The Scar Healed, Forgetting the Pain

Qin Haoxuan was eating in the mess hall with Xu Yu and Murong Chao when Gu Xiaoyun, having heard the news, rushed over. He pointed at Qin Haoxuan with a smug look and said, "Junior Brother Qin, have you considered my suggestion about switching lands?"

Qin Haoxuan stopped shoveling food into his mouth, annoyed. "Impossible."

Gu Xiaoyun's chest heaved for a long moment. Had he spent all these days asking around about his reputation just for Qin Haoxuan to answer him like this?

"You, Qin Haoxuan! If it weren't for my uncle's careful guidance, what could a mere Weak Seed like you have accomplished in rooting in just twenty days! Now I'm offering to switch lands with you, which is giving you face. If you bite the hand that feeds you and piss me off, you'll regret it!"

Qin Haoxuan glared at Gu Xiaoyun with a cold laugh. Gu Yunzi, with his malicious heart, had given him the Corrosion Pill to practice the Corpse Refining Great Method. Fearing exposure, he had run to Spirit Field Valley and claimed that he was his protégé, reaping all the benefits and fame. Now, in the mouth of this scoundrel Gu Xiaoyun, it was being portrayed as a great favor. He was expected to trade a prime Spirit Spring land for one of Gu Xiaoyun's first-class Spirit Lands.

"Hall Master Gu thinks highly of me, which is my good fortune. What business is it of yours? I ask that you please stop mentioning the land swap, Senior Brother."

Qin Haoxuan shamelessly kicked Gu Xiaoyun out, enraging him to no end. However, with Xu Yu and Murong Chao present, a fight would have inevitably involved them. Gu Xiaoyun knew he couldn't afford to offend these two special Immortal Seed disciples, especially Xu Yu, a Purple Seed. Otherwise, he would have resorted to force long ago!

Gu Xiaoyun's face turned a shade of liver-red as he fumed, "Fine, fine, Qin Haoxuan! You just wait. You'll regret this!"

When the news of Qin Haoxuan's rooting and his confrontation with Gu Xiaoyun in the mess hall with Xu Yu and Murong Chao spread, Li Jing immediately grew wary. While Xu Yu's rooting had seemed normal before, Qin Haoxuan, a Weak Seed disciple, rooting in twenty days was highly abnormal. Furthermore, Qin Haoxuan had poached Murong Chao, the most talented disciple in his faction besides himself. Now, the three of them had formed a small group, and even Gu Xiaoyun, the bully of Spirit Field Valley, dared not clash with them.

Could Qin Haoxuan be trying to build his own force? If that were the case, whether it was forming a faction of his own within the Taichu Sect or later supporting Xu Yu in the competition for Sect Master, Li Jing could not tolerate it.

If Li Jing was merely concerned about Qin Haoxuan's potential ambitions, Zhang Kuang was already losing sleep over Qin Haoxuan's rooting.

He had tried to kill Qin Haoxuan more than once, but without success. However, Qin Haoxuan had long since become aware of this. Now, Qin Haoxuan had gained the favor of Gu Yunzi, who had secretly taught him, leading to his successful rooting in twenty days. With the strong support of Xu Yu, a Purple Seed disciple, and Murong Chao, a Gray Seed, Qin Haoxuan was subtly the leader of their small group, with Xu Yu and Murong Chao following his lead in all matters.

If Qin Haoxuan were to truly rally a small team to oppose him, just the Purple Seed and Gray Seed in his small group would be enough to keep him busy. Moreover, Zhang Kuang shared Li Jing's concern that Qin Haoxuan might indeed be building a team to prepare for Xu Yu's future bid for Sect Master.

Even if Qin Haoxuan was just a Weak Seed, this twenty-day rooting proved that he was not only not a waste but also outstanding. This had also brought him to the attention of the sect's higher-ups, making it increasingly difficult to deal with him in the future.

Although True Lord Huang Long had summoned Zhang Kuang to the Hidden Dragon Pavilion for a lecture, this lecture had not deterred Zhang Kuang from his intention to deal with Qin Haoxuan. It had only taught him how to endure and wait for his strength and influence to mature before making a move.

