Xiao Chen's calm yet defiant words fell like a thunderclap on the trio.
Duan Huaming and Li Yuedu's eyes flashed with icy hostility, faint traces of killing intent flickering in their gazes.
Liu Yueru, though initially surprised, soon looked at Xiao Chen with a mixture of astonishment and disbelief. She hadn't expected this rootless disciple to dare challenge someone like Duan Huaming, who was not only a capable cultivator but also a near-master in second-grade alchemy. Few in Falling Cloud Valley would have dared to provoke him.
"Good! Very good!" Duan Huaming laughed angrily, his spiritual pressure surging toward Xiao Chen like a rising tide.
Xiao Chen, however, remained unfazed. Meeting Duan Huaming's glare, he said coldly, "Infighting among disciples, regardless of who's at fault, results in expulsion and permanent disqualification from the sect. That is the rule set by our ancestors. Are you planning to break it, Senior Brother?"
Duan Huaming froze. Though his face darkened with rage, his spiritual pressure receded. He realized that his actions had already drawn the attention of several other disciples nearby. If word of this reached the elders, he could face punishment—and worse, it might shatter the reputation he had carefully built, especially in Ji Yuewu's eyes.
"Hmph! Don't think you've won, Xiao Chen. Disrespecting me won't go unpunished. At the sect's grand assessment, I'll make sure you pay the price!" Duan Huaming spat, his tone icy. With a final glare, he took to the skies, leaving in a streak of light.
"Short-sighted fool," Xiao Chen muttered under his breath.
Li Yuedu, his face equally cold, gave Xiao Chen a condescending look before turning and following Duan Huaming without a word.
Liu Yueru, on the other hand, stayed a moment longer, her expression amused. "I must admit, you're bold. But the entire sect will soon hear of your insolence. Let's see if you can keep up that sharp tongue when the assessment comes around." With a light laugh, she flew off.
Xiao Chen's brows furrowed slightly. The annual sect assessment was a tradition in Falling Cloud Valley, serving as both a test of progress and an arena to settle personal disputes. Duan Huaming clearly intended to use the event to publicly humiliate him.
"Duan Huaming is a petty man with a dangerous temper," Xiao Chen thought, his eyes flashing coldly. "If he dares to challenge me, I won't hesitate to expose my strength and destroy him."
With his inability to achieve Foundation Establishment still unresolved, Xiao Chen turned his attention to other preparations. The ancient cultivator's ruins he planned to explore with Chu Kuang were a promising lead, but success would require meticulous planning.
Understanding the value of preparation, Xiao Chen returned to his secluded garden and began mass-producing pills.
Low-grade pills like the Spirit Gathering Pill and Essence Refining Pill were now of little use to him. Foundation Establishment Pills were effective for replenishing spiritual energy but acted too slowly and caused uncontrolled surges of power, making them unsuitable for combat. After careful consideration, he decided to focus on crafting Essence Restoration Pills, which were ideal for replenishing spiritual energy for Foundation Establishment cultivators and suited his needs well.
Over the following weeks, Xiao Chen threw himself into alchemy, refining hundreds of pills:
Essence Restoration Pills for spiritual energy recovery.
Spirit Recovery Pills for restoring divine sense, an essential safeguard.
Nine-Turn Blood Jade Paste, known for healing severe injuries, including partially severed limbs.
Xiao Chen refined 18 bottles.
A variety of utility pills, including antidotes, Breath Suppression Pills, Fasting Pills, and Morphing Pills, were also added to his arsenal.
Each batch of pills took incredible focus and effort. For most alchemists, crafting such a stockpile would take years, but Xiao Chen's heightened divine sense and refined techniques allowed him to finish in just two weeks.
During this time, rumors spread throughout the sect of Duan Huaming's outrage. Allegedly, he planned to teach Xiao Chen a lesson at the assessment. Xiao Chen heard the whispers with a cold smile but ignored them, focusing instead on his preparations.
Once all the pills were stored, Xiao Chen meditated briefly to recover his strength. Fully restored, he decided to acquire additional tools for the expedition.
Cultivator marketplaces, known as bazaars, emerged as hubs for exchanging rare items and resources. These markets were heavily guarded and hidden from mortal view, often shielded by formations and illusions. The Little Cliff Market, located near Falling Cloud Valley, was a small bazaar frequented by disciples from various sects and low-ranking cultivators, though it occasionally attracted a few wandering Foundation Establishment masters.
A streak of light descended near the barren outskirts of a small valley, revealing a refined-looking young man—Xiao Chen.
"So, this is the Little Cliff Market," he murmured, scanning his surroundings. After a moment's thought, he suppressed his cultivation to the seventh level of Qi Refinement. With a wave of his hand, he activated a sealing talisman, masking his true strength, and stepped into the valley.
Crossing the barrier was like stepping through water. Ripples spread in the air, and the muted silence of the barren landscape gave way to a bustling cacophony of noise and activity.
The valley had transformed into a lively marketplace, filled with stalls and pavilions offering a dizzying array of items—spiritual herbs, talismans, weapons, and alchemical ingredients. Cultivators in robes of varying styles and colors mingled, their voices raised in bargaining and conversation.
Xiao Chen took a deep breath and stepped into the throng.