Immortality begins with raising apprentices

Chapter 173 Explanation (Thanks to the Alliance Leader "Looking Back and Sighing"! Day 1 of 10,000 words)

If it were normal,

The two disciples would not be so shocked as to be dumbfounded.

But today, after searching for their master all day, they found him sharing a room with a strange little girl!
Zhiwei couldn't help but look the girl up and down.

Judging from his age, he should be older than her and Qingjun, having just come of age.

Her appearance is almost flawless.

He seemed to be unwell, sitting in a wheelchair with a blank expression and a vacant look, especially his pupils, which appeared empty.

Could it be...

Is he a mentally challenged idiot?

Master, are you bullying an idiot?

"Zhiwei, Qingjun? Do you need to see Master?"

Chen Ye was very serious, but at the same time, he didn't forget to place his fingers on Lin Jin's meridians and examine them carefully.

After what just happened, how could this poor little girl dare to have the slightest resistance?

She simply lowered her eyes, letting Chen Ye touch her wrist.

"crunch..."

Qingjun puffed out her fair and tender little face, her teeth clenching so hard they made a crunching sound.

They're already here, so why does Master treat them like they don't exist and keep touching other girls?
"Not bad... It seems that most of the coldness in the meridians has dissipated."

Chen Ye nodded in satisfaction. After the treatment, Lin Jin had regained some of her mobility; otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to kick him.

However, this child seems to be quite withdrawn.
Chen Ye had repeatedly emphasized beforehand that it was to treat her leg.

Afterwards, Lin Jin's legs successfully regained their mobility.

But she seemed oblivious, still resisting...

What an eccentric personality!
If he had known this would happen, he wouldn't have come alone. Having Lin Jin's family around might have helped calm the girl down.

Chen Ye was somewhat annoyed.

The problem is, since he's already here, he can't just turn around and leave because Lin Jin has an odd personality, can he?

His time is extremely precious right now!
As for Lin Jin's father, although he was also in this courtyard at the time.

But if Lin Jinghua were watching from the side... Lin Jin's mood would probably be even more unstable.

After all, Lin Qiongyu had said that her younger sister was very resistant to everyone, even their father, let alone Lin Jinghua, who was a grown man.

Chen Ye shook his head, no longer feeling regretful.

She's just a young girl after all. He doesn't need to be too troubled by her feelings. He just needs to have a clear conscience.

Chen Ye released his grip, then looked up at his two petrified disciples at the door and Lin Qiongyu, who looked completely bewildered.

His face showed no sign of panic, and his smile was gentle, as if the awkward scene before him had nothing to do with him.

"Everyone is here?"

He stood up, brushed off non-existent dust from his robes, and said in a calm tone,

"You've come at the perfect time, it saves me from having to make another trip."

He first looked at Lin Qiongyu and instructed, "The cold ailment in your sister's body is more troublesome than I imagined. I just used my unique technique to clear the meridians in her legs and temporarily saved her life. But if you want to cure her completely, you need to take her back to the inner valley for careful treatment. You take your sister to the inner room to pack her things first, and then come back with me later."

Lin Qiongyu was stunned by his words and nodded subconsciously.

Before they even had time to think, they were intimidated by Chen Ye's matter-of-fact tone and mechanically followed his orders.

He turned around, pushed his younger sister, and walked towards the inner room.

Then, Chen Ye's gaze fell on his two apprentices who were still frozen at the door, one trembling with anger and the other with an icy expression.

These two young apprentices... are going to be a problem.

After all, a girl's heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea.

Even if Chen Ye is in the right, he can't explain himself.

Instead of explaining, he slowly walked up to them, squatted down, and reached out his hand, wanting to pat their little heads as he always did.

"Do not touch me!"

Qingjun wrinkled her delicate nose and stared intently at her master's hands.

snort!
He touched other girls, and now he wants to touch me!

The little girl grew angrier the more she thought about it. She put her hands on her hips and angrily accused him:

"Master is a big bad guy! A big liar!"

"Didn't you say the two of us would be enough? You lied! You treacherous, untrustworthy bastard!!"

Zhiwei also looked extremely hurt.

Today, Master didn't care whether they were hungry or angry, and didn't even glance at them.

He disappeared for a whole day, only to find out he was with another girl!
"Master."

She called softly, her voice eerily calm.
“You once taught us that spiritual practice begins with cultivating the mind. If the mind is not sincere, there will surely be obstacles on the path. But why... would Master deceive us? Then... is Master's heart sincere?”

