Chapter 293 - 291: Liu Suifeng’s Arrangement
In the two months since Chen Yuan had been away, the White Tiger Hall’s territory had seen considerable changes.
The cities previously pillaged and destroyed by the Hu Yan Tribe were gradually recovering, and commerce was beginning to return to its former prosperity.
People are highly adaptable. Five hundred years ago, when the world was in turmoil from war, some prefecture cities were so devastated that nine out of ten households were empty, yet they gradually recovered over a few years.
After returning, Chen Yuan met with his trusted subordinates, including Cui Guan and Yu Yousong. Once he confirmed that there were no problems in the White Tiger Hall’s territory, he went straight into secluded cultivation.
During this period of seclusion, Chen Yuan mainly focused on practicing the *Valley Spirit Scripture* and the *Emperor’s Qi Observation Skill*.
The *Valley Spirit Scripture* was Chen Yuan’s primary foundational Cultivation Technique. Even if he couldn’t comprehend his own unique ’Dao,’ the underlying power provided by the *Valley Spirit Scripture* was extremely potent.
Moreover, the *Valley Spirit Scripture* was a supreme secret text of the Daoist Sect, and the *Emperor’s Qi Observation Skill* was also a Daoist Secret Technique. Building a solid foundation with the *Valley Spirit Scripture* first would be very beneficial for practicing the *Emperor’s Qi Observation Skill*.
However, the *Valley Spirit Scripture* was exceedingly profound. Without a fateful moment of enlightenment, it was too difficult to make any significant progress in a short amount of time.
Chen Yuan cultivated for over a month, but he only managed to deepen his Dao Foundation Background somewhat, with no major breakthroughs.
However, this was to be expected.
Take Master Xuanxiao, the Palace Master of the Profound Celestial Daoist Palace, for example. He had spent a lifetime before he had an epiphany and comprehended the Array Dao from the *Valley Spirit Scripture*. Chen Yuan had only been cultivating it for a short time; it was normal not to have any breakthroughs.
Therefore, Chen Yuan spent the rest of his time practicing the *Emperor’s Qi Observation Skill*. This Secret Technique was incredibly powerful in combat, capable of achieving the effect of the weak defeating the strong, or moving a thousand pounds with four ounces, at critical moments.
On the surface, the *Emperor’s Qi Observation Skill* was about seeing through the operational laws of heaven and earth, but its core was actually the Cause and Effect Dao.
With his current Cultivation, Chen Yuan was naturally not at the level where he could perceive causality, but discerning the operational principles of power and observing the changes in the world was still well within his ability.
However, the drain from the *Emperor’s Qi Observation Skill* was a bit too great. It didn’t consume Chen Yuan’s True Qi, but his Spiritual Power.
The more complex the matter, the greater the drain when using the *Emperor’s Qi Observation Skill* to deduce it.
For example, Chen Yuan could use the *Emperor’s Qi Observation Skill* to observe the changes of the stars, but the actual consumption wasn’t too great because the changes of the stars all followed predictable patterns.
In contrast, if he used the *Emperor’s Qi Observation Skill* to observe fish swimming in water, his Spiritual Power would be consumed at a frantic rate. Because the movements of the fish had countless possibilities, the drain would naturally be greater than the former.
And during combat, the more complex and varied an opponent’s power was, and the more layers of power they used, the greater the drain from the *Emperor’s Qi Observation Skill*.
After cultivating for over a month, Chen Yuan had gained a general grasp of the *Emperor’s Qi Observation Skill*.
Now, when facing an enemy, Chen Yuan could use the *Emperor’s Qi Observation Skill* to make deductions for about ten breaths of time.
If he exceeded this limit, as he had in his last fight against Gongsun Shao, a minor case would result in excruciating pain in his Divine Soul from overexerting his Spiritual Power, causing the blood vessels around his eyes to burst.
A severe case would lead to direct damage to his Divine Soul, his eyeballs exploding and leaving him permanently blind.
「Three months into Chen Yuan’s secluded cultivation」
A sudden knock came from outside the door of his private chamber.
Chen Yuan had previously instructed his subordinates not to disturb his seclusion unless it was urgent news.
