Zhou Kai shook his head.
Chen Muhui let out a cold laugh. “Because inside the Desolate Spiritual Herb Grounds, there are said to be several key herbs used to refine Foundation Establishment Pills! Celestial Spring Sect doesn’t lack Foundation Establishment Pills, nor do they lack those few herbs. They open the Desolate Spiritual Herb Grounds and don’t take any of the herbs we gather just to put on a show.”
“Their real purpose is to control the flow of Foundation Establishment Pills! As long as they firmly control the pills, the families below will fight over them and remain completely loyal.”
“There aren’t even particularly strong restrictions in the Desolate Spiritual Herb Grounds. In theory, it could be entered at any time. Setting it to open every fifteen years is simply about controlling the rhythm and selecting which affiliated families are worth nurturing.”
Chen Muhui raised his cup and downed it in one gulp, muttering, “They want the horse to run, but they don’t want to feed it well! They’re afraid that if subordinate families grow too strong, they’ll be hard to control!”
Zhou Kai pondered. “I still don’t quite understand. Why would a Nascent Soul Realm sect feel threatened by small families at the Qi Refining or Foundation Establishment Realms? To them, wiping us out would be effortless.”
Chen Muhui scoffed. “You’re thinking too simply. Who does the Celestial Spring Sect truly care about? The Golden Core forces that depend on them!”
“And who do those Golden Core forces manage? The Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining families beneath them. Don’t you see? It’s one layer controlling the next.”
Zhou Kai nodded in realization. “So Celestial Spring Sect isn’t targeting us directly. They’re putting on a show for the Golden Core forces, letting them tighten their grip on us, the subordinates of their subordinates.”
“Exactly!” Chen Muhui, emboldened by wine, raised his voice slightly. “We’re only nominal affiliates of Celestial Spring Sect! We’re not truly one of them!”
As expected, none of these great sects were simple.
They played their games layer upon layer.
The banquet atmosphere became strange after the two major announcements. Although cups still clinked and laughter echoed, many were clearly distracted, eyes flickering as they calculated silently.
Zhou Kai was not overly concerned. The Desolate Spiritual Herb Grounds might be worth a visit. As for Shen Hanyi… three Foundation Establishment Pills were tempting, but only if one had the life to claim them. That woman did not seem simple at all.
Improving his own strength was what mattered most.
The banquet lasted until late at night before gradually dispersing.
Just as Zhou Kai prepared to leave, a voice stopped him.
“Guest Elder Zhou, please wait.”
He turned to see Fifth Elder Chen Heming.
“Fifth Elder, is something the matter?” Zhou Kai asked.
Chen Heming’s face remained expressionless. “The Patriarch and Sixth Elder wish to see you. Come with me.”
Patriarch Chen Rulong? And the newly appointed Sixth Elder Chen Xingze?
He had little interaction with either of them. In fact, today was his first time seeing Chen Xingze. His only real contact had been with Chen Heming, who managed the Guest Elder Hall.
“Very well.” Zhou Kai nodded and followed the Fifth Elder toward a side chamber behind the main hall.
Seated at the head was Patriarch Chen Rulong. On his left sat Sixth Elder Chen Xingze. On his right were the two Celestial Spring Sect Inner Sect Disciples who had been accompanying Chen Xingze.
Four pairs of eyes focused on Zhou Kai.
Especially Chen Xingze’s, which carried undisguised scrutiny.
Zhou Kai’s heart skipped a beat, but his face remained calm as he cupped his hands. “Greetings, Patriarch. Greetings, Sixth Elder. Greetings, seniors.”
Chen Rulong nodded but did not speak.
It was Chen Xingze who leaned slightly forward, his gaze sharp as a blade, locking onto Zhou Kai.
“Guest Elder Zhou, I heard you went to Hidden Beast Mountain yesterday.”
“And returned injured?”
Patriarch Chen Rulong sat motionless at the head seat, his fingers tapping lightly against the armrest, the soft tapping echoing clearly in the quiet chamber.
The two Celestial Spring Sect disciples beside him watched with cold eyes.
“They’re quick with information,” Zhou Kai cursed inwardly.
