Exchange, Retaliation?

By the time the grain handover was completed and they returned, it was already night.

Chu Danqing could only return to the Lu residence, though it was not without gains.

This time, Chu Danqing had obtained five thousand faction contribution points.

One dan of grain for one faction contribution point—reasonable, though not entirely so.

Adding it to what he had earned before, he now had a full six thousand faction contribution points in hand.

To be honest, if he was willing to gamble once more, he might truly have had a chance at the Fine-grade Inherited Skill ranked first in the faction store.

However, he believed more in money safely in hand, so the moment he returned to the Lu residence, he exchanged for "White Crane True Immortal's Notes: Volume One."

Unfortunately, it did not refresh after the exchange; only the available quantity decreased. Otherwise, Chu Danqing had intended to trade everything for knowledge-type items.

With the remaining three thousand faction points, he could only exchange for two portions of Lu Clan Body Tempering Elixir.

Now, he was hesitating over how to use these two portions of Lu Clan Body Tempering Elixir.

The simplest method was for him and Da Bao to each take one directly, but there was another use for them—as cultivation resources.

If he waited until his Summoning Basics skill reached LV.10, these two resources could increase Da Bao's chances of awakening that enhanced bleeding skill.

After pondering it again and again, he still decided to use them directly.

Reaching level 10 in a Basic Skill was no easy task, let alone continuing to cultivate it afterward.

"I don't need it. Blood Rage is enough."

"Little Chu, you eat." Da Bao refused Chu Danqing and gave his reason. "You have more blood. You live longer."

What he meant was that as long as Chu Danqing survived, reviving him would not be difficult. But if Chu Danqing died, Da Bao could not revive Chu Danqing.

Chu Danqing tried persuading him several times, but Da Bao stubbornly refused, insisting that he did not need it.

Seeing this, Chu Danqing could only consume both portions himself.

The elixir melted upon entering his mouth. Once it reached his stomach, it swiftly transformed into a warm current that rose through his body. About two minutes later, Dimension Paradise presented a notification.

Your maximum HP +300 × 2

In every respect, this elixir far surpassed the White Dragon Fish food Chu Danqing had consumed before.

Whether in efficiency or in the amount it increased his maximum limit.

Just as he finished swallowing it, Chu Danqing saw that the sole remaining attribute-enhancing medicine in the faction store had also been taken.

Clearly, someone had feared Chu Danqing would exchange for all of them, so they hurriedly traded for it as well.

"It was that flat-headed young man called Fierce Fist, wasn't it?" Chu Danqing did not believe Tie Yan could gather fifteen hundred faction contribution points in such a short time.

"Fierce Fist's true target is most likely the Fine-grade Inherited Skill ranked first in the faction store."

"His faction contribution points may not compare to mine, but exchanging for one portion of attribute medicine would not be difficult."

"He simply did not expect my efficiency to be faster."

"But my efficiency has reached its limit too." Chu Danqing knew that obtaining such a large amount of faction contribution points again would not be very realistic.

He checked the time and felt it was still early. It was only a little past eight.

So he simply took out "White Crane True Immortal's Notes: Volume One" and a desk lamp, beginning to burn the midnight oil.

After all, relying solely on candles was terrible for his eyes.

Da Bao cranked the generator by hand for Chu Danqing, supplying power for him to read.

Compared to the Holy Child of Azure Cloud, the contents of White Crane True Immortal's Notes had a different focus, broadening Chu Danqing's knowledge considerably.

He read very slowly, pondering every line and every word with care, gaining enormously from it.

As time trickled away second by second, Da Bao's hand-cranking movements suddenly stalled. He abruptly raised his head and looked toward the ceiling.

The desk lamp went dark. Chu Danqing did not ask what was wrong. Instead, he stuffed the notes into his Storage Space and became alert.

Ready to strike at any moment.

A savage glint emerged in Da Bao's eyes. He activated Rending Claws, and his burly body nimbly clung to the beam.

The next moment, he tore open the roof tiles and shot onto the rooftop, battling some unknown enemy.

Chu Danqing could not see anything. Life Link and Energy Link both required a target, and neither could penetrate obstacles, leaving him unable to help.

However, the disturbance swiftly drew the attention of all parties within the Lu residence.

"Bold indeed, breaking into the Lu residence at night!"

Xie Liyang was the first to arrive. A fire serpent snaked over, followed by a crackling barrage.

After roughly three minutes, Da Bao finally jumped down from the rooftop. His fur was slightly scorched, clearly having been caught in the aftermath.

"It ran. A black shadow. A corpse person," Da Bao said.

Then Xie Liyang entered as well, his expression carrying a trace of regret. "It seemed to be a Demonic Beast. I do not know where it came from. Does Attendant Chu have any clues?"

Judging by the traces at the scene, Chu Danqing had discovered it first, so naturally Xie Liyang asked him.

"I'm not entirely sure. I was reading at the time." Chu Danqing thought briefly before saying, "Could it be the Way of Peace?"

If there was anyone he had offended, only the Way of Peace was suspicious.

Otherwise, since entering the trial, he had only offended those Dimension Apostles.

Yet those people had also joined the Way of Peace, so the conclusion still pointed in the same direction.

As for Fierce Fist? He had joined the government faction and was surely running himself ragged for faction contribution points right now. Where would he find the time to bother with Chu Danqing?

At this moment, Lu Yin also arrived. Hearing Chu Danqing's words, his expression darkened as well.

"Almost certainly. It must have been the work of the Way of Peace." Lu Yin said, "That Demonic Beast bore a thirty-percent resemblance to the Superior Corpse Squatter, yet it was even more vile."

"Wasn't the Superior Corpse Squatter on—" Chu Danqing had originally wanted to say it was on Ji Zhen, but then he remembered that even a miner like Lu San could use the Three Corpses Severing Method to create superior, middle, and inferior corpses.

Creating another one would not be anything difficult.

"Attendant Chu, you eliminated the Middle Corpse Stumbler and aided Ji Zhen in suppressing the Superior Corpse Squatter. You must have ruined the Way of Peace's plans." Xie Liyang knew the inside story and added another sentence.

"What plan should we devise?" Chu Danqing looked toward Lu Yin.

Lu Yin pondered for a moment, then said, "Attendant Chu, change residences for the time being. Tomorrow, I will seek out Attendant Chu, and we can discuss it further."

"The rest of you, disperse for now. Do not spread word of this matter."

Clearly, Lu Yin needed to make preparations before devising a plan.

The Way of Peace's influence in Yangxian County was inferior to that of the Lu Clan, but they had countless followers spread throughout the land.

Moreover, that Way of Peace Master was the current Imperial Preceptor, blazing like the sun at high noon.

After everyone had dispersed, Lu Yin continued, "This matter arose because of my Lu Clan, and Attendant Chu has been dragged into it."

Chu Danqing immediately replied, "To eat the ruler's salary is to bear the ruler's worries. Why speak of being dragged into it, Young Master Lu? This is the duty of a retainer Attendant such as myself."

His words greatly pleased Lu Yin, who then said, "Previously, Attendant Chu mentioned needing heavenly treasures to make up for Da Bao's congenital deficiencies. I now have some leads on that matter."

"Tomorrow, somewhat later in the day, I will send someone to deliver them to Attendant Chu. If they are not to your liking, I will have the people in the residence seek out more for Attendant Chu."

"It is getting late. Attendant Chu, rest early." With that, Lu Yin departed as well.