With that, she quickly turned and waved a small hand to the Profound Scale Guard, signaling him to follow.
She came swiftly and left even faster.
Soon, the master and servant duo disappeared at the end of this desolate street.
"Master... Qing Jun was actually very reluctant to leave you, didn’t dare to linger for a moment."
Zhiwei silently emerged, feeling a bit regretful, not expecting Qing Jun to leave so quickly.
If she had known, she would have rather come out to meet Qing Jun.
Chen Ye rubbed her head and comforted her: "Don’t worry, there will be many chances to meet again later."
"Ah, Brother Chen, I didn’t expect it to be your disciple."
Hee Qi swaggered over from the other side of the street, already prepared for a magical battle.
Who would have expected it to be a misunderstanding?
"Pardon me for the laugh..."
Chen Ye sighed slightly, then his expression became solemn,
"Alright, enough idle chatter, let’s first go check out the Ninth Layer Heaven and see what situation this grand array is in!"
...
Shortly, the group passed through the desolate Eighth Layer Heaven, finally arriving before the giant beam of light leading to the Ninth Layer Heaven.
"Such strong array fluctuations..." Chen Ye gazed at the slowly collapsing yet still oppressively powerful skyward light curtain, looking grave.
Outside the light curtain, five or six cultivators had already gathered, all powerful Foundation Establishment cultivators. Some were meditating with closed eyes, others discussing in low voices, but all eyes were firmly fixed on the grand array, waiting for the moment it would fully activate.
"Looks like we are neither too early nor too late," Hee Qi whispered.
"No... this grand array will likely take a long time to open, the Refining God Sect, the Xu Family, and other cultivators are still resting in the No Thought Valley. They presume the grand array won’t open anytime soon,"
Chen Ye glanced around at the cultivators, most of these Foundation Establishment cultivators were lone rangers, clearly not from major factions.
Only one cultivator from the Ten Thousand Puppet Sect was familiar to Chen Ye; he seemed to have just arrived not long ago and was studying the nearby array.
At that moment, a loose cultivator seemed unable to hold back any longer and summoned a flying sword, attempting to break into the array by force!
"Buzz——!"
As soon as the flying sword touched the light curtain, it was repelled!
The loose cultivator was struck as if by a heavy blow, spewing a mouthful of blood and flying backward, his aura weakening.
"Hmph, fool." Not far away, a hooded man from the Ten Thousand Puppet Sect scoffed disdainfully, "This is an ancient grand array, brute force won’t break it. Without a token, even a Golden Core True Man couldn’t take a step inside!"
The Foundation Establishment cultivators present stirred, but they still didn’t give up.
Each began to show their skills, hoping to enter the Ninth Layer Heaven a moment earlier.
Anyone with discernment would realize that the Ninth Layer Heaven is the core of the Songyang Cave Heaven.
Inside, there must be great opportunities!
If they wait any longer, how could they compete with the Xu Family, the Refining God Sect, and other factions for a slice of the pie?
Hearing the hooded man’s words, Chen Ye’s heart was moved.
A token?
Could it be that Bai Susu entered the grand array relying on a token?
But in this vast cave heaven, where could one find a token?
This token, perhaps even in the former Songyang Sect, only important figures could have it.
Just as Chen Ye felt quite disappointed, Zhiwei in his arms gently tugged at his sleeve.
Chen Ye looked down to see the little white fox raising its small face, using its little paws to gesture continuously.
"Are you saying... the Fragmented Earth Armor?"
How could he not understand the little one’s meaning?
The gestures of the little white fox pointed to the fragment it helped him acquire from a cultivator.
...
Half a two-hour later, in a secluded ruin within No Thought Valley.
Hee Qi had long closed up to recuperate. He was already seriously injured, and though he had pills to assist, he still needed to exercise his power to heal internal injuries.
Meanwhile, Chen Ye sat with Zhiwei, playing with the Fragmented Earth Armor.
This item wasn’t large, only half the size of a palm.
It had a black-yellow color, with cracks like a net, resembling a tortoise shell.
He didn’t know the name of this item.
Back then, Xu Buhui called it the Fragmented Earth Armor, and the stall owner didn’t refute it.
But is this item truly the Fragmented Earth Armor?
