Yun Ze showed no outward signs of distress, instead beginning to divide the spirit stones with Wei Lanshu and Luo Yang.
It was strange. Luo Yang, a prince from the mortal realm, would naturally cherish spirit stones. But why was Wei Lanshu inspecting the division so meticulously?
She counted the one thousand three hundred and fifty spirit stones twice before storing them in her Qiankun bag.
However, Yun Ze didn't dwell on it. After the division, he turned and entered the meditation chamber.
His excuse was to recover from his injuries.
But in reality, he wanted to confirm what Chen Xiao had done to him.
If it were merely these sword wounds, they wouldn't be fatal, unless… poison!
Yun Ze had once fought someone in that inn and had been poisoned by a golden toxin!
But if it were just a simple golden toxin, he could have wrapped it with spiritual energy and expelled it. Chen Xiao wouldn't rely on such a method.
After paying ten spirit stones, Yun Ze re-entered the meditation chamber.
He calmed his mind and sank his consciousness into his Qi Sea, immediately discovering the anomaly!
Black energy!
A foreign black energy had appeared in his Qi Sea, now entwining his own sword energy, subtly corroding it!
Yun Ze frowned and attempted to dispel it with spiritual energy.
But the result was that the spiritual energy dissipated like a clay ox entering the sea, while the black energy expanded significantly!
What in the world was this thing!
Yun Ze hurriedly controlled his spiritual energy to distance itself from the black energy, but the black energy continued to slowly erode his sword energy, thereby expanding itself!
He made a rough estimate: even if his cultivation didn't increase further, once this black energy consumed his sword energy, the spiritual energy in his Qi Sea would have nowhere to hide and would be completely devoured by this black energy!
By then, his entire Qi Sea would likely be filled with this black energy.
Death… Chen Xiao's words might not have been false!
Yun Ze's brows furrowed. He had no choice but to shift his focus to the other sword energy in his Qi Sea.
His own sword energy was useless, but that didn't mean the sword energy drawn from Wei Lanshu's body was also useless.
Though Yun Ze was reluctant to admit it, the power of these two sword energies was like the difference between heaven and earth.
He could only try it as a last resort!
But not now, of course.
Yun Ze took a deep breath, controlling himself to avoid thinking about the black energy in his Qi Sea, and gradually entered a state of cultivation.
Using sword energy would cause turbulence in his Qi Sea. To avoid a drop in his cultivation, it was best to stabilize his realm first.
Two hours later.
Yun Ze checked the time. There were about two quarters of an hour left until the third quarter of the hour of midnight.
He slowly opened his eyes, first opening the stone door, and found Li Po guarding the entrance of the meditation chamber.
As expected, Wei Lanshu was still waiting for him, likely in the meditation chamber next to his.
"Yo."
Li Po looked at Yun Ze and snorted, "Kid, have you recovered from your injuries?"
"The external wounds are healed, but there are still some internal injuries."
Yun Ze smiled, cupped his fists, and said, "Senior, I will be circulating my energy to heal later. If anything unexpected happens, please lend me some assistance."
"Internal injuries?"
Li Po narrowed her eyes, clearly disbelieving.
She had witnessed the entire battle back then. That brat Chen Xiao had only slashed a few gashes on Yun Ze's arm. With the recovery speed of the Qi Refining stage, an hour would have been sufficient.
Yet this brat had stayed inside for two hours and claimed to have internal injuries.
She obviously didn't believe him.
Yun Ze didn't offer further explanation. He knew that even if he didn't say anything, Li Po wouldn't stand by and watch him get into trouble.
His life was Wei Lanshu's life!
How could Li Po let him die? Even if he were to die, it wouldn't be now!
Yun Ze sat cross-legged at the entrance, sinking his consciousness into his Qi Sea. Without any hesitation, he directly activated the sword energy belonging to Wei Lanshu!
"Pfft!"
Another mouthful of blood spurted out!
However, this time, a touch of black was mixed within the crimson.
"Qi Sea turbulence?"
Li Po swiftly moved to Yun Ze's side, and a surge of pure spiritual energy descended from her shoulder, quickly entering Yun Ze's Qi Sea!
"What are you doing, you brat!"
This Qi Sea turbulence was no trivial matter!
Qi Refining involved tempering spiritual energy within the Qi Sea, compressing it into a vortex.
Upon reaching Foundation Establishment, the Qi Sea would be solidified, laying the foundation for the Purple Mansion!
After Core Formation, as spiritual energy was gradually compressed, the Qi Sea would gradually form a Purple Mansion. Once the Purple Mansion was complete, it would signify the achievement of the Golden Core Dao!
Upon the formation of a Golden Core, the Qi Sea would be called the Purple Mansion!
It could be said that the first three stages of cultivation were all closely related to the Qi Sea. If the Qi Sea was disturbed and shattered… forget about cultivation, he might lose his life!
Had this brat truly suffered internal injuries?
Yun Ze did not answer. He merely used that surge of spiritual energy to quickly stabilize his Qi Sea. After sinking his consciousness into his Qi Sea again, he discovered that the black energy had largely disappeared!
Although it hadn't vanished completely, at least a solution was in sight!
Hoo…
Yun Ze finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Regardless, as long as this thing could be removed, it was fine.
Even if his Qi Sea was in turmoil, he accepted it!
Speaking of which, this spiritual energy felt so comfortable. Perhaps he should not open his eyes yet and absorb a little more?
As Yun Ze had this thought, the surge of spiritual energy was cut off.
"Stop pretending. Your Qi Sea has already stabilized."
Li Po's voice sounded calmly, "Forty-three times the size of a Qi Sea… that already exceeds the Sixth Realm, approaching the Seventh Realm. Are you truly just a rogue cultivator?"
