Chapter 44

"Ye Zhen, have you offended anyone recently?" Sha Fei had a serious look on his face.

"What's wrong?" Ye Zhen frowned.

To say who had a grudge against Ye Zhen, Ma Hui had already been killed by Ye Zhen in public. Hong Bao should be considered the one who hated Ye Zhen the most at present. Due to the relationship with Fairy Caiyi, Fan Chuyu, a true disciple residing on Spirit Sword Peak, could barely be counted as another.

"In recent days, there have often been black-robed outer disciples coming to Hundred Pine Peak to inquire about your information," Sha Fei said.

"Who?"

"None of them are familiar, and more than one black-robed outer disciple has come to inquire about your information!"

"More than one?" Ye Zhen's frown deepened. "What kind of information are they inquiring about?"

"Many things, covering a wide range, but in the end, they all circle back to your cultivation. From your initial performance when you first joined, to when you broke through to the second and third levels of Blood Cultivation, basically, all the miscellaneous disciples on Hundred Pine Peak who have fought with you have been questioned. Your two battles with Ma Yuanwu are also a focus," Sha Fei said.

Ye Zhen was taken aback. "How do you know so clearly?"

At this, a hint of pride appeared on Sha Fei's face. "Don't you know who I am! Hey, with your help with Blood Essence Pills, my cultivation has advanced rapidly. Now, I am truly the leader of Hundred Pine Peak. If there's any wind or grass moving, who dares to hide it from me!"

"Right, when did this situation start?"

"Let me think," Sha Fei pondered. "About eight or nine days ago!"

"Eight or nine days ago?" Ye Zhen fell into deep thought upon hearing this.

Eight or nine days ago was precisely when Ye Zhen had made a big splash on the martial arena, killing Ma Hui and defeating Hong Bao. Ye Zhen understood that he had caught someone's attention.

Who could be the one who was paying attention to him?

True disciple Fan Chuyu could be ruled out; such a person wouldn't lose face over this.

Could it be Hong Bao? Or some other person who noticed Ye Zhen's rapid rise?

A person with ulterior motives?

A figure with ulterior motives suddenly flashed through Ye Zhen's mind.

Ye Zhen was very clear that his recent rise was too fast. In just four months, he had gone from a peak third-level Blood Cultivation miscellaneous disciple to the second place on the Earth List.

This rate of rise was still within the normal range; the Qi Yun Sect wasn't without such cases. Anyone with this cultivation speed was undoubtedly a highly talented genius. For geniuses like Changsun Ran, such a speed was quite normal.

However, when it came to Ye Zhen, a miscellaneous disciple by origin, this rate of rise became very unusual.

Thus, some people with ulterior motives began to focus their attention on Ye Zhen, trying to uncover the secrets behind him.

Ye Zhen was very clear that, given the current situation where he had already caught the attention of someone with ulterior motives, the best response was to leave Hundred Pine Peak without a sound, not returning to the cliff secret cave to collect the stone marrow spirit liquid for three months or even half a year.

When that person with ulterior motives had waited long enough and found nothing, they would give up, and Ye Zhen could return to the cliff secret cave.

However, there was no such thing as being cautious for a thousand days.

Moreover, no matter what happened in the future, Ye Zhen had to go to the cliff secret cave tonight. The stone marrow spirit liquid had an extremely astonishing effect. Ye Zhen had to bring some back for his parents tomorrow.

In a moment, Ye Zhen had made up his mind about this matter.

As usual, Ye Zhen chatted with Sha Fei until late at night. Before leaving, Ye Zhen left a bottle of Blood Essence Pills for Sha Fei.

Walking on the winding mountain path of Hundred Pine Peak, Ye Zhen casually stepped in a snake-like manner, moving forward on the narrow path as if he were gliding on flat ground.

His steps were casual, but Ye Zhen's mind was highly focused, his senses gathered in his ears, listening intently to any sound from either side of the mountain path.

Ye Zhen didn't know if anyone was following him today, but it was better to be cautious.

At a bend in the mountain path, the dense branches of the iron-branch pines swayed like ghostly shadows in the wind, producing a continuous sound of pine waves. The moment Ye Zhen reached this spot, his figure suddenly shot out and disappeared into the pine forest, leaving only the continuous sound of the pine waves.

