Chapter 539: with translation of chapter title

One day passed.

With a dark expression, Zhao Xun came to Lian Dan Tang to sit hall, saying nicely it was the sect sympathizing with his hard work and not wanting him to suffer, but in reality it amounted to exile.

While sitting hall at Lian Dan Tang, one cannot handle the sect's business to profit, and two cannot leave at will.

"Elder Zhao, could you please give me some pointers on how my furnace of medicinal pills turned out?" an Alchemy disciple approached; Zhao Xun glanced at him, knowing the other was a rare disciple in the sect possessing Alchemy talent.

However, he had no background, just an ordinary-origin disciple; following the rule of plucking feathers from a passing goose, Zhao Xun lightly said: "When you refine, do you often lose control of your spiritual power, right or not?"

That disciple widened his eyes and nodded vigorously: "Yes, yes, Elder, you know how....."

"This situation isn't easy to fix," Zhao Xun said with deep meaning, deliberately rubbing his fingers in front of him.

The disciple's face darkened, he silently cursed a greedy dog, but for the sake of his Alchemy he still put on a smile and offered some Spiritual Stones: "Elder Zhao, this is my little token of appreciation."

"What are you doing? Don't you know the sect is currently cracking down on bribery and corruption? If others hear or see this, they'll think I'm extorting bribes!"

The disciple stared, then realized: "How can this be called bribery? I'm grateful to the Elder and haven't even had time to thank him; this token is merely a heartfelt gift from me to the Elder, with no intention of bribery!"

Hearing this, Zhao Xun finally satisfied, put away the Spiritual Stones, and said: "At least you meant well; just replace your Alchemical Furnace."

"Huh?"

"If I'm not mistaken, your Alchemical Furnace has a quality issue; it's not that you can't control your spiritual power."

Hearing this, the disciple clenched his teeth in silence, then quickly bowed and said: "Thank you for your guidance, Elder."

"Go on."

Too dark!

The disciple silently cursed, a Golden Core True Person and also an Elder of the sect—how could he possibly lack these few Spiritual Stones?

Even if we retreat ten thousand steps, knowing the sect is cracking down on bribery and corruption, yet forcing me to say those words is like being a whore who still sets up a memorial arch.

Although Zhao Xun is a bit greedy, he is not without ability.

At least he is a Golden Core True Person; regardless of his original intentions, he also designed the annihilation of a Sinking Dragon Association fleet.

He also has talent in Alchemy Technique; otherwise he could not easily have discovered these disciples' problems.

Two days passed.

The disciples of Lian Dan Tang gathered together, chatting about recent events.

"That Elder Zhao is truly hateful; even if my Alchemical Furnace has a problem, he won't say anything unless I give him Spiritual Stones!"

"Yeah, my medicinal pills just won't form; it turns out I'm missing a medicinal herb, and to ask him I must first give Spiritual Stones."

"But don't say that; after all, Elder Zhao does have some ability, whereas the previous few Elders who held office knew nothing about Alchemy Technique."

"That old thing! Now he's even taking Spiritual Stones directly under the pretense of giving lessons! Can't the sect manage this?"

"It's a consensual matter; Elder Zhao neither forced us nor affected our Alchemy, and if we talk about it, no one will care."

"Sigh. If I'd known earlier, I might as well have joined Treasure Jiaolong Island; perhaps I could have had the fortune to meet its island lord."

Although the disciples of Lian Dan Tang have never received systematic instruction, relying solely on talent, this is also because few in Wander Heaven Gate understand Alchemy Technique.

Even if there are a few first- and second-turn Alchemists, they are busy refining pills for the sect's disciples, and even that isn't enough for Wander Heaven Gate's monthly consumption, so they must also buy from outside.

Coincidentally, Zhao Xun understands Alchemy Technique and is a third-turn Alchemist, which is why he was assigned here. As for his greed, these disciples now have firsthand experience of it.

Yan Buji stood at a distance, hearing the disciples' conversation, and combining it with his own observations over the past few days, he roughly understood something.

"Although Zhao Xun is a bit greedy, he wouldn't do anything over the line; this shows that although he is suppressed in Wander Heaven Gate, he still seeks extra income on the side, making the possibility of his betrayal nonexistent." Yan Buji laughed.

To use such a person, Yan Buji would have to offer him immeasurably great benefits to move him, but that is impossible.

He isn't here to destroy Wander Heaven Gate, just to scoop up some profit; there's no need to invest heavily.

Therefore, to use Zhao Xun, one only needs to have him help attract attention at a suitable moment, so that he can fish in troubled waters.

After so many days in Wander Heaven Gate, Yan Buji finally gathered useful information; now, holding a broom and pretending to sweep, he advances toward his target.

After a while, Yan Buji swept all the way to a garden's front, not daring to go deeper. Usually some menial disciples clean here, but further in are the residences of the Elders and the Wander Heaven Gate sect leader, which menial disciples may not enter.

Yan Buji narrowed his eyes, watching Wander Heaven Gate cultivators come and go, and quickly lowered his head with the broom, standing aside to let them pass.

Soon, he waited for the person he was looking for.

"Have you gone in there?"

Yan Buji saw that person enter a small building, thought it over carefully, then turned and left.

When night fell, Yan Buji concealed all his aura, avoided the patrolling law enforcement team, and crept near the garden.

Leaping over the wall, Yan Buji slipped into the darkness and made his way all the way to the small building.

Bang!

The sound of a table being slapped came from inside; the person who came during the day hasn't left yet, seemingly still conversing with the person inside.

"What do you mean, on what basis?! The order from True Yellow Island came, and I was clearly put in full charge of this matter, so why does the sect leader send someone over to monitor me?!"

"Isn't this because of past precedents? You also know the sect leader has been busy lately, having to handle so many things, which allowed that old Zhao Xun to find an opening."

"What kind of person is Zhao Xun, and what kind of person am I? How could the sect leader possibly lump me together with his ilk?!"

The person Yan Buji was following was precisely the Elder who had taken over Zhao Xun's position, in charge of the spirit cannon trade. By this, Yan Buji hopes to gather information about the Wander Heaven Gate sect leader's movements from them.

If I'm not mistaken, the monetization of resources within Wander Heaven Gate should be under the sect leader's control, so we must locate his position to determine where he has placed the Spiritual Stones obtained from exchange.

"Hahaha, don't be angry; now True Yellow Island and the Sinking Dragon Association are at war, and we are the most affected. The sect leader, on one hand, must liaise with True Yellow Island, and on the other hand must find buyers, naturally seeking stability as the priority."

That person naturally understood, gritted his teeth: "I understand what you're saying, but... if True Yellow Island and the Sinking Dragon Association keep fighting like this, our Wander Heaven Gate can't keep going this way; we couldn't afford the sect's expenses."

The person beside him nodded: "Yeah, so the sect leader now plans to use the exchanged Spiritual Stones to negotiate with others, seeing if they can first relocate the sect."

"Relocate the sect?! Impossible, Wander Heaven Gate's industries are all here; how could we move?"

"The sect leader's meaning is to first choose a place, let the disciples settle there, and treat this location as a resource point. Speaking of which, the scarlet jade mine here is about to be exhausted; there was originally no need to keep staying anyway."

"That's true."

Outside, Yan Buji heard this, his brows furrowed, then he immediately smiled.

"That's right, but this is actually a good opportunity!"