When the news of Qin Haoxuan's rooting arrived, Zhang Kuang also gathered his faction members, including several handyman disciples at the Immortal Seedling Realm Fifth Leaf stage, to discuss.

"Qin Haoxuan cannot be left alive. If he grows powerful and joins forces with Li Jing, we will be the first to suffer!"

"Junior Brother Zhang, why bother with a Weak Seed? So what if he rooted in twenty days? The path of cultivation is long. You have the potential of a Purple Seed; your future cultivation will surely leave him in the dust."

"Why not find an excuse and ask a few disciples at the Immortal Seedling Realm Fifth Leaf stage to cripple him?"

As soon as this idea was proposed, the several powerful cultivators at the Immortal Seedling Realm Fifth Leaf stage exchanged glances. One of them immediately refused outright, "No! Qin Haoxuan has the backing of Hall Master Gu Yun. He's confident and has strong support. If we try to find an excuse to deal with him, and it reaches Hall Master Gu Yun's ears, how can we continue to establish ourselves in the Taichu Sect? Moreover, Hall Master Gu Yun is Zhang Yang's master, and Zhang Yang is at odds with our leader. I think if we force the issue, we might push these two factions to form an alliance, making our future difficult."

He spoke righteously, but his heart pounded. They had all heard of Qin Haoxuan's formidable reputation. He had previously fought Yuan Shanxiang, a disciple at the Immortal Seedling Realm Fifth Leaf stage, to a mutual defeat. What's more, he had now rooted. If these few disciples at the Immortal Seedling Realm Fifth Leaf stage couldn't defeat him and were instead injured by him, how could they have any face left in the Taichu Sect? If they did manage to deal with him, they would worry about Gu Yunzi's revenge. Zhang Kuang would surely push them out to take the blame, while Zhang Kuang would reap all the benefits. They, however, would be expelled from the sect or confined to Solitary Confinement Mountain for three to five years, ruining their lives!

Zhang Kuang shot a cold glance at the disciple at the Immortal Seedling Realm Fifth Leaf stage. He could see through their petty calculations. He immediately said, "No need to say more. I have my own plans!"

With that, Zhang Kuang waved his hand, signaling them to leave, and sat alone in his room, deep in thought.

"I absolutely cannot force Qin Haoxuan to ally with Zhang Yang, or even Li Jing, against me!" Zhang Kuang mused. Just as he was pondering how to deal with Qin Haoxuan without incurring Gu Yunzi's resentment and preventing him from forming an alliance with Zhang Yang against him, a junior disciple knocked and entered, whispering a few words in his ear. The previously dejected Zhang Kuang immediately broke into a smile.

After dismissing the messenger, Zhang Kuang muttered to himself, "This morning in the mess hall, Gu Yunzi's useless nephew went to Qin Haoxuan again to switch lands, almost causing a conflict with them. It seems the breakthrough point to sow discord between them lies with Gu Yunzi's useless nephew!"

With this thought, Zhang Kuang smiled slightly, immediately got up, and went to find Gu Xiaoyun.

When Zhang Kuang found Gu Xiaoyun, the latter was sulking. He, a cultivator at the Immortal Seedling Realm Seventh Leaf stage and the nephew of Hall Master Gu Yunzi, commanded respect even from Elder Chu in Spirit Field Valley. Yet, that fellow Qin Haoxuan, relying on his two special Immortal Seeds, especially the protection of Xu Yu, the Purple Seed, acted with impunity and showed him no regard. It was unbearable!

"Senior Brother Gu! Good morning."

Zhang Kuang feigned a chance encounter and cupped his fists with a smile. His proactive greeting made the still-angry Gu Xiaoyun feel rather important. He forced a smile and returned the courtesy.

"It's early in the morning, Senior Brother Gu. You look quite displeased. What's wrong? Did someone upset you?"

