Chapter 1586

You might not even know who you've offended.

That kind of struggle starts entirely from self-interest, ignores morality, even ignores reason, and the logic behind it is something you can't fathom.

But it happens.

As long as the other side feels you're a threat, feels you're in their way, you're dead.

They won't even let you have the chance to sprout.

Relatively speaking, Shangguan Ting's open conflict with you is simply childishly cute.

Utterly naive.

A woman can be naive.

A man cannot.

At least in this world, a man cannot be naive.

Zhao Chi knew he was no match for others in this regard, so he kept a low profile.

Bury himself in the earth, let the others fight for the sunlight.

Rooting downward — the process is certainly very difficult.

What he faces is not warm sunlight, not verdant grass, nor pleasant floral fragrance.

But hard gravel, foul-smelling dirt, even disgusting maggots.

But there's no choice.

Others truly have no way out, while Zhao Chi still has a chance.

Because he has a drilling machine.

Not just a drilling machine — he has a tunnel boring machine.

The kind that can dig underground railways.

What he needs to do now is dig deep enough underground, let the root system grow vast enough to spread across the entire subterranean space.

When he emerges at that time—

He will leap straight from grass to a towering tree.

Ordinary ants won't be able to shake it at all.

When that time comes, no one will be able to match him.

But that's then.

Not now.

Zhao Chi can only think of excuses right now.

Think about how he actually defeated those two werewolves.

Zhao Chi doesn't value his external honors; what he wants more is an undisturbed environment.

Half a year would be enough.

If not half a year, three months would also work.

He's decided — he'll say in a bit that those two werewolves had an internal conflict and he got lucky.

Although it's a stretch, isn't it still more believable than saying he actually beat them?

Keep a low profile whenever possible.

But Gu Zhan clearly didn't think so.

He smiled as he watched the heated discussion below the stage, then said:

"Alright, seeing everyone discussing so intensely, I won't keep you in suspense.

"Please welcome the winner of this session's 'Best Performance Award.'

"Green Bamboo Group, Zhao Chi!"

The venue that had just quieted down exploded again.

Half the people were trying to recall who Zhao Chi was.

But the other half had already remembered.

"Zhao Chi? Why haven't I heard of him?"

"I do have some impression of that name, but I can't recall it."

"He's last month's Best Newcomer, have you all forgotten? It's only been a month."

"Best Newcomer?"

"Oh right, right, right, I remember now — it was that same bastard last time too."

"Who's the bastard? Watch out, he'll come punch you if he hears that."

"No, are you fucking stupid? He's from Green Bamboo Group, which is Jade Squadron, and we're Phantom Squadron — whose side are you on?"

"... Damn, you're right, he is a bastard."

"Holy shit, I was saying it couldn't be possible, but if it's last month's Best Newcomer, maybe it's actually possible."

"Possible how? You can defeat an enemy fifteen times stronger than yourself?"

"Of course I can't, but he can."

"I also think he can."

"I think it's bullshit!"

Not just him — many people who knew Zhao Chi also thought it was bullshit.

Cao Feng was the first to react.

The moment Gu Zhan said it, Cao Feng, who had been pretending to be deep in thought, sprayed directly.

"Holy shit, Zhao Chi?"

Lu Yi was already speechless, simply staring at Zhao Chi's back in utter astonishment.

Yang Xiong and Geng Zhan's roars rang out at the same time, identical to what Cao Feng had said.

"Holy shit, Zhao Chi!?!"

The usually calm Fu Yi lost his composure; he bent over sharply to look at Zhao Chi and banged his forehead into the back of the head of the person in front of him.

Xiang Yuan watched Su Qin fixing Zhao Chi's hair, her two eyes bulging like grapes.

The dozens of lords over at the Zhao family all turned their heads at once.

Not just the Zhao family — practically every lord in Creek Village turned to look.

Zhao Jing sat in his seat; though shocked inside, Zhao Chi had once saved his life, so he had some idea of his strength.

Zhao Cang was the same — Zhao Chi already had sold over 6,000 tons of grain, and Su Qin had contacted him again today for another 3,000 tons, so he could actually vaguely guess at something.

After all, there had been the Experience Fruit before, and that ultra-bright fire oil.

But even though Zhao Cang had his guesses, he said nothing.

Zhao Qizong, Zhao Qizu, and Zhao Qiye — the three Zhao family elders — exchanged a glance, all reading the same disbelief in each other's eyes.

They had watched Zhao Chi grow up.

As a child he had shown no talent whatsoever — how had he become so strong now?

Zhao Shizhang sat in the first row, gazing contentedly at the ceiling.

His thoughts drifted to his youngest son, Zhao Qicheng.

Li Ruanyu had already stood up, applauding in Zhao Chi's direction.

She was Zhao Chi's direct superior, and of course she had known about his results this time beforehand, which was why she had given him an unregistered World Stone yesterday.

For a genius like this, many people were willing to offer support.

Not to mention that Li Ruanyu's relationship with Zhao Chi was far more complicated.

Li Ruanyu standing up was only natural.

But Shangguan Ting also stood up.

She herself didn't know why she had stood up.

Hearing Zhao Chi's name, she instinctively stood and turned to look.

The result was that she saw the astonished looks of the lords behind her.

Only then did she realize that Zhao Chi had nothing to do with her.

And Zhao Chi was still Li Ruanyu's subordinate — her standing up was extremely odd.

Thinking of this, Shangguan Ting hurriedly sat back down.

But her seat was in the first row.

A position under everyone's watchful eyes, so to speak.