Chapter 43: Shift from Defense to Offense

Chen Zhao was still inside the realm and did not know that Liang Chengfeng had been possessed.

Fortunately.

After searching the cave for an hour, he finally found the Nine Orifices Bright Jade nestled between a crack in the wall.

Meanwhile, Su Muqing was absorbing the Consolidating Core chapter, and had already stopped crying and was smiling.

As for an Alchemist's fortune, such an arcane alchemical technique was even more precious than the Nine Orifices Bright Jade.

And the Gu Insect would make her slowly forget she had been infested.

She had a slight quirk to begin with, and now she was being rewarded for it.

Her inner resistance immediately lessened.

Moreover, Chen Zhao had promised that if she behaved well in the future, he would teach her the other three chapters.

And if she so much as entertained the thought of betraying him, the pup would immediately devour her soul, turning her into a fool.

Of course, Chen Zhao had withheld something—until this technique became completely ineffective against him.

Not long after.

Su Muqing handed him a lamb-fat Spirit Jade vial, placed the Nine Orifices Bright Jade inside, and presented it with both hands.

Chen Zhao nodded slightly, formed a hand seal, and pointed.

Her face suddenly flushed, and a wave of happiness surged through her mind.

The matter here was settled.

After helping her alter her appearance, Chen Zhao led her out of the realm.

The mist remained, but the whispering breaths were gone, and the strange shadows had vanished without a trace.

The two went to the place where Duan Bo had been, and found several lines of writing on the ground.

Written in cipher:

Miasma in the southwest—I've found Zhang Sifan.

Chen Zhao immediately sent Su Muqing ahead to meet at Juxian Pavilion.

He himself flew his sword toward the southwest.

An hour later.

The view gradually opened up; below the mountain, a camp glowed faintly.

"Did you find anything in the realm?"

Duan Bo came forward, followed by Zhang Sifan and the Daoist Boy.

The corpses of his two trusted subordinates were also in the camp—not from old age, but suicide.

"I got a few mid-grade Spirit Stones; the bulk was taken by the Evil Cultivators and Su Muqing."

Chen Zhao feigned regret, glanced at the corpses, then ignored them.

Inside the Storage Bag lay a Muyu Pill and a Golden Talisman Chanting Scripture.

Both were taken from Su Muqing; besides these, he could still claim her share from the Su Family.

It was a mineral called Rainbow Crystal Ore, usable for forging Dharma Treasures or exchanging for resources.

When activated with Qi, this stone induces faint illusions—the reason Su Muqing's natural charm was so potent.

"I once boasted loudly, yet now I must rely on my younger brother's rescue—I'm truly ashamed."

Zhang Sifan bowed with a smile, his demeanor melancholy yet carefree:

"This is a juvenile Shadow-Treading Cat, faintly bearing top-grade bloodline—I acquired it upon my arrival, as the fortune I promised you."

The white kitten dangled by the nape of its neck, its front paws flailing uselessly, tail tucked tightly, looking both cowardly and fierce.

Chen Zhao picked up the kitten and placed it into the Beast-Taming Bag Zhang Sifan had given him, examining it closely.

The kitten's head poked out of the bag—its appearance resembled the one Yang Xiao held, except its color wasn't black.

According to Zhang Sifan's explanation:

Spirit Beast bloodlines, from low to high, are classified as: Mixed, Low-grade, Mid-grade, Top-grade, Earth-grade, Heaven-grade, and True Spirit.

This Shadow-Treading Cat was originally Mid-grade, but Xiao Bai was a variant, more ferocious and harder to tame.

Much younger than Yang Xiao's, yet equally powerful.

Recalling its Shadow-Dashing ability, Chen Zhao nodded slightly and bowed in thanks.

"Yet a man of wealth does not sit beneath a perilous eave—why did you take such a risk, Brother Zhang?"

Chen Zhao stroked the kitten's head, puzzled.

Zhang Sifan chuckled awkwardly:

"Even as Foundation Establishment cultivators, we live no more than two hundred years, yet the world is vast—merely locking ourselves away in quiet meditation is merely wasting Heaven's bounty."

"Pity this place is too strange—my father's backup plan failed. Fortunately, I had some fortune, and your Nourishing Body Pills allowed me to retain my mind. But my two brothers' fine bodies are lost."

