137: Chapter 137 Is a fight about to break out?

To cause such destruction...

The intensity of this fight far exceeded his imagination.

The two quickened their pace and soon arrived in front of a relatively intact courtyard.

Several Cultivators stood outside the courtyard gate, conversing in low voices, lingering fear still visible on their faces.

Xiao Caiyue stepped forward and cupped her hands toward a middle-aged female Cultivator among them:

"Fellow Daoist Wang, what happened here just now? My husband and I were in the east of the city; we only heard a loud noise but don't know the details."

Seeing it was Xiao Caiyue, the middle-aged female Cultivator hurried to return the greeting, a look of relief appearing on her face:

"Shopkeeper Xiao, you have no idea; it was truly dangerous just now!"

She took a deep breath and lowered her voice:

"It's demonic Cultivators! Demonic Cultivators have infiltrated the Immortal City! And not just one or two, but dozens! I heard there were even Core Formation Stage demonic Cultivators!"

Xiao Caiyue's beautiful eyes suddenly widened.

Ye Changge also raised an eyebrow.

The middle-aged female Cultivator continued:

"Thanks to Fairy Bai Qingyi of the Qingshui Sword Sect! She descended from the sky with hundreds of Disciples, activated the City-protecting Grand Array, trapped those demonic Cultivators inside, and then slew them one by one!"

"I heard... I heard that three Core Formation Stage demonic Cultivators alone were slain!"

"Three Core Formation Cultivators?!" Xiao Caiyue repeated in disbelief.

Ye Changge's heart also shook violently.

Core Formation Cultivators are already beings capable of founding Sects in the Zhao State. It is said that in the entire Zhao State, there is only one Nascent Soul Cultivator on the surface.

Yet, in this single battle, three Core Formation demonic Cultivators actually died?

The middle-aged female Cultivator nodded heavily:

"It's absolutely true! I saw with my own eyes a demonic Cultivator trying to escape, only to be struck down by Fairy Bai's sword! That Sword Qi blotted out the sun; it was terrifying to the extreme!"

As she spoke, a look of heartfelt awe appeared on her face:

"If it weren't for Fairy Bai, if so many demonic Cultivators had run amok, I'm afraid none of us would have survived..."

Ye Changge and Xiao Caiyue exchanged a glance, both seeing the shock and solemnity in each other's eyes.

Taking their leave of the female Cultivator, the two slowly walked back.

Ye Changge's brow gradually furrowed.

He remembered what Xia Qingcheng had once told him—

The Yu Kingdom, a Demonic Path nation adjacent to the Zhao State, seemed to be stirring and intending to go to war with the Zhao State.

After all, in this region of the Southern Border, Sects were numerous, and wars between nations were incessant.

When the number of high-level Cultivators in a nation reaches a certain point, resources begin to grow scarce.

With more high-level Cultivators, combat power naturally rises, making external expansion an inevitable choice.

Now, so many demonic Cultivators had appeared in the Immortal City, including Core Formation Stage ones...

This was definitely no mere coincidence.

A faint sense of unease welled up in Ye Changge's heart.

Although he was only at the Foundation Establishment Second Layer, he had the Ye Family of Longmai Mountain, Biluo Lake, and so many wives, concubines, and children behind him. If a national war truly broke out, it would be impossible for him to remain uninvolved.

He had to find out exactly what was happening.

Noticing the solemnity between his brows, Xiao Caiyue said softly:

"Husband, if you want to know the details, you can go to Tingfeng Pavilion. It's the largest intelligence organization in the Immortal City and is very well-informed; as long as you can afford the Spirit Stones, you can ask about anything."

Hearing this, Ye Changge nodded:

"Alright."

The two delayed no further. Following Xiao Caiyue's guidance, they navigated through several twists and turns until they reached the depths of a quiet alley.

At the end of the alley stood an unremarkable pavilion.

The pavilion had no plaque, with only a simple, ancient character for "Listen" carved above the lintel; if one didn't look closely, it was almost unnoticeable.

