Chapter 44: Who Is Hu Chen

“Father, I have something to say, but I’m not sure if I should speak it.”

Xiao Yu spent only ten minutes with Danzi before parting again.

Back at the Guan Family Herbal Shop, all her emotions toward Danzi were immediately suppressed.

She had to deal with her own crisis.

Yes, Hu Chen’s life-or-death crisis was her crisis of losing her cultivation method and resources.

“Xiao Yu, if you have something to say, just say it.”

Hu Chen didn’t really want to chat with her right now.

He was currently “darkened Yin Tang, near death!”

“Father, you should give up the Ninefold Bone Transformation Pill,” Xiao Yu said solemnly.

Hu Chen nearly jumped up.

But just as his expression changed drastically, about to speak, Xiao Yu immediately added: “No divine pill or treasure medicine matters more than your safety.

Whatever the Qingsong Patriarch says, you should listen—heeding him is always better than opposing him.

Perhaps if you agree to trade the divine pill for the Sheling Talisman, he’ll be pleased and point you toward a path to cross the Tribulation!”

Hu Chen smiled warmly: “Xiao Yu, you don’t understand. For that Ninefold Bone Transformation Pill, our Guan family paid a cost too great to bear a second time—we absolutely cannot abandon it.”

Xiao Yu said firmly: “I truly don’t understand the value of the Ninefold Bone Transformation Pill, but I am certain that not even ten thousand of them compare to your safety.

I’m not claiming to be particularly powerful, but you’ve already prepared the Shadow God Map.

If I’m lucky enough to enter Xianyang Palace, I’ll gather every kind of divine pill crafted by the Great Qin’s imperial alchemists for you.

Even if my appearance is crude and unworthy of the Emperor’s notice, I still have sword bones—I can at least blend into the martial world, climb mountains and dive seas, gathering all kinds of spirit herbs to brew several batches of Ninefold Bone Transformation Pills for you.

If losing one Ninefold Bone Transformation Pill causes you harm, then my chance to enter Xianyang is utterly ruined.

Without your planning, even if I were Lady Li reborn, it would mean nothing.”

Hu Chen’s expression grew even gentler, and a rare feeling of emotion stirred within him.

Guan Zhong beside him was also moved, thinking deeply: Though Miss Xiao Yu came from the Sand Barbarians, she carried not a trace of barbarian spirit. Her filial piety toward the Master, her profound wisdom and insight, radiated an elegance befitting the Central Kingdom.

“Xiao Yu, don’t worry about entering Xianyang—whether I’m here or not, the Guan family will spare no effort to push forward the ‘Little Lady Li Plan,’” Hu Chen said, his gaze firm and voice certain.

Xiao Yu shook her head vigorously, her voice clear and bright: “I dare say something disrespectful—if you truly meet with misfortune, even if I enter Xianyang and gain great wealth and honor in the future,

that wealth and honor will belong to others, bringing you no benefit whatsoever.

I recognize only you, Father—I wish only to share fortune with you.

For you personally, it’s also a terrible loss.

Giving up one Ninefold Bone Transformation Pill might lead to countless better divine medicines in the future.

To die for one Ninefold Bone Transformation Pill means the pill you died to protect will still end up in someone else’s hands—even if it’s a Guan uncle or cousin, it’s not as good as you taking it yourself.

And your future greatness will be forever out of reach.

How to choose? I think it’s simple: just be a little selfish, and think more of yourself.”

—Heavens, Miss Xiao Yu speaks so well, is so sensible, so pure and filial!

Guan Zhong was so moved his lips trembled; he nearly shouted out his praise.

Hu Chen was somewhat swayed, a look of hesitation and thought appearing on his face, though it vanished quickly.

“Xiao Yu, you speak well—but you’ve oversimplified things. Qingsong is trading the Sheling Talisman for the Ninefold Bone Transformation Pill. What is the Sheling Talisman?

It’s a divine edict from the spirits!

It’s meant for the dead.

To prove the Zhengyang Palace’s primordial numerology is flawless and to show he isn’t seizing it by force, Qingsong will surely guarantee that I am ‘darkened Yin Tang, near death’—and thus truly need the Sheling Talisman, not the Ninefold Bone Transformation Pill.

Xiao Yu paused, stunned—she hadn’t considered this angle.

It wasn’t that she wasn’t cunning, nor that she thought Qingsong the Daoist boy wasn’t cunning.

