The immortal crane spoke with great solemnity, as though it really had discovered that cave by accident.
In truth, it had come looking for Qiaoqiao right after disposing of the demonic woman's corpse and overheard Qiaoqiao's thoughts outside the Duty Hall. Inspiration struck, and it went looking for the cave at the location Qiaoqiao had mentioned-and actually found it.
It was all to play along with Qiaoqiao.
Where else could anyone find an immortal crane as clever as it was?
Bai Fu really ought to treat it to a few lavish meals!
Qiaoqiao asked curiously, "What sort of seal was it?"
"There was a mark shaped like a copper coin on that seal, with a notch missing from the coin-"
"Dad, isn't that your private seal?" Having recovered some strength after swallowing a spirit pill, Chen Wanqian couldn't help sitting up when he heard this. "They actually dared to touch your Spirit Stones!"
These people actually wanted to divide up the Spirit Stones his father had hidden away. They were dreaming!
Speaking of which, why had Dad hidden the Spirit Stones? How many had he hidden? Could he be afraid Mom would find out...?
"You unfilial son, shut your mouth!" Elder Chen's face flushed scarlet as he snapped at him.
He had left that spiritual mark to strengthen the seal back then. Aside from his son, no one knew he used that spiritual mark in private, yet his son had simply blurted it out!
How could he have such a stupid son!
Wasn't this screwing over his own father?!
Chen Wanqian was stunned by his father's accusation of being an "unfilial son." His father had never scolded him before. He had only mentioned a spiritual mark-what was the big deal?
Surely he couldn't just watch his father's money get divided up?
Hahaha!
Now that's his own flesh and blood!
Hearing this, the immortal crane couldn't help cackling. "Boy, do you know how many Spirit Stones were hidden inside that cave's concealment formation?"
"How many?" Chen Wanqian asked curiously.
"Eighty million!"
"A full eighty million high-grade Spirit Stones!"
"Wow." Qiaoqiao feigned surprise. "Senior Brother Chen, your dad is so rich. With that many Spirit Stones, he could probably buy the entire Flowing Cloud Sect, couldn't he?"
A Xue flapped its wings. "Exactly, exactly! Even the sect master isn't as rich as he is."
Mu Liuyun folded her arms and watched Elder Chen with interest.
"No-"
"That mark-"
Elder Chen panicked and opened his mouth to explain, only to realize that his son had already blocked every escape route. Whatever explanation he gave would be a slap to his own face!
"Elder Chen, with wealth to rival a nation, isn't serving as a mere sect elder beneath you?" Mu Liuyun said. "Where did all these Spirit Stones come from?"
The Flowing Cloud Sect's master scrutinized Elder Chen. All along, she had thought him capable at his duties. Though he was somewhat greedy and snobbish, she had kept one eye open and the other closed, thinking it was fine as long as things remained passable. Who knew he hadn't pocketed a little, but hundreds of millions!
She was deeply shocked.
Perhaps all the Spirit Stones in the entire Flowing Cloud Sect were in his hands?
"Sect Master, that mark isn't mine!" Elder Chen finally squeezed out stiffly.
"Then the Spirit Stones aren't yours either?"
Elder Chen choked.
He couldn't bring himself to say they weren't his.
Ning Shuang sneered. "Why won't you admit it now, Elder Chen? Over the past hundred years, you've withheld the monthly allowances and all sorts of expenses for the disciples of every peak, amassing this staggering fortune. Your son has already said it, and the spiritual mark is proof. What grounds do you have left to deny it?"
"No!"
"I didn't!" Elder Chen denied it repeatedly, moving close to Mu Liuyun. "Sect Master, believe me! All these years, I've worked diligently for the sect, bearing every hardship without complaint. I-I'm innocent!"
Mu Liuyun stared at him and spoke. "A hundred years."
She had actually let this man embezzle right under her nose for a hundred years!
Even someone with no temper would have been furious now. The pressure of a Mahayana expert surged out, instantly forcing Elder Chen flat onto the ground. "Sect Master, hear me out-"
He turned an enraged gaze toward Ning Shuang. "True Lord Ning, this is slander! What evidence do you have that I withheld anything?"
"Just because I pointed out that Ethereal Peak ranks last in sect contributions, you're seizing the chance to slander me?"
Ning Shuang frowned.
[Wow, Elder Chen really has such thick skin. He can even turn around and swing the rake back at us like this?]
[Good thing I'm so clever and kept the evidence long ago!]
Elder Ning looked over in delighted surprise.
Qiaoqiao took out a tiny Sound-Recording Stone, and Elder Chen's voice rang clearly from within. Everything he had said since entering the Duty Hall had been recorded.
"This month, Ethereal Peak's monthly allowance will be reduced by thirty percent."
"The reason? Ranking last in sect contribution points is the reason."
Elder Chen stared at Qiaoqiao in terror, collapsing on the floor like a heap of mud. She had secretly recorded him!
So it really had all been her scheme!
Looking at the sect master's cold, stern expression, he thought, It's over. It's all over!
His hundred years of scheming, his hair, his eighty million Spirit Stones.
All of it was gone!!
Just as Elder Chen's state of mind wavered violently and he teetered on the brink of collapse, he saw Qiaoqiao put away the Sound-Recording Stone and smile at him.
Elder Chen shuddered instinctively.
Aaaah!
Don't come any closer!
"Elder, I've noticed your son really does look a lot like you," she said softly. "That mole by Senior Brother Chen's neck is actually red."
Elder Chen: !
As though something had occurred to him, he whipped his head toward his son. From this angle, he could see a small red mole just below his ear, near his neck.
He felt his own neck. He had no mole there at all!
That mole...
He remembered it perfectly clearly: the mortal enemy he had fought tooth and nail for over a hundred years had just such a red mole by his neck!
No.
That's absolutely impossible!
At the thought of what this meant, Elder Chen's violently wavering heart collapsed completely.
His son couldn't possibly belong to his mortal enemy!!