The figure of the man in the conical hat disappeared into the misty snowflakes.
But his words lingered in Chen Ye’s mind for a long time.
Could it be...
That at the time, Gao Ming was tasked with another mission, precisely to spy on Tian Feng and find a Spirit Plant Master to treat his ailment?
But no matter what, Spirit Plant Technique is just Spirit Plant Technique.
Does the Jade Lizard Association really need to care so much?
Not to mention distant matters, the spirit stone earnings brought to the Stone Mirror Association in the past few days have not exceeded seventy spirit stones.
For a Loose Cultivator, it’s a considerable amount.
But for a vast association, it’s just a tasty dessert.
"Master? Are you eating?"
Once Tian Feng left, Qing Jun dared to poke her head out halfway.
She held a large porcelain bowl, curiously observing her master.
Today, Master doesn’t seem to be in a good mood...
At this time before, Master should be drinking wine and playing with dumplings!
The little girl shivered all over.
Hearing her, Chen Ye shook his head.
He looked at the gray sky, leaden clouds continuously cloaked the heavens.
Excluding the clear day, it has persisted for twenty days.
"Remember in the game plot, the weather only gets colder, especially on the day of the True Monarch’s tribulation, there will be anomalies."
"In a market under a great disaster, order will be lost..."
Chen Ye hurriedly returned to his cultivation room, flipping through the "Yan Kingdom Geography"."
This book recorded the current geographical pattern of the Yan Kingdom.
First, he found Yunxi District.
Yunxi District is one of the few markets located within the Three Thousand Great Mountains.
Deeper into the mountains, there used to be Stone Mirror Town, but it has been destroyed in a Beast Tide.
Closest to Yunxi District are Peach Mountain District and Moon Rhinoceros Lake District.
But even the nearest Peach Mountain District is a seven-day journey, while Moon Rhinoceros District takes eight days.
Chen Ye initially wanted to leave Yunxi District quickly while he could.
He couldn’t afford to offend the Jade Lizard Association, but couldn’t he escape?
But after seeing the map, he realized he thought too simply.
"Yunxi District is deep inside the mountains, with a dense concentration of Demon Beasts nearby. This unusual weather, if the Demon Beasts riot... Even the Outer Disciples of Lingyin Sect dare not come to Yunxi District now."
"Moreover, in the market, I can still be protected by Lingyin Sect, but outside the market, there’s no guarantee. Alone, it’s fine, but with two children, too conspicuous."
A glint of gold appeared at Chen Ye’s fingertips, and a faint golden light entered his pupils.
Since he couldn’t escape, he might as well accelerate his consolidation!
...
"Letting Senior laugh at me..."
Lin Qiongyu’s collar was slightly open, and there was a red mark from a cat’s claw on her fair collarbone,
seeing Chen Ye’s gaze sweep over, she hurriedly covered it:
"Miu must have blamed me for neglecting it last night while I was brewing Spirit Mushroom Soup for the little girl, it’s not its fault. Usually, Chengjun is like a blockhead and never plays with Miu. But not just Miu, even I don’t want to say a few words."
The young female cultivator held a black cat, with her other hand carrying a food box, which she pushed to Chen Ye.
Chen Ye had no interest in the young couple’s dispute, and took the food box:
"Thank you, Taoist Friend Lin, but is Taoist Friend Xue at home today?"
Lin Qiongyu was taken aback: "Yes, he has been around these past few days, why does Senior seek him?"
Upon hearing this, Chen Ye felt relieved.
According to Tian Feng earlier, Xue Chengjun was specifically sent to look after him.
Although Xue Chengjun was young, his cultivation was already at the Fourth-Layer of Qi Cultivation.
With him around, the Jade Lizard Association couldn’t forcibly take the disciple away.
Even if Xue Chengjun couldn’t win, he could alarm the Lingyin Sect.
"Hmm, I hope the two Taoist Friends can look after my disciple when I’m temporarily out on errands today."
Chen Ye hesitated not, taking out a spirit stone and stuffing it into Lin Qiongyu’s hand.
"I can’t accept this! It’s part of my duty, it’s too valuable!"