She simply thought Hu Chen had overcomplicated a simple sudden event.

Qingsong merely saw his darkened Yin Tang and impulsively offered “something better” to the one more suited.

The Ninefold Bone Transformation Pill may be precious, but what kind of person is Qingsong?

He’s a “Patriarch” of cultivation, lived for centuries, holds the Emperor’s Mandate, governs the lives and deaths of hundreds of millions of commoners and nobles in the West—does he really lack a single Bone Transformation Pill?

She felt Hu Chen had fallen into the mindset of a beggar fearing the Emperor will steal his cold steamed bun.

“What is the Ninefold Bone Transformation Pill? What divine effects does it have?” Xiao Yu asked curiously.

If she was wrong, its value must far exceed imagination.

Even a figure as formidable as Qingsong couldn’t resist betraying his conscience and dignity to seize it.

Hu Chen said: “You’ve taken the Divine Awakening Pill today—the Divine Awakening Pill only awakens spiritual abilities.

Many people have innate talent, yet their bloodline sleeps, and their abilities never manifest in their lifetime.

In the countryside, legends often speak of strongmen who can lift a thousand jin.

Some of these heroes truly are innate spiritual beings.

Their bloodline remains dormant; even in their prime, they possess only a thousand jin of strength.

Without cultivating martial or immortal arts, a thousand jin is their peak.

As they age, their bloodline dries up, and their strength fades further.

Now look at the child in the Prefect’s mansion—he’s only three, yet can shatter stone with one punch, possessing several thousand jin of strength.

The gap between awakened and dormant spiritual abilities is already immense.

The Ninefold Bone Transformation Pill triggers an even greater transformation, its value hundreds or thousands of times greater than the Divine Awakening Pill.

Take me as an example: right now, my Thousand-Li Eyes can only see a thousand li.

After taking the Bone Transformation Pill, my spiritual ability’s power will increase at least tenfold—I’ll see ten thousand li away...”

“Even see the splendor of Nanzhan China from my own home—how wonderful, how blissful! At that point, ‘Eyes of the Immortal’ will truly live up to their name!”

Hu Chen clenched his fists, his expression feverish, his voice booming like a shout.

—If I take the Bone Transformation Pill, how much will my Purple Palace improve?

Hmm—that was Xiao Yu’s first thought after hearing it.

She didn’t ponder the blissful transformation of her father’s Thousand-Li Eyes, nor how to use the enhanced vision to survive the “darkened Yin Tang” death calamity—she imagined herself taking the Ninefold Bone Transformation Pill...

She truly was a filial daughter!

“If the Qingsong Patriarch’s divine calculations are flawless, and your great calamity is truly imminent, what then?”

Hu Chen frowned, thinking for a moment, then turned his gaze to Guan Zhong.

He had planned to return to the Guan herbal shop, dismiss Xiao Yu, then lock himself with Guan Zhong to discuss this matter.

Guan Zhong had already confirmed from their earlier conversation that Miss Xiao Yu was a pure, trustworthy, filial soul.

Now he didn’t pretend ignorance—he stepped directly into the role of “strategist,” saying gravely: “I have some guesses regarding the calamity that may befall the Master.”

Hu Chen perked up immediately: “Where is the calamity? Who is behind it?”

Guan Zhong countered: “Among the current Western Shu Kingdom, who has both the desire and the ability to harm the Master?”

Hu Chen mused: “First and foremost—that little brat Qingsong.”

Xiao Yu’s eyebrows furrowed slightly—this adoptive father spoke far too carelessly.

She always addressed him respectfully, both in public and private, as “Patriarch.”

She feared Qingsong’s divine arts were so profound he might sense it.

He should know better than anyone how terrifying Qingsong was—he should be more cautious.

She stole a quick glance at Guan Zhong.

The old servant’s expression remained calm, showing no reaction to Hu Chen’s reckless words.

—So this adoptive father is a long-time “loose-tongued chatterbox”—the old servant is used to it, doesn’t even notice... Wait, could his calamity have nothing to do with others? Could it be pure self-destruction, disaster born from his own mouth?

Xiao Yu’s mind wandered.

“There’s a possibility Qingsong the Daoist is involved, but he’s not the top suspect,” Guan Zhong said.

“Yan Feiying, that dead one-eyed bastard, has old grudges with me and is stronger than I am,” Hu Chen said.