Chen Zhao sensed he was hiding something, but their status disparity made inquiry inappropriate.

If Zhang the Elder had sent him to seek treasure, this object must be extraordinary—perhaps even the Nine Orifices Bright Jade.

This item was too rare; its medicinal effect rivaled that of a third-grade Spirit Medicine, but nothing else was known.

Chen Zhao mused inwardly.

If, after refining the Nine Orifices Solid-Source Pill, any material remained, perhaps he could use it himself.

Half a day later.

Inside Juxian Pavilion.

Chen Zhao dismissed Duan Bo and summoned Xin Tong and the others to his room.

"Su Muqing has signed a Contract Jade Slip with me—I will have her attempt to break off her engagement with Fang Zijing and hand the Su Family over to your branch."

After explaining the full context, everyone exchanged glances.

If it can truly be done this way, the matter is finally over.

But.

"I have sworn the Great Vow of the Heart Demon: to aid him in his endeavors, and I will never dissolve the betrothal,"

"Besides, he has undisclosed tricks up his sleeve—he will never abandon the Su Family."

Su Muqing shook her head, and due to the Gu Insect's influence, she laid out the truth in full:

"The Rainbow Crystal Rich Vein is far too precious—it can sustain a small sect; had there been any Golden Core experts nearby, it would have been seized long ago."

"Moreover, beneath the mine lies a sect ruin, sealed by forbidden arrays—only my father knows of this; even the Su Ancestor and the Fang Clan are kept in the dark. Should anything..."

Chen Zhao silently thought it treacherous.

It seems the Fang Clan initiated the marriage alliance—the Su father and daughter harbor sinister ambitions.

Merely on this level, the sect would never execute an Elder.

Yet, Chen Zhao could use Su Muqing to set a trap, uniting the Su Ancestor to ambush and kill her.

After a moment of deliberation, he decided to play along, using Su Muqing to sow discord between her father and the Fang Clan.

Without exposing his unusual bond with Su Muqing, while leaving the Fang Clan isolated and unsupported within the sect.

And he, through Zhang Xuefang, would wait until the moment was ripe to guide the Zhang and Su factions into surrounding and even killing her.

Should this succeed, he could reap the resources the two Sus bring him—and gain an additional Foundation Establishment ally.

It's worth a try.

Right now, he can leverage his connections in Dan Tang and Discipline Hall.

More than enough to protect himself—and even turn defense into offense.

"Fang Zijing has made no overt moves—perhaps he is hiding something from me."

It was purely an alliance of interests; Su Muqing felt no deep emotion toward him.

After a brief report, she followed Chen Zhao's instructions and took her leave.

"Wait!"

Su Wanyao drew her sword and blocked her throat, turning instead to Chen Zhao:

"I have a score to settle with her, younger brother—could you lend her to me for a few days?"

Saying this, she pulled a disciplinary ruler from her Storage Bag, its surface densely carved with family rules.

Chen Zhao sighed lightly and gave a slight nod, saying, "For the greater good."

He knew this woman valued her family above all—she would even use her beauty to win over disciples; upon learning her cousin had betrayed the clan for the Dao, she would be furiously enraged.

Xin Tong tugged at his sleeve, signaling him to her room; Liu Chen, seeing this, wisely took his leave under the pretense of finding someone to help Chen Zhao tame beasts.

The door opened.

Sandalwood incense flooded the air, mingling with the scent of autumn leaves falling.

"Are you burning incense?"

Chen Zhao stared at the ashes on the floor, surprised.

Not Spirit-Steadying Incense—just plain mundane wooden incense sticks.

"I'm practicing Alchemy—I can't keep troubling you every time. But I keep failing..."

Xin Tong's eyes darted away, her voice barely a whisper:

"It's all your fault—if you disappeared, who would make pills for me?"

She secretly slipped the idol into her Storage Bag, her face flushed crimson.

This journey is perilous—no one understands that better than Xin Tong.

She knew Chen Zhao was cautious, yet he still volunteered to seek herbs for her—she was deeply moved.

Alas, her unique constitution prevents her from traveling with Chen Zhao.

"Let me check if you're injured..."

Before Chen Zhao could react, Xin Tong flung herself upon him, burying her face against his gray robe and sobbing softly.

As long as he is by her side, it is the best omen.