The muddy ground bore two sets of paw prints, both resembling canine-like plum blossom patterns.
However, these two sets of footprints differed greatly in size, and their stride lengths were completely different.
The smaller set of prints was clearly left by some four-legged creature, similar to a running wolfhound; while the large footprints beside them, with their enormous stride length and stable form, carried an extraordinary aura—more like marks left by some tall demi-human capable of walking upright.
According to Chen Yu's speculation, this type of demi-human was most likely an indigenous creature of Zeyarila.
"The footprints are clear... they probably passed by this morning, going to investigate last night's unusual activity in the forest?"
Thinking this, Chen Yu felt a faint excitement, like a castaway stranded on a deserted island for years suddenly spotting unfamiliar footprints on the beach, his heart swelling with the joy of impending contact with civilization.
However, he didn't let his guard down because of this.
After all, he was currently just a slime—even if they were actual humans, they might not harbor goodwill toward this writhing, amorphous magical creature, let alone when the footprint-leavers were mysterious demi-human outsiders of unknown identity and unpredictable forms.
But since demi-humans existed, the world outside the swamp forest might be even more bustling than he imagined.
He really wanted to go out and see.
He also wondered what lay beyond the swamp forest—were there delicious magical creatures...
Chen Yu indulged in wild fancies for a while before collecting his thoughts.
He was still too weak now, unable to even defeat the Poison-stinger Wasps blocking his doorstep, let alone venture outside.
As for the demi-humans, he didn't need to worry too much; slimes like him were common in this swamp forest. As long as he didn't recklessly reveal his intelligence, these demi-human outsiders would hardly take interest in him.
After all, weak magical creatures like slimes could be crushed underfoot—no one would care.
He quietly half-submerged in the swamp like this, not even hunting Moss Monsters anymore, waiting for the demi-humans who had ventured deep into the forest to return, preparing to catch a glimpse of these unfamiliar neighbors' true appearance.
Unfortunately, Chen Yu waited until afternoon without seeing anyone return, though the Poison-stinger Wasps overhead were quite annoying—whenever they saw him floating on the water's surface, they would attack, clearly treating him as an enemy.
He ultimately felt somewhat bored, so after secretly taking a few poison stingers from his good neighbors the Poison-stinger Wasps, he submerged back to his nest to rest.
Xu Xuan Heaven.
Chen Yu got up from the wooden bed, ate lunch, and filled his rumbling stomach.
Threads of warmth carrying grain spiritual energy flowed into his dantian, making him squint comfortably.
After Devour Digestion upgraded to Lv.2, his appetite had grown larger than before, and his cultivation speed had also increased.
He didn't know if this counted as a good thing.
Never mind.
Being able to eat is a blessing.
Actually, staying in the Enforcement Hall's confinement room for a while wouldn't be bad either—someone would even provide meals...
Chen Yu hung the Red Sandalwood Sword on his back, pushed open the thatched hut door, felt the bulging pouch at his chest, and headed toward North Peak.
He planned to visit the South Bridge Market to browse stalls selling Dao techniques.
Object Manipulation's range was too small, completely unable to reach the Poison-stinger Wasps—he needed a Dao technique specifically effective against them.
A quarter-hour later, Chen Yu passed through the South Bridge Market's Bridge Gate, and unlike the Emerald Bamboo Forest's tranquility, bustling noise surged from all directions.
He wandered around like this, picking up items that caught his eye to ask prices, meandering until he arrived at the stall where he had purchased Object Manipulation last time.
"Yo, junior brother, looking to exchange some Dao vouchers?"
Behind the stall, the cultivator with two mouse-whisker mustaches instinctively rubbed his hands together upon seeing business arrive. His face had high cheekbones and narrow, long eye slits, naturally giving him a mean appearance.
He seemed sharp-tongued and mean-spirited, and reality matched this perfectly.
Last time when buying that "Object Manipulation Technique" scroll from him, Chen Yu had to bargain for half a day before he finally agreed to lower the price—he could go from discussing the quality of spirit stones available for purchase from the sect all the way to his tragic childhood stories of his mother dying when he was three and being chased by wild dogs at five.
Quite a character.
But the Dao techniques he sold were all items scavenged from outside. Although they were junk, they were genuinely cheap.
Not only easy to learn, but also powerful enough—more than sufficient for dealing with Poison-stinger Wasps.
"Forget Dao vouchers, I came to see what Dao techniques you have," he said.
The so-called Dao vouchers were actually contribution points circulating within the Three Origins Sect, only obtainable by accepting sect missions or holding sect positions.
Within the sect, they held equivalent value to spirit stones, and when trading with fellow sect disciples, almost one spirit stone could exchange for one Dao voucher, useful for many purposes like exchanging for precious techniques from the scripture pavilion or expensive pills from the alchemy tower.