Opening the door, he saw that it was Cui Guan who had knocked.
"My lord, a message has arrived from Military Advisor Liu Suifeng. He requests that you go to the Main Hall, saying he has an urgent matter to discuss with you."
Chen Yuan nodded. "Prepare a horse. I’m going to the Main Hall now."
Cultivating the *Valley Spirit Scripture* longer wouldn’t lead to a breakthrough, and he had already made some progress with the *Emperor’s Qi Observation Skill*. Chen Yuan had been planning to come out of seclusion anyway to try his hand at the Heaven-Reaching Tower.
He suspected Liu Suifeng’s summons to the Main Hall was also related to the Heaven-Reaching Tower.
’After all, I’m the only one in the entire Zhenwu Hall with the strength to challenge the Heaven-Reaching Tower.’
The rest, like Qiu Sheng of the Celestial Martial Guard and Jiang Xibai of the Po Jun Guard, were considered decent among the younger generation of Zhenwu Hall, but they wouldn’t measure up when placed on the stage of the entire Jianghu.
For this opening of the Heaven-Reaching Tower, several prodigies in the top ten of the Hidden Dragon Rankings who were clearly capable of breaking through to the Primordial Pill Realm had been suppressing their cultivation, all in preparation to challenge the tower.
After galloping all the way to Taining Prefecture, Chen Yuan headed straight for Liu Suifeng’s residence.
"Lord Liu, why did you send for me?"
Liu Suifeng was sitting cross-legged inside the room. A tea set was laid out on the table, looking ostentatious, but it exuded a rich, fragrant aroma.
Pouring Chen Yuan a cup of tea, Liu Suifeng said, "Try this. It’s Celestial Wave Golden Summit from Lan Province. Only a few pounds are produced each year. It’s an imperial tribute. A friend from Lan Province specially sourced it for me."
Chen Yuan drank it all in one gulp, smacked his lips, and nodded. "It is quite fragrant."
Seeing Chen Yuan down the tea in one go as if it were wine, Liu Suifeng’s mouth couldn’t help but twitch slightly.
Setting down the tea set, Liu Suifeng said, "I called you over this time to talk about the Heaven-Reaching Tower. You should know about it, right?"
"Of course. My secluded cultivation in the White Tiger Hall was precisely to prepare for challenging the Heaven-Reaching Tower."
Liu Suifeng sighed. "A grand event in the Jianghu that happens only once every thirty years. Some people, because of their age, will never have the chance to challenge the Heaven-Reaching Tower in their lifetime. This is both fate and opportunity."
"Your strength and age both meet the requirements for the Heaven-Reaching Tower. I hope you can seize some opportunities inside and bring glory to our Zhenwu Hall’s name."
With that, Liu Suifeng handed a booklet to Chen Yuan. "I was never able to enter the Heaven-Reaching Tower due to my age, but this is a compilation of all the intelligence I could gather from rumors circulating in the Jianghu about what’s inside. After you read it, at least you won’t be going in completely blind."
"Also, be careful before you enter the Heaven-Reaching Tower this time. I’m afraid someone might try to harm you."
Chen Yuan was slightly taken aback. "Who would try to harm me? And it’s not like the Heaven-Reaching Tower is without order. Isn’t the Tower Guardian Elder responsible for maintaining order there?"
"The Tower Guardian Elder only maintains order when the Heaven-Reaching Tower is open. Before it opens, that place has no order to speak of."
"Once inside the Heaven-Reaching Tower, everyone is a rival. Some people, of course, would prefer to have fewer rivals."
"Not everyone in the Jianghu plays by the rules. You must be on guard against those who would shamelessly use their seniority to bully and attack you."
At this point, Liu Suifeng gently shook his head. "Especially you. Don’t you have any idea how many people you’ve offended in the Jianghu?"
"A young disciple of the Blazing Sect died at your hands, the Shangguan Family holds a grudge against you, you’ve killed people from the Murong Family, and you’ve also offended the Vajra Prajna Temple."
"Then there’s Zhang Zhilan of the Shenxiao Sect, also killed by you. Just count how many people you’ve offended."
