"Chen Che?"
Soone spoke in a low voice, "The one from Jinyun Valley?"
"That’s right!"
The Black Smoke Cultivator nodded.
So remained silent, so were lost in thought, so hesitated, and so were tempted.
Chen Che narrowed his eyes, his Divine Sense sweeping over the other man, only to be blocked by the layer of black mist. It wasn’t that the mist was particularly mystical; rather, forcibly penetrating it would surely alert him!
Such an act was a major taboo.
Anyone who dared to use their Divine Sense to forcefully probe another’s identity would be ganged up on by everyone present.
"That Jingfeng chose its master on its own. Even if you were to seize it, I’m afraid you wouldn’t be able to control it!"
Giving the man a cool glance, ng Changtu’s eyelids drooped as he said,
"What would be the use?"
Any Cultivator with so knowledge of Beast Taming knew that a Demon Beast that chose its own master would only recognize that one master for its entire life.
So of the more resolute Demon Beasts would even commit suicide alongside their masters.
"You need not worry about that, fellow Daoist. I have my own thods."
The Black Smoke Cultivator’s tone was curt. He then looked around and asked,
"Are there any takers?"
"I..."
Just as a Cultivator wearing a Fire Pattern Mask was about to speak...
At that mont, ng Changtu shot the man a subtle glance from the corner of his eye and sneered,
"This young man is not only a Tributor of Jinyun Valley, but also a son-in-law of the ng Family... This single Spirit Ring Fruit probably isn’t enough. Offending two Foundation Establishnt Influences for one Tier Two Middle Grade Spirit Fruit—that’s not a good deal!"
The hall fell silent.
Those who had been hesitating now closed their eyes.
Those who had been tempted now began to waver.
Chen Che glanced at the Fire Pattern Cultivator, who had already shut his mouth.
"A ng Family son-in-law?"
The Black Smoke Cultivator frowned, seemingly in disbelief. "Is that true?"
"During ng Changtu’s birthday celebration, I saw the two of them talking for half the night. Their relationship is clearly not a simple one."
ng Changtu chuckled, clearly intending to muddy the waters. "If you can produce a Tier Two High Grade item, then I’d be on board. A Tier Two Middle Grade is simply too low. Heheheh..."
Many of the Major Cultivators nodded in silent agreent.
That price point was more reasonable.
"Forget it!"
Just as the Black Smoke Cultivator was about to retract the Spirit Ring Fruit and ng Changtu was quietly sighing in relief, Chen Che suddenly spoke up:
"If I were to capture Jingfeng, how would I deliver it to you?"
’Soone is targeting my Demon Pet. Naturally, I want to find out who they are.’
’Although ng Changtu has already muddied the waters, if this person refuses to give up and keeps raising the offer, soone is bound to be tempted. The safest way is to accept the task myself, then follow the clues to unmask them!’
"Simple."
The Black Smoke Cultivator chuckled softly and tossed sothing over.
"This is a Communication Incense. After you light it, I’ll be able to see it from anywhere in Yunzhou and arrive within seven days. I’ll give you the Spirit Ring Fruit then."
"A deposit!"
Chen Che narrowed his eyes. "What if I capture Jingfeng, and you go back on your word and don’t show up?"
The Black Smoke Cultivator pondered for a mont, as if considering it, before finally taking out a small, chicken-heart-sized peach and tossing it over.
"This is a Tier Two Low Grade Jade Peach Fruit. It has the effect of Purification and Marrow Cleansing and enhances one’s Qi and Blood. This will serve as the deposit."
"Deal!"
Chen Che gave a slight nod.
With both parties in agreent, the exchange was considered settled, and the Black Smoke Cultivator rose and left.
Imdiately after, another Cultivator took out an item and began to introduce it. Chen Che was about to get up, but ng Changtu was faster. He had already stood up and walked out of the hall, sending a voice transmission as he went:
"Wait here for . I’m going after him!"
After a mont’s thought, Chen Che also followed him out of the hall.
However, only a few breaths had passed, but there was no sign of either of them.
