Chapter 84

（Yesterday, I received six hundred red tickets, thank you, brothers...）

Human debts must be repaid. Chen Xun held the Nine Yuan Nourishing Aperture Pill in his hand, which was a rare find. Gu Hu pondered for a moment and said to Chen Xun, "This Nine Yuan Nourishing Aperture Pill, along with the spiritual pill that Jianfeng took on the journey, should not be worth less than two thousand Blood Gathering Pills. The Black Mountain Tribe can't come up with so many at once. Could we pay you two hundred Blood Gathering Pills per season?"

At this moment, Gu Hu felt embarrassed to take advantage of Chen Xun. He knew that two Nine Yuan Nourishing Aperture Pills, converted to two thousand Blood Gathering Pills made by the Black Mountain Tribe, were extremely cheap. However, the Black Mountain Tribe had nothing to offer in exchange for the Nine Yuan Nourishing Aperture Pills except for Jianfeng's Vajra Mystic Armor, so he could only think of paying in installments.

The grand ceremony for new disciples caused a stir throughout the city, and Gu Jianfeng naturally knew that the Nine Yuan Nourishing Aperture Pill given to him by Zong Ya was guessed to have been obtained by Chen Xun from Su Tang.

Although this matter should not be widely publicized, it was no longer a secret.

After asking Chen Xun, Gu Jianfeng recounted the events of the trial journey to his father, Gu Hu.

What others didn't know was that when Su Tang left the Lake Marsh Wilderness, she had refined a total of thirty-nine Nine Yuan Nourishing Aperture Pills for Chen Xun.

If this news leaked out, not only the Black Mountain Tribe, but even half of Canglan City would go crazy.

However, who knew how many荒兽 (wild beasts) comparable to the Rebirth Realm strength were killed in the ravine during the massacre on Dagu Peak?

It was precisely because they collected so much beast blood and so many bear hearts and ape gallbladders that they could refine nearly forty Nine Yuan Nourishing Aperture Pills, which was almost equivalent to the academy's production for half a year.

Since the matter involved some secrets of Dagu Peak, Chen Xun could not let this information leak out at all.

Hearing that Gu Hu wanted to repay him for the Nine Yuan Nourishing Aperture Pill that Gu Jianfeng took, Chen Xun hurriedly declined, saying, "Jianfeng is like a brother to me. The Nine Yuan Nourishing Aperture Pill he took during the trial was to protect Zong Ya and the others. If Jianfeng couldn't break through to the sixth level, I alone couldn't capture Lou Shiyi and get through this crisis. We shared the hardships together, Uncle, why do you mention it again? As for this Nine Yuan Nourishing Aperture Pill, the Black Mountain Tribe can use it first, and you can give me a thousand Black Python Pills in total, paid quarterly..."

Chen Xun was not greedy. A thousand Black Python Pills, paid by the Black Mountain Tribe over two and a half years, plus the Black Python's contribution, would give him a stable income of 130 Black Python Pills per quarter for two and a half years.

This way, he could focus on cultivation without being distracted by the need for pills.

Another main reason was that during this trial, the Black Mountain Tribe suffered significant losses among its promising young disciples. Currently, only Gu Feng among the Black Mountain Tribe's young disciples had awakened a barbarian soul and advanced to the middle-stage barbarian warrior.

Who would take the Nine Yuan Nourishing Aperture Pill was something the Black Mountain Tribe would carefully consider, but Chen Xun guessed that as long as Gu Feng could successfully advance to the peak of the sixth level before he turned sixteen, the Black Mountain Tribe had no reason to give the pill to anyone else.

Gu Feng had shared the hardships with them on the trial journey and was someone they could trust in the future.

Even if the Black Mountain Tribe didn't give him a thousand Black Python Pills, he would find a way to give Gu Feng a Nine Yuan Nourishing Aperture Pill in the future.

Now, this was a win-win situation, and it was time for the Black Mountain Tribe to pay a price.

