Chapter 278

Chapter 278

As Mu Chen had absorbed the soul fragment of a ninth-grade pill master and found some pill scriptures in the Miao Dan Tower, he gained profound insights into pill crafting. Deciding to meditate upon these newfound revelations, Ye Shi took up the mantle of navigating their journey, heading towards the next destination, Yin Yue Cave.

Outside the secret realm, Bai Chenxing, seeing Ye Shi leading the way, grew infuriated.

"Does Mu Chen think he's some privileged damsel? Leaving all the legwork to Yanxing?" Bai Chenxing remarked, visibly annoyed.

Wu Feng laughed it off, saying, "Mu Chen must have his reasons. Besides, as Yanxing travels, he can also search for ley lines. It's a win-win."

Bai Chenxing, dismissively flicking his sleeves, snorted.

"Is Yanxing heading to the Yin Yue Cave?" Wu Feng wondered aloud.

Bai Chenxing's expression darkened. Regardless of Mu Chen's prowess, he was just one person. The Yin Yue Cave had already been explored by Zhuang Jin and his team. As it concealed the probing of martial masters, Bai Chenxing was uncertain about what Zhuang Jin might have found inside.

Zhuang Jin's fortune was astonishing. With the rapid progression of his companions, it wouldn't be long before he had five martial ancestors by his side.

If all five of them reached the level of martial ancestor, Yanxing would be in real trouble.

Bai Chenxing, having no intel on Zhuang Jin's team and only observing Ye Shi's relentless journey, felt a pang of unease.

"Zhao Cai, Zhao Cai, have you located any ley lines?" The tower spirit flapped its wings eagerly, asking excitedly.

"Don't call me Zhao Cai," Ye Shi grumbled.

"You're like a wealth deity! If you don't like Zhao Cai, how about Jin Bao?" The tower spirit offered, trying to please him.

"Drop dead," Ye Shi retorted.

With a fierce glare, Ye Shi repeated, "Drop dead."

"Despite being such an adorable Tower Spirit, you dared to tell me to drop dead. You truly are merciless! You don't seem to like auspicious symbols or treasures. In that case, I'll just call you 'Pretty Boy'," said the Tower Spirit with a pleasing tone.

Ye Shi: "..."

"Handsome, have you sensed any spiritual veins?" The persistent Tower Spirit inquired.

Ye Shi's face darkened, "Pretty Boy? What kind of nickname is that?" he retorted harshly, "No."

Fluttering its wings, the Tower Spirit lamented, "What a shame, how can there be no spiritual veins?"

Ye Shi sneered internally. Spiritual pendulums aren't as common as cabbages. What is the Tower Spirit thinking?

"No spiritual veins! Why aren't there any?" murmured the Tower Spirit in frustration.

Listening made Ye Shi's scalp tingle, "There just aren’t any. How did Mu Chen end up with such a greedy Tower Spirit?"

"Handsome, my master is nothing but a broke fellow. Looking at his spendthrift ways, I doubt he'll ever get rich. It's up to you, the helpful partner, to bring fortune!" said the Tower Spirit.

Ye Shi's face flushed, feeling the weight of responsibility, "Understood."

"You really are cooperative, Handsome!" exclaimed the Tower Spirit, visibly pleased.

.........

After traveling the whole day, Ye Shi arrived at the entrance of the Yin Moon Cave. Seeing the shattered and disordered protective seals, a chilling fear gripped him, feeling as if his luck had run out.

"Someone's been here recently, judging by the state of things," commented the Tower Spirit.

The protective seals of the Mystic Realm have self-repair mechanisms. If they were damaged by someone from the last visit, they should've been fixed by now.

Ye Shi pressed his lips together, his ominous feelings intensifying.

"Young Master Bai, you've arrived." A delicate-looking young lady approached Ye Shi with hesitation.

Eyebrows furrowing, Ye Shi inquired, "Who are you?"

"I am Yun RuoYi, from the Yun family. My family's ancestors had good ties with your father," she answered tremulously.

"Has someone just been to this secret realm?" Ye Shi pressed on.

Yun RuoYi nodded nervously, "Yes."

"Was it Zhuang Jin?" Ye Shi's eyes sharpened suddenly.

