Chapter 5: Reunion

Chen Zhao immediately circulated the Health Preservation Art, channeling the medicinal power into his limbs and bones.

The pores all over his body seemed to dilate, greedily drawing in Spirit Qi.

In the blink of an eye, another half month had passed.

Chen Zhao shuttled back and forth between Ling Tian and his Cave Abode, the spiritual power within his body growing ever more abundant.

With the aid of pills, one day of cultivation could match three days of bitter effort.

These days, he would begin work at dawn and finish by the Shen hour.

With Senior Sister's approval, he could also cultivate in Ling Tian for two more hours.

"I'm getting closer and closer to Qi Refining Third Layer."

Chen Zhao exhaled a breath of turbid air and slowly opened his eyes.

A series of footsteps rang out beyond the door.

"Brother Chen, have you seen Fellow Daoist Zheng?"

Liu Chen strode over quickly, followed by two men and one woman—Zhao Dehai was among them.

Chen Zhao gave them a cursory glance.

Good heavens.

Liu Chen's skin was still deathly pale, without the slightest trace of injury.

But why?

Zheng Daocai, a seasoned veteran, had been carried off by a mid First-grade Blazing Feather Sparrow.

Yet Liu Chen had returned unscathed?

Not simple at all.

"I haven't seen him. Wasn't he taken by a demon beast? Then how..."

Chen Zhao probed.

Liu Chen let out a long sigh and answered truthfully:

"This matter is partly our fault. When we found a predecessor's Cave Abode, we quarreled among ourselves, and were then attacked by demon beasts inside. To preserve our strength, we let his whereabouts become unknown."

"But someone said they saw him at Wan Bao Lou half a month ago. We feared he might hold a grudge, so that's why..."

Preserve their strength? Quarreled among themselves?

Wasn't that just tearing off all pretense, stabbing him twice, and tossing him to the demon beasts?

Chen Zhao sneered inwardly, roughly reconstructing what had happened:

While the group was hunting demon beasts, they discovered a predecessor's Cave Abode. The loot could not be divided fairly, so they quarreled among themselves, and Zheng Daocai was injured. At that moment the demon beasts attacked. Liu Chen and the others abandoned Zheng Daocai to save themselves. Later came Zhao Dehai's plea for medicine and all the present business.

He pretended to be blankly ignorant on his face and asked in confusion:

"But he's only at Qi Refining Third Layer, his cultivation on par with Brother Liu's. Are you all really afraid of his revenge?"

"Times have changed."

Liu Chen's face immediately fell,

"Before the hunt, he had already broken through to Qi Refining Fourth Layer, and he may even have a rare Spirit-Avoiding Pill—it hasn't been long since it was refined. Such a pill is absolutely not something a beginner Qi Refining cultivator could possess. I suspect he's on very good terms with some Alchemist."

So they're afraid "Zheng Daocai" and an Alchemist might join forces to take revenge.

And it has something to do with me, too.

Chen Zhao let out a dry laugh.

At the same moment, a pair of lotus-root arms reached out and squeezed Liu Chen's shoulder.

"Little Chengzi, don't boost the enemy's morale and dampen our own."

The speaker's alluring eyes were like silk; a pair of half-bared snowy mounds pressed flat against Liu Chen's back as she breathed out orchid-scented air:

"In the predecessor's Cave Abode, four died and three were wounded. Only you obtained the Talisman inheritance—your future achievements will be beyond what anyone else can compare to."

Chen Zhao suddenly understood.

No wonder Liu Chen, with the lowest cultivation, could get the old-timers to come with him to look for Zheng Daocai.

Apart from trump cards he didn't know about, it was the prospects of a Rune Master, and the bribery of Talismans.

"I can only draw First-grade Low-grade Talismans like Fireball Talismans and Water Bubble Talismans. Senior Sister Su Wanyao, please stop praising me to death."

Liu Chen still wore a bitter expression,

"It's true these Talismans can wound Qi Refining Fourth Layer, but they can't deal a serious blow. Since he was able to escape from a demon beast, he must have the foundation of Qi Refining Fifth Layer. Rather than relying on Talismans, it's better to rely on you."

"You joined midway, yet you obtained five bottles of Qi Gathering Powder. This year you'll surely enter the Outer Disciple ranks."

The two senior brothers cast envious glances.

They were past twenty, still unable to break through, and by next year they would likely fall to being Handymen.

Yet Su Wanyao was only nineteen, at Qi Refining Fifth Layer. If not for being held back by her Spirit Root, she would long ago have been promoted to Outer Disciple.

