Chapter 132: Chapter 129: The Martial World’s Killing Field of Fame and Fortune

Chen Che had never expected this.

Xiao Chan hadn’t come looking for trouble. Instead, the Primordial Sect had shown up at his door first.

"When did this happen?"

"Just now!"

"Why?"

"To find you..."

Chen Che asked, Hu Yao answered.

"To find me!?"

Chen Che faltered mid-step and turned to look.

"Well, they weren’t looking just for you. They’re actually here because of Xiao Chan. It’s supposedly related to that Evil Artifact he has!"

Hu Yao lowered his voice.

"Apparently, the Evil Artifact he possesses not only devours an enemy’s Qi and Blood, but the Soldier Master’s as well. They deduced that Xiao Chan would most likely need to supplement himself with a Qi and Blood Elixir. So they’ve been searching for well-known Pill Masters along their way, and your reputation is the most prominent around here."

Chen Che understood.

Fame was a double-edged sword. It brought benefits, but it also had its drawbacks.

"What’s the situation now? If they were looking for me, why did they trash my Pill Shop?"

"The Valley Master found out and is on his way. As for the Pill Shop..."

Hu Yao explained everything from the beginning.

Only then did Chen Che understand what had happened.

Apparently, not long after the Market opened today, several Primordial Sect disciples had shown up, demanding to see him by name.

But he had been in class on the Earth Element Star, so there was no way for Ding Fei to find him. The disciples assumed Ding Fei was making excuses and trashed the shop on the spot to force him out. This alerted Lu Yi, who was now in the shop negotiating with them.

"So that’s what happened."

Chen Che nodded slightly. As they passed the tofu pudding stall in the Market, he made a point to glance over. The stall was there, but the vendor was gone.

"Where’s the old man who sells tofu pudding?"

"!?"

Hu Yao froze, unsure what Chen Che was getting at, but replied anyway.

"Not sure, I remember seeing him earlier..."

He’d been busy with the shop all morning. ’How could I have noticed some inconspicuous old tofu pudding vendor?’

’Did he sense trouble and run for it?’

The thought flashed through his mind as the two of them arrived at the shop.

Before he even looked up, he saw a crowd of Loose Cultivators gathered outside the Pill Shop. Jinyun Valley disciples had formed a human wall around it, preventing bystanders from getting in. Through the gaps in the wall, he could see the shop teeming with Primordial Sect disciples.

Their attire was completely different from that of the Market’s Loose Cultivators. Standing there, they looked as if they were from another world, sticking out like sore thumbs.

"Who are you?"

Seeing someone pass through the human wall and step forward, a Primordial Sect disciple immediately shouted.

Chen Che ignored him.

His gaze swept over his shop, and his brow furrowed instantly.

The inside of the Pill Shop was a complete mess. Vials were shattered, and numerous Pills had rolled onto the floor. Many had been trampled into Pill Mud underfoot. The Pills that hadn’t been crushed were coated in dust. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Zhao Deyou stood to the side, covered in injuries, with Zhao Changping trembling in his arms. Ding Fei’s right cheek was swollen, with a distinct Hand Seal mark upon it.

Seeing their injuries, Chen Che’s eyes narrowed.

"I’m talking to you!"

When Chen Che didn’t answer, the Primordial Sect disciple who had spoken looked displeased.

"He is Chen Che!"

Inside the Pill Shop, Lu Yi was sitting to one side, speaking with a white-robed Primordial Sect disciple who looked to be in his twenties. Hearing the commotion, Lu Yi quickly made an explanation. The white-robed disciple turned his head, his gaze sharp and appraising.

"You are Chen Che?"

"This is Primordial Sect disciple Ye Zhihan..."

Seeing the barely contained anger in Chen Che’s eyes as he took in the state of his shop, Lu Yi offered the introduction as a reminder, then turned back to the disciple.

"Yes, he is indeed a Pill Master Tributor of our valley, Chen Che."

’Ye Zhihan?’

Hearing the introduction, Chen Che finally deigned to glance at him.

’Cultivation? Unknown.’

’He shouldn’t be at Foundation Establishment; his aura isn’t strong enough.’

’Twenty-five or twenty-six and not even at Foundation Establishment. With that kind of aptitude and Cultivation, he dares call himself ’Ye Zhihan’?’

"Mm."

Ye Zhihan sat straight in the Grandmaster’s Chair, retracted his gaze, and lifted his teacup. He asked in a slow, deliberate manner:

"What’s your background? How old are you? Where do you live? Who taught you your Alchemy Skill? How many years have you been studying it? When did you join Jinyun Valley?"

"Are you asking me?"

Chen Che laughed, raised his head, and tapped his own chest.

His gaze swept across Ye Zhihan and the other Primordial Sect disciples, while his peripheral vision took in the state of the Pill Shop, Ding Fei, and the others.

’They trashed my shop.’

’They beat my people.’

’And they’re speaking to me in that tone?’

"Valley Master Lu, it seems your Tributor doesn’t understand the meaning of etiquette!"

Ye Zhihan sneered, lifting his teacup and blowing lightly on the surface.

"He’s sorely lacking in discipline..."

WHOOSH!

Before his voice had even faded.

A Primordial Sect disciple shot forward like a pouncing tiger. In a single bound, he crossed several yards, leaving a trail of deep footprints in his wake. In an instant, he was right in front of Chen Che.

His wide sleeve billowed with a sharp snap, like a battle flag in the wind.

The fist emerging from his sleeve shot out like a striking Battle Spear.

BAM!

Their fists met and separated in a single touch.

Chen Che didn’t budge, but his opponent was forced back several steps.

SHIING!

Almost simultaneously, the eyes of the surrounding Primordial Sect disciples turned cold. Some had already drawn their Weapons.

"Calm down, calm down..."

Seeing this, Lu Yi shot to his feet and turned to Ye Zhihan.

"He’s from a farming family at the foot of the mountain! He stumbled upon a Pill Book by accident and taught himself the Alchemy Skill... It’s been about two years, not even three yet!"

Ye Zhihan, whose eyes had been filled with suspicion, looked startled by this. He turned his head.

"How long?!"

"Less than three years!"

Seeing that Chen Che had no intention of answering at all, Lu Yi quickly answered for him.

"Not even three years?"

Ye Zhihan looked Chen Che up and down, then suddenly broke into laughter. The Primordial Sect disciple who had attacked Chen Che, initially stunned, now just chuckled and shook his head.