Chen Ye pointed blankly at himself.

What did he do?
OK……

These two disobedient little dumplings actually dare to interfere with their teacher's love life!
Besides, I didn't do anything, this is such a misunderstanding!
This is absolutely outrageous!

Scholars can endure it, but who can’t?

Chen Ye grew angrier the more he thought about it. He curled his fingers and, without any mercy, tapped each of the two smooth, plump little heads once!
"Boom!" "Boom!"

"Ouch!" "Ugh..."

The two little girls winced in pain and instinctively covered their heads, their accusing eyes instantly turning into tearful grievances.

"Master, you're so mean!"

The little girl was very angry that her master had hit her because of other little girls!
As she spoke, she took off running, intending to run away from home.

Unexpectedly, his master grabbed him by the back of the neck.

Chen Ye glared at the two little girls and said righteously:

"I ask you! I've worked so hard, recruiting people and treating illnesses, for whom? Huh? Isn't it all for you two ungrateful little brats! If I don't manage this Linsong Valley well, and the sect blames us a month from now, are the three of us going to starve?!"

“I’ll ask you again! That Lin family sister, her younger sister is seriously ill, and her whole family is tending to the spiritual plants for Master. Isn’t it only natural for Master to lend a helping hand? Isn’t she setting a good example for you two disciples of being helpful?!”

His righteous and stern rebuke left the two girls stunned, and they forgot to cry.

Master, you secretly met with the little girl just to heal her wounds?

It seems... it seems to make a lot of sense?
For a moment, even that little head couldn't quite grasp it.

Although……

I feel wronged, precisely because I care.

They had been looking forward to it all day, how would Master comfort them...?

If Master is really busy, or has other things to do.

Both girls understood their master and had even planned how to reward him.

But ironically, he was spending time with other girls.

But now, they realize they've misunderstood?
Master is simply healing others—regardless of whether they are girls or boys, Master will still heal them.

Just then, the wooden door to the dimly lit inner room creaked open.

Lin Qiongyu was so dazed that she could barely stand. She grabbed the wall and walked out.

Just now, when she went into the inner room, she secretly checked on her younger sister and was surprised to find that her sister's leg had actually healed!

Lin Qiongyu's face was still streaked with tears of joy, but her beautiful eyes shone with a light that was almost ecstatic.

She didn't look at the two bewildered girls, but walked straight to Chen Ye, knelt down again with a "plop," and kowtowed deeply to him.

"Deacon Chen! Your...your immense kindness and virtue, Qiongyu...Qiongyu and her family will never forget!"

She looked up, her pretty face, streaked with tears, filled with excitement.
"My sister...my sister's legs...she really...she can move them again!"

!

The two girls were completely dumbfounded.

They all lowered their heads in unison, feeling extremely guilty.

As expected, they had misunderstood their master!
It turns out, he really was treating and saving lives!
"I...I..." Qingjun's small mouth opened and closed repeatedly, but she couldn't utter a single word.

Zhiwei could no longer hold back her emotions; her eyes darted away, daring not to look at her master.

Seeing their expressions, Chen Ye immediately took the initiative and became the host!
Feigning grievance, she sighed deeply and said with a heavy heart:

"Alas... I, your teacher, have worked so hard, toiling away outside, and even when I was injured, I didn't tell you, afraid you would worry. I meant well, treating the sick and saving lives, yet you treat me like a villain, like a liar..."

Qingjun was easy to talk to, but she became increasingly guilty and kept rubbing her toes.

How could Wei possibly bear the grievances inflicted by her master?

"Master... I'm sorry! Don't be sad, it's all Zhiwei's fault!"

The older girl disregarded everything else and immediately threw herself into Chen Ye's arms, hugging him tightly.

"OK OK."

Chen Ye breathed a sigh of relief, rubbed her little head, and suddenly grinned mischievously.
"But don't misunderstand your master so easily in the future. But is one mistake enough? Unless..."

"Unless what?" the two girls asked in unison.

"unless……"

Chen Ye stroked his chin, pushing his luck further.
"Unless, you two serve your master well today! Your master has been exhausted all day... massage his shoulders and legs, serve him tea and water, until your master is satisfied!"

……

That's all.

The large group returned to the inner valley.

As for Lin Qiongyu, she pushed her sister's wheelchair and took her to the new home.

After all, Lin Jin's legs were still cold and needed time to adjust, so she couldn't walk on her own yet.