Not long after Ye Zhen's figure disappeared, a black shadow suddenly appeared at the bend in the mountain path. "Hmph, this kid really has secrets. He's quite clever, but the person who's been following him today is me..."

The black shadow flashed and also disappeared into the pine forest.

On the cliff wall, Ye Zhen's figure appeared at the entrance of the cliff secret cave. Before entering the cave, Ye Zhen glanced at the dark forest. The tree shadows were vague, showing no abnormalities, but a sense of unease lingered in Ye Zhen's heart.

As he entered the cliff secret cave, this unease grew stronger.

Inside the cliff secret cave, everything was as usual. After nearly ten days, the bamboo tube Ye Zhen had set up at the broken bamboo shoot had collected about half a tube of green stone marrow spirit liquid.

The ten-day supply of stone marrow spirit liquid should be enough for his parents.

Due to the unease in his heart, Ye Zhen almost filled the small bamboo tube with the stone marrow spirit liquid as quickly as possible, just as he was about to leave.

Ding!

The pebbles Ye Zhen had set up at the cave entrance suddenly rolled, and a black-robed figure entered the secret cave.

"Junior Brother Ye, if I were you, I would obediently put down the bamboo tube in your hand," a rather effeminate voice sounded.

"Senior Brother, it really is you?" Looking at the person, Ye Zhen showed no surprise.

When Sha Fei mentioned this matter to him today, Ye Zhen immediately thought of the instructions given by Jin Yuanbao. Senior Brother Gu Duo Zhi seemed to be very interested in him.

Ye Zhen had guessed that the person with ulterior motives might very well be Senior Brother Gu Duo Zhi, and he was right.

The only thing Ye Zhen couldn't quite understand was how, despite his extreme caution and the precautions he had taken when coming to the cliff secret cave, Senior Brother Gu Duo Zhi managed to track him down.

"You don't seem to be stupid either," Gu Duo Zhi smiled sinisterly. "Junior Brother Ye, if I'm not mistaken, your cultivation, which has advanced from the first level of Blood Cultivation to the peak of the fifth level in just five months, almost matching the cultivation speed of the top inner disciple, Changsun Ran, is due to the thing in your hand, right?"

Ye Zhen looked at the small bamboo tube in his hand, about to speak, when Gu Duo Zhi laughed again.

"Ye Zhen, don't rush to deny it! With your medium-grade bloodline from the three meridians, although you are from the Ye family of Gold City, you are from a collateral branch. Your family can only provide you with a few hundred silver coins a year, probably not even enough to buy a single Blood Essence Pill, right?"

"That's correct, Senior Brother, the information you have is accurate. My rapid advancement in cultivation is indeed due to this thing," Ye Zhen shook the bamboo tube. "However, there's one thing I can't understand. On the way here, I used various methods. How did you still manage to track me down?"

Gu Duo Zhi laughed smugly. "I am known for my speed, but that's not the most important part. The most important part is that I knew you always chat with Sha Fei for a long time when you go to Hundred Pine Peak. I guessed that you chat with Sha Fei for so long to delay time and wait until it's quiet at night to do your secret business.

So, I secretly placed a subtle fragrance on Sha Fei. If you have close contact with Sha Fei for a long time, you will be tainted by this fragrance. Hey, to be honest, Junior Brother Ye, your snake-like steps are really advanced. If it weren't for this fragrance, I wouldn't have been able to track you."

"Is that so!" Ye Zhen carefully sniffed his sleeve, sniffing several times before catching a faint scent. Indeed, he had been tricked.

Mentally noting this, Ye Zhen's experience in the world increased a bit.

With his doubts resolved, Ye Zhen slightly parted his legs, assuming the stance of the Five Mountain Fist, and shouted at Gu Duo Zhi, "Alright, Senior Brother, since you've discovered it, I have nothing to say. Is there anyone else outside the cave? Call them in, and let's have a battle to decide the ownership of the treasure in my hand!"

"Is there anyone else outside the cave? Ye Zhen, do you think I'm stupid? How could I let others in on such a good deal..."

Before he finished speaking, Ye Zhen's expression suddenly became determined, and Gu Duo Zhi's expression changed drastically. He had fallen for Ye Zhen's trick!

********

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