Guan Zhong shook his head: “It’s not Yan the Divine Hunter—he still wants to become immortal!

Kill you, and all righteous sects across the land will reject him.

Besides, you merely mocked him face-to-face: ‘One-eyed ugly devil, not even heaven favors you—your past life must’ve been full of sins, hence your current disability.’ That’s cruel, yes, but you two have no fundamental conflict of interest, no mortal enmity.”

Xiao Yu didn’t fully agree with “no mortal enmity.”

She didn’t know Yan Feiying, but since his strength far surpassed Hu Chen’s—if the gap weren’t glaring, Hu Chen wouldn’t admit defeat—he must be a top-tier powerhouse.

Publicly humiliating a top-tier powerhouse is pure suicide.

Still, Xiao Yu also felt Hu Chen’s calamity had nothing to do with Yan Feiying.

Qingsong the Daoist boy and Lord Lieyang hadn’t even left the West yet—who would dare act rashly?

“Hmmm~~” Xiao Yu’s mind stirred, asking: “Among the Thirty-Six Kingdoms’ rebels, are there still powerful remnants who haven’t been eradicated and still harbor rebellious intent?”

“Thirty-Six Kingdoms’ rebels”—she nearly blurted it out without hesitation or discomfort, as if she’d been born the “Miss Xiao” of Yingxiang Garrison.

Hu Chen’s gaze sharpened, his expression shifting slightly.

Guan Zhong gave Xiao Yu an approving look and nodded: “That’s exactly what I thought.

Western Lu alone once had ten human immortals; only four ‘General Immortals’ were confirmed dead on the Tianmen Town battlefield.

Three others died defending the Jin royal family at the gates of Jin Yang City.

The remaining ‘Hunting Banner Immortal’ Kong Zan, ‘Thousand-Handed Thief Saint’ Zong Erbu, and ‘Jade-Faced Literary Star’ Dou Yilin—all have no confirmed deaths.

Outside Western Lu, among the other Western vassals, countless extraordinary individuals still remember their old kingdoms.”

Wasn't the new ruler of the Giant Elephant Kingdom murdered by them?

Even the Marquis of Radiant Sun is trapped in a series of minor and major disturbances, unable to extricate himself.

Xiao Yu feigned indignation: “Why do they target my foster father? It wasn’t my foster father who destroyed their kingdom.”

As a general of Shu, my foster father protected our great Shu from invasions by rebellious forces from all sides—it was his duty, and he earned merit without fault.”

Guan Zhong pondered: “Undoubtedly, they hate the Marquis of Radiant Sun even more.”

But the Marquis of Radiant Sun’s methods are brutal, and his strength is extraordinarily formidable—they can’t touch him.”

And you, Master, are the Marquis of Radiant Sun’s ‘First Western Mighty General.’

Indeed, among all the Western officers who pledged allegiance to the Marquis of Radiant Sun, ‘Fairy-Eyed Tiger’ has the loudest reputation and the most illustrious achievements.”

Since the Marquis of Radiant Sun crossed the Liusha River, you have followed him faithfully.”

First, you swept away the million-strong army of the Thirty-Six Nation Alliance beyond Tianmen Town, then consecutively conquered the Eighteen Western Kingdoms, destroying countless cities and clans.”

Only when the remaining kings all bared their chests, bound themselves, led sheep in their left hand and reeds in their right, crawled forward on their knees to bow before the imperial envoys did the major campaigns finally end.”

If the Marquis of Radiant Sun was the main general who quelled the chaos of the Thirty-Six Kingdoms, then, excluding the imperial envoys, the greatest merit belongs to you, Master!”

“And there’s another point.” Guan Zhong paused, then turned to Xiang Huchen: “Master, you possess the eyes of a celestial being, and the Marquis of Radiant Sun, in his quest to reconstruct the ancient killing array, has long sought to gather the thirty-six great ‘Tiangang Divine Practitioners’—the Thousand-Mile Eye is one of those Tiangang Divine Abilities.”

When the Marquis of Radiant Sun returns to Great Qin, you will surely accompany him closely, even becoming his personal deputy general, commanding the Fire Crow Cavalry Battalion.”

Killing the commander of the Fire Crow Cavalry is entirely different in significance from killing the commander of the Shu Kingdom’s Luye Guard Cavalry.”

Those rebels have no reason to kill a mere Luye Guard Cavalry commander, but they have countless motives to avenge themselves against the Qin military marquis.”