267: Chapter 267 Cloud City

After paying the city entry fee, he stepped into the city.

The streets were wide and clean, paved with bluestone slabs, with shops lining both sides selling all sorts of things, including many aquatic spiritual items unique to Falling Star Lake.

"As expected of a major city."

Ye Tian thought to himself. He concealed his aura even more cautiously, suppressing the fluctuations of the ancient sword pill to the minimum, while the Dragon Ape curled up like an ordinary small pet.

Hou Xiaojie's mute point had been unsealed before they entered the city, and he was now staring wide-eyed, looking around curiously.

They found a medium-sized, unassuming-looking inn called "Cloud-Resting Abode" to stay in.

The inn was built by the lake; opening the back window revealed the shimmering surface of the water. The view was expansive, making it convenient to leave by water at any time.

After settling in, Ye Tian told Hou Xiaojie and the Dragon Ape to stay in the room and not wander off. He changed into ordinary green robes, donned a bamboo sun hat for cover, and planned to head to the city's largest information hub—Baixiao Teahouse—to gather news.

Baixiao Teahouse was located in the central district of Yunni City. It had three floors and was extremely popular.

Ye Tian ordered a pot of spirit tea in a remote corner of the first-floor hall and quietly listened to the surrounding discussions.

As expected, the Shadow Calamity Tower's wanted poster for him had already reached Yunni City, and many people were talking about it.

"Have you heard? That Liuli Xuan Sect Disciple named Ye Tian has been issued a Black Fiend Soul-Chasing Order by the Shadow Calamity Tower!"

"Heard? The portrait is already posted on the notice board at the city gate! Tsk tsk, an Earth Rank Cultivation Technique or a treasure of the same rank... it really makes one's eyes turn red with greed."

"Greedy? You need to be alive to take it! I heard this kid caused quite a stir in Cangya County, killing several True Martial Realm experts. He's a ruthless character!"

"No matter how ruthless, can he be more ruthless than the Shadow Calamity Tower? Being targeted by those death stars, he probably doesn't have many days left to live..."

"Not necessarily. I heard this person is very slippery and has already escaped the borders of Cangya County. Maybe he's even come to our Yunni City!"

"Even better if he's here! If I run into him, hehe..."

Ye Tian sipped his tea silently, his expression calm under the bamboo hat.

These discussions were within his expectations.

He turned his attention to other topics, hoping to hear clues about the Taichu Sword Scripture, special star maps, or ancient sword scars. However, most of the news was about Sect feuds, Secret Realm rumors, and treasure auctions, with no significant gains.

Just as he was about to leave, the low-voiced conversation of several Cultivators at a nearby table caught his attention.

"Things don't seem peaceful over at the 'Wanren Sword Pavilion' lately," a tall, thin Cultivator whispered.

"Wanren Sword Pavilion? Doesn't the City Lord usually mind his own business with them?" another person asked.

"It's not the City Lord's Mansion. It's inside the Sword Pavilion. Apparently, they lost something important and are conducting a secret investigation. Even the people from the 'Xuanjing Division' have been alerted." The tall, thin Cultivator's voice dropped even lower.

"Xuanjing Division? *Hiss*... That's the secret intelligence agency directly under the City Lord. If they're involved, it must be a big deal. What did they lose?"

"Not sure, the information is tightly suppressed. But word is, it's related to the fluctuations from the 'Ancient Sword Mansion Ruins' a while back... Some speculate that an ancient Legacy sword might have been lost, and the Sword Pavilion sensed it..."

"Ancient Sword Manor Legacy? My god, how many people would that attract? The Wanren Sword Pavilion's Pavilion Master, 'Ling Juexiao', is a sword dao expert at the Middle Stage of the Sea Transformation Realm, and his son 'Ling Jianming' is also a True Martial Ninth Stage Genius. Who would dare target them?"

"Who knows... Anyway, Yunni City has been full of undercurrents lately. You guys better be careful not to invite trouble."

Wanren Sword Pavilion, Xuanjing Division, Ling Juexiao, Ling Jianming, Ancient Sword Manor Legacy... Ye Tian's heart suddenly jolted.

Yun Zhiying's warning echoed in his ears: "...There seem to be secrets about you that even I can't see through. Certain people in other departments of the Shadow Calamity Tower might have already set their sights on you..."

Could this Wanren Sword Pavilion be the powerful local sword dao force of Yunni City?

Had they sensed the aura of the ancient sword pill?

Or had they heard some rumors?

The involvement of the Xuanjing Division meant the City Lord's Mansion was also paying attention...

This was going to be troublesome.

Yunni City truly was a dragon's pool and a tiger's den!

He calmly left the tea money and rose to leave Baixiao Teahouse.

He had to find clues about the Taichu Sword Scripture as quickly as possible and then leave this place of trouble.

