Chapter 523 - 492: When the Snipe and the Clam Grapple

Chapter 523: Chapter 492: When the Snipe and the Clam Grapple

"What’s the situation with Tang Linli?"

Chen Che set down his teacup and frowned. "There should still be a few days left before the year is up. Why did the Primordial Sect’s Spiritual Boat arrive early?"

According to the date in the letter, there should have been at least seven or eight days left.

But from what he could see, all the cargo had already been loaded, and it looked like it would depart any day now.

If he hadn’t left Celestial Ghost City early to get here, he would have certainly missed them.

"Valley Master, please forgive me. I don’t know either."

Zhao Changping was terrified and quickly explained, "I asked Tang Linli about this, but he was completely in the dark. He had no idea why the Primordial Sect suddenly sent three Golden Cores to collect the shipment..."

"Three?"

Chen Che raised an eyebrow. "Which three?"

"Great Protector Ye Shaoqiu, the Third Protector Tu Zhenxi, and a Vice Chief from the Sacrificial Hall, He Gaohang. Tang Linli said that Ye Shaoqiu wasn’t originally on the list, so he doesn’t know why he came as well."

Zhao Changping answered cautiously, his head bowed.

He had been trying to find out why things had changed, but unfortunately, he’d come up with nothing.

"It doesn’t matter."

Chen Che glanced at the trembling Zhao Changping and gestured for him not to worry.

After all, Tang Linli wasn’t a Golden Core, and he was always stationed on Jinghai Island Reef. He couldn’t be expected to have his finger on the pulse of the Primordial Sect’s upper echelons. It was perfectly normal that they couldn’t get much information from him.

’A thought suddenly surfaced: I could help Tang Linli reach Core Formation. That would help him enter the upper echelons and become my mole inside the Primordial Sect.’

After all, Tang Linli was a homegrown disciple of the Primordial Sect and also part of Duobao’s direct lineage.

There was no better-suited candidate.

Still, this would require careful, long-term planning.

Acting too hastily would only backfire.

"There’s something else."

Zhao Changping hesitated.

"Speak."

"Our share of the ore mined this month was forcibly requisitioned by the Primordial Sect before we had a chance to ship it back to Jinyun Valley. Their excuse was that the fighting on the front lines is intense and they need to forge more weapons urgently."

Chen Che couldn’t help but snort at that.

’The front lines are intense!’

’Back in Celestial Ghost City, he hadn’t seen many Primordial Sect cultivators on the battlefield. And now they were using that as an excuse? This was just a shameless cash grab, an attempt to swallow all the profits from the Anomalous Copper Ore in one gulp.’ ’Once this precedent was set, it wouldn’t be so easy to get their share back in the future.’

"That’s all. You may leave."

Chen Che waved his hand, his face impassive. "Also, prepare a detailed file on Tang Linli. Not just him, but his family, his enemies... everything."

"Yes."

Zhao Changping bowed and left the room.

...

After dismissing Zhao Changping, Chen Che clasped his hands behind his back and ambled over to the window.

The Primordial Sect’s massive Spiritual Boat came into view, its banners snapping in the sea breeze. Cultivators hoisted crates of ore onto the deck while several Foundation Establishment Cultivators, ledgers in hand, cross-checked each one.

To one side, Tang Linli stood beside the three Golden Cores, chatting with them in a low voice, a sycophantic smile on his face.

The number of Golden Cores and the collection time were both different from what had been planned.

’Does the Primordial Sect know something?’

’Is that why they’re taking precautions?’

Chen Che rolled his wrists, his gaze hardening.

...

"Great Protector, what’s wrong?"

Tang Linli was in the middle of detailing the quantities of each type of ore. While Anomalous Copper Ore was the primary mineral, there were many kinds of associated ores, all of them high-grade. They even occasionally found Tier Four ore.

Even he was amazed at the richness of this mine.

As he was giving his report, he saw Great Protector Ye Shaoqiu’s expression suddenly change as he turned to gaze into the distance.

"Someone was watching me just now."

Ye Shaoqiu said, his eyes narrowed.

"There are plenty of cultivators on Jinghai Island Reef. It was probably just one of them," said the Third Protector, Tu Zhenxi, from the side, completely unconcerned. "This is a remote place, a real mix of fish and dragons. It might have been some Evil Cultivator. Those types are especially brazen."