Judging by the little white fox’s reaction, this item seemed quite extraordinary.
Yet neither the stall owner nor Xu Buhui cared much about it.
For instance, the stall owner wanted nothing more than to exchange it for a Profound Frost Pill.
Chen Ye sat cross-legged, placing the Fragmented Earth Armor in his palm, gathering spiritual power to examine it closely.
The fragment remained motionless, its internal structure plain, without a hint of spiritual Qi fluctuation, entirely unlike something crucial to triggering a grand array.
"Could it be the little white fox made a mistake?"
He muttered to himself, then shook his head to dismiss the idea,
"No, last time the little white fox did find a useless box, but this time is different, it has reminded me multiple times that this item is extraordinary..."
After studying it for a while, he found nothing.
"Chirp chirp!"
The little white fox beside him watched eagerly, already impatient.
It jumped into Chen Ye’s palm, its little paws incessantly pawing at his Storage Ring, urging him to open it.
"Master, could the little white fox be referring to the iron box found last time?" Zhiwei suddenly said.
Chen Ye had an epiphany, recalling the inconspicuous iron box the little white fox led him to find!
He quickly took out the iron box: a palm-sized dark gold square box, rusty on the surface, yet exuding a restrained and gentle aura, and in the middle of the box, indeed, there was a recess, just right for the Fragmented Earth Armor.
Seeing this, he tried placing the Fragmented Earth Armor carefully into the iron box.
Upon contact, the two produced a bizarre reaction.
A faint light flowed over the surface of the iron box, enveloping and nurturing the Fragmented Earth Armor.
And the dense cracks on the fragment slowly began to heal.
"There really is a reaction!"
Chen Ye was delighted, speaking softly,
"Judging by this situation, back in the day, the box was probably specifically used to nurture this token, now it seems to be repairing or activating it... but it will take some time."
He contemplated for a moment.
Divine sense cannot extend in the Eighth Layer Heaven, no one can spy on him, and he can conceal his Foundation Establishment aura.
Plus, having reunited with Hee Qi, and having a Foundation Establishment True Man to protect him, it minimizes most of the risk.
Looking to enter the Ninth Layer Heaven soon, when else to establish a foundation if not now?
"Since I need to wait for the fragment to repair, I’ll use this time to break through to Foundation Establishment!"
Firming his resolve, Chen Ye wasted no time.
Half a day later.
After Hee Qi had finished healing, Chen Ye solemnly clasped his hands toward him: "Brother Hee, I plan to establish a foundation. From now on, I’ll have to trouble you to guard me."
Hee Qi’s expression froze, not expecting Chen Ye to choose to establish a foundation inside the cave heaven, he couldn’t help but advise:
"Foundation Establishment is extremely difficult. If any accidents happen, the backlash... Why not wait until we’re out of the cave heaven to establish a foundation? This place is truly dangerous."
Chen Ye’s expression was resolute: "Time waits for no one, my mind is made up."
Seeing this, Hee Qi sighed deeply and solemnly said, "Then I won’t say more, I’ll put my life on the line to guard you, and won’t let anyone disturb you at all!"
"Master..." The black-haired little girl secretly worried, although she always had complete confidence in her master, she was still anxious about such a significant matter.
Chen Ye smiled confidently: "Don’t worry, what kind of person is your master? Just a mere Foundation Establishment, a few days’ work! Stay with the little white fox, if anything happens while I’m in seclusion, remember, follow the little white fox and hide immediately!"
"Mm!"
Zhiwei knew now wasn’t the time for her to speak unnecessarily. Hugging the lazy little fox, she retreated to the door to watch over her master.
After the two left, the room fell completely silent.
Chen Ye looked around this former fox clan dwelling, took a deep breath, and looked inwardly at himself.
In his Dantian, five major spiritual objects circled continuously.
The Five Elements gathered, Spiritual Light reflecting each other.
These were the Phoenix Feather Gold, Netherwood, Xi Stone Water, Earth Fire Essence, and Sublimation Crystal.
These five major spiritual objects, if sold in the outside world, might fetch nearly ten thousand Spirit Stones!
Chen Ye’s blood surged, fully immersing his mind in the Withering Glory Mysterious Light Sutra.
Foundation Establishment began right at this moment!