Super Combat Soldier

Chapter 1199: Chapter 1198: That Damn Pipe Geezer

[Tomorrow is September 1st, starting tomorrow, four Chapters will be released every day. After midnight tonight, please brothers and sisters throw your monthly votes, the more monthly votes and rewards, the more updates will exceed the base of four Chapters per day...]

Upon hearing the old man’s words, Ye Tianchen remained skeptical, thinking that this elder merely wanted to sell what he was offering, rather than having any genuine information. To put it bluntly, he was trying to fool him!

It’s essential to note that although Ye Tianchen had just arrived in Linxian City and wasn’t very familiar with many of its situations and surroundings, from the incident at the city gate, Ye Tianchen could tell that the Wang family, who controlled Linxian City, was very strong and overbearing. This family must have a profound foundation; otherwise, it couldn’t be so arrogant. In Linxian City, everything was dictated by the Wang family. Anyone attempting to cause trouble here would find it impossible, clearly illustrating how dominant and tyrannical the Wang family truly is. Furthermore, Linxian City was the only market town of the Penglai Ancient Martial World, where ordinary mortals and martial artists reside together. It’s likely not only the Wang family coveted it, but other legacies also aimed to control Linxian City, ultimately falling into the hands of the Wang family, who have governed it for five hundred years, which hints at some of the intricate relationships involved.

Therefore, Ye Tianchen didn’t believe the elder’s words, as everything in Linxian City was under the Wang family’s control, a powerful and dominant cultivation family. How could there be places where they dared not tread?

”Old senior, I think you should save the jokes. Although I haven’t been in Linxian City for long, I do know a bit about the Wang family. Everything here is under their control, are there places they dare not venture? I have matters to attend to, so I’ll be going now!” Ye Tianchen finished speaking and prepared to leave, but he was suddenly called to a halt by the elder.

”Little Taoist, this old man isn’t talking nonsense. From my observation, you and that little girl have roamed much of Linxian City, but there’s one place you haven’t gone...” The old man chuckled as he spoke.

”What place?” Ye Tianchen couldn’t help but frown and ask.

”The north!” The elder said mysteriously and quietly.

”The north? Come on, old senior. Though I’m new here, you don’t have to fool me. Everyone knows that area is a ruin, not worth visiting at all.” Ye Tianchen felt his intelligence was being underestimated as he spoke.

At this point, the old man stood up, glanced around to ensure no one else was nearby, then looked at Ye Tianchen and shook his head with a smile, saying, ”Amateurs observe the surface, experts look beyond. Precisely because it’s a ruin and almost no one goes there, it’s worth the trip!”

Ye Tianchen furrowed his brow. The elder’s words did sound somewhat reasonable. The least worth visiting places often turned out to be the most worthwhile. Indeed, there is such a pattern. For instance, places like cliffs are rarely visited and few dare to go, yet such places are the most likely to nurture Divine Medicine Spiritual Grass due to lack of human disturbance. Could it be that ruin truly harbors some great treasure or immortal fate?

”I hope the old senior can be a bit clearer!” Ye Tianchen thought for a moment and said.

”Well... alright. I initially intended to sell the map, but, how should I put it, feeling a particular affinity with you, little Taoist, I’ll make an exception today and tell you this secret for free. But you must keep it confidential!” The old man said, holding a long smoking pipe, very mysteriously and quietly.

”Don’t worry, as long as the information is reliable, I will compensate you with gold coins.” Ye Tianchen said earnestly.

”If that’s the case, splendid! How many gold coins do you have?” The old pipe man suddenly did a 180-degree turn in his attitude, with his eyes glowing, asking about the gold coins.

Ye Tianchen helplessly chuckled. This old pipe man seemed not easy to deal with either. It’s not simple to change attitude this quickly. Just a moment ago, he was saying he’d share information due to affinity, and the next he’s asking how many gold coins you have upon hearing the word gold. Such words are ones Ye Tianchen would never say.

”Forget it, old senior, your ability to deceive is too profound for me. I can’t handle it. Goodbye!” Ye Tianchen shook his head and turned to leave.

”Speaking of which, five hundred years ago, Linxian City was not controlled by the Wang family, but by the Penglai Ancient Martial’s foremost legacy, the Taishi family. Yet for some reason, the Taishi family vanished overnight, with over 1,500 people in the clan wiped out, not even chickens or dogs spared. The ruins of the Taishi family are located in the northern ruins, along with the disappearance of not just lives, but the Burning Sky Finger, hailed as one of the strongest Martial Arts Divine Skills in the Martial Arts World...”

