Before leaving, Chen Ye specifically went across to say hello to Li Dageng, asking him to help look after things.
Li Dageng patted his chest in agreement. He also dared not go out easily nowadays, so it was just as well he could stay home and watch over things.
As Chen Ye walked to the edge of the market, he sensed something was amiss.
Even though mornings were usually cold, some loose cultivators would still venture out, hoping for some luck at the market.
But today, the entrance to the market was eerily quiet.
Only a few guards from the Lingyin Sect were shivering, vigilantly watching the vast wind and snow outside.
These so-called guards were actually disciples of the Lingyin Sect’s Outer Sect.
Within the Lingyin Sect, those with extraordinary potential or accomplished cultivation usually joined the Inner Sect to continue their training.
Other Outer Sect disciples weren’t so fortunate.
After cultivating peacefully within the sect for three years,
they needed to complete sect tasks to gain contributions.
After all, the Lingyin Sect didn’t just feed so many disciples for nothing.
These tasks included guarding the sect’s subordinate forces, tending to spirit fields, artifact refining, alchemy, and so on...
If one could not advance to the Inner Sect, they had to keep completing tasks.
Of course, becoming an Inner Sect disciple wasn’t the only path.
Those who performed well could also be promoted to sect steward.
Chen Ye intended to take the Lingyin Sect Spirit Plant Master examination and pursue the path of becoming a sect steward.
"Halt!"
A guard stopped Chen Ye; this man looked to be about thirty years old, at the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer.
He glanced up and down at Chen Ye and seeing his composed aura, though dressed plainly, unlike the usual timid loose cultivators, his attitude was relatively polite:
"Taoist friend, the market is temporarily closed today, no one is allowed to go out!"
"Closed? Why?" Chen Ye was taken aback.
He intended to check the situation outside the market but didn’t expect that he couldn’t even leave the gate.
The guard rubbed his hands together, exhaling a breath of white air:
"Why else? Last night a demon beast attacked the market’s west gate! Though it was repelled, who knows if it will come again? We’ve received orders to enforce a temporary lockdown!"
A demon beast attacking the market?!
Chen Ye’s expression changed slightly; this was not a good omen.
Yunxi District was built upon a spirit vein, with an array protecting it. Ordinary demon beasts wouldn’t dare come close, unless...
He looked up towards the gloomy sky deep within the Three Thousand Great Mountains, his unease growing.
It seemed the impact of the celestial tribulation was more severe than he imagined.
Just as Chen Ye was about to turn and leave, he caught a glimpse of a familiar figure from the corner of his eye.
It was his old neighbor, Hee Qi.
At this moment, Hee Qi had long lost the affable and vigorous spirit he had when they first met.
His clothes were muddy, and his face bore undisguisable fatigue and fear.
He seemed to have rushed from the slum to the market.
"Brother Hee?" Chen Ye called out, somewhat surprised.
Hee Qi was momentarily stunned to see Chen Ye.
Chen Ye explained, "I’m Chen Ye... Chen Ye with the two apprentices."
"What? You’re Brother Chen?"
Hee Qi clicked his tongue in surprise, constantly staring at Chen Ye, raising his voice,
"Three days apart, and you’ve transformed dramatically, Brother Chen! Tch, looking like this, you could even snatch a female disciple from the Lingyin Sect to take home!"
This guy never stinted on compliments.
His words made several guards unable to suppress their laughter.
How difficult is it to find a female disciple from the Lingyin Sect as a Dao companion?
These female disciples, after staying in the sect for so long,
were accustomed to seeing proud young talents rising within the Cultivation Realm of Yan Kingdom.
Even if they couldn’t match them, their standards were inevitably elevated.
How could they fancy a middle-aged loose cultivator?
Chen Ye remained unmoved by the laughter around him, glancing at Hee Qi.
This man smirked at the corner of his mouth, evidently treating it as a joke.
Chen Ye’s expression didn’t change, and he waved his hand:
"By luck, I had some insights recently and advanced my cultivation a bit. But Brother Hee, why are you so disheveled? Have you encountered some trouble?"
At this mention, the smile on Hee Qi’s face was instantly replaced by bitterness and lingering fear.
He sighed heavily, pointing towards the tightly closed market gate, then towards the direction of the slum behind him, his voice tinged with hoarseness:
"Alas, Brother Chen, don’t even mention it! Last night... last night a major event occurred in the slum! A group of demon beasts rushed into the slum, killing many people! Even a second-tier demon beast was present!"
