Three Months Later: A Second Flower Blooms, and I See Myself Again!

Name: Fang Dong

Age: 28

Level: 4

Talent: Far-Sight

Spells: Iron Bull Technique (Second Layer), Land-Flying Technique (Second Layer), Iron Arm Technique (Second Layer), Iron Broom Technique (Second Layer), Ghost-Fall Sword (Second Layer)

Fang Dong had a full beard and disheveled hair, looking utterly unkempt.

His left eye was covered, and his One-Eyed Dragon attire inspired fear at first sight.

But when he spoke, his voice was gentle and soft. "Word from the Li River Gang says that the Wusheng Sect has hooked up with Jadegreen Cliff. They've been exchanging goods, and a deal is due to take place in the next few days."

"Jadegreen Cliff?"

Chen Jichuan frowned slightly.

Through the two channels of Sheng Dayang and Fang Dong, he had learned quite a bit of information. Jadegreen Cliff was one of them. He did not know the specifics, only that it was a major force with formidable strength, stronger than both the Li River Gang and the Wusheng Sect.

It was no good that the Wusheng Sect had established ties with Jadegreen Cliff.

Thinking of how the Wusheng Sect had suddenly mobilized Fourth Rank experts to enter Black Prison and mine Spirit Stones a month ago—

Chen Jichuan had some guesses in his heart.

Unable to see Liao Hua's expression, Fang Dong continued, "A few days ago, Jadegreen Cliff also sent people to the Li River Gang, wanting the gang to submit to them. But the gang leader and the others refused. Later, they proposed sending troops to help the Li River Gang destroy the Wusheng Sect and the Golden Sun Sect, but Black Prison of the Wusheng Sect and Peach Haven of the Golden Sun Sect would belong to Jadegreen Cliff. The Li River Gang refused again. Then, as soon as they turned around, Jadegreen Cliff joined hands with the Wusheng Sect. The gang is in turmoil now. Many people are privately blaming the gang leader and elders, and I hear several branch masters have thoughts of their own too."

So Jadegreen Cliff was casting a wide net and opening its lion's mouth.

A wide net meant catching whatever could be caught.

Opening a lion's mouth meant naming an exorbitant price while leaving room for the other side to bargain it down.

Their negotiations with the Li River Gang had fallen through.

But they had struck a deal with the Wusheng Sect.

"Do you know the exact list of items being traded between the Wusheng Sect and Jadegreen Cliff?"

Chen Jichuan remained calm as he asked lightly.

"Not the exact details."

"But according to the spy the Li River Gang planted in the Wusheng Sect, half the Yantie Ore the Wusheng Sect has been sending out from Black Prison lately is no longer going to the Golden Sun Sect. Also, Fourth Rank experts from the Wusheng Sect have been taking turns entering Black Prison to mine Spirit Stones. Even deputy sect masters and elders have been stationed there."

"Jadegreen Cliff occupies two commanderies and is rich in resources. The only things the Wusheng Sect can offer must be Yantie Ore and Spirit Stones."

Fang Dong had clearly investigated thoroughly.

Spies. Informants.

Your house had them, and so did mine.

Unless it was top-secret information, it could never be completely concealed. If Chen Jichuan could learn of it, there was no reason for the Li River Gang to be left in the dark.

"Yantie Ore."

"Spirit Stones."

Chen Jichuan thought so too. The Wusheng Sect's signature product had always been Yantie Ore. This time, they had made such a huge fuss over mining Spirit Stones. At this particular juncture, it was obvious that it had something to do with Jadegreen Cliff.

After sorting through his thoughts—

Chen Jichuan asked again, "Has the Li River Gang made any moves?"

The Wusheng Sect was already strong.

If it cooperated with Jadegreen Cliff, it would surely grow even stronger. If the Li River Gang sat back and did nothing, it would be finished sooner or later.

"The Li River Gang is finished sooner or later!"

Fang Dong did not hesitate and gave his verdict outright. "The Li River Gang was originally a heap of loose sand. Before, its fourteen branches acted independently, allowing the Wusheng Sect and Golden Sun Sect to exploit the cracks. Seven of Shian Commandery's ten counties were lost. Later, they established three halls and reined in the authority of the branch masters, causing all fourteen branch masters, along with many protectors and stewards, to become dissatisfied. They are united in appearance but divided at heart. Even now, they have yet to twist themselves into a single rope internally. As for facing outward, that is even less worth mentioning. They just quarrel back and forth—what response could they possibly have?"

It sounded unbelievable.

But that was the reality.

Great Chu had undergone its upheaval.

The Li River Gang had practically started with a heavenly hand—

Like thunder sweeping through burrows, it seized all of Shian Commandery in one stroke, holding all ten counties in its grasp.

It should have been like Jadegreen Cliff and Ironleaf Island, advancing aggressively with Shian Commandery as its great rear base and setting its sights on all of Yong Prefecture.

But what was the reality?

