Chapter 62: The Woman in Black

Chapter 62: Chapter 62: The Woman in Black

Still wearing the straw hat, Ye Xuan flew on his sword toward another location.

Before reaching the village earlier, he had caught a glimpse of lights shining from beyond the forest, leading him to suspect that there was a small city nearby.

However, since the cultivators he had encountered were hunting for him, resting in that village had become dangerous.

That was why Ye Xuan decided to fly toward the small city, relying on the straw hat’s ability to conceal his aura.

He flew across the forest and soon confirmed that there was indeed a small city hidden beyond it.

Not many residents lived there. Its atmosphere was somewhat similar to Guyang City, the city near Scarlet Moon Forest.

Ye Xuan landed quietly without attracting much attention, then walked confidently into the city.

Naturally, it was also inhabited by cultivators from various righteous Daoist sects.

Did they know about the hunt for Ye Xuan? He was worried that they might.

His steps came to a halt when he noticed a crowd gathered in front of the city’s information board.

A cultivator standing there activated a token, projecting an image of Ye Xuan.

It was exactly the same image he had seen inside the information token belonging to the two women he had rescued in Scarlet Moon Forest.

It seems they’re using that image to show everyone what I look like.

[It’ll be difficult for them to recognize you. Your current appearance is different from the one in that image.]

[Perhaps they could identify you if they saw the snake around your neck, considering no other cultivator has one like you.]

[Should I hide inside your bag of holding?]

I don’t want you to do that. It would be no different from treating you like one of my possessions.

What about my dantian sea?

[We could try that, although it might affect your spiritual energy absorption later.]

Ye Xuan fell silent for a moment and continued observing the cultivator, who kept boasting and spreading lies about him.

The man claimed that Ye Xuan had killed thousands of people, allied himself with demons, waged war against humanity, and been possessed by a Heavenly Demon.

For the city’s residents, who were mostly mortals, it was easy to mislead and provoke them with such claims, especially when the information came from a cultivator.

However, the cultivators already knew enough to guess that the man’s words were lies.

They possessed more accurate information about Ye Xuan’s identity.

Ye Xuan decided to leave and visit one of the shops selling cultivation supplies and accessories.

Among the rows of shops, only two were still open, both selling various items for cultivators.

He entered one of them, where a man greeted him with a smile.

"Welcome, Fellow Daoist."

"Is there anything you need?"

"I’d like to buy a domain ring for a Spirit Beast," Ye Xuan explained.

"Whoa, you’re in luck, Fellow Daoist. A cultivator sold me some of those rings a few days ago."

The man returned to his counter and took out three different domain rings, each with distinct characteristics, seemingly corresponding to different elements or environments.

Ye Xuan knew about the function of domain rings because many of his seniors in the Spirit Beast Hall wore them.

Elder Ming had once explained that domain rings were not merely storage rings for Spirit Beasts.

They were also their homes, places where they could feel comfortable and safe while recovering their strength.

Considering Ye Xuan’s circumstances and the distinctive white serpent around his neck, he had to be careful.

He decided to let Qingyu choose a domain ring that would provide her with a comfortable place to stay.

There were three different domain rings in front of him.

The first was associated with the wood element, containing a lush forest within its domain.

The second was associated with fire, containing a volcano that erupted with molten lava.

The third was rather unique. It had no specific elemental affinity, and its domain consisted of a vast open area resembling the courtyard of a sect.

Ye Xuan picked up all three rings and placed them on his palm, showing them to Qingyu.

Which one would you choose, Qingyu?

[The first ring has a wood element. Although I like shady forests, it won’t help me. The second has a fire element, which could benefit me, but a volcanic domain is rather frightening.]

[It seems I’ll choose the third one.]

Ye Xuan didn’t argue with her.

He returned the first and second rings to the shopkeeper, then kept the third one and immediately slipped it onto his finger.

"That’ll be 80 spirit stones, Fellow Daoist."

He handed the shopkeeper a pouch of spirit stones before leaving the shop.

Qingyu remained around his neck, as Ye Xuan hadn’t yet asked her to enter the domain ring.

The young man walked into an inn and rented a room on the second floor. He went upstairs and settled inside.

"You can try entering this domain ring now, Qingyu."

[I’ll do that.]

The white serpent’s body immediately emitted spiritual energy before transforming into a small orb of qi that flew into the ring.

"Qingyu?"

[It’s very comfortable. The air is cool, and there’s plenty of space.]

[I can even sense spiritual energy here. I can rest and cultivate at the same time.]

Ye Xuan smiled slightly, feeling relieved that Qingyu wasn’t upset about entering the domain ring.

On the contrary, she seemed pleased because the environment inside suited her preferences and could even help her cultivate.

The young man put his straw hat back into his bag of holding, then opened the window and looked out at the bustling city streets at night.

"Now that you’re inside the domain ring, one of the distinctive features people could use to recognize me is gone."

[That’s right. They might only be able to identify you through your qi aura now.]

"Yes, but that won’t be easy. Almost every cultivator has a similar qi aura. Strangers wouldn’t immediately recognize mine."

"At least I’ve dealt with the problem of my appearance."

[Are you still planning to remain in the Xiao Empire? Your appearance is already quite different from before.]

"No," Ye Xuan replied. "If I want to become stronger, I have to live in a harsh environment."

"The only choice I have is the Eastern Mist Mountains."

[I will support whatever decision you make, Ye Xuan.]

Ye Xuan closed the window and drew the curtains. He walked over to the bed and sat cross-legged, beginning to cultivate with the spirit stones he had.

The young man cultivated peacefully to recover his strength. After two hours had passed, he was startled by a knock at his door.

His eyes opened, narrowing as he stared sharply at the door. He immediately took out his straw hat to conceal his aura before walking over and opening it.

"Hello!"

Ye Xuan saw a short woman with short black hair standing outside. She wore strange, entirely black clothing, and her eyes radiated purple qi.

"Who... are you?" Ye Xuan asked.

"I’ve had such a hard time searching everywhere for you, Ye Xuan!"

How does she know who I am?!

The young man hurriedly reached out and grabbed the woman’s neck, choking her. She immediately flinched in shock.

"Just... as I expected," she replied. "You really deserve to be wanted by the Dao Sword Sect!"

Ye Xuan pulled the woman’s body forward and threw her into his room.

His hand moved, directing his lightning sword toward her until its tip stopped right in front of her neck.

"Tell me, who are you? And how do you know about me?!" Ye Xuan demanded.

"Hmm... How should I answer that?"

"Let’s put it this way," the woman replied. "The sect master of the Netherworld Palace wants to meet you."

"He ordered me to kidnap you. However, judging from your earlier conversation, it seems I don’t need to go through all that trouble, since you’re already planning to head to the Sea of Mist Realms yourself."

Ye Xuan furrowed his brows, "I’ve never heard of that sect. Judging by your appearance, is it a demonic sect?"

"HAHAHA!"

"You righteous Daoist cultivators always look down on other paths, even though we consider ours the Sacred Cultivation Path."

"That’s because our cultivation path existed long before the Daoist and Zen paths."

"But well, since that’s what you call it, then so be it," the woman replied. "We are indeed a demonic cultivation sect."

"My name is Yi Xin!"