Chapter 6: Framing and Slandering

Midnight.

Only Chen Zhao remained inside the Cave Abode.

He closed his eyes to cultivate, waiting for the Divination to refresh.

【Divination has refreshed】

【Today's Divination·Bad】: Avoid bold confrontation; to resolve the omen, one Low-grade Spirit Stone is required.

Chen Zhao had anticipated this.

Earlier that day, seeing Liu Su and the other three with such hostile intent, he knew it boded no good.

He pulled out a Spirit Stone and silently recited the resolution.

Ink and water shifted:

【Today's Divination·Bad】: At Yin hour, two Registered Disciples of the Su Family arrive to test you, their cultivation level matching yours. You believe you can fight them, but end up severely injured by their combined assault, your cultivation blocked, and you draw Su Wanyao's attention.

"So they're truly going to strike me!"

Chen Zhao's gaze turned icy.

The Tiankui Sect strictly forbids private Dharma Battles, but as long as no major incident occurs, the Discipline Hall usually turns a blind eye.

"Direct confrontation won't work, but not fighting isn't an option either—if they haven't achieved their goal, they'll strike again."

Chen Zhao stroked his chin, his expression troubled.

He had to appear weak, fading from their sight.

He could only feign a couple of weak strikes, letting them get the result they wanted, then flee.

He sighed helplessly.

"It's my fault—my cultivation and combat power can't withstand even a test."

His only offensive technique was Spirit Driving Technique, meant only for driving away insects—its power was negligible; even a mutual stalemate would be a miracle.

"I should learn another technique for self-defense."

Chen Zhao pondered for a moment.

He donned a black robe, limped to the Wan Bao Lou, and spent seven Low-grade Spirit Stones to buy a Jade Slip of Fireball Technique.

With time still early, he returned to his Cave Abode to cultivate.

Two hours later.

Chen Zhao breathed in and out, restoring his Qi.

"Having Three Spirit Roots does make learning techniques faster—I've already grasped Fireball Technique."

This was a Yellow-grade Intermediate Technique, a full rank above Spirit Driving Technique and Spirit Rain Technique, its power surpassing them by many times.

He blew out the candle.

He hid beside the cave entrance, waiting for the two to arrive.

Tap-tap-tap.

Two masked black-robed disciples, one fat and one thin, arrived as scheduled.

They headed straight for Chen Zhao's bed—but suddenly, magical energy surged behind them.

Spirit Driving Technique!

Two golden needles shot out, aimed straight at their necks!

The thin one writhed in pain on the ground, while the fat one cried out, turned, formed a hand seal, and launched a Wind Blade.

It was a Yellow-grade Intermediate Technique!

Chen Zhao "couldn't dodge in time," so he activated his cultivation method, summoning a protective barrier to clumsily fend off the attack.

"Who are you? Don't you fear punishment from the Discipline Hall?"

He shouted loudly, feigning anger but sounding hollow.

Upon hearing this, the thin one quickly fired several ice needles.

Cracks appeared on the protective barrier!

These two feared he'd report them, so they went all out, forcing him to focus entirely on defense.

"I've done nothing to provoke you—why force me so relentlessly?"

Chen Zhao struggled to hold on, his mind racing.

Their Qi was chaotic, their cultivation shallow, but they outnumbered him and were fully committed—he truly couldn't win with Spirit Driving Technique alone.

But Fireball Technique's power was too great—they couldn't possibly withstand it.

What should he do?

Chen Zhao's gaze sharpened, he changed his hand seal, suddenly dropped his barrier, and unleashed Spirit Driving Technique directly at the thin one's Dantian, feigning a desperate last stand.

The thin one resisted with all his strength, his barrier nearly shattered, while Chen Zhao took a direct hit from the Wind Blade.

Both men flew backward.

Chen Zhao spat blood, his aura dimmed, and the thin one collapsed unconscious right before him.

He coughed uncontrollably, watching helplessly as the fat one approached.

He looked utterly spent, unable to fight on.

"Brother, you're just unlucky—my partner and I are short on Spirit Stones, yet you attacked first. Tsk tsk."

