Chapter 145: 145. Chapter 143: Used as a Blade

145. Chapter 143: Used as a Blade

Ding Huan felt Lidi Ting was no ordinary man; most people here cultivated martial arts, but this one cultivated the Dao.

From the fluctuation of his aura, Ding Huan judged his strength to be around Level Four Gene Cultivator.

Since the beginning until now, Lidi Ting had seemingly been speaking in his favor.

So Ding Huan did not refuse Lidi Ting's invitation.

Lidi Ting's residence in the marketplace was simple: just one bedroom and one living room, plus a separate cultivation chamber.

The people in his household were equally simple: just him and a maid.

After inviting Ding Huan over, the table was already set with food and drinks.

Clearly, he had prepared this in advance.

"Thank you, Captain Lidi, for your keen insight."

Ding Huan raised his cup first to toast Captain Lidi, then drained it in one gulp.

This surprised Lidi Ting—he had waited for Ding Huan to arrive before pouring the wine precisely to earn Ding Huan's trust.

He himself would drink first to show there was no poison in his cup.

Even when eating, he had prepared everything: he would taste each dish first.

But he hadn't expected Ding Huan to trust him so completely—he drank first.

This felt off. Didn't he fear poison?

Or had he misjudged? Was Ding Huan not the type of man with deep scheming, who always planned before acting?

That couldn't be right. If it were luck, it was too extraordinary.

But he quickly recovered, laughing heartily:

"Good! Brother Ding, your 'keen insight' is truly well applied—I'll drink too."

He drained his cup, then raised his chopsticks to invite Ding Huan to eat.

He soon noticed Ding Huan ate casually—only picking dishes directly in front of him, never the ones he had tasted first.

This made Lidi Ting wonder: if Ding Huan wasn't just incredibly lucky, then his strength must be terrifyingly immense.

Terrifying enough to not fear poison.

His lifelong experience forced Lidi Ting to believe Ding Huan wasn't relying on luck.

Luck might strike once, even twice—but never a third or fourth time.

Leaving aside where Ding Huan came from, the fact that he had arrived here and remained unharmed—Lidi Ting himself couldn't believe it was pure luck.

"Brother Ding, I like making friends.

From the moment I saw you, I found you far more pleasant than Jin. Watch out for that guy—he won't let this go."

After a few cups of wine, Lidi Ting began to open up.

"Thank you, Captain Lidi. I do nothing shameful, so I fear no ghost knocking at my door."

Ding Huan didn't know what Lidi Ting meant, so he answered vaguely.

Lidi Ting suddenly asked:

"Brother Ding, do you know why Jin isn't at Xiao Xingjiao Marketplace?"

Ding Huan said nothing—he knew Lidi Ting would continue.

Sure enough, Lidi Ting lowered his voice:

"You must know that all the surrounding star continents of the Four-Directional Star Continent are the lowest-level star continents there are."

Ding Huan nodded—he did know this.

"So everyone longs to leave this star continent and find a Dao-cultivation continent—or a civilized continent."

Ding Huan became interested:

"Big Brother Lidi, is that why Jin left Xiao Xingjiao Marketplace?"

Lidi Ting was pleased with Ding Huan's use of "Big Brother"—it showed emotional intelligence, not foolishness.

So his guess had been correct.

Lidi Ting chuckled:

"Brother Ding, I don't know if your goal is to leave this star continent, but if it is, you owe me a great debt."

Ding Huan stood up and bowed to Lidi Ting.

"Big Brother Lidi, that is indeed my intention.

But I know it's difficult—even Master Zhan Changjing of the Zhan Clan has no chance to leave this star continent. How can someone like me possibly achieve it?"

Lidi Ting laughed heartily:

"Brother Ding, that's where information matters. Master Zhan Changjing certainly has a chance to leave—just not the right timing."

"I beg your guidance," Ding Huan bowed again.

Lidi Ting said:

"Brother Ding, you probably don't know that every hundred years, high-civilization planets send warships to the Four-Directional Star Continent."

Ding Huan shook his head—he truly didn't know this. But even if he had, the information was useless to him.

So far, he hadn't fused the Longevity Gene Serum.

For Ding Huan, fusing the Longevity Gene Serum was always an option—he could do it anytime.

But Ding Huan believed that if he could extend his lifespan through cultivation, he should avoid fusing the Longevity Gene Serum.

Only if his cultivation ever plateaued and his lifespan ran short would he consider fusing it.

Lidi Ting didn't prolong the suspense:

"Although the universe containing the Four-Directional Star Continent has low civilization, and many life planets remain in barbaric states."

But this star continent has one great advantage: it produces all kinds of top-tier treasures.

Such as billion-year stalactite marrow, a single Chaos Lotus capable of purifying marrow and replacing veins, mother iron never before seen in the world…

Every time Lidi Ting mentioned one such item, Ding Huan's mind automatically conjured its preciousness.