The Mortal World’s small town was bustling with people coming and going.
At this mont, it seed to be the ti of a temple fair, and the place was a sea of people, with the sound of gongs and drums filling the air.
Thirty-two bare-chested n with red cloths tied around their heads carried a massive shrine on their shoulders. Countless townspeople wore masks and held up burning incense, and the pervasive mortal aura was enough to obscure one’s vision, as well as the auras of Cultivators.
’No wonder the exchange et was held here!’
Chen Che’s eyes narrowed slightly.
’If anything unexpected happens during the exchange, the Cultivators can hide in the town or use the temple fair to slip away unnoticed.’
As he considered this, his Divine Sense surged outwards like a tide, sweeping in all directions.
The Jade Peach Fruit and Communication Incense he had received both carried the other party’s aura. As long as the Black Smoke Cultivator was still hiding in the town, he wouldn’t be able to escape his tracking.
The town was only a few li in circumference.
A Foundation Establishnt First Layer cultivator’s Divine Sense could only cover a radius of ten zhang. But at the Foundation Establishnt Eighth Layer, it was enough to cover a radius of 1,500 zhang, which was equivalent to a ten-li radius. In the blink of an eye, the entire town was enveloped within it.
BOOM!
In an instant, a complete image of the entire town appeared in Chen Che’s sea of consciousness.
The intersecting streets, the bustling crowds, the corners of the alleyways...
Under his Divine Sense, there were almost no secrets to be found.
He even saw ng Changtu standing at the edge of town, searching for the Black Smoke Cultivator.
’Even ng Changtu couldn’t catch up to him. Did he really get away?’
"Huh?"
Just as Chen Che was about to retract his Divine Sense, he suddenly spotted a black-clothed figure erging from a corner. The person had changed clothes and was wearing a bamboo hat, looking like a wandering martial artist. He was weaving through the crowd, stealthily making his way out of town.
But the mont Chen Che spotted him, a tyrannical and domineering Divine Sense erupted from the figure’s body, sweeping towards him like a monstrous tide.
’It’s him!’
Chen Che imdiately recognized this Divine Sense and, without the slightest hesitation, t it head-on.
The two imnse Divine Senses collided with a BANG.
"BOOM!"
This sound didn’t originate from the physical world but echoed through the void of spiritual space.
CRASH!
The clashing Divine Senses gave no quarter. The strong force transford into invisible ripples that blasted outwards. In an instant, all the surrounding trees, houses, and streets were torn to shreds. An area several zhang in radius around the point of impact looked as if it had been ravaged by a storm.
’What powerful Divine Sense!’
Chen Che took several steps back.
However, by the ti Chen Che’s Divine Sense swept out once more, the figure was already gone, leaving only a pool of blood on the ground.
’This person actually has two auras... could it be?’
Although the exchange had only lasted an instant, Chen Che sensed that the Divine Sense hadn’t originated from the person himself, but from an item he was carrying.
’I never thought he’d be hiding a Yin Soul on him!’
The physical body is a Cross-Sea Raft.
Without a physical body, the Divine Soul is exposed to the world and will dissipate within a few days.
If one’s Cultivation is powerful enough, they can last relatively longer.
However, the Cultivation World has nurous Secret Techniques. Possession, body-snatching, and becoming a Ghost Cultivator can extend one’s existence, or even defy fate itself.
’Could it be that the Yin Soul he’s carrying has targeted ?’
A flicker of understanding crossed Chen Che’s eyes.
But it didn’t matter. In that brief mont of collision, he had already placed an extrely subtle Divine Sense Mark on the other person. As long as they appeared within a hundred zhang of him, he would imdiately be able to sense them.
...
"What’s going on?"
"Such powerful Divine Sense!"
When Chen Che’s Divine Sense erupted and enveloped the town, every Cultivator from the exchange et stared wide-eyed. With their level of Cultivation, they could feel that Divine Sense covering everything, blanketing the town like an inescapable net.
However, before they could even react, the collision of two Divine Senses left them all horrified.
