In the evening, the Dark Old Man hurriedly came to find Chen Ye.
Chen Ye's expression turned serious.
Although he hadn't left his home recently, he often inquired about news from Hee Qi.
Lately, nothing major seemed to have happened in the market.
The Dark Old Man wiped his sweat: "Brother Chen, do you know the Jade Lizard Association?"
Chen Ye nodded: "A gang of some Demon Hunter Cultivators in Yunxi District, but what does it have to do with me?"
The Dark Old Man spoke angrily:
"Not long ago, the Jade Lizard Association discovered a Medicine Valley in the Three Thousand Great Mountains, which sparked several conflicts with the Stone Mirror Association, affecting a large amount of Spiritual Medicine."
"So much Spiritual Medicine; to get the Spirit Plant Masters in the market to help, it would take a lot of Spirit Stones. So, they set their sights on the slums, where Loose Cultivators without any background live. They coerced and lured them to work for free!"
"That bootlicker Taoist Zhang took the opportunity to join the Jade Lizard Association and help them identify Loose Cultivators who can tend to Spirit Plants!"
What?
While in the Three Thousand Great Mountains, Chen Ye personally experienced the conflict between the Jade Lizard Association and the Stone Mirror Association.
He had been careful to avoid the gang fights at the time.
But he didn't expect it would involve him today!
Chen Ye suddenly came to his senses, his expression darkened:
"That Taoist Zhang, I thought he had died somewhere a while ago, but it turns out he's become someone's lackey!"
Eradicate the problem, eradicate the problem!
After offending the petty Taoist Zhang back then, he should have decisively killed him on the spot to prevent future troubles.
But he didn't expect Taoist Zhang to be so slippery.
As soon as he showed a hint of hostility, he fled far away, not even returning home.
As a result, today, Taoist Zhang managed to cling to the Jade Lizard Association, bringing trouble to him!
Seeing that Chen Ye stood still.
The Dark Old Man urged anxiously: "Brother Chen, run quickly. I just saw Taoist Zhang coming this way with people! If you get taken to East Valley, you'll either die or be tormented!"
"Run? With my two disciples, where can I escape to?"
Chen Ye breathed heavily, but his expression calmed down instead.
No matter how powerful the Jade Lizard Association is, it's just a gang.
How dare they brazenly abduct Loose Cultivators?
Aren't they afraid of offending the community of Loose Cultivators, or even displeasing the Lingyin Sect?
No matter how insignificant, Loose Cultivators are the foundation of Yunxi District!
It's just...
They set their sights on someone like his former self, whom no one cared about,
With neither skill nor ambition, yet living in the market with a certain craft.
Chen Ye's heart filled with wrath, Taoist Zhang, does he still see him as the former pushover?
He asked in a deep voice, "How many people are coming?"
The Dark Old Man was startled, realizing the implication of Chen Ye's words:
"Just two, one is a Fourth-Layer Cultivator named Gao Ming coming with Taoist Zhang to find you."
Chen Ye felt his palms damp with sweat, knowing the other party's cultivation wasn't high, he breathed a little easier:
"Gen, please watch the house for me, I'll be right back."
The Dark Old Man frowned: "Brother Chen, Gao Ming has long been battle-hardened, unlike you... Oh well, I'll wait here for you."
Seeing Chen Ye's determination, he no longer tried to dissuade him.
Nor did he offer to help Chen Ye.
The Dark Old Man had an elderly mother at home and didn't want to get involved in gang conflicts.
By coming to warn Chen Ye, he had already repaid the favor of Chen Ye going out late at night to cure the Cyan Luo Grass for him.
...
The dusk, filled with goose-feather snowflakes obscuring the view,
Taoist Zhang, invigorated, his hunched body unexpectedly straightened up.
He changed into a clean black robe, gazing at the chaotic slum with a sense of superiority showing on his wrinkled old face.
"That kid, just because he's wearing new clothes, does he think he's something now? The old Taoist is merely lazy to compete with the young,"
Gao Ming twitched his mouth but didn't spoil the old man's mood.
The old man indeed came up with a good idea for the Jade Lizard Association.
He led the way, capturing countless wasted people lost in pleasure from the nooks of the slums.
Gao Ming had never realized there was such a group of useless Cultivators in the market.
They didn't need any coercion; as soon as he appeared, they obediently followed him to East Valley.
"Are you sure Chen Ye won't cause trouble?"
Gao Ming finally asked, as among the names Taoist Zhang listed, he was most concerned about this person.
