49: Chapter 49 I need you right now, I've discovered the ruins and cave!

Half an incense stick of time later, Ye Linchuan stood outside the entrance of Liu Yun's courtyard.

Although Liu Yun was only at the Middle Stage of Qi Refining, she had more tricks than most Loose Cultivators.

In the past, Ye Linchuan would never have come here easily.

But now, he had the Gold Thunder Talisman, a High Grade defensive Magical Artifact, and a Guest Elder wooden token.

Even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator would find it hard to hurt him.

To be safe, he still instructed Luo Yu before leaving.

"If I haven't come out after half an hour of entering the room,"

"you are to call out to me."

"If I don't wake up, immediately use a transmission talisman to seek help from Qiwu Pavilion."

Luo Yu nodded, her eyes full of worry, "Be careful."

...

Liu Yun was waiting in the courtyard.

She was wearing a purple-pink gauze dress, her hair tied with a light purple silk ribbon.

Her waist was very slender, like a tender bamboo shoot.

"Fellow Daoist Ye, you really came?"

"Here, this is the courtyard's gate token. Leave a trace of your Qi on it, and you can come in whenever you want in the future."

She handed him a green wooden token.

Ye Linchuan raised his hand, and a wisp of Divine Sense drifted over; the wooden token flashed with a faint light.

But he only reached the courtyard entrance and stopped, "Where is the Cultivation Technique?"

Liu Yun was stunned, her mouth drooping, "You won't even step inside?"

"Tsk tsk, I heard you are already a Guest Elder of Qiwu Pavilion, and I thought your courage had grown. Turns out, you're still a coward."

Ye Linchuan turned around and left.

"Wait!"

Liu Yun called out, reaching into her Storage Pouch, pulling out a Jade Slip and shaking it, "The Cultivation Technique is here. Where is the beauty-preserving pill?"

Ye Linchuan turned back, his tone flat, "I haven't bought it yet."

Liu Yun's smile froze, "Are you playing with me?"

"Fellow Daoist Liu, you've misunderstood."

Ye Linchuan shook his head, "I need to verify its authenticity first."

"How will you verify it?"

"Qiwu Pavilion has its ways."

Liu Yun stared at him, suddenly sneering, "Ye Linchuan, you are just messing with me, then don't blame me for being impolite!"

Before she finished speaking, she flipped her wrist.

Ding-ling—

The sound of a bell exploded.

Ye Linchuan's vision blurred, and the surroundings were filled with blood-red bells.

They hung densely, swaying gently in the wind.

The sound drilled into his ears, buzzing loudly.

His brain swelled, and his eyelids felt heavy.

Hum—

His Foundation Establishment-level Divine Sense in his Niwan Palace vibrated, and the illusions shattered completely.

"Hmph."

Liu Yun snorted coldly, reaching out to grab his wrist, "Late Stage of Qi Refining, and you dare to break my Soul-Confusing Bell..."

But her hand stopped in mid-air, frozen.

Ye Linchuan tilted his head, looking at her with a smile on his lips.

"You..."

Liu Yun's pupils shrank.

Before she could recover, a golden talisman was already hovering in front of her forehead.

The talisman patterns moved like snakes, with electric arcs crackling.

"Gold Thunder Talisman..."

Her voice was tight.

"Can you hand over the Jade Slip now?"

Ye Linchuan's tone was gentle.

Liu Yun gritted her teeth, "If you kill me, the Blood Fiend Sect will not let you go."

Ye Linchuan remained smiling, "Rest assured, if the Cultivation Technique is real, the beauty-preserving pill will be yours!"

As he spoke, he took out a dark red talisman paper, "Sign a Heart Demon Oath, guaranteeing the Cultivation Technique is real, and I won't go to Qiwu Pavilion."

Liu Yun stared at the talisman paper for a few seconds, then looked at the Gold Thunder Talisman.

Finally, she bit her fingertip, forcing out a drop of essence blood.

The blood drop fell onto the talisman paper, igniting with blood-red light.

The oath was formed.

Violators would have their souls devoured by their Heart Demon.

Ye Linchuan put away the Jade Slip and talisman paper, then turned and left.

