Chapter 365: 365. Chapter 362: Trouble Again

365. Chapter 362: Trouble Again

The woman also gave Ding Huan a surprised up-and-down glance; after a full ten breaths, she swept her hand, and the clerk's ring landed in her palm—next moment, a storage bag appeared in her hand.

"This storage bag contains two superior-grade spiritual veins—is this yours?" the woman asked Ding Huan.

"Correct," Ding Huan replied calmly.

He had already prepared himself: should fighting break out, he could leave every person here dead.

He never expected the woman would say something like this.

To say this meant clearly she had no desire to fight.

"Let this matter end here. It was our people who erred. Friend, please leave—we won't see you off." The woman extended her hand, signaling Ding Huan to go.

Ding Huan didn't hesitate a moment—he turned and walked away.

Only after Ding Huan left the teahouse did the others, puzzled, ask the woman: "Captain Chang, why let him go?"

The woman's gaze fell on the clerk, face ashen as death, and she sighed: "He had no eyes—he met a ruthless one this time."

If I'm not mistaken, once we fight, we'll lose more than half our people just to hold him down.

You've all followed me for years—it hasn't been easy. After Captain Peng's unfortunate death, I'm even less willing to gamble with your lives."

Everyone was stunned—they were over a dozen, all battle-hardened, none weak.

Dozens of Immortal-Bridge cultivators, facing a man who might not even be at Immortal-Bridge, would lose more than half?

The woman pointed at the man lying on the ground: "How does Wei Dahan Yi Dao's strength compare to yours?"

"Pfft—he's a third-rate brawler. I could take him easily," said a long-haired man, sneering at the clerk.

He despised Wei Dahan Yi Dao—no talent, survived only by stealing guests' Immortal-Energy tea.

The woman said calmly: "Just now, that cultivator knocked out Wei Dahan Yi Dao with a single punch—and didn't even summon his treasure."

His strength likely exceeds mine. Tell me—if we fought, wouldn't we lose more than half?"

Amid the group's stunned expressions, a man with pale skin said: "Captain Chang, if we fight, we might not lose just half—we could be annihilated."

"Jin Luer, what nonsense are you spouting? We're dozens—he's only one man," barked a massively built man.

Even Captain Chang looked puzzled at Jin Luer.

She didn't want to fight Ding Huan—more importantly, since Captain Peng's death, she no longer wished to do such a heartless job.

Jin Luer pointed around: "You may not know—this place already has Void-Strangling Array runes laid, just not activated or fully formed."

If we fight, he'll construct the Strangling Array the instant we move. That's just the first point. Second—he took some things as he left. I saw clearly: high-grade talismans."

At these words, Captain Chang sucked in a sharp breath.

She didn't doubt Jin Luer—among them, Jin Luer was the array master.

Even Jin Luer couldn't lay Void Array runes—meaning the opponent's array art was stronger than his.

"I was wrong just now—I should've gifted him a pot of Immortal-Spirit tea," Captain Chang breathed deeply.

Her thoughts were no longer here—she was already pondering how to meet Ding Huan again.

Jin Luer smiled: "As long as he stays in this Void City, we'll have plenty of chances to befriend him."

Clearly, Jin Luer also believed Ding Huan was a cultivator worth befriending.

…

"Ding Daoist…" Jian Zhengyan hadn't gone far. When he saw Ding Huan nearly punch the clerk to death, his head spun.

What kind of person is this? Can't even bear a little insult—how does he survive in Void City?

Too bad he was dragged into this—if he stayed in Void City, his life might be in danger. He had to find a way to leave.

But where could he go? His cultivation was so low…

As Jian Zhengyan was still lost in thought, Ding Huan's voice cut through his reverie:

"Jian Daoist, I didn't get to offer you Immortal-Energy tea earlier—let's go somewhere else and have some."

"Ding Daoist, you…" Jian Zhengyan stared, frozen, as Ding Huan walked over—he'd just seen over a dozen Immortal-Bridge cultivators enter the teahouse, including Chang Chang Danyi—how was Ding Huan unharmed?

He quickly recovered and waved frantically: "No, no!"

Don't joke—drink that Immortal-Energy tea a few times and his fragile heart would give out.

Seeing Jian Zhengyan was genuinely terrified, Ding Huan handed him the storage bag he'd just reclaimed: "Here—two superior-grade spiritual veins. Take them."

Jian Zhengyan took the bag in bewilderment, only to find Ding Huan already far away—he hurriedly called after him: "Ding Daoist, in half a month, the Immortal Realm's recruitment begins—if you're interested, try it!"

"Thank you," Ding Huan replied, turning and waving. He'd been planning to ask someone about the Immortal Realm's recruitment timing—now Jian Zhengyan had volunteered the information.

He'd have to stay in Void City—after all, it was still relatively safe.

But Void City had no lodging halls; to live here, you had to find—or rather, build—your own dwelling.

Ding Huan wandered the city—there was almost no open land; every inch was occupied by private cave dwellings.

