A Secret Conversation by the Roadside

Han Yuan bade Ancestor Ziyun farewell and returned to Spirit Script Peak.

As he passed the courtyard of an Inner Sect Disciple, his nose involuntarily twitched slightly.

"Hmm? This scent feels familiar. It seems to be Junior Sister Liu Sisi's?"

Han Yuan looked around in confusion.

"Wait, when did my nose become so sharp?"

Han Yuan froze, then subconsciously glanced at the Contractual Spirit Script in his Sea of Consciousness. The corner of his eye twitched.

"Th-this can't be Wangcai's ability, can it? Did I even swipe Wangcai's sense of smell?"

"But why hadn't I noticed that I had gained this ability before?"

Han Yuan took another light sniff. After taking two steps, his gaze slowly settled on a courtyard not far away.

Han Yuan raised a brow. "Could Liu Sisi be harboring some hidden scheme?"

After giving it some thought, he slowly approached the courtyard, carefully concealing his aura along the way.

Only when he reached the edge of the courtyard did he discover that it was covered by a Soundproofing Array. The array was not particularly advanced, but it was enough to block out sound. If one used Spiritual Sense to probe it, the array would instantly break, alerting the people inside.

Han Yuan scanned his surroundings and suddenly spotted the willow tree in the courtyard.

Planting trees in courtyards was one of the Earth God Sect's customs, and this willow tree was especially tall. Quite a few of its branches extended beyond the courtyard walls.

Those branches were not within the range covered by the array. Even when the wind stirred them, it did not disrupt the array, because the ripples of the formation could automatically recognize the willow's branches and leaves, passing right over them.

Thus, while the outside of the branches was blocked by the array, their insides lay outside the array's range!

This was a flaw in the array!

But ordinary people truly had no way to exploit such a flaw.

Han Yuan, however, happened to be able to!

A thread of his Spiritual Sense connected to a willow branch and extended upward through the plant's interior.

The willow tree welcomed Han Yuan's Spiritual Sense without resistance. It even conveyed scattered traces of affection. Han Yuan's Spiritual Sense followed the willow tree's body and passed through the Soundproofing Array.

Then, not only did he hear voices, he even saw the scene within the courtyard through the willow tree.

There were three people seated beneath the willow tree.

An old man, a young man, and a graceful young woman—Liu Sisi.

The young man had turned his head away, staring gloomily at the willow tree with a dejected expression. He had no idea that this gave Han Yuan a full view of his face. Han Yuan knew him—it was Liu Xinghe. Chang Chun had shown him this man's portrait long ago.

As for the old man, Han Yuan did not recognize him.

Han Yuan was rather puzzled. What were these people doing?

"Xinghe, it seems your hopes of becoming a True Disciple have fallen through. The family's decision is that you need to enter beneath the tutelage of a Foundation Establishment Elder," the old man said calmly.

Liu Xinghe said gloomily, "I had clearly planned everything out. With that Han Yuan's comprehension, he definitely would have caught the Sect Master's eye. Once he became a True Disciple of the Main Peak, I could have secured the position of True Disciple of Spirit Script Peak without a hitch. Who knew he was just a hollow shell!"

Liu Sisi snorted softly. "That may not be so. How could you possibly imagine the Estate Master's talent? He's already at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer. Do you know how old he is? Only eighteen! Do you understand the weight of being eighteen?"

Liu Xinghe snorted coldly. "Idiot. With that many resources, you could break through several realms in a year too! Do you understand the weight of a True Disciple's resources?"

"You...!" Liu Sisi thought for a while but did not know how to refute him.

"Enough, what are you arguing for?" the old man snorted coldly. "Xinghe, you know the weight of being a True Disciple as well. From now on, do not go against Han Yuan again. What happened before has not had much impact yet. Even if word gets out that you built up his reputation as a comprehension genius, it will not amount to much. But you absolutely must not do anything unnecessary again. Otherwise, even if you do not make a move, should anything happen to him, our Liu Family will be implicated! Hurry up and withdraw the people at the entrance. Do you think the higher-ups are blind?"

"Yes, Elder!" Liu Xinghe nodded gloomily.

The old man then turned a kindly gaze toward Liu Sisi and said pleasantly, "Sisi, you have done well. You managed to infiltrate the inner circle of Cangming Cave Mansion and laid a solid foundation. Keep it up. Becoming Han Yuan's capable right-hand woman will be no difficult matter. The family will allocate some resources to you and help you gain a firm foothold in Cangming Cave Mansion, so do not worry that your realm and foundation will fail to keep up!"

Liu Sisi nodded in delight. "Thank you, Elder!"

"Besides, the family believes that it would be even better if you could take things a step further!" the elder said with a smile.

