Under the pretense of a staged performance, the two successfully evaded most watchful eyes and moved to a more secluded spot away from the crowd.
The young man, appearing no older than twenty-four or twenty-five, smoothly retrieved a package from his back and spread it out on the ground.
Seeing this, Ji Yuan looked on with suspicion, seemingly surprised that the other party actually carried so many items.
Within this bundle, aside from a few medicinal pills and talismans, most were peculiar objects that seemed freshly unearthed. They were likely indeed products of this very dojo.
Of course, given the youth's demeanor, it couldn't be ruled out that he had fabricated them.
At least in Ji Yuan's opinion, the possibility of such a deception was quite high...
"What's with that look?"
Noticing Ji Yuan's full of doubt gaze, the young man, while rummaging through the items in the bundle, asked softly.
Upon hearing this, Ji Yuan shook his head, squatted down in front of the spread-out bundle, and pretended to be carefully selecting something.
It wasn't that the two were being overly cautious, but rather that several pairs of eyes were still lingering on them, including those of disciples from the distant Wangyue Sect.
Guarding a treasure mountain they couldn't access, any ripple of movement was bound to draw the utmost attention.
"You got a jade token too?"
While organizing his belongings, the young man discreetly revealed a jade token, his movements so subtle that only Ji Yuan and a few others could see.
Though it was a fleeting glimpse, the token's style and aura were indistinguishable from the one Ji Yuan held, allowing for a reasonable judgment of its authenticity.
Even if the token in the youth's hand was a forgery he had created, the person must have definitely come into contact with a genuine one, otherwise, it would be impossible to forge something so similar.
"I am Li Buwei, with a cultivation at the early stage of the second realm. My forte lies in trapping enemies and escaping, with some deficiency in offense."
Seeing the doubt in Ji Yuan's eyes, the youth first stated his background.
However, Ji Yuan only believed two or three parts of this explanation, harboring some suspicion internally.
"This humble Daoist is Ling Yu, also at the early stage of the second realm."
After a moment's thought, he replied simply.
Li Buwei, however, was not impressed, finding the response too perfunctory. Aside from his cultivation, it was as if he had said nothing, even using a Daoist name of questionable authenticity and omitting his surname.
"Just tell me what you need to say directly."
Ji Yuan glanced subtly into the distance before speaking, "Lingering here too long may arouse suspicion."
Upon hearing this, Li Buwei could only sigh, abandoning his intention to probe further.
He surveyed his surroundings, ensuring no one was eavesdropping, then spoke in a low voice, "Besides you and me, there are three others who have obtained a token."
"Including their companions, there are already five cultivators in the second realm, two of whom are in the middle stage."
Within a few sentences, Li Buwei laid out the situation and asked Ji Yuan if he wished to join.
If Ji Yuan joined, it would bring the total to at least seven cultivators in the second realm, with two in the middle stage, giving them the qualification to attempt the challenge.
"This is still not enough," Ji Yuan stated directly, without any unnecessary pleasantries.
In his view, seven people were far from enough to break through the thirteen disciples of the Wangyue Sect guarding the entrance. Those thirteen included five cultivators in the middle stage of the second realm!
Those five alone would be enough to hold them off, let alone the support of their other sect members.
Furthermore, attempting the challenge would essentially announce to everyone present that they possessed the means to enter the grand formation, inevitably leading to a siege by all cultivators.
In such a scenario, even if their numbers were doubled or tripled, they wouldn't succeed in overcoming the challenge. In fact, if they didn't discard their jade tokens in time, they might not even be able to preserve their lives.
"When we attempt the challenge, someone will throw out a jade token to the disciples of the Wangyue Sect."
Li Buwei smiled and said nonchalantly.
This was something they had already agreed upon. Once they decided to make a move, they would activate a jade token, allowing the surrounding cultivators to confirm its authenticity.
Then, this jade token would be tossed towards the disciples of the Wangyue Sect, though likely at some distance from the sect's gate.
At that point, the disciples would certainly not stand idly by, and cultivators from all directions would undoubtedly scramble to seize it, inevitably leading to a chaotic melee.
"Using the escalating chaos to charge the mountain gate with everyone's strength?"
Ji Yuan's eyebrows rose, and he found it to be a good plan.
At the very least, he couldn't think of a better one.
"Even if we manage to enter the mountain gate this way, what about the opportunities within?"
Now that a plan was in place with a high probability of success, the only remaining question was how to divide the opportunities discovered later.
Hearing this, Li Buwei, who was prepared, immediately replied, "After entering the protective mountain formation, each will choose a path up the mountain. Upon reaching the summit and entering the cave dwelling, all opportunities will be earned through individual merit."
He also clarified that if two or more parties chose the same path, it would depend on who possessed greater strength.
This was considered quite reasonable. When exploring cave dwellings while out and about, and not being fellow disciples, it naturally came down to individual cultivation levels.
Ji Yuan had no objections to this and immediately agreed, confirming the signal for their coordinated action with Li Buwei.