Ye Changge and Xiao Caiyue pushed open the door and entered, ascending to the second floor.

The space upstairs was not large, and the light was dim.

In the center stood a black square table, behind which sat an old man clad in a black robe. His face was obscured, leaving only a pair of deep, dark eyes visible.

Seeing the two come up, the old man did not rise, only speaking in a hoarse voice:

"Do you two wish to obtain intelligence regarding the recent disturbance in the Immortal City?"

Ye Changge nodded. "Exactly."

The old man's withered fingers tapped lightly on the tabletop:

"The intelligence on this Immortal City disturbance is divided into three grades. Grade A is five thousand Spirit Stones, Grade B is three thousand, and Grade C is two thousand. Which one do you want?"

After a brief thought, Ye Changge said, "Grade A."

He knew too little about the major events of the Cultivation World. Now that it concerned the conflict between two nations and his own Family, he couldn't afford any carelessness.

It was necessary to spend more Spirit Stones to buy a clear understanding.

The old man nodded slightly, his voice still hoarse:

"Pay half as a deposit and return in three days."

Without hesitation, Ye Changge took out two thousand five hundred Spirit Stones from his Storage Pouch and placed them into a hidden compartment that suddenly appeared on the table.

The Spirit Stones were instantly sucked away by an invisible force.

The old man handed him a black token engraved with a blurry character for "Listen":

"Use this token to collect the intelligence. After three days, you may come anytime after the Hour of Chen."

Ye Changge took the token and nodded.

He knew in his heart that such intelligence organizations were extremely cautious.

The fight had just ended; how could they provide complete intelligence so quickly?

If the other party had produced "detailed intelligence" right now, he would instead have to weigh whether it was true or false.

Three days later was just right.

The two left Tingfeng Pavilion and returned to the Pill Workshop.

As soon as they pushed open the door, Xiao Yurou hurried to meet them, her face filled with obvious tension and curiosity:

"Sister! Brother-in-law! What happened outside?"

Xiao Zhi also poked her head out from behind the counter, blinking her eyes as she looked at them.

Ye Changge sighed softly and said:

"We don't know the specific situation yet. However, we've already paid Spirit Stones to an intelligence organization; we'll have to wait three days for the results."

He paused, looked at Xiao Caiyue, and then at Xiao Yurou:

"After three days, once we have the intelligence, we will set out to return to Longmai Mountain."

Xiao Yurou and Xiao Zhi both nodded.

Xiao Caiyue walked to Ye Changge's side, gently took his hand, and said warmly:

"Husband, you don't need to worry too much. No matter what happens, I will stay by your side."

Looking into her gentle yet firm eyes, Ye Changge felt a slight warmth in his heart.

He squeezed her hand back and nodded.

"Mhm."

Ye Changge spoke a few more words with the sisters, Xiao Caiyue and Xiao Yurou, soothing their emotions.

He also gave instructions for the preparations needed over the next three days before turning to leave the front hall of the Pill Workshop.

He returned to the Earth Fire Chamber that belonged exclusively to him.

Inside, the earth fire blazed brightly.

Ye Changge walked to the Pill Furnace, casually laid down a few simple protective Restrictions, and then sat cross-legged on a nearby futon.

This trip to Tingfeng Pavilion today had cost two thousand five hundred Spirit Stones.

And that was only the deposit.

When collecting the intelligence in three days, another two thousand five hundred would be required.

A full five thousand Spirit Stones.

Ye Changge sighed softly and rubbed his brow.

Five thousand Spirit Stones.

Although he now had a large Family and business, and the Talisman Shop was bringing in gold daily, the expenses were also staggering.

Family expansion, spiritual field reclamation, training descendants, the initial investment for the Puppet Factory... which of these didn't drain Spirit Stones like flowing water?

Combined with this trip to the Immortal City—renting an Immortal Cave, buying intelligence, refining those special Talismans for Xiao Caiyue's healing...

"I have to find a way to earn it back."