Taking Golden Purple Chestnuts from the Fire

On the cloud bed, Zhang Qiwei's eyes instantly lit up.

Far brighter than when she had just seen Liu Dongqing's Azure Flame Flying Bird spirit manifestation.

"Oh? What extraordinary gain has Junior Brother Liu obtained?"

Even Zhang Qiwei's cool voice now carried an unavoidable note of urgency.

Hearing this, Liu Dongqing's heart settled completely.

For this undertaking, he had already poured far too much effort and ingenuity into it.

He understood that there were few things under heaven that could be wished into existence by one side alone.

Many troublesome matters in one's own hands could not simply be tossed to someone else and expected to be accepted.

Even if, like Zhang Qiwei at this moment, they accepted the trouble.

The same matter might look entirely different in different people's eyes.

What she cared more about was victory or defeat against her rival in the contest for position, not necessarily Liu Dongqing's life or death, nor his circumstances afterward.

Unless—

His own affairs could carry enough weight to influence Zhang Qiwei's victory or defeat.

Liu Dongqing could think of only one thing.

Thus, the crux had never been the death of a middle-aged Daoist, nor had it ever been what would happen after Liu Dongqing drew someone's attention.

The true crux, from beginning to end, lay only in the Jade Cloud Fruit itself.

The instant Liu Dongqing understood this, he realized that what he was about to do might be more than simply throwing away a troublesome matter.

What lay before him might be an opportunity to pull chestnuts from the fire!

Thus, at this moment, their conversation quietly entered the rhythm Liu Dongqing had long prepared in his mind.

"The process of cultivating the plants is complicated to explain, and it contains too many strokes of luck, coincidences, and accidents.

I will only speak of the results—

For these new Jade Cloud Fruit plants, if Purple Cloud Azure Rain is used at a particular frequency during their growth period, then once the plants mature, their roots will possess an exceptionally unique absorptive ability.

At that time, if the remains of some fire-aspected demonic beasts are buried in the fields and left to rot into fertilizer, they will perfectly suit the unique absorptive ability of these Jade Cloud Fruit plants.

This can greatly shorten the Jade Cloud Fruit's fruit-setting process.

And the yield can be increased as well!"

As he spoke to this point.

Liu Dongqing suddenly raised his head, his bright eyes staring directly at Zhang Qiwei.

He said nothing more, yet everything that followed was conveyed to Zhang Qiwei through his gaze.

Three times the demand for Jade Cloud Fruit is still far too conservative!

Senior Sister, since this is a contest for position, you must rouse yourself! Do great things!

In truth, part of this speech had originally been prepared by Liu Dongqing in advance, in case the matter of Yan Rong giving him Ash-Feathered Crows was ever exposed, so that he could use it to fob off Manager Hou.

The remaining traits of these so-called "new plants" were entirely confidence given to him by a particular unique application from the Ghost Vine Lineage inheritance within his mind.

The only little calculation Liu Dongqing had concealed here lay in those so-called "demonic beast remains."

Liu Dongqing had not explicitly named Ash-Feathered Crows, nor any other crow-type demonic beasts carrying the bloodline of the Crimson Fire Divine Crow.

That would have sounded far too deliberate.

But even with such a broad classification, considering that Zhang Qiwei herself was a cultivator of the Yang Fire Path, what she chose would certainly be fire-aspected avian demonic beasts, to accord with Yang Fire.

And the Southern Border's environment was unique. The types of avian demonic beasts scattered among its mountains had been greatly affected by the failure of the Demon Race's great tribes to invade southward in years past.

Liu Dongqing had probed Yan Rong indirectly before, and combined that with the records in the manuals of the Crimson Crow Spirit Incantation lineage. He could be certain that among the Southern Border's fire-aspected birds, crow-kind made up roughly sixty to seventy percent.

Even if Zhang Qiwei's supply maintained that same proportion, it would already be enough for Liu Dongqing to pocket vast resources as provisions for his own cultivation.

If this could be achieved, it would truly be a win-win situation. Both Zhang Qiwei and Liu Dongqing would win enormously!

Sure enough.

The instant his words fell, a bright, flourishing smile bloomed across Zhang Qiwei's exquisite face.

"Good! Excellent!

In the Southern Border, the Demon Race is not prosperous. Those damp-born egg-hatched creatures can easily be taken as cultivation provisions!

The matter of fire-aspected demonic beasts is easily handled. Steward Zhang will personally coordinate with you. Once the required amount is settled, supplies will be guaranteed on time!"

