Chapter 2689 - 2681: Disgust and Attention

Chapter 2689: Chapter 2681: Disgust and Attention

Yi Jue believed Feng Jun excelled at strategizing, and from her perspective, this was correct. However, what she didn’t know was that even Feng Jun and the Big Boss privately considered this behavior as "scheming."

Unlike Yi Jue, who was a homebody, Qian Zhong had been observing from the sidelines, which allowed her to distinguish the differences between the two.

She calmly remarked, "Have you noticed that Mountain Master Feng is under a lot of pressure lately? Besides the Artifact Refining Path, the Ji Family has also been unfriendly at times, and there have been rumors saying that Mountain Master Feng’s reactions are a bit excessive?"

Yi Jue gave her a curious look, "Even you think his reactions are ’intense’; aren’t such rumors normal?"

Qian Zhong raised her hand to touch her forehead and helplessly stated, "What I’m pointing out is not how I perceive it, but rather... for example, before he expelled that person, Wu Xiu True Immortal came to plead his case. What gives him the courage to come directly?"

Although Yi Jue was a homebody, she wasn’t foolish. Her eyes turned thoughtfully as she asked, "Does the senior mean... perhaps someone is behind these rumors?"

Qian Zhong straightforwardly shook her head, "I’m not sure about that, but the related opinions are not very friendly towards him, as you can surely see."

"Isn’t that normal?" Yi Jue somewhat prejudicially claimed; she sometimes was indeed naive to a fault, "It’s because he often takes his interests too seriously, even challenging others’ ingrained perceptions."

Actually, she also resented plagiarism, as despite her genius title, she was also a technical talent. However, even she believed that unrestrained borrowing without consequence was an "ingrained perception" of Tianqin cultivators.

"But this context is very unfriendly to him," Qian Zhong continued unhurriedly, "Considering the challenges from the Ji Family and the Artifact Refining Path, he has the right to believe... perhaps someone is targeting him. The phenomenon has already appeared, and whether or not there is a mastermind is secondary."

This time, Yi Jue reacted quickly. Although she still didn’t think he was "scheming," she somewhat guessed what the other party intended to convey, "You mean he wants to suppress this momentum?"

"Of course," Qian Zhong nodded, showing an expression of satisfaction that she finally understood, "In just a few days, he can earn twenty top-grade Spirit Stones; how is that different from daylight robbery? Even if it were me, I’d strongly counter this momentum. More aggressive methods would be normal."

Yi Jue was ultimately intelligent, "Senior, you mean, based on his mindset, making targeted arrangements might resolve this conflict?"

"Exactly," Qian Zhong generously acknowledged, "We two old folks following him certainly don’t want him to frequently run into trouble."

Even though she, alongside Xuanyuan Buwei, was a True Monarch of Divine Spirit stage, no one liked trouble, let alone a situation where dealing with small issues might provoke bigger ones. If she was absolutely fearless, how could the Yao Family have persisted in seclusion?

"Then I understand," Yi Jue nodded. Her ability to handle problems was indeed strong. Previously, she was helpless because she couldn’t find the right entry point. Once she had a clue, implementing it wasn’t difficult.

With that, she turned and went to find people from the Artifact Refining Path.

The next day, Ji Niang True Immortal arrived, expressing her concern for Feng Jun, even bringing greetings from True Sage Liu He—hoping Feng Jun could restrain himself a bit, as he would talk to the Artifact Refining Path.

Interestingly, Ji Niang first sought out Yi Jue. Although she didn’t know much about Feng Jun’s bad temper, being a female cultivator, it was usual for her to approach through a peer first.

In fact, she not only came with goodwill from True Sage Liu He, but there were also connections between the seven sects. True Sage Liu He even informed Xuanhuang and Yuangang sects, hoping they’d exert some pressure on the Artifact Refining Path.

After all, although Feng Jun’s reaction was a bit excessive this time, his stance wasn’t entirely without reason. Otherwise, the Ji Family wouldn’t risk offering a reward for his sake.

The two sects also expressed their agreement—Feng Jun’s deduction abilities aside, his remote deployment capability alone was enough to draw significant attention from both sects’ leaders. For them, who were actively strategizing against the Insect World, this was extremely important.

After Yi Jue heard this news, she was gratified yet also slightly pressured—so many forces concerned about Feng Jun’s reactions was undoubtedly a good thing, but it might also heighten his vigilance, wouldn’t it?

Therefore, after chatting with Ji Niang True Immortal, she went to discuss with the representative from the Artifact Refining Path...

Another day passed, and representatives from the Alchemy Dao arrived, openly expressing their support for Feng Jun.

To say it clearly, the Alchemy Dao was also one of the eighteen paths, but alchemists were notorious for hating piracy—with the countless failures involved in perfecting a reasonable pill formula, their attitude towards piracy was "better to kill wrong than to let go."

Alchemists were technical talents too, but curiously enough, cultivators of the Alchemy Dao and Artifact Refining Path didn’t precisely get along. The reason was simple: both professions were highly sought after, with no need to look at outsiders’ faces.

At the end of the day, the services provided by these two sects were essential to cultivators, resulting in producers naturally having a subtle pride.

