Vortex Town

The three of them began walking together. Seraphine, despite having helped them, remained cautious around them. It was not just her—those two were also on guard against her. Even though she had assisted them, they could not understand her true intentions. Was she truly helping them out of goodwill, or did she have another motive? They couldn't be sure. However, despite their wariness, they still wanted to invite her to their sect.

These two were elders of the Silver Star Sect.

As they walked, Seraphine asked them.

"Malavi, can you tell me about the situation in Vortex Town?"

The one called Malavi, a cultivator who specialized in the Water Element, gave a small nod. "Yes, Seraphine."

She took a moment to gather her thoughts before continuing. "Currently, Vortex Town is ruled by three sects. The first is our sect, the Silver Star Sect. The second is the Sun Flame Sect. The third is the Everling Valley."

Seraphine nodded. This was something she already knew.

"But now, a new force is emerging," Malavi added, her expression turning grim. "A group of Dark Cultivators has appeared, and all three of our sects are working together to eliminate them."

Seraphine's brows furrowed slightly. She hadn't expected this development.

"Because of this, trade in Vortex Town has been disrupted," Manavi continued. "Merchants are becoming hesitant to bring their goods here, and even rogue cultivators are afraid to linger in the area. The presence of Dark Cultivators has made the town unstable, and we need to find out what they are planning."

She let out a small sigh before adding, "We were given a mission by our sect to hunt down these Dark Cultivators. That's why we were following those two men. But who would have thought that they had already noticed us? Before we even realized it, they had led us straight into their trap without us knowing."

She turned toward Seraphine, her voice sincere. "Once again, thank you for helping us. If not for you, we might not have made it out alive."

Seraphine remained silent for a moment, her expression unreadable.

Upon hearing this, her mood shifted. She had not intended to involve herself in such a dangerous situation. However, now that she had interfered, it was too late to back out. What troubled her the most was not just the Dark Cultivators—she had expected trouble in Vortex Town, but not on this scale.

More than anything, she was worried about one thing.

The Parpul Mansion Realm Dark cultivator.

She believed—or perhaps she wanted to believe—that there was no Purple Mansion Cultivator lurking behind the scenes. If there were, she knew she would have to run away as fast as she could. Elana, a Wind Cultivator, turned to Seraphine and asked, "Seraphine, why did you come to Vortex Town? Or had you already heard of this place?"

Seraphine nodded slowly, her expression calm and composed. "Indeed, this is my first time here," she replied. "I want to know more about your town." Her words, however, were a lie, carefully crafted to conceal her true intentions.

Elana, seemingly satisfied with the response, smiled warmly. "Yes, of course. We will tell you all about Vortex Town, which we are tasked with guarding. Let me explain its origins. You see, Vortex Town—or rather, this place—did not always exist as a town. Long ago, there was nothing here but a vast, untamed forest. That is, until two powerful Cultivators, who might very well have been Nascent Soul Cultivators, clashed in a battle of immense power. Their fight was so cataclysmic that it turned this place into a maelstrom of rampant qi, a chaotic swirl of spiritual energy that lingered long after they were gone.

"After their battle, word of this place spread. Some Golden Core Cultivators, drawn by the rumors, came to practice here. Despite the qi being so rampant and unstable, those Golden Core Cultivators who dared to come were true geniuses, prodigies of their craft. Through their cultivation, they managed to tame the chaotic qi, reducing its rampage little by little. Over time, the energy here stabilized, but only to a point. Now, only Foundation Establishment Cultivators can safely harness the qi in this place. If a Purple Mansion Cultivator or anyone of a higher realm were to come here, they would draw in all the qi in the area, draining it completely. Worse still, the qi here would not even be sufficient to fulfill their cultivation needs, rendering the effort pointless.

"Because of this, rogue Cultivators—those without sects or masters—saw an opportunity. They came here, hoping to establish their own legacies. Over time, they founded sects, and now, three sects stand in this region. More than a hundred years have passed since those early days, and Vortex Town has become a haven, particularly suited for Foundation Establishment Cultivators."

Seraphine listened intently, nodding as Elana spoke, her face betraying none of her inner thoughts. After two weeks of arduous travel, their journey finally brought them within sight of Vortex Town. The landscape opened up before them, revealing the outlines of the town nestled amidst swirling currents of qi, a testament to its tumultuous origins.

Vortex Town was not particularly large, but it wasn't a small town either. It was a medium-sized town, bustling with activity.

As Seraphine made her way toward the town, she saw numerous traders, mortals, and loose cultivators moving about. Some were walking, while others flew through the air on swords or flying treasures, heading toward the town's gates.

However, it wasn't just the crowd that caught attention—it was the group itself.

Elena and Malavi, the two Silver Star Sect elders walking beside her, were beautiful in their own right. But Seraphine's beauty was simply unmatched. Her presence alone was enough to draw countless gazes.

Her every step carried an alluring grace, her hips swaying naturally, exuding a charm that seemed both effortless and deliberate. Even though her attire modestly covered her chest, the fullness of her figure could not be concealed. The sight was undeniably captivating.

Many men stole glances at her—some at her slender waist, others at her chest, their eyes filled with unconcealed desire, as if imagining all sorts of things.

Yet, the moment they noticed the Silver Star Sect emblems on Elena and Malavi's robes, their fantasies were quickly reined in.

No one dared to act recklessly.

Everyone in Vortex Town knew that if someone offended the Silver Star Sect, their head would be hanging at the town's gate by sunrise.

---

As they passed through the town's entrance, Seraphine immediately noticed a difference in the air.

The Qi here was denser, fresher, and more vibrant than in other places she had been. The very air felt refreshing.

"The Qi here is excellent," she thought to herself.

In her previous time as a man, her spirit root had been low-grade, so she had never been able to sense Qi this clearly. However, after her body changes, Now she possessed an Ice Spirit Root and her Fire Spirit Root, allowing her to perceive Qi far better than before.

She even felt her Fire Spirit Root reacting slightly to the environment, though it wasn't as strong as her Ice Spirit Root's connection.

---

After walking through the town for some time, they finally arrived at a well-known inn—Sign Inn.

This particular inn was famous in Vortex Town and was operated under the Silver Star Sect's protection.

The two-story building had a distinct appearance. Its wooden exterior was painted brown, but silver accents decorated its edges, giving it an elegant yet sturdy look. People were constantly coming and going, making it clear that this was a popular establishment.

As Seraphine and her companions approached the entrance, the cultivators in their path instinctively stepped aside, making way for them.

When they entered the inn, the lively atmosphere inside greeted them immediately.

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