TL: Etude

After taking the Forbidden Stele, Ye Tian didn’t linger and quickly left. He had no intention of continuing to explore.

After all, if he fell, losing this Copy Body wouldn’t matter, but the Forbidden Stele would be lost! Therefore, he had to leave first and deliver the Forbidden Stele to his main body. Only then would he feel truly at ease.

Ye Tian retraced his steps and encountered no accidents along the way. He safely flew out through the same passage he had entered.

Silent and undetected, he avoided drawing the attention of any forbidden insects.

When Ye Tian flew out of the forbidden insect nest and moved further and further away from the area, he finally let out a sigh of relief.

“Back!”

Stepping onto the ground of the Blackwind Mountain Base, Ye Tian felt a surge of delight.

At this moment, Ye Tian was no longer using his Forbidden Talent Concealment, wary of attracting the attention of the two Half-Step Domain Ancestors. He still didn’t want to reveal this Forbidden Talent of his.

Using a random concealment secret technique, he arrived at his residence and handed the Forbidden Stele to his main body.

“Not bad, I’ve secured the Forbidden Stele. With this, comprehending the Forbidden Dao in the future will be much easier.

At present, my understanding of the Infinite Forbidden Dao is far too limited. I’ve likely not even reached the entry realm and have only grasped a rudimentary version of the complete Forbidden Dao.

If mastering 10% of the Infinite Forbidden Dao is considered entering the entry realm, then I’ve probably only grasped 0.1% so far!” Ye Tian murmured to himself.

Immediately after, Ye Tian sent his Copy Body away to continue acting under the identity of the Dark King.

Subsequently.

Ye Tian’s incarnation, which remained within the Human Race, ventured into Wind Mountain to search for information about the Dark Dull Gold Vein, but unfortunately, the available data was far too sparse. There was no connection between the Dark Dull Gold and the forbidden insect nest at all.

Helpless, he had no choice but to abandon his search.

Of course, he could also seek out Dao Ancestor Eternal Perpetuity or Dao Ancestor Divine Ruins for related information and report details about the Dark Dull Gold Vein to them. However, he couldn’t guarantee whether they would harbor ill intentions.

After all, the value of that Dark Dull Gold Vein was immense. Even if Dao Ancestor Eternal Perpetuity didn’t have any ill thoughts, if they managed to extract the Dark Dull Gold, it was unlikely they would share much of it with him.

People were selfish! Ye Tian was no exception. He didn’t want to share too much of the Dark Dull Gold with Dao Ancestor Eternal Perpetuity or the others, so he refrained from asking them.

More importantly, Ye Tian had a better candidate to consult.

“Ouyang Jiu’er!”

Ouyang Jiu’er had once been a Half-Step Domain Ancestor, possessing extensive knowledge and an extraordinary background. She might know something about the Dark Dull Gold Vein or even have a method to extract it.

Given his relationship with Ouyang Jiu’er, Ye Tian believed she would never deceive him.

Previously, Ye Tian had refrained from contacting Ouyang Jiu’er, worried about disturbing her.

But this time, he had no choice but to send her a message.

Ye Tian’s incarnation attempted to contact Ouyang Jiu’er within the Human Race’s domain, but he couldn’t reach her.

“Could Ouyang Jiu’er be in the Dark Forbidden Domain?” Ye Tian speculated.

If she were in the Dark Forbidden Domain, ordinary messaging treasures would be useless. Only special Forbidden Messaging Devices would work. However, if Ouyang Jiu’er were truly in a base within the Dark Forbidden Domain, he didn’t possess her Forbidden Messaging Device and thus couldn’t contact her.

Nevertheless, Ye Tian had a solution.

Using his Copy Talent, he began probing base by base. With the power of his Copy Talent, even if someone were cultivating in a secluded chamber and had activated layers of formations, he could still detect them effortlessly.

Thus, as long as Ouyang Jiu’er stayed in a certain base, he could find her.

Swoosh! Ye Tian’s Copy Talent enveloped the Blackwind Mountain Base, but he didn’t find her. This was expected, as the Blackwind Mountain Base was primarily occupied by Dao Ancestors of Blackwind Mountain. Ouyang Jiu’er naturally wouldn’t be here.

Immediately.

Ye Tian visited other bases under the guise of paying a visit, raising no suspicion.

One base after another was visited by Ye Tian, yet he still couldn’t find any trace of Ouyang Jiu’er.

That day.

Ye Tian arrived at the Nine Rivers Base, one of the loose cultivator bases. It had been established by Dao Ancestor Nine Rivers, one of the invincible Dao Ancestors among rogue cultivators. Although many Dao Ancestors were stationed here, their levels were not particularly high.

Upon arriving at the base, Ye Tian activated his Copy Talent, encompassing the entire base.

“Hmm, found you!” Ye Tian exclaimed in surprise.

…

In a residence within the Nine Rivers Base.

Ye Tian arrived and sent a voice transmission, requesting to meet the master of the residence. Before long, a burly man with a dark complexion stepped out. The aura around him unmistakably marked him as a Pinnacle Dao Ancestor.

Upon seeing the burly man, Ye Tian smiled and sent a voice transmission. “Jiu’er, how have you been lately?”

The dark-faced man’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Brother Ye, even with me looking like this, you recognized me?”

The man then invited Ye Tian into the residence.

Whoosh! The burly man dispelled his disguise, transforming into a woman—none other than Ouyang Jiu’er.

“Brother Ye, did you place some kind of tracker on me? I’m using a Supreme Treasure from my past life, a treasure so powerful that even an Invincible Dao Ancestor or a Half-Step Domain Ancestor can’t see through my disguise!” Ouyang Jiu’er asked curiously.

Ye Tian coughed lightly and explained, “I possess a talent, a Forbidden Talent, that can see through all disguises!”

“Forbidden Talent!!!” Ouyang Jiu’er was utterly astonished.

She believed him. After all, only a Forbidden Talent could be so heaven-defying.

Instantly, she felt envious of Ye Tian’s Forbidden Talent.

“Brother Ye, what’s the reason you came looking for me?” Ouyang Jiu’er asked curiously.

She knew Ye Tian wouldn’t search for her without a purpose, and he had scoured so many places before finally finding her at the Nine Rivers Base.

“I’ve discovered a Dark Dull Gold Vein!” Ye Tian said gravely.

“Really?” Ouyang Jiu’er’s eyes widened once more.

“Absolutely!” Ye Tian confirmed. “And the vein is enormous, its value immeasurable!”

“Let me guess, it can’t be moved, and that’s why you’ve come to find me?” Ouyang Jiu’er rolled her eyes.

“Exactly!” Ye Tian said quickly. “So tell me, will you help me? If it succeeds, I’ll give you half of the vein. What do you think?”

“Deal!” Ouyang Jiu’er nodded. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Half of a Dark Dull Gold Vein—its value was astronomical. All she needed to do was lend a hand, and it would be hers. This was essentially free wealth!

“Where is the vein, and why can’t it be taken? Explain in detail,” Ouyang Jiu’er said.

“The Dark Dull Gold Vein is located within the nest of the Forbidden Insect Race…” Ye Tian began.

Before he could finish, Ouyang Jiu’er interrupted hastily, “Brother Ye, I think my life is more important. I’ll pass on this vein!”