When the Scar Heals, the Pain Is Forgotten

At that moment, Qin Haoxuan was eating in the dining hall with Xu Yu and Murong Chao when Gu Xiaoyun, having received the news, hurried over. With an arrogant expression, he pointed at Qin Haoxuan and said, "Junior Brother Qin, how have you considered my suggestion about exchanging land?"

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

Gu Xiaoyun's chest heaved violently for a long while. He had given Qin Haoxuan all these days to ask around about his reputation, yet Qin Haoxuan still dared answer him like this?

"Fine, Qin Haoxuan! If not for my uncle's painstaking guidance, what ability would a mere weak seed like you have to achieve Rooting within twenty days? Now I'm offering to exchange land with you—that's giving you face! If your ingratitude angers me, you won't have any good fruit to eat!"

Qin Haoxuan glared coldly at Gu Xiaoyun. Gu Yunzi had a venomous heart. He had made Qin Haoxuan take a Corrosion Pill to practice the Corpse Refining Great Method, then, fearing the matter would be exposed, had fled to Spirit Field Valley and claimed Qin Haoxuan had been trained by him. Gu Yunzi had taken all the benefits and reputation, yet in this bastard Gu Xiaoyun's mouth, it had become an immense favor. Qin Haoxuan was apparently supposed to trade a prime Spirit Spring plot for his first-grade Spirit Land.

"Hall Master Gu's regard for me is my good fortune. What does it have to do with you? Senior Brother, please do not mention exchanging land again."

Qin Haoxuan bluntly drove him away, nearly angering Gu Xiaoyun to death. Yet with Xu Yu and Murong Chao present, a fight would inevitably drag both of them in. These two disciples with special immortal seeds—especially Xu Yu, a purple seed—were people Gu Xiaoyun knew he could not afford to offend. Otherwise, he would have already resorted to force!

With his face swollen purple-red like pig liver, Gu Xiaoyun said furiously, "Fine, fine, Qin Haoxuan. Just you wait. There will come a day when you regret this!"

The news that Qin Haoxuan had achieved Rooting and, together with Xu Yu and Murong Chao, had forced Gu Xiaoyun back in the dining hall immediately put Li Jing on alert. He had found Xu Yu's Rooting perfectly normal before, but Qin Haoxuan, a weak-seed disciple, achieving Rooting in twenty days was a heaven-defying speed that felt deeply abnormal. Moreover, Qin Haoxuan had poached Murong Chao, the most gifted member of Li Jing's camp apart from Li Jing himself. The three now formed a small group, one that even Gu Xiaoyun, the local tyrant of Spirit Field Valley, did not dare clash with.

Could it be that Qin Haoxuan also wanted to gather a force of his own? If so, whether he formed a group belonging to Qin Haoxuan within Taichu Sect or supported Xu Yu in competing for the position of sect leader in the future, neither was something Li Jing could tolerate.

If Li Jing merely worried that Qin Haoxuan harbored ambitions of his own, Zhang Kuang was already so shocked by Qin Haoxuan's Rooting that he could neither sleep nor eat in peace.

More than once or twice, he had wanted to put Qin Haoxuan to death. Though he had failed, Qin Haoxuan had long since sensed it. Now Qin Haoxuan had earned Gu Yunzi's appreciation, received his private instruction, and successfully achieved Rooting in twenty days. He also had the wholehearted support of Xu Yu, a purple-seed disciple, and Murong Chao, a Gray Seed. Within their little group of three, Qin Haoxuan vaguely stood as the leader, while Xu Yu and Murong Chao followed his lead in all things.

If Qin Haoxuan truly formed a small team dedicated to opposing him, then merely the purple seed and the Gray Seed in that group would be enough to leave him run ragged. Zhang Kuang also shared Li Jing's concern, fearing that Qin Haoxuan would really establish a small team to prepare for Xu Yu's future bid for the position of sect leader.

Even if Qin Haoxuan was only a weak seed, his Rooting within twenty days showed that he was not only no waste, but exceptionally outstanding. This had also brought him into the sights of the sect's upper echelons. Dealing with him in the future would become increasingly difficult.