Zhang Qiwei appeared greatly invigorated.

Yet after her words fell, Liu Dongqing gave no response for a long while. When she looked at him in confusion, she instead saw a troubled expression emerge on the young man's face.

"Senior Sister, I have heard that although those damp-born egg-hatched creatures can serve as cultivation provisions, the fundamental reason even our Holy Cult does not employ this method over the long term is—

If one remains in contact with demonic beast filth-blood, bone scraps, and the like for years on end, the surrounding cultivation environment will inevitably become tainted with the blood baleful intent of demonic blood.

Among these, the rotting and decayed state of 'demonic beast provisions' is the worst of all. Its baleful intent is dense and savage, even three parts greater.

This... this is poison to cultivation!

I am already struggling greatly while cultivating the Mirror-Illuminating Cloud-Birthing Purple Rain Art alongside my other methods. If I become tainted by blood baleful intent as well, I fear it will be impossible to preserve myself intact.

I beg Senior Sister Zhang to pity this junior brother and seek someone more capable instead!

This junior brother can offer Senior Sister those special Jade Cloud Fruit plants."

To anyone watching, Liu Dongqing now looked as though he were washing his hands of the matter entirely.

Yet from beginning to end, Liu Dongqing remained very calm within.

Not to mention that with Purple Cloud Azure Rain, there might not be another fool on all of Departure Peak like Liu Dongqing had once been.

Just the "using Purple Cloud Azure Rain at a particular frequency" that Liu Dongqing had mentioned meant he possessed something no one could replace: extensive experience in planting Jade Cloud Fruit.

Manager Hou had earlier agreed with Liu Dongqing on a six-month term, but now the first batch of plants had been almost completely wiped out.

At such a pressing juncture in the contest for position, Liu Dongqing was the best choice—and the only choice.

Moreover.

Even if Zhang Qiwei had not thought it through, Manager Hou beside her could not possibly agree to such a thing.

If the work remained in Liu Dongqing's hands, then when the matter was concluded, the credit would belong to both Manager Hou and Liu Dongqing.

But if Liu Dongqing offered the method to Zhang Qiwei, then while Liu Dongqing could preserve himself, it would also mean that Manager Hou, after running himself ragged, would likewise be cut out at the last moment, leaving the matter unrelated to him.

Therefore.

Before Zhang Qiwei could react, Manager Hou, who had remained silent at the side, suddenly flung his sleeve.

"Utter nonsense!

Is the great matter of the inner sect's contest for position something you can push around and delay for your own selfish benefit?

Since ancient times, matters succeed through secrecy and fail through loose tongues!

Every additional person who knows this secret means one more risk that Junior Sister Zhang's contest for position will be exploited by others, ruining her foundation!

And once you lose Junior Sister Zhang's nominal protection, how do you think that inner sect junior brother who had his eyes on you before will treat you?

You killed his servant Dao Slave. How could he not seek your life?

When the time comes, losing your little life will be the least of it.

Even Junior Sister Zhang will be left with negative judgments—that she cannot look after those beneath her, cannot retain people, and cannot protect people!"

Though Manager Hou appeared to be reprimanding Liu Dongqing, every sentence was in fact aimed squarely at Zhang Qiwei.

Sure enough.

The moment his words ended.

Zhang Qiwei's voice immediately followed.

"Manager Hou speaks with the wisdom of experience.

Junior Brother Liu, all things along the path of cultivation are merely trials. Only after bitterness comes sweetness; that is the true path of cultivation.

Let me tell you: in ancient times, there was the Whole-Household Ascension Method, gathering the strength of many to support one person. It was said that when one person attained the Dao, even chickens and dogs ascended to heaven.

I dare not compare myself to the sages of old, but today's circumstances accord with the principle of this method.

If I succeed in the contest for position, each of you will have a share of opportunity. If I fail, how can you, who have in truth already supported me, preserve yourselves alone?

The matter shall be entrusted to you, Junior Brother! Endure a little more hardship, Junior Brother, and everyone will remember your kindness!

Of course, I know demonic blood baleful intent is vicious.

How about this? Aside from the reward just mentioned, I will grant Junior Brother one jug of Azure Fire Heavenly Dew Elixir every month. First, it can advance your cultivation; second, its fire qi can dispel baleful intent and nourish your origin.

Beyond this, is there anything else you desire?

So long as it is not excessive, Senior Sister will grant it all together—"