A Trip to the Valley of Chi Shen

On June 20th, it was Jian Yuanjie's time this quarter to go to Zhican Valley for purchasing elixirs. Now Qin Ran was going in his place.

At ten o'clock in the morning, Qin Ran arrived at the elixir hall entrance on time. He looked inside and found that there was no change inside, everyone was doing their own jobs as usual.

So he was very puzzled. They were about to go to Zhican Valley for purchasing elixirs, how come there were no preparations? At least... they needed some guards!

So he asked Feng Feiyan about this.

"Purchasing elixirs has long been a conventional trade between Dao Sword Sect and Zhican Valley. There won't be much danger coming and going. " Feng Feiyan replied, "First, ordinary loose cultivators don't dare to offend two major sects at the same time; Second, few can rob elixirs from Elder Jian's hands."

The implication was that Jian Yuanjie did not need safety guards when purchasing elixirs. Could it be that Qin Ran was not as good as Jian Yuanjie and needed extra people to protect him?

Qin Ran could naturally hear it out, but...

He was still a baby, he didn't want to die.

"Oh, is that so?" He asked, "Has Elder Jian been robbed before?"

"Naturally, there are people who are eager for these large amounts of spirit stones and elixirs." Feng Feiyan replied, "However, regardless of whether they can rob these elixirs or not, they will be liquidated by the sect afterwards... Someone has tried, but no one has managed to rob elixirs from Elder Jian's hands."

"Oh..." Qin Ran understood, because they were cultivators, they had cosmos sacks that could transport goods. So with fewer people and a smaller target, it was convenient to escape. Indeed there was no need for guards. He smiled and said, "Elder Jian is indeed amazing."

He asked Feng Feiyan again, "So, it's just me going..."

"The two of us, Elder Qin." Feng Feiyan said gently, "I need to go along to keep trading records."

"Oh, okay, we'll go together and watch each other's backs." Qin Ran nodded, "Are you ready? If you're ready, let's go!"

"I'm ready, Elder Qin." Feng Feiyan responded.

Qin Ran then turned around and plucked a piece of cloud from the sky to serve as the transportation for this trip.

While he turned around to cast spells, Feng Feiyan took the opportunity to exchange glances with Ke Yue in the hall, then Feng Feiyan nodded slightly imperceptibly.

All of this was seen by Yan Yi. When Qin Ran beckoned Feng Feiyan onto the cloud, he suddenly stood up and shouted, "Chief Qin?"

Qin Ran looked back at him with a smile and asked, "What's the matter?"

Yan Yi opened his mouth, but he could feel several ferocious gazes shooting towards him from the elixir hall, which made him feel utterly miserable. He finally just smiled and said, "It will be dangerous over there, Chief must be very careful."

Qin Ran looked at him deeply and nodded, "Thanks for Yan brother's reminder, I will be more careful."

After that, he rode the cloud and sat cross-legged, then closed his eyes and flew out of the sect.

Soon the two of them came to the mountain protection array in front of the sect. Qin Ran sat in the front but did not intend to take out his identity token to open the array passage. Seeing this, Feng Feiyan consciously stepped forward and took out her outer disciple identity token to open the mountain protection array.

The cloud they rode continued flying outwards, heading towards Zhican Valley.

Zhican Valley was known as the number one sect in North Chu Country. Along with Dao Sword Sect and Boundless Sword Sect, they were all located deep within the vast mountains of the Hengduan Mountains.

The so-called number one sect in North Chu referred to this sect’s influence among the common people, not the sect’s actual hard power, which was its fighting capability.

After all, although there were many cultivators in Zhican Valley, they were either alchemists or cultivators who needed elixirs to cultivate.

Could alchemists defeat sword practitioners?

Could drug-assisted leveling defeat those with extraordinary talents?

Therefore, although Zhican Valley had the most Nascent Soul stage cultivators among sects in North Chu, it was hard to say whether those Nascent Soul cultivators could defeat the current Li Shiyin.

Of course, it was hard to tell about power levels without an actual fight.

The current situation was that Zhican Valley had great influence among the common people due to alchemy, and there were many cultivators and high-level cultivators because of alchemy. On paper, Zhican Valley was the number one sect in North Chu.

They also believed so themselves.

Qin Ran and Feng Feiyan set off from Dao Sword Sect at ten o'clock in the morning. Under Feng Feiyan's guidance, at around five o'clock in the afternoon, the two arrived at the entrance of Zhican Valley.

Unlike Dao Sword Sect which hid several mountains in the mist, Zhican Valley hid an entire valley in the mist.

It was surrounded by several majestic high mountains. Together with the rising mist, it formed Zhican Valley.

The entrance of Zhican Valley was between two mountains. The two mountains guarded Zhican Valley like two ancient gods, leaving an open path between them as the entrance to Zhican Valley.

Qin Ran stood on the white cloud with a faint smile on his face and his hands clasped behind his back, fully exhibiting the demeanor of a superior man.

The white cloud slowly descended, and some people had been waiting at the gate for a long time. Seeing this, they hurriedly came up to greet Qin Ran. An old voice said, "The elder has travelled a long way. I am ashamed for not welcoming you earlier. Please accept my apologies."

Unlike the chaotic scene filled with vendors at Dao Sword Sect’s entrance, Zhican Valley was very orderly as the number one sect and cared about its image. Its gate was clean without any idlers, exhibiting the atmosphere and imposing sight of an immortal abode.

Qin Ran cupped his fist and greeted, "Greetings, fellow Taoist."

Feng Feiyan was also quick-witted and introduced both sides in a timely manner: "Elder Qin, this is Elder Sun who is specifically responsible for liaising with Dao Sword Sect; Elder Sun, this is our newly appointed Elder Qin."

"Oh! Elder Qin, nice to meet you, nice to meet you!" Elder Sun had the appearance of a robust old man in his fifties with snow white hair. When he saw Qin Ran, he only showed a moment of astonishment. Upon hearing Feng Feiyan's introduction, he continued to chat amiably with Qin Ran without any hesitation or asking about Jian Yuanjie's situation.

It was evident that he was also a scheming old fellow.

Hearing that this guy was specifically responsible for Dao Sword Sect, Qin Ran immediately understood in his heart and knew that this guy was an executor of the plot against Dao Sword Sect. But he did not show any reaction and continued to chat amiably with Elder Sun.

The two sly old men who met for the first time talked as if they were old friends who had known each other for many years.

"I just understand a little bit about elixirs and was sent by the sect to talk with an alchemy-focused immortal sect like Zhican Valley. I'm truly ashamed." Qin Ran said, "Indeed the sect is lacking people now. Please don't laugh at me, Elder Sun."

"Little brother Qin understands alchemy?" Elder Sun asked in surprise, "Speaking of which, I also understand a little bit. Let's exchange later."

As someone who would deliberately plot Qin Ran's death, did Elder Sun know that Qin Ran could concoct elixirs?

"No need, no need..." Qin Ran quickly declined, "Actually I only know how to light a fire and cook. To say that I understand alchemy would be boasting shamelessly!"