After Hu Fei left, Ye Fan stroked his chin and thought for a long time. He finally decided to first cultivate a strange technique from the Dragon Seeking Formulas before appearing in public without being recognized.

This is a strange technique recorded in the Dragon Seeking Formulas called the Human-Faced Geography Technique, which can change one’s form and appearance from the inside out by moving muscles and bones, far more powerful than the ordinary cultivator’s disguise technique.

However, this secret technique is also very difficult to master, and Ye Fan spent half a month in seclusion before achieving a small success.

After coming out of seclusion, Ye Fan activated the strange technique, his entire body’s bones crackling and popping, drastically changing his form and appearance. His body forcibly grew three inches taller, his shoulders broadened significantly, and his cheekbones also changed considerably.

Looking in the mirror, Ye Fan was quite satisfied. He had sword-shaped eyebrows, starry eyes, a chiseled face, broad shoulders, and a brawny physique, exuding a sharp, domineering energy, very different from before.

"Two days should be no problem!"

Ye Fan nodded with satisfaction. Even if he appeared before Hu Fei now, Hu Fei probably wouldn’t recognize him.

"I’ve been absent for almost a month. The stone gambling turmoil should have settled by now, right?" Ye Fan decided to go out with this appearance, and also to gather information to see if anyone has gone to the Primordial Ancient Mine area for exploration.

Du City, small and old, full of the vicissitudes of time. Rather than a city, it was more like a large town. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Existing since ancient times, no one can say exactly when Du City was founded. The gray-brown ancient city walls and buildings speak of the passage of time, with many cracks on the mottled structures.

Walking in the city, Ye Fan felt the sediment of time and the far-removed history. The stone slabs on the streets were worn down, and the comings and goings were all cultivators.

Just as Ye Fan expected, no one recognized him after his change in appearance. Nearby, some cultivators were discussing the classic showdown at Rongsheng Gambling Stone Workshop, speaking highly of his stone appraisal technique.

"Hmph! Just a blind cat stumbling upon a dead rat. Talking about how amazing his stone appraisal technique is, I think it’s nothing more than that. Otherwise, why doesn’t he dare to show up again? You know, many in the Earth Master Family are looking for him now, wanting a showdown to see who is truly stronger!"

Some people with ulterior motives spread such remarks, trying to force Ye Fan out.

However, it was clearly in vain, as Ye Fan paid no attention to such comments at all.

He stayed in the Northern Domain, not primarily for gambling stones or to win spirit stones, but to seek the whereabouts of the first generation Earth Master in the Primordial Ancient Mine area.

"This heroic figure, first time in Du City, want to try your luck and place a bet? Come to our Gambling Stone Workshop; we guarantee you’ll have great gains."

"Brother, are you interested in some good material brought from the edge of the Primordial Ancient Mine area? Genuine stuff. Why not come in and take a look? Satisfaction guaranteed."

On both sides of the street, there were many shops and gambling stone workshops dealing in various stone materials, enthusiastically greeting the passing cultivators. Ye Fan was also among those being invited.

Feeling idle, Ye Fan walked into a stone house.

The stone house was small, just a room facing the street, with only a rosewood rack in the store, displaying just over a dozen stone materials.

Ye Fan took a casual look and found the prices of the stones here ludicrously high. These stones were priced the same as spirit stones of equivalent weight, meaning the stones on the rack were equivalent to spirit stones.

"It’s ridiculously expensive! Does anyone buy them?" Ye Fan couldn’t believe it.

"Young brother, you don’t get it. These aren’t ordinary stones. They are precious stones to be sent to Feixian City, mined from the area near a forbidden zone in the Primordial Ancient Mine area, imbued with the aura of the primordial ancient mine."

The host explained to Ye Fan that the gamble here was not on the spirit stones imbued, but on rare treasures, on heaven grade spirit stones, and on even more precious things.

Having comprehended the stone appraisal technique from the Dragon Seeking Formulas, Ye Fan, with his extraordinary insight, selected a single stone and made no further purchases.

Stone gambling here was not cost-effective, as things more precious than spirit stones are rare. His purchase was only to build some rapport with the host, hoping to glean some useful information from him.

"Old brother, do you have any connections? I’d like to visit the Primordial Ancient Mine area," Ye Fan mentioned casually.

The mining areas outside the Primordial Ancient Mine were all divided among major Holy Lands and Di Clans. Other areas were negotiable, but the zones adjacent to the Forbidden Zone of Life were difficult for outsiders to access.

Though he could enter the Primordial Ancient Mine through the Immortal Academy’s mining area, he chose not to. It would draw too much attention, and the responsible figures of the Immortal Academy’s mining area would not agree; he had to find another way.

"I tell you, young brother, that area is the Forbidden Zone of Life. Going there is absolutely not an option. Even Saint Lord Level strong people can’t make a ripple there," the owner of the stone house advised.

Ye Fan smiled slightly and said, "Don’t worry, I’m not going to court death. I won’t go deep, just want to take a distant look. After hearing so much about the Primordial Ancient Mine’s fame, it’s a pity not to see it."

The host laughed and said, "Completely understandable. Many young people like you want a distant view, but in the end, they can’t restrain themselves, as if called by some mysterious presence, heading into the forbidden zone’s depths. Many people disappear every year."

