No sooner had Zhang Zhensheng finished speaking than he saw the three young cultivators before him looking as though they had seen a ghost.
As expected, they came from prominent families—and had clearly been very well protected.
That made things even better.
The smile on Zhang Zhensheng’s face grew warmer. “There’s nothing unusual about this sort of thing. If both parties are willing, what’s wrong with it? Besides, if you enjoy your family’s protection and resources, you naturally have to shoulder the corresponding responsibilities and obligations.”
“But wouldn’t that be… a little too much?” Yuan Dawei asked awkwardly. “They are still members of the same family, after all.”
“When bloodlines are scarce, they’re naturally precious. But if a family has hundreds or thousands of blood relatives, then only the best can be selected.” Zhang Zhensheng smiled. “The fact that the family can still make use of you is already the final way you can serve it. I wasn’t born a complete rogue cultivator either. When I was young, my family was quite powerful. But it was swallowed up in a struggle against another clan. My brothers and sisters were either killed or sold to demonic cultivators, and I could only become a rogue cultivator. That’s why a powerful family is what truly makes one powerful. How could the master-disciple relationships of a sect ever compare with blood ties?”
“I’m truly envious of the three of you. To be able to follow such a Dao Lord, you presumably don’t have to suffer the way I did.” There was unmistakable envy in Zhang Zhensheng’s voice.
Qi Feiyang and the others fell silent.
They had been picked up and raised by Xu Guan from a young age. They might have lived difficult lives when they were little, but to be honest, they had mostly forgotten all about it.
Over the years, Xu Guan had done everything in his power to protect them, never allowing them to come into contact with such things.
That was why their master had so readily agreed to let them go out on this trial with their senior sister.
Xu Guan simply couldn’t bring himself to discipline his disciples, so he had no choice but to send them to Shu Xin to be bossed around.
“Fellow Daoist Zhang, what exactly do you want from us?” Cao Ru quickly steered the conversation back to the main point.
What a pity. He had wanted to play the victim a little longer. Many self-proclaimed righteous little fat sheep were quite susceptible to that sort of thing.
“I know you came here to investigate the Hu family.” Zhang Zhensheng also understood when it was best to stop. He immediately became serious. “Although I don’t know much, I’ve lived in the nearby cities for many years, so I’ve heard a thing or two about the Hu family’s rise in its early years. I can tell you everything I know.”
“What are your conditions?” Cao Ru watched Zhang Zhensheng warily.
“There’s something I need to do.” Zhang Zhensheng smiled amiably. “I can’t do it alone, so I need other people to help me. But I don’t trust the bodyguards and guards hired by the Hu family. You three clearly come from good backgrounds and aren’t lacking in resources. Besides, we have no grievances against one another, so I’d feel much more at ease cooperating with you.”
This was the first time Cao Ru and the other two had heard someone so bluntly claim that they were “well-born.”
In reality, the Asking Gods Sect was so poor that it could barely keep itself afloat.
It was only because their master had raised them so well.
Even the poorest Immaculate-realm cultivator was still an Immaculate-realm cultivator.
No matter how poor Xu Guan was, supporting several low-level cultivators like them was still easily within his means.
“Tell us what you know first.” Qi Feiyang finally showed a little of his bearing as a senior brother. They couldn’t have come all this way for nothing.
As for what Zhang Zhensheng wanted them to do, they could consider it after hearing the information.
Besides, they would need to return and discuss it properly with their senior sister, the True Lord.
“The Hu family was only a small clan a thousand years ago. They migrated here from an extremely remote place.” Zhang Zhensheng gestured for them to sit down, then slowly began telling them what he knew. “But over the past century, they’ve developed at an astonishing pace. In particular, a hundred years ago, two of their descendants became disciples of the Myriad Dao Sect. I’ve heard that they’re now fairly well-regarded within the sect. This time, the Hu family has formed another connection with the Myriad Dao Sect. It looks as though they’re about to soar into the heavens.”
“Don’t you think the Hu family’s path has been far too smooth?” Zhang Zhensheng asked pointedly.
“What do you mean?”