Hee Qi wiped the cold sweat off his face and continued:
"My shabby house is not too far from the west side. Last night, hearing the roars of demon beasts and the booming clashes of magic, I didn’t dare close my eyes all night! At dawn, I realized something was wrong. This cursed weather is already abnormal, and now even demon beasts dare to attack the market... the slum is probably no longer habitable!"
The more Hee Qi spoke, the more chilled his spine became.
He couldn’t help but glance at Chen Ye, then at his own disheveled appearance.
A month had passed.
Why did he feel like he and Chen Ye had swapped places?
Hee Qi secretly sensed Chen Ye’s aura, discovering that he was still at the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer.
Only then did he inexplicably breathe a sigh of relief.
"Brother Hee, don’t worry."
Chen Ye pondered for a moment and comforted him,
"The market closure should only be temporary. Once they have checked the situation and confirmed safety, it will surely reopen. Why not wait here for now?"
Hee Qi gave a bitter smile, "That’s all we can do. It’s just... in this freezing weather, who knows how long we’ll have to wait. My wife is still waiting for me at Moon Rhinoceros Lake..."
After speaking,
Hee Qi didn’t engage in much small talk with Chen Ye. After agreeing to visit another day, he hurriedly went to rent a place in the market.
However,
Times have changed; during this special period, the rental prices in the market are likely to double.
...
Not only the city gates, but the situation inside the market was also not optimistic.
Lingyin Sect imposed martial law. The shops were closed, let alone the free trade area.
The news of the temporary market closure was like a bucket of cold water, dousing Chen Ye’s budding shopping enthusiasm.
He had planned to use the spirit stones he had on hand to browse the free trade area,
to see if he could find a suitable water series cultivation technique for Zhiwei’s practice, and perhaps also get some items to enhance his own strength.
More importantly, he wanted to sell the excess fire stones he had previously stocked up on.
After the celestial tribulation phenomenon appeared, the temperature dropped sharply, and the price of fire stones surely soared, making it the perfect time to sell them.
But now, with the market under martial law, all plans were dashed.
"This damned weather is really holding things up!" Chen Ye cursed inwardly, but there was nothing he could do.
Having no choice, Chen Ye had to head back home.
By the time he returned to the courtyard on Shunshui Street, it was already completely dark.
Qing Jun, seeing him return empty-handed, showed a bit of disappointment on her face.
She was still thinking about the treats her master had promised to buy her.
Chen Ye noticed this, feeling somewhat guilty inside.
He stroked Qing Jun’s little head, comforting her, "The market had some issues today, and all the shops were closed. I’ll bring you some treats another day."
Only then did Qing Jun brighten up again, holding Zhiwei’s hand and chattering about cultivation.
The next day, the market was still closed.
But the atmosphere was even more tense than the previous day.
Loose cultivators with sharp information spread the news that the West Gate was attacked by demon beasts again last night. Although the scale wasn’t large, several second-tier demon beasts appeared among them!
Second-tier demon beasts, their strength comparable to foundation establishment cultivators!
This news was like a boulder thrown into a lake, causing a huge uproar in the market.
Panic began to spread.
When Chen Ye received the news, he felt even more heavy-hearted.
With second-tier demon beasts appearing outside the market, the disturbances in the Three Thousand Great Mountains were likely more severe than he imagined!
His two disciples felt the tense atmosphere too, no longer playing around like they used to.
Zhiwei in particular displayed astonishing perseverance, spending almost all her time in meditation, sensing and absorbing the water series spiritual qi.
Her progress speed even caused Chen Ye to secretly marvel.
Only Qing Jun still couldn’t sense the energy flow.
The little girl never voiced it, but the disappointment in her eyes grew more apparent.
She often sat on the doorstep alone, hugging her knees, staring blankly at the snowflakes drifting in the courtyard, deep in thought.
Chen Ye noticed this, feeling a pang in his heart.
He tried to guide Qing Jun,
But Qing Jun seemed to have lost interest in cultivation; she was always dismissive about it.
Chen Ye had no choice but to temporarily give up.
"Maybe... when she grows up a bit more, and her bloodline awakens, she’ll naturally embark on the path of cultivation." He could only comfort himself in this way.
Two more days passed.
The market finally lifted the closure!
At this time, an unforeseen visitor quietly arrived:
"Taoist Friend Chen... the president invites you to treat the Mysterious Ginseng."
The person was none other than Gao Ming, once under Kong Hongxuan’s command!
Speaking of...
Kong Hongxuan mainly cultivated water series techniques.
In the past, a single ice cone from him seriously injured Chen Ye with ease!