Yun RuoYi, noting Ye Shi's deteriorating expression, braced herself and confirmed, "Yes, it was Zhuang Jin and his five companions."

Ye Shi closed his eyes, overwhelmed by agitation. First, it was Zhuang Yu causing trouble, and now it's Zhuang Jin. Both brothers seemed to exist just to torment him. What had he done to deserve this?

He wished that if only Zhuang Jin could also disappear.

Studying Yun RuoYi, Ye Shi asked with genuine curiosity, "Why are you so afraid of me?"

Trembling, Yun RuoYi offered a jade pendant.

"This was given by Murong Yu from Zhuang Jin's side, meant for you," she explained, her voice filled with fear.

Examining the jade, Ye Shi's expression changed dramatically.

The jade contained the formula for the anti-spirit pill, which was now in Zhuang Jin's possession. If Ye Shi wanted the formula, he'd have to exchange the Spirit Tower at the Lunar Palace within twenty days.

"Zhuang Jin has lost his mind," Ye Shi muttered, clenching the jade pendant.

Trading the Spirit Tower? Zhuang Jin sure had the audacity. How could a mere pill formula compare to the value of the Spirit Tower?

The Tower Spirit thought to itself, fluttering its wings, "This Zhuang Jin sure is clever!"

"Is Mu Chen here?" asked Yun RuoYi.

Ye Shi, his expression darkening, demanded, "What do you want with Mu Chen?"

Quivering, Yun RuoYi replied, "Zhuang Jin's people have placed a seal on me. They said only Mu Chen can remove it and asked me to wait here for you."

Frowning, Ye Shi questioned, "Why would Mu Chen help you? After all, you helped Zhuang Jin."

Desperately gripping Ye Shi's sleeve, Yun RuoYi pleaded, "Young Master Bai, considering the good relationship between our families, please help me. If the seal isn't removed, I will die. I have no connections with Zhuang Jin's group; I was just unlucky to be caught."

Ye Shi's emotions were a whirlwind. On one hand, there was his mother and father, and on the other, Mu Chen. Even if his parents got the pill, there was no guarantee they'd recover. However, losing the Spirit Tower could mean death for Mu Chen.

Zhuang Jin's side might not actually want the Spirit Tower. They could be trying to create a rift between him and Mu Chen for revenge.

Yunn Ruoyi observed the troubled expression on Ye Shi's face, her own face etched with unease and bitterness.

Yunn Ruoyi had already seen the contents of the jade pendant. Handing such an item to Mu Chen felt like a death wish. However, she needed to rely on this object, which might enrage both Mu Chen and Ye Shi, to beg for Mu Chen's mercy.

If given another chance, she'd never step foot in this forsaken place.

Holding the jade pendant, Ye Shi grappled with the decision of whether or not to disclose its contents to Mu Chen. He was consumed by confusion and overwhelming headaches.

Mu Chen emerged from the Ling Tower. Seeing him suddenly appear, Ye Shi was momentarily stunned.

Mu Chen extended his hand, suggesting, "Let me see what it is."

Ye Shi lowered his head, gripping the jade pendant tightly, without handing it over. His face showed clear signs of inner turmoil.

Mu Chen's brows furrowed. In the past, Ye Shi could be impulsive, but recently, he had always followed Mu Chen's directions obediently.

Mu Chen forcefully snatched the jade pendant from Ye Shi's grasp. Ye Shi bit his lip, watching Mu Chen with growing apprehension.

Frowning, Ye Shi murmured, "Mu Chen, about Zhuang Jin..."

Mu Chen responded with a reassuring smile, "Everything will straighten out when the time comes. Don't worry too much. Even if Zhuang Jin took the recipe for the anti-spirit pill from Yin Moon Cave, there might be other places to find it. Let's take our time."

Worst case, we might need to eliminate a few people from Zhuang Jin's side. Perhaps, the item is in their spatial rings. After all, he'd been considering this option for a while.

If not, he'd have to apologize to both their fathers-in-law. There's no way he'd hand over the Ling Tower. It'd be like gifting his enemies the means to his demise.

Ye Shi nodded anxiously, "Why did he set the meeting for twenty days later?"

