That worked like a charm!
"Brother Bai, you're truly impressive. This way, please—there's no need for more words.
"Come to my home today, Brother Bai. I must properly thank you for your guidance!"
Chen Fan's eyes brimmed with delight. He looked at Bai Qianli with blazing enthusiasm.
Bai Qianli closed his folding fan and nodded with a smile.
"They were just a few humble insights, Brother Chen. You flatter me!"
"Come, come, Brother Bai, this way. I wonder what you're good at.
"That'll help me find a suitable job for you. By the way, do you have any preferences regarding your pay?"
Chen Fan immediately led Bai Qianli toward the village.
Bai Qianli's gaze lingered for a moment on the humans and demons around them. He replied with easygoing modesty.
"Whatever you think is appropriate will do. I came here mainly to broaden my knowledge.
"After all, the sights here are truly rare in all the world!
"As for my skills, I know a little about each of the Six Arts of the Gentleman.
"I also know a little about formations and alchemy. You could say I'm a bit of a jack-of-all-trades!"
Chen Fan stared at Bai Qianli in amazement, his suspicions instantly dispelled.
A genius of this caliber had nothing to scheme for in Zhao Family Village.
After all, he hadn't even shown off his methods yet.
There was no way Bai Qianli could know just how much potential Chen Fan had.
It seemed this man really had come to travel and study.
Bai Qianli's gaze passed over the top of Chen Fan's head. Within his yellow fate, the faint phantom of a precious mirror slowly revolved. Bai Qianli pondered silently.
"The top-grade acquired spirit treasure, the Yuhua Bagua Mirror. It seems I can't glimpse his true fate.
"Still, his body is pure and untainted, and his manifest fate is upright. He has no entanglement with Karmic Debt or cause and effect.
"Yet his cultivation speed with the Qingxin Jue is less than thirty percent of that of an ordinary cultivator.
"He must already have been marked by the human way, with its mighty power suppressing his cultivation.
"Only by completing his achievements and ascending to Huoyun Cave can he fully break free of his shackles!"
As Bai Qianli pondered, his gaze swept across the satisfied smiles on the demons' faces.
He lightly tapped his folded fan with his fingers, secretly forming a talisman.
"The Heavenly Emperor's daughter was still rather crude in her methods. The Yuhua Bagua Mirror alone isn't enough.
"Any Golden Immortal with a little insight could spot the flaw. I should help cover it up a bit.
"The Demon Race finally has a chance to get ahead. I can't let it be snuffed out!"
A flash of light passed over the talisman in Bai Qianli's hand before it sank into Chen Fan's body.
His phoenix eyes turned inscrutable as he looked west, a wave of irritation welling in his chest.
"Buddhism is flourishing, yet they're using my Demon Race as a stepping stone. Infuriating!"
"Brother Bai, are you satisfied with this room?
"If you need anything, just say the word. I'll do my best to provide it!"
Chen Fan led Bai Qianli to a room and asked him.
Bai Qianli's gaze swept over the neat row of dormitories, and a trace of surprise appeared in his eyes.
He had never seen such orderly buildings in a village before.
The rows of wooden cabins were all more or less the same size.
The interiors were simple too: a bed, a table, a chair, a cabinet, and a washstand!
There was nothing else.
"Brother Bai, you'll need to come with me to the storeroom to get a set of towels and other things!"
"No need. Thank you for the thought, Brother Chen. This place is more than enough.
"I know a little about the art of the cosmos. My luggage is all right here!"
Bai Qianli gave his sleeve a shake, and Chen Fan once again sang his praises.
You really do know a little about everything!
Even Zhang Tianshou hadn't mastered the art of the mustard seed.
"Brother Bai, you're amazing!"
After a few more words, Chen Fan finally took his leave of Bai Qianli.
Looking at the clean, empty room, Bai Qianli swept out his sleeve. A wave of spiritual light spread through the space.
"Tianshou, I brought someone in today, and he gave me a little guidance.
"My cultivation speed with the Qingxin Jue shot up by fifty percent!"
Chen Fan found Zhang Tianshou and excitedly shared the good news.
A trace of shock flashed across Zhang Tianshou's eyes, and she cried out.
"How is that possible? The cultivation method I taught you was..."
"What about it?"
Chen Fan looked at Zhang Tianshou in confusion, unsure why she was so shocked.
Zhang Tianshou fell silent and pressed her fingers against Chen Fan's pulse.
"It really did increase by fifty percent, and his Magic Power is still growing purer."
Zhang Tianshou was flabbergasted. How could this be possible?
She had gotten the method for cultivating the Qingxin Jue through a transmission.
She had directly consulted the Golden-Horned Attendant.
Someone who understood the Qingxin Jue even better than Laojun's attendant—what sort of powerful figure was that?
Could Laojun himself have intervened?
No way!
Chapter Thirty: The Merit Sacred Artifact Shocks the Mighty; Wei Zheng Arrives!
"Tianshou, Brother Bai must be the head of some major sect, or someone of that standing.
"I'm inviting him to dinner at my place tonight. If you have any questions about cultivation, you can tell me, and I'll ask Brother Bai for you!"
Chen Fan raised an eyebrow at Zhang Tianshou, looking pleased with himself.
Since he knew Bai Qianli probably meant no harm, he might as well make the most of the opportunity.
As for owing him a favor—
At worst, he could bring Bai Qianli along to join in. When they submitted the record of their achievements, they could include him too.
No matter how important Bai Qianli was, he couldn't possibly outrank the mortal dynasty that held sway over all beneath heaven.
"I do have some questions about cultivation techniques!"
Zhang Tianshou's gaze flickered as she thought of a way to test Bai Qianli.
She hurried to Chen Fan's side and whispered into his ear.
"The Supreme Way is non-action; all rivers return to nothingness..."
"Got it. I'll remember!"
Chen Fan thought it over. All right, he hadn't understood a word.
At that moment, Bai Qianli, who was tidying up his room, looked up, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.
"What a clever and perceptive Eldest Princess of the Heavenly Court. She mixed together the Daoist Sect's Three Teachings' formulas,
"and even added a line of Buddhist doctrine. She blended them together fairly well—she's got some skill!"
Chen Fan and Zhang Tianshou continued discussing, their heads drawing closer and closer.
Suddenly, a figure in purple drifted over and called out excitedly.
"Chen Fan, I found the kind of person you told me to look out for...
"Ah! I didn't see anything. You two carry on!"
Before you continue