The further Lin Qiongyu went, the more shocked she became.

The spiritual energy within the valley was so dense it was almost tangible; simply breathing it made her feel refreshed and invigorated.

The roadside was covered with exotic flowers and rare herbs, all of them spiritual plants, making the environment far better than that of the outer valley.

"Did you see it today?" Lin Qiongyu said softly, "We...we have a new home. And your leg is healed too..."

She pushed her wheelchair until she finally stopped in front of a secluded and elegant courtyard surrounded by bamboo groves.

The girl in the wheelchair, who had remained silent, showed a barely perceptible tremor in her eyes.

Uncontrollably, the events that had just occurred in that dimly lit little room resurfaced in her mind.

Actually... he made it very clear from the beginning that he was treating his own leg.

She simply had preconceived notions and assumed he was one of those wicked people who coveted her sister's beauty and harbored ill intentions.

Taking off her skirt was only for the purpose of treatment...

Lin Jin looked down at her slender legs and, for the first time, felt a mix of emotions.

……

"Master..."

A pair of fair, delicate hands gently rested on his shoulders, kneading them with just the right amount of pressure.

Chen Ye turned around and saw Qing Jun standing behind him, her little face full of a sweet smile, earnestly massaging his shoulders.

"Master, you've worked so hard today!" The little girl's voice was as sweet as honey. "Qingjun will give you a back massage and a shoulder rub to relieve your fatigue!"

Chen Ye wouldn't forgive a girl even when he was in the wrong, let alone when he was in the right.
He immediately put on a stern face and said, "Hmph! Didn't you eat enough? Push harder!"

"Goo!"

The little girl puffed out her cheeks, but there was nothing she could do. She could only turn her face red and massage her master with all her might.

Meanwhile, the eldest disciple had already lit the red clay stove and brewed a pot of spiritual tea.

Holding a teacup, she took small, steady steps and walked up to Chen Ye, handing him a steaming cup of tea.

Respectfully:
"Master, please have some tea."

"But Master is too lazy to move, what should we do?" Chen Ye leaned lazily against the little girl behind him.

There's nothing we can do about it; this chair is just a stone bench with no backrest.
I must say, Qingjun is really soft and gentle, fragrant and sweet as a backrest!

"Woo!"

The little girl let out a mournful cry, not daring to utter a single breath.

Like a punching bag, she let her master lean on her, while her little hands laboriously massaged him.

"Lazy...too lazy to move?"

Zhiwei's hand trembled slightly as she saw her master looking at her with amusement.

Wouldn't this mean I have to personally feed my master tea?
She didn't dare look at him, but lowered her head and carefully, with her slightly trembling little hand, brought the cup of perfectly heated spiritual tea to Chen Ye's lips.

"Master... Master, please... please have some tea."

Chen Ye chuckled inwardly, but his face remained as if it were perfectly natural.

He lowered his head and, using his disciple's small hand, drank the cup of spiritual tea in one gulp.

The warm tea glides smoothly down your throat.

Yes, it's excellent tea, probably a spiritual tea grown in the original valley of Lin Song Valley.

"Hmm, the tea is good."

Chen Ye nodded in satisfaction, and then his gaze, which was now daring to take advantage of the situation, fell on the untouched osmanthus cake on the table.

He reached out and pulled his still shy eldest apprentice over, making her sit on his lap.

"Master!"

Zhiwei panicked again, her small body stiffening abruptly in Chen Ye's arms.

Chen Ye was completely satisfied.

He had his eldest disciple in his arms and his youngest disciple behind him.

This master can finally enjoy the double filial piety of his disciple.

"Just drinking tea won't fill you up."

Chen Ye ignored her protests, pointed to the plate of osmanthus cake, and said, "Continue."

Should I feed Master some snacks?

She was still being fed in her master's arms...

Zhiwei rarely pursed her lips, but it wasn't because she felt wronged while serving her master.

Instead, they felt aggrieved by the way they were served.

Why?

She always wanted to take care of her master in every way, but... it was definitely not about taking care of her master in his arms!
It's more like her master is in her arms...

But now, what reason does she have to object?

Having finally calmed down the two jealous girls, Chen Ye enjoyed this rare imperial treatment, and the fatigue he had felt from his busy schedule had long since vanished.

Having disciples surrounding you at your knees—there is no greater happiness in life than this.

He ate the last bite of osmanthus cake that Zhiwei handed him with satisfaction, then kissed her blushing face before finally putting her down contentedly.