Disciples like Chen Yu who stayed in the sect idling away, without ambition, naturally didn't have a single Dao voucher.
Of course, he didn't need particularly expensive techniques or Dao methods either.
"Hiss... such a familiar voice."
The mouse-whisker cultivator found Chen Yu's voice instantly familiar, leaned closer to squint at him, then immediately changed expression, waving his hand in a shooing motion.
"Why is it you again, kid? Last time you even bargained over a two-spirit-stone Object Manipulation technique. Go away, go away, I'm not selling to you."
Chen Yu took out the pouch from his chest and tossed it, "What a pity then, I was actually thinking I wouldn't bargain this time."
"Eh?" The mouse-whisker cultivator showed a surprised, doubtful expression, "You're not trying to fool me with stones, are you?"
"Senior brother, Three Origins Sect disciples don't deceive Three Origins Sect disciples."
"Tch."
The mouse-whisker cultivator shook his head disdainfully—he scoffed at Chen Yu's words, but the spirit stones in that pouch made his heart itch.
"Fine, what do you want to buy this time?"
"To be honest, there are poisonous wasps nesting in my backyard, and I'm thinking of ways to eliminate them, but they're too high up—I can't reach them."
The mouse-whisker cultivator tutted in amazement, recalling nostalgically, "Modern cultivators are so pampered, can't even climb trees. When I was three, I could already climb trees to steal bird eggs, at four I walked dozens of kilometers to study with the mountain teacher..."
Seeing him about to ramble endlessly again, Chen Yu interrupted:
"Senior brother, you're a merchant, not a storyteller at the Delicacy Pavilion. Be professional."
He snorted, "Just expressing feelings, that's all. If you don't want to listen, I'm not even willing to talk."
The man bent down to rummage in the bamboo-woven box for a while, finally handing out a tattered book.
Chen Yu took it and looked, "Water Arrow Technique?"
"Isn't this a technique for later-stage cultivators?"
The mouse-whisker cultivator cleared his throat, "Correct, so this is Water Arrow Technique's son, Little Arrow Technique."
"Dao techniques can reproduce?"
"Not exactly, it's just that this Little Arrow Technique was accidentally developed by an early-stage cultivator, who secretly sold it to me for eight spirit stones."
"Although its power is reduced by ninety percent compared to Water Arrow Technique, the attack range remains unchanged. Cultivated to mastery, forget wasp nests in trees—you could even pick out earthworms from the soil one by one."
"Since junior brother is a familiar customer, I'll sell it to you for nine spirit stones."
Chen Yu certainly didn't believe his nonsense, but honestly, nine spirit stones wasn't expensive for a Dao technique.
"Here, for you."
He promptly poured out nine spirit stones—this time truly without bargaining.
The mouse-whisker cultivator collected the spirit stones and counted them, his gaze turning suspicious—Chen Yu's quick agreement actually made him uneasy.
"Has the sun risen from the west?"
"Junior brother, are you okay?"
Chen Yu pointed at his bamboo-woven treasure box.
"I haven't finished speaking yet."
"Do you remember the Lost Trail Formation Diagram and Sound Transmission Technique you mentioned last time? Give me those two for free with this purchase."
"Lost Trail Formation Diagram? Sound Transmission Technique?"
"Easy, easy."
The mouse-whisker cultivator grinned from ear to ear—these two junk items could fetch two or three spirit stones at most; even giving them away free, he'd still make a good profit.
First, the Lost Trail Formation Diagram was just an unranked formation—any cultivator with basic formation knowledge could easily break it.
The so-called Sound Transmission Technique even required physical contact to be effective. While useful in certain situations, it was also common junk in the cultivation world.
The man, afraid Chen Yu might regret it, quickly bent down to take out the formation diagram and book, patted off the dust on them, and handed them to him.
He still couldn't help muttering:
"What do you need the Lost Trail Formation Diagram for, kid? Guarding against wild boars?"
"What if I encounter a cultivator who doesn't understand formations?"
The mouse-whisker cultivator sat back in his chair, leisurely fanning himself.
"A cultivator who doesn't understand formations? That's probably rarer than the Hundred Treasure Scorpion in Ten Thousand Poison Cave. These days it's too competitive—even rogue cultivators from the countryside know some basic formations."
"Tsk tsk tsk... if they don't understand formations, you'll have quite the search ahead of you."
Chen Yu placed the formation diagram and book inside his chest pocket for safekeeping. He originally wanted to ask some questions about cultivating Dao techniques, but suddenly sensed something and decisively turned to leave hurriedly.
"I have matters to attend to, leaving now."
With that, he disappeared into the crowd.
Wait.
This kid ran off so fast—could the spirit stones he gave be fake?
The mouse-whisker cultivator suddenly realized with a start, hurriedly putting one in his mouth to bite, feeling the threads of pure spiritual energy within. After confirming they were genuine, he finally relaxed.