NCCnovel Chapter 30 Escape the Search
Chapter 30 Escape the Search
Chapter 30 Escape the Search
Half a month later, Chen Yi had transformed all the innate true energy in his body into water and wood magic power. However, by using the second-level concealment technique, he only revealed a faint trace of innate true energy fluctuations to the outside world, pretending that he was "currently breaking through to the innate level".
The black market transaction that happened half a month ago has finally been traced back to this small town.
With Hao Youren's cooperation, the Dong family cultivators searched the martial artists in the lakeside town one by one, focusing on innate martial artists around twenty years old and those with special demonic markings on their bodies—these were the characteristics of those who cultivated the Vajra Technique.
The martial artists in the town were gathered together, and each of them was required to take off their shirts and have their skin checked for demonic markings.
When it was Chen Yi's turn, he remained calm and slowly took off his outer garment, revealing a middle-aged body in his thirties—muscular but without any demonic markings on his skin.
"Name?" the Dong family cultivator asked in a cold voice.
"Chen Yi".
"Cultivation level?"
"A top-tier martial artist is attempting to break through to the Innate Realm."
Chen Yi activated the Concealing Breath Technique, revealing only a faint fluctuation of innate true energy within his body, perfectly matching the state of "breaking through to the innate level".
The Dong family cultivator frowned, reached out and pressed on Chen Yi's shoulder, probing him with his spiritual sense.
— Chen Yi was well prepared. His water and wood magic power was perfectly concealed by the second-level concealment technique. Only a wisp of innate true qi flowed in his meridians, making him look like a martial artist attempting a breakthrough.
"Indeed a first-rate martial artist, with a small amount of internal energy within his body transforming into innate energy." The Dong family cultivator withdrew his hand and gave a calm evaluation.
At this moment, Hao Youren spoke up: "This old Chen is an old acquaintance of mine. He is an honest man who has always been in charge of processing monster hides. His skills are excellent, and he has never participated in any black market transactions."
Hao Youren is now a favorite of the Dong family, and his words carry considerable weight.
Upon hearing this, the Dong family cultivator glanced at Chen Yi a few times and nodded secretly:
"With solid martial arts skills and good muscle strength, he is indeed a good person to deal with demonic beasts."
So, Chen Yi, right? I'll register you later and arrange a job for you.
Our Dong Clan Lake and Sea Market is about to be completed. You can continue with your old profession of dealing with monsters.
"Thank you, steward."
Chen Yi clasped his hands in thanks.
After the Dong family cultivators left, Hao Youren patted Chen Yi on the shoulder and lowered his voice, saying, "Old Chen, do you know why the Dong family is conducting such a large-scale search?"
Just because some young lad obtained a body-refining technique and became a body cultivator, he tore Dong Mingcheng's bronze shield in two with his bare hands! That was a defensive magic weapon—tsk tsk."
"The Dong family said that the body cultivator might be connected to a traitor from the Jade Dragon Sect, causing us all to take medicine!"
Chen Yi chimed in, "Yeah, it's all that wretched kid's fault, otherwise we wouldn't have been searched along with him."
"No, that's not it. What I'm trying to say is, how did that lucky kid manage to get his hands on the sect's advanced body-refining techniques?"
If I had it, wouldn't I be able to take off too?
I'm so fucking envious of that little bastard!
"Well"
Hao Youren was filled with envy and jealousy, while Chen Yi could only nod and agree casually.
Chen Yi passed the inspection smoothly.
Huo Sanniang's side is in some trouble.
"Did the Bingsan token originate from you?"
The mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator from the Dong family stared down at Huo San Niang with a scrutinizing look in his eyes.
Huo Sanniang remained expressionless, smiled charmingly, and spoke in a soft yet measured voice:
"My esteemed master, that token did indeed pass through my hands, but I only handed it over to a martial artist I temporarily employed. That person was nearly forty years old, not some young genius, and I had no close relationship with him."
"Oh? Where is he?"
"I heard he went to another city on business recently, but I don't know the specifics."
The Dong family cultivator narrowed his eyes, clearly not believing this explanation.
"Huo Sanniang, you'd better confess honestly, or you'll suffer the torment of having your soul searched!"
Huo San Niang's heart tightened, but she remained calm on the surface.