Gu Xiaoyun wasn't foolish. He merely sneered at Zhang Kuang's words, clearly understanding that the latter had come to instigate him after learning of his embarrassment at Qin Haoxuan's hands.

Zhang Kuang chuckled self-deprecatingly, reflecting that he had overplayed his role, but he shamelessly continued, "I heard that Hall Master Gu helped Qin Haoxuan root. Did Senior Brother want to use this immense favor to trade for the land he holds, only to be rejected by him in front of everyone?"

Gu Xiaoyun nodded slightly, his brows furrowed. Twenty-day rooting was exceptionally rare even for a Gray Seed, considered great news. For a Weak Seed like Qin Haoxuan, it was akin to a second life from a benefactor.

Thinking of this, Gu Xiaoyun forgot to mock Zhang Kuang for his clumsy attempt to instigate him, and his unspoken anger towards Qin Haoxuan surged.

"He's being a bit ungrateful," Zhang Kuang's voice was not loud, and his casual tone only fueled Gu Xiaoyun's anger. "If Hall Master Gu had helped me like that, and if I had a Spirit Spring land, I would indeed be willing to trade with Senior Brother Gu."

Gu Xiaoyun ignored the insincerity in Zhang Kuang's words. Just hearing a Purple Seed speak to him like this was immensely gratifying. Compared to the attitude of the Weak Seed Qin Haoxuan...

Thinking of Qin Haoxuan again, Gu Xiaoyun gnashed his teeth in hatred, his knuckles cracking audibly from clenching his fists too tightly.

"Junior Brother Zhang, if there's an opportunity, I will definitely recommend you to my uncle and ask him to take you as a disciple for proper training." While hating Qin Haoxuan, Gu Xiaoyun didn't forget to do a favor for a Purple Seed, one of the future power brokers of Taichu.

Hearing Gu Xiaoyun's words, Zhang Kuang inwardly sneered, thinking, Who cares about your uncle? The four great Hall Masters vied to take me as a disciple back then. Now it's as if I'm unwanted, offering me such a favor that's worse than plain water? No wonder you're only at the Immortal Seedling Realm Seventh Leaf stage after several years in the sect. With your intelligence, you deserve to be bullied by Qin Haoxuan.

Zhang Kuang sneered inwardly, but he still needed this fellow for now. He maintained a grateful smile on his face. "Since Senior Brother Gu thinks highly of me, I will also offer Senior Brother Gu a plan to teach Qin Haoxuan a lesson. What do you say?"

Gu Xiaoyun's eyes lit up. He knew Zhang Kuang was using him, but he still wanted to use the latter's plan to deal with Qin Haoxuan. Otherwise, his reputation regarding this land would be ruined.

"That Qin Haoxuan refuses to trade lands with you, right? For such an ungrateful fellow, I think he deserves a lesson to show him the immensity of heaven and earth." Zhang Kuang grinned wickedly and whispered in Gu Xiaoyun's ear, "Senior Brother Gu, tonight, go to his field and pull up all his crops! Make him work for nothing. From now on, whatever he plants, you pull it up until he agrees to trade lands with you."

Upon hearing Zhang Kuang's suggestion, Gu Xiaoyun sneered and said, "Junior Brother Zhang and I have the same idea. I was planning to go pull them up tonight. Indeed, great minds think alike!"

"Yes, yes! Great minds think alike!" Zhang Kuang said with a smile, but inwardly he cursed, If my mind were truly alike with a bear like you, I'd be utterly doomed!

"Since we're so compatible, let's not be so formal with 'Senior Brother.' Just call me Brother Gu!" Gu Xiaoyun had a sudden inspiration. Looking at Zhang Kuang's kind and sincere demeanor, he knew that if he seized this opportunity to build a relationship, or even become sworn brothers, then when Zhang Kuang rose to power in the future, he would not only gain prestige but could also walk sideways in Taichu.

Zhang Kuang's expression froze for a moment, but he quickly recovered. "Then this junior brother thanks Brother Gu for thinking so highly of me! However, this junior brother has one more thing to tell Brother Gu."