Chapter 144

“Senior Brother Zhao!”

“Junior Brother Wang?”

Clearly, Zhao Huaian had not been prepared for Wang Chen’s sudden visit.

With a hint of surprise and confusion, yet still polite, he invited Wang Chen to sit in his parlor.

But his expression remained indifferent, “Junior Brother Wang, what business brings you here?”

Wang Chen took out the Mandarin Duck Mirror and the Messenger Crane from his Storage Bag, showed them to Zhao Huaian, and then put them away again.

Zhao Huaian furrowed his brow, not understanding his intention.

Wang Chen cut to the chase, “This pair of Mandarin Duck Mirrors was sent to me by someone from Big Senior Brother Lu Hong…”

He recounted the entirety of Du Yuankui’s visit to Zhao Huaian.

The price of a Mandarin Duck Mirror could range from five hundred to fifteen hundred Low Spirits.

The Ten-hour type was the most expensive, not only because it lasted longer, but also because of its exceptional image and sound transmission quality.

If the Mandarin Duck Mirrors that Wang Chen had bought before had a 1080P quality,

then the Ten-hour Mirror was equivalent to 4k resolution!

All Wang Chen had to do was to hang the Mandarin Duck Mirror in the tree in his backyard, and he could completely monitor everything happening on Zhao Huaian’s side.

To deal with Zhao Huaian, Big Senior Brother Lu had really invested a lot.

However, even though Wang Chen’s nickname was Doggie, he would never be anyone’s dog!

After all, one can’t dodge the pot that comes flying from the sky while sitting at home.

With the problem landing squarely on his head, Wang Chen had no place to hide and could only seek out the root cause of the issue.

“Senior Brother Zhao, I have no grievances with you.”

Wang Chen continued, “But I can’t afford to offend Big Senior Brother Lu either, so tell me, what should I do now?”

Zhao Huaian fell silent.

Wang Chen’s attitude was very forthright and there was nothing to criticize.

Any other disciple from Sunset Peak would probably be too pleased with such a situation to bother, let alone take the risk of offending Big Senior Brother Lu to come and inform him.

Lu Hong was, after all, the premier True Disciple!

“I understand now.”

After a moment of reflection, he took a deep breath, his gaze resolute: “Junior Brother Wang, I won’t make things difficult for you!”

Apologetically, Wang Chen said, “Thank you for your magnanimity, Senior Brother!”

Even though he had only met Zhao Huaian a few times and hadn’t spoken much,

Wang Chen could tell that this young cultivator from the Outer Domain was a very proud person at heart.

Despite repeated setbacks, he wanted to maintain his dignity.

Thus, Wang Chen could pass the buck back to him—the one who tied the bell on the tiger must be the one to remove it.

Wang Chen would not help Lu Hong scheme against Zhao Huaian, nor would he help Zhao Huaian carry the thunder.

He had a clear conscience!

Zhao Huaian returned the courtesy, “Thank you, Junior Brother.”

Telling him about this issue was also a sign of trust.

Zhao Huaian was not entirely insensitive to human emotions.

It was just that, placed in an environment where enemies surrounded him, he had to raise his spines like a hedgehog to protect himself.

After Wang Chen left, an elderly voice suddenly echoed in Zhao Huaian’s mind: “This lad is quite interesting.”

Zhao Huaian instinctively touched the Jade Pendant on his chest.

He was not surprised by the voice in his mind, asking telepathically, “Elder Hu, what should I do now?”

This Jade Pendant concealed inside his clothing was a damaged Magic Artifact he had bought from a stall in the market.

It cost twenty-one Low Spirits.

At the time, he felt something particularly peculiar about it, so he emptied his Storage Bag to acquire it.

Unexpectedly, this Jade Pendant turned out to be the greatest opportunity Zhao Huaian had ever encountered.

When Zhao Huaian was captured and faced a life-or-death situation, a remnant soul hidden in the Jade Pendant suddenly appeared and saved his life.

After surviving the ordeal, this remnant soul that called itself “Elder Hu” imparted a Cultivation Technique to Zhao Huaian, directed him to excavate a hidden trove, and he obtained a massive amount of cultivation resources.

Under Elder Hu’s careful guidance, Zhao Huaian’s Cultivation Level improved dramatically in a very short period of time!

Not only that, but Elder Hu also crafted the Memory Stone used as incriminating evidence for him and helped him intercept the Sect Master True Person of the Cloud Sun Sect, allowing him to successfully lay out his grievances.

Eventually, he brought down a bunch of Purple Mansion Superiors, avenging his family!

After entering the Inner Sect, Elder Hu also helped Zhao Huaian avoid several traps, preventing him from falling into them.

Thus, Zhao Huaian had immense trust in Elder Hu!

“Leave this place.”

Elder Hu answered, “Farming is a dead end. Take a sect mission to the Outer Domain. Maybe I can remember a Cave Mansion I used to live in. You can cultivate there and return when the Sunset Peak competition begins.”

“Hmm!”

Zhao Huaian clenched his fists tightly, his dark eyes ignited with flickers of flame.