"The opening of the Heaven-Reaching Tower is a major Jianghu event. It’s not like the Cauldron Opening Assembly, which is organized by a single sect. In addition to the younger generation of Martial Artists who are qualified to enter, some masters from the previous generation will also be present to watch over their disciples and prevent any accidents."
"Logically, our Zhenwu Hall should also send someone to watch over you. However, the Grand Commandant certainly can’t be mobilized, and it’s not convenient for Lady Yun to travel."
"I, on the other hand, could go, but this body of mine is just too disappointing. I wouldn’t have a chance to set up an Array, and if someone really made a move, I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to stop many of them."
"However, I’ve already written a letter to a friend of mine, asking her to look out for you. She will definitely be able to ensure your safety."
"Thank you, Lord Liu. May I ask who this friend of yours is?"
Liu Suifeng coughed and said, "The Alliance Leader of the Mist Rain Alliance, one of the Seven Alliances of the World, the ’Mist and Smoke Goddess,’ Song Yanluo."
"The Mist Rain Alliance also has young disciples participating in the Heaven-Reaching Tower trial this time. Song Yanluo should be attending as well, and with her strength and status, she’ll be more than enough to protect you."
Chen Yuan nodded in understanding, but the look he gave Liu Suifeng was a bit strange.
Song Yanluo, the Alliance Leader of the Mist Rain Alliance, was quite the legendary woman in the Jianghu. Though her name was gentle, she was famous for her fiery and explosive temper. She was the kind of person who would storm a top Buddhist Sect like the Vajra Prajna Temple to demand an explanation at the slightest provocation.
Moreover, she had been single since her youth. Countless prodigies of the Jianghu pursued her back then, but she gave none of them the time of day. In all these years, there had never been any rumors of her being close to any man.
And yet, Liu Suifeng was now claiming to be her good friend. He even said she would protect a Zhenwu Hall disciple just because of his letter. That kind of favor went far beyond what a simple ’good friend’ could ask for.
However, Chen Yuan wasn’t one to gossip. Since Liu Suifeng didn’t elaborate, he didn’t annoyingly press the issue. He simply thanked Lord Liu and took his leave.
Just as he returned to the White Tiger Hall, one of his men told him a message had arrived from the Celestial Wind Listening Rain Tower.
Chen Yuan took it and saw that wrapped inside the letter was a piece of jade, inscribed with a rune.
The rune was actually the character for ’fire,’ but written in an ancient script. Chen Yuan understood at once: this was a secret message from the Ming Sect, one that could only be opened with the power of the Celestial Fire Hall.
He infused it with Celestial Fire Power, and a stream of information instantly flooded into his mind. The next moment, the jade turned to dust.
The message was from Mr. Bei, summoning Chen Yuan to Ping Province for the Ming Church Alliance. There were two purposes: first, for him to meet the elders of the Ming Sect, and second, to discuss the matter of transferring Qin Wuye’s opportunity within the Heaven-Reaching Tower to him.
The Ming Sect’s headquarters was naturally not in Ping Province. It was just that across the Nineteen Provinces of the world, almost every province had a secret branch of the Ming Sect.
For security reasons, the location chosen for the Ming Church Alliance meeting was different every time and was always announced at the last minute.
After receiving the message, Chen Yuan gave his subordinates some instructions and immediately set off for Ping Province.
In any case, he had to go to Desolate Heaven Ridge for the Heaven-Reaching Tower trial anyway. Leaving a bit early could be explained as wanting to familiarize himself with the terrain, and no one would suspect a thing.
So, after leaving Ning Province, Chen Yuan concealed his identity, changed his route, and galloped toward Ping Province.
The last time Chen Yuan had been to Ping Province was to attend the Medicine King Valley’s Cauldron Opening Assembly. After that incident, the Medicine King Valley had become much more low-key, even proactively lowering the prices of their Elixirs, all to build goodwill in the Jianghu.
’Perhaps the Medicine King Valley finally understood that relying solely on the Alchemy Dao wasn’t a reliable way to survive in this chaotic Jianghu. Since they couldn’t rely on themselves, their only option was to do their best to befriend powerful factions in exchange for protection.’