Heaven-Dominating Martial Emperor

After everything was settled, Ye Chen, accompanied by Mo Tianyun and his group, took a casual stroll through the bustling streets of Flame City.

Flame City was truly worthy of its title as the largest city in Yan Province. The streets teemed with an endless, shoulder-to-shoulder crowd of visitors. It was a picture of prosperity and excitement, buzzing with the energy of the mortal world.

For Ye Chen, it was a real eye-opener.

After spending so much time in Lei Province, he had never visited a metropolis of this scale.

Soon, Mo Tianyun and the others bid Ye Chen farewell and departed.

They had originally come to Flame City to visit a friend who lived there. It was only on the way that they realized Ye Chen was in trouble and decided to see if they could be of any help.

Ye Chen was deeply touched, a warmth spreading through his chest.

But Mo Tianyun simply smiled, waved his hand dismissively, and told Ye Chen not to worry about it.

After all, Ye Chen had saved their lives in the battle atop Kunlun Mountain. Calling in a favor from the Demon Exorcism Institute to help him was nothing in comparison.

Ye Chen acted nonchalant on the surface, but deep down, he committed the kindness of Mo Tianyun and his friends to memory.

'If Mo Tianyun and his friends ever run into trouble,' he thought, 'I'll do everything in my power to help them!'

Luo Rou had been hesitant, seemingly wanting to stay and walk around with Ye Chen.

But seeing how familiar Ye Chen and Hongyu Pill Venerable were with each other, Mo Tianyun clearly didn't want Luo Rou to be a third wheel.

In the end, Luo Rou left with Mo Tianyun.

Only Ye Chen, Chi Ming, Hongyu Pill Venerable, and Jie Ling remained on the street.

"Speaking of which, it wasn't just Steward Mo and his group who helped me this time. You put in a lot of effort too."

Ye Chen suddenly turned to Hongyu Pill Venerable and said calmly.

Hearing this, Hongyu Pill Venerable gave a graceful smile. "Please, Young Master Ye, don't be so formal."

"Thanks to your guidance on the Alchemy Dao, I have benefited immensely! It's only right that I help you with your troubles."

"Besides, all I did was talk. I didn't really help at all."

"That's not right," Ye Chen said, shaking his head. "If it weren't for you, how would I have obtained these Buddhist Light Five-Mystic Stones?"

"Don't try to refuse."

With that, Ye Chen opened the wooden box. A brilliant Buddhist light shot out, illuminating the area and instantly drawing countless gazes.

Many Cultivators felt the surging waves of Spiritual Power, and a fiery, covetous light filled their eyes.

However, once they got a clear look at Ye Chen, that trace of greed vanished. Their expressions shifted, and one by one, they quickly turned their heads away.

Clearly, they all recognized him.

In their eyes, this young man was an absolute monster who dared to go head-to-head with the Saint Temple, the overlords of Yan Province. He was not someone they could afford to provoke.

Ye Chen paid no mind to the surrounding Cultivators and their varied expressions. Under a sea of envious gazes, he placed one of the Buddhist Light Five-Mystic Stones in Hongyu Pill Venerable's hand.

Hongyu Pill Venerable's arm extended from her sleeve. Her skin, fairer than frost and snow, was smooth, delicate, and utterly captivating.

She accepted the Buddhist Light Five-Mystic Stone, her expression complicated. "Young Master Ye, do you have any idea how precious these stones are?"

"No matter how precious they are, you deserve a share."

"If you all hadn't intervened, I might not have gotten these stones today, let alone escaped unscathed."

"I'll give one to Mo Tianyun's group later. One for myself is enough."

Ye Chen smiled faintly and casually put the box away.

Hongyu Pill Venerable fell silent for a moment. Then, a radiant smile bloomed on her face, bright and enchanting. Her beautiful, luminous eyes shimmered with a mesmerizing light, drawing the gazes of countless male Cultivators.

"In that case, I won't stand on ceremony, Young Master Ye."

She casually stored the Buddhist Light Five-Mystic Stone away, a sweet feeling bubbling up inside her. The joy on her face was impossible to conceal.

Ye Chen was about to continue on his way, but a glance at the restless crowd around them made him frown.

He didn't like the feeling of being constantly stared at.

But there was no denying it; they were famous in Flame City now. No matter where they went, it would be difficult to escape the stares.

'Oh, well. We've already walked around the city, and I can't find anything I need to buy anyway. We might as well just head back to the vessel.'

Ye Chen quickly made his decision.

Besides, he didn't believe for a second that the Saint Temple would let the matter drop after being so thoroughly humiliated.

He suspected the Saint Temple had already dispatched experts to watch them from the shadows, monitoring their every move.

Although Mo Tianyun had used a favor from the Demon Exorcism Institute to make the Saint Temple back off for now...

...by remaining in Flame City, they were giving the Saint Temple the perfect opportunity to strike when they saw an opening.

The Saint Temple could attack at any moment, and when they did, the consequences would be dire.

Until he broke through to the Divinity Transformation Realm, Ye Chen wouldn't feel truly safe.

Not even with a Divine Might Realm expert like Chi Ming protecting him!

After all, he had learned from Cang Lao just how formidable the Saint Temple was. An organization that had stood at the pinnacle of Yan Province for so long was far from simple.

Just as Ye Chen was about to leave, a figure suddenly approached, a broad smile on his face. "Young friend," he said to Ye Chen, "I wonder, would you be willing to trade those Buddhist Light Five-Mystic Stones?"

He was an ordinary-looking, casually dressed middle-aged man. In a crowd, he would have been completely unnoticeable.

But a glint flashed in Ye Chen's eyes. He could feel an intimidating pressure emanating from the man.

The surrounding crowd was giving Ye Chen a wide berth, yet this man had dared to approach him directly.

Without a doubt, this seemingly ordinary man was a terrifyingly powerful expert who concealed his true strength.

"You want the Buddhist Light Five-Mystic Stones?"

Ye Chen asked, his expression unreadable.

"Indeed." The man sighed wistfully. "These stones would be a great boon to my cultivation path. If you would be willing to part with them, young friend, I would be eternally grateful."

"And what do you have to offer in exchange?" Ye Chen asked coolly.

"How about three stalks of Spirit Medicine at the Peak of the Divinity Transformation Realm?"

The middle-aged man mused for a moment, testing the waters.

"Not interested." Ye Chen shook his head, looking distinctly unimpressed.

After eliminating those three Saint Monks, his personal coffers were much fuller than before.

A mere three stalks of Peak Divinity Transformation Realm Spirit Medicine weren't enough to pique his interest.

"This..." The middle-aged man hesitated, about to say more.

But Hongyu Pill Venerable cut in. "Why not offer your chamber of commerce's Spirit-Refining Pearl in trade?"

"The Spirit-Refining Pearl?"

The middle-aged man froze, looking at Hongyu Pill Venerable in shock.

"You recognize me?"