**Chapter 96: A Cultivator's Dilemma**

In the room, by the desk, He Song focused his mind and effortlessly drew a low-grade Earth Talisman.

After completing it, he let out a long breath, sat down, and cleared his thoughts to contemplate his future path.

When he had first met Su Yan, He Song had already decided not to use his talent in array formations to join the Earth Sect.

Doing so would draw too much attention. If anyone discovered his secret, he feared he would be imprisoned and tortured for the so-called "method of immortality." But he had no such method, and he had no desire to let others control his life and death.

For now, staying in the outside world and living as a carefree wandering cultivator was the best course of action—at least until he gained the strength to protect himself.

In the outside world, he didn't have to worry about powerful cultivators like Golden Core True Lords or Nascent Soul Ancestors uncovering his secrets.

With that in mind, He Song turned his thoughts to the over 22,000 pounds of spiritual rice stored in his small cargo storage bag.

He needed to figure out how to handle it. Additionally, since he had chosen not to join the Earth Sect, he would have to rely on his own efforts to gather the resources needed for his cultivation.

Both tasks had to be carried out simultaneously, and he had to ensure the Earth Sect remained unaware of his actions.

As He Song pondered, an idea quickly formed in his mind.

"I wonder if there are any martial arts in the mortal world that can alter one's appearance. If such techniques exist, combining them with the Breath Concealment Technique might be worth trying."

If he could change his appearance and use the Breath Concealment Technique to mask his aura while wearing a black robe, He Song believed he could move undetected.

As long as he traveled underground most of the time and avoided drawing the attention of other cultivators, he could sell the spiritual rice in the Earth Sect's immortal markets or cities without raising suspicion.

Even if someone noticed, they likely wouldn't trace it back to him.

He had already dismissed the idea of using his position as a garden manager to secretly sell the rice.

If he did that, he would undoubtedly be welcomed into the Earth Sect with great fanfare and made an inner disciple. That would completely disrupt his plans.

Having spent over a decade in the immortal markets, He Song had seen many people who preferred to remain anonymous.

These individuals often wore black robes and used the Breath Concealment Technique to hide their auras while conducting business. This allowed them to conceal their identities.

The cultivation world was full of cautious individuals. There were indeed many people who wore black robes and left no trace of their presence.

However, to be even more careful, He Song decided to alter his appearance as well. That way, even if the Earth Sect learned about the sale of spiritual rice, they wouldn't be able to trace it back to him.

With his plan in place, He Song acted quickly.

He left the meditation room and tunneled out of the immortal market, heading to Salt City in the Great Li Dynasty.

Upon arriving, He Song observed the area briefly before capturing a burly man with a fierce demeanor, skilled in martial arts, and a murderous glint in his eyes.

The man had just killed an innocent civilian, and before He Song could intervene, the victim had already died. Naturally, He Song felt no sympathy for the man.

Taking advantage of the lack of witnesses, he dragged the man underground and brought him to a secluded spot.

He Song tossed the man into a dark corner and, with a flick of his finger, sent a beam of spiritual light piercing through the man's right palm.

As the man screamed in agony, He Song spoke calmly.

"I'll ask, and you'll answer. Answer slowly, and you die. Answer incorrectly, and you die. Hesitate, and you die. Do you understand?"

The man, who had just been dragged underground, was terrified.

The ability to move through the earth like that—it had to be the work of a cultivator! How unlucky was he to have been caught by one?

Living in the Great Li Dynasty, he knew cultivators existed.

In the small city of Salt, he had heard of several people who had become cultivators.

Under the dynasty's propaganda, he was well aware of their power. Facing a cultivator who had just pierced his palm and was now questioning him, he was filled with fear.

"Spare me, cultivator! I understand, I understand! Please, ask your questions!"

Seeing the man's terror, He Song decided not to torment him further and got straight to the point.

"Do you know if there are any martial arts that can alter one's appearance?"

He Song had come to the mortal world to find such techniques for a reason.

Unlike spells, which were infused with spiritual energy, martial arts left no such traces. This made them ideal for deceiving other cultivators.

It was an unconventional approach—most cultivators would simply learn a spell to change their appearance.

"Yes, yes, yes!" the man replied frantically, nodding his head repeatedly, afraid that a delayed answer would cost him his life.

"Where?" He Song's eyes lit up. He had expected to capture several people before finding the information he needed, but it seemed this man already knew something.

"I don't know exactly, but I've heard that a notorious flower thief has been active near Salt City. According to official notices, he has the ability to change his appearance and shape."

The man, sensing a chance to survive, eagerly shared everything he knew.

"What's his name? What does he look like? Where is he now?" He Song pressed.

Now that he had a lead, he needed more details to track down the thief.

"I don't know his name or appearance, but he should still be in the area around Salt City. He hasn't left yet." The man looked at He Song with a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

However, after hearing the man's answer, He Song frowned.

"Too slow."

With a cold tone, He Song flicked his finger, and a blazing fireball materialized in the air, landing on the man and reducing him to ashes in an instant.

The man didn't even have time to scream.

"First time killing someone... it feels manageable. The fireball technique is quite effective for disposing of evidence. Brother Wei wasn't wrong about that."

He Song glanced at the pile of ashes, then waved his hand, collecting the remains into his storage bag for disposal later.

After thoroughly cleaning the area, he nodded in satisfaction. There was no trace left of him or the man.

From the beginning, He Song had no intention of letting the man live.

The man's murderous demeanor and his willingness to kill innocent civilians made him a threat. In He Song's eyes, this was justice served.

Moreover, the man had learned that He Song was searching for techniques to alter his appearance. If left alive, he could become a liability, potentially betraying He Song in the future.

(End of Chapter)