While walking forward, Ye Tianchen heard the words of the old pipe man behind him and felt a bit surprised. Even though he didn’t fully believe the old pipe man’s words, his curiosity was piqued. Finally, Ye Tianchen’s figure disappeared into the crowd, leaving the old pipe man to let out a sigh and mutter quietly to himself, ”Ah, why is everyone so clever these days, not easy to deceive!”

”Old man, are you sure the information you just mentioned is accurate...?” Suddenly, Ye Tianchen was back in front of the old man with a pipe, startling him into a momentary daze. He instinctively wondered if Ye Tianchen had overheard their conversation earlier. Probably not, otherwise, he wouldn’t be asking him now.

”Ahem, of course it’s true. If it weren’t for the fact that you seem like a genuinely good person and we seem to get along well, I wouldn’t be sharing such secret information with you,” the old man with the pipe said, trying to look very serious.

”In that case, it’s definitely worth a trip north. Maybe there really will be some gain,” Ye Tianchen thought for a moment before speaking.

”Of course it’s worth a visit. Countless people haven’t been able to get this information from me. Only you, my young friend... If you luckily gain some immortal fate, remember to thank me, Old Pipe!” the old man with the pipe said with a chuckle.

Ye Tianchen didn’t say anything, turned around, and prepared to head north. Regardless of whether what the old man said was true or false, he wanted to check it out. He had disappeared just now to inform Xiao Ling to seek out the old fisherman, while Ye Tianchen himself would make a quick trip north and back.

”Young friend, there’s something else you forgot. The north is quite vast. Finding the exact location of the Taishi family ruins won’t be easy. You need this map...” the old man with the pipe said with a sly grin.

”Thank you, elder, for the map. Much appreciated!”

Ye Tianchen grabbed the map from the ground and quickly walked away, not even giving the old man a chance to speak. This left the old man momentarily stunned. When he finally reacted, he muttered in frustration, ”Damn it, this young kid is even trickier than I am. With that innocent smile, he just took my map for free. Damn it...”

The old man with the pipe clearly didn’t expect that Ye Tianchen, who appeared honest and not particularly cunning, would pull such a stunt, taking the map for free, completely catching him off guard. But soon, the old man was chuckling as he took another identical map out of his coat, saying, ”Oh, you kid. I’ll just find someone else to con. Once I sell another map, I’ll come looking for you. I hope you really have the fortune to find something the Taishi family left behind. In that case, it’ll be worth my trouble!”

With the map from the old man with the pipe, Ye Tianchen vanished from the street. This time he didn’t linger but instead used the powerful ”Divine Movement Skill,” speeding off to the north with incredible speed.

When Ye Tianchen reached the north, he was dumbfounded, gradually feeling an urge to hit someone. Because when he arrived and passed through a forest, he saw an endless ruin with broken walls and rubble everywhere, and all around him were people, many with strong cultivation, each holding a map identical to the one in Ye Tianchen’s hand. Instantly, he realized what was going on. They had all been fooled by that old man with the pipe, deceived. That old bastard really knew how to pull a fast one!

”Another one deceived by the old man with the pipe!”

”That old bastard is too despicable, making all of us purchase maps from him.”

”If I ever see that old pipe smoker again, I’m going to beat the living daylights out of him. This place is easily spotted upon reaching the north, just an endless ruin, and as for martial arts inheritance, there’s not even a ghost here.”

Hearing the people around him, Ye Tianchen felt extremely frustrated. The old man with the pipe was indeed despicable, tricking so many people. Who knows how many of these maps he’d drawn to con people day in and day out, selling maps that were useless. Looking at the former Taishi family ruins, everything was clear at a glance. There wasn’t any need for a map here.

”Damn it, can’t make this trip for nothing. Might as well walk around the Taishi family ruins. Maybe there’s something to find!”

”The Taishi family was once the most powerful family on the Penglai Immortal Path. Unfortunately, five hundred years ago, they were destroyed overnight, leaving nothing behind, completely severing their roots.”

”Really? I heard there was still one descendant of the Taishi family who survived back then. The last bit of their bloodline continues at Heavenly Maiden Peak!” (To be continued. If you like this work, you’re welcome to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)