The fat one blocked the cave entrance, standing three zhang away, and sneered:

"Be sensible—hand over your Spirit Stones willingly, and you'll avoid further pain."

If they were willing to settle with money, it meant they'd gotten the result they wanted.

Chen Zhao breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

This one was cautious indeed.

Not only to prevent his ambush, but also to pretend he was merely a burglar, unrelated to the Su Family.

As long as the Su Family isn't mentioned, both sides still have room to maneuver.

"Fine, I'll hand it over."

Chen Zhao's face twisted in pain as he prepared to pull out Spirit Stones.

Suddenly.

He formed a hand seal, and the golden needle flew from his hand; taking advantage of the Fatty's momentary distraction in defense, he bolted for the door.

The Fatty stared at the drastically weakened Spirit Driving Technique.

He smiled faintly, and did not pursue.

Several hundred meters away.

Beside an open patch of ground, within a small grove.

Chen Zhao cultivated to heal his wounds.

As a Three Spirit Roots cultivator, his spiritual power purity and spell potency far surpassed his opponent's.

Yet even so, taking a direct hit from a Wind Blade Technique left him barely able to endure.

"No choice—if I hadn't traded injury for injury, he'd never have believed I'd exhausted myself."

Blood seeped through his gray robe; Chen Zhao winced in pain.

To not repay this grudge is not the way of a gentleman!

He was a villain—this grudge must be repaid, and with interest!

Hearing footsteps drawing nearer, Chen Zhao summoned the Divination Tube in his mind and murmured:

"Has Zheng Daocai been controlled by Liu and Su?"

That's right—he planned to use Zheng Daocai's hand to deliver a crushing blow to the Fat and Thin pair!

Ink wash appeared.

It was a single character: "fierce."

Zheng Daocai had not been captured!

Chen Zhao's heart leapt with joy; he immediately changed into black clothing.

He opened his pouch and swallowed a Spirit-Avoiding Pill.

With this pill, his spiritual power fluctuations would go undetected, and even his appearance could not be recognized—perfectly secure.

At this moment, the Fatty carried the Thin one, and the two had just walked into view, laughing and chatting.

"This Chen Zhao has a bit of cunning, but his foundation is too shallow—he's no threat."

"You'd better enjoy it—he matches the intel exactly. We struck with full force, two against one. If he still had tricks up his sleeve, you wouldn't just be unconscious for half an hour."

Chen Zhao listened and sneered.

Enjoy it?

I've come to collect!

His eyes turned icy; he formed a hand seal.

Instantly, a massive fireball roared past, striking the empty ground directly before the two.

Boom!

The two had just expended all their strength in combat; now, in their moment of relaxation, they could only react hastily.

But their protective barrier shattered on contact; both were flung backward, unable to move.

Chen Zhao limped forward, crouched before them, and grinned:

"Wherever you go, why come to my den? Bad luck for you two—I'll gladly take your belongings."

He needed an excuse for the attack.

Otherwise, these two had just attacked him, then suffered retaliation from "Zheng Daocai"—it would be impossible not to link the two events.

He pulled off their masks and sneered:

"Sneaking around—definitely the Su Family's dogs."

Then he delivered two punches.

Powerful and heavy.

The two "fell into a deep sleep."

"No wonder they're from a noble family—their wealth is truly substantial."

Chen Zhao rummaged through every pocket on their bodies.

One Primary Storage Bag, containing five Low-grade Spirit Stones, and two Yellow-grade Intermediate Techniques: Wind Blade Technique and Ice Needle Technique.

"And two First-grade Low-grade Talismans."

Chen Zhao raised an eyebrow.

Two Lightness Talismans—enhance a cultivator's movement speed.

Good stuff!

He had offensive techniques, but his defense and escape capabilities were weak.

Talismans can only be used once—he couldn't ambush people every day.

Chen Zhao sighed, then limped away.

On the ground, the two struggled for a moment, then rose, clutching their heads.

The Fatty pulled a Communication Talisman from his folds and wailed:

"Second Miss, Young Master Liu—come back quickly! Zheng Daocai isn't below the mountain! The Storage Bag you gave me is gone!"

"I couldn't read his cultivation level or appearance, but that limp—there's no mistake!"