Free Web NovelChapter 267: Chapter 240: Sacrificial Hall, Li Changqing
Chen Che had originally planned to meet the Tributors who had recently joined them. However, Meng Qingxuan told him that Hu Yao had taken them all out to observe them in secret.
"Was that Lu Qinglian’s idea?"
Chen Che stroked his chin. When Meng Qingxuan nodded, he inwardly agreed.
Someone like Hu Yao, with his thick brows and earnest eyes, was a workhorse—diligent and resilient, but not one for scheming.
Only Lu Qinglian, who had been a matriarch, was well-versed in such matters.
The Sacrificial Hall didn’t support idlers. Who had joined in earnest and who was just trying to fish in troubled waters would become immediately apparent after a few battles. This way, they could weed out a portion of them before they even met him.
"You should ask her for more advice in the future. She may not remain In the Valley indefinitely," Chen Che advised.
"Are you saying she’ll leave Jinyun Valley once the thirty-year term is up?"
Meng Qingxuan understood what he meant.
Chen Che nodded slightly.
Lu Qinglian and Lu Yuntian were childhood sweethearts. The former was from the Direct Lineage of the clan, while the latter was merely from a branch family. For Lu Yuntian to have risen from a branch disciple to become the Patriarch Lu, Lu Qinglian had clearly made significant sacrifices behind the scenes.
The trip to Primordial City also showed that Lu Yuntian was not a heartless person.
Moreover, it seemed their old flame had been rekindled. Evidently, the Patriarch had ultimately chosen to forgive her.
"Lu Qinglian also said that after this war, the vassal families will experience a surge in strength, and we will need to curb the number of their Foundation Establishment cultivators at that time," Meng Qingxuan added.
"Curb the number of Foundation Establishment cultivators? I see. Is she worried about the servants growing too powerful and turning on their master?"
Chen Che reacted instantly.
By swallowing Chi State whole, Jinyun Valley had reaped substantial rewards. Even the scraps that slipped through their fingers were enough to fill the coffers of those vassal families to overflowing. Naturally, many Ninth Layer Cultivators would seize this opportunity to reach Foundation Establishment in one go.
Once the vassal families had too many Foundation Establishment cultivators, it was possible they would turn against their main family.
"Suppressing the vassal families is the inferior strategy; strengthening Jinyun Valley is the superior one."
That was a choice for an ordinary Foundation Establishment Influence, but Chen Che certainly wouldn’t act that way. In his view, as long as his own strength surpassed theirs, he could make them submit obediently.
"Mm."
Meng Qingxuan responded with a sound as soft as a mosquito’s buzz.
It was because, at that moment, a hand had climbed her peak. "Don’t, we’re in the main hall..."
「Half a day later.」
Chen Che laid the sleeping Meng Qingxuan on the bed before walking out of the courtyard.
The order had only been issued last night. The disciples fighting outside would not begin to return for at least a few days, so the valley was still quiet for now. Only a few disciples below the Third Layer were out in the morning dew, tempering their Qi and Blood.
Even the Forging Hall, usually the liveliest place, was deserted.
After his breakthrough, Liang Yuan had also volunteered to go to the battlefield.
"Valley Master, you’ve returned?"
As he passed the Alchemy Hall, Xing Lin came out to greet him personally.
"Did Zhao Deyou go to Chi State as well?"
Chen Che glanced around and noticed the Alchemy Hall was also quite empty.
Xing Lin cupped his hands and smiled.
"Hall Master Zhao said that as the Chief of the Alchemy Hall, it is his undeniable duty to help expand the valley’s territory!"
Chen Che nodded slightly, naturally seeing through the man’s little scheme. Zhao Deyou was one of the ’Elders’ who had followed him, but his aptitude was limited. It was unlikely he would ever reach Foundation Establishment in this life; in a few decades at most, he would return to dust.
By then, the valley’s disciples would have matured, so he wanted to pave the way for Zhao Changping in advance.
However, Chen Che didn’t find it distasteful.
In the vast river of life, everyone had the right to vie for the lead.
As someone with a Middle Spirit Root, Zhao Changping still had a chance to reach Foundation Establishment Great Perfection if he cultivated diligently. He could even make a run for the Golden Core Realm. Furthermore, having been taught everything by both Zhao Deyou and Xing Lin, he could now refine Tier One High Grade Elixirs.
And one must remember, he was only fifteen years old.
