Immortal Venerable of the Beast Race
Chapter 291 - 205 Profound Yin Hermit_1

Chapter 291: 205 Profound Yin Hermit_1

Two months had passed, and in a secluded manor,

Shen Long, Song Qingyu, and a beautiful young girl in a blue-green dress were sitting in a cyan stone pavilion, sipping tea and chatting leisurely.

"So that’s how it is, I was wondering why I kept failing at that step. The problem lies here."

A look of sudden enlightenment appeared on the young girl’s face.

"It’s nothing, Fairy Song. With more practice, you’ll eventually be able to produce top-quality elixirs."

Shen Long said with a smile.

"That’s true, but Shuyun still has much to learn from Taoist Friend Shen,"

Song Qingyu said with a full smile on her face.

Song Shuyun was a third-rank Alchemist, but she couldn’t produce top-quality elixirs.

"Taoist Friend Song, has there been any news after all this time?"

Shen Long said, turning to a more serious matter.

Just as Song Qingyu was about to reply, Song Shuheng walked in and spoke, "Taoist Friend Shen, I’ve found some clues. Two Foundation Establishment Cultivators encountered your senior brother in the wilderness. At the time, several Foundation Establishment Cultivators were following him; they are disciples of the Profound Yin Hermit, a Core Formation Stage Loose Cultivator currently residing in the Qingyang marketplace."

He took out a cyan jade slip and handed it to Shen Long, "Here are the details."

Shen Long scanned the jade slip with his Divine Sense, his expression turning contemplative.

"This matter involves the Profound Yin Hermit, and without direct evidence to prove your senior brother was killed by them, it isn’t easy for us to make a move."

Song Shuheng said with a troubled look.

Without evidence, it was not possible for them to confront the disciples of the Profound Yin Hermit.

"Thank you, Taoist Friend Song. I’ll take care of the rest; it no longer concerns the Song Family."

Shen Long said and took out a cyan porcelain bottle, handing it to Song Shuheng.

"Taoist Friend Shen, you’re too kind. It’s just a small matter."

Song Shuheng declined graciously.

After Shen Long insisted several times, Song Shuheng finally accepted it.

"I’ve troubled you for many days, Taoist Friend Song. Thank you for the Song Family’s hospitality. If there’s ever a need for my assistance in the future, please do not hesitate to ask."

Shen Long promised, standing up to take his leave.

······

Qingtang Valley was Yu Country’s largest marketplace, strategically located and bustling with traders and travelers, resulting in a significant flux of people.

The streets were crowded with people, the noise of carriages and horse’s hooves filled the air.

In a quiet courtyard with green tiles, there stood a two-storied cyan pavilion and a cyan stone pavilion where Qian Dafu was seated, drinking tea.

He took out a golden Messaging Plate, inserted a spell into it, and said respectfully, "Uncle Shen, where are you?"

"I’m at the door of your residence. Open the gate."

Came the voice of Shen Long.

Qian Dafu answered and put away the Messaging Plate, striding toward the courtyard gate.

He opened the gate, and there stood Shen Long.

Shen Long entered, and Qian Dafu closed the gate behind him.

"How has your investigation of the matter I asked about been going?"

Shen Long inquired.

"Here are the details on the Song Family, including the Cultivators or powers that hold grudges against them."

Qian Dafu took out a cyan jade slip, handing it to Shen Long.

Shen Long hadn’t entirely trusted the Song Family, so he had Qian Dafu collect information on Cultivators or powers that had grievances with the Song Family, to avoid being manipulated by them.

After scanning the jade slip with his Divine Sense, Shen Long nodded, noting that the Profound Yin Hermit was not mentioned in the content.

"Is this all?"

Shen Long asked.

"This includes the Evil Cultivators who have appeared in the surrounding ten nations over the past hundred years and some missing Cultivator cases. Before and after Senior Brother Xu went missing, there were no reports of Evil Cultivators lurking within Yu Country,"

Qian Dafu said as he took out a blue jade slip and handed it to Shen Long.

"Is there nothing else?"

Shen Long continued to question.

"There’s also information about local powers and high-level Cultivators in Yu Country."

Qian Dafu took out a golden jade slip and gave it to Shen Long.

"I didn’t ask you to collect these reports, how did you think to collect them, and how did you get them?"

Shen Long asked, puzzled.

"Disciple thought it would help the investigation, so I spent a lot of money to purchase them. These aren’t any core secrets; one can acquire them with enough Spirit Stones,"

Qian Dafu said.

After examining the contents of the jade slip, Shen Long’s face revealed a thoughtful expression.

From the contents of these jade slips, it seemed that the Song Family had no private grievance with the Profound Yin Hermit.

"Uncle Shen, have you found any clues?"

