Chapter 15

Chen Hai did not mind being used as a pawn. Chen Lie might not pay attention to his situation in the short term, and Chen Qing had already made up his mind to teach him a lesson. Being useful in Tieliu Ridge was better than being useless, but the key was to first sort out the complex relationships among the Chai family, Chai Rong, and the disciples of the noble and common families in Tieliu Ridge...

After thinking through these matters, Chen Hai pretended to be indifferent and spread his hands to Zhou Jun, saying:

"Even if Senior Brother Chai really tries to do something to me, I can just admit defeat on the battlefield. What can they do to me?"

Hearing Chen Hai's carefree tone, Zhou Jun couldn't help but clap and laugh, saying, "If Junior Brother Yao can think this way, I have nothing to worry about."

Chen Hai sneered inwardly. He had taken over someone else's body, and his soul had a hidden ailment, so he needed to intensify his cultivation to save his life. However, he was not willing to admit defeat easily. His previous words were just a test of Zhou Jun's true intentions.

Seeing Zhou Jun's expression, Chen Hai knew his guess was not far off. He then asked, following Zhou Jun's tone:

"My knowledge is shallow. Even though the Chai family is a major clan in Mengyi, with many members holding important positions in the Tieliu Camp, the Dao Academy is not under the control of the Tieliu Camp. Who is backing them, making Chai Rong dare to act so recklessly?"

"Zhang Huaiyu, the Transmission Elder of Tieliu Ridge, is Chai's son-in-law..." Zhou Jun said in a low voice.

Chen Hai thought it was no wonder that Zhou Jun couldn't intervene in the disciple competition, and even the Deputy Dean Zhao Ruhui couldn't intervene. It was also no wonder that Ge Tong had kindly warned him, and his companions looked so anxious. The Transmission Elder, who supervised the cultivation of all the Dao soldiers in Tieliu Ridge, was also from the Chai family.

The Dao Academy of Tieliu Ridge usually handled all its affairs with the four major elders: the Deputy Dean, the Transmission Elder, the Heavenly Punishment Elder, and the Armament Elder. Among them, the Armament Elder was the representative of the Wuwei Army in the Dao Academy, ensuring that the disciples cultivated to supply the Wuwei Army with grassroots military officers. In practice, this position was held by the commandant of the Tieliu Camp stationed in the nearby city...

After chatting with Zhou Jun for a while, Chen Hai learned that among the more than 400 Dao soldiers who had reached the Tongxuan realm, nearly 100 were from the Chai family or their retainers. For many years, they had been in fierce competition with the disciples from humble backgrounds like Zhou Jun.

Although the Chen family had a stronger influence in the Taowei Sect and the various counties of Hexi than the Chai family, their descendants were mainly concentrated in the Weijiang Camp and the Cuiqing Peak Dao Academy in the northern foothills of the Taowei Mountains. Moreover, the Chen family and the Chai family had a long-standing grudge and had not been on good terms for many years.

Now, the Chen family suddenly sent a descendant to the Tieliu Ridge Dao Academy, which inevitably caused some tension among the Chai family.

Chen Hai now understood that Chen Qing had sent him to Tieliu Ridge with the intention of letting the Chai family's descendants deal with him.

Realizing this, Chen Hai felt a chill down his spine, realizing he had underestimated Chen Qing.

But Chen Hai then thought that Chen Qing's intentions might not be so complex or malicious. It was also possible that the maid Su Zilin had secretly incited him. At least Su Zilin was more worrying. Chen Hai guessed that Su Zilin must have known that with Yao Xing's violent temper, he would not tolerate being bullied in Tieliu Ridge. Once he got into a serious conflict with the Chai family's descendants, his situation would not only become difficult but also dangerous.

Chen Hai cursed inwardly. Others who had crossed over to another world enjoyed a good life, but he, who had been used and died by Su Qian in his previous life, was still being manipulated by two evil women in this new world...

******

After sending off Zhou Jun, Chen Hai had no mood for cultivation. He casually closed the courtyard gate, wrapped the chi dragon paperweight in a cloth, and went down the mountain for the first time.

Although the Dao Academy had not deliberately built a city at the foot of the mountain, the 2,000 Dao soldiers lived in the valley between the main peak on the east slope and Mengyi City, forming a large number of courtyards. This actually created a sizable market town outside Mengyi City.

The market for disciples was located in the central area of the courtyards, gradually forming a large market along a stone street.

Chen Hai thought about exchanging the chi dragon paperweight for more elixirs for cultivation. Even if he couldn't establish himself in the Dao Academy, he hoped to lay a foundation before being expelled.

The light rain had just stopped, and the stone street was moist. The sky was dark, and the wooden buildings on both sides were made of blue bricks and black tiles, built quite neatly. There were about seven or eight shops that were quite busy.

Chen Hai was surprised to see that the shopkeepers and assistants were mostly ordinary people, as he had previously thought the Dao Academy was independent of the management of Mengyi City and the Tieliu Camp.

As he passed a small shop, Chen Hai unexpectedly saw Ge Tong standing at the counter, looking at two bronze artifacts displayed by the shopkeeper. The shopkeeper, who looked to be in his thirties, wore a common silk shirt but had a black belt with a mysterious pattern of a black goose, indicating he was a Dao soldier from Tieliu Ridge and a black-clothed disciple with the potential to become a military officer.