"Because he's unsure," replied Mu Chen without hesitation.

"Unsure?" questioned Ye Shi, a hint of puzzlement in his voice.

Mu Chen nodded, "Yes, if I'm not mistaken, twenty days is ample time for everyone around Zhuang Jin to advance to the Martial Ancestor realm."

Upon hearing Mu Chen's words, a chill ran down Ye Shi's spine.

...

Outside the secret realm, Bai Chenxing observed the conversation between Ye Shi and Mu Chen with a grim expression.

He'd always been curious about what Zhuang Jin and his team found in Yin Moon Cave. To his astonishment, they had acquired the formula for the anti-spirit pill.

The Destiny Clan must have done this on purpose. They knew about his earlier request for reinforcements at the Pill Tower.

First Zhuang Yu, and now Zhuang Jin – all so despicable.

Wu Feng bit her lip without saying a word. Zhuang Jin's demand to exchange the Ling Tower for the pill's formula was truly ruthless.

Zhuang Jin's move might not guarantee him the Ling Tower, but it could cause rifts between Mu Chen and Ye Shi. A cultivator with deep-seated issues is unlikely to ever reach the pinnacle of the Martial Ancestor realm.

Zhuang Jin might seem gentle on the surface, but his tactics are undeniably ruthless.

...

"Young Master Mu," Yunn Ruoyi called out to Mu Chen with evident unease.

Mu Chen glanced at Yunn Ruoyi and casually waved his hand, lifting the seal placed on her. "You're free to go; the seal within you is broken."

Yunn Ruoyi quickly nodded, her face alight with gratitude, "Thank you, Young Master Mu."

Watching Yunn Ruoyi depart, Ye Shi remarked with a hint of jealousy, "You treat her really well."

"It's a minor effort, especially when she's innocent in all this," Mu Chen replied with a dismissive smile.

Ye Shi inhaled deeply. While he recognized Yunn Ruoyi's innocence, he still held some resentment towards her for being the bearer of such grave news.

Gazing at Ye Shi, Mu Chen noted, "More friends mean more paths to choose."

A fleeting smirk crossed Mu Chen's face. The seal inside Yunn Ruoyi was unique. Had his control been even slightly off, instead of saving her, he would have blown her to ash. If that had happened, the Yun Clan patriarch would assume Mu Chen had exacted revenge on Yunn Ruoyi.

Here, powerful beings were always watching. Zhuang Jin's people placing such a seal on Yunn Ruoyi would surely earn the ire of the Yun Clan patriarch. Were Mu Chen to stand idly by and let her perish, he'd be equally detested. Although he wasn't afraid of making more enemies, there was no reason to be universally despised.

Outside the secret realm, Wu Feng observed Mu Chen with a wry smile. She hadn't expected him to actually save Yunn Ruoyi. Knowing his typically ruthless tactics, this act of generosity felt strange.

Members of the Yun Clan smiled gratefully from a distance at Bai Chenxing.

Bai Chenxing, with hands behind his back, paid no heed to the members of the Yun Clan.

...

As Mu Chen and Ye Shi were engrossed in their conversation, they noticed storm clouds rapidly gathering in the distance.

Ye Shi gazed at the gathering storm clouds, unease stirring in his heart. "Mu Chen, there's..."

Mu Chen clenched his fist. He too suspected it was someone from Zhuang Jin's side. After all, who else has the same kind of aura as Zhuang Jin?

"One more Martial Master won't make a difference," Mu Chen remarked casually.

"But what if all five become Martial Masters?" Ye Shi frowned.

Last time, Mu Chen managed to fend off Zhuang Jin's men because among Zhuang Jin's associates, three were Martial Emperors. Had they all been Martial Masters then, Mu Chen...

"You think only those around Zhuang Jin will advance, and I'll remain stagnant?" Mu Chen's expression darkened.

"True," Ye Shi mumbled, clearly lacking confidence.

"Don't worry, I'll protect you," Mu Chen assured Ye Shi.

"I know," Ye Shi replied with a faint smile.

"Someone has advanced."

Mu Chen nodded, "I saw."

Ye Shi furrowed his brow, "I think it's someone from Zhuang Jin's side."