Chapter 530 - 499: Planting a Nail

Chapter 530: Chapter 499: Planting a Nail

The Tang Family had served the Primordial Sect for three to four hundred years and understood the Sect’s rules inside and out.

As expected, he would be stripped of his position as Chief Steward and demoted to an ordinary Steward. He would no longer be in charge of Jinghai Island Reef; at best, he’d serve as one of several deputies assisting the next Chief Steward. Though the titles seemed similar, the difference in status was night and day.

It had taken the Tang Family a full one hundred and fifty years to climb to this position. Within the Primordial Sect, far too many people were clawing their way up the ladder.

The moment you made a mistake, everyone would scramble to use you as a stepping stone.

Predictably, he would never have a chance to recover from this.

Even his family’s path to resurgence would be cut short. The lucrative positions held by his clan would be snatched away by his peers. Even those he had offended in the past would take the opportunity to kick him while he was down.

"Is it that serious?"

Chen Che raised an eyebrow, seemingly unconcerned.

"Valley Master Chen, you’re a Golden Core..."

Tang Linli smiled bitterly.

The implication was clear: a high-ranking figure like him couldn’t possibly understand how severe and cruel the infighting and competition for resources were among lower-level Cultivators. The struggles within the Sect might appear to lack open bloodshed, but all the daggers were drawn beneath the surface.

"Then what’s the solution to this situation?"

Chen Che asked casually, lightly tapping his fingers.

"One way is to perform a great service and atone for my failure with merit..."

Tang Linli gave a bitter laugh and shook his head in resignation.

"But the death of the Great Protector and the loss of the Spiritual Boat... this is a catastrophe of the highest order. To atone for such a failure is impossible, even with the full strength of my clan. Beyond that, there is only one other possibility: for me to achieve Core Formation."

But without a doubt, after this incident, he would be abandoned by Duobao. Without a backer, never mind climbing higher—even maintaining his current position would be incredibly difficult.

His only hope was to achieve Core Formation and force his way into the upper echelons.

Once he had the Realm and strength, he would naturally be taken seriously again.

"Core Formation... Chief Steward Tang, you’re only at the Foundation Establishment Eighth Layer right now. Isn’t it already incredibly difficult just to reach Foundation Establishment Great Perfection?"

One glance was all it took for Chen Che to ascertain the man’s Cultivation Realm.

Tang Linli nodded slightly. "My clan has accumulated considerable savings over the years. If they were to put all of it toward supplying me, I might be able to reach Great Perfection quickly. But I have no way of obtaining a Qingxu Guiyuan Pill..."

It was a path of no return, but even if he chose it, he didn’t have the necessary resources.

In fact, this was the case for most Foundation Establishment Clans.

"A Qingxu Guiyuan Pill?"

Chen Che smiled faintly and said casually, "I can give you one."

"Uh..."

Even Tang Linli, a man who had experienced the full spectrum of human nature, was completely thrown by the sudden offer. He was no longer the Chief Steward, had lost his backer in the Sect, and had no further value to be exploited.

He had even expected Jinyun Valley to cast him aside like a worn-out shoe after today.

He had never imagined Chen Che would say something like that.

But there’s no such thing as a free lunch. He guessed the other man must want something in return, and for a moment, he was at a loss.

Seeing this, Chen Che said nonchalantly:

"I’ve grown accustomed to working with you. Seeing you down on your luck, I just wanted to lend you a hand. It seems I was being presumptuous. Forget it. Just stay here for now. Once this is over, I have to return to the Valley."

"Valley Master Chen, forgive me."

Tang Linli’s face paled, and he spoke hastily, "It was I who was overcome with joy and couldn’t react in time."

He had no time to consider what the other man truly wanted; he could only desperately clutch at this lifeline.

After today, he feared he might never get to see Chen Che again, thus missing his only chance for a comeback.

"Then it’s settled. From now on, Jinyun Valley will provide all your Cultivation resources and support you in achieving Core Formation. Don’t worry about anything else. Just focus on your Cultivation and form your Core as quickly as possible."

Chen Che tapped the table lightly and continued:

"On top of that, I’ll find a way for you to earn some merit, allowing you to preserve your clan’s status within the Primordial Sect."

"R-Really?"

Tang Linli was stunned, then he bowed deeply. "Valley Master Chen, I, Tang Linli, will never forget this immense kindness as long as I live!"

...

