Chen Huoyang explained to Ye Liuyun with unusual earnestness: “My true essence isn’t dense enough, and my combat strength is on the weak side, so the force behind that punch might be lacking. But this armor can definitely block a full-force strike from a late-stage Unity Nine-realm expert—rest assured!”

Clearly, Chen Huoyang cared deeply about the items he forged and was brimming with confidence; he was a dedicated artificer through and through.

Ye Liuyun replied, “Master, please don’t take offense. Of course I trust you. I just wanted to understand how the armor disperses damage and feel the vibration that reaches the body after an impact.”

He then drew the Demon-Slayer Bow to full draw and tested it. The bow’s power was undiminished, yet it only drained the divine essence of a single primordial core.

“I’ve improved the bow’s true-essence consumption,” Chen Huoyang added at once.

“Many thanks. That problem had troubled me for ages.”

Ye Liuyun stowed the bow; the divine essence that had just been siphoned away was quietly returned by the weapon itself, leaving him even more satisfied.

He then put away both the armor and the bow and handed them straight to his First Clone.

Now both clones had bows for long-range attacks!

The First Clone equipped them immediately, sought out Black Rock and Sand Xenocide, and tried them out. The armor’s deterrent effect against demons remained intact; without even entering combat, the two ancient demons felt their hearts quail and dared not attack.

Ye Liuyun thanked Chen Huoyang again and again, sincerely.

Chen Huoyang waved it off. “No need for thanks—you saved this old life of mine!”

Then he asked about any remaining Life Spring Water.

Seeing the conversation turn to business, Ye Liuyun began his temptation: “I’ve arranged with the Void Pill Sect to trade Life Spring Water for pills. My subordinates are fetching the water now; once they have it, they’ll deliver it near the sect, and I’ll go make the exchange.

How much there’ll be, I can’t say yet. A few dozen drops should be possible, but I can’t promise more. We’ve nearly used it all up.

You already have quite a bit; how much of what’s left I can spare will only be clear after I return from the Void Pill Sect.”

He spoke deliberately, creating a sense of urgency, letting Chen Huoyang believe the remainder was scant and already earmarked for the Void Pill Sect.

If that still didn’t work, he’d have to use his Crimson Pupil and weave a little illusion to nudge the old man.

“The Void Pill Sect wants to trade pills for Life Spring Water?”

Chen Huoyang’s heart tightened at once.

“If Jin Chengshan takes the Life Spring Water to the Void Pill Sect first, those old fogeys will never leave a single drop. There are more of them than me—several dozen drops won’t be enough to go around. They’ll haul out every treasured pill they have to trade for it all. By then, how could any be left for me?”

With that thought, Chen Huoyang decided on the spot: intercept the Life Spring Water first—at least another ten or twenty drops.

He immediately asked Ye Liuyun when and where his men would arrive. Seeing the hook set, Ye Liuyun laughed inwardly, saving himself effort, yet outwardly he kept his composure and told Chen Huoyang the details.

Feeling there was still plenty of time and not wanting to leave with Ye Liuyun so early, Chen Huoyang said, “How about this: I’ll go there myself and fetch some Life Spring Water first. Wait for me before you head to the Void Pill Sect.

For every drop I take, I’ll forge an equivalent item for you—just tell me what you need later. What do you say?”

Ye Liuyun feigned surprise. “In such a rush? Once I’m back from the Void Pill Sect I’ll bring it straight to you—no need for you to make the trip.”

Chen Huoyang couldn’t very well voice his little scheme, so he simply said, “Yes, it’s urgent—I need it to save lives!”

Ye Liuyun pretended sudden understanding and said with regret, “Ah, I see. Very well, then you’ll just have to make the journey.”

“No matter,” Chen Huoyang replied easily. “I have a swift airship; the trip won’t take long.”

Ye Liuyun had achieved his goal, so he stopped trying to persuade Chen Huoyang and simply took his leave, walking straight out of the Chen estate.

The moment he’d gone to find Chen Huoyang, several of the Chen family’s inner-court elders had already marked him, afraid he might target their weapon-refining master as well. Seeing him leave without incident, they finally relaxed.

This time Ye Liuyun hadn’t even used his crimson pupils; Chen Huoyang had taken the bait on his own and even upgraded the artifacts Ye Liuyun had used before. In high spirits, Ye Liuyun felt his steps grow lighter as he strode down the road.

Once outside the city, he boarded a flying boat and headed straight for Void Pill Sect. Mid-journey, he altered his appearance.

When he was almost at the sect, he stopped at an inn and booked an entire detached courtyard. The address had been provided by Hong Bo; it was also the rendezvous point he’d arranged with Chen Huoyang.

They were now only a little over a day’s travel from Void Pill Sect, and Hong Bo knew the area well.

Ye Liuyun recorded the coordinates in his teleportation black pagoda, left his second avatar there to wait for Chen Huoyang, and had Hong Bo guide him to Void Pill Sect ahead of schedule.

They traveled in the True-Tier-9 flying boat Chen Huoyang had forged, streaking through the starry sky so fast that they arrived far earlier than expected.

Not wanting to waste the extra time, Ye Liuyun asked Hong Bo to take him around: first to meet some Void Pill disciples, then to browse the illicit pill market nearby.

The black-market pill bazaar had originally been set up by Void Pill’s inner-court disciples to sell their own concoctions in exchange for resources they needed. Over time, no one managed it anymore; the crowd became a hodgepodge, and the goods ranged from priceless to worthless. Bargaining there depended entirely on one’s own judgment.

Hence people called it a “black market,” though it wasn’t actually illegal.

Anyone could set up a stall—most claiming their pills came from renowned Void Pill masters—and the wares weren’t limited to elixirs. Herbs, cultivation resources, even cultivation manuals were sold; every so often someone walked away with a priceless treasure.

Back in familiar territory, Hong Bo was like a fish in water, greeting acquaintances every few steps.

He warned Ye Liuyun to be careful when haggling—if negotiations soured, fights could break out at any moment.