"Alright, alright, let's call it a day. You two little ones must be tired after a long day, go back and rest early."

The two girls, feeling as if they had been granted a pardon, quickly slipped away from him and fled back to their rooms.

Watching their adorable backs, Chen Ye's smile deepened.

……

In the days that followed, Rinshōdani officially got on track.

With thirty experienced herbalists and two dedicated foremen, Li Dagen and Lin Jinghua, the restoration of the herb garden proceeded smoothly.

Chen Ye only needs to use his miraculous Limit-Breaking Cloud and Rain Technique at crucial moments each day to revive those withered spiritual plants at a speed visible to the naked eye.

He himself devoted more of his energy to spiritual practice.

He first spent several days practicing the Azure Wave Sword Control Technique again with the second-tier flying light sword until he was completely proficient. Its power was incomparable to before.

After that, he studied the swordsmanship insights given to him by Li Yanfeng day and night.

The proficiency of the Azure Wave Sword Control Technique increased rapidly!

Six days later.

[Qinglan Sword Control Technique Mastery: 165/200]

"The Great Completion corresponds to the Fourth Layer, Overturning the Sea; the Perfection corresponds to the Fifth Layer, Thunderclap."

"The remaining two levels of the Azure Wave Sword Control Technique are all deductions of sword intent, which have long exceeded the scope of a first-order flying sword technique. If one cultivates it to perfection, one can begin to touch upon the Dao of Sword Intent... Thinking about it this way, wouldn't it mean that one can only learn the sixth level, Condensing Abyss, after breaking through the limit?"

Chen Ye sighed.

No wonder everyone says that the Azure Wave Sword Technique is the most difficult flying sword technique to master in the Yan Kingdom.

It turns out that this flying sword technique actually only has four levels; the remaining two levels must be comprehended by the cultivator himself!
For ordinary cultivators, this is nothing short of a pipe dream.

However, it wasn't necessarily a bad thing for him.

He has a proficiency panel; as long as he practices diligently, this so-called sword intent will come naturally.

Once Chen Ye had settled his thoughts, he sheathed his flying sword and iron sword.

I pushed open the wooden door of the quiet room, ready to go and see my two little apprentices who were still arguing.

But when he scanned the area with his divine sense, his brows furrowed slightly.

Linsong Valley, outer valley.

Late at night, everything is silent.

However, the area where the spirit plant farmers had just settled down was now in complete chaos.

"Roar--!"

A ferocious roar shattered the tranquility of the valley!

A black monster, three zhang tall, resembling a tiger but with a pair of sharp bull horns, was rampaging through the houses with impunity!

That demonic beast's cultivation level had already reached the eighth level of Qi Refining!
For these scattered fruit farmers, whose cultivation levels were mostly only at the early or middle stages of Qi Refining, this was nothing short of a catastrophe!
"Run! It's the Ironhorned Demon Bull!"

"Help! Where is the mountain-protecting formation? Why are demonic beasts breaking in!"

Terrified screams and children's cries echoed throughout the outer valley.

Li Dagen and Lin Jinghua are organizing some brave men to try to resist the attack of the monsters.

But how could their attacks possibly harm the Iron-Horned Demon Bull?
"You beast! Stop hurting people!"

A clear and melodious shout came from the inner valley!

A figure in azure blue, wielding a flying sword, arrived in an instant like a streak of light! It was Li Qiuyun!
She looked at the rampaging monsters before her, and the spirit plant cultivators suffering under their iron hooves, and her pretty face turned cold.

With a flick of her wrist, the flying sword transformed into a streak of cold light, aiming straight for the demon beast's throat!
"clang!"

However, the monster was so tough that Li Qiuyun's sure-fire sword strike only left a shallow white mark on its neck!

"Roar!"

The Iron Horned Bull was in pain, which further fueled its ferocity!
It abandoned its pursuit of Lingzhifu, changed direction, and its scarlet bull eyes locked onto Li Qiuyun in mid-air. With a kick of its four hooves, it charged towards her like a moving mountain!
Seeing this, Li Qiuyun became even calmer.

Although she was at the seventh level of Qi Refining, it would be like throwing an egg against a rock for her to fight this Iron Horned Demon Bull, which was known for its strength and defense!

He wielded his flying sword, his figure arcing through the air, barely dodging the fatal impact.

