Over the next two days, Jiang Yun and Xia Weier kept an extremely low profile. The bargain they had stumbled upon was too enormous, and they feared they might not be able to hold onto it.
A Divine Source of that size alone was worth two or three hundred thousand jin of Pure Source. The treasure sealed within it was worth more than ten times that amount.
Jiang Yun chipped off two pieces of Divine Source, and the two of them cultivated directly in the courtyard they had rented, quietly awaiting the opening of the Domain Gate.
The two days passed in a flash. The pair headed straight for Purple Heaven Capital's Domain Gate and paid a full hundred jin of Source before boarding it.
This Domain Gate was clearly somewhat larger than Qingwei Sect's, capable of accommodating several thousand cultivators.
Unfortunately, as Jiang Yun and Xia Weier entered the Domain Gate, they ran into Zhao Fa and the group from Purple Mansion Holy Land again. They too seemed to be heading for the Northern Region.
Jiang Yun inwardly cursed his bad luck.
Zhao Fa showed no reaction. The two were clearly not figures from any major power, so naturally, he could not be bothered to pay them any attention.
However, after Jiang Yun and Xia Weier passed him, Zhao Fa's nose twitched. As he watched their retreating figures, a strange gleam flashed in his eyes.
"Friends, please wait." Zhao Fa called out to them.
Jiang Yun inwardly cursed again.
He stopped and turned around. "May I ask what Brother Zhao wishes to advise me on?"
"I would not dare call it advice. I recalled something just now and failed to greet you two properly. I truly apologize."
With an apologetic look, Zhao Fa carefully sized Jiang Yun up, as though confirming something.
"It is nothing. Brother Zhao remembering the two of us is already enough to move Jiang Yun."
As he spoke, Jiang Yun invoked the backing of the Jiang surname.
"So you are from the Jiang Family, Fellow Daoist. It seems Zhao has failed to recognize greatness."
Zhao Fa was somewhat surprised by Jiang Yun's background. Had he misjudged him? Could this man truly possess such a backing?
Several disciples of Purple Mansion Holy Land also turned to look.
Although the Ancient Era Jiang Family stood on equal footing with holy lands, holy lands themselves varied in rank. Purple Mansion Holy Land was no match for the Jiang Family.
"So he is an outstanding talent of the Jiang Family. Truly a dragon among men and a phoenix among mortals. It makes us wish to befriend him."
They had initially regarded Jiang Yun as a mere passerby, but upon hearing that he was from the Jiang Family, their demeanor immediately became far more cordial.
"How could I compare to Fellow Daoist Zhao? You have already entered the third secret realm at such a young age. Jiang is ashamed to be inferior."
Jiang Yun exchanged pleasantries with him as well.
"The Divine Material I recommended yesterday was not bad, was it? I imagine Brother Dao must have gained quite a harvest."
Zhao Fa suddenly stopped fencing with words and asked casually.
"Perhaps my luck was poor, so I failed to live up to Brother Zhao's goodwill."
Jiang Yun put on a regretful expression, as though somewhat annoyed.
But when he saw Zhao Fa's nose twitch several more times, he could not help sighing inwardly. Could this man have the nose of a dog?
"That is truly regrettable. If there is another chance, Zhao will certainly find a good stone for Brother Jiang."
Zhao Fa spoke to Jiang Yun with apparent sincerity and even tried to grab his hand.
But Jiang Yun dodged aside.
"Fellow Daoist Zhao Fa's understanding of Source Stones is extraordinary. Brother Jiang has truly struck it lucky. We had to ask our Holy Son senior brother before we could invite him."
Jiang Yun listened to the Purple Mansion Holy Land disciples and Zhao Fa praising one another without interrupting.
"Fellow Daoists, the Domain Gate is about to open. We will be leaving first."
Jiang Yun could not be bothered to keep up false civility with them, so he directly led Xia Weier away.
"Brother Jiang, sorry for the trouble, but please send my greetings to brothers Jiang Yichen and Jiang Yitian. I have not seen them in a year."
Zhao Fa's voice suddenly came from behind him.
"Very well. I will convey your greetings."
Jiang Yun turned around and gave Zhao Fa a deep look before leaving.
The smile on Zhao Fa's face became somewhat meaningful.
Truth and falsehood were difficult to distinguish. Jiang Yichen did exist, but Jiang Yitian was questionable. This was Zhao Fa's test, and Jiang Yun understood it.
If the other party harbored ill intentions, Jiang Yun would not be afraid even though they were separated by a major realm. He could not be bothered to continue tangling with him.
During their brief conversation, who knew how many truthful words had actually been spoken?
Soldiers would block soldiers, water would be stopped by earth. No longer dwelling on it, Jiang Yun and Xia Weier boarded the Domain Gate bound for Flat Rock City.
Although Flat Rock City was not particularly famous and could not compare to an ancient city like Purple Heaven Capital,
the locals said that the city had a history of over a thousand years and had always been the central city of this region.
It stood in an oasis spanning several hundred li, an ancient city built entirely from reddish-brown boulders and steeped in the weight of time.
Though not very famous in the Northern Region, it was still far more prosperous than Yan Capital. Every major holy land operated stone workshops here; the Northern Region's stone gambling culture was simply too prevalent.
Jiang Yun and Xia Weier emerged from the Domain Gate and walked some distance ahead.
He discovered that Zhao Fa, along with several Purple Mansion disciples, had also arrived in Flat Rock City.
He understood that Zhao Fa had likely set his sights on them.
Divine Source stirred greed. Recalling Zhao Fa's expression during their earlier conversation, Jiang Yun felt that the man's twitching nose seemed to have detected some sort of aura.
Jiang Yun knew something about Divine Source, but not much. After all, this was a real world, and the descriptions in the book were only the tip of the iceberg.
There were inevitably secret techniques that might be able to sense the aura of Divine Source.
Jiang Yun gave Xia Weier a few instructions, then left Flat Rock City together with her.
The sun was still high in the sky.
Jiang Yun first took Xia Weier to find several cultivators and ask about the location of Lihuo Sect.
The Lihuo Divine Furnace was in Lihuo Sect, making it Jiang Yun's foremost target.
He was also determined to obtain Chen Big Beard's Emperor Jade from Azure Cloud Sect and the Emperor Jade from Mysterious Moon Cave. They were indispensable for entering and leaving Purple Mountain.
He could not help marveling at how many treasures the sects around Purple Mountain possessed.
Among the four sects, three possessed artifacts connected to a Great Emperor.
That was truly ridiculous.
With clues to the Source Heavenly Master's inheritance also in Stone Stronghold, this really was a land of exceptional feng shui.
Although Jiang Yun did not know who Stone Stronghold belonged to, it was located within six hundred-odd li of Flat Rock City.
For a Dao Palace cultivator, searching for it would not be difficult. He would find it eventually.
Lihuo Sect was fairly well-known throughout the area spanning thousands of li. Most cultivators who often searched for Source here knew of the sect.
After gathering the information, Jiang Yun had not even started toward Lihuo Sect when a figure brimming with killing intent blocked his path.
Without question, who else could it be but Zhao Fa? His face no longer bore its usual pretense of refinement.
He descended from the sky, flamboyantly opened the folding fan in his hand, and slowly waved it before shouting angrily.
"You dared to impersonate members of the Jiang Family? You have quite the nerve. Today, I will cleanse the Jiang Family's ranks on Brother Yichen's behalf."
"And you think you are worthy of cleansing our Jiang Family's ranks?"
Jiang Yun was utterly unruffled. He had already expected all of this.
He had not expected Zhao Fa to be on good terms with Jiang Yichen. They truly were snakes of a feather.
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