Chen Ze's Plan Begins Implementation

Chen Ze had just finished the meal Zhao Ling'er prepared when he felt Chen Fan calling out to him.

"Hmm? Does my doppelganger Chen Fan have telepathy now? I just finished eating, and he's already looking to come back and clean up."

With a flick of his consciousness, Chen Ze released his doppelganger Chen Fan from the Myriad Things Space.

"Master, I have big news."

"Hmm, no rush. Clean this up first."

"Huh?"

Chen Fan looked toward the dining table where Chen Ze had just finished eating, the remnants of the meal still scattered across it.

Chen Fan felt distressed; every time Chen Ze finished a meal, he was inevitably called back to wash the dishes, and today he had walked right into it.

Zhao Ling'er, however, was already accustomed to Chen Ze's style and couldn't help but cover her mouth to hide a giggle.

Resigned, Chen Fan could only go wash the dishes first, setting aside the big news he had just learned.

Soon, Chen Fan finished the dishes and walked over to the lounge chair where Chen Ze was resting.

"Master."

"What is this big news?"

"The Ye Family has seized all of Shopkeeper Tong's assets."

"Hmm, that was to be expected. Shopkeeper Tong and the Ye Family were partners; with Shopkeeper Tong gone, it's only natural for the Ye Family to step in and claim his properties. Why is this considered big news?" Chen Ze asked, puzzled.

"Master, I haven't finished yet."

Hearing his doppelganger say this, Chen Ze couldn't help but roll his eyes at him.

Doppelganger Chen Fan continued, "Originally, Shopkeeper Tong's assets sparked a scramble among the other families in Wannan City. But as soon as the Ye Family appeared, the other families backed off immediately, and even the City Lord's Mansion tacitly approved of the Ye Family's actions."

Hearing this, Chen Ze found it somewhat interesting. "The Ye Family's influence has grown that large? Those other families naturally can't compare, but the City Lord's Mansion's attitude is a bit strange. Since when does the Dagan Dynasty allow cultivators to run rampant? It seems this City Lord has some issues as well."

"Alright, I've got the news. Go back and keep gathering information!"

"Yes."

The doppelganger Chen Fan left the residence.

"Ling'er, the Ye Family has already begun their move. I suspect they will soon take action at the Mysterious Iron Ore site as well. In Shopkeeper Tong's memories, he still had subordinates there; the Ye Family will likely want to clear them out too. But that's fine, it won't hinder Zhao Yun from infiltrating, and our plan can proceed."

"Master, we are still short on quite a few Spirit Stones. Without enough doppelgangers, that plan will be difficult to implement all at once."

"That's true. We certainly can't do it without Spirit Stones, but the next doppelganger requires 400 Spirit Stones, and I don't even know how many more will be needed for further ones. If we don't have more doppelgangers, Zhao Yun will just have to work hard on his own for now."

Far away, thousands of miles away, Zhao Yun felt his nose itch and wanted to sneeze.

"Let's go see how the Spirit Herbs are growing. I estimate that in a few more days, a batch of them should be ready for harvest."

With that, Chen Ze brought Zhao Ling'er into the Myriad Things Space with his consciousness.

As soon as they entered the Myriad Things Space, Chen Ze was stunned by the sight of the Spirit Field.

"Weren't these Spirit Herbs supposed to take a few more days to mature?"

Chen Ze clearly sensed that the Spirit Herbs in the field were at least ten years old. He remembered that the newest herbs hadn't even been planted for four days yet, so how could they have all matured so suddenly? "Could it be?"

A thought crossed Chen Ze's mind. "Could it be that the upgrade to the Myriad Things Space didn't just increase the number of Spirit Fields, but also increased the time acceleration within them?"

"Ling'er, hurry and collect all the mature Spirit Herbs. Those few 30-year-old herbs can be harvested too. Remember to save the seeds and sow them immediately."

"Yes, Master."

Zhao Ling'er agreed and began harvesting the Spirit Herbs.