He settled on an abandoned cave dwelling, casually reduced it to dust, then tossed out his own cave treasure.

In this place, if you try to reason with people or demand order, you'd better leave—it's not for you.

Seeing Ding Huan dare to obliterate the cave dwelling, some people cautiously retreated, avoiding any connection to him.

For Jian Zhengyan, Chang Chang Danyi hadn't harassed him—she'd merely asked a few questions and left; he'd been relieved.

But when he heard Ding Huan had smashed Wu Fengzi's cave dwelling, he froze for a long moment, then bolted out of Void City in a frenzy, vanishing instantly.

Better to die in the Void than be tortured by Wu Fengzi. No—this Ding Huan was a madman too.

Caught between these two lunatics, what could he do but wander the Void?

After moving into the cave dwelling, Ding Huan began to deduce.

Too bad his cultivation was still too weak—he hadn't even converted his true energy into Immortal energy; he couldn't deduce anything at all.

To cultivate here, he'd need to deploy a top-grade spiritual vein and a Starlight Spiritual Vein to form a Spirit Gathering Array.

This place was full of poor Immortal-Bridge cultivators—he didn't want a crowd of them scheming around him.

After thinking for a long time, Ding Huan ultimately decided to study the Dao of Talismans.

Unable to cultivate or calculate, he could only remain within his cave dwelling and study the Dao of Talismans.

Ding Huan had never considered that when he casually blasted open an abandoned cave dwelling in the Void City and claimed it as his own, he had offended another ruthless individual.

Only a few days into his study of the Dao of Talismans, the protective seals of his cave dwelling were knocked upon.

With his spiritual sense sweeping out, Ding Huan discovered it was the woman from the Void Tea House, called Captain Yi; he activated his protective array.

"Comrade Ding, might I be permitted to enter for a brief discussion?" This formidable woman now spoke with extreme politeness.

Ding Huan nodded: "Come in."

This woman knew his surname; she must have inquired after Jian Zhengyan.

"Thank you." Captain Yi entered Ding Huan's cave dwelling without the slightest hesitation.

Ding Huan felt a touch of appreciation—he knew this was his cave dwelling; if he had intended to kill Captain Yi, he could have easily slain her the moment she stepped inside.

"I am Chang Chang Danyi. I have been in the Void City for one hundred and twenty-one years, constantly seeking a breath of spiritual qi here.

Besides running a tea house, I often venture into the Void to search for Void Spiritual Yuan Sprouts, barely managing to survive." Chang Chang Danyi revealed everything about herself the moment she entered.

Her first impression was one of boldness, as if she possessed not the slightest trace of deceitful intent.

Ding Huan did not think so.

Captain Yi was certain he would not harm her, which was why she dared enter his cave dwelling.

First, this woman had sought out Jian Zhengyan; Ding Huan had merely asked a few questions, yet Jian Zhengyan had given him two superior-grade spiritual veins—indicating he was not a stingy man.

Second, this woman likely possessed an escape talisman, capable of escaping at any moment.

"I am Ding Huan. I assume Captain Yi already knows." Ding Huan spoke calmly; he did not believe Captain Yi had come merely to chat—she must need his help.

Chang Chang Danyi said: "Comrade Ding, please call me by my name. I am called captain only because I lead a few companions in searching for Void Spiritual Yuan Sprouts."

Ding Huan nodded but said nothing.

Chang Chang Danyi continued: "Comrade Ding, do you realize how dangerous your current situation is?"

Ding Huan smiled faintly: "I am always in danger. I am frequently threatened, but fortunately my luck has held out—I've barely managed to survive until today."

Chang Chang Danyi paid no heed to Ding Huan's tone; she spoke even more earnestly: "The place you broke into was originally owned by Wu Kuangren—a true battle madman.

He had the ability to enter the Immortal Realm and settle there stably, yet he refused to go, choosing instead to remain in the Void City…"

"I'm living in his place?" Ding Huan asked.

Chang Chang Danyi nodded: "Correct. But he doesn't stay in the Void City for even a single day every few years, because he spends all his time searching for Void Spiritual Yuan Sprouts in the Void.

In truth, even if he lived in the Void City, he would never reside in the very cave you now occupy—but it remains his territory.

If he returns and finds his cave shattered and his domain seized, what do you think he will do?"

Worried Ding Huan might not believe her, she added:

"Wu Kuangren returns to the Void City once every three years. His main purpose is to sell Void Spiritual Yuan Sprouts to the Immortal Realm sects. This year is his return year—it should be only a few days away.

You've only just arrived in the Void City and don't know: among the vacant cave dwellings here, over ten thousand were built by Wu Hongtian alone."

Ding Huan smiled: "I suppose when he returns, he'll come looking to fight me."

Seeing Ding Huan remained unconcerned, Chang Chang Danyi's tone grew even more earnest:

"Comrade Ding, this man is called Wu Kuangren precisely because he fights like a madman—and his cultivation has shattered the Immortal-Fanqiao, making him a True Immortal."