The short and stout He Gaohang readily agreed. "The lands under our rule are in chaos, overrun with Evil Cultivators. Once we’ve suppressed the Star-Picking Sect, we’ll uproot every last one of these upstarts who’ve dared to show their faces!"

"That person’s Divine Sense is very strong. A Golden Core, at least."

Ye Shaoqiu slowly shook his head, cutting them off. "In any case, this journey won’t be a peaceful one. We must all be more cautious. This shipment is massive; we absolutely must get it back to the Sect safely."

"Yes!"

The two Golden Cores nodded in acknowledgement.

This shipload of ore was worth at least seven or eight million Spirit Stones. It was an entire year’s output from the mine, after all. It was only natural that it would attract unwanted attention.

Moreover, they were in a time of war.

...

’This Great Protector is pretty strong. He actually sensed me watching him.’

By the window, Chen Che retracted his gaze, the corner of his eye twitching.

"Great Protector Ye Shaoqiu is likely a cut above Dou Shanhe in terms of strength," Xiao Chan explained from the side. "He was in seclusion during the battle at the Black Tortoise Calm Sea, so he didn’t fight."

"The one with the handlebar mustache and the constant smile is the Third Protector, Tu Zhenxi. I’ve never seen the other one, the short, stout man, but he must be He Gaohang, the Vice Chief of the Sacrificial Hall. None of the three are weak. The Primordial Sect is clearly on guard."

After a pause, Xiao Chan continued,

"We just don’t know if there are other Golden Cores on the Spiritual Boat who haven’t shown themselves..."

Chen Che nodded slightly. In fact, he’d had the same intention to probe them.

He just hadn’t expected Ye Shaoqiu to notice him after less than a second of observation. Since he’d accidentally tipped them off, he had to hold back for now. As for He Gaohang, the Vice Chief of the Sacrificial Hall, he was probably quite strong as well.

Most sects establish a Sacrificial Hall for two main reasons:

First, to recruit all kinds of talent to compensate for the sect’s weaknesses.

Second, to raise a pack of wolves for external conquest.

’I belong to the former category, while He Gaohang likely belongs to the latter.’

"None of these three will be easy to deal with!"

Chen Che frowned, lost in thought.

Xiao Chan stood by the window with his arms crossed, gazing at the Primordial Sect’s Spiritual Boat. His tone was equally grave. "This operation is going to be tricky..."

Chen Che nodded.

They weren’t just facing three Golden Cores, but also the Spiritual Boat itself—a ’mobile fortress.’ "We’ll have to play it by ear."

...

The Spiritual Boat was loaded far faster than expected. Working through the night, they finished the job completely. As dawn broke, the massive Spiritual Boat set sail, riding the wind.

A thunderous roar echoed as it took off, kicking up enormous waves and drawing the eyes of countless cultivators on Jinghai Island Reef.

"So this is the power of the Primordial Sect!"

"I wonder when I’ll be able to join the Primordial Sect."

"Heh, dream on... For a Major Sect like this, the bar is incredibly high even to become a Tributor. You need to be a Golden Core at the very minimum."

The Primordial Sect might not have the upper hand on the front lines, but the awe they had inspired by ruling over the Sixteen States for centuries had become ingrained in everyone’s minds.

"They’re leaving in such a hurry. When do we make our move?"

Inside the inn, Xiao Chan pushed open the window, and a howling gale swept through the room.

"Let’s wait until the Spiritual Boat is a bit farther from the reef."

"Good idea..."

Xiao Chan nodded. But just as he was about to speak, the situation suddenly changed.

Chen Che’s pupils contracted.

SPLASH—

The Spiritual Boat had barely traveled a hundred miles when hundreds of colossal chains erupted from the calm waters of the Black Tortoise Calm Sea. Each chain was thousands of yards long and as thick as a Flood Dragon. With a deafening clang of metal, they shot up from the depths of the ocean.

They swiftly coiled around the airborne Spiritual Boat. Then, to everyone’s horror, the chains yanked downwards, brutally dragging the vessel out of the sky and slamming it into the sea.

BOOM!

Countless cries of alarm mixed with the thunderous roar of the crashing waves.

"What is that?"

Chen Che’s eyes narrowed. From the depths of the sea, three more massive Spiritual Boats were emerging.

At the same time, seven or eight streaks of Escape Light shot out from Jinghai Island Reef, speeding toward the captured Spiritual Boat. Each streak of light was a Golden Core!