Starting as pearl divers, they have endless jobs.

Chapter 167 Descending the Mountain with a Sword
Yuanlan didn't ask any more questions, but just gave Chen Ye a deep look and then nodded.

"Well, have a nice trip."

To him, what Chen Ye did or who he killed was none of his concern.

The important thing is that Chen Ye must untie this knot himself, otherwise the five-year agreement will be nothing but empty words, and his hope of transforming into a dragon will be greatly diminished.

Chen Ye bowed again, then turned and went down the mountain.

……

The fog was heavy in the southern wilderness mountains in the early morning, and the air was filled with the moist scent of grass and trees. Dew condensed on the tips of the grass and then dripped down.

Meanwhile, Chen Ye was walking through the forest.

He moved very fast, but without causing any ripples, not even disturbing the passing fog.

A ghostly spirit, coiled beneath the roots of an old tree, was greedily absorbing the wisps of yin energy leaking from the earth's veins, completely unaware of Chen Ye passing by.

Only after Chen Ye's figure had disappeared into the distance did it belatedly twist its withered body.

Before it could make a move, a sharp and fierce aura shattered and dispersed it into the morning mist.

This is Chen Ye today, his aura controlled and refined to its extreme.

If he doesn't actively show himself, he'll be like the roadside grass and trees, blending in with the world and inconspicuous.

But once the thought arises, the sharpness that bursts forth is enough to slay ghosts and destroy gods.

When Chen Ye fled from Qingzhou into the Southern Wilderness Mountains, it took him two whole days, hiding and fleeing the entire way, in a very sorry state.

But now it only took half a day to get out.

When he stepped onto the official road outside the mountain, looking at the convoys and crowds coming and going, and listening to the noisy commotion around him, Chen Ye felt as if he had been transported to another world.

five years.

He hadn't heard such a noisy crowd in five whole years.

Although his time in the mountains was peaceful and fulfilling, it also created a sense of alienation between him and the mundane world.

However, this feeling was fleeting, and Chen Ye quickly adjusted his mindset.

Instead of rushing on his way, he first found a quiet place and made some changes.

A moment later, a sallow-faced, slightly cloudy-eyed wandering swordsman appeared on the official road.

There were many people like him on the road: swordsmen, knivesmen, traveling merchants, refugees fleeing disasters... all sorts of people from all walks of life.

Therefore, Chen Ye blended in without attracting attention, and no one would realize that he was the same Chen Ye who had caused a sensation five years ago and was subject to a kill order from Tianjian Manor.

With his sword on his back, Chen Ye walked slowly and steadily toward Qingzhou City.

Chen Ye's steps were very steady, and the distance of each step was almost exactly the same, a habit he had developed through years of hard training.

At the same time, Chen Ye's eyes were half-closed, seemingly listless, but in fact he took in everything around him.

He saw several farmers arguing heatedly over a trivial matter in a roadside teahouse.

He saw a magnificent carriage speeding past, and a corner of the curtain was lifted to reveal the face of a pretty young girl. A token of the outer disciple of Tianjian Manor hung at her waist.

He also saw a ragged old beggar huddled by the roadside, stretching out his withered hands to beg from passersby, but a glint of shrewdness would occasionally flash in his eyes.

This is the mundane world, this is the mortal realm.

It is full of emotions and desires, full of petty scheming and despicable acts, but also full of vitality.

Compared to the monotonous life in the mountains, which consisted only of cultivation and fighting, they were two completely different worlds.

At this moment, Chen Ye's state of mind seemed to be gently touched by this worldly atmosphere.

The aura that had become excessively sharp due to years of arduous training subtly softened, becoming more harmonious.

Cultivation is not just about cultivating strength, but also about cultivating a deeper understanding of the world.

Blindly working in isolation will only lead you further and further astray from the right path.

Having figured this out, Chen Ye felt much more at ease.

He stopped trying to observe deliberately and instead, like a true traveler, blended himself into the surging crowd.

After walking for about an hour, a fairly large caravan appeared ahead.

Dozens of large trucks were piled high with goods, covered with thick tarpaulins, making it impossible to see what was inside.

The caravan was guarded by hundreds of armed guards, each with bulging temples and a fierce aura, clearly skilled in martial arts.

The leader was a middle-aged man riding a tall horse, with a ring-pommel sword at his waist. His eyes were sharp as an eagle's as he vigilantly scanned his surroundings.

