Chapter 172: Chapter 165: Golden Core Remnant Soul
"Chen Che?"
Someone spoke in a low voice, "The one from Jinyun Valley?"
"That’s right!"
The Black Smoke Cultivator nodded.
Some remained silent, some were lost in thought, some hesitated, and some 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, Meng Changtu’s eyelids drooped as he said,
"What would be the use?"
Any Cultivator with some knowledge of Beast Taming knew that a Demon Beast that chose its own master would only recognize that one master for its entire life.
Some 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 methods."
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 moment, Meng 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 Meng Family... This single Spirit Ring Fruit probably isn’t enough. Offending two Foundation Establishment 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 Meng Family son-in-law?"
The Black Smoke Cultivator frowned, seemingly in disbelief. "Is that true?"
"During Meng Changtu’s birthday celebration, I saw the two of them talking for half the night. Their relationship is clearly not a simple one."
Meng 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 agreement.
That price point was more reasonable.
"Forget it!"
Just as the Black Smoke Cultivator was about to retract the Spirit Ring Fruit and Meng Changtu was quietly sighing in relief, Chen Che suddenly spoke up:
"If I were to capture Jingfeng, how would I deliver it to you?"
’Someone is targeting my Demon Pet. Naturally, I want to find out who they are.’
’Although Meng Changtu has already muddied the waters, if this person refuses to give up and keeps raising the offer, someone 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 something 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 moment, 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 agreement, the exchange was considered settled, and the Black Smoke Cultivator rose and left.
Immediately after, another Cultivator took out an item and began to introduce it. Chen Che was about to get up, but Meng Changtu was faster. He had already stood up and walked out of the hall, sending a voice transmission as he went:
"Wait here for me. I’m going after him!"
After a moment’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 moment, it seemed to be the time 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 men 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 meet 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 Establishment First Layer cultivator’s Divine Sense could only cover a radius of ten zhang. But at the Foundation Establishment 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 Meng Changtu standing at the edge of town, searching for the Black Smoke Cultivator.
’Even Meng 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 emerging 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 moment 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 immediately recognized this Divine Sense and, without the slightest hesitation, met it head-on.
The two immense 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 transformed 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 time 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 numerous 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 me?’
A flicker of understanding crossed Chen Che’s eyes.
But it didn’t matter. In that brief moment of collision, he had already placed an extremely subtle Divine Sense Mark on the other person. As long as they appeared within a hundred zhang of him, he would immediately 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 meet 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.
Meanwhile, the epicenter of the explosion was in complete chaos.
The clamor of the townspeople rose and fell, some even mistaking the event they had just witnessed for a divine miracle.
Just then, Meng 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 Meng 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," Meng Changtu explained. "While I was searching, I also sensed two Foundation Establishment 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 Establishment 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 Establishment 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 Meng Family and Jinyun Valley at the same time!"
Meng Changtu clasped his hands behind his back, pondered for a moment, 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 fame, profit, and death. Some actions require a just cause, but others don’t. Even mere suspicion is enough to make a move! We cultivators are not bound by mortal ethics. When something needs to be done, you do it. There’s no need to be ambiguous..."
Meng Changtu said slowly.
Chen Che nodded slightly, his mind replaying the earlier exchange meet.
’This trip wasn’t a loss. Not only did I gain a Jade Peach Fruit, but I also found out someone is targeting me. 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 Establishment Cultivator, Meng Changtu felt increasingly satisfied.
Meng Changtu held out a large hand.
"Give me half of the Communication Incense!"
"?"
Chen Che was confused.
Meng 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 mere Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator like that!"
Sun Hao hesitated for a moment before asking,
"You were once a Golden Core True Master and a Tier Three Beast Tamer. Why are you so obsessed with Chen Che’s Great Demon? Not only will this offend two great Foundation Establishment Influences, but now you’ve provoked an unknown Foundation Establishment 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!"