First, because this person could tend to Spirit Plants, precisely the talent needed in East Valley.
Second, because how could this person, as a Fourth-Layer Cultivator in Qi Cultivation, have fallen to such a state?
"Heh! Taoist Friend Gao, have any of those people in the past caused trouble? This Chen Ye, once you inquire about him, you'll know, just recently he was beaten by a young Cultivator and didn't even dare to fight back, slinking home to lie down."
Taoist Zhang still harbored resentment for Chen Ye's mockery, holding a stomach full of anger.
He sneered coldly: "Taoist Friend Gao, Chen Ye has two disciples, when he goes to East Valley, let this old man take care of his disciples."
"Suit yourself." Gao Ming was indifferent.
Swoosh—
The piercing cold wind made Taoist Zhang's neck shrink.
The incoming snowflakes blurred his vision.
When the wind stopped, and the snowflakes dispersed,
A suddenly appeared shadow in a straw raincoat stood at the chaotic alley entrance.
Taoist Zhang's gaze froze.
The man had a longsword on his back, fingers twirling with a strand of golden energy, face exposed, his face was hard under the straw hat, eyes sharp, staring at him.
Gao Ming immediately placed his hand on the sword handle, his expression alert.
"He... he is Chen Ye!"
Taoist Zhang nearly lost his composure, immediately shrinking behind Gao Ming.
Gao Ming cursed inwardly, is this kind of person a waste?
"Friend, wait..." his voice hadn't fallen yet.
A streak of golden light suddenly broke through the snow screen, turning into a golden arc, stirring up the snowflakes, heading straight behind Gao Ming.
No matter how much Gao Ming looked down on Taoist Zhang, he was also a member of the Jade Lizard Association!
He gripped his longsword tightly, blood and Spiritual Power surged into the sword handle.
With a clanging sound, he drew his sword!
"Clang!"
The longsword vibrated, and the snow-white blade got a gap in it.
The golden light, like a star, shot into a nearby tree trunk, and the thick trunk, needing two people to embrace, crashed down.
"So fast! Is this Geng Metal Qi??"
Gao Ming had never seen anyone cultivate the First Tier magic, the Geng Metal Technique, to such a degree, he turned pale with shock.
Regretting believing Taoist Zhang's slander.
Merit is indeed important, but his own life is more precious!
Taoist Zhang saw Gao Ming block the Sword Qi, letting out a long breath.
He was drenched in sweat, furious out of shame:
"Old Chen, how dare you… he's with the Jade Lizard Association! When you're dead, this old man will certainly take good care of your disciples!"
"Shut up!" Gao Ming shouted angrily, he knew the person in front of him wasn't so simple!
Yet another golden light came into view.
But what made Gao Ming despair was the appearance of eight more after this golden light!
Legend has it that only True Man Bai Li, the creator of the Geng Metal Technique, can release ten strands of energy at once!
At this moment, nine strands of Geng Metal Qi turned into different trajectories, attacking together, there's no blocking them!
Taoist Zhang's legs gave out, disregarding Gao Ming, turning around to flee backward.
Swish, swish—
Two strands of Geng Metal Qi sliced his knees.
Taoist Zhang howled miserably, falling to the ground, blood sprayed, dyeing the yet-to-fall snowflakes red.
"Old Chen… Old Chen we are neighbors, why so ruthless!"
Taoist Zhang's face turned ashen, continuously crawling backward with his hands.
Chen Ye didn't look at him, his gaze fixed on Gao Ming:
"This person has stolen my belongings, does Taoist Friend intend to protect him?"
Gao Ming was chilled to the bone, managing to block only four out of the nine strands of Geng Metal Qi, the rest five passed directly by him, targeting Taoist Zhang.
If he had wanted to kill him, he would already be dead!
Gao Ming forced himself to speak: "Zhang Hong, after all, is a member of my Jade Lizard Association, I hope Taoist Friend shows leniency..."
But at this moment, someone shouted harshly:
"Gao Ming, shut up! You are a member of the Jade Lizard Association, why humble yourself to a mere slum Loose Cultivator?"
"Hall Master!" Taoist Zhang was overjoyed.
Behind him, a person quietly appeared, looking down at Taoist Zhang on the ground.
This person was nine feet tall, burly, the Hall Master of Nifeng Hall in the Jade Lizard Association, with a cultivation at the Seventh-Layer Qi Cultivation!
Chen Ye's other three strands of Geng Metal Qi were at this moment held in his hand, constantly struggling!