Chapter 126: Chapter 101: A Great Opportunity to Enhance Cultivation
"Why haven’t they made a move?"
Inside the Unity Hall of the Cyan Wolf Stronghold, the lamplight flickered.
Yu Qiantong, the Upper Envoy of the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance and the newly appointed Squad Leader of its Changshan Sub-Branch, was lounging on a large, tiger-skin chair. He had an arm around a woman on either side, both of whom were forcing smiles. His hostile gaze swept over the trembling Li Qianlang below, his tone laced with obvious displeasure.
"R-Reporting, Squad Leader."
Cold sweat beaded on Li Qianlang’s forehead. Steeling himself, he took a step forward, bowed, and replied, "That Chen Sheng is as cunning as a fox. I suspect... he might have seen through part of our plan, which is why he hasn’t made a move."
Previously, he had been quite confident in the plan to use ’Innate Spiritual Qi’ as bait to lure Chen Sheng out of the city.
By his own measure, if he had learned of such an opportunity, he would have stopped at nothing to seize it.
However, the results greatly disappointed Li Qianlang. After the news was spread, it stirred up some of the Foundation Establishment Martial Masters in Changshan County, but the Government Office remained as steady as a mountain, showing no reaction whatsoever. This gave him a major headache.
As for storming the county seat?
That was a pipe dream.
Raiding outside the city walls could still be classified as mere banditry. As long as they didn’t cause too much of a stir, the higher-ups might not be determined enough to wipe them out. But to charge into the county seat? That would be open rebellion. The nature of the crime would be entirely different, and it would surely bring a thunderous reprisal.
This was a price the Cyan Wolf Stronghold could not afford to pay.
"Hmph."
Yu Qiantong snorted, his expression turning vicious. "I don’t care how hard it is. In short, within three days, use whatever means necessary. I want to see this Chen Sheng!"
He had come to the Changshan region on the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance’s orders. His mission wasn’t just to establish a sub-branch; he also bore the heavy responsibility of ensuring the Changshan stretch of the waterway remained clear.
But now, the Government Office’s show of force had all the local water bandits, big and small, scared into silence. This was severely impacting the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance’s interests. If he couldn’t resolve this matter quickly, how would he explain himself to his superiors?
Li Qianlang’s brow furrowed as he racked his brain for a way to break the deadlock.
Suddenly, a glint flashed in his eyes as an idea came to him. He spoke up at once. "Squad Leader, I have a plan."
"Speak!"
Yu Qiantong raised an eyebrow.
"The Yang Clan."
Li Qianlang slowly uttered the two words, then explained in detail, "According to my investigation, the Changshan Yang Clan has now completely pledged its allegiance to Chen Sheng. They’re arguably the most powerful family in the Changshan region, and their influence is at its peak right now.
If we attack the Yang Family’s merchant ships, there’s no way they’ll just sit back and do nothing. If once isn’t enough, we’ll hit them twice. If twice isn’t enough, we’ll hit them a third time... I refuse to believe the Yang Family can just keep taking it lying down.
When that happens, the Yang Family is bound to pressure Chen Sheng into leaving the city to deal with the bandits. And once Chen Sheng steps out of the city gates and onto the Qinglin River, that’s when we’ll have our chance!"
"I only want results."
Yu Qiantong shot him a glance, his tone chilling. "As long as you can draw out Chen Sheng, it will be a great merit to your name. In the future, the position of Squad Leader for the Changshan Sub-Branch... well, it wouldn’t be out of the question for it to be yours.
But if you can’t..."
Yu Qiantong paused, a cold glint appearing in his eyes. "Then don’t blame me for being merciless."
With that, he ignored Li Qianlang and buried his face in the woman’s bosom.
Upon hearing this, a flicker of delight appeared on Li Qianlang’s face. He hurriedly bowed.
"Yes! I will do my utmost to not disappoint you, Squad Leader!"
He couldn’t wait to see Chen Sheng fall into their trap.
’Once Yu Qiantong accomplishes his goal and leaves, won’t the Changshan Sub-Branch be mine to command?’
...
「Inside the Military Preparation Camp」
Chen Sheng sat cross-legged in meditation, his mind sinking into his body, focusing on the progress panel in his consciousness.
[Six Extremes Golden Bell Technique, Minor Achievement (8/500)]
[Basic Saber Skill Perfection (1126/2000)]
[Fishing Toad Force Secret Technique, Great Success (890/1000)]
[Demon-Suppressing Triple Extremes Saber, Great Success (990/1000)]
The cultivation of the >, compared to the previous >, did away with twelve tedious Pile Skill stances. It only required one to guide Innate True Qi along specific routes through the body’s meridians, continuously refining the physical form.
However, this was only simple in appearance. After days of diligent practice, Chen Sheng was learning firsthand just how slow the cultivation speed truly was.
Without the aid of top-tier Cultivation Resources, relying solely on absorbing Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi and refining Elemental Crystals, the process of accumulating Innate True Qi was as slow as a snail’s pace.
Several days of hard cultivation since breaking through to the Innate Realm had only nudged the progress bar forward a tiny step.
For Chen Sheng, who was accustomed to an extremely fast cultivation speed, this was quite unsettling.
Fortunately, Xu Yuanhai had sent him a Snow Lake Flower, which offered a temporary solution to his urgent problem.
He had already confirmed the Spirit Medicine was genuine.
The only thing giving him pause was the method of consumption. Ingesting it raw would be simple and direct, but also incredibly wasteful of its medicinal potency. Only by finding a Pill Master to refine it into an elixir could its effects be fully maximized.
Unfortunately, he was a complete novice in the Alchemy Dao. To find a Pill Master capable of refining such a Spirit Medicine, he would have no choice but to travel to the Prefecture City.
After careful consideration, Chen Sheng decided to be more pragmatic.
After all, Cultivation Resources only became a true part of one’s foundation once they were converted into actual Cultivation.
Just as Chen Sheng took out the jade box holding the Snow Lake Flower and prepared to ingest it directly, new words materialized on the mysterious "Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Evil" page of the Celestial Book deep within his consciousness:
[My name is Chen Sheng. By the time you read this, I will already regret my actions... After Han Ling’er publicly broke off their engagement, Xu Shenzhi was dealt a crushing blow. However, after some guidance from me, a flame of vengeance was unexpectedly lit within his heart. He sought to pledge his loyalty to me, offering a secret as a show of his sincerity.
However, because of our past grievances, I did not accept him and had my men turn him away from the camp. In doing so, I missed a crucial opportunity to advance my Cultivation. Every time I thought of it afterward, I was filled with immense regret...]
Hm?
Chen Sheng’s gaze sharpened. ’How unexpected.’
’So Xu Shenzhi didn’t return to the Prefecture City with his father?’