SWOOSH!
SWOOSH!
The Cultivators closest to the door quickly flashed outside.
Within a few breaths, over a hundred Major Cultivators were all standing outside the courtyard with unsettled expressions, their eyes under their masks looking out at the street with confusion, vigilance, or alertness.
anwhile, the epicenter of the explosion was in complete chaos.
The clamor of the townspeople rose and fell, so even mistaking the event they had just witnessed for a divine miracle.
Just then, ng Changtu returned with a grim expression. Seeing Chen Che standing at the entrance, he didn’t say much, only gesturing with his head.
"Let’s go!"
Chen Che glanced at the spot where the Black Smoke Cultivator had left, then at the Major Cultivators outside the courtyard. As his gaze swept over the Fire Pattern Cultivator, he planted a Divine Sense Mark on him as well before following ng Changtu out of the town.
Just as they were leaving, the other Major Cultivators also turned and departed.
"That person just now was skilled at concealing his tracks. I couldn’t catch up," ng Changtu explained. "While I was searching, I also sensed two Foundation Establishnt Great Cultivators fighting. And with the temple fair going on, searching for him was as difficult as ascending to heaven! It’s best we leave first, lest we get caught up in their conflict..."
Great Cultivators!
Only those at the Late-stage Foundation Establishnt were worthy of such a title.
The corner of Chen Che’s mouth twitched, but he said nothing.
"Your Jingfeng is a raptor-type Demon Beast, a Great Demon that can reach Foundation Establishnt in the future, so it’s normal for it to be targeted. Only trash isn’t coveted. But you don’t need to worry. The other party wouldn’t dare to offend both the ng Family and Jinyun Valley at the sa ti!"
ng Changtu clasped his hands behind his back, pondered for a mont, and asked,
"Any idea who it was?"
"No!" Chen Che shook his head.
"It doesn’t matter if you can’t guess. The martial world is a battlefield of fa, profit, and death. So actions require a just cause, but others don’t. Even re suspicion is enough to make a move! We cultivators are not bound by mortal ethics. When sothing needs to be done, you do it. There’s no need to be ambiguous..."
ng Changtu said slowly.
Chen Che nodded slightly, his mind replaying the earlier exchange et.
’This trip wasn’t a loss. Not only did I gain a Jade Peach Fruit, but I also found out soone is targeting . I even planted a Divine Sense Mark on them, so I can be prepared in advance.’
Seeing that Chen Che’s breathing was steady and his steps were firm, showing no sign of panic or nervousness despite being targeted by a Foundation Establishnt Cultivator, ng Changtu felt increasingly satisfied.
ng Changtu held out a large hand.
"Give half of the Communication Incense!"
"?"
Chen Che was confused.
ng Changtu sneered.
"My own son-in-law is being targeted. As his father-in-law, I can’t just stand by and do nothing!"
...
"Literary Master, are you alright?"
In the wilderness, a figure was hidden in a secluded cave.
It was Sun Hao.
He was kneeling on both knees, and from a Jade Pendant in his palm, a hazy figure floated.
Looking closely, the figure was revealed to be an old man with an imperious face.
"I’m fine. The opponent’s Divine Sense was too powerful; it nearly scattered my Soul in an instant," the old man’s remnant soul said resentfully. "If I had even one-tenth of my peak Cultivation, why would I fear a re Foundation Establishnt Great Cultivator like that!"
Sun Hao hesitated for a mont before asking,
"You were once a Golden Core True Master and a Tier Three Beast Tar. Why are you so obsessed with Chen Che’s Great Demon? Not only will this offend two great Foundation Establishnt Influences, but now you’ve provoked an unknown Foundation Establishnt Great Cultivator and even gotten yourself injured..."
"You fool, what do you know?"
The remnant soul called Literary Master flew into a rage upon hearing this. "That’s actually a Tier Four Xuan Peng! Its bloodline can be traced back to the Ancient Divine Bird Golden-Winged Roc! I went through untold hardships to steal it when I was alive!"
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