Just as he exited the courtyard gate, the sound of grinding teeth came from behind.

"Ye Linchuan, you just wait... Sooner or later, I will refine you into a Cauldron and drain you dry!"

Back in the room.

Ye Linchuan had beads of sweat on his forehead.

Dealing with a demonic woman from the Blood Fiend Sect was more exhausting than fighting a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, but fortunately, he was well-prepared.

Luo Yu gently closed the door and wrapped her arms around his waist from behind, "Is my body... having problems?"

Ye Linchuan turned around and dangled the Jade Slip in front of her eyes, "There are no problems now."

Luo Yu stared at the Jade Slip and looked up at him, "You went to Liu Yun's place just for this?"

He nodded, "After you Cultivate it, it can suppress the Taiyin fire within your body."

Luo Yu suddenly curved her lips into a smile, "Fellow Daoist Ye, you are really something!"

"You are clearly terrified of death, yet this time you dared to dive into a wolf's den."

She smiled, but her eyes turned red, "And it was for me..."

Ye Linchuan raised his hand and gently tucked her stray hair behind her ear, "It's worth it."

Luo Yu's tears rolled down, but she was still smiling on her Face, "Then now... use all your strength and take me."

Ye Linchuan scooped her up and strode into the inner chamber.

The bed boards creaked, the rhythm getting faster and faster, and it stopped only after a long time.

...

Several days later.

Qiwu Pavilion in the market.

Ye Linchuan brought the Jade Slip to the second floor.

Telling Liu Yun that Qiwu Pavilion could authenticate the Cultivation Technique was actually a lie.

With his status as a Guest Elder, he didn't have that authority yet, but it wasn't impossible.

Although he couldn't verify the content's authenticity, judging by the contribution points, these two Cultivation Techniques should be fine.

Putting away the Jade Slip, Ye Linchuan had just stepped out of the Contribution Room when he bumped into the Attendant Lu Man at the staircase.

She had changed into a dark red long dress today, which made her skin look very fair.

Ye Linchuan was just about to greet her.

Two people came up behind Lu Man.

Ye Linchuan's steps paused, and he stood still in his tracks.

"The two of you, please this way."

Lu Man wore a professional smile and reached out to lead the way.

After the three entered the private room, Ye Linchuan headed downstairs.

He didn't go home.

He went to the same restaurant as last time, to the same window seat.

He sat down and ordered a pot of spiritual tea, drinking it slowly.

About half an hour later.

The Guest Elder wooden token at his waist became slightly warm.

Ye Linchuan looked up, and someone sat down across from him.

A black robe, a blood-colored mask.

Up close, the mask looked even more terrifying.

"My sister is Su Wanqing."

The black-robed Cultivator said this sentence and then fell silent.

Until he finished a cup of tea, he stood up.

A voice transmission rang in Ye Linchuan's ear.

"This time next year."

"If I am still alive, I will come here to wait for you."

"Remember..."

"No matter what happens, do not leave Yunxi City, and do not tell her."

Having said that, the black-robed Cultivator left.

Ye Linchuan frowned, watching the black-robed figure disappear at the staircase, "Su Wanqing's brother... what on earth is about to happen?"

He shook his head, paid the bill, and left, but he kept it in mind.

...

September.

The rain gradually increased.

Yunxi City was shrouded in a curtain of rain.

Late at night.

Inside the small courtyard, the sound of rain pattered loudly against the roof.

The creaking of the bed boards stopped, Shen Qingyan's cheeks still flushed, "Husband, do you have something on your mind today?"

Ye Linchuan stroked her hair, "I have to go to the market tomorrow."

Beside her, Su Wanqing looked up, "Can I go with you?"

Ye Linchuan shook his head, "The market has been chaotic lately; wait until it's more peaceful, and then I will take you."

Both women nodded.

Ye Linchuan closed his eyes and looked inward; his Dantian spiritual power had become one point stronger.

His Alchemy and Talisman Making skills were steadily improving, though his Puppet techniques and Divine Sense had not grown yet.

He thought of Luo Yu's Taiyin White Tiger Physique.

