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Red Rats have limited bloodline potential, capping out at seventh rank without the possibility of further advancement. Many cultivators seek to tame a seventh-rank Red Rat, as having one would offer better protection when traversing the Red Rock Forest.

After completing their assessment, they hurried back to the city to avoid getting caught in the rain again.

Just as they reached the city gate, they saw a group of cultivators wearing crimson cloaks entering. Leading them was a stern-faced male cultivator with a tall, imposing figure—clearly at the Yuanzong stage. Accompanying him were two female cultivators, one lively and playful, the other pale and frail. The frail woman walked with unsteady steps, likely either injured or ill.

Upon entering the city, the cold and imposing male cultivator turned back to glance at the frail woman and offered his arm for support.

The lively female cultivator beside them pushed forward. "Brother Leng, Sister Wen seems unwell. Let's hurry inside." Then she turned to the frail woman. "Sister Wen, let me help you."

Without waiting for a response, she grabbed the woman's arm, wedging herself between the two.

The cold male cultivator said nothing, paid their entrance fees, and the group proceeded into the city.

Wen Qiao and the others followed behind, observing the group. They guessed these people had also come from elsewhere, likely for the Fallen Dragon, but paid them no further attention.

They wandered the streets, purchasing some local goods of the Red Rock Forest before returning to the inn.

As soon as they arrived, they heard a peevish female voice. "What do you mean there are no premium rooms? Do you know who I am? Get us a few premium rooms right now!"

The innkeeper remained firm. "Apologies, but we only have standard rooms available."

The lively female cultivator was furious. She turned and said, "Brother Leng, look at them! They have no respect at all!"

Many in the inn glanced over, their expressions mocking at her words.

The cold male cultivator said, "Then we'll take the other rooms. Eight of them."

"Brother Leng!" The lively woman stamped her foot indignantly. How could they possibly stay in such common rooms?

Ignoring her, the male cultivator took the eight jade keys from the innkeeper and distributed them to their guards. He then helped the frail woman, preparing to leave.

The lively female cultivator shouldered her way in again, taking hold of the frail woman's arm. Reluctantly, she said, "Brother Leng, this is unacceptable! How can you lower your status like this? If my father were here, they wouldn’t dare treat us so poorly! Right, Sister Wen?"

The frail woman, surnamed Wen, smiled faintly and said softly, "Sister Yan, when traveling, we must adapt to circumstances."

"You—!"

This response infuriated the woman surnamed Yan, her face clouding with anger. But with the cold male cultivator nearby, she couldn't vent her anger and had to swallow it, though her grip on the frail woman tightened.

Sister Wen frowned slightly but said nothing.

As the group was escorted by a servant, many cultivators in the inn paid them no mind.

Wen Qiao overheard remarks among the crowd, noting that the father of the woman surnamed Yan must hold significant influence—otherwise, she wouldn’t have been raised so pampered and headstrong.

In the Red Rock Forest, every cultivator fought tooth and nail to survive, battling against fate and striving for themselves, rarely able to do as they liked. However, some lived more comfortably than others, protected by high-ranking cultivators. They lacked no resources, did as they liked, and disregarded the hardships of the Red Rock Forest, knowing someone would clear all obstacles for them.

The woman surnamed Yan was one such example.

That night, Wen Qiao heard a knock at her door.

Extending her spiritual sense, she saw it was the woman surnamed Yan, accompanied by an expressionless guard—a Yuanzong-stage cultivator, likely her protector.

As the knocking persisted, Wen Qiao picked up Wen Guangun and went to answer.

When the door opened, the woman surnamed Yan's eyes widened in surprise at the sight of Wen Qiao, followed by wariness.

Wen Qiao asked expressionlessly, "What do you want?"

The female cultivator surnamed Yan said nothing at first, studying her for a moment before finally speaking. "I'm Yan Chuyao. I want to switch rooms with you, and I'll pay you ten times the rent in spirit stones as compensation."

Yan Chuyao couldn’t tolerate the mid-tier room—it felt cramped and stifling, with poor air circulation and completely beneath her station. Naturally, she wanted an upgrade to an upper-tier room.

They had arrived rather late, and both the upper and mid-tier rooms were already taken, leaving only the lowest grade. She wasn't about to downgrade herself, especially since Leng Yi was with her—how could she let Brother Leng suffer like that?

So Yan Chuyao decided to find someone in an upper-tier room to swap with. Since this one was closer to the outside, she knocked on its door first.

She hadn’t expected the woman who answered to be so stunningly beautiful. Even as a fellow female cultivator, she felt a twinge of jealousy, then worry followed quickly—what man could resist such beauty? What if Brother Leng took notice of her?

Anxious but full of confidence, she assumed the other would recognize her name and readily agree to the exchange.

"No," Wen Qiao replied bluntly, slamming the door shut.

Yan Chuyao: "..."

Her face flushed bright red with rage, and she nearly smashed the door in frustration. But remembering Leng Yi waiting in the lower-grade room, she held back and marched over to knock on the next room.

The neighboring door opened to reveal a handsome young man with a faint smile playing on his lips. His delicate, refined appearance gave off the vibe of a spoiled rich kid from a wealthy family, making Yan Chuyao feel like she’d met a kindred spirit.

Having been doted on by her father since childhood, she always prided herself on being different from the rough-and-tough cultivators of Red Rock Forest, often flaunting her privileged background.

Seeing someone who seemed equally pampered, her voice sweetened. "I'd like to switch rooms with you. I’ll—"

"No."

"..."

Enraged, she raised her hand to strike, but her stoic guard stopped her, forcing her to continue down the hall.

By the third room, she finally succeeded in switching. But Yan Chuyao made a mental note of the first two people who had refused her offer—they’ll regret this!