However, before she could even catch her breath, the Iron Horned Bull pressed its advantage, stomping its four hooves on the ground and charging forward again with its sharp, dark horns, accompanied by a piercing shriek that seemed to tear through the air!
This time, Li Qiuyun had no way to avoid it!
At this critical moment.

A tall, silent, dark figure appeared before her without warning, like a ghost.

"boom!!"

A deafening roar exploded in the silent night sky!

The violent impact was effortlessly blocked by the dark figure with just one hand!

The Iron Horned Demon Bull's horns, powerful enough to shatter rocks, were pressed against the dark figure's palm, yet it could not advance even an inch further!
"This...this is?!"

Everyone present, from the panicked fruit farmers to Li Qiuyun who had narrowly escaped death, stared in disbelief at the horrifying scene before them.

The tall man in black robes slowly raised his other hand.

Then, clench your fist.

One punch, thrown out.

There was no fluctuation of spiritual energy, nor any fancy moves.

Yes, there is only the purest and most primal absolute power!
"boom--!"

That incredibly hard bull's head shattered like a watermelon under that punch!

Red and white splattered all over the ground.

This arrogant Qi Refining Level 8 Iron Horned Demon Bull didn't even have time to utter a mournful cry before it collapsed to the ground, its life force extinguished.

Quiet.

Deathly silence.

Everyone stared blankly at the black-robed figure who resembled a demon god.

Some sharp-eyed herb farmers have already noticed that this is the same guard who followed Deacon Chen a few days ago.
"good."

Chen Ye walked out slowly and patted the tall figure on the shoulder.

This man in black robes was none other than Qing Zhi!
It's just that others mistakenly believe he's a cultivator.

After killing the monster, it stood respectfully behind Chen Ye like a silent iron tower.

"Gudong."

Li Dagen swallowed hard. He looked at Chen Ye, then at Qing Zhi, who was like a demon god, and felt that his brain was completely overwhelmed.

That...that's an Iron Horned Demon Bull at the eighth level of Qi Refining! Just like that...with one punch?
The way the new fruit farmers looked at Chen Ye changed completely.

If Chen Ye's ability to summon wind and rain with his spiritual plant technique previously inspired their admiration, then...

At this moment, Qingzhi's punch brought them nothing but awe.

Although they differ by one word, their underlying meanings are quite different.

Chen Ye's actions were naturally intended to reassure the medicinal herb farmers.

He looked around at the crowd, observing their expressions shifting from fear to shock, and now to awe, and knew that he had achieved his goal.

He spoke loudly: "Everyone, there is no need to panic. This is Qingzhi. Although he is not good with words, his cultivation is enough to protect my Lin Song Valley. From now on, he will guard this place day and night and will never allow any villains to take advantage of the situation."

"With...with this immortal master here, we...we can rest assured!"

"Yes, yes, thank you, Deacon Chen! Thank you, Immortal Master Qingzhi!"

The fruit farmers, having survived the ordeal, bowed deeply in gratitude, tears streaming down their faces, their hearts filled with joy.

They weren't fools; they knew that Lin Song Valley was protected by a powerful formation. The sudden appearance of a demonic beast at the eighth level of Qi Refining must have been part of a conspiracy!

This means that Rin-song Valley will become unsafe...

This caused unrest among the people.

Seeing Qingzhi's divine power, their worries vanished.

"Uncle Chen."

Li Qiuyun landed on the ground, looking at Chen Ye with lingering fear on her pretty face.

"Are you alright?" Chen Ye asked with a smile.

"No...it's okay."

Li Qiuyun shook her head, her delicate brows furrowing as she looked at the enormous corpse of the demonic beast.
"But... this demonic beast's arrival is suspicious. My Lin Song Valley has a mountain-protecting array, so logically, there should be no way such a high-level demonic beast could break in."

Chen Ye nodded, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

He knew that the Wei family must be behind this.

Wei Cheng, who had served in Linsong Valley for a long time, may have known about the flaws in the mountain-protecting formation even though it had fallen into Chen Ye's hands. This is why the demonic beasts were able to infiltrate it.

"This grand formation needs to be examined by someone... It turns out there's a back door."

This incident also served as a reminder to Chen Ye.

He thought that after gaining power, the mountain-protecting formation would be flawless.

However, let alone formations, even magical artifacts refined by cultivators can be secretly targeted!

A slight misstep could lead to a major mistake later on.

"Uncle Chen, but... does the Wei family not listen to what Bai Zhenchuan said?" Li Qiuyun cracked her knuckles, filled with righteous indignation.