Qian Dafu asked.

"There are some clues that I need to verify. You continue to gather intelligence here, pay attention to anything used by Senior Brother Xu, and do not expose your identity," Shen Long instructed.

"Yes, Uncle Shen."

Qian Dafu agreed.

Shen Long gave a few more instructions and turned to leave.

After exiting the marketplace, Shen Long transformed into a streak of escape light that broke through the sky, and soon disappeared into the horizon.

Half a month later, he arrived at the Qingyang marketplace after having changed his face; nobody recognized him.

Shen Long concealed his aura, disguising himself as a Foundation Establishment Cultivator as he walked and browsed the streets.

The scale of Qingyang marketplace could not compare with Qingtang Valley, Shen Long strolled and observed the streets.

After a quarter of an hour, Shen Long appeared on a sparsely populated street, a residential area with towers and courtyards.

His gaze swept over the area and settled on a three-story tall black tower. The words "Profound Yin Pavilion" were written boldly on its plaque. According to the intelligence provided by Song Shuheng, the Profound Yin Hermit resided in the Profound Yin Pavilion.

As Shen Long passed by the entrance of the Profound Yin Pavilion, the door opened, and a short and chubby man in a black robe came out. The black-robed old man, only a Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivator, glanced at Shen Long before losing further interest.

Shen Long patted a white Spirit Beast pouch at his waist, allowing the Pursuing Spirit Beast to memorize the Divine Sense fluctuations of this person.

After wandering around the marketplace, Shen Long rented a small green-tiled courtyard near the Profound Yin Pavilion and settled down.

Inside the Profound Yin Pavilion, a secret chamber.

A black-robed elder, skinny as firewood, was sitting on a meditation mat, his aura vast like the sea.

He held a Law Disk in his hand that flickered with dark light, his eyebrows tightly knit.

"Find someone? I understand. The thirty-six countries are vast; it’s not easy to find anyone, but I’ll do my best!" the black-robed elder said.

The Profound Yin Hermit, Core Formation Middle Stage.

"Inform me immediately if there is any news, and I will take action," a pleasant female voice sounded.

"Understood, that’s all for now!" the black-robed elder agreed, putting away the Messaging Plate.

Half a month passed, and in a quiet green-tiled courtyard, Shen Long sat in a green Stone Pavilion. The Hundred Eyes Cicada lay beside him, its eyes emitting a blinding golden light as it kept surveillance over the Profound Yin Pavilion.

The Hundred Eyes Cicada’s eyes could easily penetrate the small courtyard’s wards and monitor the movement within the Profound Yin Pavilion.

Shen Long had already collected the portrait of the Profound Yin Hermit. As soon as the hermit left the Profound Yin Pavilion, he would follow.

Xu Xin had encountered the disciple of the Profound Yin Hermit, who were not currently in the marketplace.

The Hundred Eyes Cicada issued a sharp, piercing cry, and Shen Long’s eyes lit up. He put down his teacup, gathered the Hundred Eyes Cicada back into the Spirit Beast pouch, and left his residence.

No sooner had he stepped out than the Profound Yin Hermit passed by Shen Long.

Shen Long went off in the opposite direction, his hand lightly patting the white Spirit Beast pouch at his waist.

He began to stroll the streets. According to the feedback from the Pursuing Spirit Beast, the Profound Yin Hermit was still within the marketplace.

As Shen Long passed by a tall, nine-story tower, the Spirit Beast pouch containing the Pursuing Spirit Beast shook slightly.

Looking at the plaque of the green tower, he saw the words "Qingyang Tower."

Nearby was a tea house. Shen Long entered the tea house, ordered a private room, and from the room’s window, he could see the entrance of Qingyang Tower.

A short while later, the Pursuing Spirit Beast alerted Shen Long.

He approached the window and looked toward the Qingyang Tower, spotting the Profound Yin Hermit leaving the building.

He paid with Spirit Stones and left the tea house.

Shen Long followed the Profound Yin Hermit, maintaining a distance of more than ten paces, just observing.

The streets were bustling with people, so Shen Long did not follow too closely.

The Profound Yin Hermit did not linger on the street and returned to the Profound Yin Pavilion.

Seeing that the Profound Yin Hermit entered the Profound Yin Pavilion, Shen Long did not follow any further.

An hour later, Shen Long returned to his residence.

He entered a secret chamber and sat cross-legged on a red meditation mat. He took out a Blood Flood Dragon Pill and swallowed it, starting his Cultivation.

The Pursuing Spirit Beast had already locked on to the Profound Yin Hermit’s Divine Sense. As long as the hermit left the marketplace, the Pursuing Spirit Beast would alert Shen Long, allowing Shen Long to focus his energy and time on