Chen Hai walked into the shop and greeted Ge Tong, "Senior Brother Ge is here too!"

Ge Tong's expression was quite cold, lacking the warmth and enthusiasm he had shown when warning Chen Hai about Chai Rong's revenge. He only nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

Ge Tong had served in the Tieliu Camp for five years and had just returned to the Dao Academy to continue his cultivation when he encountered Chen Hai being bullied by Chai Rong. He disapproved of Chai Rong's character, which was why he had warned Chen Hai. However, he did not know that "Yao Xing" was a notorious noble disciple.

By now, Ge Tong had heard from his fellow disciples about "Yao Xing's" various misdeeds, so his attitude toward "Yao Xing" naturally became cold, and he did not want to have any interaction with him.

Chen Hai, seeing the change in Ge Tong's attitude, knew what had happened. But he was isolated in the Dao Academy and could not give up at this point.

Chen Hai pretended not to notice Ge Tong's coldness and walked into the shop with a smile, squeezing to the counter and saying:

"I am just a newcomer to Tieliu Ridge, and Senior Brother Zhou Jun has been quite helpful, but it's hard to see him even once. I can't find anyone to guide me in cultivation. If I disturb you in the future, please don't mind..."

Ge Tong was extremely embarrassed, as he had just kindly warned Chen Hai to be careful about Chai Rong's revenge.

Although he did not want to have any interaction with such a noble disciple, he had a thin face and could not just walk away. He could only stand at the counter and chat with Chen Hai, albeit reluctantly:

"My cultivation is also shallow, and I will soon leave the sect. I dare not talk about guiding anyone!"

Chen Hai was very clear that Chen Qing had sent him to Tieliu Ridge to throw him into the wolf pack of the Chai family's descendants, and Zhou Jun and Zhao Ruhui were only using him. If he wanted to establish himself in the Dao Academy, Ge Tong, with his warm and straightforward character, would be his only hope.

Even though Ge Tong showed signs of impatience and wanted to leave, Chen Hai, who had entered the antiques circle on Earth, had thickened his skin. He thought that even a fierce woman would be afraid of persistent pursuit, and he was confident that Ge Tong would not escape his grasp.

Chen Hai pretended to be delighted to meet Ge Tong and insisted on inviting him to a nearby tavern for a drink. Ge Tong, with his straightforward nature, had been a celibate cultivator in the military camp and had no family, so he had never encountered such a persistent and shameless person like Chen Hai.

His face was full of unwillingness, but he had no excuse to refuse...

The shopkeeper, seeing Ge Tong's dilemma, interjected, "Senior Brother Ge, do you want to buy these two bronze artifacts? I can pack them for you, and you won't have to carry them yourself. I can have someone deliver them to your residence."

Ge Tong's eyes lit up, thinking that buying the two bronze artifacts would allow him to get rid of "Yao Xing" who was bothering him.

Although the Taowei Sect had powerful magical treasures that could fly and move mountains, the two bronze artifacts on the counter were ordinary household items. Even for immortal-level figures, not every daily item they used could be a powerful magical treasure.

The cauldron and the pot on the counter were both about two feet tall, with exquisite shapes, patterns, and ancient inscriptions. There were some golden-red rust marks on the bodies, and the bronze itself had an old color, as if it had been used for many years.

"These pot and cauldron were used by the immortal Gu Yijing. After his passing, his descendants, unable to maintain the family, sold these 500-year-old ancestral treasures. If it weren't for Senior Brother Ge's discernment, they might have remained hidden for many more years before finding a new owner..." The shopkeeper, seeing Ge Tong's willingness to buy the two bronze artifacts, was delighted and added a few more words of praise.

Chen Hai initially thought the shop sold ordinary household bronze items, but he was surprised to find that these two bronze artifacts were actually antiques.

He did not know who the immortal Gu Yijing was, but from Ge Tong's expression, Gu Yijing must have been a revered immortal cultivator, a very remarkable figure. Therefore, the daily items left behind after his passing, even if not magical treasures, were extremely valuable.

"Can I take a look at this pot?" Seeing the shopkeeper about to pack the pot and cauldron into a large sandalwood box, Chen Hai reached out and took the bronze pot. He rubbed the golden-red rust on the edge of the pot with his fingers, and a bit of rust came off. Looking at the old color of the pot, which was not smooth and even, he couldn't help but laugh. He never expected that there were people in the Taowei Sect who made and sold fake antiques.

This was his old profession!

"Shopkeeper, I don't think you should sell this pot to Senior Brother Ge!" Chen Hai, not knowing how deep the water was behind the shop, did not directly expose the fraud. He put the bronze pot back on the counter and smiled at the shopkeeper, "If you don't mind me competing with your shop, I have a plaything that might be more to Senior Brother Ge's liking..."

Chen Hai opened the bundle on his back and placed the chi dragon paperweight he had brought from Jianyun Cliff on the counter.

Although the chi dragon paperweight was not a rare treasure, as a tool used by a core descendant of the Chen family, it had a unique aura after being played with by Chen Lie for many years. Compared to the bronze pot, it had a distinct charm.

The shopkeeper, seeing Chen Hai's actions, knew he had met an expert. But since Chen Hai did not directly expose the fraud, he maintained his dignity and said with a smile, "This paperweight of Young Master Xing is indeed extraordinary, so I won't show off my inferior skills..." He then put away the bronze pot and cauldron, not complaining about Chen Hai ruining his deal.