Outside the valley, he would be hailed as another genius Pill Master. Combined with the fact that there was no better Pill Master than him in the valley, Chen Che had already decided he would be the next Chief of the Alchemy Hall.
No matter what power wanted to thrive, it needed a new wave to push the old one forward.
After taking a tour with Xing Lin, Chen Che saw Lu Ping’an in the valley again.
Lu Ping’an still looked ancient and decrepit. His condition was even worse than when he had first arrived, to the point where even getting around had become incredibly difficult. Because of this, Lu Qinglian had to summon a few maids from the Market to attend to him.
He couldn’t stand the heat or the cold, nor could he endure any exertion.
"His life force is severed, like a river without a source. Each day that passes is one day less for him. His condition is beyond the help of medicine or stone, unless he had a Tier Four Elixir."
Xing Lin slowly shook his head.
But Tier Four Elixirs were priceless treasures. A single one was enough to make Golden Core True Masters come to blows. Who would be so extravagant as to use one to save a mere Qi Refining Cultivator? "Unless he has a great opportunity..."
Chen Che nodded slightly, quite in agreement with Xing Lin’s words.
Cultivators and mortals alike yearned for heaven-defying opportunities.
If such opportunities were so easy to come by, they wouldn’t inspire such longing and madness in so many people.
...
...
「The next day.」
The Foundation Establishment cultivators who had been out fighting began to return in twos and threes. As for the disciples, they would have to wait a while longer to be withdrawn in batches, since the newly conquered territory needed to be garrisoned for a time and have Boundary Steles placed.
After meeting with everyone one by one, all that remained were the Tributors who had sought refuge with them.
As expected, just as Lu Qinglian had thought, there were indeed some who had tried to fish in troubled waters during the war. After the battle, they were sent away directly. In the end, a total of fifteen remained.
All were at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer.
One of them was even a Talisman Cultivator.
One must understand that for any power, if such a cultivator so much as hinted at leaving their current post, major powers would spare no expense to recruit them. It was unexpected that one would actually come to Jinyun Valley.
However, with just a glance at the Jade Scroll Hu Yao submitted, Chen Che immediately knew the reason.
This person was terrified of death. He often hid behind others in battle and only ever put in half the effort, always looking ready to flee at the first sign of trouble. He must have been the type to show up for work but not put in the effort at other factions as well. If he weren’t a Talisman Cultivator, he would have been sent packing long ago.
Chen Che nodded slightly. "So, you are the new Tributors who have joined my valley?"
"We juniors greet the Valley Master."
Hearing the Foundation Establishment Major Cultivator’s question, the dozen or so Qi Refining Cultivators immediately bowed.
Their bodies could be seen trembling slightly, a clear sign of their extreme nervousness. They were naturally in awe of this legendary Major Cultivator who had replaced Ye Jingzhou.
"Everyone, please rise."
Chen Che made a lifting motion with his hand. His gaze fell upon the Talisman Cultivator as he asked gently, "You are Li Changqing? From Haizhou? I hear you can create Tier One High Grade Talismans?"
"Yes."
Li Changqing’s body trembled slightly. He didn’t seem to understand why he was singled out from so many people. After a moment of thought, he answered cautiously:
"I can barely succeed, but I need several extra sets of Materials."
"Oh."
Chen Che nodded slightly and continued, "And how old are you, young friend?"
"This junior is twenty-eight this year. I only appear younger because of my Cultivation Technique," Li Changqing said slowly.
"Is that so?"
Chen Che flicked his fingertips and said lightly, "Look up..."
Li Changqing instinctively raised his head, only to see a pair of incomparably brilliant eyes. His entire being seemed to be drawn into them.
Then, Chen Che asked the same questions again. Under the influence of his Golden Core Level Attacking God and Inquiring Heart, the answers were immediately different.
The man hadn’t lied about his name or age, but he had concealed the fact that he could create Tier Two Talismans.
"What is your true origin, and why did you come to my Jinyun Valley?" Chen Che continued to question him.
"My real name is Li Ergou. I was just a farmer’s son. A Loose Cultivator led me onto the path, and that’s how I entered the Cultivation Realm. During that time, I joined many factions in Haizhou, but small factions live precariously and are easily swept up in the wars between great clans..."
"I didn’t want to be buried with them, so I escaped."
