Chapter 17

Chen Zhao crept quietly toward Liu Chen and asked in a low voice:

"Can you get in touch with Sister Wan Yao?"

Liu Chen, still in high spirits, froze at the question:

"I can, sure—what? Worried we can't beat them?"

Chen Zhao shook his head and said nothing.

With a mount Dharma Treasure, we'd only need half a day to get here—the response speed would just barely suffice.

Provided we stay alert.

He looked at the group.

Each one believed victory was assured; he couldn't help but frown.

Five days later.

The group searched the perimeter but found no trace of bandit cultivators grouping together.

With so many of us, the bandits wouldn't strike first, so we kept using Zheng Daocai as bait.

At first, a few isolated trio of them attacked—each slain by Liu Chen—but these past two days, not a single trace has appeared.

"Looks like they're scared to death."

Liu Chen speculated.

Bandit cultivators lack organization; when things turn bad, scattering and fleeing is normal.

The group nodded in agreement.

Chen Zhao, however, quietly cultivated in the corner, refusing to join their discussion.

For five days, all of them had wasted time climbing mountains with no chance to cultivate.

If we gain nothing more, this mission is nearly a waste of time.

"Then let's pair off—two per team—and split up to search, while gathering spirit medicine; if you spot enemy activity, immediately use a Communication Talisman."

Zhao Dehai mused.

Splitting up carries great risk.

But with the Token, no one dared object; the group began drawing lots.

Chen Zhao unfolded his slip of paper.

"Group Jia, east."

Moments later.

Chen Zhao and Zheng Daocai turned and walked toward the eastern dense forest.

Along the way,

Zheng Daocai harbored resentment toward Zhao Dehai.

"I don't know what's wrong with Su Wanyao—why pick Zhao Dehai as leader? All he does is give useless orders,"

Zheng Daocai, aligned with Su Muqing, took the chance to curse both Zhao Dehai and Su Wanyao:

"If he hadn't held back and let one escape to warn the others, this would've been over long ago—why are we still running around here?"

In his view,

a Qi Refining Fifth Layer crushing a Fourth Layer was like a cat catching a rat—impossible to let the target slip away.

Zhao Dehai was just a few days shy of twenty-one.

If he reached Qi Refining Sixth Layer during this mission, he could be promoted to Outer Disciple.

Precisely because of this, he deliberately dragged things out, making everyone help him gather spirit medicine.

Hearing this, Chen Zhao frowned.

So Zhao Dehai plans to prolong this.

Fortunately, he had the Vortex Guarding Origin Array Disk, which could raise nearby Spirit Qi concentration to thirty percent of a Ren Zi Dong Fu's level.

Barely sufficient.

But activating the Array requires Spirit Stones; with his current reserves, he could sustain it for at most fourteen days.

"Besides, that gang of bandits is led by 'Chao Tian Dao'—this man has attacked our Handyman and Registered Disciples multiple times, experienced and cunning,"

Zheng Daocai, unaware of Chen Zhao's calculations, kept complaining:

"We've scared them off—how long will it take to lure him out?"

"If he never shows up again for a hundred years, are we supposed to spend a hundred years chasing Zhao Dehai's whim?"

The two walked several miles.

No bandits. No spirit medicine.

They had no choice but to return to camp.

"Hurry, bring over all the Condensing Qi Grass, and move a sack of Spirit Rice too!"

In camp,

Zhao Dehai barked orders, treating everyone with casual disdain.

With the Token, his word was law.

And among the team, the remaining Qi Refining Fifth Layer was his ally—he could act without restraint.

Seeing Chen Zhao and Zheng Daocai return empty-handed, Zhao Dehai frowned slightly and mocked Zheng Daocai:

"Brother Zheng, I recall you've gathered spirit medicine before—how come you came back with nothing?"

Zheng Daocai's face turned ashen, teeth clenched.

The east was the direction they'd already searched—where was there any spirit medicine left?

Of course.

Zhao Dehai did not curse Chen Zhao not because he had no grievances, but because he had other uses for him right now.

"Brother Chen, wasting time here only delays our cultivation. Could you please brew some Qi Gathering Powder for us to boost our progress?"

Zhao Dehai rubbed his hands, speaking with considerable politeness.

At these words,

everyone's expressions turned subtly uneasy.

They naturally understood Zhao Dehai's deliberate delay and were deeply dissatisfied.

But if they could get the pills...

their cultivation speed would greatly increase—even surpassing normal sect training slightly.

Thus,

the others began urging Chen Zhao to accept and brew for them.

The tide turned instantly.

If Chen Zhao refused, the resentment once aimed at Zhao Dehai would shift to him.

"I'll brew the pills, but each bottle of Qi Gathering Powder must cost me two Low-grade Spirit Stones to replenish my spiritual energy."

Chen Zhao made his demand.

Even if brewing this pill required no Spirit Stones to restore his energy, he wouldn't endure this humiliation for free—he must extract some interest.

"Of course we won't let you work for nothing. From now on, you need not leave; focus solely on alchemy."

Seeing Chen Zhao agree,

Zhao Dehai beamed and called out from behind him:

"Zhou Buyu, for these days, I rely on you to guard Brother Chen."

"When this mission ends, I will speak well of both of you before the Discipline Hall senior brothers."

Chen Zhao looked closely.

This was the senior brother who had accompanied Liu, Su, and Zhao to his Cave Abode.

He had no will of his own, always low in presence, but obeyed Zhao Dehai without question.

The two chose an open patch of ground, far from the crowd.

Chen Zhao lit the furnace to brew pills; Zhou Buyu could only stand idle.

Perhaps bored from guarding duty, the two began chatting.

Zhou Buyu had no hope of advancement, yet agreed to Su Wanyao's terms: after losing his Registered Disciple status, he would become a son-in-law of the Su Family.

Thus, he knew the Su Family's situation fairly well.

According to him,

the Su family sisters' rivalry had grown fiercer.

This bandit-suppression mission was applied for by Su Wanyao at great cost, to expand her influence.

But she only slipped in Zhao Dehai.

Everyone else was assigned by Elder Fang of the Discipline Hall.

The purpose was to investigate anomalies at Fulong Mountain under the guise of bandit suppression.

Precisely because of this, the mission could not be refused, and granted the team leader considerable authority.

"Anomalies?"

Hearing this, Chen Zhao's heart tightened.

"Yes. Numerous low-grade Stage One beasts have died along the perimeter, alongside many Cultivator corpses—all without signs of Dharma Battle."

Zhou Buyu offered no secrets—he would say anything asked.

"If we uncover the truth, we'll earn great merit—perhaps even be promoted directly to Outer Disciple."

Hearing this, Chen Zhao tugged at his lips.

It was called an investigation.

In truth, they were merely expendable scouts: if they found something, they profited; if they died, no loss.

Chen Zhao summoned the Divination Tube and cast a fortune on Fulong Mountain's anomaly.

Ink and water shifted.

【Neutral】.

It had also been a "Neutral" when he divined the opportunity at Ling Tian.

Perhaps it was someone else's fortune?

Chen Zhao could not be certain of its meaning.

He could only continue brewing pills.

He pulled two Condensing Qi Grasses from his bamboo basket.

His expression turned slightly odd.

One of them, from an unknown group, was slightly yellowed, having sat in his Storage Bag for a long time—clearly purchased.

Its medicinal properties were gone; it could not be refined.

Indeed, Spirit Medicine was not something found everywhere.

But it was better this way.

He saved himself effort and conserved energy for cultivation.

Still...

One Condensing Qi Grass yielded two bottles of Qi Gathering Powder, to be shared among six men...

Over time, trouble was bound to arise.