Not only had the Li River Gang failed to advance further, it had been beaten by the Wusheng Sect and Golden Sun Sect until it lost cities, land, and people alike, leaving it to linger on its last breath in only three counties.

It could no longer amount to anything.

"The people's hearts are unsettled."

"This is precisely a good opportunity."

The moment Chen Jichuan heard that the Li River Gang would not last long, he was delighted inside. He did not show it, merely telling Fang Dong, "Take this chance to widen your stride a little. Get more Clam Pearls out of the Li River Gang."

When a great building was about to collapse—

It was always the best time to grab all one could. The quick hand got the prize, while the slow hand got nothing. This opportunity absolutely could not be missed.

"Rest assured, sir."

"The Li River Gang has been recruiting heavily and developing Clam Pearls with all its strength these past few days. I've greased the right palms. The next batch of Clam Pearls I bring back will surely increase severalfold."

This was another piece of good news.

The Li River Gang had abruptly changed its ways and begun developing Clam Pearls on a massive scale.

Either they intended to use the Clam Pearls in trade.

Or Jadegreen Cliff had frightened them into preparing an escape route in advance, making plans to abandon the Water Mansion. Before that happened, they wanted to squeeze out every last haul.

No matter which it was—

It was good news for Chen Jichuan: he could obtain more Clam Pearls and more Origin Force more easily.

After reporting the intelligence he had gathered to Chen Jichuan, Fang Dong immediately received forty-five merit points. Together with the Clam Pearls, he pocketed seventy-six merit points on this trip.

He exchanged them for five Small Restoration Pills and two Qi-Enhancing Pills.

He also exchanged them for Cinnabar Palm, one of the Six-Gate Sand Palms in the Seventy-Two Chen Sect Arts.

This technique was also known as Red Sand Palm and Plum-Blossom Whirlwind Palm. Its sinister poison was no less potent than the Five-Poison Sand-Chasing Palm.

Once it reached great mastery—

There was no need for the hand to touch another's skin. One only had to gesture from afar with a stroking or palm-striking motion, and the victim would be injured at once. It could not be cured, and after ten days or half a month, the victim would die. Some even perished within mere hours.

Its power was unmatched.

Fang Dong had had his eye on it for a long time. This time, flush with funds, he bought it outright.

Then he departed.

After confirming that Fang Dong had left the range of Far-Sight's perception, Chen Jichuan found a place to change his disguise. He raced in all directions, continuing his search for any Altered Humans who had slipped through the net.

First, to recruit them and strengthen White Jade Capital.

Second, to make close contact and copy their Altered Abilities.

Chen Jichuan never tired of such things.

As for things like "finding out where the Wusheng Sect and Jadegreen Cliff would trade and sabotaging the transaction between the two factions," Chen Jichuan would not do them.

Right now, he focused wholeheartedly on accumulating Origin Force and practicing martial arts.

Once he advanced to the Innate Realm and broke through beyond Hidden Force, what would the Li River Gang or the Wusheng Sect have to fear?!

Time flowed like water.

Fang Dong had not lied.

A few days later, the Li River Gang indeed began recruiting on a massive scale and mining Clam Pearls with wild abandon.

Seizing the opportunity, Fang Dong used every method under the sun—cheating, bluffing, swindling, and stealing. Each time, he handed over more Clam Pearls than before.

It was now March.

The grass grew, and orioles flew.

On this day—

Chen Jichuan returned to Begonia Mountain and opened the Immortal Register—

Name: Chen Jichuan

Age: 19

Immortal Tier: None

Official Position: None

Level: 6

Talent: Creation

Spells: Seventy-Two Chen Sect Arts (Sixth Layer), Divine Pounce Blade (Sixth Layer), Fire Control Art (Fourth Layer), Blood-Burning Art (Fourth Layer); Far-Sight (Fourth Layer); Ghost-Fall Sword (Fourth Layer); Martial Victory Saber (Fourth Layer); Wind-Hearing (Third Layer); Precision (Third Layer); Plant Growth (Second Layer); Swift Travel (Second Layer);

Immortal Stipend: 1

Origin Force: 10024

Today was a good day.

Everything he wished for could come true.

Chen Jichuan had just turned nineteen, and the Origin Force within the Dao Fruit he had longed for had finally crossed the ten-thousand mark. He could open the next world.

It was truly a double blessing at the door.

His heart filled with anticipation.

He entered his sea of consciousness. Beside the first Dao Fruit, he saw a flower bud ready to bloom. Within it, ten thousand silver threads danced wildly, filling him with delight.

The moment Chen Jichuan saw it, a stream of information came to him—

[Consume 10,000 Origin Force to let a flower bloom into a world?]

With the experience from last time, Chen Jichuan was no longer unfamiliar with this. Suppressing the joy in his heart, he immediately willed, "Yes!"

The next instant—

The flower bloomed, revealing myself.

His consciousness traveled through space.

He entered a new world.

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