Elder Hu continued, “Your first goal is to take the top spot of Sunset Peak, then participate in the sect competition and secure one of the top ten True Disciple positions!”

Zhao Huaian couldn’t help but ask, “Elder Hu, is becoming a Sect Leader’s Disciple really that important?”

Elder Hu had always urged him to aim to become the Sect Leader’s Disciple of the Cloud Sun Sect.

And the prerequisite for that was to join the ranks of the top ten True Disciples of the Inner Sect!

Although being the Sect Leader’s disciple represented extreme glory and a status equal to that of the Inner Sect Elders, Zhao Huaian truly had very little interest in power or position. He preferred to cultivate quietly by himself.

“If you want to grasp your own destiny,”

Elder Hu replied solemnly, “you must possess great strength!”

“In the Cloud Sun Sect, only the Sect Leader’s disciple is qualified to learn the Cloud Dragon Nine Transformations.”

“This cultivation technique, which leads directly to the Nascent Soul, is very suitable for you.”

“So, you must fight for it!”

“We cultivators are naturally defying the heavens for our fate. If you don’t fight, you will only become a stepping stone for others!”

“Do you wish for that?”

Zhao Huaian shook his head without a second thought.

But he wasn’t very confident, “The current ten True Disciples and the Sect Leader’s disciple are all from noble clans. Can I really win against them?”

Although proud, Zhao Huaian still had self-awareness.

His starting point was low, and his talent was not shockingly brilliant. Without Elder Hu’s help, he wouldn’t even have had the qualifications to establish himself in the Inner Sect.

The goal of being the Sect Leader’s disciple seemed a bit too lofty.

“I am here, what are you afraid of?”

Elder Hu said proudly, “Don’t look at those noble clan disciples. The current Sect Leader of the Cloud Sun Sect, Ji Guantao, came from humble origins, and if he could do it, why can’t you?”

When mentioning this Golden Core True Person, he didn’t show the slightest respect.

Zhao Huaian couldn’t help but clench his fists.

Elder Hu continued, “Actually, to learn the Cloud Dragon Nine Transformations, aside from becoming the Sect Leader’s disciple, there is another way.”

Zhao Huaian asked curiously, “What way?”

“It’s very simple.”

Elder Hu replied, “Ji Guantao’s beloved daughter is just twenty-eight, beautiful as flowers and as elegant as gems. If you can gain her favor, then…”

Before he could finish, Zhao Huaian’s face was already flushed red, “Elder Hu, I, Zhao Huaian, am a dignified man. How can I rely on a woman to defy the heavens and vie for fate?”

“This method is not suitable for me!”

Elder Hu chuckled, his laughter tinged with a trace of peculiarity.

He said, “Then, you better start preparing. A gentleman does not stand under a wall that is about to collapse. I’m afraid some people will lose their patience.”

Zhao Huaian nodded.

Lu Hong!

He knew that this Chief Disciple of Sunset Peak was not the only one who wanted to deal with him.

But among his enemies,

Lu Hong was the most jubilant and the most arrogant.

Zhao Huaian had already made up his mind; the position of Chief True Disciple of Sunset Peak was his to claim!

At this moment, Zhao Huaian suddenly thought of Wang Chen.

Just as Elder Hu had said, this Junior Brother Wang was indeed an interesting character.

And Wang Chen didn’t know that he had left quite a deep impression on Zhao Huaian.

For the next two days, he stayed at home, keeping watch.

Having not seen Zhao Huaian appear again, he didn’t even care about the majority of the Spirit Fields that were overturned.

Convinced that the other party had fled, Wang Chen sent out a Messenger Crane.

Then, Du Yuankui hurried over.

As soon as they met, he said to Wang Chen, “There’s nothing for you to do here. Give back the Mandarin Duck Mirror to me.”

Wang Chen was stunned, “Wasn’t it said to be given to me?”

“How wishful thinking!”

Du Yuankui sneered, “Do you know how much the Mandarin Duck Mirror is worth in Spirit Stones? You couldn’t afford it even if you sold yourself!”

“Hurry up and bring it out, stop dawdling!”

Wang Chen, expressionless, took out the Mandarin Duck Mirror and gave it back, saying, “In the past, someone took a few chickens from me.”

Du Yuankui didn’t understand, “What are you talking about?”

Wang Chen shook his head, “Nothing.”

“Tsk!”

Du Yuankui turned around and left, not bothering to say another word to Wang Chen.

To him, a mere Qi Cultivation Fifth Level Spiritual Plant Farmer, even if he became an Inner Sect Disciple, was still nothing but a lowly bumpkin!

If he didn’t know his place,

he had plenty of ways to deal with him!

Wang Chen silently watched as the other figure disappeared from his sight.

The regulations from above were clear; no one was allowed to delay the payment of wages to migrant workers.

This person not only refused to pay him for his hard work but even snatched back what he had previously given.

Such a lack of conscience, he must be coveting the Heavenly Merit resources!

———–

Here is the second update.

PS: I attended my daughter’s graduation ceremony tonight, hence the late update, and there won’t be a third one. Please understand.