"Senior, you should have investigated already, shouldn't you?"
Yun Ze replied, and after standing up, he immediately cupped his fists towards her, "Thank you for your assistance, Senior. I have matters to attend to, so I will take my leave."
"Hm? Aren't you waiting for Xiao Shu?"
"Senior, you probably don't want me to wait for her."
Yun Ze smiled, looking at the old woman, "Please rest assured, Senior. My relationship with fellow Daoist Wei is purely transactional and will not cross boundaries."
"Hmph."
Li Po snorted, "It's best you don't dare. I have something else to tell you."
"Please speak, Senior."
"I heard the price you agreed upon with her was two thousand spirit stones per session, right?"
"Yes."
"After two sessions, you lowered the price to one thousand spirit stones. I will give you the remaining one thousand spirit stones, plus an additional five hundred, but only if she doesn't know."
"Hm?"
Yun Ze didn't understand the meaning behind Li Po's actions and was somewhat confused.
"You don't need to ask why. Just tell me if you agree."
"I don't seem to have a reason to refuse."
Whose money was it to earn, anyway?
Earning an extra five hundred per session was quite appealing!
"Alright, go do what you need to do."
"I bid farewell, Junior."
Yun Ze walked out of the meditation chamber. As soon as he emerged, he saw Tie Shan sleeping by the door and Luo Yang standing nearby, idle.
"Brother Yun!"
"Luo Yang?"
Yun Ze was somewhat puzzled, "What are you doing guarding here?"
"Waiting for you."
Luo Yang's face was beaming with a smile, and he stepped forward, "Brother Yun, to make a long story short, your time in the meditation chamber hasn't expired yet, right?"
"No, why?"
"I'll tell you something. You give me the remaining time in the meditation chamber, how about it?" httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
"Hm?"
Yun Ze was confused, "What is it?"
"You agree first!"
Yun Ze rolled his eyes and turned to leave.
"Alright, alright, I'll tell you first. But if this matter is beneficial to you, you'll give me the meditation chamber."
Luo Yang quickly caught up, "You have to go find Senior Brother Chen at the third quarter of the hour of midnight anyway. You probably won't be coming back after that."
Yun Ze's brows furrowed, "How did you know?"
"Lip reading."
Luo Yang said calmly, "This is one of the essential skills of the royal family. I can see people whispering from tens of meters away!"
"...It seems being an emperor is quite tiring."
Yun Ze was now interested in Luo Yang's news, "Alright, tell me."
"Do you know how many newcomers Senior Brother Xiao's gamble has scammed this time?"
"How many?"
"Ninety-five."
"...Who is the other one?" Yun Ze knew that the three of them weren't scammed, but he was curious about the identity of the other person.
"You know her, Su Ling'er."
It was her?
But thinking about it, with her speed, even in a one-on-one fight, a cultivator at the sixth level of Qi Refining wouldn't have an advantage.
"What does this news have to do with me?"
"They know that Senior Brother Chen is the one behind Senior Brother Xiao."
"So?"
"Senior Brother Chen lives with you. Now that they know you are Senior Brother Chen's person, and Senior Brother Chen is doing this, it's to establish your influence."
Luo Yang continued to analyze, "Think about it, if you were used as a stepping stone and trampled underfoot, only to pave the way for others, how would you feel?
They can't defeat cultivators at the sixth level of Qi Refining, but you now… are only at the third level of Qi Refining.
I think the top-tier disciples haven't made a move yet, but some high-tier disciples must have already started planning how to take your position as a top-tier disciple!"
Yun Ze's brows furrowed tightly.
He hadn't considered this move at all!
Chen Xiao's ruthlessness was not only in poisoning him and binding him to himself, but also in using this tactic to completely alienate him from his peers, thereby eliminating any possibility of him cultivating his own faction!
Of course, one move alone would clearly not be enough.
He had this idea, and he would undoubtedly put more effort into it later, until he completely placed himself in opposition to his peers!
"How is it?"
After a few breaths, Luo Yang asked back, "Is my news worth it?"
"Worth it."
Yun Ze replied, "What are their plans now?"
"I don't know about that."
Luo Yang replied, then extended his right hand towards Yun Ze, hovering in mid-air, "But I can help you. Join those disciples of the same generation and find out their plans.
As long as we form an alliance!"
Yun Ze looked at Luo Yang's right hand, not understanding, "This is..."
"An alliance!"
Luo Yang smiled, "It is said to be a tradition passed down from ancient times. As long as both parties shake hands, they agree to this plan and cannot go back on their word. It's a bit simpler than making an oath."
"This is the first time I've heard of it."
Yun Ze also extended his right hand and shook Luo Yang's, "Alliance!"
"Good! Then… are you going now?"
"Yes."
Yun Ze replied, let go, and turned to leave, "Otherwise, I will die."
Luo Yang's eyes flickered. After thinking for a moment, he called out, "Hey! Let's be clear first. If you die, I won't avenge you! Our alliance will be dissolved on the spot, okay!"
"Don't worry."
Yun Ze continued walking without looking back. After a pause, he added, "I will definitely tell Senior Brother Chen that you and I are like brothers, so he won't dare to kill me."
"Hey! You can't do that!"
Yun Ze just smiled, said nothing more, and slowly walked down the mountain.
When he arrived in front of that small house, it was precisely the third quarter of the hour of midnight.
"I thought you wouldn't come."
Chen Xiao's voice came from inside the house. The wooden door opened by itself.
Yun Ze tidied his emotions, his eyes filled with confusion and resentment, and he walked into the room.
"Senior Brother Chen, do I have any enmity with you?"
"None."
"Then why are you trying to kill me?"
"To death? No, no, no."
Chen Xiao grinned, the moonlight revealing his fangs.
"I just want you to be my dog. That's all."