Fu Sheng spoke with sincere emotion, his eyes filled with hope, appearing genuinely eager to recruit Zhou Kai and Chen Ziyi into his group.

Zhou Kai couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. To climb higher, people truly exhausted all methods; their wisdom was indeed not low.

Huddling together for warmth, gathering bits to make a fur coat—this was also a kind of wisdom for struggling to survive.

However, Zhou Kai was not short on Spirit Stones. The purposes of this trip were, first, to find Master Su and commission an array from him, and second, to secure four spots and form a team. Joining a group would not only drag things out but also create many inconveniences.

“Fellow Daoist Fu’s kind intentions are appreciated by this Han,” Zhou Kai declined tactfully. “My sister and I have come primarily to broaden our horizons, to witness this grand gathering of the cultivation world and gain some experience.”

“As for participating in the Dragon Gate Assembly, we have our own considerations. I’m afraid we must disappoint Fellow Daoist Fu’s gracious offer.”

Upon hearing this, Fu Sheng was momentarily taken aback but quickly returned to normal, cupping his hands in salute.

“So that is how it is. It was my presumption. Since Fellow Daoist Han has no such intention, I won’t press the matter. I only hope fate allows us to meet again someday.”

“Certainly.” Zhou Kai and his companion also cupped their hands in return before turning and leaving.

The sun had already set. Lanterns in the market gradually lit up, and the figures of cultivators grew denser.

“It’s livelier at night,” Chen Ziyi said softly, her eyes sparkling as she looked around.

Zhou Kai walked side by side with Chen Ziyi, casually browsing among the stalls.

Whoosh—

A sharp sound of something cutting through the air suddenly came from overhead, accompanied by an overbearing gust of wind that made weaker cultivators below feel their breath catch.

The cultivators all looked up. In the next moment, many nearly popped their eyes out in disbelief.

They saw a streak of sword light speeding through the air. However, the person riding the sword was not employing the usual method of standing on the blade with the tip pointing forward. Instead, the flying sword was held completely vertical, its tip pointing straight down at the ground and its hilt facing the sky!

A tall, slender young cultivator stood on the sword guard with a single foot, his other leg slightly raised in a somewhat comical stance reminiscent of a golden rooster standing on one leg.

Even more flamboyant was the snow-white cloak he wore. Despite there being no wind in the night sky, the cloak billowed ceaselessly, flapping loudly.

On the cloak, embroidered in gold thread, were ten large characters: “Calamity Abyss Valley Expert, Qi Condensation Great Perfection”!

Those ten characters seemed enchanted with some spell, shining with a golden light so bright it seemed afraid others wouldn’t see it.

Moreover, he openly released his own aura of Qi Condensation Great Perfection without any attempt to conceal it.

“Ahem!” The expert cleared his throat, his voice booming like a bell, drowning out the market’s noise.

“The Dragon Gate Assembly is imminent! Fellow Daoists, are you short on pills? Lacking talismans? Or perhaps traveling alone without spirit beast puppets for assistance, feeling your combat power is insufficient?”

He paused briefly as if giving everyone time to think, then raised his tone dramatically. Pointing a single finger skyward with great vigor, he shouted:

“Don’t panic! Don’t worry! Your salvation has arrived! We of Calamity Abyss Valley are both hosts and guests! To address your urgent needs, we are specially hosting a grand trading event! Entry costs only five Spirit Stones! Safety guaranteed! No deception of young or old! Low prices for quality goods! Everything you could want!”

The market below instantly erupted into an uproar.

“Hiss! Which lord from Calamity Abyss Valley is this?…”

“Five Spirit Stones entry fee? Why don’t you just rob people? You even want to make money like this?”

Most Loose Cultivators were seeing such a spectacle for the first time and exclaimed in surprise repeatedly.

Only a small handful appeared unfazed and indifferent. Presumably, they were long-term residents of Broken Wood Bay, already accustomed to this person’s unrestrained and unconventional style.

The corner of Zhou Kai’s mouth twitched slightly. Internally, it felt as if eight hundred unbridled mythical beasts were stampeding past with demonic steps, kicking up clouds of dust.

This was the famously unconventional Calamity Abyss Valley?

This was the legendary sect that asked about one’s heart rather than following established norms?

This wasn’t unconventional; this was clearly making sure everyone knew just how much “style” they had!

This taste… it was practically “so uncool it becomes cool,” yet so trendy it stung the eyes a bit.

Chen Ziyi was also quite startled by this display. She gently tugged Zhou Kai’s sleeve.

“Husband… are we… are we really going to this sect? They seem… they seem… well…” She couldn’t find the right words for a moment.

Suppressing the stampede in his heart, Zhou Kai said, “Go! Of course we’re going! Such an interesting sect must surely be full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. They’re probably all talented individuals inside who speak pleasantly, too. Wouldn’t it be a pity not to go see for ourselves?”

Seeing he had stirred up excitement below, that expert in mid-air shouted again at the top of his lungs:

“Fellow Daoists, remember well! Time: tonight at midnight! Location: East Gate Courtyard! A night dark and windy enough for murder… ah, pah! For treasure hunting and bargain spotting! A night to seek opportunities! We won’t wait for latecomers! No extensions! Fellow Daoists destined to be there—we’ll meet at midnight without fail!”

