295: Chapter 295 Oath and Terrifying Silence

Venerable Jiehuo did not delay any further. His phantom flickered and merged into the red skeleton below.

In the next moment, the skeleton erupted with a crimson light, enveloping the entire Center of the Ember Lake.

Fire Spirit Power seeped out from the charred rocks at the bottom of the lake, gathering toward Ye Tian under the control of Venerable Jiehuo's remnant soul!

This power was scorching but not violent. Ye Tian did not dare to be careless. Lifted by Venerable Jiehuo's power, he immediately sat cross-legged in the water, fully circulating the Star Qi Induction Art to absorb the Fire Spirit Power and repair his Physical Body.

Wherever the Fire Spirit Power passed, damaged Meridians were quickly repaired, broken bones healed at an accelerated pace, and the hidden injuries accumulated in his internal organs were incinerated away.

His complexion gradually regained its healthy color.

Inside his Dantian, the ancient sword pill greedily absorbed this energy, its light becoming bright once more.

As time passed, Ye Tian's True Qi finally fully recovered. Even his cultivation broke through from the True Martial Realm Eighth Stage Middle Stage to the True Martial Realm Eighth Stage Late Stage, even touching the threshold of the Ninth Stage.

His injuries were already ninety percent healed!

Not only had he recovered, but his cultivation had also improved!

"Thank you, Senior, for the grace of rebirth!"

Ye Tian bowed solemnly toward Venerable Jiehuo's skeleton.

This debt of gratitude was truly immense.

"There is no need for such formalities; it was merely a matter of mutual benefit."

Venerable Jiehuo's phantom reappeared, looking slightly more blurred than before. Clearly, helping Ye Tian heal had consumed some of his remnant soul's energy.

"The solidity of your Foundation far exceeds those of the same stage, especially your Physical Body and Sword Intent, which possess quite unique qualities.

It seems you have had no small amount of Opportunity."

He changed the subject, his phantom raising a hand to grab toward a red stalagmite nearby.

A piece of rock peeled off from the top of the stalagmite, revealing a hidden stone box within.

The stone box flew into his hand and opened, revealing a long sword three feet and three inches in length, with a body of solid purple-black and silver lightning coiling around it!

As soon as the sword left the box, it let out a clear hum, releasing a thunderous pressure that caused ripples of electric light to appear in the surrounding lake water.

"This sword is named 'sword'; it is an Earth Rank Low Grade spirit sword.

It was something this venerable one obtained from the Immortal Cave of a Yuan Dan Realm Cultivator who excelled in thunder arts during my travels in the past.

This sword carries its own power of thunder and lightning, possessing a natural restraint against evil and ghosts. It is quite compatible with the Thunder-Fire Origin within your body, so I shall grant it to you for self-defense."

Ye Tian was overjoyed and took the jingji sword with both hands.

It felt slightly heavy in his hand, and he could feel the surging power of thunder contained within the sword's body.

With a slight thought, he injected a sliver of True Qi, and the sword's body immediately erupted with purple-silver lightning, crackling with an intimidating aura!

It was more than a level stronger than his previous liuguang sword!

With this sword, his combat power would be greatly enhanced!

"This Junior thanks Senior for the sword!" Ye Tian couldn't bear to put it down.

"Alright, this is no place to linger.

This venerable one's remnant soul will temporarily reside in this fire jade essence; you may carry it with you."

A crimson crystal flew out from the chest area of Venerable Jiehuo's skeleton and landed in Ye Tian's hand.

"Do not disturb this venerable one's slumber normally. If you have cultivation difficulties or face a life-or-death crisis, you may call upon me.

Additionally, I will give you the map of Mist Dragon Ravine and several secret exits.

Leave this place first, recover your strength, and then plan for the future."

A stream of information flooded into Ye Tian's mind, consisting of a detailed map of Mist Dragon Ravine and several secret exit routes.

"Senior, what about the Possession body and the treasures...?" Ye Tian asked.

"There is no rush for that.

Settle your own grudges first and increase your strength.

It will not be too late to start looking once you reach the Sea Transformation Realm.

Remember, the matter of finding a body and the treasures must be kept secret. Do not let a third person know of this venerable one's existence, or it may invite disaster," Venerable Jiehuo warned solemnly.

"This Junior understands!" Ye Tian nodded gravely.

He understood the principle that a man's wealth can be his ruin.

"Go now.

This venerable one looks forward to the day your name shakes the continent.

At that time, do not forget our vow today."

Venerable Jiehuo's phantom slowly dimmed, finally falling silent along with the crimson skeleton.

Ye Tian carefully put away the fire jade essence and gripped the jingji sword tightly. Feeling the surging power within his body, a cold light flickered in his eyes.

Ling Juexiao, Qiu Qianchuan...!

Following the map in his mind, he chose an exit leading to a desolate river valley downstream of the Mist Dragon Ravine. The map marked many secret passages that even the Wanren Sword Pavilion might not know about, as well as paths to avoid dangerous whirlpools and water beasts.

He moved extremely fast, but his heart was countless times heavier than when he had arrived.

The fates of Hou Xiaojie and the Dragon Ape were unknown, and the outside world was surely covered in a dragnet.

