Longevity by Grinding Skills

Chapter 537: Chapter 537: A Hook

She continued to introduce her "Sunken Star" Ancient Sword to the curious disciples who had stopped by, as if the previous encounter was merely an insignificant interlude.

Xu Yunfan hadn’t gone far.

He concealed his aura completely, like a true phantom, melting into the clamor of the Marketplace yet remaining separate from it.

His mood darkened.

’Targeted the moment I came out of seclusion? Seriously, they just won’t give me a break.’

A cold glint flashed in the depths of Xu Yunfan’s eyes.

’This Primordial Demon Sect is truly full of pitfalls. From the Qi Cultivation disciples in the Marketplace to the lofty Golden Core True Monarchs, every last one of them is more scheming and sinister than the next. Lu Chuan’s ’brotherly affection’ was a sham, True Monarch Qing Yuan’s ’grand opportunity’ was bait, and even this Qi Cultivation Female Cultivator, a complete stranger, is nothing but a carefully arranged hook, specifically designed for ’fishing’!’

’I wonder which powerhouse is backing this woman.’

A long-forgotten sense of irritation and coldness washed over him.

Ever since he stepped into the Primordial Sect, he had been ensnared in one plot after another.

The thought made Xu Yunfan’s gaze turn even colder.

’Trying to bait me? We’ll see who the real hunter is.’

He wasn’t a bloodthirsty man, but he refused to be a passive victim.

This matter, though minor, was a threat nonetheless.

’Since they’ve come after me, how can I cultivate in peace without tugging on the line to see who’s behind this bait?’

If he didn’t show some teeth, the surrounding Foundation Establishment Daoist Masters would swarm him in an instant.

Xu Yunfan’s figure weaved through the bustling crowd like a fish, seemingly wandering about aimlessly. He didn’t bother tracking the female cultivator’s aura; having already locked onto the fluctuations of her Divine Soul, she stood out to him in this small Marketplace as clearly as a flame in the dark.

The Lin Character Secret granted him a terrifying power of insight that far surpassed his Realm. The woman’s supposedly concealed escape route was laid bare before his Divine Thought.

The female cultivator in purple made a few more sales and handled several male disciples who were utterly captivated by her charm. After about an Hour, she leisurely packed the scattered items from her stall into her Storage Bag. The only thing she kept out was the "Sunken Star" Ancient Sword, which she held casually in her hand. She then flashed an apologetic, yet even more enchanting, smile at the lingering, reluctant gazes of the surrounding Qi Cultivation disciples.

"I’m closing up for today. Any senior or junior brothers who wish to make a purchase can come back earlier tomorrow."

With that, she turned and swayed gracefully toward a relatively secluded alley at the edge of the Marketplace.

Her steps seemed unhurried, yet her movements were exceptionally agile. She wound her way through the labyrinth of crisscrossing alleys, occasionally pausing as if to admire a Spirit Plant on the roadside, or at other times, as if to get her bearings.

She concealed her subtle Charm aura exceptionally well, leaving only a faint, unique fragrance that mimicked a natural feminine scent. This was a rather brilliant technique for tracking and counter-tracking, capable of effectively misleading the vast majority of trackers at the Qi Cultivation Stage.

However, before the absolute insight of Xu Yunfan’s Heart and Spirit, all these pretenses seemed feeble and ridiculous.

Most importantly, faint wisps of strange light shone in Xu Yunfan’s eyes. As his perspective continuously elevated, he tried to clearly see the Cause and Effect Lines around the female cultivator. Reflected within his Heart and Spirit, the world around her turned black and white, and faint, thread-like lines began to appear before his eyes.

Just as he was about to follow the traces...

"Huh?"

Xu Yunfan’s brow twitched. The Cause and Effect Lines stretched out into the void and vanished without a trace.

’Someone’s made a move to conceal them... or this female cultivator is carrying a Celestial Secret Treasure.’

’Either way, this female cultivator was worth pursuing.’

’The first would let me see who’s pulling the strings. As for the latter...’

’Logically, a disciple of the Qi Refining Stage carrying such a valuable treasure is like a child parading gold through a crowded market. He, the Peak Master of Divine Sky Peak, would naturally have to step in and give her a... reminder.’

’You’re too young. It’d be better to let your uncle here keep it safe for you.’

Xu Yunfan’s mind was as clear as a mirror. He trailed behind her at a steady, unhurried pace, always maintaining a distance of over a hundred zhang between them.

His body seemed to transform into the gentle breeze flowing through the alleys, his aura merging completely with every wisp of the environment’s fluctuating Spiritual Qi.

Even if other Foundation Establishment Daoist Masters were to scan the area with their Divine Sense, they probably wouldn’t notice his presence immediately unless they knew to look for him.

The female cultivator passed through several increasingly secluded and deserted alleys, finally arriving at a sparsely wooded area on the outskirts of the Marketplace, near the back of Divine Sky Peak.

The nearest buildings were dozens of zhang away. Only a few jagged rocks were scattered about, with a small stream gurgling between them.

At this point, she had left the bounds of the Marketplace at the foot of Divine Sky Peak and stepped into the mountain forests of the Primordial Sect.

She stopped, apparently to confirm whether she was being followed, while simultaneously taking a small Jade Talisman from her Storage Bag and preparing to activate it.

At that very moment, a voice laced with amusement sounded right behind her without any warning.

"Senior Sister, you closed your stall in such a hurry and took such a winding path to this desolate place. Are you in a rush to meet your lover?"

The voice appeared so abruptly, it was like a ghost’s whisper.

The hairs on the female cultivator’s body instantly stood on end.

She spun around, her movements swift and wary. The "Sunken Star" Ancient Sword in her hand was instantly raised, True Essence surging as the tip of the blade pulsed with azure Sword Qi.

She saw Xu Yunfan’s figure, as if he had materialized out of thin air, sitting on a blue-green stone by the stream three zhang behind her.

Xu Yunfan made no effort to conceal himself any longer. The aura he projected was no longer that of the unremarkable Mid-Stage of Qi Cultivation disciple from the Marketplace. Although his Cultivation was still deeply restrained, making his true depth impossible to discern, there was the casual way he sat on the stone and the faint, distinctly mocking smile playing on his lips.

And then there were his eyes—deep and calm, as if they could see through everything, yet holding an inexplicable glint. He was like a completely different person from before.

The female cultivator’s heart sank.

She had been on high alert the entire way, repeatedly scanning her surroundings with her Divine Sense, yet she hadn’t detected this person in the slightest.

’When did he appear?’

’How did he know I would be here?’

’This person is definitely not at the Mid-Stage of Qi Cultivation.’

The smile on her face, one that could melt glaciers, froze for an instant. A flicker of panic and horror flashed through her eyes but was immediately suppressed by her formidable composure, replaced once again by that smile that could bewitch the world.

This time, however, her smile was tinged with gravity and vigilance. Her heart sank even further when she saw that Xu Yunfan’s expression was utterly unaffected by her seemingly natural Charm Technique.

"It’s you? This junior brother... oh, perhaps I should call you Senior Brother? Truly, you have impressive skills and a remarkable Body Technique."

"We parted in such a hurry in the Marketplace. I never imagined Senior Brother would follow me to this place."

"What’s this? Have you changed your mind? Do you want to buy the ’Sunken Star’ Ancient Sword after all?"

She tried her best to make her voice sound natural, even feigning a hint of "surprise."

Xu Yunfan didn’t answer right away. His gaze swept freely over her picture-perfect smile and exquisite figure, his eyes filled with unconcealed admiration.

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