The Soul Searching Technique can, at best, damage a person's mind, and at worst, turn them into an idiot. She absolutely cannot bear it.
Just as the atmosphere became tense, Hao Youren strode forward, a smile plastered on his face, and cupped his hands in greeting:
"Fellow Daoist Dong, please calm down! Huo Sanniang has lived in the lakeside town for many years and has always been well-behaved. There is absolutely no way she could be involved with that twenty-year-old body-refining thug. Moreover, the martial artist holding the token is indeed a mortal nearing forty years old, and is definitely not the person the Dong family is looking for."
The Dong family cultivator snorted coldly, his gaze sweeping over Hao Youren.
Hao Youren is now the steward of the Dong family. After advancing to the Innate Realm, he became a cultivator and his status is not low. His words still carry some weight.
"Soul searching is a demonic technique. If it gets out, it might damage the Dong family's reputation..." Hao Youren lowered his voice and added.
Huo Sanniang took out a cloth bag from her sleeve at the opportune moment and respectfully handed it over:
"Immortal Master, you have worked hard. This is just a small token of my respect, not a token of my gratitude."
The cloth bag contained a dozen or so spirit stones. Although it wasn't a lot, it was still a considerable sum of extra money for a Qi Refining cultivator. This was all of Huo San Niang's savings from this period of time.
The Dong family cultivator weighed the brocade pouch in his hand, his expression softening slightly, before finally letting out a cold snort:
"This matter will be noted for now. If we find you have any further connections with the black market, we will not let you off lightly!"
Huo Sanniang bowed deeply, her eyes lowered demurely, and said:
"Thank you for your magnanimity, Immortal Master."
After the Dong family cultivators left, Huo Sanniang finally breathed a sigh of relief, her back soaked with cold sweat.
She thanked Hao Youren, saying, "Thank you for your help, Manager Hao."
Hao Youren shook his head slightly, a hint of worry in his eyes:
"Madam Huo, don't let your guard down. This involves the important matter of the Jade Dragon Sect's body-refining inheritance. The Dong family won't let it go so easily. He only let you off the hook today because he took a few spirit stones from you. You still need to be careful afterward and make sure you don't leave any evidence against him."
Upon hearing this, Huo Sanniang felt a pang of anxiety, thinking of the subordinate she had sent away to avoid trouble. Unless she permanently...
She immediately shook her head; no matter what, she could not bring herself to kill her own people to silence them.
Late at night, she sought out Chen Yi to report and discuss:
"Brother Chen, what do we do now?"
"Tell your underling not to come back."
Keep a low profile for the time being, and avoid contact with the black market. Wait until things calm down before making any further moves.
Huo Sanniang sighed, "Alright."
Her cultivation resources all depend on her social connections and team. If she keeps a low profile now, things might get very difficult later. Moreover, she just offered all her spirit stones to the Dong family cultivators, and now she's feeling even more bitter.
Seeing this, Chen Yi gave her an address.
"There are sixty spirit stones buried there. Once things have calmed down, go and retrieve them for your own cultivation. Consider it compensation for this incident."
"You can compensate your younger brother appropriately once things are safe later, so he can live a life free from want."
This black market turmoil was caused by Chen Yi using the token, which implicated Huo Sanniang and her underlings. Chen Yi will take responsibility.
Although spirit stones are valuable, Chen Yi is also clear about his gratitude and grudges. He will not be stingy with his own people, especially since the value of that tortoise shell alone exceeds a thousand spirit stones.
"Sixty spirit stones?!"
This was the wealth that Huo Sanniang hadn't accumulated in several years.
She was deeply moved:
"Brother Chen, don't worry, Third Sister Ling Shi will accept it. Even if this matter comes to light, Third Sister would rather die than betray you!"
Chen Yi nodded, then refused Huo Sanniang's request to serve him in bed and sent her away.
"Although the Dong family's search is thorough, it is ultimately only targeting 'twenty-year-old innate martial artists' and 'demon marks.' I am currently well disguised and have Hao Youren's endorsement, so I am temporarily safe."
"As long as there are no problems with Huo Sanniang, I am safe."
"It's just that I can't go out and do things as a 20-year-old body cultivator for a short time, in order to prevent the Dong family from setting a trap."
(End of this chapter)