"Take things a step further?" Liu Sisi was startled.

"That's right. Han Yuan is only eighteen or nineteen now, while you are only twenty. You can get along well with each other. If you can become True Disciple Dao companions, the benefits to the family will be even greater!"

Liu Sisi slowly shook her head. "No, Elder, I cannot do that. Since I have become Han Yuan's subordinate, I cannot undermine the Estate Master's interests. Otherwise, it would be like drawing water with a bamboo basket—everything would come to nothing!"

The old man said in exasperation, "Why are you so foolish? Who asked you to undermine his interests? Take the Spirit Rice in Cangming Cave Mansion, for example. Once it matures, doesn't it have to be sold? Whom can he sell it to? If he sells it to the sect, their offer will not be high. He has no channels either. At that time, if you step in and help the Liu Family take all the Spirit Rice, you can help him sell it off quickly. He can rapidly recover his funds, and the price we offer can even be a little higher than the sect's! He would earn even more instead!"

"After obtaining the Spirit Rice at wholesale prices, we can distribute it through various channels and naturally make a profit as well. In truth, this is something where cooperation benefits both sides!"

He paused before continuing, "More importantly, he has no background, yet he carries such a huge slab of fat on him that it makes people drool. Once he cooperates with our Liu Family, our Liu Family will have to bear risks for him as well! We will support him from behind, and he will be safer instead! In short, cooperation benefits both sides!"

Liu Sisi fell into hesitation. As she considered the elder's words, it truly seemed to be the case.

Seeing that Liu Sisi was tempted, the elder continued, "Furthermore, your parents' branch will also receive rewards because of your contributions. Your mother's status seems rather low, but a mother rises in status through her daughter. The more you do for the family, the more benefits she will receive as well. At the very least, we can prepare a Barrier-Breaking Pill for her, allowing her to break through into the late stage of Qi Refining."

Liu Sisi stood stunned for a moment. Recalling how her mother had once been constantly downcast, she ultimately nodded. "I will do my best. I will try my best to become his right-hand woman. As for whether I can become... become his Dao companion, I cannot guarantee it."

"Mm, it is good that you understand."

The old man smiled in great satisfaction.

The value of a True Disciple was no small matter. Those Spirit Fields alone, if all properly managed, could produce hundreds of thousands of Spirit Stones a year. Making even one or two tenths of that would mean one hundred thousand Spirit Stones. Coupled with the various conveniences and authority that status brought, the benefits were enormous!

Trading a collateral-line family-born girl of middling aptitude for such benefits was absolutely a sure profit with no loss.

Han Yuan listened to these words in secret and began to ponder.

It seemed that the temptation brought by his public identity as a True Disciple was enough to draw the attention of certain Cultivation Families.

Now that the Liu Family had begun placing its bets, what about the other families?

He silently considered this as the conversation in the courtyard continued.

After finishing with Liu Sisi, the old man shifted his gaze to Liu Xinghe.

Noticing his gaze, Liu Xinghe asked in confusion, "Elder, is there anything else?"

"Right now, it seems he has no one of note at his side. If you..."

"No, Elder. Even if I cannot obtain the status of a True Disciple, getting a Core Disciple position will not be a problem! My Foundation Establishment Pill is already prepared, and I can attempt the breakthrough at any time. I was only waiting for the True Disciple position. Now that becoming a True Disciple is impossible, I will become a Core Disciple as soon as possible, then prepare to attempt my breakthrough!"

Liu Xinghe hurriedly refused, not giving the elder a chance to finish.

He had indeed missed out on becoming a True Disciple, but he did not admit that he was inferior to Han Yuan. Once he broke through to Foundation Establishment, he would also have a chance to break through to Golden Core and become a Golden Core True Person. His status would not be any worse than that of a True Disciple!

The old man nodded. He knew that Liu Xinghe was not one to be content behind others. It was simply a pity that Liu Xinghe's luck was a little too poor. He had thought that coming to Spirit Script Peak would give him an opportunity, yet he had ultimately failed.

When Han Yuan realized there was nothing more interesting to hear, he quietly left.

Only on the way did he notice that a disciple named Di Qing had sent him a message requesting a visit.

He actually remembered this person. When the first batch of Blood Spirit Rice had matured, it was Di Qing who collected it. At the time, he had indeed exchanged contact information with Di Qing. He had not expected him to get in touch now.

Originally, Han Yuan had not intended to pay much attention to him. But remembering the conversation he had just overheard, he replied that they could meet three days later.

Afterward, he did not think further on the matter. He quickly returned to Cangming Cave Mansion. Without attracting anyone's attention, he entered the Cultivation Room in Cangming Tower and prepared to refine the Purple Vine Wood Heart Fluid.