Chapter 25

Hu Baijie stopped speaking halfway through her sentence because she thought it might not be necessary to say it. Although she felt a bit regretful, she also hoped that Hu San would take such action. Her relationship with Hengyi had been very difficult; she had initially stopped the task of tying up Hengyi because she admired his skills and performance on the stage. However, after a short period of interaction, she found that they could not communicate at all. Many of Hengyi's ideas were completely incomprehensible to her, making him seem like an outsider!

The two arrived at the largest inn in Lakehai City and went straight to the top floor.

This place was originally set up by the Hu family, and the innkeeper was the eleventh-generation descendant of Hu San. Seeing the family nameplate that Hu Baijie carried, which symbolized her seniority in the family, he not only called her ancestor but also did not charge any money.

Hu Baijie sat there with her mind wandering, pondering that Hu San might very well kill Hengyi to seize the treasure. She no longer had the patience she used to have and was less inclined to deliberately please Hengyi, thinking he would soon be a dead man. If possible, she even wanted to do it herself!

Hengyi talked about guiding his junior disciples after returning, and Hu Baijie found it increasingly annoying.

"Hengyi! Can't you care about yourself a bit?" Hu Baijie had never seen anyone like Hengyi. Clearly, his talent was far beyond what most people could reach, and his future would be on a completely different level from others. There was no need for him to pay too much attention to others; he should focus more on planning his own future. Yet, he seemed to want to spend all his free time helping those junior disciples whose talents were unknown. She had long been annoyed by this and did not want to hear Hengyi talk about it anymore.

"I'm doing fine, and I haven't neglected my practice. Of course, I should use my free time to help and supervise my junior disciples."

"I really think you're a freak!" Hu Baijie looked annoyed, wishing to finish the meal quickly and return to see Hu San, hoping to feel relieved afterward.

Hengyi was taken aback, noticing the impatience and disgust on Hu Baijie's face. He found it strange and was about to speak when a voice came through the wall clearly.

"It's been a while, Hengyi brother is still so interesting!"

Hengyi was slightly stunned and then stood up happily. "Chen Zizai!"

"Am I interrupting Hengyi brother and his beautiful companion? I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but my ears are just too sharp." Chen Zizai's voice was carefree and relaxed, making people feel at ease.

"Chen brother, since we've met, why don't we have a meal together?" Hengyi had a deep impression of Chen Zizai and always thought he was an interesting person, hoping for another chance to meet.

"Not good, I'm feeling a bit unwell today, and I don't want to infect others. I look terrible and don't want to see friends. How about I visit you at the Lakehai Sect another day?"

"Sure! When you come, I'll treat you to the immortal fruits from Lakehai Immortal Mountain. They taste amazing!" Hengyi had only tasted them once at the banquet after the cultivation test. The fruits were limited in production and said to be beneficial for cultivation, so ordinary disciples rarely got to eat them. They were usually provided to Hu San and outstanding disciples or high-ranking elders. Hengyi would receive a daily allocation in the future, but since he couldn't cultivate true qi, he planned to give them to Wang Feizi.

"Ha ha—What's so special about the immortal fruits from Lakehai Immortal Mountain? When we meet next, I'll bring some to share with Hengyi brother!"

"Who are you? What a big talk—" Hu Baijie couldn't help but get angry at the words that belittled the Lakehai Sect.

"You'll know who I am when I visit the Lakehai Sect. Miss, you have quite a temper, but I advise you not to come over. There are all kinds of medicines in the world, but there's no medicine for regret." Chen Zizai's calm tone carried a hint of disdain for others.

Hu Baijie was furious but didn't act rashly, especially since she sensed that the other party was deliberately provoking her, hoping to anger her into coming over. Although she didn't know why the other party had such hostility, she was more cautious now. "Hengyi, where did you meet this arrogant person? He's really impolite."

Hengyi hadn't expected this side of Chen Zizai and said, "Chen brother, your words are really harsh."

"Ha ha... I'm wrong, I apologize. Hengyi brother, please don't take it to heart."

"Chen brother has apologized, Baijie, don't mind it. When will you come to see me?" Hengyi saw that Baijie didn't say anything more and felt relieved.

"Very soon."

"Then we'll wait for your visit! Hengyi, let's go." Hu Baijie had no mood to continue eating and pulled Hengyi away. As they passed the door of the adjacent room, Hengyi still called out, "Chen brother, come soon, we have a deal!"

"Absolutely!"

After going downstairs, Hu Baijie inquired the innkeeper.

The innkeeper shook his head. "Three men and two women, I don't know where they're from, but they are surprisingly generous."

Hu Baijie was secretly puzzled. If they were important figures, she hadn't heard of any recent visits to the Lakehai Sect. Unless they had come specifically for Hengyi, which made her worry. Hengyi's brilliance in the cultivation test was too prominent, and both Hu San and she knew it would eventually attract people from other sects. If Chen Zizai had come for that purpose, it was too soon...

"How do you know this person?"

"I met him at the San Yuan Sect during the memorial for the second master. He's a very interesting person, very handsome, like the legendary Pan An..."

Hengyi didn't know much about him, so Hu Baijie could only guess with many doubts. She couldn't connect the name to anyone, and if he wasn't pretending, it might be an alias, or he might not be from the Peak Star Immortal Sect.

Back at the Lakehai Sect, Hu Baijie found an excuse not to go to the new method transmission hall and went directly to see Hu San, telling him everything that happened in Xishui City and about the unknown arrogant person at the inn.