Watching Tang Linli depart in a state of ecstasy, Chen Che let a slight smile play on his lips and drained the Spirit Tea from his cup.

’Are Jinyun Valley’s resources so easy to take?’

’Besides, now that he’s on my ship, getting off won’t be so easy. I need an agent embedded within the Primordial Sect—perhaps even right under Duobao’s nose—and no one is more suitable than Tang Linli.’

’Although I don’t know if the Primordial Sect will even exist after this conflict, I can’t skimp on a single one of my own preparations.’

No sooner had Tang Linli left than Zhao Changping entered cautiously. The Cultivators from Celestial Ghost City were still waiting for Chen Che’s arrangements, so he didn’t have much time to linger on Jinghai Island Reef. Before leaving, he had to settle all the matters here.

Zhao Changping’s complexion was also slightly pale.

The reason, of course, was that he too had been injured by Chen Che’s shout while escorting the Spiritual Boat.

"How are your injuries?"

Chen Che asked with concern.

"Thank you for your concern, Valley Master. Thanks to your Pills, I’m mostly recovered. I should be fully healed in three to five days at most."

Zhao Changping replied quickly. After he was injured, Chen Che had immediately refined a batch of Pills for him.

"Good."

Chen Che nodded slightly and began giving orders methodically.

"I will return to the Valley today. You are to take over the island’s affairs once more. The mines are to continue operating as usual, and you are to maintain order on the reef. This is Jinyun Valley’s own business; operations cannot come to a halt."

"Yes!"

"As for the overseas search for Ore, you can put a stop to that. A group of Foundation Establishment cultivators like yourselves could search for a lifetime and still find nothing. You can also stop the inquiries. All of it is a waste of effort.

As for salvaging the fragments of the Spiritual Boat, that must continue. I am very curious about the origins of those assailants. It would be best to post a public notice: any Cultivator who can find key information will be rewarded with thirty thousand Spirit Stones."

For Chen Che, the most important question was who else had their eyes on the Primordial Sect.

Knowing in advance would allow him to take precautions and prepare a response.

If this enemy could hide on the island reef to attack the Primordial Sect’s Spiritual Boat today, perhaps they could hide somewhere else and attack him tomorrow.

"This disciple understands!"

Zhao Changping said respectfully.

At the same time, he mentally elevated the priority of the Spiritual Boat salvage operation by several levels.

After all, since it was something Chen Che was concerned about, it had to be his top priority.

"Furthermore, continue to maintain a good relationship with Tang Linli. Starting today, all of his future Cultivation resources will be provided by Jinyun Valley." After a pause, Chen Che added, "In the future, the Sect will be sending some top-secret information here. There will be times when I need you to coordinate with him to get things done."

"Chief Steward Tang?"

Understanding dawned on Zhao Changping instantly.

After the Spiritual Boat was stolen, rumors had been rampant across the island reef, most of them speculating that Tang Linli would be completely stripped of his power. Those who had once scrambled over each other to curry favor with him had gradually grown cold and distant.

Fawning over the powerful while trampling the weak was simply the way of the world.

But none of these Cultivators would have ever imagined Tang Linli being so lucky as to catch the Valley Master’s eye and even receive the full backing of Jinyun Valley.

It seemed this man was destined to become another Golden Core Cultivator. Zhao Changping felt little jealousy, however. Being entrusted with such an important task was a clear sign of the Valley Master’s high regard for him.

...

VMMMM—

「Three days later.」

A large Spiritual Boat tore through the sky above Jinyun Valley, coming to a halt directly over the Market.

The sudden roar of its arrival startled countless people, who raised their heads to the sky.

"A Spiritual Boat!?"

"It’s Jinyun Valley’s Spiritual Boat! The Valley Master is back!"

They looked up at the massive banner hanging from the Spiritual Boat, where the two words ’Gold Cloud’ snapped in the wind.

In the Market, countless Cultivators cheered in unison.

Although the two tragedies that had befallen the Primordial Sect were significant, to Jinyun Valley, they paled in comparison to the battle where Zuo Qinlong of Celestial Ghost Ridge had turned traitor. Not only had Chen Che withstood the Star-Picking Sect’s assault, but he had also annihilated their forces and even launched a successful counter-offensive.

As a result, throughout the territories governed by Jinyun Valley, Chen Che’s prestige had soared to an unprecedented height.

「Half a day later.」

The Valley’s upper echelons gathered in one hall.

"Greetings, Valley Master!"