"Is that so?"

Ye Fan was quite curious. The Primordial Ancient Mine area was extraordinarily mysterious. Could there really be some creature in it?

"Absolutely true!" said the host with a serious expression.

"So there must be a way to go to the Primordial Ancient Mine area?" Ye Fan’s eyes lit up. After this period of studying the Dragon Seeking Formulas intensively, he felt somewhat confident.

"Young brother, I advise you not to take risks. Excessive curiosity doesn’t do any good; it can indeed get you killed," the owner of the stone house kindly cautioned.

"Rest assured, old brother, I know the severity and insist on your help," Ye Fan was determined to go.

"In that case, you should look for a man named Liu Da and his companions. He often organizes groups to enter the Ancient Mine, but it’s not cheap and can be quite a rip-off." The host couldn’t persuade Ye Fan otherwise, so he had to provide this piece of information.

Afterward, Ye Fan left the Stone House and went to the Treasure Pavilion’s local office. He presented the VIP Gold Card that Yaling had given him and quickly obtained the information he wanted.

Liu Da and his companions are known local figures. Of course, they’re not your average hooligans; they’re tough characters among cultivators.

In the entire Du City, Liu Da and his companions have extensive connections, accepting various kinds of business, such as escorting stone materials, and even including assassinations.

Liu Da lives in the West District, in a simple set of five stone houses that look desolate and shabby, not like the residence of a tough character.

When Ye Fan found Liu Mazi, he was squatting under an old locust tree in the yard, puffing on a dry tobacco pipe, showing no semblance of a seasoned local snake.

Liu Mazi was true to his name, with a face full of pockmarks; big ones layered over small ones, leaving no unmarred area on his face, making him look particularly terrifying.

"Could someone like this really be a tough character among cultivators?"

Ye Fan found it hard to believe, but he trusted the information from the Treasure Pavilion, so he didn’t doubt it further and directly stated his purpose.

"It’s really strange. Every year, people are eager to throw their lives away..."

Liu Da mumbled in a barely audible voice, then lifted his head to glance at Ye Fan, saying, "Wait a few days; we’ll go once we gather enough people."

"Brother, are all these jobs you’re accepting?"

Ye Fan noticed there were numerous bounties and announcements posted on a wall not far away, so he couldn’t help but ask.

"I’m an honest person, not capable of doing violent stuff anymore, nor do I want to. These are all commissions. I’m just a middleman. People who want to take on jobs come to me to get tasks."

Liu Da tapped his pipe on the stone beside him, placed it at his waist, and said, "If you want to take on a job, I can also make contacts for you. As for the payment, I take a twenty percent cut."

Ye Fan, intrigued, stepped forward and casually browsed through the bounties, immediately noticing something that made his brows jump. One of the tasks involved him, issued by a place called Lingxiao Sacred Land.

Ye Fan glanced over it and noticed that there was a clear drawing of his likeness. Providing a lead could reward one hundred jin of Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, killing him could earn five hundred jin, and capturing him alive would be worth a thousand jin.

This was truly a hefty price, sparing no cost in wanting to hunt him down.

Ye Fan was quite puzzled. He had almost no dealings with this Lingxiao Sacred Land, so why did they harbor such intense animosity toward him?

"Could it be for the Nine Heavens Mysterious Crown?"

Ye Fan thought to himself, it’s not out of the question.

The allure of an Emperor Weapon was too great; it’s likely many forces were eager to move, and Ye Fan’s situation would become increasingly difficult in the future.

Fortunately, his Human-Faced Geography Technique had achieved Small Success. As long as he was careful, it wouldn’t be easy for people to locate him.

Additionally, the ancient families of the Li Family and Zhou Family in the Northern East Domain also issued bounties. The rewards were not low, even higher than those from Lingxiao Sacred Land.

Seeing their bounties made Ye Fan smile. The ancient families in the Northern East Domain ─ the Li Family and the Zhou Family ─ were none other than the families of Li Tianfeng and Zhou Zhaolong!

In the Immortal Academy’s latest disciple ranking competition, he defeated the Li Family genius, Li Tianfeng, and the Zhou Family’s strongest successor, Zhou Zhaolong, almost killing them. Naturally, they were unwilling to let it go.

While in the Immortal Academy, they couldn’t do anything. Once outside, they had fewer restrictions. If they secretly killed Ye Fan and seized the Emperor Weapon, the Immortal Academy might not even find out.

"I think I’ve seen this bounty order in other cities too."

Ye Fan tested the waters, though he had never actually been to other cities. He was just trying to elicit information from Liu Da and ended up getting some useful news.

"If a tree stands out in the forest, the wind will destroy it. This kid stands out too much, offending those he shouldn’t provoke. He won’t live long unless he immediately returns to the Immortal Academy. Under its protection, no one would dare to touch him."

Liu Da filled another pipe and continued smoking, saying, "Many young members of the Li Family and Zhou Family have come, along with some young people from Lingxiao Sacred Land. Once they find him, it will surely be a fight to the death."

"I wouldn’t mind meeting the young generation experts."

Ye Fan chuckled coldly to himself. He had refined a considerable amount of Spirit Stones recently, steadily increasing his strength. He was tempted to find some opponents to test his skills against.

...

...

PS: Making up for the second Chapter owed.

.

.