“This world is filled with countless cultivation clans, and they can survive only by banding together. In any given area—especially a city with even slightly denser spiritual energy—there are countless clans fighting openly and covertly every day just to seize a little more in the way of resources. As for the Hu family, although some of their disciples have entered the Myriad Dao Sect, the strongest cultivator in their entire clan is merely an Immaculate-realm ancestor who has exhausted his lifespan and potential and is about to pass away. With strength like that, the Hu family shouldn’t be able to develop so smoothly.”
For a cultivation clan to truly rise and become a partner worthy of cooperating with top-tier powers such as the Nine Immortal Sects or the Ten Demon Sects, it needed at least two Immaculate-realm cultivators in the prime of their lives.
Clearly, the Hu family did not qualify.
Of course, if the Hu family’s Immaculate-realm cultivator were like Xu Guan of the Asking Gods Sect—an existence at the very pinnacle of the Immaculate realm—then it would be a different matter altogether.
“There are rumors that the Hu family possesses secret techniques capable of making spirit herbs grow rapidly.” Zhang Zhensheng glanced left and right before speaking in a cautious voice. “The reason their descendants were able to enter the Myriad Dao Sect was that they gave spirit herbs capable of extending one’s lifespan to an old ancestor from one of the sect’s clans. That old ancestor then accepted them as disciples. This time, they supposedly have more spirit herbs to send to an auction held by the Myriad Dao Sect. Could it be that all the spirit herbs in the world have grown legs and only know how to run to the Hu family?”
Cao Ru and the others exchanged glances. They, too, sensed that something was wrong. They would definitely have to discuss it carefully with their senior sister after returning.
“So what do you want us to help you with?” Qi Feiyang continued asking.
“In recent years, the Hu family defeated a clan called the Wang family. To preserve its strength, the Wang family left a store of resources hidden somewhere. After investigating for many years, I’ve finally found a few clues.” Zhang Zhensheng smiled. “Those resources may not be particularly valuable to a Dao Nascent True Lord, but to Core Formation cultivators like us, they could be described as vital. The enormous amount of spirit stones required for a Core Formation cultivator to advance to the Dao Nascent realm would probably give even cultivators from well-off backgrounds a headache, wouldn’t it?”
Even a Core Formation cultivator from a top-tier sect had to find a master and join a faction before receiving any financial support. And such support invariably had to be repaid.
If someone was willing to pay for a cultivator’s life, there would be no shortage of cultivators willing to risk their lives, provided the price was high enough.
The real fear was that even if they kowtowed until their heads bled, no one would think them worth taking on.
“The Wang family’s resources are hidden within the Hu family’s territory. I’m alone and have little strength, so I wouldn’t dare go there recklessly. The day after tomorrow, the Hu family will begin escorting a shipment, and its attention will be focused on that operation over the next few days. If we set out during that time, we can retrieve the resources without anyone noticing.”
“I know the three of you must have your reservations. You can go back and think it over carefully. You’ll have to set out by tomorrow at the latest, and we need to be back before our escort mission the day after tomorrow.” Zhang Zhensheng spoke with complete sincerity. “But I hope this secret won’t spread any further. That stash of resources is only enough for a few of us at most. And if we miss this opportunity, I’m afraid we’ll never come across such a stroke of fortune again.”
“Have the three of you never thought about how, once you break through and become Dao Infant True Lords, you’ll no longer have to live like this—depending on others and serving as their slaves?” Zhang Zhensheng continued piling on the pressure. “I know that life as servants is certainly no joy. With talents like yours, you would be outstanding wherever you went. Do you really intend to muddle through your entire lives like this? If you don’t rely on yourselves and instead wait for your master to bestow enough resources for you to break through, you’ll have to wait until your master becomes a Cave Heaven Adept. How long will that take? A hundred years? Three hundred?”
That won’t be necessary. Senior Sister is already one.
At that moment, Cao Ru and the others faintly sensed something.
It really had been the right decision for Senior Sister to conceal her true cultivation level.
People of different cultivation levels truly saw the world differently.
Zhang Zhensheng spoke at length. He even described how powerful the Wang family had once been and recounted the pain of being stuck at the Condensed Core stage for so many years without being able to break through. It was already the middle of the night by the time he finally sent the three of them away.
After a long while, another person’s voice finally rang out in Zhang Zhensheng’s courtyard.
“Has the news been spread?”
