"If I'm forced to betray the Immortal Sect, I will kill you."
The tone of Sun Qingde's message was surprisingly calm.
There was no authority of an elder, no resentment or impatience.
It was cold and devoid of emotion.
As if saying: Killing you is like crushing an ant.
Not worth mentioning.
"Today's matter is of great importance. Everyone present must keep their mouths shut and wait for the Immortal Sect's orders. If anyone speaks out, according to the tenth rule of the Sect Rules, death!"
After saying this, Sun Qingde tossed a pair of silver boots to Zhu Xiaosuo.
"This is your mission reward, the Cloud-Walking Boots."
Before Zhu Xiaosuo could thank him, Sun Qingde transformed into an Escaping Light and disappeared into the horizon.
Ba Mingyang immediately came to Zhu Xiaosuo's side:
"Brother Zhu, you're amazing! You defeated Sun Qingde again!"
The other cultivators looked at the Cloud-Walking Boots in Zhu Xiaosuo's arms with both jealousy and admiration.
Zhuang Yun also beamed with joy, as his own breakthrough was finally within reach.
Even Zhu Jingyue came over specifically to praise him as a young hero.
But Zhu Xiaosuo only absentmindedly responded to the congratulations from all sides.
All because of Sun Qingde's words.
I will kill you.
Since coming to this world of cultivation, he had always been focused on planning and scheming.
He didn't care much about cultivation matters.
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In this world of cultivation, the Sect Rules and the laws of the local authorities were very comprehensive.
Under the protection of these rules and laws, high-level cultivators couldn't easily kill low-level ones.
He had always been worried about not obtaining cultivation resources, never considering his own safety.
Until Sun Qingde told him that high-level cultivators without scruples could kill him at will.
Only then did he realize he had taken the wrong path.
Recently, Zhu Xiaosuo had come into contact with many people of high status.
The City Lord, the Sect's resident, the Sect Elder.
They all had one thing in common.
They possessed strength commensurate with their status.
Without strength, scheming and plotting were just minor tricks.
Even if he was more cunning and thoughtful than Ba Shanyue, so what?
If he remained at the Rebirth Stage for life, no one would even glance at him.
Matching one's own strength was fundamental.
Zhu Xiaosuo finally made up his mind.
He had to cultivate.
If Sun Qingde really betrayed the Immortal Sect, how could a mere Mountain Chicken County, without even a Bone Transformation Stage cultivator, withstand the attack of a Humbling the Present Stage cultivator?
He could only rely on himself.
After bidding farewell to everyone, Zhu Xiaosuo and Zhuang Yun returned to Mountain Chicken County together.
Zhuang Yun also noticed that Zhu Xiaosuo was not in high spirits.
"What's wrong? You don't seem very happy."
Zhu Xiaosuo didn't plan to tell Zhuang Yun about being threatened by a Humbling the Present Stage cultivator.
In his eyes, their life-and-death friendship was fragile.
He feared that if he spoke up, Zhuang Yun, who had already received the Cloud-Walking Boots, would immediately sever ties to avoid trouble.
Then Zhu Xiaosuo would have nowhere to cry.
"No, I'm just thinking about how to proceed with my cultivation."
Zhuang Yun didn't answer directly but said:
"You shouldn't have stood up to confront Sun Qingde."
Zhu Xiaosuo didn't respond.
But his heart skipped a beat.
Could it be that Zhuang Yun had already seen through Sun Qingde's threat?
Zhuang Yun continued:
"When Sun Qingde wanted to drag City Lord Zhu and the others into the water, they would certainly want to protect themselves. You just needed to step aside and let them argue with Sun Qingde."
Zhu Xiaosuo shook his head:
"That's not possible. Sun Qingde was retreating to advance. It seemed like he wanted to drag the three city lords into the water, but he actually wanted to manipulate me."
"Oh? How do you know?"
"I've heard a theory. When a group of people is in a room, if you think it's too dark and suggest opening a skylight, everyone will surely refuse. But if you propose tearing down the roof, they'll compromise and agree to open a skylight."
Zhu Xiaosuo gazed aimlessly at the distant scenery:
"Sun Qingde felt it was too tiring to take the blame alone and wanted to share it with me. The three city lords had been openly and secretly fighting him for years. This was their chance to put him to death, so they wouldn't agree. But if he said he wanted to overthrow the three city lords, they might be willing to push me out as a scapegoat."
