Space Grid

Chen Fei said nothing, merely watching the two men.

"Take a look at this portrait. See if you can spot anything unusual."

Seeing Chen Fei's guarded expression, Xing Wenxiang smiled. "We suspect this person used a Disguise Technique. Could we trouble you to help?"

Chen Fei's expression did not change. He put on his deerskin gloves before accepting the portrait.

The portrait was skillfully drawn and looked almost identical to the appearance Chen Fei had taken on when he disguised himself. This showed just how deeply Ling HanJun had been impressed by that incident.

"It's difficult to spot anything unusual from a portrait alone."

After studying it for a few moments, Chen Fei looked up at the two men. He was simply telling the truth. A portrait was something processed after the fact, especially one drawn by an artist based on Ling HanJun's description.

Even if there had been something unusual, it would have been difficult for the artist to capture it.

To truly tell whether someone had used a Disguise Technique, one still had to see them in person. Just as Xing Wenxiang had recognized at a glance that Chen Fei's current appearance had been altered through disguise.

"Is that so? What a pity."

Xing Wenxiang glanced at Ling HanJun. In truth, he knew that a portrait alone could reveal nothing, and Ling HanJun merely suspected that the other person had used a Disguise Technique.

Had anyone else come asking, Xing Wenxiang would have refused long ago; it was simply impossible to accomplish. But Ling HanJun was different. He could not refuse him and could only occasionally come to the Dark market to keep watch.

Following Chen Fei here now was merely to let Ling HanJun observe him up close and see whether the man before them was suspicious, nothing more.

"Friend, do you usually use a saber?"

Ling HanJun glanced at Chen Fei's long saber. From the saber technique he had just seen, it was truly quite ordinary. Of course, it was normal for a Rogue Cultivator to have unremarkable techniques; there was nothing particularly strange about it.

"What are you trying to ask?"

Chen Fei watched Ling HanJun warily and did not answer directly.

"Nothing much. I saw you defeat five men in a single move just now, and my hands are itching. Would you be willing to exchange a few moves?" Ling HanJun stared at Chen Fei.

"My talents are shallow and my learning slight. I dare not make a fool of myself!"

Chen Fei shook his head and took a step back. Fighting was out of the question. This saber of his existed solely to conceal his identity.

Of course, to better match this saber, Chen Fei had deliberately learned a basic saber technique and raised it to Great Perfection.

"Is that so? What a pity."

Seeing Chen Fei looking ready to flee at any moment, Ling HanJun tugged at the corner of his mouth but did not press him further.

A moment later, Chen Fei unfolded his movement technique and vanished from the spot.

To dispel Ling HanJun's suspicions, Chen Fei deliberately displayed the nimbleness of his movement technique to the fullest.

That night, Ling HanJun had seen only his appearance and movement technique, not even a single sword move. Since that was the case, Chen Fei needed to completely sever himself from his former identity.

And thanks to the three movement technique manuals he had obtained from the Zhang Family, Chen Fei's lightness skill was now completely different from before. There was no need to worry about being linked to it.

"Well?"

Seeing Ling HanJun lost in thought, Xing Wenxiang could not help but ask with a smile.

"It probably wasn't him." Ling HanJun thought for a moment, then shook his head.

"It's fine. I'll accompany you to visit several experts within the county over the next few days. If we still find nothing, then that person has likely left Pingyin County."

Ling HanJun nodded faintly and said nothing more.

Chen Fei made several detours before returning to the courtyard he rented.

Chen Fei frowned slightly. He had not expected Ling HanJun to be so persistent. Fortunately, Chen Fei had made many preparations in order to sell pills.

Returning to his room, Chen Fei took off the bundle on his back. Looking at the gleaming silver within, he could not help but smile.

More than five hundred taels. At this rate of earning, the fifty thousand taels for Dragon Subduing Elephant would take only a few months. Of course, Chen Fei could not remain in Pingyin County that long, but with his alchemy skill, he could still earn money quickly in other cities later.

"Store!"

With a thought, the silver on the table vanished instantly. The balance displayed on the panel jumped sharply, immediately surpassing five thousand taels of silver.

Chen Fei admired his savings for a while. Just as he was about to close the panel, he suddenly noticed an exclamation mark in its upper-right corner.

Chen Fei's heart stirred. This was the first time he had discovered such a change on the panel. When he opened the exclamation mark, a message appeared in his mind.

"Space Grid?"

After digesting the information in his mind, Chen Fei was somewhat stunned.

The panel told Chen Fei that because his stored value had exceeded five thousand taels, he could now spend five thousand taels of silver to exchange for a Space Grid. This Space Grid was one cubic meter in size and could store items.

"The panel actually has an ability like this."

Chen Fei hesitated briefly, then chose to exchange for it.

He had no major expenses to make recently. He was still far from gathering the fifty thousand taels for Dragon Subduing Elephant. As for simplifying other cultivation methods, his current rate of earning was more than enough.

More importantly, the Space Grid could store items. If it truly worked as Chen Fei expected, it would be incredibly convenient, far beyond what five thousand taels could compare to.

The panel's stored value instantly dropped to a few dozen taels. At the same time, a Space Layer appeared before Chen Fei's senses.

Excitement appeared on Chen Fei's face as he began studying the Space Grid.

Half an hour later, his investigation was over, and the delight on Chen Fei's face had vanished. Frowning slightly, he kept rubbing his chin.

The Space Grid could indeed hold things, but it could only hold one item.

After placing his longbow inside, he could not put the arrows in. Unless he took out the longbow first before storing something else.

"It really is a Space Grid. No wonder five thousand taels could buy it."

Chen Fei scratched his head. The Space Grid had a full cubic meter of space, but if it could only store one item at a time, its usefulness immediately dropped.

"Is this making me save money and keep buying more grids?"

Chen Fei paced around the room, continuously thinking over the panel's description of the Space Grid. A moment later, his steps paused as he entered the kitchen.

Looking at the entire sack of rice before him, he guided it with his mind. The next moment, the rice vanished and appeared inside the Space Grid.

Chen Fei's expression shifted, joy appearing in his eyes. The rice reappeared in the kitchen. Chen Fei stepped forward and opened the sack, revealing the pale yellow grains inside.

Using the same mental guidance, while leaving the entire sack of rice untouched, the attempt failed.

"So as long as it's wrapped up, it counts as one item?"

Chen Fei did not dare delay. He stuffed all the pots, bowls, ladles, and basins in the kitchen into a burlap sack, then tightly sealed it. The next moment, the entire sack appeared inside the Space Grid.

"So that's how it works!"

Chen Fei finally could not help laughing. Still, taking out and putting back an entire sack was somewhat inconvenient. Chen Fei thought for a moment, and his eyes gradually lit up.

Early the next morning, after receiving the medicinal ingredients delivered by the Zhao Family, Chen Fei left the house.

Compared to its former bustle, Pingyin County now seemed somewhat lifeless. Many people hurried along, rushing home as soon as they finished their business, not daring to linger on the streets.

Moreover, the streets were mostly filled with men. Chen Fei had hardly seen a single woman.

Thinking of what the rebel army had done, Chen Fei let out a soft sigh.