Advancement, Confrontation

Chu Zheng sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the wide-open door for a long while without speaking.

A moment later, he rose and walked into the courtyard. He drew two buckets of well water and rinsed himself off, only then calming the nearly boiling blood and qi within him somewhat.

He had only recently absorbed the Great Sun Essence, and the yang energy within his body was surging; his blood and qi had already been restless to begin with.

It was not as though he had failed to understand Song Lingxue's hint just now, but in the end, he did not dare cross that red line.

Once that line was crossed, everything would change.

His relationship with Song Lingxue would no longer remain at its current stage. If he wanted to pull away afterward, it would not be as easy as it was now.

He might not be able to withstand the danger surrounding the Song Family.

And if he could not withstand it, he would die.

After sorting out his thoughts for a while, Chu Zheng changed into another set of clothes and headed for the Storehouse, lowering his head as he began repairing the junk Song Lingxue had scavenged from all over.

Time flew like an arrow, and more than a month passed in the blink of an eye.

The first warmth of early spring had arrived. Overnight, buds had sprouted upon the branches.

Fu Quanliang's life grew ever more extravagant. He spent every day in wild revelry, and within a few days, he had grown tired of those dancing girls and courtesans, demanding that Song Tonghai replace them with another batch.

Left with no choice, Song Tonghai could only ask others to seek them out in nearby cities, and the expense involved rose by who knew how much.

Even the wealthiest family could not endure such unrestrained squandering while living off its reserves. In the blink of an eye, the money from mortgaging their ancestral residence was nearly exhausted.

With silver running short, Song Tonghai could only lower his head and borrow from the managers of those great trading houses.

The news that a Supreme Immortal had come to the Song Family was now known throughout Luofeng City. When Song Tonghai went to borrow money, the managers of every trading house readily agreed, lending him large sums to keep things running.

Only then did Song Tonghai manage to hold on by force of will, but the pressure upon him grew with each passing day.

At dusk, crimson evening clouds slanted across the gates of Song Manor, adding a trace of twilight decay to the ancient residence that had weathered over three centuries of wind and rain.

Song Tonghai's back was slightly bent as he walked slowly over from the street corner beneath the setting sun.

A dignified Grandmaster, running around borrowing money to provide for another's pleasures—such conduct had already dishonored his ancestors.

Song Lingxue stood before the gates, pain filling her eyes. "Father, this is a bottomless pit. It can never be filled."

"How could I not know?"

Song Tonghai let out a long sigh and sat down directly on the steps before the gate. Silver strands flickered faintly amid his hair, and his voice gradually lowered.

"But what else can we do..."

At the very least, during the days Fu Quanliang had been here, they truly had not suffered any attacks.

You have poured in tremendous effort and painstakingly studied your craft. Your restoration skills have finally made a breakthrough. You are now a First Order Restorer.

First Order Restorer: Ordinary objects that have not entered the ranks hold no secrets in your eyes. You can restore them with a wave of your hand. Only ranked items can barely stir your interest.

During restoration, enlightenment arose within you, and you comprehended a Low Grade Divine Ability: Turn Stone into Gold.

Within the Storehouse.

Chu Zheng suddenly raised his head, his eyes blazing with sharp light as he summoned the Panel.

Name: Chu Zheng

Cultivation: Zero Order

Cultivation Method: Grand Cycle Qi Circulation Compendium (Sixth Order/Incomplete), Dragon Tiger Body (Fourth Order/Incomplete)...

Divine Abilities: Xuantian Seal Third Form (Fifth Order/Incomplete), Turn Stone into Gold (First Order)

Restorer: First Order (0/1000)

Daily Remaining Restoration Count: 5

Currently Repairable: Xuantian Seal Third Form (0/300), Grand Cycle Qi Circulation Compendium Upper Chapter (0/1000), Dragon Tiger Body Middle Chapter (0/500)

Chu Zheng casually picked up a chipped jade bowl. With a thought, the bowl in his hand became smooth and pristine, perfectly round and flawless in the blink of an eye.

