Chapter 59

Night fell, like a bottomless lake covering the entire capital. Yet unlike other cities, the capital did not enforce a curfew; instead, it was ablaze with lights, decorated with lanterns and banners, presenting a scene of prosperity and bustle.

Sure enough, under the emperor's feet, there is this kind of boldness that fears no troublemakers.

Yan Buji waited until midnight, then followed Wang Fugui's directions to find Chen Li's manor.

Sneaking in, Yan Buji instantly discovered several half-step masters hidden in the darkness, and even a master-level expert deeper inside.

"The wealthy in this capital are different; with my previous family assets, hiring a master to guard my home would cost at least tens of thousands of gold per year."

Yan Buji chuckled lightly, avoided the eyes and ears, and went straight to the bedroom where Chen Li was about to cuddle with his concubine to sleep.

"Master, it's late, time to sleep~" the concubine's soft, sweet voice made one's heart itch unbearably; Chen Li, wearing nightclothes, sat on the bed thinking for a while.

"Wait a moment, I'll go to the study."

"Ah?"

Without waiting for the concubine to detain him, Chen Li put on his clothes and went to the study, completely unaware that someone was following him.

Chen Li entered the study, cautiously glanced around, then closed the door.

Inside the room, he also shut the windows tightly, as if afraid of being seen.

Chen Li took a deep breath, walked to the bookshelf, and pulled out a book.

As the book was pulled out, the bookshelf unexpectedly swung backward, revealing a pitch-black underground passage.

Chen Li entered solemnly; Yan Buji slipped in quietly, observed the warning threads and bells set up around, and had to admit Chen Li was not careless.

But... it was useless.

Yan Buji walked into the passage, seeing it was not long and led to a basement.

In the basement, by the light, Chen Li trembled as he held out a dust-covered box, wiping it carefully for a long time.

On the box was written a single 'grass' character, seemingly ancient in origin, and to Chen Li it seemed of extraordinary significance.

"How did that fat Wang Fugui know about the few first-tier spiritual materials recorded in my Hundred Herbs Sect? And it just so happens to be the main ingredient needed for the 'Qingming Eye-Washing Supreme Spiritual Water' required for the secret cultivation of the Thousand Flower Pupil in my Hundred Herbs Sect."

"Could it be... this guy encountered the cultivator who annihilated my Hundred Herbs Sect?!"

Chen Li gritted his teeth, his body trembling, and roared: "Damn it, I, Chen Li, have struggled half my life yet have no foundation, unable to learn what my ancestors left behind, only to wallow in this mundane world!!"

"Hate! Hate that scoundrel, for the sake of the celestial materials my Hundred Herbs Sect painstakingly nurtured for a thousand years, wiped out my sect in a single night, leaving us to flee in panic! Even more hateful, he doesn't spare us—could he already know of our Hundred Herbs Sect's spiritual domain?!"

Chen Li muttered a few words, his expression changed instantly, hastily put away the box, and looked toward the dark passage.

"Since you've come, sir, why don't you show yourself?"

"Oh? How did you sense my arrival?"

Chen Li chuckled: "I've known since you appeared behind me."

"It seems you people who have touched the cultivation world indeed have some skill. But since you dared to say those words just now, you must be prepared, right?"

Yan Buji stepped out of the darkness, completely uncaring about revealing his current appearance.

Chen Li took a deep breath: "Indeed it's you! That fat Wang Fugui was your instruction, coming to inquire about the Qingming Eye-Washing Supreme Spiritual Water, right?"

This thing seems actually superior to the Qingming eye liquid.

Yan Buji also had no intention of answering honestly, only saying: "I happened upon a cultivator's remains in a cave dwelling, discovered the cultivation method for the Three Flower Pupil. I never expected such good luck—to run into you, the main person."

Upon hearing the words 'Three Flower Pupil,' Chen Li's expression changed dramatically.

But hearing him say it was found in a cultivator's cave dwelling, he thought he had mistakenly entered his ancestors' cave dwelling, and immediately laughed: "Not bad, the Three Flower Pupil is indeed the secret method my Hundred Herbs Sect disciples study daily to tend spiritual materials. Since you obtained it by fate, you probably intend to cultivate it as well."

"Not bad, I have no way, but you do. However, I cannot guarantee you'll help me with this; why don't you tell me how I can let go of my killing intent?" Yan Buji spoke bluntly.

Chen Li took a deep breath: "I can help you, as long as you protect me entering the Hundred Herbs Sect's spiritual domain; the Qingming Eye-Washing Supreme Spiritual Water, including the profound Thousand Flower Pupil cultivation method superior to the Three Flower Pupil, I will hand over to you."

"Spiritual domain... hehehe, though I've never heard of this faction, it indeed seems extraordinary. How do you guarantee I won't take the goods and then kill you to silence me? After all, as a loose cultivator, I truly don't want to become an enemy of a senior who annihilated the Hundred Herbs Sect." Yan Buji laughed.

Because he knew Chen Li was merely a mortal, and even if Chen Li truly learned the Three Flower Pupil, he might not be able to see through the power of himself under the King of Hell's Judgment Diagram.

To him, it seemed that if he himself were a cultivator, it would actually reassure him more.

Naturally, Yan Buji went along with the other's words, fabricating himself as a loose cultivator; as for his true strength, he certainly wouldn't tell him.

Chen Li's expression changed; he naturally knew that a stranger harboring hostility, even if they temporarily allied for profit, could turn against each other instantly over interests, as a merchant he understood.

However, this person inadvertently gave him a stepping stone, wanting to ask how both sides could maintain the most basic trust.

Chen Li took a deep breath, produced a wooden box, and handed it over: "This is the secret manual of my Hundred Herbs Sect for cultivating spiritual materials, with the formula for the Qingming Eye-Washing Supreme Spiritual Water attached; but if you want to obtain the Thousand Flower Pupil cultivation secret, you must protect my entry into the spiritual domain!"

"Not enough!"

"Then what else do you want?!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Li's anger flared instantly; better to die than to have hidden all these years only to be found, unable to enter the spiritual domain to defy fate—death would settle everything!!

Seeing Chen Li act this way, Yan Buji knew his mindset might have crumbled somewhat, and said: "Don't rush; I'm not asking you to give anything now. Just tell me why your Hundred Herbs Sect was destroyed—I don't want to go with you knowing nothing."

Chen Li's expression changed, and he fell silent for a moment.

"Do you really want to know?"

"Tell me."

"My Hundred Herbs Sect, as a cultivation force of the Kun Dao Earth Realm, though small, does have its strengths; cultivating and selling spiritual materials everywhere is our main source of income. Although our sect lacks a Yuan Ying Period Ancestor in residence, other forces don't know that my Hundred Herbs Sect actually migrated here from other great realms over a hundred thousand years ago!"

"Other great realms?!"

Yan Buji's pupils contracted.

He has never left the Kun Dao Earth Realm of the Nan Ting Mountain Region in his half‑life, let alone other great realms.

Anyway, from his sources of information, he only knows the other great realms are: the Beichuan Ice Region, the West Sand River Basin, the Dongxing Sea Region, and the Zhong Tian Zhi Yu at the continent's center.

These four great realms constitute the world; even occasionally hearing news of other great realms still shocks Yan Buji.