With that, the expert executed a stylish tail flick with his flying sword beneath his feet. The sword tip changed direction and carried him, along with his glittering golden cloak, roaring towards the east side of the market. He left behind a marketplace full of cultivators looking at each other blankly before erupting into even louder discussions.

Zhou Kai led Chen Ziyi away from the crowded area towards the deeper parts of the market. His goal was clear: first find lodging, then go investigate that so-called “East Gate Courtyard” at midnight.

They hadn’t walked far when a six-story wooden pavilion came into view. A plaque bore four gilded characters: “Welcoming Immortals Inn,” quite conspicuous in the night.

An inn of this scale could be considered luxurious in an area frequented by Loose Cultivators.

Zhou Kai swept his Divine Sense lightly and noticed most cultivators entering or leaving had cultivation around the mid-First Realm.

Clearly, cultivators who could reach this level usually had some savings in Spirit Stones to spare spending here.

He didn’t mind spending these few Spirit Stones and directly requested an upper room.

Entering the room revealed elegant furnishings complete with everything needed. Chen Ziyi tidied up slightly before sitting by the bed, quietly watching Zhou Kai.

Zhou Kai then took out from his Storage Bag that “Cicada Raiment Art” manual obtained from Fang Lizhe.

He had felt earlier this technique wasn’t simple. Practicing it hadn’t encountered obstacles but always gave a feeling like scratching an itch through boots—as if its essence remained just out of reach, lacking that final crucial step.

He spread out the manual on the table, focusing intently to study it carefully.

Chen Ziyi also leaned over, looking for a moment before saying softly:

“Husband… whoever wrote this ‘Cicada Raiment Art’ is really interesting. Look at these characters—written one line then left blank the next line, spaced so far apart, as if afraid people reading this cultivation method might strain their eyes.”

Upon hearing this, Zhou Kai felt instantly enlightened!

He had previously thought this layout strange but hadn’t pondered deeply! How had he not considered it!

Fang Lizhe once said this “Cicada Raiment Art” was his great-grandfather’s legacy item.

What profound mysterious methods could a cultivator stranded in the mortal world master for protecting secret manuals? Most likely such seemingly simple yet secretly ingenious methods!

This layout writing one line leaving the next blank definitely wasn’t an ordinary transcription habit—it held great significance! Those deliberately left blank areas must conceal this technique’s true core content!

A gleam flashed in Zhou Kai’s eyes. Without hesitation, he extended Mana from his fingertip, gently pressing onto the pages of the “Cicada Raiment Art,” slowly channeling Mana into them.

On pages originally blank, areas gradually revealed written characters, instantly completing the entire cultivation method!

Zhou Kai stared intently at the foremost four characters, precisely that “final step” he had pondered hard yet failed to grasp—the core method of condensing the cicada raiment!

“Cicada Shell Shadow Hiding!”

According to the method description, once “Cicada Shell Shadow Hiding” is mastered, it not only allows merging into light shadows, making it difficult to detect via Divine Sense, but also can alter one’s own appearance and aura according to will for disguise.

Upon great achievement, one can completely merge into the void, achieving a near-absolute concealment effect!

Such a divine, marvelous technique was simply the supreme method for preserving life, escaping danger, infiltrating, ambushing, and seizing treasures!

“Hahaha!” Why should Zhou Kai suppress his wild joy? He pulled Chen Ziyi beside him into his embrace, kissed her forehead hard, and nibbled her cheek a couple of times, making her protest coyly.

“My good Ziyi, you truly are my lucky star!” Holding the warm, fragrant soft jade, Zhou Kai felt extremely pleased.

Chen Ziyi said gently, “Husband gaining insight is due to husband’s exceptional talent. What relation has Ziyi?”

Zhou Kai forcefully suppressed the wild joy and impulse to immediately cultivate. He deeply understood such a divine marvelous technique was no trivial matter. Immediately, he focused his mind, calmed his breath, and carefully studied the complete “Cicada Raiment Art” method several times from start to finish. Every word, each phrase was deeply imprinted in his mind as he repeatedly pondered its profound meanings and mysteries.

After a long while, he finally exhaled deeply and smiled beside Chen Ziyi.

“I’ve examined carefully; the newly appeared characters are indeed the subsequent method. No time for delay. Let us study together and strive to quickly master this technique!”

Zhou Kai didn’t hesitate and directly activated the method, beginning his cultivation.

However, Cicada Shell Shadow Hiding was far more profound and obscure than imagined.

It involved Mana circulation and Divine Sense control, both extremely intricate and complex.

Over an hour passed, and he barely grasped the thread of the doorway. Truly entering the gate of cultivating the cicada raiment was probably impossible without ten days to half a month of meticulous effort.

“Huu…” Zhou Kai slowly withdrew power and exhaled a turbid breath.

This matter couldn’t be rushed. He must proceed step by step.

Seeing outside that the night was deepening, he estimated the time and told Chen Ziyi:

“Ziyi, I am going out to check the trading event. You stay here, cultivate peacefully, and rest early. No need to wait for me.”

Chen Ziyi nodded obediently. “Husband, rest assured. Be careful in everything.”