Yet outwardly he remained respectful, even allowing a hint of confusion and modest anxiety to show.
“Reporting to Sixth Elder,” Zhou Kai said with a slight bow, “yesterday I followed Fifth Elder’s instructions to hunt demon beasts in the outer region of Hidden Beast Mountain. May I ask why Sixth Elder inquires?”
“In hunting demon beasts, minor injuries are unavoidable. My skills are lacking. While fighting Horned Boars, I was careless and injured my shoulder by a tusk. It was only a superficial wound, nothing serious. I apologize for causing concern.”
“Superficial?” Chen Xingze let out a cold laugh, leaning forward with increasing pressure. “Guest Elder Zhou, you make it sound light.”
His gaze pierced Zhou Kai. “From what I heard, when you returned yesterday, your steps were unsteady and your face pale. That doesn’t sound like a mere superficial injury.”
“And a few first-grade Horned Boars, even if troublesome, should not have caused someone with your years of experience to flee so miserably.”
Chen Xingze’s voice was calm but cutting. “Guest Elder Zhou, don’t you find that suspicious?”
The two Celestial Spring Sect disciples remained silent, but the hostility in their eyes grew more apparent, faint spiritual fluctuations emanating from them.
“Sixth Elder sees clearly. I dare not conceal the truth.” He sighed and pointed toward his lower abdomen. “To be honest, my luck was indeed poor yesterday. Though the Horned Boars were only first-grade, there were many of them, and they fought fearlessly. While dodging one boar’s charge, I was ambushed from the side by another.”
“You know my aptitude is dull and my cultivation low. I am merely at the 4th stage Qi Refining Realm. My dantian is damaged. Whenever I circulate spiritual energy, it feels like needles stabbing me. At best, I can exert thirty percent of my strength.”
His voice carried faint weakness. “I had no helpers with me. Surrounded by those enraged Horned Boars, it was perilous. Rather than throw my life away and feed those beasts, I chose to retreat and preserve myself.”
He spread his hands helplessly. “Cultivation can be trained again. But life… there is only one. I value my life.”
Half-truth, half-fabrication.
He explained why his injuries seemed disproportionate while attributing everything to being weak and cautious, perfectly aligning with how others in the Chen Family viewed him.
A 4th stage Qi Refining Realm Guest Elder facing a group of frenzied Horned Boars without being able to fully utilize spiritual energy choosing to flee? Completely reasonable.
Chen Xingze’s eyes flickered as he pondered before speaking again.
“Horned Boars? Guest Elder Zhou, your luck must be especially poor.”
He tapped the table lightly. “Do you know that yesterday, in the outer region of Hidden Beast Mountain, where our Celestial Spring Sect disciples were killed by Shen Hanyi?”
“These two senior brothers beside me have come under sect orders to assist the Chen Family in investigating.”
He was nearly certain that Chen Xingze and the two sect disciples had no evidence linking Zhou Kai to Shen Hanyi. If they did, this would not be questioning but arrest.
The coincidence must continue.
Zhou Kai’s face immediately filled with shock. His eyes widened dramatically as if hearing something unbelievable.
“What? Shen Hanyi?” His voice trembled slightly, as though frightened. “S-Sixth Elder, you mean… someone like that was near Hidden Beast Mountain yesterday?”
He slapped his thigh, realization and lingering fear crossing his face. “No wonder! No wonder!”
“When I was fighting Horned Boars yesterday, I vaguely heard thunderous explosions from afar! It sounded like thunder striking the mountain! There were beams of spiritual light shooting into the sky. It was terrifying!”
He gestured animatedly. “With my cultivation, how would I dare approach something like that? The moment I heard it, my soul nearly flew out of my body! My first thought was to run as far away as possible!”
“That must have startled the Horned Boars too, making them go berserk and attack me! Yes! That must be it!”
His tone was firm, then turned to lingering fear. “Fortunately, I ran fast. If I had been dragged into a battle between such figures, I would not even have ashes left.”
“As for the wanted person Sixth Elder mentioned… I truly know nothing. I didn’t see anyone. I was focused on saving my life. My mind was in chaos. I didn’t dare look around at all.”