Heyang City

It turns out that while sword riding is incredibly cool, flying for too long is also a form of torture. Although the art of sword riding can create a barrier to block wind and rain, it doesn't block the sun. Even though it's not the height of summer, the sun is still quite strong. So, after flying for two to three hours, Ye Yun had to admit defeat under the increasingly high sun and landed in the forest below. After all, his cultivation was still a bit short of being impervious to the elements.

Forests are naturally full of snakes, rats, insects, and beasts like tigers and wolves, let alone in this fantasy world. However, the aura emanating from Ye Yun told them that this person was not to be trifled with. Therefore, wherever Ye Yun went, snakes and rats retreated, and a fierce tiger not far away even turned and fled. But there are always exceptions. After Ye Yun leaped through the woods for over ten li, a giant black bear blocked his path, roaring incessantly at him.

Ye Yun sized up the giant bear, which stood nearly three meters tall when on its hind legs. His gaze finally fell upon the bear's massive paws. He licked his lips and said softly, "I've been traveling for so long, and I'm quite hungry. I've decided, you're my lunch today."

Half an hour later, an enticing aroma wafted through the forest. A bear paw, slightly larger than a grown man's thigh, sizzled as golden oil continuously seeped out. Not far away, a massive bear carcass, missing its front paws, lay sprawled on the ground.

Using a small knife, Ye Yun made a few more cuts on the already golden-brown, roasted bear paw, then sprinkled on some cumin. A fragrant, roasted bear paw was fresh out of the "oven." Finding a good spot to bite down, he blew on it and took a bite. The crisp exterior contrasted sharply with the tender, smooth interior. Combined with the aroma of cumin, it was incredibly delicious. The only minor drawback was the excessive oil, which made it a bit too hot for his mouth.

After eating his fill, Ye Yun looked at the bear carcass not far away and fell into thought. Finally, with a wave of his right hand, the small knife used for cutting meat shot out like lightning. In just a few strokes, it sliced through the giant bear's hide, and he extracted the bear gall, which was even larger than his palm. This was a valuable item, an excellent ingredient for alchemy or medicine.

After processing the bear gall and placing it in his satchel, Ye Yun glanced at the bright sun overhead and then at the black bear. He set to work, skinning the bear. He then cut down several branches and used them to prop open the hide, creating something like a canopy. He used his object manipulation ability to test it out and found it didn't require much effort. Thus, he mounted his sword again and took to the sky, placing the bear hide canopy above his head to block the sun. Although it looked a bit silly and unconventional, it was much better than hopping around in the forest. Moreover, he only had six or seven thumb-sized silver pieces on him. This bear hide could not only provide shade but also be sold for some silver coins upon arrival, a win-win situation.

Ye Yun's destination was Heyang City. In the original story, this was the first stop for Zhang Xiaofan and the others after descending the mountain. Ye Yun chose this location not to follow in their footsteps, but because Heyang City was the largest and most prosperous place within a hundred li radius. It was home to two to thirty thousand people, boasting a prime location with heavy foot traffic from merchants, making it incredibly lively.

The journey from Qingyun Mountain to Heyang City was only about half a day. Since Ye Yun had already been traveling for several hours, after sword riding for just over an hour, he spotted a bustling, large city in the distance.

This city looked much like the ancient cities seen on television: high walls built of stone bricks and low houses. Although he couldn't see the details of the city's interior, the crowds coming and going from the city gates indicated its prosperity.

Ye Yun found a secluded spot to land, slung his long sword across his back, rolled up the bear hide, and tied it with vines. He then cut a long wooden pole, skewered the tied bear hide and another uneaten bear paw onto it, and ambled towards the main road.

Ye Yun's appearance was quite eye-catching: a handsome young man with a sword on his back, yet carrying a black bear hide. It was as bizarre as it could get. However, due to the sword on his back, others, though curious, dared not say anything.

Heyang City was very prosperous due to its location, and the pedestrians were a mixed bunch. Therefore, despite Ye Yun's strange getup, the guards at the gate merely glanced at him with curiosity and questioned him, allowing Ye Yun to enter Heyang City smoothly.

Ye Yun didn't have much silver and didn't want to reveal his identity as a disciple of the Qingyun Sect. So, after entering the city, he found a fur shop, intending to sell the bear hide. Then, he planned to find a decent inn to stay in and gather information about the surroundings, hoping to find clues about any treasures.

When Ye Yun unfurled the bear hide, which was over two meters long and more than a meter wide, the shopkeeper was astonished. He had seen good furs before, but this was the first time he had encountered such a massive bear hide. Even more rare was that this hide was pure black, dark and lustrous, with a faint shimmer under the sunlight, clearly indicating it was no ordinary item. Unfortunately, the hide was not complete.

"What a shame. If this bear hide were complete, it would be worth at least one hundred and fifty taels of silver. Unfortunately, it's too damaged, missing the head entirely. It's worth at most fifty taels," the shopkeeper said regretfully, his hand never leaving the bear hide. Clearly, Ye Yun's bear hide was worth far more.

The shopkeeper's acting was a bit lacking, and who was Ye Yun? He was a transmigator, bombarded by a massive amount of information in his previous life. If he were fooled by this shopkeeper's petty tricks, he shouldn't bother living anymore.

"Shopkeeper, let's be frank. I know a bit about the rules of your trade. Just give me a fair price; I don't have time for haggling. If you try any more tricks, I'll turn around and leave without a second word. I'm not short on money," Ye Yun said, placing his hand on the bear hide, as if ready to leave if his demands weren't met.

The shopkeeper took another careful look at Ye Yun's clothes. He then noticed that although Ye Yun's clothes didn't look luxurious, the material was extremely fine. It was a very famous fabric called cloud brocade. Clothes made from this material were not only incredibly tough, comparable to cowhide, but also very soft and comfortable. This outfit alone was enough to buy all the furs in his shop. Ordinary wealthy families wouldn't even have the chance to see such fabric, let alone wear it, because it was woven from silk produced by a type of silkworm called cloud silkworm. These cloud silkworms could only be found in places rich in spiritual energy, and ordinary people couldn't afford it.

The shopkeeper had been in the fur trade for many years and knew exactly who he could take advantage of and who he couldn't. Initially, seeing Ye Yun, despite carrying a precious sword, he thought the young man was inexperienced and tried to get a bargain. But now, he no longer dared to think that. Someone who could wear such clothes was either extremely wealthy or noble, and he couldn't afford to offend them. In the end, he offered one hundred taels for Ye Yun's bear hide.