Although True Lord Huang Long had summoned Zhang Kuang to Hidden Dragon Pavilion for a stern lecture, it had not made Zhang Kuang abandon his intention of dealing with Qin Haoxuan. It merely taught him how to endure and wait until his strength and influence had matured before making a move.

When the news of Qin Haoxuan's Rooting arrived, Zhang Kuang also gathered the people from his camp, including several servant senior brothers at the Immortal Seedling Realm Fifth Leaf, to discuss it.

"Qin Haoxuan cannot be allowed to remain. Otherwise, once he grows powerful and joins hands with Li Jing, we'll be the first ones to suffer!"

"Junior Brother Zhang, why care about a weak seed? So what if he achieved Rooting in twenty days? The path of immortality is long. You possess the bearing of a purple seed; one day, your cultivation will leave him as far apart as clouds and mud."

"Why not find a pretext and ask a few senior brothers at the Immortal Seedling Realm Fifth Leaf to cripple him?"

The moment this idea was raised, the several Immortal Seedling Realm Fifth Leaf experts immediately looked at one another. One of them promptly spoke up and flatly refused. "No! Qin Haoxuan has Hall Master Gu backing him, so his back is stiff and his confidence full. If we go after him without first finding a pretext, what if word reaches Hall Master Gu's ears? How would we remain in Taichu Sect afterward? Besides, Hall Master Gu is Zhang Yang's master, and Zhang Yang is already at odds with Boss. If we force the issue and drive their two groups into an alliance, our days ahead will not be easy."

He spoke with righteous conviction, but inside, his heart beat like a small drum. They had all heard of Qin Haoxuan's formidable reputation. Earlier, he had fought Yuan Shanxiang of the Immortal Seedling Realm Fifth Leaf to mutual ruin. Now that he had achieved Rooting, if several Immortal Seedling Realm Fifth Leaf cultivators like them failed to take him down and were injured by him instead, what face would they have left to remain in Taichu Sect? And if they truly cleaned him up, then when Gu Yunzi retaliated, Zhang Kuang would certainly push them out to take the blame. Zhang Kuang would seize all the benefits, while they might be expelled from the sect or locked on Solitary Confinement Mountain for three to five years. Wouldn't that ruin their entire lives?

Zhang Kuang coldly swept his gaze over that Immortal Seedling Realm Fifth Leaf senior brother. How could he fail to see the little calculations in their hearts? He immediately said, "Say no more. I have my own plans!"

With that, Zhang Kuang waved his hand, signaling for them to leave, and sat alone in his room, silently pondering.

"I absolutely cannot force Qin Haoxuan into joining with Zhang Yang, or even Li Jing, against me!" Zhang Kuang mulled it over silently. He was wondering how to deal with Qin Haoxuan without drawing Gu Yunzi's hatred or allowing Qin Haoxuan and Zhang Yang to form an alliance against him, when a lackey knocked and entered, whispering several words into his ear. Zhang Kuang, who had just been frowning in misery, immediately brightened.

After dismissing the messenger, Zhang Kuang muttered to himself again, "This morning in the dining hall, Gu Yunzi's good-for-nothing nephew went to demand a land exchange from Qin Haoxuan again and nearly clashed with them. It seems the opening for driving a wedge between them still lies with Gu Yunzi's good-for-nothing nephew!"

Thinking this, Zhang Kuang smiled faintly and immediately rose to find Gu Xiaoyun.

When Zhang Kuang found Gu Xiaoyun, Gu Xiaoyun was sulking. He was a grand cultivator at the Immortal Seedling Realm Seventh Leaf and the biological nephew of Gu Yunzi, the hall master of Gu Yun Hall. In Spirit Field Valley, even Elder Chu had to give him some face. Yet Qin Haoxuan, relying on the protection of two special immortal seeds—especially Xu Yu, that purple seed—had acted without restraint and shown him no respect at all. What could be endured, and what could not?

"Senior Brother Gu! Good morning."

Zhang Kuang put on the appearance of a chance encounter, smiling as he cupped his hands in greeting. His initiative made the still-angry Gu Xiaoyun feel quite honored, and Gu Xiaoyun forced a smile as he returned the greeting.

"So early in the morning, yet Senior Brother Gu wears such an unlucky face. What is it? Who has upset you?"

