The third was Xiong Wei. He was very handsome, with refined eyebrows and a high nose bridge. However, his pair of narrow and sharp phoenix eyes gleamed with a sinister light, as if constantly scheming something, making it difficult for people to feel favorable towards him.
These three were disciples of the Mimeng Mountain Sect. They happened to pass by the imperial capital and sensed the fluctuations of spiritual energy here.
Mimeng Mountain wasn’t a small sect. Their foundational cultivation techniques were ranked among the top five in various cultivation sects, big and small, across the country. However, due to the scarcity of spiritual energy on Earth, even with good techniques, lacking spiritual energy was akin to possessing a peerless weapon without the secret techniques to use it. So, just like other sects, Mimeng Mountain was barely hanging on. But today, they stumbled upon this sacred place. For cultivators, it was a rare opportunity that they wouldn’t just let slip by.
These were fellow disciples. Xiong Wei ranked the lowest, yet he was the most intelligent and held a leading position among them. He was cautious and discerning. He was certain that whoever openly displays such abundant spiritual energy was not a simple character. Therefore, the intention to stay at the farm for a month was a ruse. The true purpose was to gauge the estate’s owner. Of course, if they could genuinely stay here for a month, that would be even better.
However, the three apples which appeared out of nowhere left him feeling uneasy. This made him even more certain that the owner of the estate was not an ordinary person. He didn’t dare to act recklessly, but he also wasn’t willing to leave empty-handed.
His gaze slid over Wu Meng and Li Yue. He hesitated for a moment, then he muttered under his breath, “Wu Meng, Li Yue, this estate is no simple place. I think we’d better leave first and then make plans. Otherwise, I’m afraid we’ll get in but not be able to get out.”
Wu Meng turned his head, looking at him with surprise and a touch of disdain. “Xiong Wei, you’re good at many things, but your courage is lacking. You’re about to get a golden opportunity, but you’re willing to let it slip away? I won’t. Think about it, the spiritual energy here is so abundant. If we could stay here for a month, our cultivation would improve significantly!”
A fervent enthusiasm gleamed in his eyes.
“I—,” Xiong Wei’s face displayed a hint of embarrassment, “It’s not that I lack courage, it’s just that I’m concerned, you know?”
Li Yue shook his head and his gaze toward Xiong Wei also held a hint of disdain. He arrogantly stated, “What are you afraid of with me around? Rest assured, I’ll have your back.”
Left with no other option, Xiong Wei decided to keep quiet. As Wu Meng and Li Yue turned their heads away, a flash of mockery flickered in his eyes: ‘Two fools.’
Wu Meng strode purposefully to the counter, and slammed his thick and meaty palm, instantly causing the pen holder on the counter to jump up. He shouted loudly, “Call your boss out! How can you run a hotel and not allow people to stay?”
The manager had received instructions from the boss before the official working hours: if there were guests who wanted to stay long-term at the estate and he couldn’t handle it, he should direct them to Division Two
Following the manager’s instructions, Wu Meng and his brothers went to the Division Two where Yan Ge had been waiting for them there.
Without waiting for the three to speak, he directly said, “You have my apologies. You’re welcome to dine at the farm, but it’s not permitted for guests to stay here long-term.”
Upon seeing him, Wu Meng and the other two knew that this person was definitely also a cultivator, although they couldn’t discern his level of cultivation.
Xiong Wei had an uneasy feeling in his heart and stood at the back, not saying a word.
As the favorite disciple of Mimeng Mountain’s sect leader He Chuanfeng, Li Yue stepped forward confidently, “Fellow cultivator, we are disciples of Mimeng Mountain. I am Li Yue, a closed-door disciple under Sect Leader He Chuanfeng. These two are my senior brothers, Xiong Wei and Wu Meng. Since you’re also a fellow cultivator, how about we find a way to make things more convenient?”
Yan Ge shook his head. “These are the rules.”
They were surrounded by spiritual energy but couldn’t stay here for an extended period. It felt like having a table full of delicious food but being unable to eat much due to mouth ulcers. Wu Meng’s frustration was instantly ignited, and he asked in a harsh tone, “What if we insist on staying here?”
Yan Ge chuckled lightly, maintaining his relaxed posture, leaning against the back of his chair, legs crossed on the desk. “Well, then it depends on whether you have the ability to do so.”
“Alright! I’ll learn from you!” Wu Meng raised his fist and swung it towards Yan Ge’s face.
Li Yue didn’t stop him; he believed that his skills were the best and should be saved as a trump card for later. When Wu Meng couldn’t handle it any longer, he would take the stage.
Xiong Wei stood even farther back, as if he wasn’t with Wu Meng and Li Yue. He fixed his gaze on Yan Ge, curious about his true strength.
Wu Meng’s punch indeed carried substantial force. Yan Ge felt a gust of wind rushing towards his face. He pressed his right palm against the armrest of his chair, propelling himself into the air and landing securely on the sofa diagonally opposite the desk.
Wu Meng’s punch struck the desk, and with a “bang”, the desk shattered into pieces.
“Desk: 3999, Shipping: 100,” Yan Ge smiled gently, raised his wrist to check the time, and murmured to himself, “It’s almost ten o’clock. The hotpot should be ready by now. If the noodles are cooked too soft, they won’t be easy to pick up.”
Wu Meng’s full-force palm strike had missed its target. Just as he was still in shock, he heard Yan Ge’s words and his rugged face turned red. With a cold snort, he spun around like a frog, leaping up and throwing two punches—one from the left and one from the right—forming a half-circle siege to attack Yan Ge.