It is precisely because of this that cultivators from these two paths do not particularly acknowledge each other, and naturally, the relationship is not very good.

To put it more darkly, the lack of harmony between the Alchemy Dao and the Artifact Refining Path might have been instigated by other forces—there’s no help for it, as if these two paths had a good relationship and adopted consistent measures outwardly, their influence would obviously be more than just one plus one equals two.

Thus, Yi Jue went again to discuss with the visitors from the Artifact Refining Path.

Another day passed, and Xia Nichang returned to Kunhao from Jinwu. Although Luan Xiong and You Xuan True Sage had gone to the Insect World, the newly emerged True Sage was not very familiar with White Pebble Beach. However, Feng Jun’s support and help to Jinwu was undoubtedly the most significant.

So, the True Immortal from the Artifact Refining Path who was advocating had to welcome Yi Jue’s visit once again...

However, Yi Jue’s patience had reached its limit. That night, she found Feng Jun and straightforwardly said, "The Artifact Refining Path sent a True Immortal, and they’ve contacted me."

Recently, Feng Jun was constantly deducing and integrating Magical Treasures. This was the third set he had encountered since his return, although the Big Boss had requested him to refine three sets before heading to other lower realms, he hoped to deduce a few more sets—since he’s in a confrontation with the Artifact Refining Path, he might as well grow a bit first.

The Big Boss was somewhat unhappy, but considering they both treasured discretion, it could understand his predicament.

In fact, it knew that he had two individuals beside him who were consuming a considerable amount of extreme spirit reserves. If it didn’t agree, not only might he encounter some troubles, the extreme spirit reserves in its secret stash might also be shared with those two, an option absolutely intolerable to it.

Even so, during the deduction process, Feng Jun noticed that people from the Artifact Refining Path had arrived; he just didn’t care to ponder deeply—he had only placed a bounty on a certain True Immortal from the Artifact Refining Path and was not so reckless as to target everyone under the Artifact Refining Path.

Therefore, as long as they didn’t provoke him, he was disinclined to pay them any heed. If they did... at White Pebble Beach, who was he afraid of?

Actually, he was a bit surprised that Yi Jue stepped up in the end. Facing her, he truly felt no burden, especially given her straightforwardness, which he really appreciated. So he nodded with a smile and said, "Go ahead, what do you have in mind?"

"I think placing a bounty on the Artifact Refiners from the Artifact Refining Path is a bit risky," Yi Jue, never one for roundabout ways, spoke her mind, especially uninhibited with Feng Jun, "Have you considered that the Artifact Refiners may have many customers?"

Feng Jun took out a cigarette to light it, then sighed softly, "Of course I have, but... it’s because they forced my hand."

"They forced your hand, but you could use other means," Yi Jue spoke in a deep voice, "For instance, you could negotiate for some top-grade spirit stones as compensation... I’ve coordinated this, and they are willing to accept."

You helped me coordinate extreme spirit reserves? Feng Jun was quite surprised by this news. After taking a deep drag on his cigarette, he smiled and nodded, "That’s really a bother for you, but are those guys truly willing to pay extreme spirits?"

"This is not much of a problem," Yi Jue confidently stated, "The Artifact Refining Path customizes many True Treasures, and sometimes extreme spirit trades are involved. They are relatively wealthy in extreme spirits."

As mentioned before, Spirit Plant masters are more profitable than Artifact Refiners, but that’s in the ordinary sense of wealth. When it comes to custom True Treasures, it’s not something ordinary wealth can measure. If an Artifact Refiner specifically demands extreme spirits, the customer has no choice.

Just look at Feng Jun, if a True Artifact-level Magical Treasure demands extreme spirits, and if the customer doesn’t provide them, it won’t be sold—the point is, that’s the reality!

And the one who offended Feng Jun doesn’t have many extreme spirit reserves, mainly because they haven’t reached the pinnacle of an Artifact Refiner—those who dare demand extreme spirits are extraordinary individuals. This person was chosen to interact with Feng Jun merely because of "relatively high potential."

In fact, both the Artifact Refining Path and the Alchemy Dao have relatively abundant extreme spirit reserves, and their cultivators’ attitude towards extreme spirits is unlike that of the other cultivators in the Seven Gates and Eighteen Paths, who are stingy in their use.

This information was an oversight for Feng Jun, yet he did not doubt Yi Jue and instead smiled while slightly raising his chin, "Go on."

"I personally feel your high-profile retaliation is mainly targeting some undesirable practices," Yi Jue eloquently continued, "Is that what I’m saying?"

Given Feng Jun’s nature, it’s rare for someone advocating to question him, he would usually retort immediately, but Yi Jue... well, she is an exception. Thus he smiled and nodded, "Indeed, unfriendly individuals are more than just a few, and I can’t let them take advantage step by step."

Yi Jue blinked her big eyes once and continued her inquiry, "Then, besides compensating with extreme spirits, if they also apologize to you, could the matter be settled? As long as the momentum is suppressed, isn’t that enough?"

Feng Jun tilted his neck, took a few puffs of his cigarette, and faintly stated, "Suppressing these wicked practices is my ultimate goal, but making them apologize is not that simple."

"My sect has a saying: If apologies were useful... what would we need constables for?"