Stop it, Taoist, Your Fight almost Ruins the DAO!

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"Haha, who would have thought that acquiring the three major components of the Qi Lin Holy Armor would result in such an anomaly, creating a small cycle."

"A Taoist like me, who has accumulated good deeds throughout my life, should expect such a reward."

Yi Chen laughed heartily as he carefully perceived the sudden surge in his power and the boost in defense the armor provided. The Holy Halberd appeared in his hand, and a brilliant beam of Extreme Origin shot up into the sky, slashing towards the bright moon above.

At this moment, the Daoist's spine was straight as an arrow.

This strike was not aimed at the moon hanging in the sky, but at his own destiny.

With the boost from the armor, Yi Chen felt his strength advance a small step further, entering another realm. His confidence surged like a Hidden Dragon ready to ride the wind.

...

...

At noon the next day, sunlight bathed the earth. A Daoist carrying a flag for healing the world, and holding a wine jug, staggered into Zeyang City.

At this moment, Yi Chen was already cursing inwardly. Despite his facade of weakness and helplessness, no one had come to rob him, which he took as the utmost idiocy on their part.

He was an easy target for robbery, but alas, it just didn't happen.

Several kilometers along the main road of Zeyang City, there is a large lake called Youmeng Lake. Spanning tens of acres, with clouds swirling and rosy clouds afloat, it's a breathtaking sight.

Lotus flowers blossom in the lake, with young women in colorful dresses boating upon it. One girl reached out to pluck a lotus, but ultimately failed due to her feeble strength.

Yi Chen watched intently and was immediately inspired, conjuring a couplet.

Summer lake waters calm, holding the essence of ultimate purity.

The maiden's strength is weak, yet her ripples disturb Zeyang City.

By Youmeng Lake stands a grand tavern called Youmeng Tavern. Its special scenic feature is maidens picking lotuses, comparable to the virgin snow cigars, the maiden's wine song of past worlds.

The lotuses in the lake are of a rare variety; the taste of chicken cooked with its leaves is unparalleled.

"However, now is not the time to appreciate such beauty; I still need to visit the Han residence," Yi Chen thought, reluctantly heading towards Han Jiyue's mansion.

Half an hour later, Yi Chen cursed the wealthy under his breath and left with a gloomy face.

This visit yielded nothing. Although he had been mentally prepared for this outcome, he couldn't help feeling a bit downhearted when it actually came to pass.

Feeling annoyed, Yi Chen carried his flag and headed straight for Youmeng Tavern.

The maiden picking lotus was of minor importance; the main goal for Yi Taoist was to gather information at Youmeng Tavern.

The thought of relying on the Han family's power had never crossed Yi Chen's mind.

With such chaos arising near Zeyang City, if he were the orchestrator behind it, he would undoubtedly keep a close watch on the Han household's movements.

Given that the perpetrator managed to elude Han Jiyue's notice and take his granddaughter from within heavily guarded formations, he must possess no small amount of skill.

However, the fact that this person did not act against Han Jiyue sparked several suspicions in Yi Chen's mind.

Although the Han family was now in decline, exterminating them would cause too great a commotion, something even the perpetrator could not easily quell, hence they spared Han Jiyue.

Part of the reason could also be Han Jiyue's old age and waning vitality, making him insignificant.

"I always feel there's more to this; the mastermind wouldn't go through so much effort to kidnap Han Xinyue just for the sake of a minor True Person Realm fifth stage cultivator. It's more likely they have their eyes on her treasured Moon Divine Body," Yi Chen mused.

"Is it you, the Purple Order Fiend?"

As such thoughts ran through his mind, Yi Chen, holding his flag, looked around and wobbled towards Youmeng Tavern.

"One jug of wine, a bowl of the glow of dawn to drink, toasting with the King of Hell, challenging immortals, leaving this place to journey the mortal realm, eating at a hundred households, solving a hundred troubles!"

Putting on a full act, he sang an obscure folk song loudly. After casually curing a few commoners of their ailments, Yi Chen entered the Youmeng Tavern amid acclaim, with no one discerning the indescribable look in his eyes.

...

...

Two days later, having changed his appearance, Yi Chen donned a long gown, carried a basket of medicinal herbs on his back, and sauntered in from outside the city gates. At a pharmacy, he traded three hundred-year-old Astragalus roots from his basket for two hundred taels of Gold and then headed to a bustling tavern to drink.
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In the previous two days, he had spent his time at Youmeng Tavern listening to nonsense and got nothing useful. He saw plenty of busty lotus-picking maidens, but he remained unaffected.

Because he wasn't hungry!

Since the high-end route got him nowhere, Yi Chen changed his strategy on the day he arrived at Zeyang City. He disguised himself as a Loose Cultivator and began to settle down there.

He refused to believe no one would target him.

He wanted to convey to the mastermind behind the scenes that he was very easy to get, just one try would suffice.

As for the mastermind, Yi Chen already had some guesses, and now he merely sought to confirm them.

Fengyun Tavern was a relatively upscale establishment in the eastern district of Zeyang City. Loose Cultivators from the east often liked to come here for a drink and to exchange information in their leisure time.

As soon as Yi Chen entered, laughter and cheers erupted from the tavern.

"Elder Yi, have you been having a delightful time over at Immortal Sister Wang's place again today?"

The patrons in the tavern teased him, and with Yi Chen's personality and cunning, he quickly became acquainted with everyone there in just a few days.

Of course, he used some low-level tactics such as a mesmerizing ability, having some lower-tier Loose Cultivators spread rumors about him. A few 'recognized' Yi Chen, speaking of him with great detail and fabricating an entire backstory.

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