"Thank you." Gu Hu, who didn't know the many thoughts behind Chen Xun's seemingly innocent face, was deeply grateful when Chen Xun insisted on only a thousand low-grade spirit pills. He knew that paying two hundred Blood Gathering Pills per season would still be a significant burden for the Black Mountain Tribe, even affecting the cultivation of other clan members. He thanked Chen Xun and didn't insist further, and they settled the matter.

Gu Chen was also sincerely convinced by Chen Xun. He couldn't imagine anyone else who would easily give up a thousand low-grade spirit pills.

This was almost the Black Mountain Tribe's output for six or seven years!

Gu Hu then discussed the Black Mountain Tribe's future arrangements in Canglan City with Chen Xun and Zong Tu.

The Black Mountain Tribe would first fully support the alliance of the nine tribes, uniting as one to stand firm in Canglan City. Secondly, Gu Chen would stay in Canglan City with Gu Jianfeng.

Although Gu Jianfeng did not enter the Canglan Academy this time, he had already advanced to the upper-stage barbarian warrior at the age of sixteen, with a high possibility of breaking through to the Rebirth Realm and becoming a Heavenly Barbarian in the future.

The Black Mountain Tribe was also determined to invest all cultivation resources in Gu Jianfeng.

Whether it was to strive to enter the Canglan Academy in three years or to stay in Canglan City as a wandering cultivator, the resources he could obtain would far exceed those in the remote Pythontooth Ridge.

Although the Black Mountain Tribe could refine few spirit pills, they had a large number of people and could trade a much larger quantity of goods than the Black Python.

Gu Chen would stay to manage the Black Mountain Tribe's affairs and trade in Canglan City, but his main task was to protect Gu Jianfeng's focused cultivation.

Others who would stay with Gu Chen and Gu Jianfeng included Gu Yuan, Gu Feng, and others known to Chen Xun.

The Black Python's future affairs in Canglan City would not be many, and Zong Tu had already made it clear to Gu Hu that the Black Python would be led by Zong Ya, and many matters would rely on the support of the Black Mountain Tribe; Chen Xun would establish his own sect in Canglan City.

Seeing that Zong Tu not only did not try to retain Chen Xun in the Black Python but also supported him in establishing his own sect, Gu Hu felt a bit regretful. He had hoped Chen Xun would stay with the Black Python.

This was a world where the strong ruled.

Chen Xun, at just thirteen or fourteen, had shown such extraordinary strength and wisdom. With a few more years of cultivation, he had a high chance of advancing to the Rebirth Realm and even becoming a powerful figure who could suppress the Gui Xi Tribe and dominate the Pythontooth Ridge.

More importantly, Chen Xun valued righteousness and had a great sense of justice towards the northern tribes. Gu Hu hoped to support him as the core of the nine-tribe alliance, rather than placing all hopes on the girl from the Zuo Ji Tribe.

However, since Chen Xun was going to establish his own sect, his ties with the nine tribes would weaken, making Gu Hu's thoughts difficult to realize.

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After settling this, Gu Hu proposed going to the western courtyard to visit Zuo Chonggu of the Zuo Ji Tribe.

The alliance of the nine tribes needed the Zuo Ji Tribe to lead, and the affairs of the nine tribes in Canglan City would naturally be centered around the Zuo Ji Tribe.

Before they reached the western courtyard, Chen Xun sensed a faint spiritual light above it, indicating additional protective barriers.

Chen Xun was surprised that someone in Zuo Chonggu's entourage could set up a low-grade array, indicating that the Zuo Ji Tribe was stronger than he had imagined.

Not knowing whether the array was too low-grade or if his spiritual sense had improved, Chen Xun focused his mind and, as if piercing through water, his spiritual sense penetrated the faint protective light and clearly heard the intense argument inside:

"Although Chen Xun is acquainted with the Canglan Heavenly Maiden Su Tang, Su Tang, despite her high status in Canglan City and the Su Clan, has less real power than even the veteran warrior Zuo Wei Su Quan. The grand ceremony for new disciples has reportedly caused Su Tang to be reprimanded by the Su Clan's patriarch. It will be very difficult for Chen Xun to seek protection under Su Tang's wing in the future..."