"Listen? Of course I'll listen."

Chen Ye spoke calmly as he walked to the corpse of the Iron-Horned Demon Bull and kicked its massive horns.
"If they hadn't listened, why would they have only been secretly releasing demonic beasts to attack the herbalists? With Master Bai here, they wouldn't dare to attack me no matter what, because they know that if I were to lose even a hair, Master Bai would hold them accountable, regardless of whether they were responsible. But... it's not necessarily the same for these herbalists, especially since there's no evidence yet."

He was mentally prepared.

It would be abnormal for such a large family as the Wei family to just let this go so easily.

only……

Despite his words, Chen Ye was still puzzled.

Because the Wei family acted too quickly, just eight days ago, Bai Susu was still supporting him.

I should wait at least a few months before making a move...

"Could it be that something happened to Bai Susu when she went to the Three Thousand Mountains?"

Chen Ye pondered.

In recent days, many cultivators from the Refining God Sect, located in the far north of Yan Kingdom, have arrived one after another, all heading towards the Three Thousand Mountains.

As for why the Tribulation Transcending True Person comes from the Refining God Sect.

But the reinforcements from the Refining God Sect arrived right after Bai Susu.
The reason is simple.

This Transcending Tribulation True Person came to the Three Thousand Mountains to undergo his tribulation in private, without immediately notifying the Refining God Sect.

The Refining God Sect was located far in the northern part of Yan State, so they naturally couldn't arrive immediately.

In addition,

This person is exceptionally talented and is known as the greatest genius in the history of the Refining God Sect. This time, he is also carrying the Refining God Sect's most precious treasure, the Heaven-Covering Mirror, during his tribulation.

Everyone thought she would be perfectly safe and sound this time...

But unexpectedly, something happened, catching the Refining God Sect completely off guard.

Therefore, it was probably after informing the Lingyin Sect and asking them to help her first that Bai Susu and the others were sent to the Three Thousand Mountains to provide assistance.

"This Wei family is truly courting death!" Upon hearing this, Li Qiuyun's pretty face was filled with rage, and the long sword in her hand once again emitted a "humming" sound.

"Not urgent."

Chen Ye waved his hand, signaling her to calm down.

He looked at the valuable monster corpse before him, a cold smile playing on his lips.
"Since they have sent such a generous gift, wouldn't it make me, Chen Ye, seem like I'm lacking in manners if we didn't reciprocate properly?"

He turned to the fruit farmers, who were still shaken by the experience, and said loudly:

"Gentlemen, you have all witnessed what happened today. Some people still harbor ill intentions towards us. But you have also seen that with Qingzhi here, Linsong Valley is as solid as a rock! No villains will be able to harm us in the slightest here!"

"From now on, everyone can work here with peace of mind. I, Chen Ye, hereby promise that as long as I am here, I will protect you all!"

His words were resounding and powerful.

The many herb farmers nodded in agreement.

After calming everyone down, Chen Ye put the huge iron-horned demon bull corpse into his storage bag.

This is a demon beast at the eighth level of Qi Refining. Its skin, bones, flesh, and blood are all top-quality materials. If it were sold in the market, it would be worth at least a hundred spirit stones.

But... if we sell it like this, how can we repay them?
They refined corpses into puppets, which were called corpse puppets.

Although this method is condemned as demonic by the righteous path, the corpse puppets created are fearless, incredibly strong, and insensitive to pain, making them excellent tools for protecting mountains and guarding homes.

Previously, he had used the corpses of Wan Kui Sect disciples to create corpse puppets.

However, ordinary cultivators have weak physical bodies and find it difficult to refine powerful corpse puppets.

But this Ironhorn Demon Bull is a top-grade material for corpse puppets!

Wei family, I, Chen Ye, accept this "generous gift" from you!
……

The next day, Chen Ye changed into the clothes of an ordinary rogue cultivator and left Linsong Valley alone, heading to Taoshanfang once again.

As for Qingzhi, he stayed in the valley to protect his disciple.

He had three purposes for this trip.

Firstly, they needed to find out what was happening on the other side of the Three Thousand Mountains.

The news that Bai Susu inadvertently revealed before leaving that the Nascent Soul Tribulation had gone awry left him feeling uneasy.

In the original storyline, this upheaval was the catalyst that swept across the entire Yan Kingdom, and he needed to understand it in advance and make preparations early.