Looking at the caravan, Chen Ye's heart stirred slightly.

Knowing nothing about the changes in the outside world over the past five years, I might as well blend into this caravan, which would both conceal my identity and allow me to gather some information.

Having made up his mind, he walked slowly toward the caravan.

"Stop! What are you doing?"

As soon as Chen Ye approached, the two guards responsible for bringing up the rear of the caravan immediately became alert, drawing their steel swords half an inch from their sheaths to block his path.

Chen Ye stopped, clasped his hands in greeting to the two men, forced a simple smile, and said in a slightly hoarse voice, "Brothers, please don't misunderstand. I'm just a lone swordsman who wants to make a living in Qingzhou City. I saw that you're also going to Qingzhou, so I was wondering if we could travel together and look after each other on the way."

He spoke very politely and with a very humble attitude.

The two guards looked him up and down. They saw that he had a sallow complexion, was breathing heavily, and the knife on his back was wrapped in rags, making it impossible to tell its quality. He looked poor and destitute, and their wariness lessened slightly.

One of the older guards curled his lip and said, "Travel companions? This isn't a charity; we don't support idlers."

The younger one was more amiable and advised, "Brother, you seem to be a practitioner. Traveling alone is much more comfortable. Following our caravan has many rules and takes us too long."

Chen Ye knew they were afraid he was a bad guy or wanted to freeload, so he wasn't angry. He just took out a few pieces of silver from his pocket, quietly stuffed them into the hand of the older guard, and said with a smile.

“What you say is right, brother. I know the rules. Consider these few taels of silver as my food expenses. I will not make things difficult for you. Besides, I don’t have any other skills, but I am quite good with this knife. If I encounter any troublemakers on the road, I can lend a hand.”

The senior guard weighed the silver in his hand, and his expression immediately softened considerably.

He looked Chen Ye over again, especially at Chen Ye's calloused hands that had held a knife before, and finally nodded.

"Alright, since you put it that way, then you can stay at the back of the line. But let me make this clear beforehand: you have to follow the instructions of our leader on the way. Don't wander off or cause trouble, or don't blame us for leaving you behind."

"Of course, of course, thank you very much, brother." Chen Ye thanked him repeatedly.

In this way, Chen Ye successfully infiltrated the caravan.

He followed the very back of the group, keeping to himself and not striking up conversations with anyone; he simply walked silently.

The people in the caravan saw that he was sensible, so they didn't bother with him anymore.

After walking for half a day, when it was time to rest at noon, a young caravan worker came over with a bowl of water and a hard, dry flatbread and handed it to Chen Ye.

"Here, it's for you."

"Thank you, brother." Chen Ye took the water and cakes and expressed his gratitude.

The young man looked to be only seventeen or eighteen years old, with a touch of childishness on his face. Seeing Chen Ye's politeness, he sat down next to him and asked curiously, "Brother, are you also going to Qingzhou City to participate in that Ascension Ceremony?"

"The Ascension Ceremony?" Chen Ye blinked, feigning confusion. "What's that?"

"Hey, big brother, you don't even know about the Ascension Ceremony?" The shopkeeper suddenly perked up, as if he had found a perfect opportunity to show off. He lowered his voice and said mysteriously.

"This is a grand event that happens once every ten years in Qingzhou. Tianjian Manor and several other immortal sects in Qingzhou Prefecture will join forces to publicly recruit disciples. Just imagine, once you are selected, it's like a carp leaping over the dragon gate and ascending to heaven in one step. That's why it's called the Ascension Ceremony!"

The man's eyes gleamed with longing; he was clearly very enthusiastic about it.

Chen Ye's heart stirred.

Openly accepting apprentices? Tianjian Manor
He was just worrying about how to find Jian Wuchen when, unexpectedly, someone delivered a helpful suggestion to him.

In such a grand event that attracts the attention of the entire Qingzhou, Jian Wuchen, as the young master of Tianjian Manor, will definitely make an appearance.

This is a godsend!

Despite this, Chen Ye still maintained that honest yet curious expression on his face.

"So that's how it is. No wonder it's been so lively and crowded along the way. Tianjian Manor must be the most prestigious sect at this Ascension Ceremony, right?"

