Lin Yi came to this place because the person in charge of the lower courtyard of Yunchi was an inner disciple of the Starry Sky Palace named Lu Yanwen. He was a mid-grade Dan cultivator and his natal magic weapon was the Qiankun Bracelet.
Lin Yi heard this news from Yu Qingxue. She had obtained the hibiscus branch by chance from the secluded swamp behind Xiaohan Mountain.
After finishing his meal, Lin Yi put down his chopsticks and pondered, "I wonder if any of the Headmaster Lus has been transferred away from here. If he has left, then I've come here in vain."
After paying the bill and leaving the restaurant, Lin Yi discovered that there was also a Tongdetang in Yunchi Market.
Lin Yi has always regarded Tongdetang and Baijia Academy as one entity, but in fact they are two separate institutions and there is no dependent relationship between them.
Upon entering Tongde Hall, one sees four lists hanging high, labeled "Heaven, Earth, Black, and Yellow," with tasks constantly scrolling across them.
A middle-aged man with an ordinary appearance glanced at Lin Yi, then greeted him with a smile, saying, "This fellow Daoist looks unfamiliar. Is this your first time visiting Yunchi Market?"
Lin Yi nodded and casually asked, "Is this place still under the management of Master Lu Yanwen?"
The middle-aged man replied, "That's right, but I heard that Master Lu's term is coming to an end soon. It's still unclear whether he will stay on."
Lin Yi said "thank you," his gaze sweeping over the four lists, while he pondered how to obtain the Qiankun Five-Pointed Star Divine Restriction from that Master Lu.
Despite his defeat, the middle-aged man remained undeterred and shamelessly stood beside Lin Yi, saying, "The Tongyou Great Swamp is vast and boundless, filled with poisonous gas and mist, making it extremely treacherous. If you intend to explore it, you must buy a good map. I know a shop run by an old cultivator who has entered and exited the Tongyou Great Swamp many times; the maps they sell there are the most detailed, guaranteed to satisfy you."
Lin Yi turned around and said, "I have the map, thank you."
"What about antidotes, medicinal herb manuals, and fasting pills? If you need them, just ask. There's no place in Yunchi Market that I, Bai Jianmu, don't know well," the middle-aged man said loudly, patting his chest.
Lin Yi was rather helpless; being entangled with such a fraudulent claim was truly a headache. But what could he do? He had concealed his aura and disguised himself as a second-tier cultivator.
After finally getting rid of Bai Jianmu, Lin Yi found an inn and rented a private courtyard to stay in.
As night fell, Lin Yi read for a while before going to the courtyard. Gazing at the brilliant stars in the sky, he pondered his next move.
Taking action in the marketplace is impractical. The enemy has a well-prepared array to aid them, as well as support from other cultivators, giving them the advantage of terrain and manpower.
The best approach is to lure the snake out of its hole.
For a cultivator who has already entered the Dao, the greatest temptation is elixirs that can help them achieve longevity and increase their cultivation level, followed by Daoist calligraphy and techniques, magical treasures and artifacts, and so on.
Plan number one has just been developed: go to the Tongyou Great Swamp, build a cave dwelling, and then lure Lu Yanwen there. Once we capture him, we will naturally have a way to obtain the technique for refining the Qiankun Bracelet.
Lin Yi noted down this plan for the time being, and then changed his approach.
As the head of the Yunchi Lower Academy, if a powerful demon were to commit violence and harm people outside, causing the rogue cultivators to be afraid to venture into the Tongyou Great Swamp for exploration, would Lu Yanwen intervene or not?
Lin Yi continued to refine his idea. Lu Yanwen's natal magic weapon was the Qiankun Bracelet. If he knew that a great demon was born with the ability to control Yin and Yang energies, would he be tempted?
Option 2 is complete; both options can actually be used simultaneously.
The Heavenly Roc's true form can be used to impersonate a great demon, and with slight modifications, the Supreme Boat can become a perfect cave dwelling. Even if it accidentally attracts a fifth-tier demon king or a primordial spirit immortal, it can easily escape.
If you provoke a sixth or seventh-tier being, you can only blame your bad luck.
Man proposes, God disposes.
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Chapter 143 The Great Oath of the Inner Demon
Xiaohanshan, Yunchifang Market, Yingxianju second floor.
Lin Yi and Bai Jianmu sat at a table by the window. Fewer and fewer people were coming and going on the street, and the market became much quieter.
"Sigh." Bai Jianmu sighed and said, "It's all because of that damned Golden-Winged Roc. If this continues, we won't be able to live like this."
A few days ago, a golden-winged roc suddenly appeared in the Tongyou Great Swamp.
This bird is extremely ferocious by nature and loves to eat people. Many cultivators have been swallowed whole in a single encounter, and dozens of people have died without a burial place, causing panic throughout the entire Yunchi Market.
This golden-winged roc is naturally Lin Yi's true form, the Heavenly Roc, which ranks third. It controls the Yin-Yang Two Qi Bottle and has three thousand Dao soldiers to assist it. As long as it unfolds the Nine Heavens Sword Formation, it can even fight against some ordinary fourth-level cultivators.
"Drinking to drown your sorrows only makes them worse. Fellow Daoist Bai, you shouldn't drink anymore," Lin Yi advised.
Bai Jianmu cried out, "One of my closest friends was swallowed by that vicious bird, but I don't have the courage to step out of the market. I'm a useless piece of trash, a complete waste..."
As he spoke, he slammed his hand on the table.
Fortunately, the tables at Yingxianju are made of sturdy materials and can withstand the strain for the time being.
Just then, a commotion came from the street.
Lin Yi looked out the window and saw a man in tattered clothes, with disheveled hair and a dirty face, surrounded by a group of people talking all at once.
Bai Jianmu also came to the window, glanced at it a few times, and then suddenly shouted, "I know this person. Three days ago, he... he was also swallowed by that evil bird..."
With that, Bai Jianmu jumped out of the window and squeezed into the crowd on the street.
Lin Yi picked up the wine pot on the table, filled his glass, raised his wine cup, and looked out the window, a slight smile playing on his lips.
An explosive piece of news quickly spread throughout Yunchi Market: those who were swallowed by the Golden-Winged Roc did not die, but were captured and taken to a cave to become herb farmers in the herb garden.
It is said that in that medicinal garden there are all kinds of rare and precious herbs, such as the Nine Heavens Golden Lotus, the Nine-Bend Ginseng, the Nine-Leaf Lingzhi, and so on, too numerous to count.
Although Master Lu of Yunchi Lower Temple quickly tried to block the news, it was to no avail.
Soon, a demon-slaying team was organized, a stark contrast to the previous sluggishness.
Lin Yi mingled into the group. Lu Yanwen was a middle-aged man with three long wisps of beard, who looked quite like a sage.
The demon-slaying team headed into the Tongyou Great Swamp, followed by a group of people at a distance.