Half a year later, Jiang Chen and Huang'er had put considerable distance between themselves and the Red Cauldron Central Domain. Yet the bounty notice ensured that, no matter where they went, countless zealots hunted them down at every turn, preventing them from traveling at full speed.
Disguised as loose cultivators of the Yuan Realm, they passed through occasional checkpoints along the way, but none of them aroused suspicion.
Over those six months, thanks to an ample supply of Saint Hero Pills, Jiang Chen's cultivation achieved another breakthrough, and he successfully advanced to the third level of the Saint Realm.
During the breakthrough, Jiang Chen had no desire to draw attention, so he activated a formation array and completed his advancement within its confines.
Huang'er stood guard on the perimeter, and the entire process went off without a hitch.
Half a year of living together day and night — braving wind and drinking dew — had been a joy for them both. Their duet of guqin and xiao, the "Celestial Melody," had reached a plane of sublime perfection.
Compared to life in Dan Qian Palace, Huang'er not only didn't mind this wandering lifestyle — she positively enjoyed it.
Through their conversations, she had come to understand this mysterious young man on a deeper level. And even though Jiang Chen never made a point of flaunting it, the memories of his former life — when he had stood peerless across the Myriad Heavens — shone through in his bearing and speech, quietly leaving Huang'er amazed time and again.
One day, the pair arrived at a small city.
Hanging prominently at the city gates was a wanted notice bearing Jiang Chen's likeness. He had long grown numb to such things. They had been doing their best to avoid populated cities altogether.
But this particular town could not be bypassed. Going around it would mean a long, pointless detour, and they also wanted to enter a populated area to gather the latest news.
After entering the city and finding a seat at a tavern, they overheard a group of loose cultivators chatting animatedly.
"Have you heard? The Palace Master of Dan Qian Palace — Dan Chi — was captured a while back."
"Psh, that's ancient news. Seven or eight days ago, wasn't it?"
"Heh heh, the Myriad Phenomena Domain is truly wretched. Who knows how they managed to offend a First-Rank Sect? This is a total catastrophe."
"What's so tragic? The martial world has always been about the strong devouring the weak. The First-Rank Sects are powerful, the Myriad Phenomena Domain is weak — getting devoured is only natural."
"That's easy to say, but for loose cultivators like us, if we ever crossed one of those great powers, our fate would probably be even worse than the Myriad Phenomena Domain's."
The moment Jiang Chen heard this news, he froze.
Dan Chi — the Palace Master — captured?
The news struck him like five thunderbolts, leaving him momentarily dazed. Back in Dan Qian Palace, the person he had respected most was Dan Chi.
Hearing that he'd been captured — regardless of whether the rumor was true — Jiang Chen's heart stirred.
Huang'er quickly sent a voice transmission: "Young Master Jiang, hearsay cannot be trusted."
Huang'er's voice was always like March sunshine — warm and reassuring.
Jiang Chen struggled to suppress the anxiety surging within him and kept listening.
"What's the point of capturing Dan Chi? Word is, the Undying Heavenly Capital and the Red Cauldron Central Domain fear Jiang Chen far more than they fear Dan Chi."
"Exactly. I heard Jiang Chen killed a whole bunch of people from the Red Cauldron Central Domain. He even wiped out the direct grandson of a Dharma King from the Undying Heavenly Capital. That Jiang Chen is an absolute monster. Just a disciple from some tiny Fourth-Rank Sect in the Myriad Phenomena Domain, yet he's this terrifying. If someone like that ever caught the eye of another First-Rank Sect, given time, he'd be a real threat."
"Forget it, forget it — none of that's our business. Don't waste your breath. Drink up, drink up."
To Jiang Chen's frustration, they stopped right there and went no further, leaving him hanging.
On a sudden impulse, Jiang Chen picked up his cup, rose to his feet, and walked over to the group. "Gentlemen, please forgive the intrusion."
Dressed as a loose cultivator and projecting a cultivation level well below theirs, he drew no looks of wariness or caution as he approached.
"Hmm? What do you want?" The loose cultivators eyed him.
"I couldn't help overhearing you gentlemen discussing the Dan Qian Palace affair. Dan Chi's capture — that's actually an opportunity," Jiang Chen said, his tone deliberately exaggerated.
"What opportunity? Get lost! Stop bothering our drinking." One of the loose cultivators waved him off impatiently.
"Think about it — if Dan Chi was captured, Jiang Chen would definitely come to rescue him, right? And when Jiang Chen shows up, if we all work together and happen to intercept him... that bounty is a fortune beyond imagining! Just thinking about it makes my heart race." Jiang Chen put on a look of wistful longing.
"Pfft!" One of the loose cultivators, mouth full of wine, sprayed it across the table.
"Hahahaha!" The others stared for a beat, then burst into roaring laughter.
One of them slapped his thigh between guffaws, as though he'd just heard the funniest joke in the world.
"Gentlemen, what's so funny?" Jiang Chen scratched his head with a naive grin.
The group laughed themselves silly for a good while before finally composing themselves, their faces full of mockery. "Brother, not to burst your bubble, but you think you're more capable than the Undying Heavenly Capital? More capable than those sect forces of the Red Cauldron Central Domain? They've had countless people trying to catch Jiang Chen and failed — what makes you think you could intercept him?"
Jiang Chen chuckled. "What if we get lucky?"
"Alright, since you think you're so lucky, go test that fortune. Just don't interrupt our drinking. But I'll say this — you're a funny guy. Managed to give us a rare good laugh. Here, this drink's on me."
The loose cultivator raised his cup carelessly — clearly not a genuine toast, just more teasing.