Chen Ye understood in his heart, that old guy Mao Cheng was still worried about him.
Ha!
What else could he do?
Chen Ye nodded calmly: "Thank you, senior, for informing me, so I will be aware."
The middle-aged nun looked at Zhiwei, her tone slightly softened: "If you feel stifled, nephew, you can walk around the valley at will, just remember not to get close to the Heart Slaughter Cave."
This differential treatment surprised Chen Ye a bit.
It seems the Mao Family is not too wary of Zhiwei.
"Thank you, senior," Zhiwei replied calmly.
"Nephew Qing Jun, please follow me," the middle-aged nun said no more, gesturing towards Qing Jun to lead the way.
Qing Jun looked back with every step, finally following reluctantly behind the nun.
...
As soon as Qing Jun left, the bamboo building became quiet.
Without the chatter of the little girl, Chen Ye felt a bit unaccustomed.
He walked to the window and looked at the dense, inextricable fog outside, gently tapping the hilt of his sword with his fingers.
With the Mao Family so guarded, it seems it won’t be easy to find Sister Qingzhu or get news about the Heart Slaughter Cave.
However, they did give Zhiwei permission to move freely...
In fact, one of Chen Ye’s purposes for coming here was the inheritance of the Heart Slaughter Cave.
The Mao Family only knows that the sword Qi runs rampant here, with hidden flying swords.
Yet they are unaware that inside there is a Third Tier Spiritual Artifact, the Heart Slaughter Sword, as well as its corresponding inheritance.
Both the sword and the inheritance, Chen Ye wants them!
"It’s just... doing so might be a bit unfair to the Mao Family?"
This thought fleetingly crossed Chen Ye’s mind.
He quickly put aside his hesitation.
The path of cultivation is all about competition!
Moreover, this Heart Slaughter Cave is where another cultivator perished, having little to do with the Mao Family.
In addition, the Mao Family simply doesn’t know there’s a Third Tier Spiritual Artifact and inheritance inside.
Otherwise, they would have spared no cost in pillaging the Heart Slaughter Cave.
If he just gave up the inheritance and spiritual artifact, that would be foolish!
"Besides, Qing Jun was originally allowed to enter the Heart Slaughter Cave to seek the flying sword. With the help of the master, it makes sense for Qing Jun to obtain the flying sword and inheritance..."
Thinking of this, Chen Ye turned around, looking at Zhiwei, who was sitting quietly to the side, and said warmly:
"Zhiwei, while Qing Jun is away for a few days, if you feel bored, just walk around the valley as the senior suggested."
"Master wants me to gather information?" Zhiwei asked doubtfully.
"It’s not exactly gathering information," Chen Ye chuckled, sitting beside her, "Just take a look around, remember, safety first, don’t approach the restricted areas or get into conflicts with others."
Zhiwei, always in sync with her master, nodded seriously: "I understand, Master, don’t worry! If I find any trace of Aunt Mao, I’ll find a way for her to contact you!"
Chen Ye reassuringly patted Zhiwei’s head: "Good, if you get tired, come back early."
Zhiwei just felt a bit bitter in her mouth.
Does Master want to communicate with Aunt Mao, and I am to be their link?
But for the Master, there’s no reason to refuse, so she just swallowed her discomfort in silence.
The girl with ink-black hair acknowledged and then left the bamboo building.
Chen Ye’s eyes narrowed slightly; Zhiwei is sharp, intelligent, and her appearance is deceptive, earning people’s affection.
This task should not be difficult for her.
Hopefully, this visit will be fruitful.
He couldn’t just wait idly; it was a good opportunity to thoroughly research the newly acquired Jade Treasure Sword and Hundred Herbs Furnace.
Chen Ye returned inside, sitting cross-legged on the futon.
He first took out the repaired Hundred Herbs Furnace.
The furnace body was green and dripping, with the spiritual light more condensed than before.
He split a wisp of divine sense into it, carefully sensing the changes inside the furnace.
"Sure enough, it deserves to be a Middle Grade Second Tier Pill Furnace, the heat conduction more evenly and exquisitely. The success rate and quality of refining Purple Sun Pills will surely rise another level in the future."
Chen Ye nodded satisfactorily, carefully storing the Hundred Herbs Furnace.
Then, with a thought, the Jade Treasure Sword floated in front of him.
The sword body was heavy, with the gold liquid inside flowing slowly.
The gold liquid alone weighs a full fourteen hundred pounds!
Even though Chen Ye has now established his Foundation and has strong spiritual power, using Jade Treasure with all his might is still a bit strenuous.
Fortunately,
As a Second Tier Upper Grade Magical Treasure, Jade Treasure is engraved with various mysterious arrays.
When Chen Ye is traveling or escaping, as long as he doesn’t activate the gold liquid, the Jade Treasure’s weight is no different from an ordinary flying sword.
He extended a finger and lightly flicked the sword body.
"Zheng——"
A clear and long sword hum resounded, as if the flowing gold liquid ignited, bright and dazzling.
"Good sword!"
Chen Ye’s eyes shone as he injected more spiritual power into it.
With the influx of spiritual power, fully activating Jade Treasure, the sword’s unique Power of Breaking Forbidden becomes more apparent, even restricting Chen Ye’s spiritual power operation.
"With this sword in hand, even common middle-period Foundation Establishment defensive magic might not withstand my full-force strike."
Chen Ye pondered, placing the Jade Treasure Sword horizontally across his knees, closing his eyes to concentrate, nurturing the sword body carefully.
...
Although most areas of the Divine Mist Valley are not forbidden to enter, the path is complex and the fog dense, making it easy to lose direction.
Mao Family disciples are used to this kind of coldness, busy with their tasks, rarely engaging in conversation.
Zhiwei encountered female cultivators several times, trying to approach only to have them immediately avoid her warily.
"Strange... the people here are so reclusive?"
Zhiwei frowned, suddenly hearing a cheerful humming.
She saw a round-faced girl with a bamboo basket skipping over, almost bumping into Zhiwei.
"Ah!"
The round-faced girl jumped in surprise, and upon seeing who it was, she was stunned for a moment, then her eyes widened instantly,