Chapter 409: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

“Sir, you’ve come to the right person.” The shopkeeper, seeing Chen Fei ask this question, felt relieved as the opportunity presented by these twenty taels of silver was significant.

“Please, have a seat,” Chen Fei gestured to a nearby chair.

“I dare not,” the shopkeeper waved his hand and smiled. “Let me start with the Elemental Tide. This is a unique event that occurs here. It happens every five to eight years in the Imperial City and lasts for a whole day. During that time, both martial artists and ordinary people benefit greatly.”

“Please, go on,” Chen Fei nodded.

“To be honest, I don’t know all the details, but I do know that on that day, martial artists experience a significant improvement in their comprehension of martial arts and their cultivation speed increases greatly. Therefore, whenever the Elemental Tide is about to happen, the Imperial City becomes crowded with people.”

“The entire Imperial City can enjoy the effects of this Elemental Tide?” Chen Fei furrowed his brow. This power seemed quite extraordinary.

“Yes, the entire Imperial City can benefit from it. However, the closer you are to the inner city, the stronger the effect. But even the inns over there were fully booked more than a month ago. Even in our inn, there are very few rooms left.” “How long until the Elemental Tide arrives?” Chen Fei turned to look at the street. He had already noticed that many outsiders like him were in the city, presumably drawn by the Elemental Tide.

“The estimate is around twenty days before the Elemental Tide appears,” the shopkeeper replied with a smile.

Chen Fei nodded slightly. Twenty days were manageable. Since he had come all this way, experiencing this once-in-a-few-years event like the Elemental

Tide would be worthwhile.

“Now, about the Heavenly Sun True Immortal,” Chen Fei continued to inquire.

“He’s accepting closed-door disciples!”

As the shopkeeper mentioned the Heavenly Sun True Immortal, reverence filled his eyes. Anyone worthy of the title “Heavenly Sun True Immortal” was undoubtedly a powerful expert in the Combined Aperture Tempering realm. In this region, they represented the pinnacle of strength.

As long as someone was a martial artist, they would inevitably yearn for such a level of power. Chen Fei was no exception, and neither were the others in the city.

“Three months ago, Heavenly Sun True Immortal emerged from seclusion and announced that he would be accepting a closed-door disciple. There are no restrictions on cultivation level or affiliations; as long as one has the talent, they can become his disciple,” the shopkeeper spoke with a hint of yearning.

Chen Fei’s eyebrows raised slightly, signaling the shopkeeper to continue. A Combined Aperture Tempering realm expert accepting a closed-door disciple was indeed a significant event.

Being accepted into Heavenly Sun True Immortal’s sect was akin to reaching for the heavens in one step. It meant a complete transformation in status and, more importantly, starting cultivation from the Combined Aperture Tempering realm. The upper limit would depend on an individual’s innate talent and aptitude.

No restrictions on cultivation and affiliations meant that the scope was broadened. Even those from small sects and schools, as long as they had confidence in themselves, could apply. In most cases, the small sects wouldn’t obstruct it either, as becoming a closed-door disciple of Heavenly Sun True Immortal would change the future prospects of the sect due to the connection established.

It was a mutually beneficial arrangement.

“With so many people in the city now, aside from the Elemental Tide, there are also many who are trying their luck with Heavenly Sun True Immortal,” the shopkeeper glanced at the twenty taels of silver on the table, knowing that he had shared all he knew. Deeper details were beyond his knowledge.

“Thank you,” Chen Fei smiled faintly, and the twenty taels of silver lifted into the air, landing in the shopkeeper’s hand.

“Thank you for your generosity, sir!” The shopkeeper beamed with gratitude and, seeing no further instructions from Chen Fei, respectfully stepped aside.

Chen Fei raised his head to gaze at the bright moon in the sky. With the moonlight shining and the gentle evening breeze, he pondered his next steps. Heavenly Sun True Immortal accepting disciples had no relevance to Chen Fei. If such an opportunity had presented itself before he joined the Primordial Sword Sect, Chen Fei would have unquestionably seized it. However, his current cultivation had already reached the late Combined Aperture Tempering realm, and no matter how unrestricted Heavenly Sun True Immortal’s criteria were, it was impossible for him to be accepted.

Chen Fei sat by the window for a while, contemplating this, before rising and returning to his guest room.

The cost of the guest room was not insignificant, slightly more expensive than those within Immortal Cloud City, possibly due to the Elemental Tide.

However, this amount of money posed no burden to Chen Fei now.

Two hours later, the bustling noise on the street finally subsided as the official curfew within the Imperial City began.

Chen Fei held the Qianyuan Sword in his hand, gracefully moving and practicing the Starry Night Sword technique. Insights regarding the Water-Jade Sword continuously emerged in his sea of consciousness.

As the cultivation of the Primordial Sword Technique continued to advance, it wouldn’t be long before the fifth layer was perfected. At that point, Chen Fei could proceed to integrate another legacy into the Primordial Sword Technique.

Compared to the Blade-Slaying Sword, the progress of the Water-Jade Sword would be somewhat faster. Chen Fei decided to temporarily set aside the Blade-Slaying Sword and elevate the Water-Jade Sword to Great Completion.

Chen Fei was quite curious about this unique inheritance within the Primordial Sword Sect, which emphasized defense. He wondered how it would evolve once he reached its peak.

As he practiced the Starry Night Sword, Chen Fei simultaneously used his mental power to create a visualization of the Sword-Returning Eye technique, forming two hundred threads of consciousness to create the mental image.