The count on the Panel did not change. It remained at five.

Advancing as a Restorer had brought changes far greater than Chu Zheng had imagined.

Although the number of daily refreshed uses had not changed, after becoming a First Order Restorer, he could use the Panel to repair all Zero Order objects without consuming any of those daily uses.

But likewise, restoring such objects could no longer bring him any increase in experience.

Chu Zheng lowered his head and gazed at the jade bowl in his hand. Under his stare, a faint layer of Spiritual Light appeared over the jade bowl. Several breaths later, it transformed into a sheet of golden yellow.

The jade bowl had turned to gold, and the weight in his hand immediately increased considerably.

Chu Zheng examined his body. Aside from some depletion of the Primordial Qi within him, there were no major effects.

To turn decay into the miraculous—this was a divine ability...

Chu Zheng casually tossed the golden bowl in his hand aside, rose to his feet, and left the Storehouse.

He had not gone far when he ran headlong into Song Lingxue.

"Perfect timing. Come with me."

Chu Zheng said it offhandedly and headed straight for the courtyard where Fu Quanliang was staying.

Song Lingxue followed for a while, quickly realizing where Chu Zheng was headed. She could not help asking in confusion, "What are you going to do?"

"Just watch."

There were fewer than ten days left until his hundred-day Qi refinement. With the Dragon Tiger Body's enhancement, even a casual lift of his hand carried at least ten thousand jin of force. His strength had long since become incomparable to what it had been a month ago.

Even if Li Mingzhou stood before him, Chu Zheng was confident he could crush him completely with a single strike.

To Chu Zheng now, Fu Quanliang no longer posed any threat whatsoever.

What Chu Zheng needed now was enough information to determine exactly how dire the Song Family's current circumstances had become.

Above all else, he needed to know just how powerful Nightlight Pavilion's influence was.

The moment they stepped within a radius of ten zhang from the courtyard, they could hear the decadent music drifting out from within, along with endless flirtatious laughter.

Song Lingxue slowed her steps. She did not particularly want to go in, afraid it would sully her eyes.

But seeing that Chu Zheng did not pause in the slightest and simply stepped over the threshold, she could only brace herself and follow.

The room was a complete mess. Dresses, shoes, and stockings lay scattered everywhere, while wine jars and cups had been tossed all over the floor.

"Miss Song has arrived."

Fu Quanliang reclined against a beautiful courtesan's bosom, bare-chested, a wine cup raised in his hand. His face was flushed red with drink, his bearing utterly dissolute. With a booming laugh, he beckoned to her.

"Come, come, come. Sit and drink a few cups with me, and admire the moon together."

Song Lingxue pressed her lips together and glanced back at the blood-red setting sun outside, saying nothing.

Expressionless, Chu Zheng stepped forward. He glanced at the several dancers nearby, draped in gauzy silk, and said softly, "You all leave first."

The dancers hesitated, glancing at Song Lingxue. Only after she nodded did they rise one after another and walk out the door.

They were merely there to earn money, so naturally they had to obey their employer's orders.

Fu Quanliang shook his head, still somewhat muddled. He looked toward Chu Zheng, and his brow immediately furrowed.

"Insolence! Who are you?! How dare you spoil my elegant amusement?"

Boom!

Chu Zheng kicked the table flying. His hand shot out in a claw like a tiger's fangs, clamping tightly around Fu Quanliang's throat and lifting him into the air.

"Do you want to live, or do you want to die?"

Feeling the hand around his neck slowly tighten, Fu Quanliang instantly sobered considerably. His expression changed drastically as he forced out the words, "Live!"

"I ask. You answer."

Chu Zheng released him and sat cross-legged on the ground before Fu Quanliang, speaking in a low voice.

"If a single word you say is false, I'll send you to your death at once."