Chapter 166: with translation of chapter title

After gathering enough Spiritual Materials for refining the Heart-Protecting Mirror and two Stone-Cutting Blades at Lidaoren's place, Yan Buji directly sat down and began refining.

Lidaoren also seemed to need to prepare a bit, and the two fell silent simultaneously.

Yan Buji's Firm-Heart Earth in his dantian had already been fully refined; externally it looked like a bright yellow raised mirror surface, and after the remaining part obtained Spiritual Material, he began preparing to refine the second part of the Heart-Protecting Mirror.

A few days passed.

Kid, how are you?

Yan Buji opened his eyes, and suddenly saw the black dragon's huge nostrils right in front of his face, and he immediately jumped in fright!

You... Senior?

Hmph, you haven't seen such a profound mystical method, have you? Lidaoren's voice came from within the black dragon's body, seeming quite pleased.

Yan Buji's face twitched, and he nodded slightly: "Indeed I haven't seen it before. Senior, how did you enter the black dragon's body? Can such a spirit essence, filled with resentment and transformed into a demonic ghost, also exist as a doppelgänger?"

You brat, what do you know? The sprites and goblins between heaven and earth are extraordinary demonic ghosts; you lot, unaware of their uses, avoid them at all costs, yet you don't realize they can be refined into a key Accumulation Device for breaking through the Nascent Soul stage! Lidaoren twisted his skull slightly, furrowing his brow.

This body is really useless; it can barely muster the strength of early Foundation Establishment. Lidaoren complained.

Yan Buji raised his eyebrows.

Although he didn't know whether the other's words were true or false, Yan Buji chose to believe.

After all, there's no need to lie to a Lianqi Phase cultivator; for him, a Golden Core cultivator, it would truly be embarrassing.

Yan Buji clasped his hands and said: "Senior, since you can now act, do you intend to return with me or set out alone?"

You go first; I will naturally come find you.

Alright, after I return to Lingyu, I will temporarily stay at a gambling stone shop called Precious Stone Studio; if there are any orders

Yan Buji hadn't finished speaking when Lidaoren suddenly interrupted: "Wait, Precious Stone Studio? When did this place have a gambling stone shop? Who is the owner?"

This much I know: the proprietor is called Hua Fei; otherwise I know nothing.

Hua Fei...... how did you get in?

Yan Buji explained how he managed to leave under the watch of Emperor Baocheng, concealing the matter of the stone-cutting secret technique, and simply said he had uncovered a treasure and made a deal with Hua Fei.

Is that so? Lidaoren sized up Yan Buji with a glance, seeming thoughtful.

The background behind Precious Stone Studio is not small; could it be that you, Senior, also have some news? Yan Buji asked curiously.

Hmph, it's just a pastime for those mountain folk!

Lidaoren's complexion seemed somewhat gloomy, but after all it was the black dragon's face, making it impossible to discern any expression.

However, from his words it seems that even the person behind Precious Stone Studio, he seems reluctant to make contact.

In the future, I won't be able to find you inside Precious Stone Studio; please leave a new contact point.

Alright.

After the agreement was made, Yan Buji and Lidaoren formally parted ways.

Although each harbored their own ulterior motives, obtaining information at the same time amounted to them being on the same line.

Although Yan Buji repeatedly flirted with danger on the brink of courting death, since Lidaoren dared to trust himself, it shows the other party is not afraid that Emperor Baocheng and the Third Princess could detect his existence.

If so, Yan Buji actually felt relieved to properly plot with this 'Senior'.

Naturally, I cannot trust him, nor can he trust me. Interest puts us on the same line, but this is not permanent. I need to obtain more information!

Whether it's Emperor Baocheng and the Third Princess or Lidaoren, this struggle between the two parties gives Yan Buji, a mere third layer of the Lianqi Phase, no qualification to intervene.

He isn't even clear about what they want, so how could he judge whether their commands in upcoming actions would endanger his life?

Precisely because the information is riddled with great error and omission, Yan Buji, although capable of doing this fickle, two-faced, underhanded behavior, thereby renders his existence dispensable.

What can a third-layer Lianqi Phase cultivator do?

Or could he possibly be favored by a player scheming to seize Lingyu's great treasure and be entrusted with an important task?

Therefore, Yan Buji now needs to increase his value.

Increasing his value means he will be valued; the premise of being valued is that he wholeheartedly works for one side.

But he has already become a petty person, not trusted by Lidaoren, so he must first stabilize Lidaoren's side.

But at the same time, he cannot reveal his relationship with Lidaoren before Emperor Baocheng and his entourage, making this trade-off quite difficult.

The price of abandoning one side is either to withdraw or to wait for death on the spot.

Yan Buji's brain raced, contemplating his future escape route.

Since he entered the situation proactively, there is indeed a retreat available.

Worst case, we all perish together; I will directly expose their shameful conduct to the Mysterious Gen Dao and Gen Dao Border cultivation forces, preserving myself. Yan Buji narrowed his eyes.

No one would care how big the appetite of a third-layer Lianqi Phase cultivator is, and Yan Buji himself doesn't know how large his appetite is.

Anyway, if he doesn't scoop up enough benefits, he won't leave.

Thus, Yan Buji spent some more time returning to Lingyu, leveraging his identity at Precious Stone Studio to begin gathering some simple information.

Regarding this, Hua Fei showed an indifferent attitude.

Even if one knew Yan Buji might be a spy for some faction, looking at his demeanor it didn't seem like he was there for them; rather, he was collecting the identity information of past cultivators, muttering mysteriously all day.

Not long after, Yan Buji planned to leave Precious Stone Studio.

Before leaving, Hua Fei specially sought him out and chatted for a while.

Which side are you actually working for?

What do you mean by that, proprietor? Isn't working for whoever I serve just working for you anyway? Yan Buji laughed.

Hua Fei raised his eyebrows: "Indeed, your methods have indeed earned me many Spiritual Stones; I also don't know how you came up with the buy-two-get-one-free promotion, nor that whole set of sales patter, but it gave me a lesson."

Haha, I used to run some small businesses too.

While Yan Buji was here, he wasn't idle; Precious Stone Studio's monthly turnover this month was absolutely more than double last month's, and Hua Fei, not being blind, couldn't possibly not know.

Precisely for this reason, those little maneuvers of Yan Buji behind the scenes can be overlooked; otherwise Hua Fei wouldn't want people to casually use their name.

Since you're leaving, I won't keep you. I'm not really keen to know who you work for either, but seeing that you indeed have some talent, before you go I just want to tell you one thing.

Yan Buji's expression turned solemn, he cupped his fists and said: "Shopkeeper, please speak."

"Cultivators, in the end, still have to rely on their own strength."

"Yes, shopkeeper, I have always kept this in mind."

Yan Buji smiled, turned and left.

Hua Fei watched Yan Buji's back, Zhao Lao walked to his side, said doubtfully: "Shopkeeper, really not make a move? After all, he knows the Stone Secret Technique; who knows, maybe one day......"

"Maybe he will truly have the day to soar to the nine heavens, but certainly not now." Hua Fei chuckled.