"Speaking of which, the item in your hand looks good. Are you thinking of selling it?"
After confirming everything, Li Buwei asked casually, but with a glint of deep meaning in his eyes.
His gaze naturally fell upon the half-broken furnace Ji Yuan held.
This broken furnace was concealed by Ji Yuan using a deceptive spell, and only cultivators at the late stage of the Spirit Enlightenment Realm or higher might be able to discern its true nature.
"Family heirloom, not for sale!"
Ji Yuan glanced at him, then picked up two or three items from the makeshift stall.
After feigning a few transactions with silver notes, he placed these dust-covered items into his own embrace, while secretly stowing them into the Jade Ring.
After some time, Li Buwei packed up his bundle and, before leaving, cast a lingering gaze at the half-broken furnace, a strange light flickering in his eyes.
Ji Yuan showed no outward reaction, but inwardly he couldn't help but sigh. It wasn't that he deliberately showed off a treasured item; it was simply that this item couldn't be stored in the Jade Ring.
After Li Buwei departed, Ji Yuan's left hand, hidden in his sleeve, suddenly retrieved something from the ring. It was a fragment he had pretended to buy from Li Buwei earlier.
This fragment resembled the body of a pill furnace, with faint patterns beneath its rust. He happened to have another item of a similar form in his Jade Ring.
The other piece was purchased from a market town outside the Nine Xuan Sect for five hundred taels of silver.
Fingering the fragment, Ji Yuan's expression remained calm, but his heart was filled with a growing sense of unease. The style of these two fragments, in whatever way he looked at it, bore a striking resemblance to the half-broken furnace in his possession.
Could they truly be parts of the same object, missing pieces of the half-broken furnace?
He mused internally, the more he speculated, the more likely it seemed.
However, the exact truth of the matter would require finding an opportunity to study it thoroughly later.
"A moment later, you all stay further away, don't get caught in the crossfire."
A moment later, he withdrew his thoughts and turned to the people in front of him, saying, "Daoist Friend Zhou, remember to stay close, and do not leave me by more than five steps!"
As he spoke, he handed out several lightness talismans, instructing them not to hesitate and to use them as quickly as possible when the time came.
Zhou Lianying accepted the talismans and nodded repeatedly, promising not to be a hindrance at critical moments.
However, Ji Yuan did not pay heed. Given her cultivation at the middle stage of the Enlightenment Realm, such a promise held little credibility.
"Daoist Ling Yu, cooperating rashly with this person might lead to considerable hidden dangers!"
The middle-aged man surnamed Chen suddenly spoke, his face etched with worry.
Upon hearing this, Ji Yuan nearly burst into laughter, looking at him with a detached expression, eager to hear what else he might say.
After careful consideration, the man worriedly proposed, "Perhaps you would permit me to follow. Should any unforeseen circumstances arise, I could offer some assistance."
As expected, what he said was no different from what Ji Yuan had anticipated.
He even guessed that while the man might be concerned for his disciples, his true motive was likely to get his hands on the opportunities within the mountain.
Ji Yuan shook his head, suddenly feeling rather uninspired. Ignoring the middle-aged man's proposal, he turned and walked towards the crowd not far away.
Seeing this, Zhou Lianying quickly followed. Now that the jade token had been handed over, she was somewhat worried that her senior uncle's words might cause Ji Yuan to go back on his word.
"Remember, if your senior uncle forcibly follows, no matter what happens, do not stop."
Ji Yuan suddenly said in a low voice, "If you go more than ten steps away from me, I will assume you have voluntarily abandoned the opportunity, and I will not stop to wait for you."
Hearing this, Zhou Lianying nodded like a pecking chick, fearing that any delay in her response would incur his displeasure.
At the same time, she felt conflicted. If such a situation were to arise, could she truly ignore it?
The answer was clearly no. Even with the allure of spiritual springs, she could not stand by and watch her senior uncle fall into danger without even looking back.
Even though her own strength could not offer much help, at least from her conscience, she could not bring herself to do such a thing.
On the other side, Ji Yuan ignored the young woman's inner turmoil. After a moment of thought, he took out a piece of coarse cloth from his Jade Ring, wrapped the pill furnace in his hand, and then bound it with a thin rope, hanging it from his waist.
This way, it would not impede his movements and would not hinder him in combat.
Although some seals and spells could be cast with one hand, the effect would certainly not be as good as using both.
While doing these things, his gaze remained fixed on Li Buwei's figure, watching him weave through the crowd, constantly selling his wares.
Though he couldn't discern anything specific, Ji Yuan was certain that Li Buwei was secretly contacting the jade token holders, coordinating the timing of their actions.
He was also curious about who those few jade token holders were.
What was certain was that anyone who obtained a jade token must possess great fortune and meet the token's recognition requirements.
Just like Zhou Lianying beside him, obtaining a jade token and then meeting him was enough to indicate considerable fortune.
Otherwise, if it were someone else, they would have resorted to forceful seizure long ago, and their lives might not even have been preserved.