The Starry Night Sword had already reached the state of perfection in Chen Fei’s practice long ago, back when he was in the Body Tempering Realm. Both the sword techniques and footwork had become instinctual for him.

Therefore, Chen Fei didn’t need to expend much mental effort on the Starry Night Sword. The visualization of the two hundred threads of consciousness didn’t hinder the execution of the sword techniques in the slightest.

At this moment, not only were insights into the Water-Jade Sword continuously emerging, but there were also two hundred insights into the Sword-Returning Eye technique colliding within his sea of consciousness.

If it weren’t for the conflict between the footwork of the Initial Yuan Sword and the Starry Night Sword, preventing simultaneous practice, Chen Fei’s sea of consciousness might have been filled with insights into the Blade-Slaying Sword as well.

Chen Fei was like a glutton, greedily absorbing insights from the techniques. Meanwhile, his mysterious heart’s origin continued to nourish his mental power, keeping it in a constantly active state, making it easier for him to absorb various insights.

As the days passed with the rise and fall of the sun and moon, time flew by during his cultivation.

In the inn, Chen Fei tried the specialty breakfast of the Imperial City and then leisurely stepped out of the inn.

In the early morning, when the city gates opened, the streets of the Imperial City returned to their bustling scene. Chen Fei wandered around for a few laps and eventually stopped in front of a shop.

Jade Pavilion was one of the few well-known shops within the Imperial City. It had the backing of several influential forces and had been in operation for over a century within the city.

Entering the shop, the shopkeeper’s eyes brightened when he saw Chen Fei. He quickly approached, gesturing for a servant girl who had been about to come forward to step back.

As the shopkeeper of Jade Pavilion, it was crucial to accurately assess the cultivation level of customers; otherwise, it could easily lead to trouble. Fortunately, the shopkeeper had a low-grade spiritual tool that enhanced his perception.

With just a glance, the shopkeeper detected the mid Aperture Tempering realm aura from Chen Fei and hurriedly went to personally attend to him.

Inside the Imperial City, there were numerous individuals in the Combined Aperture Tempering realm, but a high number didn’t diminish the status of those in the Aperture Tempering realm. Regardless of the location, Aperture Tempering realm cultivators were considered special, especially those in the mid Aperture Tempering realm.

“Sir, may I assist you with anything?” the shopkeeper asked with a smile.

“Do you accept spiritual weapons here?”

Chen Fei approached a wall where dozens of bows and arrows were displayed, his eyes showing a hint of interest. Especially the central bow, it shone like a star among the others.

“Certainly,” the shopkeeper nodded.

Chen Fei withdrew his gaze from the wall and placed his package on a nearby table. Three low-grade spiritual swords and one middle-grade spiritual sword were taken out. Just like when he was in Black City District, Chen Fei decided to sell them to various shops, so as not to draw too much attention.

There were hidden experts in the Imperial City, and Chen Fei had no intention of causing trouble, so keeping a low profile was the wisest choice.

Seeing the middle-grade spiritual sword, the shopkeeper’s eyes gleamed with excitement; this was a significant sale. If handled correctly, this single sale could yield a substantial amount of spirit stones.

After a while, Chen Fei left Jade Pavilion satisfied. The shopkeeper couldn’t haggle on the price due to Chen Fei’s revealed mid Aperture Tempering realm cultivation, so the transaction was fairly straightforward and mutually beneficial.

As for the bow Chen Fei had seen on the wall, he chose not to purchase it. It was only a low-grade spiritual bow and offered no benefit to him, as he preferred to use his iron bow, which he didn’t mind wearing down.

Meanwhile, outside the Imperial City, in a forested area, a figure was desperately rushing forward. Their clothes were torn in multiple places, and bloodstains adorned their body. Clearly, they had just been through a battle, or perhaps the battle had yet to conclude.

Yan Zigui glanced back from time to time, his eyes filled with fear. He had started his journey with five companions, but now he was the sole survivor. To protect him and allow his escape, his master and several fellow disciples had all perished.

Thinking of the gruesome fate of his master and fellow disciples, Yan Zigui unconsciously clenched his fists, and his fingernails dug into his flesh without him even noticing.

“You knew you couldn’t escape, yet you still tried to run?”

A mocking voice echoed in Yan Zigui’s ears, causing his eyes to widen involuntarily. His longsword, held in his hand, was abruptly stopped halfway as the stranger easily pinched it between two fingers. Yan Zigui, with his cultivation in the Visceral Tempering realm, appeared utterly insignificant before the person in front of him.

“You came looking for Heavenly Sun True Immortal, didn’t you? Now I’ll personally take you there, and yet you’re unwilling. Why bother?” The voice sneered coldly, sending shivers down Yan Zigui’s spine.

“No, I don’t want to go! I don’t want to go!” Yan Zigui shouted loudly, trying to pull his sword back, but it was immobilized. Frustrated, he eventually abandoned the sword and fled desperately into the distance.

“Whether you go or not is not for you to decide but for me to decide, hahaha!” Laughter rang out from under the straw hat.

Meanwhile, within the Imperial City,

Chen Fei exited the second shop. Both low-grade and middle-grade spiritual swords had been sold. Now, Chen Fei needed to find a third shop to market his Primordial Sealing Mirror.

This was the real deal, and most of Chen Fei’s future cultivation resources would depend on this Primordial Sealing Mirror..