Chen Ye pondered.
This Spirit Gathering Array Plate was undoubtedly a good item.
The main reason why the rent of Grade B Cave Mansions was so expensive was largely because of this Array Plate.
If one could be set up in his own courtyard, his cultivation speed would surely reach a new level.
But the price of sixty Spirit Stones did make him feel the pinch.
He had already spent twenty-three Spirit Stones to purchase the "Jinghong Technique" and to pay the deposit for reforging the Iron Sword. He had one hundred and thirty-four Spirit Stones left.
"This Array Plate, can it really gather Spiritual Qi like the ones in Grade B Cave Mansions?" Chen Ye pondered for a moment and asked.
The Iron Face stall owner replied in a hoarse voice, "This is an item leaked from the Lingyin Sect’s Internal Affairs Hall, genuine and authentic. However, to drive this Array Plate, one Spirit Stone must be consumed every fifty days."
One Spirit Stone every fifty days?
Hearing this, Chen Ye hesitated even more.
This consumption was indeed not small.
But what made his heart clench was the phrase "leaked from the Lingyin Sect’s Internal Affairs Hall."
The Internal Affairs Hall managed the sect’s resource allocation, and materials like Array Plates were strictly controlled.
Ordinary disciples had little access to them, let alone them ending up in the market black market.
The fact that this stall owner had obtained such an item indicated its origins were far from simple!
Seeing Chen Ye’s hesitation, Hee Qi leaned closer and whispered:
"Brother Chen, such Array Plates are quite rare even in the Ghost Market. If you miss this chance, who knows when it will come again? In my opinion, if you have enough Spirit Stones, it’s not a loss to take it. And... don’t worry, the Lingyin Sect often externally sells these Array Plates. It’s no problem even if caught."
Hee Qi’s words seemed to suggest he knew some insider information.
The Lingyin Sect was vast and powerful, and some resources were bound to flow out through various channels, which made sense.
If it were indeed as he said, the risk of acquiring this Array Plate might have been less than Chen Ye imagined.
He looked at Hee Qi and quietly asked, "Brother Hee seems to understand this?"
Hee Qi chuckled and patted his chest:
"We are like brothers, no need to hide it from you. I’ve had some dealings with disciples of the Lingyin Sect and helped them with some errands they couldn’t openly deal with. Such a big sect naturally has many hands and feet managing it. You know how it is."
Chen Ye listened and thought for a moment.
Now that his cultivation was at the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, to take another step forward, he needed cultivation techniques, Pills, and the right environment.
If he could set up a Spirit Gathering Array at home, it would greatly benefit both his own cultivation and the guidance of his two disciples in the future.
"Fifty Spirit Stones, if you are willing, I’ll buy it," he finally decided to take the plunge.
The Iron Face stall owner was silent for a moment, seemingly weighing the decision, then slowly nodded, "Alright."
The transaction complete, Chen Ye handed over fifty Spirit Stones.
The stall owner accepted the Spirit Stones, gave them a quick count, and handed over a palm-sized Spirit Gathering Array Plate and a beast skin scroll to Chen Ye.
"This is the method for setting up and maintaining the Array Plate," the stall owner rasped, handing him the plate.
Chen Ye received the Array Plate and scroll, finding them somewhat heavy in his hands. The surface of the Array Plate was adorned with ancient and mysterious runes, faintly flowing with spiritual light.
He put both items into his Storage Bag, feeling slightly reassured.
Hee Qi, observing the transaction, smiled and said, "With this treasure, your future cultivation will surely advance by leaps and bounds!"
Chen Ye cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for the guidance, Brother Hee. Without you, I might have missed such an opportunity today."
His words were not entirely polite; without Hee Qi’s encouragement, he might not have dared to make such a decision.
The two of them wandered around the Ghost Market a while longer. Chen Ye, having achieved the main purpose of his trip, had no interest in other stalls.