Zhuang Yun listened and smoothed his sideburns.
"Zhu Xiaosuo, you're quite the clever one to think of all this."
"If the three city lords spoke up, I would likely become a bargaining chip in their tug-of-war, with my fate out of my own hands. So I had to argue for myself."
Zhuang Yun praised him repeatedly but also hinted:
"If your cultivation was as outstanding as your mind, that would be great."
Although Zhuang Yun didn't say it directly, Zhu Xiaosuo heard the underlying message.
Zhuang Yun probably already guessed about Sun Qingde's threat.
But since Zhu Xiaosuo didn't mention it, Zhuang Yun left him some dignity and didn't expose it.
Zhu Xiaosuo smiled bitterly in his heart.
Why is there not a single fool around me?
Everyday dealings are too difficult.
He asked again:
"I know my strength is my weak point. How should I proceed with my cultivation?"
Zhuang Yun replied:
"Focus on improving your strength to reach the Perfected Stage of the Rebirth Stage, Third Layer. That way, you can take the Immortal Sect examination early."
"Take the Immortal Sect examination early? If I cultivate to the Fourth or Fifth Layer before taking the examination, will there be rewards?"
"The Rebirth Stage from the First to Third Layer is the early stage, with no bottlenecks in breakthroughs. As long as resources are sufficient, breakthroughs are as natural as breathing.
But the Fourth to Sixth Layer is the middle stage, with a barrier between the Third and Fourth Layer. The resources needed for a breakthrough vary from person to person."
"What are the benefits of taking the Immortal Sect examination?"
"After the first examination task, cultivators who pass will receive a Rebirth Pill. Taking it can easily overcome the bottleneck of the early Rebirth Stage, saving you many cultivation resources. And this Rebirth Pill can only be used in the early Rebirth Stage. So if you use resources to reach the Fourth Layer, it would be a huge waste."
Zhu Xiaosuo nodded.
"I was just asking. I can't even gather the resources to reach the Perfected Stage of the Rebirth Stage, Third Layer. Where would I get the Spirit Stones to break through to the Fourth or Fifth Layer?"
Zhuang Yun couldn't help but laugh.
"Why does my godfather laugh?"
"I wanted to leave you some dignity, but you just had to push it. Zhu Xiaosuo, are you still pretending to be poor with me? Why don't you explain where you got the resources to cultivate from the Second to Third Layer of the Rebirth Stage?"
Twenty Spirit Stones.
Equivalent to two hundred thousand taels of silver.
How could he explain that?
He could only give a vague answer.
"Family business and opportunity."
"Then rely on your family business and opportunity to reach the Perfected Stage of the Rebirth Stage, Third Layer, won't you?"
Seeing Zhuang Yun's teasing expression, Zhu Xiaosuo didn't reply.
He just continued on his way silently.
It seemed that Zhuang Yun had also figured out that he had cultivation resources.
This old man is truly cunning.
How does he guess everything?
Zhu Xiaosuo felt like his earlier concealment was as transparent as a young actor's performance in a past life drama.
For the rest of the journey, Zhu Xiaosuo didn't speak again.
But he felt as if he were standing naked before Zhuang Yun.
Extremely uneasy.
After a long time, Zhu Xiaosuo asked:
"Why don't you kill me?"
Kill, as in kill to seize treasures.
Since he knew Zhu Xiaosuo had cultivation resources, why didn't Zhuang Yun just kill him?
Zhuang Yun lowered his eyes and said:
"Because you're good."
Zhu Xiaosuo was puzzled by Zhuang Yun's answer:
"Because I'm good?"
"Because you're good. When I was young, I wished I could be like you. Unfortunately, I wasn't as smart, as dignified, or as handsome as you."
"That's it?"
"My youthful aspirations were never realized, and I've always regretted it. Now, seeing the ideal young version of myself, I want to know what you'll become in the future."
Just as Zhu Xiaosuo was about to retort, he saw Zhuang Yun's face turn desolate, as if he had aged decades.
He wanted to offer some comfort but suddenly realized.
He himself was over fifty years old.