Chen Xun couldn't identify the voice but guessed that the person had a high position in the Zuo Ji Tribe. He thought they had added the protective barrier to prevent their argument from being overheard.

Chen Xun hadn't expected that Zuo Chonggu and others would have internal disagreements so soon after entering Canglan City.

Then, Zuo Qiu's voice came, "If others didn't care about Chen Xun's relationship with Su Tang, why would they deliberately leak the information to us?"

Zuo Qiu's question was concise and powerful, leaving the previous speaker speechless.

After a moment, another voice said, "The strength of the Gui Xi Tribe is self-evident, and Lou Shiyi, possessing ancient bloodline, has already become a disciple of Qingyangzi. His enmity with Chen Xun cannot be easily resolved. Even if the Su Clan gives Lou Shiyi a chance to avenge his humiliation for Qingyangzi's sake, Su Tang will find it hard to stop him. Does Chen Xun really have a chance to defeat Lou Shiyi, who has cultivated under Qingyangzi?"

Chen Xun had been in seclusion for over a month and didn't know who Qingyangzi was, but from the tone of the person in the courtyard, Qingyangzi's status in the Canglan Academy was undoubtedly high. It seemed his previous speculation was correct.

However, the deliberate leak of information to the Zuo Ji Tribe made him feel a chill:

If Lou Shiyi, having cultivated under Qingyangzi, came to challenge him openly, how would he deal with it?

"We can still maintain our independence if we distance ourselves from the Black Python. I will work on the other seven tribes..." a voice came from the courtyard.

Seeing Chen Xun stop, Zong Tu frowned and asked, "What's wrong?"

Chen Xun didn't think it was abnormal for the Zuo Ji Tribe to have internal disagreements. He remembered how Zong Tu and Nan Liao had argued fiercely about whether to hand over the Golden Wolf's corpse.

Chen Xun was more concerned about Zuo Chonggu and Zuo Qiu's stance, wondering if they also wanted to exclude the Black Python from the nine-tribe alliance.

If the Black Python was excluded, it would be a big problem. Not only would the Black Python not get a chance to rest and recover, but his plan to establish his own sect in Canglan City and focus on cultivation would be impossible. Would he really have to flee Canglan?

Chen Xun didn't tell Grandfather Zong Tu about the argument in the courtyard but stopped and continued listening.

Gu Hu, Gu Chen, and Gu Jianfeng, hearing no sound from the western courtyard, also slowed their steps.

After a long silence, Zuo Qiu's voice came from inside:

"Whether joining the Black Python is beneficial or not, I don't know; how Chen Xun will deal with Lou Shiyi after he has cultivated, I also don't know. But I do know that Qianlan gave up the opportunity to enter the inner court of the academy to be with Chen Xun. How will we face Qianlan if we exclude the Black Python now?"

Zuo Qiu's persuasion worked, and Zuo Chonggu followed up:

"Qiu is right. Although Qianlan is currently focused on cultivation and can't meet us, we must consider her opinion."

Qianlan was the future hope of the Zuo Ji Tribe and the only one who could influence its stance.

Lou Shiyi possessed ancient bloodline, and so did Qianlan. The Zuo Ji Tribe had no reason to fear Lou Shiyi's future cultivation and alienate the other eight tribes.

After Zuo Chonggu spoke, the courtyard fell silent, and no more arguments were heard, indicating a unified decision.

Chen Xun thought Zuo Qiu was indeed skilled at persuasion.

He also knew Zuo Qiu was trustworthy and nodded to Grandfather Zong Tu, indicating it was time to enter.

Knocking on the door, they found only Zuo Chonggu and Zuo Qiu left to discuss matters with Chen Xun.

Zong Tu and Zuo Hu expressed that the Black Python and the Black Mountain Tribe supported the Zuo Ji Tribe as the core of the nine-tribe alliance and would follow their coordination.

Hearing that Chen Xun would establish his own sect, Zuo Qiu was surprised, but Zuo Chonggu was less worried. They agreed to visit Ge Yi the next day to inform Su Qingfeng about the nine-tribe alliance through him.