Not to mention, this person had reaped great rewards inside the Cave Abode—besides pills, there was also a late-stage Qi Refining cultivation method.

"Great, when the time comes I'll cover for you, and from then on you'll draw Talismans for me."

Su Wanyao covered her mouth and giggled lightly, her pair of jade legs trembling slightly,

"But first we have to find Zheng Daocai, to avoid trouble later."

"Our people saw him at the mountain gate. Returning to the sect is truly the safest option. Are you really certain, Junior Brother Chen, that you didn't see him in the Cave Abode?"

Suspecting I'm harboring him?

Chen Zhao shook his head.

Inwardly, however, he was quite surprised.

He hadn't gone to the mountain gate, so it seemed Zheng Daocai had some lucky encounter of his own and truly managed to escape with his life.

But even so.

He had no deep grudge against this person and had no desire to get involved in the manhunt.

Rather, Li Zhiwei's strength was unknown, and she was deeply suspicious of him—if there were many others, they might incidentally investigate him…

"Do you have influence within the sect, Senior Sister?"

Chen Zhao bowed and asked.

Seeing him probe so cautiously, Su Wanyao frowned slightly but still forced a smile:

"Our Su Family Registered Disciples band together for mutual support—we have ten cultivators above Qi Refining Fourth Layer, with me at the head, and Xiao Chenzi is among them."

He hadn't expected Liu Chen to be under Su Wanyao's command.

He probably survived only by this—otherwise, he'd long ago been stripped of his inheritance and plundered of his foundations; how could he still be alive today?

Chen Zhao listened and pondered.

Su Wanyao lowered her eyes and sized him up.

Talent is decent.

His appearance is also refined like jade—though his eyes are always half-lidded.

Had Liu Chen not been a Rune Master, she might have befriended Chen Zhao.

What a pity.

One Rune Master can match a dozen cultivators without special skills.

Combined with Liu Chen's sufficient strength, his chance to advance to Outer Disciple is considerable.

As for Chen Zhao.

Though he has Three Spirit Roots.

But he is eighteen, at Qi Refining Second Layer—his chance of advancement is slim.

In the future, he'll only end up as an immortal son-in-law, helping immortal clans produce heirs until he exhausts his primordial yang and dies.

Su Wanyao half-closed her eyes, scanning Chen Zhao, revealing a hint of admiration for talent:

"Younger Brother, would you consider joining us?"

"We can help you secure high-quality quests; if advancement proves impossible, you may still marry into the Su Family."

Forming factions means shared glory and shared ruin.

Chen Zhao did not wish to be tied to others.

As for this so-called marriage-in.

It was merely being a stud.

He shook his head and turned to leave.

Seeing this, Su Wanyao silently cursed him for being ungrateful.

After Chen Zhao departed, she turned to Liu Chen and smiled seductively:

"There's an auction tonight below the mountain, running until the hour of Chou tomorrow—I happen to be selling my Qi Refining Late-stage technique, the Ice Heart Scripture. Zheng Daocai has repeatedly requested this item; he'll surely attend."

"Before he ascends the mountain, we'll capture him and question him—if he has no Alchemist behind him, strike directly."

Liu Chen and the others nodded in response.

Cultivation is hard; if negotiation is possible, avoid a Dharma Battle.

But if the opponent shows even a hint of intent to harm us, they will guard fiercely—or kill outright.

"Also, I'll send someone to test this Chen Zhao."

Su Wanyao shifted her tone:

"This man is hiding something from us."

"His strength is weak, he refuses to marry in, and he doesn't want high-quality quests—he's highly suspicious. If we can't recruit him, we must increase vigilance—and if necessary, strike."

Night fell.

"The more they talk, the more dangerous their topics become—I feel if I listen any longer, I won't escape alive."

Chen Zhao's expression turned grim.

The cold light in their eyes was unmistakable.

Now, he must guard against Zheng Daocai lurking in the shadows, and against Liu Su and the other four in plain sight.

"With my strength, I stand no chance against these people."

Though he has a slight acquaintance with Li Zhiwei, she only placed him as a casual pawn—he cannot count on her to intervene.

Chen Zhao stroked his chin, his mind racing.

"At least these four are not a unified bloc."

"From their expressions, those two Senior Brothers are clearly not from the Su Family—especially Zhao Dehai."

He is loose-lipped and lacks firm loyalty.

Liu and Su are merely an alliance of interests.

Before a greater "benefit," these four will inevitably fracture.

And I have the Divination Tube—I can avoid misfortune, seek fortune, strengthen myself, and wait for the right opportunity.