“Yes, Master.” Zhang Zhensheng knelt respectfully. “Although the three of them didn’t agree on the spot, they should already be tempted. They come from good backgrounds, possess excellent talents, and are only one step away from the Dao Infant stage. How could they possibly be content to remain servants forever?”
“Well done.”
“You may take the possessions of those three for yourself when the time comes.”
“This Lord would very much like to test the depth of that Dao Lord Lin.” The owner of the voice laughed. “I hope those scions of great families won’t disappoint me.”
When Qi Feiyang and the others returned to Shu Xin’s courtyard, they immediately told Shu Xin everything that had happened.
Whenever there was something they couldn’t figure out, Senior Sister’s judgment could never be wrong.
Shu Xin glanced at the three of them, then had them call Meng Wenrui and Li Qinghe over as well. The five of them gathered together to hold something called a “meeting.”
“Very good. I’ll preside over this six-person group meeting for now.” Shu Xin told them to arrange the chairs in a circle, then sat down in the very center. She felt as though she had returned to her days at work.
In the past, she could only sit on the outside. Now, she had finally taken center stage.
“Qi Feiyang, you’re the senior brother. Explain the entire matter from beginning to end. Don’t leave anything out. And the rest of you, don’t just sit there blankly. Think carefully while you listen. You’ll each speak in turn later, and I’ll be asking questions.” Shu Xin swept her gaze over them.
Although they had no idea what was going on, they inexplicably felt tremendous pressure.
The five servants—who were also their senior brothers and sisters—felt that Senior Sister Shu Xin possessed an imposing authority when she acted this way.
She even wanted them to speak in turn. If they performed poorly, she would definitely scold them.
“All right, quiet down. Prepare for the meeting.” Shu Xin reminded them, her face stern.
At once, everyone sat up straight.
“You certainly know how to put on the airs of a high-ranking official. Quite impressive.”
“Back when I was an elder of the Longevity Dao Sect, I only had three subordinates. It was never quite satisfying.” Shu Xin smacked her lips. “No wonder those old geezers loved holding meetings. It’s such a perfect opportunity to indulge their desire to lecture people and show off their abilities. No, no, I can’t learn those bad habits. I have to resist mountains of paperwork and endless meetings!”
“Forget it. It’s rare to have the chance to preside over a six-person group meeting. I should at least act the part.”
What exactly was a group leader?
Was managing six people really considered a high-ranking official?
The Sword Spirit felt as though it had forgotten how to count.
With a single sweep of its blade, tens of thousands of cultivators would vanish.
“What do you know? The five of them grew up together, and Xu Guan always treated them equally. They have no competitive spirit at all. How can that do?” Shu Xin raised an eyebrow. “The strong prey on the weak, and only the fittest survive. Anyone without ambition can’t survive in this world. Cultivators cultivate to contend with Heaven for their lives—isn’t that the greatest ambition of all?”
“Even a simple meeting can serve to check on their recent progress and push them to work harder.” Shu Xin sighed. “The wisdom of our ancestors really does make sense. These small-group councils are quite necessary. In the future, I can establish positions such as deputy group leader, discipline committee member, publicity committee member, and organization committee member within the group. Then they’ll be able to manage one another.”
“…I’m genuinely curious what your hometown was like.”
Why did it feel as though Shu Xin had such a serious addiction to power?
Back when she was an elder of the Longevity Dao Sect, she had loved setting up things like this.
But the Sword Spirit had always considered it one of Shu Xin’s harmless little hobbies.
Now it seemed that she was simply addicted.
Greedy for power, obsessed with money, crafty, and far from free of worldly attachments.
Alas, the Sword Spirit wanted to lament its unfortunate life as a sword.
Shu Xin did not answer.
Qi Feiyang recounted the entire matter once more, including everything Zhang Zhensheng had said about “borrowing seed” and cultivators from aristocratic families. He did not leave out a single word.
Meng Wenrui and Li Qinghe, who were hearing about such a thing for the first time, felt as though their entire worldview had been shattered.
They wanted to say something, but when they saw the expressions of their senior brothers and sisters, they began to wonder if perhaps they were making too much of it.
All they could do was force themselves to accept it.
