Chapter 37: Rumors and Preparations

Yan Li’s temple twitched. She kept a straight face and scooped a spoonful of rice porridge toward Yan Shu’s mouth, but her hand shook.

Xuan Shiyan lowered his eyes to drink tea, but the cup in his hand wouldn’t stay steady.

Yet those people only got more excited.

“I heard that fairy is cold as ice.”

“Sun Mazi shot his mouth off and flirted with her, and got chopped into a human stick on the spot.”

“Tsk tsk, that kind of cold and fierce female cultivator is the most thrilling.”

“Thrilling? What’s thrilling? She’s got a man with her.”

“That’s obvious, she even has a kid with her.”

“Sigh, these days all the good cabbage is eaten by pigs.”

“What do you know?” someone retorted. “Maybe that man is just the kid’s father.”

“Then isn’t he still a pig?”

“True.” The crowd burst into laughter again.

Xuan Shiyan couldn’t hold it in and choked on his tea, coughing lightly.

Yan Li’s spoon clinked against the bowl with a crisp sound.

“But then again, that was Foundation Establishment Peak!”

“So what if it’s Foundation Establishment Peak?”

Someone curled their lip.

“Sun Mazi was just a wild cultivator. In a proper sect, being killed by someone of a lower realm is normal.”

“Exactly, his cultivation was built on murder and robbery, it’s all watered down.”

Someone immediately retorted.

“You say it lightly, then why don’t you go?”

“Me?” The person cleared his throat. “I just… didn’t make it in time.”

Yan Li: “……”

For some reason, listening to these people spout nonsense right in front of her, she suddenly felt that Sun Mazi’s death yesterday was too easy.

Chen An had arrived at the inn entrance at some point, peeking inside.

He immediately spotted Yan Li in the corner.

Maybe it was his imagination, but he felt that this Daoist Yan looked even more ethereal than yesterday.

He stared for a moment, then quickly looked away and walked over.

Only when he got close did he realize that just standing next to her gave him an inexplicable pressure.

Chen An was amazed. Damn, she’s gotten even stronger?

The gossip in the dining hall continued.

“So what does that fairy actually look like? Has anyone seen her?”

“I heard she has fair skin, beautiful face, and long legs…”

Chen An had no mind to listen to their nonsense.

The news of yesterday’s battle at Qingfeng Gorge had already spread through Yulu Workshop last night. A late Foundation Establishment cultivator killing a peak Foundation Establishment one, a cross-realm kill!

But he didn’t expect that in just one night, it had spread through the entire Tianque City.

Listening to the crowd exaggerate more and more, Chen An felt a strange sense of pride.

These people had no idea that the ruthless person they were describing was sitting right here.

He was about to go over and flatter her, but Xuan Shiyan shot him a look.

Chen An shuddered, followed his gaze to Yan Li, and swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue.

He shrank his neck and leaned in, lowering his voice to Yan Li. “Fellow Daoist, you’ve really brought honor to us! Sun Mazi’s bounty was up for almost a month, no one dared take it. You actually settled it in a day.”

Chen An grew more excited as he spoke.

“The bounty pavilion is in an uproar. They say a peerless sword immortal came, carrying a baby, and split a Foundation Establishment Peak with one strike. Some even tried to bribe me with spirit stones to ask about your background, but I didn’t leak a single word!”

Yan Li: “……”

Xuan Shiyan’s mouth twitched violently. He quickly lowered his head and pressed his lips together, but his shoulders shook uncontrollably.

Yan Li gave him a cold glance. Xuan Shiyan immediately composed himself.

Chen An also sensed the atmosphere was off and quickly stopped, awkwardly changing the subject. “By the way, Fellow Daoist, which mission are you planning to do next?”

Yan Li said calmly, “Sunset Valley.”

“I knew it!” Chen An slapped his thigh and leaned in mysteriously. “So I stayed up all night asking around about Sunset Valley for you.”

Sunset Valley is east of Tianque City, only a quarter-hour by sword flight.

Rumor has it that several hundred years ago, a great cultivator who practiced fire-attribute techniques fell here.

That person was called Chiyang Zhenren, and he cultivated the Burning Heaven Great Sun Art to the Soul Transformation realm. It was said that with a raise of his hand, he could summon the Great Sun True Fire and burn mountains and boil seas.

Back then, he fought a great battle here with an ancient fire flood dragon.

That fire flood dragon had been sleeping deep in the earth vein and was half a step from becoming a dragon. Chiyang Zhenren, in order to seize that wisp of flame essence to break through to a higher realm, went alone into the underground fire vein and fought it for seven days and seven nights.

That battle burned half the sky red, even the rocks were burned into red crystals.

After the battle, the entire valley was shrouded in a dark red glow year-round, day was like dusk, hence the name Sunset Valley. The spiritual energy inside also became extremely chaotic.

As for the so-called Sunset Crystals, they are special crystals formed from the residual Great Sun True Fire and earth vein spiritual energy condensing over a long time.

After saying all this in one breath, Chen An was parched. He grabbed the tea on the table, took a gulp, and continued:

“The better the crystal, the heavier the fire poison, and the more monsters gather.”

“If you dig up a good one, there’s likely a beast guarding it.”

“This thing is valuable. High-level artifact refining uses it, and the better ones can be used as furnace cores, so the Red Fire Pavilion is willing to pay a high price for them.”

Chen An’s expression suddenly turned serious.

“But… that place is not a joke.”

“The fire spiritual energy in the valley is too fierce. If an ordinary cultivator stays too long, their meridians will be soaked with fire poison. At best, their spiritual power goes haywire; at worst, they suffer hidden injuries that never heal.”

Yan Li listened quietly without interrupting.

Xuan Shiyan looked up at Chen An. “What do we need to prepare?”

Chen An immediately perked up. “Heh, you’ve asked the right person.”

He reached into his storage bag and started pulling things onto the table.

Fire avoidance talismans, Clear Spirit Pills, Cold Jade Powder, cooling jade pendants, fire driving beads… one small item after another emerged from Chen An’s storage bag.

Then he pulled out an inflatable pillow, a fan powered by spirit stones, a portable fireproof tent…

In the blink of an eye, the whole table was covered, and cultivators at nearby tables couldn’t help but glance over.

Chen An didn’t notice, still pulling out odds and ends, and finally even a folding stool and a sunshade.

Xuan Shiyan’s temple twitched. He was speechless at this display.

Yan Li: “……”

For some reason, she suddenly felt like laughing. This was too thorough.

Chen An introduced each item enthusiastically as he took them out:

“This fire avoidance talisman is cheap and durable!”

“This is insect repellent powder. In places like Sunset Valley, even mosquitoes have fire poison. One bite and you’ll swell for three days. This is my grandmother’s secret recipe, a must-have for home and travel.”

“This portable tent! Top-grade Tianshan cold silk cotton, lined with a heat insulation array. Waterproof, heat-proof, and insect-proof. It’s a bit expensive but worth it!”

“And this…”

He stealthily pulled out a small jade bottle.

“If you get fire poison, your blood and qi surge and your mind becomes restless, this will definitely work…”

Xuan Shiyan glanced at the words on the bottle.

“Spring Breeze Love Pill?”

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