241: Chapter 241 An Encounter in a Small Town

The crowd echoed their agreement one after another, first gathering their respective Disciples to prepare for the return journey.

Ye Tianhao looked back at the crack that had not yet closed, his face full of worry, but as soon as he turned his head, he saw the eldest Disciple of the Frost Moon Sect, that Woman in Green, looking at him.

He frowned and then looked away.

Meanwhile, inside the Minghai Realm.

Ye Jing finally emerged from the shadows. He let out a long sigh of relief, having finally managed to scare off that Xuan Yin by making up a random excuse.

Otherwise, he really would have had to kill all those people, and his eldest grandson's life would have been in danger as well.

He watched as the rift began to slowly contract. Now, without the support of those Golden Core Cultivators, the exit had closed.

Presumably, those people had all left, but for safety's sake, Ye Jing waited until the very moment the crack was about to disappear to quickly wrap himself in the thousand void ethereal map and flee outside.

The Minghai Realm opened once every hundred years. Currently, they were only on the outskirts of the Hall of the Demon God. He would wait until a hundred years later, when his cultivation had progressed further, to enter this place again.

Just as the sealed rift was about to close completely, the scroll carried Ye Jing as it shot out from inside at high speed.

The moment he landed, Ye Jing summoned Hei Feng and, keeping his spiritual power concealed the whole way, galloped toward home at top speed, not daring to stop for a single step.

He was currently operating under high pressure and had to leave this place immediately.

Following the dense forest all the way east, Ye Jing traveled day and night, arriving within the borders of the Yan State in just two days.

Passing through the Rocky Mounds, the outline of a town gradually emerged ahead. Wisps of cooking smoke rose, and the bustling noise of the marketplace drifted over with the wind.

This place was like a different world compared to the deathly silence and gloom of the Minghai Realm.

The soldiers guarding the city wore standard Yan State armor and inspected passing pedestrians one by one. Their sharp eyes suggested they were strictly guarding against any unusual movements at the border.

Ye Jing's eyes narrowed. He immediately dismissed Hei Feng and circulated his Cultivation Technique to suppress all the aura of his cultivation.

With a shift, he turned into an ordinary old hunter with a weathered face and a slightly staggering gait. Carrying half a bundle of dry firewood on his back, he walked slowly toward the city gate.

"Old man, where are you coming from?"

Seeing his simple clothes and ordinary aura, the city guard did not make things difficult for him and merely questioned him casually.

Ye Jing cupped his hands, his voice appropriately hoarse and tinged with the weariness of travel: "Forgive me, officer. This old man is a hunter from the back mountains. A few days ago, I got lost in the mountains while chasing prey and just came out of the wild forest. I was thinking of coming into town to trade for some grain."

As he spoke, he deliberately shook the dry wood on his back, his face breaking into a simple and honest smile. Not a hint of an immortal cultivator's sharpness could be seen.

This was his usual method of concealment. Only after traveling for two days to reach the Yan State did he dare to rest for a moment.

After entering the city, Ye Jing planned to slip out immediately.

When he reached the city gate, Ye Jing saw a group of escort guards outside who seemed to be transporting goods. Among them was a youth carrying a long spear on his back, which was extremely conspicuous among the guards who mostly carried sabers.

The youth looked to be only in his teens, with a body that was already quite sturdy. His features were handsome and clear, though still carrying a bit of lingering childishness.

Ye Jing was somewhat surprised and immediately thought to himself: "Tianyao?"

This youth was indeed Liu Xianglan's second son, Ye Tianyao. He was skilled in spear techniques, but since there were no spear techniques to teach at home, he had been sent to a martial arts hall in Yanggu County to practice.

Ye Jing looked at the youth. The knuckles of the hand gripping the spear shaft were well-defined, and his fingertips were calloused—clearly the result of years of holding a spear and practicing without pause.

