Lü Hong. Of the several Major Cultivators coveting Jinyun Valley, he was the most powerful.

His strength could even be directly compared to Ye Jingzhou’s.

Rong Zhongxuan had fought him before and hadn’t lasted three moves. In fact, it was precisely because of that defeat that he had come to win over Chen Che. Now, seeing Lü Hong face-to-face and recalling his strength, Rong Zhongxuan’s expression changed dramatically, and he subconsciously took several steps back.

Seeing him retreat, a flicker of disdain appeared in Lü Hong’s eyes as he turned to Chen Che.

"Tributor Chen?"

"That’s me."

Chen Che gave a slight nod.

"Just as the rumors say—young and full of promise!" With his hands clasped behind his back, Lü Hong exuded an oppressive aura. He sized Chen Che up and chuckled. "You’ve likely guessed why I’m here."

"I have."

’He had long expected this day.’

’Once the news spread that Ye Jingzhou’s life was ending, Jinyun Valley became the eye of the storm. Anyone in the Valley with a shred of power or status would be targeted. It was just like an imperial succession, rife with countless plots and schemes.’

’Rong Zhongxuan had approached him early to bolster his own strength, so it was only natural others would do the same.’

"A genius Pill Master. Half of Jinyun Valley’s current reputation rests on your shoulders. To think such a small pond could produce a True Dragon like you!"

Lü Hong’s words were filled with admiration.

He had traveled for many years and knew well how difficult it was to master the Alchemy Skill. Anyone who reached Chen Che’s level before the age of thirty-five deserved to be called a genius—let alone someone as accomplished as Chen Che.

"You flatter me."

Chen Che cupped his hands. "Senior, please speak your mind."

"Very well."

Lü Hong nodded, his tone dripping with arrogance.

"Ye Jingzhou’s life is almost over. When I become the master of Jinyun Valley, I expect you to continue serving as a Tributor."

The moment Lü Hong spoke, Rong Zhongxuan’s eyes bulged, and he blurted out,

"What did you just say?"

’He himself had offered to *share* Jinyun Valley with Chen Che, yet this man was merely demanding that Chen Che remain a Tributor.’

At the same time, he looked toward Chen Che, hoping this reincarnated Great Power would slap the man dead on the spot.

But Chen Che’s expression was calm as he sized up the man in return. ’His words and actions are domineering, the complete opposite of Rong Zhongxuan’s meticulous caution. That means there is only one possibility:’

’He has something backing him up, making him fearless.’

"The Valley Master is still alive and well, you know."

Chen Che just chuckled.

"He’ll be gone sooner or later!"

Lü Hong narrowed his eyes, his gaze sweeping over Rong Zhongxuan. The latter felt as if a Fierce Beast had locked its eyes on him, and the hair all over his body stood on end.

"Ye Jingzhou has sat decaying in Jinyun Valley for two hundred years. It’s time this place had a new master! I’ll give you three months to think it over. By then, you’ll have a clear understanding of my methods..."

Lü Hong turned to leave. Just as he was about to exit the Pill Shop, he paused and shot a glance at Rong Zhongxuan.

"You’ve had plenty of time to think. My patience is limited. Watch out, or you might not even leave a corpse behind."

With that said,

He departed.

"You have a history with him?"

Chen Che asked, looking at Rong Zhongxuan, whose face was deathly pale.

"I was defeated by him in three moves. I was lucky to escape with my life... I never expected to run into him again here in Jinyun Valley. He told me to submit to him, and I just stalled for time, telling him I’d consider it."

As he said this, Rong Zhongxuan looked ashamed.

"But his methods have always been tyrannical. He said he’s going to kill Ye Jingzhou and take over Jinyun Valley, and he’s eighty percent confident he can do it!"

"Is that so?"

Chen Che’s eyes half-closed.

’Could it be?’

’Is this man planning to face Ye Jingzhou head-on? With that decrepit body of his, how long could Ye Jingzhou possibly last?’