Secondly, it is necessary to purchase some essential materials for refining the Iron Horned Corpse Puppet.

While it's possible to refine something directly from a corpse, it ultimately won't unleash its full potential.

Therefore, a lot of Yin-attribute materials are needed, and these things are not available in Lin Song Valley.

Thirdly, and most importantly, he needed to find a reliable array master to thoroughly inspect his protective array in Linsong Valley, inside and out!
The fact that Wei Cheng was able to let a demonic beast at the eighth level of Qi Refining into the room without anyone noticing means that the "Yi Wood Qi Control Array" must have a loophole that he was unaware of!

If this hidden danger is not eliminated, he will have no peace of mind.

Momoyama Square.

Taoshanfang has become even more prosperous in recent days.

In the streets and alleys, you can often find independent cultivators who have come from all over the country.

"strangeness……"

Chen Ye examined these rogue cultivators and found that most of them had mixed auras, and there were even some experts in the late stage of Qi Refining.

He paused for a moment, but didn't linger.

We went straight to the west side of Taoshanfang, to a building called Baiyilou.

This is where all kinds of artisans in Taoshanfang gather—alchemists, weapon refiners, talisman masters, and array masters.

Chen Ye walked around the building.

Finally, they stopped in front of a shop on the third floor with a sign that read "Infallible Predictions, Unparalleled in Strategies".

The Hundred Arts Building has three floors, and the higher up the building, the more refined the craftsmanship.

A protective array of this scale cannot be repaired by an ordinary array master; however, the price is also extremely high.

"Well, although reporting it to the sect will bring array masters to repair it, I can't rest easy until the hidden danger is eliminated... It will probably take several days or even half a month for the sect's array masters to arrive."

Chen Ye sighed.

The owner of the shop was an old Taoist priest with white hair and beard, wearing a tattered Taoist robe. He looked somewhat otherworldly, but his small, squinting eyes made him appear a bit shifty.

"Fellow Daoist, do you wish to examine the formation or resolve it?" The old Daoist lazily raised his eyelids upon seeing a guest arrive.

"I neither examine nor dismantle the formation." Chen Ye got straight to the point. "I have a mountain-protecting formation that I suspect has been tampered with. I would like to ask the Daoist Master to come down from the mountain and come with me to inspect it."

Mountain protection formation!

The old Taoist priest shuddered.

A formation that can be called a mountain-protecting formation must be at least a first-grade high-level formation! This is a big business opportunity.

The old Taoist priest sized Chen Ye up and down, then held up one finger. "You can look, but you know my rules. The fee for leaving the mountain is one hundred spirit stones. Less than one stone, and it's off the table."

Upon hearing this, Chen Ye frowned slightly.

This price is outrageous.

However, his spiritual sense has greatly increased, and he can clearly sense that the Taoist priest in front of him is at the ninth level of Qi Refining!
It probably has quite a reputation in Taoshanfang, Yunxifang, and Yuexihufang.

His status should be even higher than that of Li Guangzong, the head of Miaodan Pavilion.

“Okay.” Chen Ye nodded, without haggling, and took out a money pouch, tossing it on the table. “However, I have one condition.”

"Oh?" The old Taoist priest weighed the heavy money bag in his hand, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes. "Tell me about it."

"I need the Daoist Master to keep this matter absolutely confidential. I don't want anyone other than you and me to know about it," Chen Ye said politely.

"Of course, of course." The old Taoist chuckled. "My reputation as a fortune teller is well-known in Taoshanfang. We take people's money and solve their problems. Keeping our mouths shut is the foundation of our livelihood."

"..."

Chen Ye's eyelids twitched. A formation master, yet his title was Divine Calculator... This old Taoist priest probably just gave himself a name after reading too many stories.

The two walked down the Baiyi Tower, one after the other.

Chen Ye did not rush to take the fortune teller back to Linsong Valley, but instead led him to stroll leisurely through the market.

They claimed that they needed to purchase some materials for setting up the formation first.

The old Taoist priest took the spirit stones without any objection, and simply followed Chen Ye leisurely with his hands behind his back.

"Taoist Master."

Chen Ye casually picked up a piece of monster bone from a nearby stall and asked, seemingly unintentionally,
"I have been in seclusion in the valley recently. When I came out today, I found that Peach Mountain Lane seemed to be much more lively than usual, with many unfamiliar faces."

Since this person is at the ninth level of Qi Refining, he is quite famous among rogue cultivators.