Hee Qi, picking and choosing, also bought a considerable number of resources.
Hee Qi, clearly in a good mood, said, "Ha! Thanks to you, Brother Chen, for accompanying me. It’s truly boring to go out alone."
These words...
Sounded like those students in past life who wouldn’t go to the bathroom alone.
Afterwards,
Chen Ye and Hee Qi left the abandoned old warehouse together.
On the street, there were still few pedestrians, as the oppressive atmosphere from the Celestial Tribulation hadn’t fully dissipated.
After parting ways with Hee Qi, Chen Ye did not head straight home but quietly approached the vicinity of the West Gate of the Market.
He wanted to see if there was any further action from the Jade Lizard Association and the Lingyin Sect after the fire at Kong Hongxuan’s residence.
But the western district remained chaotic.
The ruins of the residence had not been cleaned, with only a few loose cultivators scavenging through the debris.
Chen Ye sighed in relief and quickened his pace, eager to return home.
However, just as he reached the mouth of Shunshui Street, a fierce fluctuation of Spiritual Power accompanied by screams and cries erupted from the depths of the street!
"Not good!"
Chen Ye’s face changed dramatically, his figure transforming into a blurred shadow racing towards his small courtyard!
Shunshui Street, usually a clean and tidy long street, had now fallen into chaos.
Three massive demon beasts resembling giant wolves but clad in ice-blue armor were rampaging down the street.
They spewed chilling cold air from their mouths, freezing the stone-paved road with a thick layer of ice where they passed, even frosting the walls of the buildings on either side.
A few unfortunate loose cultivators, unable to dodge in time, were hit by the cold air and instantly turned into ice sculptures, capturing their terrified expressions before shattering into ice chunks on the ground.
"It’s the Ice Armor Wolf! Damn it! How did such a demon beast appear on Shunshui Street?!" a cultivator exclaimed in terror, his voice trembling.
This demon beast was at the Middle Period of Qi Cultivation!
While the loose cultivators on Shunshui Street were mostly at the Early or Middle Period of Qi Cultivation!
On the street, more than a dozen cultivators formed a battle array, desperately resisting the onslaught of the Ice Armor Wolves.
Magic Spiritual Light and the demon beasts’ razor-sharp claws and cold breath clashed continuously, producing deafening booming sounds.
But the Ice Armor Wolves had formidable defenses, and ordinary First Tier magic could only spark against their ice-blue armor.
This could hardly cause any effective damage.
Instead, it incited the Ice Armor Wolves, making their attacks even more ferocious.
"Brother Chen!"
Amidst the chaos, a burly figure stood out. It was the Dark Old Man!
Wielding a Mountain-Cutting Saber, his body surged with qi and blood, holding the front line, each swing of the saber striking the Ice Armor Wolf and emitting a muffled metallic clang.
Beside him were a few familiar body-cultivating loose cultivators, working together to restrain an Ice Armor Wolf.
On the other side, Xue Chengjun wielded the Red Flood Dragon Spear, struggling to maneuver around another Ice Armor Wolf with other loose cultivators.
But his cultivation was only at the Fourth-Layer of Qi Cultivation, struggling against the Ice Armor Wolf, placing him in constant jeopardy.
Lin Qiongyu, hiding a little further away, clenched a few talismans in her hand, intermittently casting Fireball or Ice Cone Techniques for interference, her face pale, clearly frightened.
Chen Ye’s heart leapt into his throat!
His small courtyard was not far away!
There was no time for more thought; his Spiritual Power surged within him, and Limit Break grade Geng Metal Qi instantly gathered at his fingertips!
"Whoosh! Whoosh!"
Two beams of golden qiblade, honed to the utmost, shot out with a sharp whistling sound.
Like two golden lightning bolts, they darted with precision towards the eyes of the Ice Armor Wolf entangled with Li Dageng!
The Ice Armor Wolf had strong defenses, but its eyes were still its weak point!