One day later, at Yunxi District Market.
Chen Ye, under the alias Lu Jun, disguised and using the Qi Concealment Technique, walked boldly down the market avenue.
He employed the Qi Concealment Technique solely to mask his aura, not to hide his cultivation.
With a Qi Cultivation Ninth-Layer cultivation level, he was already among the elite in this edge market teeming with loose cultivators.
Passing cultivators sensed this powerful aura and instinctively cast reverent glances toward him, stepping aside a bit, respectful and cautious. This allowed Chen Ye to pass smoothly, avoiding the trouble ordinary loose cultivators might face.
Upon reaching the Qi Cultivation Ninth-Layer, Foundation Establishment was no longer an unattainable dream, and Chen Ye began preparing for Foundation Establishment spiritual objects and the Foundation Establishment Pill.
Though equipped with a proficiency panel, whether or not aided by external items, Foundation Establishment was merely a matter of time for him.
Yet, time is an issue.
Bottlenecks can be overcome with effort, but enemies and accidents wait for no one.
He headed straight to the Herb Pavilion in Yunxi District, intending to get some information from Old Man Ye.
He chose this place over Peach Mountain District for a simple reason: The Peach Mountain District was swarming with eyes and ears, resembling a sieve;
Here, however, Old Man Ye alone guarded his domain, greatly reducing the risk. Moreover, Yunxi District was nestled in the Three Thousand Great Mountains, and as a steward who had collected goods there for a long time, Old Man Ye had benefited from the chaos of the Three Thousand Great Mountains.
"Hmm? May I know which Taoist friend you are?"
Old Man Ye, leisurely sipping tea behind the counter, paused and looked up as if sensing something.
In the three major markets nearby, a Qi Cultivation Ninth-Layer loose cultivator was already a notable figure.
"Old Ye, long time no see."
Chen Ye removed his wide-brimmed hat, walked directly up to the counter, and smiled faintly.
He had a certain level of trust in Old Man Ye, not due to noble character, but grounded in reality.
Old Man Ye was old, and his only daughter was arduously cultivating in the Lingyin Sect, so his conduct must be extremely cautious, unwilling to risk implicating his child in the sect.
"Oh? Taoist Friend Chen!"
Old Man Ye squinted carefully, shocked enough to drop his teacup, standing abruptly,
"Haven’t seen you in half a year, and you’re already at Qi Cultivation Ninth-Layer!?"
"Old Ye, you misunderstand. How could my insignificant skills progress so rapidly?"
Chen Ye chuckled and shook his head, explaining seriously,
"When traveling outside, to avoid trouble and draw enemies, I’ve always habitually concealed parts of my cultivation. In truth... I’ve long been in the late Qi Cultivation stage."
This explanation indeed made sense.
In the vast cultivation realm, who among the lower cultivators didn’t wear a mask when wandering? Loose cultivators mastering the Qi Concealment Technique were especially adept at concealing their strengths.
Old Man Ye’s eyelid twitched, "Oh, I never imagined Taoist Friend Chen’s acting skills were so superb! This old man’s eyes are failing; back then I didn’t see any clues. Thinking back to when you sold that Silver Scale Grass, your reserved demeanor and appearance were no different from an ordinary loose cultivator, tsk tsk tsk, and you also had two dusty little girls with you."
"I can’t accept such praise, Old Ye overestimates me." Chen Ye waved his hand repeatedly, not minding the veiled barbs in the other’s words.
Old Man Ye stopped speaking, scanning Chen Ye up and down, before heavily sitting back in his chair:
"Enough with the tricks! What brings you to my Herb Pavilion in disguise and under a false name? You’re the overseer of Lin Song, why not flaunt your power in Peach Mountain District, and come seeking an old man like me?"
Chen Ye dropped the formalities, leaned slightly forward, and asked in a low voice:
"Lately, the Three Thousand Great Mountains have been tumultuous. I wonder if Old Ye has heard any news about Yuan Haoxuan?"
As he spoke, he casually slid a middle-grade Spirit Stone across the counter.
"What Yuan Haoxuan, Fang Haoxuan? This old man stays in this little shop all day, how would he know about the outside fighting and killings? Just a low-grade..."
Before he finished, Old Man Ye’s eyes widened.
This Spirit Stone was crystal clear, brimming with spiritual light, clearly not a lower-grade Spirit Stone.
Chen Ye made to retrieve it, but Old Man Ye’s face turned into a smile, quickly pocketing the Spirit Stone before Chen Ye could:
"I know a thing or two. This person is a child of the Yuan Family in the Qi Kingdom, a demon progeny of the Emotion Crossing Sect. Although young, he’s claimed many lives. Qi Cultivation Ninth-Layer, similar to you. But his battle power... he practices the Yuan Family’s ancestral Body Refining method, the Yuan He Scripture, possessing a physical body as formidable as a top-grade magical artifact! Most cultivators who died at his hands were torn apart barehanded by him! Ordinary Qi Cultivation Ninth-Layer cultivators can’t last ten moves under him!"
Body Refining Cultivator!
Chen Ye was greatly surprised.
Since entering the cultivation realm, he had yet to encounter a true Body Refining Cultivator.
The basic body techniques practiced by lower loose cultivators were merely for survival, hardly comparable to someone like Yuan Haoxuan.
But one wonders...
Whether this body, reputed as a top-grade magical artifact, could withstand his Sword Intent?
"Young man, why are you inquiring about such a killing god out of the blue?"
Old Man Ye looked at Chen Ye’s serious expression and couldn’t help but advise,
"Surely you haven’t offended him somewhere? Take this old man’s advice, if so, run while you can. Such a demon isn’t someone upright cultivators like us can afford to provoke."
Chen Ye wasn’t angered by this; he just smiled and said:
"I’ve only heard that this person has recently been active in the Three Thousand Great Mountains, and I’m afraid of accidentally encountering him. Hence, I’m asking Old Ye for some information."
"So that’s how it is. There indeed are rumors of his presence in the Three Thousand Great Mountains. I advise you, don’t enter the Three Thousand Great Mountains now. The sect claims to be searching for True Inheritor Bai, but in truth... it has become a battlefield between the sect and others, the fighting is intense." Old Man Ye sighed.
"Does the Refining God Sect not care?"
Chen Ye frowned slightly, voicing his concern,
"My sect, nominally at least, is supposed to be helping them search for that Golden Core senior."