He likely knows far more about the affairs of the market than the ordinary herb farmers of Lin Song Valley, or even sect disciples like Li Qiuyun.

"It's more than just much more lively now."

Upon hearing this, the fortune teller's previously squinted eyes instantly lit up. He moved closer to Chen Ye and lowered his voice.

"Fellow Daoist, you are unaware of this. Recently, a momentous event has occurred in these Three Thousand Mountains!"

"Oh? I'd like to hear more details." Chen Ye's heart stirred.

"Hehe," the fortune teller paused for a moment before continuing, "that little devil from the Crossing Love Sect is at war with the Spirit Hidden Sect again!"

"It's them again?" Chen Ye feigned surprise.

"That's right!" The fortune teller slapped his thigh, speaking with great enthusiasm. "But this time, it's different from the usual skirmishes! Rumor has it that some time ago, a very prestigious disciple of the Lingyin Sect was ambushed by the Duqing Sect deep in the Three Thousand Mountains. A great battle ensued, darkening the sky and obscuring the sun and moon!"

"How is the result?"

"The result?" The fortune teller clicked his tongue, lowered his voice, and said almost in a whisper, "That true disciple of the Lingyin Sect, severely injured, fought her way out of the encirclement, and now... her whereabouts are unknown!"

A seriously injured... missing true disciple of the Lingyin Sect...

Could this be referring to Bai Susu?! Chen Ye's heart was filled with shock.

"Once the news broke, all the independent cultivators flocked to the Three Thousand Mountains like cats smelling fish! If war breaks out in the Three Thousand Mountains, they can make some money off the dead, or fish in troubled waters, right?"

The fortune teller stroked his beard and smiled.

Chen Ye listened silently, his mind filled with a myriad of thoughts.

No wonder the Wei family made their move at this time!

This is because Bai Susu is now barely able to protect herself...

"Thank you for clearing up my doubts, Daoist Master."

Chen Ye suppressed the turmoil in his heart, cupped his hands in greeting to the divination master, and then led him toward a shop that specialized in selling all kinds of materials.

Now is not the time to think about these things.

The most urgent task is to completely eliminate the hidden dangers of the mountain-protecting formation before refining the "Iron Horn Corpse Puppet"!
But as soon as he stepped into the shop, his brows furrowed.

Unfortunately, I happened to see a few familiar figures gathered together, choosing something.

These were the outer disciples who had "defected" from Linsong Valley with Wei Cheng a few days ago.

Those disciples had obviously also seen Chen Ye.

They were taken aback at first, their expressions a mixture of embarrassment and bewilderment.

"Everyone, long time no see."

Chen Ye politely cupped his hands in greeting, and then continued upstairs.

Although Chen Ye didn't say anything, the disciples became even more uncomfortable.

After all, they went to Lingtao Garden with Wei Cheng when Linsong Valley was most short-handed.

More or less, I felt a little guilty.

If Chen Ye were to get angry and rebuke their actions, they might feel better.

But, everything remained calm and peaceful, as if nothing had happened...

"Oh, what a pity."

A disciple watched Chen Ye's figure disappear at the top of the stairs, shook his head, and said in a calm tone, as if discussing the weather,
"He's not a bad person, just too stubborn. If he had been willing to yield to Deacon Wei and us back then, he wouldn't have ended up in this situation."

"Who says it isn't?"

Another disciple chimed in, glancing at the valuable materials beside him, and sighed.

"Those roughnecks who tend the fruit trees, how could they possibly understand the true subtleties of spiritual plant cultivation? In the end, those delicate spiritual plants in Lin Song Valley still need us. Deacon Chen, you've only just become a deacon, you still lack experience. What a pity."

"Let him be."

Wang Hao, who was in the lead, finally sighed and said in a tone that seemed to have made a final judgment,

“Everyone has their own destiny. He has chosen his path, and he can’t blame anyone else. We are already incredibly fortunate to be able to follow Steward Wei to the Wei family’s peach orchard. As for him…”

　Thank you so much to the generous patron, Yaowang Qingqingtan!

　　Thank you Yingxi for the 1000 coins!

　　Thank you, Finka, for the 500 coins!

　　Thank you efe恶风 for the 100 coins!

　　I have read everyone's feedback.

　　The previous chapter 170 has been revised, adding Chen Ye's explanation to make the process more reasonable.

　　In addition, this chapter includes patches and explanations for the complaints received by readers regarding chapters 170 and 169.

　　I am grateful!
　　orz!!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)