"Of course!" The waiter slapped his thigh and said with pride, "Tianjian Manor is the top in Qingzhou! Every time there's an Ascension Ceremony, at least seven or eight of the ten most talented talents are chosen by them! Especially that young master, Jian Wuchen, he's practically a god!"

When Jian Wuchen was mentioned, the waiter's face lit up with fervent admiration.

"Let me tell you, brother, this young master of the Sword Manor is a true prodigy! He's already an Inner Realm expert at such a young age! He's handsome, and his swordsmanship is superb. He's practically a role model for all the young people in Qingzhou!"

Chen Ye silently munched on his dry biscuit, listening to the waiter's flattery, but inwardly he sneered.

Of course, Chen Ye didn't show any of this; he just listened quietly. He could tell that this guy was a chatterbox; there were things he would say on his own without you even having to ask.

Sure enough, the guy then went on and on, talking at length.

When he recounted how five years ago Jian Wuchen single-handedly ventured into the Southern Wilderness Mountains and captured a madman named Chen Ye, bringing him back to be executed, Chen Ye was stunned.

However, Chen Ye quickly understood what was going on and couldn't help but chuckle to himself.

It turns out that in the eyes of the world, he was already a dead man who had been beheaded.

Moreover, he died at the hands of Jian Wuchen, which became a part of his glorious deeds.

Chen Ye truly hadn't expected that the young master of Tianjian Manor would resort to such a tactic—finding a scapegoat to impersonate someone—in order to save face.

This is really shameless.

However, upon further reflection, Chen Ye felt that this was actually a good thing for him.

After all, who would be on guard against someone who has been dead for five years?
Therefore, it is simply a perfect natural camouflage.

Thinking of this, Chen Ye felt inexplicably happy and even offered a word of encouragement.

"It seems that this young master of the Sword Manor will definitely be the focus of the entire event at this Ascension Ceremony."

"It's more than just being the center of attention!" the waiter exclaimed excitedly. "I heard that on the last day of this grand ceremony, Young Master Jian will personally preside over the final disciple selection and present awards to the most outstanding geniuses! That's an immense honor!"

To host it personally?

Chen Ye's eyes narrowed slightly.

That would be perfect!
For the next two days, the caravan continued its journey.

Through chatting with this talkative guy, Chen Ye also gained a general understanding of the situation in Qingzhou over the past five years.

The prestige of Tianjian Manor reached its peak in the past five years due to the rise of Jian Wuchen, and its behavior became increasingly domineering, with a tendency to bring the entire Qingzhou into its own backyard, which aroused the dissatisfaction of many other sects and forces, but they dared not speak out.

Jian Wuchen himself was portrayed as a near-perfect genius, and was sought after by countless young cultivators.

Hearing this news, Chen Ye felt increasingly calm.

On the third day, the majestic city of Qingzhou finally appeared on the horizon.

The caravan stopped outside the city gate and began unloading its goods and completing the entry procedures.

Chen Ye didn't follow any further. He thanked the talkative fellow and then mingled into the bustling crowd and entered the city alone.

The city of Qingzhou was bustling with activity, filled with people and vehicles.

With the Ascension Ceremony approaching, the city was even more bustling than when Chen Ye left five years ago.

The streets were lined with colorful flags, and the air was filled with a restless yet enthusiastic atmosphere.

Chen Ye walked among the crowd without attracting anyone's attention.

Instead of rushing to find his target, he first found an inn that looked unremarkable and settled in.

Such a place, teeming with all sorts of people, is the perfect place to hide one's identity.

After settling in, he leisurely walked onto the street and headed towards the west of the city.

That was the headquarters of Tianjian Manor in Qingzhou City.

Five years later, the Tianjian Manor's residence has been expanded considerably. A large new complex of buildings has sprung up next to the original mansion, with pavilions and towers that are magnificent and occupy almost the entire street.

The number of disciples guarding the gate has increased from four to eight. Each of them has a calm demeanor and sharp eyes, clearly indicating that they are all skilled fighters.

Those coming and going, entering and leaving the compound, were all impeccably dressed, exuding an air of extraordinary bearing, and their faces carried the arrogance of disciples from major sects.

Chen Ye didn't get too close. He just sat down at a tea stall across the street, ordered a pot of flower tea, and observed the scene discreetly while drinking the tea.

To others, the Tianjian Manor's residence was just a magnificent building complex.