It seemed these knowledge fragments existed in his memory, yet why would this universe, with the Four Directions Star Continent so barren, produce so many rare treasures?

"A hundred years ago, a ship from a high-level civilization passed through here and collected one piece of mother iron—this stuff is rumored to be material for magical artifacts."

"I've never heard what a magical artifact is, but I can guess these things are priceless."

After speaking, Lidi Ting sighed and drank a cup himself.

Clearly, it was because he would never again have the chance to reach a high-level civilization planet.

Or perhaps because he'd drunk too much, Lidi Ting's enthusiasm grew even stronger:

"When Senior Zhan Changjing emerged from his seclusion, the high-level civilization's ship had just departed. And his age had reached its limit—if he didn't ascend soon, he might be forever trapped in the Foundation Establishment realm."

So Senior Zhan Changjing could not wait a hundred years—he chose to prematurely break through the Foundation Establishment realm and created a new realm called Dan Yun Realm.

Now, Senior Zhan Changjing is arguably the strongest in this universe, which is also why the Four Directions Star Continent has remained peaceful all this time."

Yet Ding Huan's mind stirred with doubt—if Zhan Changjing had truly created a new realm, couldn't he simply have boarded the civilization ship and left?

Ding Huan did not ask this question; he was certain Lidi Ting did not know the reason.

"Brother Ting, when was the last time the high-level civilization's ship came to the Four Directions Star Continent?"

Ding Huan asked, with some anticipation.

Lidi Ting laughed heartily:

"Young brother, you've finally figured it out—in two years, the high-level civilization's ship will arrive at Four Directions City. That's one of the reasons I invited you here today."

"Thank you, Brother Ting, for this good news," Ding Huan sincerely expressed his gratitude.

For someone like him, at the bottom of the Four Directions Star Continent, such news would never reach him unless Lidi Ting deliberately told him.

Even if he learned later that the high-level civilization's ship was coming, he might fail to board it due to lack of preparation.

Lidi Ting nodded, accepting Ding Huan's thanks readily.

If Ding Huan had shown no gratitude for such an important piece of information, Lidi Ting would have thought he'd misjudged the man.

"This time, the high-level civilization's ship primarily comes to collect rare celestial treasures and artifacts; each time, they also take away several geniuses with extraordinary talent…"

Hearing Lidi Ting say they always took away several geniuses with extraordinary talent, Ding Huan's heart stirred—he didn't know his own talent, since it came from a fusion of spiritual root genes.

But Xin Yue's talent was unquestionably top-tier, among the very best.

Ding Huan asked, slightly puzzled:

"Then why doesn't anyone buy a spot with purple gold coins or crystal stones?"

Lidi Ting shook his head:

"Think about it—in the Four Directions Star Continent, the highest-grade currency is just Yuan Coins. Do you know where these Yuan Coins come from? They're brought by the high-level civilization."

Ding Huan suddenly understood—how could they care if you traded back what they themselves had brought?

"I know you, Young Brother Ding, are no ordinary man. If you want to leave here, you must hurry to settle in Four Directions City and cultivate good relations with the Four Great Families."

"When the alien civilization arrives, they primarily deal with the Four Great Families and the Three Sects, purchasing their treasures. Alas, pity your ship is broken—it could've counted as a treasure."

As Lidi Ting spoke, he seemed to recall something and lowered his voice again:

"Previously, because the Zuo Family and other clans and sects were negotiating arrangements for hosting the high-level civilization's ship, no one was sent to investigate Tou Jie's disappearance."

But the arrangements for receiving the high-level civilization's emissaries have now been finalized—they've likely already sent people here."

Ding Huan said nothing; he understood why Lidi Ting had invited him here.

Lidi Ting had long suspected him of killing Kan Ni and Tou Jie.

Because of his strength, Lidi Ting wanted to befriend him.

Even if Lidi Ting had guessed, Ding Huan would never admit it.

As if proving Ding Huan right, Lidi Ting added:

"Jin, the Lord here, struts around like a rooster—if he suddenly died one day, no one would spare him a glance."

Ding Huan raised his cup and toasted Lidi Ting again.

Lidi Ting hadn't spelled it out, but Ding Huan understood—he could kill Jin without fear of being hunted.

Though it carried the flavor of using another's blade to kill, Ding Huan didn't mind—he'd already planned to kill Jin.

The Zuo Family, however, was troublesome—they had Foundation Establishment experts, and not just one.

The drinking session ended in high spirits; as Lidi Ting rose to see Ding Huan off, he added:

"Tou Jie? She's nothing. If she hadn't brought the Zuo Family treasures every year, she'd have been killed long ago."

"But the people the Zuo Family sent to investigate Tou Jie's disappearance—they must not be harmed. If they are, the Zuo Family's experts will come."

"Thank you, Brother Ting, for your hospitality—I'll take my leave," Ding Huan laughed and took his leave.

Lidi Ting warned him: killing Tou Jie was fine as long as he didn't get caught, but he must not kill the Zuo Family's investigators.