Hu San listened, thought for a moment, and frowned at Hu Baijie. "Baijie, you need to be patient! Do you think I will definitely kill Hengyi to seize the treasure, so you don't want to pretend anymore?"

Hu Baijie lowered her head, not daring to argue. If not, why would her voice have been so loud that others could hear? "Baijie knows she was wrong!"

"You... are still too young! The soul integration artifact is indeed tempting, but the divine book's secret techniques are even more valuable! Hengyi's talent is no less than yours, and he is an invaluable treasure. Whether to seize the treasure is a matter worth considering, especially with the divine book's secret techniques. How can you not see which is more important?"

"Hasn't Dachuan already given the three levels of the divine book's secret techniques to the sect leader?"

"Naive child! Dachuan is not foolish. His willingness to give the three levels of the secret techniques only means one thing—there are more than four divine techniques! The techniques Hengyi used in the test were powerful, but didn't you notice the missing crucial parts? First, any complete set of techniques must have a method to sustain their effects; second, any complete set of techniques must have a powerful ultimate move."

Hu San's words made Hu Baijie realize her oversight. The techniques of the divine book were indeed powerful and strange, especially the instant slash, which she mistakenly thought was the ultimate move. "Baijie knows she was wrong!"

Hu San frowned and paced back and forth in the room. It was within his expectations that other major sects would target Hengyi, and it was inevitable. The key was whether Hengyi's heart was with the Lakehai Sect. Now that they had come so quickly, the only leverage Hu San had left was Dachuan. From Hu Baijie's thoughts, he realized that Hengyi was not liked by her, which was why she hoped Hengyi would die and be relieved. "Baijie, you're too slow! I had other plans for Hengyi initially, not wanting to burden you, but you took the initiative to handle the task during the test, which was very good! Now it's impossible to send someone else to replace you. No matter how difficult it is, you must succeed!"

"Disciple knows she was wrong! There was a breakthrough this morning, but Hai Shan ruined it! But I have already figured out Hengyi's preferences and will not disappoint the sect leader!"

Hu San said with annoyance, "Ignore Hai Shan!"

Hu Baijie, seeing this, tentatively asked, "Since the sect leader also dislikes her, why not remove her?"

"Deputy Sect Leader Hai has made great contributions to our sect. She became disabled for my sake, and for many years, she has been wholeheartedly planning and supporting the Lakehai Sect, never having a second thought. Hai Shan has now reached the Earth Rank, and she will surely be one of the pillars of our sect. How can she be removed? She may be a bit foolish and speak without thinking, but she is still devoted to the Lakehai Sect and wants to contribute. Don't take it to heart!"

Hu Baijie couldn't say anything more. She had heard from her mother about Hai Shan's past actions, where she had publicly accused Hu San of inappropriate behavior with his granddaughter multiple times. Once, during a New Year's reunion, she even shouted at Hu San, "Sect leader, you're shameless! You keep messing with your great-granddaughter and don't even care about her well-being, making her unable to get out of bed for days. How can you be so inhuman?"

As a result, she had been punished many times by the Hai family, but because Deputy Sect Leader Hai had always doted on Hai Shan, Hu San, though angry, had to consider her protection and never punished her. Later, he simply ignored her. Hai Shan had become the only person Hu San actively avoided, and over the years, both families had not mentioned those incidents, but everyone knew how foolish and outspoken she was.

Since Hu San didn't hold it against her, others couldn't either. Whoever encountered her just had to accept their bad luck.

After being scolded by Hu San, Hu Baijie hurried to the new method transmission hall and enthusiastically helped Hengyi teach the other disciples the divine book's techniques. After midnight, when it was time to rest, she also learned the second move, the ultimate blade transformation, from Hengyi, mastering it in one night due to her solid foundation.

"Wang Feizi has extraordinary talent." During the rest, Hu Baijie noticed that Wang Feizi, who was teaching the other disciples, had already reached the second level of the Law Rank. Knowing that she had only started practicing for less than a year, Hu Baijie immediately realized that Wang Feizi had outstanding talent.

"Little sister is amazing! She's making rapid progress." Hengyi was also proud of Wang Feizi, confident that she would win the first place in the top ten outstanding disciples. Given her cultivation speed, this was a certainty, even more so than his own victory in the top ten.

Hu Baijie also secretly thought that Dachuan must have accumulated good karma, mysteriously obtaining the divine book's techniques and taking in several disciples. Hengyi aside, there were a few others with obvious talent. The others' levels were still unclear, but Wang Feizi was undoubtedly very talented. In the 300 years of the Lakehai Sect, including herself, only four true talents had emerged. One was now a deputy sect leader in the Heavenly King Sect, and the other two were Hai Yuntian and Hai Shan, who had reached the Earth Rank. Wang Feizi, who had never taken any immortal elixirs or spirit medicines, had already shown that her talent was no less than Hai Shan and Hai Yuntian, and possibly even higher.

Hu Baijie believed that when Hu San learned about Wang Feizi, he would certainly cultivate her intensively, gathering spirit medicines to help her enter the Qi Supplement stage, making up for the late start in cultivation.

Thinking about this, Hu Baijie couldn't help but have a fleeting thought. For hundreds of years, the Lakehai Sect had not made much progress. The most significant event was forming a stable alliance with the Heavenly King Sect. Suddenly, in recent years, talents had emerged one after another: Hai Yuntian, then Hai Shan, followed by herself, and now the San Yuan Sect had brought revolutionary improvements to the sect's techniques, along with the discovery of two outstanding talents.

Could it be that fate was favoring the Lakehai Sect?