“All right. Now I want you to answer one question. What problems do you think there are with this matter? Hmm, we’ll go around in order, starting from the person on my left.” Shu Xin rested her chin in one hand, a perfectly polite smile on her face.
Yuan Dawei, who was sitting immediately to Shu Xin’s left, nearly burst into tears.
He should never have deliberately chosen a seat so close to Senior Sister just to curry favor with her!
“I think that although what Zhang Zhensheng said makes sense—he wants to cooperate with us because he needs resources—in reality, he was secretly trying to drive a wedge between us and Senior Sister. No, between us and the True Lord.” Yuan Dawei spoke quickly. “Everything he said was framed as concern for our unfair treatment, but we don’t even know him. If the person we served weren’t you, Senior Sister, we might really have been persuaded. Of course, I think the reason he dared to say all this was that he completely underestimated your abilities. If we were ever disloyal to you, Senior Sister, then forget about Master—even we ourselves would never forgive us!”
Yuan Dawei delivered his speech with righteous conviction, expressing both his admiration and loyalty toward Senior Sister. He felt that he had performed brilliantly.
Shu Xin nodded in approval.
Yuan Dawei instantly puffed out his chest.
Heh heh, Senior Sister approves of me!
The pressure immediately shifted to the second person in line, Li Qinghe.
“Although I wasn’t there myself, judging from what you’ve told me, I think Zhang Zhensheng has a problem too.” In front of his fellow disciples, Li Qinghe was relatively bold. “For one thing, as we just discussed, he was trying to drive a wedge between us. For another, I find it strange that there were three of us while he was alone. Was he really not worried that Dawei and the other two would join forces to kill him and seize all the resources? He didn’t even ask us to swear an oath. That’s very strange.”
“Not bad. Qinghe wasn’t there, yet as an observer, he can actually see things more clearly.” This time, Shu Xin not only nodded but praised him as well.
“It’s all thanks to what I’ve learned from staying by your side, Senior Sister.” Li Qinghe was quick to flatter her.
How did I not think of that? Yuan Dawei stole a glance at Li Qinghe.
Looks like Junior Sister Li is one of my rivals in the competition to flatter Senior Sister.
The first two fellow disciples performed a little too well.
They’ve already said everything I wanted to say.
Qi Feiyang secretly clenched his fists, his mind racing.
Think, think! I absolutely can’t lose to them.
“I think Zhang Zhensheng was acting on someone else’s orders!” Qi Feiyang’s thoughts raced, and he immediately spoke up.
“Oh? Tell us why you think so.” Shu Xin prompted him.
“He blocked the three of us right from the start, which proves that he already knew we were going out. But the courtyards of Dao Infant cultivators are all protected by formations. There’s no way a Core Formation cultivator like him could have known what was happening inside. Yet he stopped us the moment we stepped out the door, which proves that he knew in advance we were going to leave. So there must be someone helping him from behind the scenes.” The more Qi Feiyang spoke, the more smoothly the words came. “Besides, he claimed to be a rogue cultivator, but judging from his cultivation, he’s no ordinary person. To stand out among so many Core Formation cultivators, he must have something extraordinary about him. If he was willing to remain with the Hu family, he’d have plenty of opportunities to obtain the Wang family’s resources in the future.”
“Very good, very good. You’ve made quite a bit of progress.” Shu Xin clapped her hands. “Feiyang, not bad.”
Qi Feiyang looked at his fellow disciples like a victorious rooster, brimming with pride.
See that? Senior Sister only applauded me.
“I think there’s room for doubt regarding the Wang family Zhang Zhensheng mentioned as well,” Cao Ru hurriedly said. She had realized that the farther they went, the fewer points there were left to make. Everyone was performing so well in front of Senior Sister—she absolutely couldn’t lose.
Although they were all fellow disciples, I’m sorry, Junior Brother.
I’ll put in a good word for you in front of Senior Sister later.
Meng Wenrui should have been the next one to speak, but he could only watch as Senior Sister Cao Ru beat him to it. At once, he understood how treacherous the world could be.
Looking at the other senior brothers and sisters, he saw that they were all secretly competing with one another.
They were no longer the senior brothers and sisters who had doted on him in the past.
Meng Wenrui seethed inwardly. He absolutely could not be the one left behind.
Come on, brain, think! There has to be something they haven’t thought of.