Gu Xiaoyun was no fool. Hearing Zhang Kuang's words, he merely sneered. This attitude clearly showed Zhang Kuang knew Gu Xiaoyun had lost face and been humiliated before Qin Haoxuan, which was why he had come to egg him on.

Zhang Kuang gave a self-mocking smile, reflecting that he had overacted, yet he still shamelessly continued. "I heard Hall Master Gu helped Qin Haoxuan achieve Rooting. Senior Brother wanted to use that enormous favor to exchange for the plot in his hands, but he refused you before everyone?"

Gu Xiaoyun's brows locked tightly as he nodded faintly. Achieving Rooting in twenty days was extraordinarily rare even for a Gray Seed, a piece of tremendous good news. For a weak seed, it was a favor comparable to being given new parents and a new life.

At the thought of this, Gu Xiaoyun no longer had the mind to mock Zhang Kuang for cleverly coming to incite him. The nameless fire in his heart toward Qin Haoxuan surged higher and higher.

"A little ungrateful, isn't he?" Zhang Kuang's voice was low, but his casual comment only fueled Gu Xiaoyun's anger. "If Hall Master Gu had helped me so much, then if I had a Spirit Spring plot in hand, I truly would be willing to exchange it with Senior Brother Gu."

Gu Xiaoyun paid no attention to the falsehood in Zhang Kuang's words. Merely having a purple seed treat him this way already made him feel infinitely gratified, especially when compared with the attitude of weak-seed Qin Haoxuan...

Thinking of Qin Haoxuan again, Gu Xiaoyun hated him until his teeth itched. His knuckles cracked as he clenched his fists too hard.

"Junior Brother Zhang, if an opportunity arises, I will certainly strongly recommend you to my uncle and ask him to take you as a disciple and nurture you well." As Gu Xiaoyun hated Qin Haoxuan, he did not forget to offer a favor that cost him nothing to a purple seed, one of Taichu Sect's future holders of great power.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Kuang sneered inwardly. Who cares about your uncle? Back then, the four hall masters fought to take me as a disciple, yet now you make it sound as if no one wants me. You offer me a favor worth less than plain water? No wonder you've been in the sect for years and are only at the Immortal Seedling Realm Seventh Leaf. With your brains, you deserve to be bullied by Qin Haoxuan.

Though Zhang Kuang sneered inwardly, he still had use for this fellow, so he kept a grateful smile on his face. "Since Senior Brother Gu thinks so highly of me, then I shall also offer Senior Brother Gu a plan to teach Qin Haoxuan a lesson. What do you think?"

Gu Xiaoyun's eyes immediately lit up. Though he knew Zhang Kuang was using him, he still wanted to borrow Zhang Kuang's scheme to clean up Qin Haoxuan. Otherwise, his reputation around these lands would be completely ruined.

"Isn't Qin Haoxuan refusing to exchange land with you? For someone so unable to distinguish good from bad, I think he should be taught a lesson and made to understand how high the heavens are and how thick the earth is." Zhang Kuang gave a wicked smile, leaned close to Gu Xiaoyun's ear, and said, "Senior Brother Gu, go to his fields tonight and pull up all his crops! Make all his work come to nothing. Whatever he plants in the future, pull it up—keep doing so until he agrees to exchange land with you."

Hearing Zhang Kuang's suggestion, Gu Xiaoyun sneered. "Junior Brother Zhang and I have had our minds meet without prior consultation. I was already planning to go pull them up tonight. Truly, great minds think alike!"

"Yes, yes! Great minds think alike!" Zhang Kuang smiled along, but inwardly cursed wildly. If I truly thought alike with a bear like you, I'd have suffered eight lifetimes of rotten luck!

"Since you and I get along so well, don't keep calling each other senior brother. It feels too distant. From now on, just call me Brother Gu!" Gu Xiaoyun had a sudden idea. Seeing Zhang Kuang's kind and sincere appearance, he knew he should seize this chance to build ties with him, perhaps even become sworn brothers. Once Zhang Kuang rose to prominence, Gu Xiaoyun would not only gain face, but could walk sideways through Taichu Sect.

Zhang Kuang's expression stiffened, but he quickly recovered. "Then this little brother thanks Brother Gu for thinking so highly of me! However, there is one more matter this little brother must explain to Brother Gu."