’This place has become the eye of the storm. All sorts of unsavory characters are crawling out of the woodwork to fight over Jinyun Valley. Lü Hong isn’t the first, and he certainly won’t be the last. Even if I have no intention of joining the fight, I’ll be dragged into it.’

’It seems I have to reach Foundation Establishment as soon as possible.’

...

「That night.」

Inside Jinyun Valley, Xiao Chan packed up his stall. Resuming his usual appearance and shouldering his Soul-Calling Banner, he snuck into the Valley.

He looked up at the decaying old man on the Lotus Platform, his eyes narrowing.

"Valley Master Ye, do you want me to guard the Valley for you?"

Back then, when he was being hunted by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator from the Primordial Sect, it was Ye Jingzhou who intervened and saved him. He had given him a mask and told him to hide in Jinyun Valley. He even mentioned that there was a Pill Master in Jinyun Valley who could refine Pills for him.

The condition, however, was that he had to stay in Jinyun Valley for some time and do one thing for him.

With no other options, he had come here and had remained ever since.

Earlier today, he had suddenly detected Ye Jingzhou’s signal, which was why he had rushed over.

"You’ve reached Foundation Establishment!"

Ye Jingzhou, sitting cross-legged on the Lotus Platform, sent his Divine Sense probing toward Xiao Chan, but it was immediately repelled by a wave of Divine Sense that erupted from the man.

"Just a stroke of luck."

Xiao Chan answered evasively. He had a faint suspicion that Ye Jingzhou had ulterior motives for saving him.

But according to the code of the martial world, a debt of gratitude must be repaid.

"Valley Master Ye, I owe you a debt. Your life is now short. I can secretly guard the Valley for you for ten years, or until a second Foundation Establishment Cultivator appears. Let that be my repayment for you saving me that day."

"Heh, no need."

Ye Jingzhou chuckled and waved his hand dismissively.

"Then I’ll kill those Foundation Establishment Cultivators for you!"

Xiao Chan said with a frown.

After that day’s assembly, when news of Ye Jingzhou’s impending death began to spread, he had naturally noticed the influx of Foundation Establishment Cultivators into Jinyun Valley. He even knew that many of them had sought out Chen Che.

"No need for that, either."

Ye Jingzhou still shook his head.

"...Then why did you summon me?"

Xiao Chan was bewildered.

’No to this, no to that. Could it be that Ye Jingzhou really expected nothing in return when he saved me?’

’I don’t believe it!’

"I intend to seize a body for my rebirth. But such an act defies the heavens, and if word were to spread, the cultivators of this world would not tolerate it."

Ye Jingzhou slowly raised his head, a smile spreading across his face. But on his withered features, the smile looked utterly monstrous.

"And you, as an Evil Cultivator, are the perfect person to take the blame for me!"

"Impossible!"

He was being made a scapegoat. Xiao Chan’s expression changed, and he turned to leave without a second thought.

"Valley Master Ye, in consideration of the fact you saved my life, I will not speak of this to anyone..."

CLANG!

Before he could leave, the main doors of the hall slammed shut, though there was no wind.

Lines of intricate patterns appeared on the doors, walls, and windows. The patterns interlocked like chains, sealing the entire hall.

Xiao Chan’s pupils contracted. He whipped around to see Ye Jingzhou already on his feet. The man’s blazing gaze was fixed on him like a Fierce Beast’s, making the hair on his skin stand on end. Taking a deep breath, Xiao Chan tightened his grip on the Soul-Calling Banner on his back.

...

「The next day.」

Before Chen Che even stepped into the Market, he heard a commotion.

He hadn’t even made it halfway there when he saw Rong Zhongxuan rushing toward him.

"Last night, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator broke into Jinyun Valley to assassinate Ye Jingzhou, but was driven back!"

The man sent the message as they quickly passed each other.

’An assassination attempt?’

Slightly stunned, Chen Che immediately sent a reply via voice transmission: "Find out who it was!"