Chen Ze watched on, calculating in his mind that the time acceleration in the Spirit Field must have doubled. It used to be 500 times the normal rate, so it should now be a thousand times.

"Spending 1000 Points to upgrade the Myriad Things Space was definitely worth it!"

"It's like being handed a pillow just as I'm getting sleepy; I needed Spirit Stones, and the herbs have matured." Chen Ze was overjoyed; his plan could now be moved forward.

Soon, Zhao Ling'er finished harvesting all the mature Spirit Herbs, and the new Spirit Herb Seeds were sown. There were 15 ten-year-old herbs and 5 thirty-year-old herbs.

Chen Ze and Zhao Ling'er took the Spirit Herbs directly to the Myriad Things Shop.

"Recycle all these spiritual herbs."

The spiritual herbs Chen Ze brought vanished.

A moment later, the Green-robed Woman spoke.

"Recycling 15 stalks of 10-year spiritual herbs, totaling 600 Points. 5 stalks of 30-year spiritual herbs, totaling 1,000 Points."

Chen Ze was quite satisfied with this price and added, "Recycle this Short Blade as well."

"One Low-grade Yellow Tier Short Blade, 50 Points."

Hmm, not bad. I've gained another 1,650 Points. Combined with the remaining Spirit Stones from last time, I have a little over two thousand. Purchasing three Doppelgangers won't be a problem.

Now, I just wait for Zhao Yun.

Another day passed, and Zhao Yun, a thousand miles away, was finally discovered.

Several Dao Figures rushed toward Zhao Yun's location at high speed; the arrivals were guards from the Ye Family's Mysterious Iron Ore mine.

"Who are you, and what are you doing here?"

"I'm just a Rogue Cultivator passing through. My spiritual power is exhausted, so I'm resting here. I'll leave right away," Zhao Yun said, feigning helplessness.

Zhao Yun had already discerned that the three men approaching were all at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer.

Although their cultivation was higher than his, their combat prowess was not necessarily superior.

However, following Chen Ze's instructions, Zhao Yun had no intention of fighting at all.

The three Ye Family guards exchanged glances, silently communicating with one another.

This Mysterious Iron Ore mine was a secret of their Ye Family; if it were exposed, it would bring significant trouble to the clan.

Soon, the three of them reached a decision.

One of them shouted, "Hold it. Since you've come here, there's no reason to let you leave. You have only yourself to blame for coming to the wrong place."

Zhao Yun looked at the three guards. "I was just passing by and didn't see anything. I have no intention of disturbing you, but if you think you can kill me just because your cultivation is higher, it won't be that easy."

As he spoke, Zhao Yun assumed a stance. He naturally couldn't use the Roaming Dragon Spear, or the act would be for nothing.

One guard gave a mocking smile. "Unexpectedly, you have some backbone. However, we didn't say we were going to kill you; we just can't let you leave for now. You are still useful."

"What do you mean?" Zhao Yun asked, feigning confusion.

"Exactly what it sounds like. Do you think a Qi Refining Third Layer cultivator has any chance against three of us at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer?"

Zhao Yun shook his head. "No chance, but I still have to put up a fight."

"Forget it, I won't waste any more breath on you. There are two paths; choose for yourself. One: surrender obediently, come with us, and mine for us for ten years, after which we will set you free. Two: we beat you up and throw you into the Mine Tunnel to mine for the rest of your life. Choose!"

"Trying to force me, are you? I choose neither!" Zhao Yun prepared to lunge.

The three guards were well-prepared. The moment Zhao Yun made a move, they launched their attacks, slamming him to the ground.

Zhao Yun felt nothing from these three strikes; he was merely a Doppelganger and possessed no sense of pain.

However, following Chen Ze's orders, he still had to pretend to pass out.

Watching Zhao Yun, who had been knocked unconscious, the guard sneered:

"I told you to choose, but you wouldn't. Now, we've had to choose for you."

"Heh, just go ahead and mine in the Mine for the rest of your life!"