"I have one last question," Chen An said with a faint smile. He glanced at Xiaodao and asked, "Your name isn't Xiaodao, is it? What's your true name?"
"This question is meaningless," Xiaodao retorted without hesitation. "Until the Hundred-Eyed Giant Toad is dead, knowing each other's names won't make a difference. For all we know, we could both perish before then."
"And after we've slain it?" Chen An pressed.
"We'll talk about it then," Xiaodao replied irritably, waving her hand dismissively as she took the lead, not answering or outright rejecting his question.
---
After a full day of travel, the grand silhouette of Xixia City finally appeared on the horizon. Standing on a hill overlooking the city, Chen An's heart surged with excitement, as if a fiery passion were about to erupt from his chest.
Never in his life had he seen such a magnificent city.
The city wall alone stood a hundred feet tall and spanned an immense area. From afar, he could even see flying boats soaring through the air within the city.
Flying boats—artifacts powered by spiritual stones that could traverse the skies at astonishing speeds—were things Chen An had only heard of. They were extraordinarily expensive, and within the Lingfu Sect, only the sect master possessed one.
What struck him even more was the abundance of spiritual energy surrounding Xixia City. Quietly sensing the atmosphere, he realized it was almost comparable to that of the Lingfu Sect.
But how could a city built on a plain compare to the Lingfu Sect, a sect hidden within mountain ranges and blessed with natural spiritual energy?
It wasn't until later that Chen An learned the secret: Xixia City's abundant spiritual energy came from the grand spirit-gathering formations installed throughout the city.
These formations worked similarly to spirit-gathering talismans, drawing in spiritual energy from the surroundings to aid in cultivation. However, the city's massive formations were far superior to the small talismans Chen An could craft. While the energy was somewhat diluted due to the city's sheer size, their effects were still extraordinary.
Chen An couldn't help but imagine how quickly his cultivation would progress if he could live within such a formation.
With such thoughts in mind, he followed Xiaodao toward the city's eastern gate.
Ahead of them, a long queue stretched out from the gate, filled with cultivators waiting to enter. Among them, Chen An even spotted a Foundation Establishment cultivator quietly standing in line.
Up to this point in his cultivation journey, Chen An had encountered only a handful of Foundation Establishment cultivators. Yet before even stepping into Xixia City, he saw one. The city was far beyond his expectations.
No wonder the legendary Pill King chose to reside here—it truly embodied the philosophy of great masters living hidden among the masses.
After waiting in line for nearly half an hour, it was finally Chen An and Xiaodao's turn to enter the city.
Entry to Xixia City came with a fee: two spiritual stones per person. This served as a barrier, preventing ordinary mortals from entering a city meant for cultivators. After all, spiritual stones were incredibly precious, even to cultivators, let alone mortals.
Once they paid the fee, Chen An and Xiaodao were finally granted entry.
Inside the city, the bustling streets were filled with cultivators, each radiating an aura of strength. Any passerby could very well be the patriarch of a prominent family or an elder of a powerful sect.
The sheer density of powerful individuals left Chen An in awe, but it was the city's thriving commerce that truly dazzled him.
Compared to the Lingfu Sect's marketplace, Xixia City's commercial scene was nothing short of extraordinary.
Shops lined the streets in an endless array, their owners loudly advertising rare treasures and exotic goods. Walking through these streets gave Chen An an illusion: with enough spiritual stones, one could seemingly buy anything here.
In truth, this notion stemmed from his limited experience. As someone new to the cultivation world, he hadn't yet grasped the true scope of its mysteries.
But in time, Chen An would come to realize that his assumption wasn't entirely wrong. In the world of cultivators, with enough spiritual stones, almost anything was indeed obtainable.
Of course, one needed to survive long enough to enjoy spending those stones.
After walking just a few streets with Xiaodao, Chen An already spotted several corpses lying on the roadsides. Some had been killed in duels, their blood still staining the ground, while others had likely broken the city's rules and fallen at the hands of its enforcers.
The sights and sounds of Xixia City overwhelmed Chen An, while Xiaodao remained utterly unperturbed.
"In time, as you meet more people and uncover more secrets of the cultivation world, you'll realize that everything you see now is but the tip of the iceberg," Xiaodao said coolly. "The true bloodshed and cruelty of this world are far beyond anything you can imagine."