At this moment, he was bending over to help an older guard lift a wooden crate. His back was tensed and firm, and fine beads of sweat were seeping from his forehead, yet he didn't complain at all. His eyes were clear and steady, without any of the flightiness typical of his peers.

Ye Jing suppressed the stirrings in his heart, hunched his back, and lowered his head.

Deliberately avoiding Ye Tianyao's gaze, he acted like an indifferent old hunter and slowly shuffled past the escort team.

"Little brother, lift slowly. This crate is heavy, don't throw out your back!"

The lead escort head shouted and patted Ye Tianyao on the shoulder with a face full of approval. "You're a hardworking lad, and your spear techniques are solid. In another two years, the position of the top spearman in our martial arts hall will definitely be yours."

Ye Tianyao straightened up, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and grinned with a youthful smile.

His voice was loud and sincere: "Thank you, Master. I just want to practice more and save up enough silver soon so my parents won't have to worry so much."

He had a cheerful personality and was well-liked by those around him, but no one knew he came from a family of immortal cultivators.

As he finished speaking, he subconsciously looked up and scanned the street, his gaze happening to brush past the staggering old hunter.

He felt that this old man looked somewhat familiar, and the contours of his features actually hinted at a bit of familiarity.

But on second thought, he had spent years practicing the spear in the martial arts hall and had never seen such a mountain hunter. He dismissed it as an illusion and went back to his work.

Ye Jing thought to himself that Ye Tianyao, like his father Ye Yi, was unable to have a Spiritual Root. Now that he had obtained many treasures from the Minghai Realm, he might as well choose a time to have him bond with a Lifebound Spiritual Artifact and step onto the path of immortal cultivation.

It would be a waste of his potential to only keep practicing spear martial arts.

After Ye Tianyao finished moving the goods, he left the city along with his master, He Sanguo. They had traveled all the way from Yanggu County for the purpose of escorting a shipment of jade back and forth.

He Sanguo was a burly man who was currently drinking from a wine gourd.

As he drank, he said, "Just this one sip of cloudy wine—even if an immortal came, I wouldn't trade it!"

He was a Second-Stage Martial Artist who had served in the army in his early years. However, he had returned home after reaching the rank of Commandant in his late forties to run his martial arts hall.

He was also very fond of his newly recruited Disciple, Ye Tianyao, and spoke up: "Tianyao, Master will test you. What are the essentials of our He family's spear technique?"

Ye Tianyao felt helpless toward this somewhat improper master and said, "The He Family Spear Technique emphasizes fierce direct advancement and using speed to break through skill. Thrusting the spear is like an arrow being released, and retracting it is like a tiger returning. Force must penetrate the spear tip and energy must flow through the whole body. No flashy Moves; every Move must be aimed at defeating the enemy and protecting oneself!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he shifted his feet slightly and sank into a horse stance. Although he was gesturing with empty hands,

he exuded a sharp Spear Intent. The tensed lines of his arms fully displayed his solid foundation from years of spear practice.

He Sanguo's eyes lit up upon hearing this. Stroking his beard and nodding repeatedly, he asked further, "Then what if you encounter a fierce bandit who is stronger and has more ruthless Moves than you? How would you respond?"

Ye Tianyao replied without hesitation, his tone steady: "Avoid their edge, find their weakness, use speed against slowness, and use the continuity of the spear technique to entangle the opponent. Never fight with brute force. Our He family spear carries offense within defense; protect yourself first, then seek an opportunity to defeat the enemy!"

"Good lad, I haven't taught you in vain!"

He Sanguo laughed loudly and patted his shoulder again, his tone carrying a bit of instruction.

"On this escort mission, there are many desperate outlaws in the desolate ridges.

Remember, the spear technique is fixed, but people are flexible. Don't panic when things happen. Follow your master's lead. We'll deliver the goods safely, and when we get back, Master will stew some meat and warm some wine for you!"

Ye Tianyao nodded heavily, his eyes full of determination: "This Disciple will keep Master's teachings in mind. I will surely protect the escort wagon and never let my guard down!"