More than half of the entertainment venues in Wuji Market were concentrated in Joyous Lane. Naturally, the tile-roofed houses hosting performance arts were also located here.

Since it was morning, the courtesan cultivators who kept nocturnal hours had yet to wake. Consequently, the cloying scent of rouge and powder that usually permeated Joyous Lane had faded considerably.

Qin Lu led the pair through the streets, quickly arriving at their destination.

Dehe Garden.

This was a famous theater house within Wuji Market, renowned for its incredible variety of performances—musical storytelling, opera, acrobatics, and more. It attracted countless cultivators daily.

Qin Lu had passed by twice before but had never gone inside. Having some free time today, he decided to bring Zhang Meng and her son here to while away the hours.

After all, staying home to cultivate all day was truly too dreary.

A considerable number of cultivators had already gathered at the entrance of Dehe Garden, all queuing up to enter. Seeing this, Qin Lu said nothing and silently took his place at the very end of the line.

The three of them chatted idly as the queue moved forward.

Soon, it was Qin Lu’s turn.

“Senior, are you here today to listen to music or watch a play?” A teenage attendant greeted them with a beaming smile.

Qin Lu glanced at the wall behind the attendant. Eight or nine small wooden plaques hung there, each inscribed with a different offering: Song and Dance, Variety Plays, Drama, Puppet Shows, Instrumental Music, Magic Tricks, Acrobatics, Chess…

Faced with such a dazzling array of choices, Qin Lu momentarily couldn’t decide.

“I wonder if you have any recommendations, little Fellow Daoist?” he asked casually.

“That’s easy! Today we happen to be performing ‘The Tale of Wuji.’ It’s our signature variety play. If this is your first visit, Senior, you definitely shouldn’t miss it!”

Variety plays were somewhat similar to the stage plays from his previous life and were one of the most popular forms of entertainment among cultivators.

“‘The Tale of Wuji’? Is it the story of the Wuji Sect?” Qin Lu asked.

“Exactly! It tells the tale of Patriarch Wuji founding the sect!”

“I see…” Qin Lu nodded lightly. “Then give me three tickets.”

“Right away! That will be six Spirit Stones in total!”

Hearing the price, Zhang Meng’s eyelids twitched. She opened her mouth to speak, likely to protest the cost.

But before she could say a word, Qin Lu paid with great alacrity. Holding the three tickets, he ushered her and Xiao Ziyun into the theater.

Guided by an attendant, the three soon arrived at their seats.

Since the play hadn’t started yet, the hall was quite noisy, filled with cultivators chatting casually.

Qin Lu glanced around. The stage setup wasn’t much different from what he remembered in his previous life, which only heightened his anticipation.

“Mother! This fruit is so delicious!”

Xiao Ziyun picked up a spirit fruit from the table and took a big bite, immediately breaking into a bright smile.

“Then eat more.” Zhang Meng affectionately patted Xiao Ziyun’s head.

“Okay!”

With permission granted, Xiao Ziyun buried his face in the snacks.

However, such complimentary snacks were never plentiful. In no time at all, Xiao Ziyun had polished off the dozen or so small spirit fruits on the platter.

“I finished them all! They were really tasty~” Xiao Ziyun patted his little belly with a satisfied expression.

“Had enough? If not, I have some more here.”

A voice sounded from the neighboring table, followed by a hand offering a full plate of spirit fruits.

Qin Lu turned to look. The speaker was an unkempt old Loose Cultivator with a kindly expression. He held the plate out toward Xiao Ziyun.

“Ah, Fellow Daoist needn’t be so polite. The child just has a sweet tooth; please don’t mind him,” Qin Lu laughed, politely declining.

“What’s polite about this? I don’t care for them either. Rather than waste them, let the child eat,” the old Loose Cultivator said cheerfully.

He placed the spirit fruits directly onto Qin Lu’s table, then turned his back to them, ending the interaction.

Seeing this, Qin Lu gave a helpless smile and cupped his hands slightly at the man’s back. “Thank you, Fellow Daoist.”

Seeing a fresh pile of spirit fruits, Xiao Ziyun beamed with joy, immediately grabbing another one to toss into his mouth.

As time passed, cultivators streamed in continuously until the entire hall was packed.

Clang clang clang!

Thump thump thump!

“The story goes that long ago, Flowing Cloud Prefecture was overrun with demonic beasts and evil spirits harming the people. The surrounding lands were scenes of utter devastation…”

With the sound of musical instruments and a narrator’s voice setting the scene, “The Tale of Wuji” officially began.