He had to get out as soon as possible, find them, and then... take an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth!

About two hours later, the current ahead slowed, and a faint light appeared.

Ye Tian surfaced and found himself in the downstream area of a remote mountain stream, with mist lingering overhead.

This was already the edge of the Mist Dragon Ravine, a place rarely visited by people.

He climbed onto the bank, used his True Qi to dry his clothes, wrapped the jingji sword in cloth strips, and carried it on his back, looking like an ordinary young adventurer.

He suppressed his aura to around the Ningyuan Eighth Stage and then, following the map's guidance, stealthily headed toward a small gathering spot for Loose Cultivators called "Wild Fox Market."

The most urgent matter now was to find out the whereabouts of Xiao Jie and the Dragon Ape.

Wild Fox Market was located about fifty li southeast of the Mist Dragon Ravine. It was a trading point for Loose Cultivators formed around several abandoned mine tunnels. It was a place of mixed characters and well-informed news, but also a place where the search forces of Wanren Sword Pavilion and Shadow Calamity Tower might have penetrated.

Ye Tian did not enter the market directly but observed from the outskirts for a long time.

He discovered that several entrances to the market were indeed guarded by Disciples wearing Wanren Sword Pavilion uniforms who were inspecting those entering and exiting. There were also some cold-looking men in black mixed in the crowd, their gazes scanning the people.

The atmosphere inside the market was also much more tense than before; pedestrians were in a hurry, and the sound of conversation was kept very low.

He waited patiently until dusk when the flow of people thinned and the guards' vigilance slightly relaxed. Then, he disguised himself as a destitute Loose Cultivator who had just returned from gathering herbs in the mountains. With his head down and an old herb basket on his back, he mixed in behind a group of travel-worn hunters and walked toward the market entrance.

"Halt! What are you doing? Where are you from?"

A young Wanren Sword Pavilion Disciple at the True Martial Realm Third Stage stopped them, his gaze scanning the group.

"In... in response to the lord, this small one is a Herbalist from the mountains. I gathered some herbs and wanted to come to the market to trade for some salt."

Ye Tian kept his head down and answered stutteringly, while simultaneously revealing a trace of the fear a Ningyuan Realm Cultivator would feel when facing a Sect Disciple.

The Disciple glanced at the few common blood-stanching grasses and young Solomon's Seals in his herb basket, then waved a Qi-Testing Stone over him. It showed Ningyuan Eighth Stage, and he waved his hand impatiently: "Go on in!

Behave yourselves lately. If you see the people on the portraits, report it immediately!

Those who know but do not report will be treated with the same guilt as the criminals!"

On the wall nearby, wanted posters of Ye Tian were prominently displayed, along with portraits of Hou Xiaojie and the Dragon Ape in their shrunken forms. The reward amount was shockingly high.

"Yes, yes, this small one understands."

Ye Tian nodded repeatedly and, stooping his body, followed the group of hunters into the market.

Upon entering the market, he immediately felt several obscured gazes sweep over him, but they soon moved away.

His current disguise was very successful; a minor Ningyuan Realm Cultivator was a dime a dozen in Wild Fox Market.

He first walked around the market, bought some dry rations and fresh water, and then came to a general store that seemed to have slow business, with a shopkeeper who was an old man with a face full of wrinkles.

"Shopkeeper, do you take medicinal herbs? Just picked, very fresh."

Ye Tian placed the herb basket on the counter.

The old man lifted his eyelids, glanced at the herb basket, then at Ye Tian, and said slowly, "Just these? They aren't worth much."

"I have some better stuff at the bottom of the basket, would you like to take a look?"

Ye Tian lowered his voice and took out two stalks of Ghost Soul Grass that he had conveniently picked from the outskirts of the Dragon Slaying Abyss from his qingxuan ring.

This was a supplementary material for refining Mind-Calming Pills. It wasn't particularly precious, but it was considered decent for a small market like this.

The old man's eyes brightened slightly. He took the Ghost Soul Grass, examined it carefully, and nodded. "Hmm, this is alright. Two stalks, I'll give you fifty Low-Grade Spirit Stones."

"Shopkeeper, isn't this price a bit low? I heard that things aren't very peaceful outside lately, and the price of herbs has gone up."

Ye Tian bargained, while his gaze seemingly unintentionally swept across the store.

The old man scoffed, "Not peaceful?

It's more than just not peaceful!

Wanren Sword Pavilion and Shadow Calamity Tower are looking for that little star of calamity named Ye Tian like they've gone mad. Even his Junior Brother and that monkey are worth a fortune!

Now, around this Mist Dragon Ravine, let alone people, even a mouse has been checked eight times!

Business is hard. Sixty, sixty at most.

Sell it if you want, if not, then forget it."

Ye Tian feigned hesitation and finally "reluctantly" agreed.

As the old man turned to get the Spirit Stones, he asked in a seemingly casual low voice, "Hey, shopkeeper, do you think that person named Ye Tian is really that powerful?

He managed to jump off a cliff and escape under the encirclement of two great powers?

Has no one seen his Junior Brother and the monkey?"