However, in Chen Ye's eyes, which had activated his Eye of Calamity, this place had become a complex force field woven from countless lines of energy.

Powerful auras rose like beacon fires deep within the encampment.

The entire encampment was shrouded in a massive defensive array, with countless energy threads drawing power from the earth's veins to form an invisible net, making the place impregnable.

Chen Ye silently memorized the trajectory of these energy flows, the nodes of the magic array, and the locations of those powerful auras.

He wasn't there to launch a direct attack, but knowing your enemy is never a bad thing.

Just as he was about to get up and leave, he caught a glimpse of a familiar figure out of the corner of his eye.

Not far from the gate of Tianjian Manor, on a street corner, there is a small wine shop.

The wine shop was very simple, with only a few old tables and chairs and a wine vat about half a person's height.

A woman with gray hair and a haggard appearance sat on a small stool in front of the wine shop, staring blankly at the bustling street, mechanically wiping a wine bowl in her hand, seemingly indifferent to everything around her.

Chen Ye recognized her at a glance.

Xiao Hongye.

I never expected that she would look like this after five years.

However, Chen Ye was not moved at all by this scene.

Back then, Xiao Zhanbai was relentless and determined to kill him.

If he doesn't resist, he will be the one who dies.

Therefore, in the life-or-death struggle, each accepts their fate.

He could understand Xiao Hongye's grief over losing her sister, but he would never regret his actions.

Thinking of this, Chen Ye withdrew his gaze and turned to leave.

At the same time, Xiao Hongye seemed to realize something, and looked up blankly at the street.

But apart from the crowds of people coming and going, she saw nothing.

Xiao Hongye's empty eyes flickered for a moment, then dimmed again. She lowered her head again and continued wiping the wine bowl in her hands.

Since her sister's death, her world has become stagnant, no longer capable of stirring any waves.

At dusk, in the south of the city, at the Tavern for Relieving Worries.

It's still that unassuming storefront, and that familiar signboard.

Five years seem to have left little trace here.

Chen Ye pushed open the door and entered. The tavern was as lively as ever, with dozens of tables packed full. The sounds of drinking games, shouting, and boasting filled the air, creating a bustling and vibrant atmosphere.

Chen Ye's gaze swept around the tavern, and he soon spotted that familiar figure behind the counter.

Crazy swordsman Xue Shan.

He was still the same burly man, wiping wine glasses while chatting loudly with regular customers, occasionally letting out a hearty laugh.

Chen Ye didn't make a fuss. Instead, he found a corner by the window, ordered a pot of strong liquor and two small snacks to go with it, and then started drinking by himself.

However, while drinking, Chen Ye also listened attentively to the conversations of the people around him.

Don't underestimate this, because it's the simplest and quickest way to obtain intelligence, and sometimes it can even bring unexpected surprises.

"Have you heard? The City Lord's Mansion has also sent people to this Ascension Ceremony. They said they want to work with Heavenly Sword Manor to select a few promising talents and recruit them into the manor's guards!"

"Tch, that sounds nice, but they're just jealous of Tianjian Manor's dominance and want a piece of the pie."

"Shh! Keep your voice down! You can't say things like that. If the people from Tianjian Manor hear you, you'll be in big trouble!"

"What's there to be afraid of! This is Boss Xue's Tavern for Relieving Worries, not the council hall of his Heavenly Sword Manor! No matter how domineering Heavenly Sword Manor is, can they control us from drinking and bragging?"

A man, his face flushed from drinking, slammed his hand on the table and shouted loudly.

His words immediately drew a chorus of agreement.

"Exactly! Tianjian Manor has become increasingly domineering in recent years! Last time, my brother hunted a Crimson-Eyed Demon Wolf outside the city, but before he could even skin it, their patrol team robbed it. They even said that the entire Southern Wilderness is Tianjian Manor's hunting ground! Bah!"

"That's right! Just because Jian Wuchen is here, they really think they're the king of Qingzhou!"

Hearing these comments from behind the counter, Xue Shan snorted and slammed the clean wine glass heavily onto the counter.

"They're just a bunch of arrogant fools. True strength is earned inch by inch through hard work and skill, not through flattery or family background." Xue Shan's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undisguised contempt.

Clearly, he had no goodwill whatsoever towards Tianjian Manor or Jian Wuchen.

(End of this chapter)