Sure enough, all along the road, he could hear passing cultivators talking about it.

"The commotion last night was huge! I heard the main hall even collapsed, but the Valley Master managed to drive that villain away!"

"Those bastards are despicable! If Valley Master Ye were in his prime, would they dare be so insolent? They’re just taking advantage of his old age..."

"But I heard the intruder was wounded by the Valley Master and fled Jinyun Valley!"

So many people were discussing it, and they had all supposedly heard the commotion with their own ears.

The numerous Jinyun Valley disciples on patrol only added to the atmosphere of paranoia. He stopped a passing disciple to ask, and received the same story.

Even many of the disciples stationed at the mines had been recalled and were now on their way back.

Chen Che, who had been skeptical at first, was now forced to believe it.

"Tributor Chen, perfect timing!"

He walked through the Market. He didn’t see Xiao Chan, but thought little of it and stepped into the Pill Shop. He had barely set foot inside when Lu Yi rushed in, calling out to him the moment he saw him.

"I heard..."

"Yes, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator did sneak into the Valley last night to carry out an assassination. The main hall collapsed, but the Valley Master is fine."

Lu Yi knew what Chen Che wanted to ask, so he spilled everything without reservation:

"I’ve come to deliver the Materials for the Longevity Pill. Could you see what’s still missing?"

With that said,

He dumped a pile of Materials onto the counter with a loud clatter.

Chen Che glanced over them.

They were all ancient Spiritual Medicines. The Pill Formula, for example, only called for a thirty-year-old Ice Fan Snow Fruit, but Lu Yi had brought a hundred-year-old specimen. What was supposed to be a hundred-year-old Fire Feather Bamboo was a three-hundred-year-old one.

It was the height of extravagance.

"We’re still missing one supplementary ingredient."

"You can’t start refining it even if we’re just missing one ingredient?"

Lu Yi’s brow furrowed. When he saw Chen Che shake his head, he sighed deeply. "Master was attacked. He’s fine, but I can clearly sense that he’s grown much older, which is why I’m panicking. You know how it is—when your lifespan is almost gone, you can’t afford to fight."

"Every time he strikes, he isn’t consuming True Essence, but his own lifespan!"

It was clear that Lu Yi was genuinely worried about Ye Jingzhou; there wasn’t a hint of pretense in his demeanor.

Chen Che understood Lu Yi’s point, but he could only advise, "It’s not just about one ingredient. If the Materials are off by even a fraction, it won’t work. The resulting Pill would not only fail to extend life, it would be a fatal poison."

"You’re the Pill Master. I’ll defer to you."

Lu Yi mumbled, then walked out of the Pill Shop. He suddenly remembered something, turned back, and asked, "Once all the Materials are gathered, how long will the refining take?"

"Seven days."

"Good!"

This seemed to lift Lu Yi’s spirits. He cupped his hands, turned, and headed back toward the inner Valley. "I’m worried the intruder might return, so I must remain in the Valley at all times. I’ll be eagerly awaiting good news from you, Tributor Chen!"

"Sigh. Such troubled times."

Ding Fei, who had witnessed the exchange, couldn’t help but sigh. Suddenly, an idea struck him and he slapped his forehead. "That’s right! I need to use this chance to hoard herbs. If this turmoil continues, prices for everything are going to skyrocket..."

「That evening.」

Rong Zhongxuan came to report in secret. He hadn’t been able to identify the Major Cultivator who had made the move.

Chen Che ordered him to continue investigating.

But the identity of the Major Cultivator who had attacked Jinyun Valley remained a mystery.

That very night, two more Foundation Establishment Cultivators clashed over the Black Water River. Half the river’s surface was frozen solid, and dozens of Loose Cultivators from the fish market were caught in the crossfire, dying instantly. A white-haired cultivator emerged victorious, capturing his opponent and flying off.

By the time Chen Che reached the Market again, Rong Zhongxuan was already there to give a secret report:

"I know about this one! The one who fought last night was Lü Hong!"