Upon seeing the spirit stone, Lin Qiongyu was shocked and declined repeatedly.
Chen Ye smiled warmly: "Just asking the Taoist Friend to pay a bit more attention, might call on you both for help in the future."
Hearing this, Lin Qiongyu hesitantly accepted it.
This Senior really is wealthy and generous.
Just for a bit of care, he is willing to spend a spirit stone?
One spirit stone can be exchanged for one hundred pieces of Spiritual Sand, allowing a Loose Cultivator to live for half a month!
After Chen Ye left,
Xue Chengjun, who had been hiding, finally appeared,
his voice filled with blame: "Qiongyu, you told me not to show up, but why say such things about me in front of him? Regularly, I’ve been caring for you..."
The young woman sighed with tears: "Wasn’t it you who provoked Senior Chen? Qiongyu could only act pitiful to seek Senior’s mercy."
As Xue Chengjun frantically explained, she smiled through tears:
"Qiongyu certainly knows Chengjun cherishes me most, unlike next door Senior Chen, who wouldn’t even comfort me when Miu scratched me..."
...
Thereafter, Chen Ye visited Ping Zhuo, receiving the reforged iron sword from him.
First paid ten spirit stones, with a deal to deliver the remaining twenty in twenty days.
The iron sword looked identical to before, but at the tip, there was a touch of gold.
When reforging the iron sword, Ping Zhuo used all seven Sinking Gold on the blade’s edge, giving it a more formidable presence than before.
On Shunshui Street,
the cold wind swept fine snow down the back of his neck, and Chen Ye pressed down his conical hat with one hand.
Turning the corner, he caught a glimpse of a figure in his peripheral vision.
The man was stamping his feet with his neck shrunk, blowing white mist from his mouth.
Seeing Chen Ye emerge, he immediately followed behind.
Chen Ye didn’t stop, and after turning two streets, the man was still trailing twenty steps away.
"Ha... Not even pretending anymore?"
Chen Ye looked towards the man, who grinned mischievously, revealing a mouthful of white teeth.
This man’s cultivation was even stronger than Gao Ming’s by a fraction!
Chen Ye reciprocated with a smile,
his right hand delved into his sleeve, pinching a technique, a flickering golden glint hidden between his fingers.
He headed straight for the free trade area,
despite the cold and snow, the trade area was still crowded with Loose Cultivators, he blended in with them.
The man sneered, closely following: "Just on the way, roads are slippery in the snow, let’s travel together, Taoist Friend, don’t be mad..."
Before he finished, two golden beams slashed through the wind and snow.
Brushing past the hems of Loose Cultivators at both sides,
the man sensed something wrong and was about to pinch a technique,
but two fierce winds had already brushed past his face, the snow particles hitting his eyelids stinging painfully.
A dazzling golden light burst open before his eyes!
"Ah! My eyes!"
The man screamed, staggering, digging his ten fingers deeply into the eye sockets, shouting loudly,
"Steward! Someone attacked and injured me on the street, blinding me!"
With this claim, the surrounding Loose Cultivators scattered in a circle, all looking at him.
The steward in blue robes parted the crowd, seeing him weeping in the snow, but yet no blood visible between his fingers.
The steward frowned: "Who attacked you?"
"Steward, look!"
The man trembled as he released his hands, and paused in astonishment.
His intact eyes reflected the mocking faces of everyone, someone sneered: "Scared cat over a little firefly trick!"
His eyes were completely unharmed!
"Useless! Disturbed by a mere trick, do not come to trouble my peace!" the blue-robed cultivator snapped and left.
The surrounding Loose Cultivators laughed and dispersed, making the man flush with embarrassment.
He trembled all over, cold sweat soaking the cotton collar at the nape of his neck.
Only he knew it wasn’t some petty trick!
It was indeed magic capable of taking his life!
So fast, it was impossible to defend!
Even more terrifying, the man had such precise control that the spell dispersed right in front of his pupils!
After this farce,
looking up, the bustling long street no longer held the figure of that person.
"Forget it, people like this, not someone I can provoke. Being alive is good enough..."
Despite the embarrassment, the man felt relieved.