Yan Ge remained seated on the sofa. He lifted his legs and used them to fend off Wu Meng’s fists. Both legs were kept at approximately forty-five-degree angles, then they suddenly straightened.
In an instant, Wu Meng’s fists experienced a powerful impact. His body shook violently, and he fell several steps back, the joints of his elbows emitting a dislocating “crack.” There was a chair behind him, and he stumbled over it, falling to the ground in a state of disarray.
He looked at Yan Ge, who was sitting on the sofa with a smile and crossed legs, and stood up in silence to stand off to the side. He had the determination to follow through with whatever he started, but if he encountered a painful lesson in the process, he would immediately give up.
Li Yue inwardly cursed him as a coward. He walked over to Yan Ge with a cold expression, “Let me learn from you!”
He was the closed-door disciple of He Chuanfeng, the Sect Leader of Mimeng Mountain. Yan Ge glanced at him briefly. Generally, those who were accepted as closed-door disciples were either exceptionally talented or favored by the master. Judging by Li Yue’s proud and somewhat unlikable appearance, Yan Jiaqiang believed it was likely the former.
The third person hadn’t spoken all this while and seemed quite calculating.
Since they might interact with the people from Mimeng Mountain in the future, it wouldn’t hurt to take this opportunity to learn about their cultivation techniques. With this thought in mind, Yan Ge changed his initial plan of a quick and decisive victory. He stood up and said, “Okay.”
Li Yue took Yan Ge’s reaction as a sign that he wasn’t underestimating him. Smirking triumphantly, he took something out of his chest pouch and chanted an incantation. The object gradually enlarged, revealing a fine iron rod with six thin spikes resembling barbs, spreading out like a fan when unfolded.
Without hesitation, Li Yue swung his weapon at Yan Ge, attempting to hook his shoulder. If successful, he could pull forcefully, tearing off a chunk of flesh.
Yan Ge didn’t draw his sword; instead, he dodged to the side, picking up a broom leaning against the wall and using it to block Li Yue’s weapon. Although he and Haungfu Yuchen had higher cultivation levels, their knowledge on cultivation techniques was limited. Since the incident involving the strange jade, they had decided not to directly touch others’ weapons, as who knew what hidden mechanisms might be inside?
Wu Meng and Xiong Wei both looked at Yan Ge with complicated expressions, their thoughts difficult to decipher.
Li Yue glared at the broom, feeling insulted. Suddenly, he released his grip, and with both hands, he performed intricate hand signs resembling playing the piano, with quick and flexible movements.
Yan Ge began to view him differently. Li Yue was using two different hand signs simultaneously, multitasking as if they were two different thoughts. Not many people could achieve such a feat.
The weapon controlled by Li Yue suddenly split into two parts, attacking Yan Ge from the front and back simultaneously. It swiftly aimed at his chest and then lunged for his neck, moving so fast it left afterimages.
Yan Ge lifted the broom, moving his hands to repeatedly fend off the hooks.
Li Yue felt proud, and his fingers moved again. The hooks on the weapon suddenly straightened, and fine silver needles were immediately shot out from them.
Six slender silver lights silently flashed by, moving as if they were about to strike Yan Ge.
Li Yue’s grin grew wider, but then he saw Yan Ge casually rotate the broom held between his thumb and index finger, not forgetting to give him a slight smile.
Just as Li Yue was wondering why he was smiling, Xiong Wei shouted, “Li Yue, be careful!”
It was only then that Li Yue noticed the five silver dots in the air. These were the five silver needles redirected by Yan Ge. Because they were flying straight towards him, they looked like silver dots.
Li Yue’s face turned pale, and he hurriedly somersaulted in the air to avoid the needles. Unfortunately, he wasn’t fast enough. Two of the needles forcibly pierced his shoulder and left abdomen.
Li Yue let out a miserable cry and struggled on the ground, his complexion turning deathly pale. How could the needles hidden in the weapon be ordinary? As assassination tools, the needles contained compressed true qi. Upon hitting their target, they would immediately explode, much like mini bombs. That’s why he was in such agony.
Wu Meng and Xiong Wei were clearly aware of this. Their expressions changed, and they rushed to Li Yue’s side, helping him up and watching Yan Ge warily.
Xiong Wei spoke politely, “Senior, it was our lack of insight not to recognize a master in front of us. We hope that Senior considers our Sect Leader’s reputation and won’t hold this against the younger generation.”
Yan Ge smiled pleasantly, seeming unbothered. “Table and chairs damage fee.”
Li Yue was in a cold sweat from the pain, which rendered him unable to speak.
Xiong Wei swiftly took out a bank card from his pocket. “There’s over thirteen thousand yuan on this card. The password is 603245.”
Yan Ge nodded and suddenly tapped each of the three men on the chest.
Xiong Wei and the others immediately felt their dantians empty, devoid of any true qi. They were left shocked and glared at Yan Ge.
Yan Ge took out a few hundred yuan notes and placed them on the table. He chuckled, “Don’t worry. I’ve just temporarily sealed your true qi and it will naturally be released after two months. This is your travel expense.”
Xiong Wei and the others initially thought their cultivation had been crippled and felt their hearts sink. But after hearing the explanation and receiving money for transportation, they were left astonished.
They stared blankly as Yan He calmly departed, exchanging glances with each other. Without touching the money on the table, they hastily left. Their departure seemed more like a swift escape.
Yan Ge instantly reappeared next to Huangfu Yuchen, fixing his gaze into the pot. “Is it ready to eat?”
“You’ve returned just in time.” Huangfu Yuchen placed a bowl of freshly cooked noodles in front of him.
Yan Ge picked up a fish ball and put it in his mouth, eating with a contented smile.
