Ye Chen temporarily settled down in Hui Feng City.

If the leader of Black Wind Village doesn't show up by tomorrow morning, I'll have to return to the Martial Arts Academy first.

Missing the deadline for mission submission would make this whole task pointless, and I'd be punished for it.

He found an inn and checked in.

In the guest room.

Ye Chen began to carefully count the spoils of this journey.

There were quite a few good items.

Twenty-five Spiritual Artifacts.

Three Magical Artifacts.

Over 1,300 low-grade primal stones.

The pills meant to replenish Qi and Blood essence and restore Spiritual Power had already been used by Ye Chen, but there was still a pile of pills for cultivation and healing.

As for taels of silver and other riches, Ye Chen didn't bother to count them.

After storing away his treasures, he left out more than ten low-grade primal stones, arranged them around his room, then chose a bottle of pills to aid cultivation, swallowed them, and immediately began to circulate the Nine Heavens Sword Manual cultivation technique.

In the small room.

The primal power contained in more than ten low-grade primal stones was drawn by Ye Chen's power, quickly rushing into his body.

Meanwhile, the pill he had taken dissolved into a warm energy, circulating within him, helping him quickly refine the primal power of heaven and earth. Once the refined power became pure, it was converted into Sword Yuan, surging into Ye Chen's Dantian.

As of now.

Inside Ye Chen's Dantian, there existed a Sea of Qi and three Primordial Power Vortices.

With a continuous influx of Sword Yuan, the Sea of Qi was boiling, beginning to pull a vortex of primordial power closer, and the two were slowly merging.

Late at night.

In Ye Chen's room.

Cracking sounds echoed.

The low-grade primal stones placed in the room cracked one after another, turning to powder.

After a day, he had already consumed over fifty low-grade primal stones and swallowed three bottles of cultivation pills, and in his Dantian, the Sea of Qi had expanded again, leaving only two primordial vortices.

Sea of Qi Realm, eighth level!

"Using pills to aid cultivation occasionally is fine, but it shouldn't be done frequently." Ye Chen muttered to himself. Cultivating with pills indeed sped up progress, but doing it regularly would have more drawbacks than benefits.

The leader of Black Wind Village still hadn't appeared, but Ye Chen wasn't worried. The best time to act was late at night; there was a chance they would appear soon.

So, Ye Chen began to tap into the power of the two Extreme Celestial Spirit Seals in his Sea of Consciousness World. Two golden projections floated out from his forehead, illuminating the dark room with a brilliant glow. Such extraordinary sharpness burst forth that if not for Ye Chen keeping it controlled, the whole room would likely have been sliced into pieces!

Although Ye Chen hadn't learned the techniques for using Spirit Seals in combat, he had seen others do it enough times.

Recently, he'd often sparred with Spirit Masters.

To fight with Spirit Seals, first, the Seal projections must unite to consolidate power for an eruption.

Under Ye Chen's control, the two Seal projections slowly moved closer and then began to merge.

There was some resistance during the process.

But it wasn't significant.

The force controlling the Seal projections was Spiritual Power; Ye Chen's Spiritual Power was strong, and in a few breaths, the two Seal projections had already fused.

"Still too slow." Ye Chen was a bit dissatisfied with the situation.

Other Spirit Masters could instantly fuse Seal projections, but it took him several breaths, which was too slow!

He could guess why.

This was simply a matter of practice making perfect.

So, Ye Chen continued to retract the Seal projections, then control them to manifest and merge again.

Unconsciously.

The dark night gradually lightened.

Yet even at this hour, Hui Feng City remained deeply quiet.

Suddenly.

While becoming familiar with controlling the Seals in his room, Ye Chen felt a sense of alert; several presences were quietly approaching his room.

They finally arrived!

Ye Chen retracted the Seal projections and drew the Celestial Mark Sword that lay across his knees.

He held the sword in his right hand.

With his left, he picked up a silk handkerchief and meticulously wiped the blade.

Outside the window.

A shadow flickered.

Ye Chen swung his sword sharply.

"Swish!"

A chilling Sword Qi burst out instantly, shooting forward.

"Bang!"

Immediately followed by the dull thud of a body hitting the ground.

Ye Chen's figure flashed, a gust of wind shattered the window, and he rushed out, standing in mid-air.

Around the tavern's rooftops, six mountain bandits in black cloaks rushed over, surrounding Ye Chen.

On the street lay a corpse, a bandit Ye Chen had just slain with a single stroke.

Ye Chen's gaze swept over the bandits.

Six of them.

All of them were Elemental Wheel Realm!

Though the strongest among them was only Elemental Wheel Realm Seventh Layer, such combined force was already quite formidable!

"I thought the leader of Black Wind Village would come, but it's just a bunch of nobodies." Ye Chen sneered, the Celestial Mark Sword in his hand let out a crisp sword cry, the sword light dazzling!

The Elemental Wheel Realm Seventh Layer bandit shouted in anger, "Brat, don't be arrogant! So many of us have come to kill you, a mere Sea of Qi Realm, you're doomed!"

Clearly, these bandits hadn't discovered Ye Chen's true identity; when he dealt with the second and third leaders of Black Wind Village, he left no survivors!

"To kill me, you're still far off. Let's start with you!" Ye Chen said with a cold laugh at the Elemental Wheel Realm Seventh Layer bandit who shouted, and in the next moment, he strode with his Heaven-Ascending Step, appearing right in front of the bandit.

The bandit's face showed fear.

Ye Chen thrust his sword.

The phenomenon of Corpse Mountain and Blood Sea emerged, a slash across worlds!

"Pfft!"

The sharp sword pierced the throat!

A corpse dangled from Ye Chen's sword tip.

The surrounding Elemental Wheel Realm bandits were terrified, their faces displaying fear.

At that moment.

A loud shout echoed from all directions.

"Black Wind Village bandits have infiltrated, kill them!"

A leader in armor, leading a large number of soldiers, charged forward.

"Retreat!"

A Black Wind Village bandit shouted, and then the group immediately began to retreat.

Ye Chen's figure flashed and pursued.

Suddenly, two bandits turned sharply, determination etched on their faces, violent power seething.

"Boom, boom!"

The two Elemental Wheel Realm bandits self-destructed!

The massive explosions shattered the calm of dawn.

Ye Chen emerged from the storm.

"May I know how to address you, young master?"

The middle-aged leading general who had brought the troops arrived in the air, cupping his hands to Ye Chen.

Ye Chen scrutinized the general, nodding.

The general said, "I am Lin Shi of Hui Feng City's Defense Army. We were patrolling the city when we sensed movement and rushed over. Unfortunately, we arrived a bit late, and those bandits managed to flee.

The Black Wind Village bandits have been causing too much trouble and must be eradicated. It's a pity that recently, seventy percent of Unparalleled County's forces have been dispatched to Demon Suppression Valley... From what I see, young master, your strength is exceptional. We hope you can assist our Defense Army in tracking these bandits and wiping them out!"

Ye Chen's eyes flickered, his mind racing.

This Lin Shi getting here so quickly, was it really because they were patrolling nearby? Ye Chen hadn't sensed anyone patrolling all night, and now someone was coming around—there's only one explanation, Lin Shi already knew the Black Wind Village bandits would appear.

Moreover, Lin Shi didn't even ask about his identity before inviting him to join their pursuit of the bandits outside the city... There's something unusual about that.

The most plausible scenario.

Lin Shi himself might be part of the Black Wind Village bandits.

"Alright!"

Ye Chen agreed decisively.

I'll play along with them, the real show is about to begin!

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