The hall instantly fell silent as everyone focused on the stage.

Having never seen a cultivator’s variety play before, Qin Lu and his two companions watched attentively.

As the plot unfolded, Qin Lu’s expression grew increasingly surprised.

This play was actually better than the high-budget stage plays of his previous life.

The special effects were superb. Talismans were activated throughout the performance. Combined with formations and cooperating magical tools, it felt like watching a live-action 4D movie.

Rain-Summoning Talismans, Mist Talismans, Lightning Talismans, flying magical tools, and illusion formations were all utilized perfectly.

They made lightning flash and thunder rumble on stage. Rain fell incessantly, mist swirled, and during fight scenes, light radiated everywhere. The booming sounds shook the floorboards.

This broadened Qin Lu’s horizons immensely.

Moreover, the plot was highly engaging.

It chronicled the life of Patriarch Zhang Zhenyuan of the Wuji Sect, following his rise from a lowly Qi Refining cultivator to a Golden Core Patriarch. In the end, he personally founded the vast Wuji Sect, earning immense admiration.

The hall repeatedly erupted with cheers and exclamations, the audience clearly satisfied with the spectacle.

Qin Lu was utterly captivated, immersed in the story.

Soon, the hour-long play reached its conclusion.

The stage arrived at its final, grand scene.

The elderly cultivator portraying Patriarch Zhang Zhenyuan stood on the edge of a prop cliff, hands clasped behind his back. He gazed at the magnificent rivers and mountains in the distance with an inscrutable expression.

Beside him, a Gale Talisman activated, making his robes flutter noisily in the wind. His lofty demeanor inspired awe and admiration.

And just at that moment, an extremely disdainful voice suddenly rang out in the quiet hall.

“Ah ha ha! This Zhang Zhenyuan actually dares boast about himself like this! Truly shameless! Despicable!”

As these words fell, the entire hall froze.

The gazes of everyone present swiveled toward the source as one, their faces filled with shock.

Even the actor playing Zhang Zhenyuan on stage wore a dumbfounded expression, turning his head incredulously to look at the audience.

Insulting Patriarch Zhang Zhenyuan of the Wuji Sect… inside Wuji Market?

Wasn’t that just asking for death?

Qin Lu’s heart jolted violently in alarm. He hurriedly looked toward the source of the voice.

The one who had spoken was actually the old Loose Cultivator who had offered them fruit earlier!

Right now, the old man wore an expression of utter disdain. Even under everyone’s astonished stares, he looked completely nonchalant.

Silence reigned, so profound one could hear a pin drop.

Suddenly, Xiao Ziyun’s voice rang out loud and clear beside Qin Lu.

“Grandpa, why do you say that? I think Patriarch Zhang is amazing!”

The boy’s words immediately drew the crowd’s attention to their table.

Oh crap!

Qin Lu’s face instantly paled with panic. He hurriedly pulled Xiao Ziyun close and clamped a hand over the boy’s mouth.

One must absolutely not comment on such sensitive topics! Otherwise, you wouldn’t even know how you died!

Zhang Meng looked equally terrified, mirroring Qin Lu’s action by reaching out to hush Xiao Ziyun as well.

Having lived in Wuji Market for so long, she knew exactly what offending the Wuji Sect entailed.

There was only one outcome—certain death.

“Hahaha!”

The old Loose Cultivator threw back his head and laughed heartily. He looked at Xiao Ziyun, smiling brightly.

“I have no particular reason. I simply think he’s shameless.”

“How dare you! How dare you insult our Patriarch! Prepare to die!”

Right then, a blue-robed cultivator rushed out from behind the stage curtain. Holding a gleaming longsword, he advanced step by step, thrusting directly toward the old Loose Cultivator.

“Heh heh! Time to go!”

Unexpectedly, the old Loose Cultivator’s movements were elusive as smoke. With a twist of his body, he dashed toward an exit, fleeing at a speed matching that of a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator.

“Where do you think you’re escaping! After him!”

The blue-robed cultivator roared furiously. Immediately, several more blue-robed youths rushed out from various corners, joining the chase.

Within moments, they had all vanished from the hall.

The theater was left with numerous cultivators staring at each other, dumbfounded. Everyone involuntarily had the same thought flashing through their minds:

Who in blazes was that old guy?!