Chapter 9: Being Targeted

Half a day's cultivation time passed quickly, and Lu Chen was reluctantly brought out of the Shaqi Hall by several disciples.

Just after stepping out of the Shaqi Hall, having taken only a few steps, he turned back to gaze at the massive building before him, lost in thought.

"No wonder it's the Shaqi Hall — in less than half a day, the Heart-Eroding Sword has already been cultivated to minor completion."

"It's a pity the sect's interior isn't suitable for testing; otherwise, I'd definitely want to verify its power."

Due to the lack of testing, Lu Chen doesn't clearly know what level his current abilities have reached.

Moreover, he urgently wants to verify how much the Supreme Dao Foundation has enhanced him.

"Looks like I'll need to find an opportunity to test it on a demon beast."

Thinking this, he shifted his focus to another important cultivation method, the Wan Sha Mo Dian.

"The technique given by the Female Yama King — with or without shaqi assistance, the cultivation speed difference is simply too great."

"Half a day's cultivation time has already been used up; next time I want to enter, I'll either have to wait until next week, or achieve a breakthrough first."

"Currently, relying solely on the Shaqi Hall isn't feasible; to get more shaqi, I'll need to think of other methods."

For him, aside from the Shaqi Hall, there are two other channels to obtain shaqi.

One is completing missions — after finishing a mission, the sect, besides various rewards, will fixedly award a certain amount of shaqi vials.

The other is to ask those senior sisters.

Including Mei Shijie, all sisters cultivating the dual cultivation technique are core disciples.

They each belong under different sect elders.

For example, Mei Shijie is a disciple of the Third Elder.

Besides Mei Qianxue, the Third Elder's disciples also include a pair of sisters, respectively named Gu Xiangxiang and Gu Xiaoxiao.

They both also cultivate the dual cultivation technique.

As core disciples, they can obtain large quantities of shaqi vials daily, and the quality of the shaqi is relatively higher.

"Go ask the senior sisters for some?" Upon saying this, Lu Chen felt like a lamb led to the slaughter.

Although he successfully broke through to the Foundation Establishment stage, facing these late-stage and perfected senior sisters, he's probably still not enough to match them.

"Forget it, I'll just go check the Mission Hall first. See if I can take a demon beast materials mission — and incidentally verify my recent progress."

The senior sisters' side offers great returns, but also great risks.

Compared to that, the Mission Hall's tasks are relatively safer.

Moreover, as an inner sect disciple, he himself needs to complete a mission each week; this week, being too busy, he hasn't had the chance to go yet.

According to sect regulations, if a mission isn't completed, once the deadline passes, he'll be taken to the Bone Burial Ground.

"Bone Burial Ground, Bone Burial Ground — why do I just can't get past you?"

Lu Chen had a strange premonition, feeling that one day, he really will be taken to the Bone Burial Ground.

He shook his head and let out a long sigh, no longer dwelling on these thoughts.

Subsequently, he strode forward toward the Mission Hall.

At the moment he left, the gatekeeper disciple at the Shaqi Hall's entrance brought someone familiar to him.

"Senior Brother Wang, he just left the Shaqi Hall."

"Hmph, I didn't expect he could still break through to the Foundation Establishment stage — looks like I must find a way to deal with him."

The person who came was none other than Wang Qun.

Behind him followed two inner sect disciples.

"Senior Brother Wang, that's the person the senior sister specifically pointed out — you'd better not act rashly."

Upon hearing Wang Qun's words, the person behind him immediately advised.

"Yes, Senior Brother Wang, previously Senior Brother Wang Lan said your temper is too explosive — you need to calm down and cultivate, not go around causing trouble, right?"

At this moment, another person also echoed.

The Wang Lan they spoke of, and Wang Qun, are biological brothers.

The former is a disciple of the Second Elder; as a core disciple, his cultivation had already broken through to the Yun Dan realm a few months ago.

Precisely because of this connection, Wang Qun, a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator, can maneuver smoothly within the inner sect, even becoming a influential figure among a group of disciples.

"With so many disciples in the sect, why must the senior sister insist on him? Worst case, I'll just go find her a Yang Linggen instead!"

Wang Qun spoke, his tone tinged with some jealousy.

"Moreover..."

As he spoke, his voice abruptly cut off.

The real reason he's been targeting Lu Chen, aside from Mei Shijie's influence, is actually also due to his elder brother Wang Lan's indication.

The sect's grand competition is imminent; every five years, two Holy Sons or Holy Daughters are elected, who will receive the vast majority of the sect's resources, and also gain eligibility to go to the Tianmo Sect.

There are only two Holy Son/Daughter slots; to seize them, besides improving oneself, one can also find ways to hinder opponents.

For Wang Lan, aside from the disciple of the Grand Elder, the greatest threat is those three disciples of the Third Elder.

At this critical juncture, Wang Lan initially had Wang Qun pester Mei Qianxue — on one hand, to slow down her cultivation pace so she wouldn't smoothly break through to the Yun Dan realm before the grand competition.

On the other hand, it's also because Wang Qun genuinely likes her.

But later, after that noon when he bumped into Lu Chen and Mei Qianxue practicing dual cultivation, Wang Lan had him shift his focus to Lu Chen.

He still remembers his elder brother's original words at the time:

"Among the Third Elder's disciples, Mei Qianxue and you are the closest."

"I've observed — her cultivation has reached a bottleneck; in the short term, breaking through likely depends entirely on a furnace cauldron, that is, Lu Chen."

"So, find a way to deal with him."

"Rest assured to act — once I become Holy Son, I will definitely speak to the Third Elder on your behalf about marriage."

With these reasons, Wang Qun's appearance at the Shaqi Hall made him seem fearlessly arrogant.

Although he himself had no particular background, his older brother was a core disciple, and moreover a direct disciple of the Second Elder.

In contrast, Lu Chen had no background to speak of, and no strength either.

Dealing with the other party was easier than crushing an ant.

"Once my elder brother becomes the Holy Son, I will be able to marry Mei Shijie."

"I heard that Shijie is proficient in all kinds of martial arts; once we become dao companions..."

"Hehehe."

Wang Qun fantasized about the scene of flying side by side with Mei Shijie, and for a moment seemed to forget where he was.

Only when several junior disciples patted him did he regain his attention to reality.

"Wang Shixiong, are you alright?"

"I'm fine."

Wang Qun gave no further reply, shifted his tone, and picked up the previous topic again.

"Furthermore, if Lu Chen encounters an accident during a mission, Mei Shijie would surely not blame others."

Saying this, he gestured for the person behind him to step forward: "You go follow him now, see where he goes—if he goes to the Mission Hall or to Mei Shijie's residence, tell me immediately."

"Yes, Shixiong."

After leaving the Hall of Killing Qi, Lu Chen walked on the road toward the Mission Hall.

As he walked, a sudden fragrant breeze came upon him.

Immediately after, a beautiful figure appeared before his eyes.

Smelling the fragrant breeze, Lu Chen instantly recognized who had come.

"Gu Shijie, how did you come here?"