If she cultivated a suitable Cultivation Technique, there might be hope for Foundation Establishment in the future.

Suppressing his stray thoughts, Ye Linchuan said softly, "Rest early; I am going to the quiet room to Cultivate."

...

The next day, at the hour of the Dragon.

The rain had stopped.

The sky was still overcast.

Ye Linchuan went out; the market streets were much quieter, with pedestrians hurrying by.

Blood Fiend Sect Disciples flashed by occasionally, their aura cold and gloomy.

Baibao Pavilion.

Ye Linchuan stood at the entrance, feeling sentimental; he hadn't been here for a while.

"Fellow Daoist Ye!"

Shopkeeper Chen hurried out to greet him, a smile plastered on his Face, "The proprietor has been waiting in the back courtyard for a long time."

Ye Linchuan smiled, "Shopkeeper Chen, you are too polite. We have known each other for many years; there is no need for this."

Shopkeeper Chen hurriedly said, "Fellow Daoist Ye is a Guest Elder of Qiwu Pavilion; protocol cannot be neglected."

"That you could come is already giving us Face."

"Please!"

The two passed through the shop and arrived at the back courtyard.

Beside a stone table under a tree stood a female Cultivator.

She wore embroidered robes and a jade belt around her waist.

Her aura was restrained, and there was a heroic air between her brows.

Ye Linchuan cupped his hands, "Ye Linchuan greets Senior Chen."

"Fellow Daoist Ye, no need for such formalities."

The female Cultivator's voice was clear and melodious, "My surname is Chen, given name Farong; you can just call me Fellow Daoist Chen."

Shopkeeper Chen felt a jolt in his heart.

The proprietor had actually given her own name, valuing him so highly.

Ye Linchuan hurriedly said, "Senior, you are too polite."

"Please sit."

Chen Farong raised her hand.

Attendant Luo Yu stepped forward to pour wine for the two.

"This Cold Pool spirit wine is a secret brew of my Chen family. When you first drink it, there will be a chill rushing to the top of your head."

"Fellow Daoist Ye, please."

Ye Linchuan raised his cup and drank it all at once.

The wine entered his throat, ice-cold and bone-chilling.

Immediately, it turned into a warm current, dispersing into his limbs.

"Good wine!"

Ye Linchuan praised.

Chen Farong also drank it all, smiling, "Fellow Daoist Ye is straightforward."

After one cup of wine, the atmosphere softened considerably.

In her early years, Chen Farong had studied Talisman Dao.

But her talent was limited, stopping at First Grade High Grade, so she took the opportunity to ask Ye Linchuan for advice.

Ye Linchuan answered them one by one and also asked about some Cultivation difficulties.

The two talked very happily.

"Senior Chen."

Ye Linchuan put down his wine cup, "I have something I do not understand."

Chen Farong looked at him, "Feel free to speak."

"Nowadays, the chaos in the market is growing, yet the Xuanming Sect does not interfere, allowing the Demonic Cultivators to run rampant. Why exactly is that?"

Chen Farong's smile faded; she glanced at Attendant Luo Yu and Shopkeeper Chen, "You two withdraw first."

"Yes."

The two withdrew.

Only they were left in the courtyard.

Chen Farong pondered for a moment, "Fellow Daoist Ye, this matter is strictly forbidden from being leaked."

"But now... it is fine to tell you."

She lowered her voice, "Under the Cold Fiend Valley mine, an Immortal Cave ruin has been discovered."

Ye Linchuan's heart skipped a beat.

"Judging from the layout of the Formation, it is related to the Demonic Path."

"It requires the Blood Fiend Sect and other Demonic Cultivators to join forces to open the Restriction."

"That is why the Xuanming Sect and other Sects tolerate the Demonic Cultivators' activities in the market."

"Once the ruin is opened, the market will naturally return to peace."

Ye Linchuan suddenly understood.

It was indeed related to the mining area.

"Senior Chen, does this mean... the flying ships of Yunxi City will soon be able to resume?"

This was what he cared about the most.

Chen Farong shook her head gently, "Perhaps. When the ruin will open, no one can say for sure."