He Wanted Every One of These Fortuitous Opportunities

Zhao Tianhe's expression grew increasingly grim. He knew Jiang Lan was using the Confucian Temple to threaten him.

The Confucian Temple was doing well?

Who in the court did not know that the Confucian Temple was declining by the day, going from bad to worse? If not for the Grand Sacrificer holding it together, it would likely have long since fallen into the Prime Minister's hands.

"Young Master Jiang Lan, what must I do for you to spare Young Master Lin?" He gritted his teeth and asked again.

Jiang Lan slowly took a sip of tea, seeming to give it some thought before saying with interest, "I have heard that every sacrificer of the Confucian Temple possesses a Master's Token, something even many Great Scholars have never seen."

"I have naturally never seen this Master's Token either, and I am rather curious. How about this, Old Master Zhao—lend me the Master's Token in your possession for a few days so I may admire it?"

In the original plot, Lin Fan would later obtain the Master's Token in Zhao Tianhe's possession.

That Master's Token was the key to opening a Confucian Ruins, and it contained an enormous fortuitous opportunity.

That ruin held countless opportunities, involving all manner of ancient Confucian books and scriptures, Cultivation Manuals and Secret Scrolls, rare treasures and exotic artifacts. There was even an ancient supreme divine ability of the Confucian Path called "Mouth Holds Heavenly Edict," as though it were a heavenly law and decree, with power that reached the heavens.

Although Jiang Lan could not cultivate at present, that did not prevent him from planning a way out for himself.

Once he got the Immortal Embryo Creation Dew—

He wanted every one of these fortuitous opportunities.

In this world, a powerful background alone was merely a castle in the air, flowers reflected in a mirror, the moon in water. What he sought was eternal life and an endless sky through the ages.

As for his promise to spare Lin Fan, it was only a verbal promise. Did this old fellow really intend to take it seriously? Was it not perfectly normal for a "useless Second Generation Scion" like him to go back on his word?

Once the Master's Token was in his hands, did Zhao Tianhe think he could take it back?

"Master's Token?"

Zhao Tianhe frowned, somewhat puzzled. What did Jiang Lan want with such a thing?

Every sacrificer of the Confucian Temple did indeed possess a Master's Token in principle. It was a symbol of status and standing.

It could also be used to enter the various Confucian Temples throughout the Great Xia Dynasty and peruse the vast sea of Confucian scriptures within.

Scholars across the land likewise revered the Master's Token as a sacred relic.

What did Jiang Lan, an uncultured Second Generation Scion who had never dabbled in the doctrines of the Confucian Path, want with a Master's Token?

And where had he learned of it?

Could he have heard about it while at his father's side?

"The Master's Token is exceedingly precious. How could this old man carry it around so casually? Young Master Jiang Lan, why not make another request..." Though he did not know what Jiang Lan wanted the Master's Token for, Zhao Tianhe instinctively refused.

If the Prime Minister wished to read Confucian scriptures or enter Confucian Temples in various places, he did not need a Master's Token at all.

It was of no use to him either.

Jiang Lan had long guessed that this old fox would not be willing to hand over the Master's Token so easily. He immediately revealed an expression of expected understanding and said with a faint smile, "Fine. If Old Master Zhao is not carrying something as precious as a Master's Token on his body, then forget it."

"I am not particularly interested in such Confucian things anyway. Compared to that, Sister Dieyi's pretty face is much more alluring. The same request as before—let Sister Dieyi keep me company for a few days, and I will let today's offense from this fellow pass without further pursuit."

Zhao Tianhe's expression froze outright. Then, once he realized what was happening, he could not help cursing inwardly. He had nearly fallen into this fellow's trap.

Of course. What use would an uncultured Second Generation Scion have for a Master's Token? He was still after Dieyi.

He must have learned of the Master's Token's special nature from his Prime Minister father and assumed Zhao Tianhe would not carry it with him, so he deliberately asked for the token.

That way, Zhao Tianhe would be unable to produce the Master's Token and would have no choice but to agree to his first demand?

A fine scheme indeed.

But utterly laughable.