Staying long-term was too risky.

By the time he returned to the Cloud-Resting Abode, it was already dark.

Ye Tian informed Hou Xiaojie and the Dragon Ape of the news he had heard, warning them to be extremely careful. Especially the Dragon Ape; it must never easily reveal its true form or any abnormalities.

Over the next two days, Ye Tian kept a low profile, spending most of his time in his room consolidating his True Martial Seventh Stage cultivation while also comprehending the Taixu Cloud-Breaking Sword Canon.

He had already mastered the essence of the first form of the sword scripture, the "Cloud-Breaking Form," greatly increasing his sword's speed and penetration.

He tried to integrate the "Cloud-Breaking" true intent into the Taiyi Light-Splitting Sword Art, so that when the sword light divided, not only was there a large quantity, but the penetration and speed of each sword light were also enhanced, raising its power to another level.

His cultivation was steadily consolidating as he progressed toward the middle of the Seventh Stage, but Breakthroughs required opportunity and accumulation; they couldn't be rushed.

He also tried to study the clues for the Taichu Sword Scripture—that faint directional guidance and aura in his mind.

It felt like it pointed deeper into Falling Star Lake, possibly even somewhere at the bottom of the lake, but the specific location was extremely vague and required more precise guidance or a map.

On the evening of the third day, Ye Tian decided to risk going to the city's largest underground trading venue, "Huihai Market," to see if he could find a more detailed map of the lake region or related ancient texts.

Huihai Market was located deep in an alley in the eastern district of Yunni City. The entrance was hidden, requiring a recommendation from an acquaintance or a high "threshold fee."

Ye Tian paid ten Mid-Grade Spirit Stones before he was allowed to enter.

The market interior was dimly lit, with scattered stalls and people from all walks of life. Many of the items being traded were of unknown origin.

Ye Tian wandered around and stopped in front of an old man's stall selling Incomplete Manuals of ancient texts.

The old man's aura was obscure, and he wore a mask. Most of the items on his stall were dilapidated.

Ye Tian's gaze swept across the items and was suddenly drawn to a dusty fragment in the corner.

The fragment was quite small with frayed edges. Its surface had some blurred star-like spots, which faintly resonated with the clue of the Taichu Sword Scripture in his mind!

"Where did this come from? How much is it?"

Ye Tian suppressed his excitement and asked calmly.

The old man lifted his eyelids and said hoarsely, "Fished it from the bottom of the lake. Looks like an ancient object. Three hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, no haggling."

Three hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones wasn't a large sum for the current Ye Tian. He was about to agree.

Suddenly, a slightly arrogant young voice rang out from the side: "This fragment, this Young Master wants it!"

Ye Tian frowned and turned his head to see a young Young Master dressed in brocade robes with a long sword at his waist, approaching surrounded by several guards.

The Young Master's cultivation was around the True Martial Fifth Stage, while one of the guards had a thick aura, surprisingly at the True Martial Eighth Stage.

They all had an emblem of crossed small swords embroidered on their chests, which was the hallmark of the Wanren Sword Pavilion!

The Young Master didn't even look at Ye Tian, saying directly to the old man, "Old man, I've taken a liking to this fragment. Three hundred Spirit Stones, right? Wrap it up for me."

His tone was overbearing.

Ye Tian's eyes turned slightly cold as he said in a deep voice, "Your Excellency, I saw this item first."

Only then did the Young Master glance sideways at Ye Tian. Seeing that he was wearing ordinary clothes and his aura was only at the True Martial First Layer, he sneered, "You saw it first? You've seen plenty of things, are they all yours? Get lost, don't block this Young Master from buying things."

The True Martial Eighth Stage guard behind him took a step forward, a faint pressure enveloping Ye Tian.

The stallholder, the old man, acted as if it were none of his business, closing his eyes to rest.

People nearby noticed the conflict and whispered, "It's the Young Pavilion Master of the Wanren Sword Pavilion, Ling Jianming!"

"Tsk tsk, this guy is out forcing sales again. Who told his father to be Ling Juexiao?"

"That kid in the bamboo hat is in for it, daring to fight Ling Jianming for something..."

"It's just a broken fragment, is it worth offending the Sword Pavilion?"

Ling Jianming?

Ye Tian's heart stirred; it was the Wanren Sword Pavilion Genius he had heard about in the teahouse.

It seemed the Sword Pavilion was indeed looking for things related to the Ancient Sword Manor, since even the Young Pavilion Master had personally come to this Huihai Market.

His luck was "truly good."

Ordinarily, Ye Tian might have avoided the brunt of it.

But this fragment might be related to the Taichu Sword Scripture clues; he was determined to get it.

Moreover, the other party was so arrogant that it made his anger rise.

"Everything follows the rule of first come, first served."

Ye Tian's voice was flat. "This item, I'm taking it."