Chapter 122: The Speculation Was Correct

Chapter 122: Chapter 122: The Speculation Was Correct

"Let me be blunt. Outsiders who wish to become part of Purple Cloud Valley must undergo a review. Are you certain you haven’t offended the Three Immortal Sects?"

Yang Haichen narrowed his eyes. Although it would be fine as long as Jackal hadn’t offended Purple Cloud Valley itself, Yang Haichen didn’t want any stains on his own reputation.

He didn’t care what people said about him, but he worried his Master and Junior Brother Liu’s reputations would be affected.

"This subordinate guarantees he has not offended the Three Immortal Sects."

Jackal spoke with solemnity. He truly hadn’t offended the Three Immortal Sects. Back then, the Hu Family had controlled a mineral vein that was insignificant to the Three Immortal Sects, but after his parents died, neighboring families that had long been eyeing it pounced. That was how he became a Loose Cultivator and made his way to Fire Dragon Valley.

"Excellent. You can continue to serve as the leader of the Fire Wolf Gang. For now, keep acquiring ingredients at the current rate. If possible, have the Fire Wolf Gang keep an eye out for the locations of other pillars of light. Once the trial is over, I will personally take you to the review."

Yang Haichen nodded. Those words were enough. If the man had lacked the confidence to speak, it would have proved that Jackal was truly hiding something. Then, he would have had to seriously reconsider.

"Young Master, what should be done about the men who offended Young Master Liu?"

Jackal couldn’t help but ask. Everything they had discussed so far was merely a transaction. Only after he passed Purple Cloud Valley’s review and officially became their Servant could they even begin to speak of camaraderie.

"Don’t do anything unnecessary."

Taking the Storage Ring, Yang Haichen left. Jackal narrowed his eyes. He wasn’t sure what Yang Haichen meant by that. ’Still, to be safe,’ he thought, ’even if I can’t kill those guys, there’s no need to protect them, either. Whether they live or die will be up to their own Creation.’

***

"If all goes as planned, Jackal will become my Servant. That alone is worth the cost of these ingredients."

After lunch, Yang Haichen spoke up. Liu Chen nodded slowly. With this, he no longer had to worry about Jackal. The cost of the ingredients could be put on Senior Brother Yang’s tab. Based on the habits they’d formed on Purple Bamboo Peak, ingredients were Senior Brother Yang’s meal ticket.

"Speaking of which, I still have one Servant slot. Maybe I should use it while I have the chance?"

Ren Xunchun narrowed his eyes. If the two of them found a Loose Cultivator they took a liking to, he could use his slot to bring them out. If he did that, he might even be able to improve his relationship with these two after returning to Purple Bamboo Peak.

"If Senior Brother Ren finds someone suitable, you can just put the word out. Some Loose Cultivators came here specifically for these slots."

Yang Haichen nodded without saying much more. He wasn’t sure if the Fire Wolf Gang would continue to exist after leaving Fire Dragon Valley. But if Jackal could bring some of his members to settle in the Purple Cloud Valley Marketplace, it would undoubtedly be a great help.

’But how many would choose to follow him?’

"Then forget it. I have enough trouble with matters concerning the Ren Family. If it were just an ordinary Loose Cultivator, maybe I’d give it a shot."

Ren Xunchun shook his head. Yang Haichen’s response was clearly a rejection. It seemed his other Servant slot wouldn’t be used for now.

"Let’s go. Time to sell the Spiritual Cuisine."

With the topic closed, Yang Haichen headed toward the small alley with Ren Xunchun following behind him. Liu Chen quietly watched them go, then turned and went back into the house.

The Token hanging outside the house swayed in the wind. A short while later, Yang Haichen returned, took the Token, and gave it to Xie Xichen to activate a pillar of light.

Two hours passed leisurely. The flowers and leaves around Liu Chen completed their transformation in an instant. Originally, there were no more than nine hundred and ninety flowers and leaves, but now, the entire room was densely filled with them, their number reaching three thousand.

The flowers and leaves overlapped and fused, forming a leaf blade almost identical to Liu Chen’s Cyan Lotus Bamboo Leaf Spirit Pattern.

[Flying Flower Skill: Unique]

Liu Chen slowly opened his eyes. The leaves formed by the Flying Flower Skill all dissipated. Liu Chen took a moment to remove all remaining traces from the room before letting out a long breath.

"Picking Flowers and Flying Leaves... This Magic is truly elegant. If a woman were to use it, she would be surrounded by a sky full of petals—a beautiful sight concealing boundless killing intent."

Liu Chen murmured to himself. The Flying Flower Skill had finally evolved to become unique. However, Liu Chen preferred flying leaves. Of course, if necessary, using flying flowers to create a diversion would be no problem at all.

’Next, I’ll focus on the Artifact Manipulation Technique. After I’ve evolved all the Magic I’ve already mastered into unique versions, then I’ll cultivate new ones.’

Liu Chen quickly composed himself and began to calmly manipulate the dust motes in the air. He would never have thought of such a training method before, but with the limited conditions in the room, he was forced to open his mind to new ideas.

While Liu Chen was cultivating, two pillars of light from the outer region shot into the sky. Following this, all three hundred pillars in the outer region flared with brilliant light, and figures shot toward the central area like streaks of light.

"The hypothesis was correct. The Cultivators from the outer region have all been forced into the central area."

Yang Haichen couldn’t help but murmur as he watched. The last two pillars of light were also controlled by the Black Feather Dynasty. At noon, the four portions of Spiritual Cuisine that Purple Cloud Valley couldn’t consume internally were all bought by the Black Feather Dynasty’s Guards—for the price of two pillars of light plus ten thousand Spirit Stones.

"This might not be good news. Chaos is about to sweep through the entire central area."

Ren Xunchun shook his head. The outer region wasn’t just an area for competing over pillars of light; it was also a place for settling scores. It was common for the disciples of the Three Immortal Sects, disciples from various families, and Loose Cultivators to be locked in a chaotic melee there.

With the arrival of these people, the entire central area would likely descend into chaos. Although this residential area was mostly controlled by Purple Cloud Valley disciples, no one knew if someone might come and cause trouble.

Strictly speaking, this place only occupied one-fifth of the central area. Of the batch of light pillars Purple Cloud Valley had activated earlier, only some were in this region; the rest were all located elsewhere.

Next, Qingxu Hall and Thunder Mountain certainly wouldn’t just stand by and watch Purple Cloud Valley take even more slots. The Spiritual Cuisine could probably only be sold to Purple Cloud Valley disciples and those Loose Cultivators.

"As long as we can handle the initial situation, we won’t have to worry about this."

Yang Haichen shook his head. He alone had seen seven or eight Loose Cultivators thrown directly into this area.

"True. But that’s assuming no major trouble comes knocking."

Ren Xunchun nodded. As long as they could drive out all the outsider Loose Cultivators, Purple Cloud Valley could still hold this area, and the situation wouldn’t be too dire.

"It seems... major trouble has already arrived."

Yang Haichen looked up at the sky. Just a moment ago, a figure had streaked across the sky and landed directly within this area. Yang Haichen didn’t get a clear look at the person’s face, but he saw the Cyan Eagle Blood Mark on their arm, glowing with a bloody light.

If that person wasn’t Nangong Ye, then it was the other Loose Cultivator who had killed a Prince of the Black Feather Dynasty. Either way, it was major trouble.