Even if he truly could not produce the Master's Token, he would never push his own granddaughter into the fire pit to keep him company for several days.

"This old man suddenly remembers that the Master's Token is the symbol of a Confucian Temple sacrificer's identity. Since I am away from home, I ought to have it on me..."

"Young Master Jiang Lan, why not let this old man search first? What if I do have it on me?"

Zhao Tianhe frowned as though pondering it, putting on the appearance of having just recalled it as he began searching himself.

At those words, the smile on Jiang Lan's face faded. His eyes narrowed slightly, while his long fingers began tapping the stone table at an unhurried pace.

Su Qinghan secretly glanced at him. She did not know whether it was merely her imagination, but she felt that Jiang Lan's manner carried a hint of mockery and amusement.

Yet seeing that Zhao Tianhe truly seemed about to produce the Master's Token, Jiang Lan waved his hand and said, "Why take it so seriously, Old Master Zhao? I was merely joking. How could I truly want your Master's Token..."

However, before he could finish, Zhao Tianhe interrupted him.

A knowing smile appeared on his aged face as he said, "Young Master Jiang Lan, you are the Prime Minister's son. You would not deny words you said with your own mouth, would you?"

As his words fell, he casually tossed out an ancient token wrapped in swirling Confucian aura. It landed atop the stone table before Jiang Lan.

The token was not large, only half the size of a palm.

Its front was engraved with a square, ancient character for "Confucian." Its material was unknown, its color a bluish black, and it was suffused with a vast and righteous spirit, rich and solid as the earth.

"So this is the Master's Token?"

A faintly astonished expression appeared on Jiang Lan's face, as though he had not expected Zhao Tianhe to truly produce the Master's Token.

Yet inwardly, he compared it against the memories in his mind, determining whether it was genuine.

Its appearance was largely identical to the description in the text. It should be right.

At a time like this, Zhao Tianhe could not possibly bring out a fake Master's Token.

Seeing Jiang Lan's expression, Zhao Tianhe stroked his beard and smiled. "This old man has already fulfilled Young Master Jiang Lan's request and lent you the Master's Token. Might Young Master Jiang Lan now honor our agreement?"

To Confucian scholars throughout the land, the Master's Token was as precious as a sacred relic.

But to Jiang Lan, a Second Generation Scion who had nothing whatsoever to do with the Confucian Path, it was no different from an ordinary token in his hands.

Even if Jiang Lan did not return it, with Zhao Tianhe's status, obtaining another from the Confucian Temple would not be difficult...

Jiang Lan's expression remained calm, but inwardly he only wanted to sneer.

Naturally, he could guess what Zhao Tianhe was thinking.

The Master's Token was not something the current Confucian Temple could produce. Its existence could be traced back to before the founding of the Great Xia Dynasty. Lose one, and there would be one less.

The other sacrificers of the Confucian Temple had long since ceased to possess such things as well.

However, by the time Zhao Tianhe realized that, it would be a matter for later.

With a sweep of his wide sleeve, Jiang Lan put away the Master's Token and said indifferently, "Since Old Master Zhao has personally pleaded for him, I naturally will not make things difficult for him any further. As for how he should be dealt with next, let it be handled according to the current Great Xia Law."

"During the Xia Emperor's reign, the iron laws are orderly and the rules strict. I trust Old Master Zhao understands that well."

As he put away the Master's Token—

Jiang Lan could clearly sense that, within the void of The Unseen, that inexplicable Aura grew denser before descending into the Mud Pill Palace within his sea of consciousness.

The Qi Luck Dao Fruit growing upon that vine had visibly enlarged. Its color had deepened slightly, and it was already the size of a thumb, with a few mysterious traces winding across its surface.

Jiang Lan was not surprised by this scene.

In fact, when he had suppressed Lin Fan earlier, he could clearly feel more and more Fortune, growing ever denser, pouring from the void into the vine.

This was a process of one waxing while the other waned, a process of plunder.

Of course, the urgent priority was still to deal with the threat that was Lin Fan first. As for the Qi Luck Dao Fruit, he could take things slowly later.

He could not put the cart before the horse.