“I think we can ask people from the Hu family about the Wang family. And those maids and guards from the Hu family have been trying to get close to us, haven’t they? I can make use of them.” Cao Ru continued, “Since they defeated the Wang family, they must know the Wang family’s affairs better than anyone. Besides, they’re the local power here. They may even know something about Zhang Zhensheng.”
“You’ve learned to take advantage of the situation here. That’s quite a bit of progress.” Shu Xin praised her.
“Not at all. What I’ve learned is only a tiny fraction of what I’ve picked up from staying by your side, Senior Sister.” Cao Ru hurriedly declared her loyalty.
“I… I wasn’t involved in this incident, and everything Senior Brother and Senior Sister just said is exactly what I wanted to say.” Meng Wenrui spoke stiffly. Then, a sudden flash of inspiration struck him. “But through this group discussion, I’ve come to understand my own shortcomings. So I hope, Senior Sister, that you’ll hold more meetings like this in the future, so I can learn more.”
His senior brothers and sisters were all stunned.
Junior Brother, you look so honest and straightforward. Who knew you could flatter people like this?
What’s going on? We never knew our fellow disciple had this talent.
Looks like Master wasn’t lying when he said all of them had roughly the same aptitude.
Shu Xin’s eyes lit up. “Not bad. These meetings really should continue. Next time, remember to secure a good seat.”
“Of course.” Meng Wenrui secretly made up his mind. Next time, he absolutely would not be the one left behind.
“Mm. I’ll say a few words.” Shu Xin raised a hand and pressed it down slightly. She regretted that she didn’t have an insulated thermos by her side; otherwise, she could have taken a sip and leisurely dispensed some sage-like advice. She would have to find a way to arrange one next time.
“First of all, you’ve all fully recognized Zhang Zhensheng’s ill intentions. That’s a good start.” Shu Xin didn’t immediately put too much pressure on them. After all, for these junior disciples and attendants to begin actively learning in such a short time was already an impressive achievement.
As expected, there were no young people who truly wanted to lie flat—only young people who hadn’t been given the opportunity to compete.
Give them enough opportunities and a platform to show themselves, and who knew how much potential they could unleash?
“The Hu family’s supposed secret art for finding spirit herbs is probably a lie. If the Hu family really possessed such a technique, they would have been recruited by the Myriad Dao Sect long ago, or other families would have banded together to seize it from them. If even a rogue cultivator knows about it, do you really think the sects and aristocratic families wouldn’t?” Shu Xin pointed out an angle they hadn’t considered. “It would be more believable to say that the Hu family simply has a way of locating spirit herbs.”
“The point Cao Ru raised was good as well. You can use the Hu family to investigate the matter. You only have one day, but you should still be able to uncover something.” Shu Xin smiled. “As for what Zhang Zhensheng said, you can agree for now. Treat it as a rehearsal for this escort mission. Once the real escort begins, that will be when the true trial starts.”
The trouble they had encountered so far was, at most, nothing more than an appetizer.
There was an eighty percent chance that it was a test conducted by those Dao Infant cultivators—or perhaps by the Hu family itself.
The same petty scheming, going around in circles.
When they couldn’t strike at her directly, they targeted the people around her instead.
“You have one enormous advantage—one that Zhang Zhensheng and the people pulling the strings behind him could never have guessed.” Shu Xin paused, then looked at the five of them, her tone gentle. “You aren’t merely my attendants. You’re also my junior brothers and sisters. You grew up together as fellow disciples from childhood. The bond between you, and the understanding you share, cannot be broken by a few glib words from people like that.”
“Most importantly, even if something really does happen, it won’t matter. Go ahead and act without restraint.” Shu Xin pointed her thumb at herself. “Your Senior Sister is a bona fide Grotto-Heaven True Person. Even the two guest elders hired by the Hu family still haven’t discovered my presence. That shows their cultivation is nothing special. No matter what kind of mess you make, I can clean it up for you.”
“So don’t be afraid of the provocations and threats of these petty vermin. All you need to learn is how to hit back—strike hard enough to make them hurt, so they’ll never dare lay a claw on you again!”
“If you can’t win, lower your head, beg for mercy, and run. Losing face is better than losing your life.”
“All right, meeting adjourned.”