Li Changqing’s expression was wooden as he spoke his mind:
"I want to reach Foundation Establishment, but I have no resources. I heard that Jinyun Valley offers generous rewards to its Tributors, so I came to try my luck. If you don’t take me, I’ll go to the Meng Family..."
A few dozen breaths later, Li Changqing regained his senses. Seeing Chen Che’s faint, mocking smile and the disdainful looks from the other Loose Cultivators, his face instantly turned deathly pale.
"Young friend, since you wished to join Jinyun Valley, why did you conceal things?" Chen Che’s gaze sharpened.
Li Changqing’s legs trembled, and he nearly collapsed to his knees. He hurriedly begged for mercy, "Senior, forgive me! This junior didn’t mean to deceive you! I-I was just trying to be cautious, to keep an ace up my sleeve..."
A coward afraid of death could never make it in the Cultivation World.
A single great battle was enough to reveal that.
After a moment of contemplation, under Li Changqing’s trembling gaze, Chen Che finally spoke:
"If you can create Tier Two Middle-Grade Talismans, I will guarantee your Foundation Establishment. From now on, Jinyun Valley will provide for your Cultivation with peace of mind. Even after you reach Foundation Establishment, you won’t be sent to the battlefield. We will even establish a Hall for you."
"Thank you, Valley Master!"
He thought he was facing a dead end, but instead found an unexpected way out. Li Changqing was instantly overcome with excitement and hurriedly expressed his gratitude.
Afterward, Chen Che questioned the other Loose Cultivators. Under Attacking God and Inquiring Heart, he learned that they were simply trying to make a living and bore no ill will towards Jinyun Valley, so he kept them all.
Li Changqing was temporarily appointed as a Second-class Tributor. As for the others, because they had no special skills, they were only made Third-class Tributors.
After staying in Jinyun Valley for just one day, Chen Che rushed back to Hunzhou that same night.
Although Thousand Eyes had not yet summoned him, Chen Che was certain he would be in a terrible mood. After all, the Divine Statue that was on the verge of being returned to its rightful owner was lost again. It was best not to provoke him at this juncture.
Sure enough, when he arrived at the Imperial Mausoleum, he immediately noticed the strange atmosphere. He grabbed a Divine Dao Cultivator and asked a question, causing his brow to twitch.
’He was obliterated, body and soul, by Thousand Eyes True Master just for speaking a little too loudly?’
Chen Che was somewhat alarmed.
Clearly, this loss, coming so soon after a gain, made it even harder for the man to contain his rage.
Just as he was thinking, a celestial voice echoed from above:
"Valley Master Chen, come to my hall at once!"
"True Master."
Chen Che walked into the great hall and cupped his hands toward Thousand Eyes True Master, who was sitting cross-legged beneath the Divine Statue. The True Master was still inhaling the black mist, but seemingly due to his lingering anger, the entire hall felt even colder than usual.
"Not bad. You refined a Yin Spirit Pill in just one month. That is far beyond my expectations."
The voice came from beneath the demonic mask.
It wasn’t a reprimand for his departure, which put Chen Che slightly at ease.
After all, talented and outstanding individuals would be tolerated as long as they didn’t go too far. Just as he tolerated Li Changqing’s cowardice, Thousand Eyes True Master would also turn a blind eye to his absence.
"This venerable one thought you would only be able to refine one by the time I am to leave."
"I did not dare to forget the True Master’s instructions," Chen Che said.
"In two months, this venerable one will be going to the Black Tortoise Calm Sea. Refine more Yin Spirit Pills for me."
"Yes."
"Do you have the confidence to refine a Tier Three Middle Grade Elixir?"
Hearing his reply, Thousand Eyes True Master finally lowered his gaze to look at him.
’Is he really treating me like a beast of burden? I just managed to refine a Tier Three Low Grade Elixir, and he’s already pushing me to make a Middle Grade one?’
Chen Che lowered his head slightly.
"I have almost no confidence. I’ve only just figured out the Yin Spirit Pill. As for a Tier Three Middle Grade, I really have no certainty. It could take one or two years at the soonest, or several decades at the latest."
"Forget it."
Thousand Eyes True Master stared at Chen Che for a long moment before letting out a heavy sigh.
"Just focus on refining Yin Spirit Pills for this venerable one for now. If you can refine a Tier Three Middle Grade Elixir, I will absolutely guarantee your Core Formation in the future!"
"...Yes."
The corner of Chen Che’s mouth twitched.
’Isn’t that the same empty promise I just made to Li Changqing?’
