Chapter Sixty-Five: You Really Are a Clever Little Fox

“Just barely,” Su Jian waved his hand dismissively, then drew out the incense and divination tube he had prepared from his storage ring.

Ouyang Feng mused inwardly, “I suspect that divination tube is the real key here.”

The incense was merely a pretext to collect spirit stones.

Nevertheless, Ouyang Feng dutifully offered incense to the Ancestor.

Then, unable to restrain himself, he pulled a bamboo stick from the divination tube.

‘Your son is suffering greatly, and through the unwitting machinations of the Myriad Treasures Pavilion, has fallen into the hands of the Alliance of Righteousness. His life hangs by a thread.’

Ouyang Feng’s expression instantly turned cold.

“It seems the Ancestor has given you the answer you sought. In that case, don’t linger here and offend the Ancestor any longer,” Su Jian repeated the same phrase as before.

He cared little for the other’s feelings, simply acting as circumstances dictated.

Anything that could hinder the Alliance of Righteousness, Su Jian was more than willing to do.

As for the outcome, he was not one to insist; he would let fate decide.

Perhaps, something unexpected might come of it.

But Su Jian harbored no great expectations.

Ouyang Feng hesitated for a moment, then turned and left.

He had come here hoping to meet Ouyang Ke, but the message on the bamboo stick had all but erased that hope.

Thinking of Ouyang Ke’s dire predicament, his heart was in turmoil.

...

Su Jian watched Ouyang Feng depart, then calmly withdrew his gaze.

This old fox was much more sensible than the Lord.

Su Jian had no intention of lingering; after releasing the people hidden beneath the offering table, he returned to the city of Yingdu.

Along the way, he didn’t forget to use the Shape-shifting Pill to alter his appearance.

Yet, just as Su Jian had barely left the nameless Daoist temple, the Lord quietly doubled back.

[The Lord returned to Floating Cloud Mountain, then stole the divination tube. After several fruitless attempts, he left in disappointment, smashing the tube in frustration.]

Su Jian sighed inwardly, “You really are a crafty little rascal.”

After a moment, he returned to Yingdu, and casually sat at a tea stall by the street.

Though he’d escaped surveillance for now, it was only temporary.

His shape-shifting technique...couldn't fool someone at the Void Return stage.

Su Jian was desperate to uncover the plot behind the scenes.

Unfortunately, he hadn’t thought to redeem the messaging jade badge beforehand.

---

It was now too inconvenient to contact Zhao Qianxue.

[Messaging Jade Badge: Used for communication between cultivators. Each pair contains enough spiritual energy for ten hours of communication.]

[Do you wish to spend 3000 spiritual points to unlock?]

Su Jian took out five hundred spirit stones, converting them directly into spiritual points.

He then unlocked the messaging jade badge.

[Current remaining spiritual points: 7680.]

“Young man, I have an errand for you. Will you take it?” Su Jian called out to the tea stall worker.

“Forgive me, honored guest...”

“One spirit stone.”

“Please, tell me more.”

“Come here, let's speak in private.” Su Jian glanced around at the crowded street; matters like this were best handled discreetly.

The tea stall worker leaned in to listen.

Su Jian spoke in a low voice, “I want you to deliver something, but you must do so as a servant of Snow Pavilion. When you reach the place, just knock on the door—don’t step into the courtyard. If you’re attacked by the formation, don’t say I didn’t warn you. My wife will come out to meet you, and you just hand this over to her.”

With that, Su Jian handed him a pair of messaging jade badges and gave him the address.

The tea stall worker scratched his head, hinting openly, “Immortal...the spirit stone...”

Su Jian wasn’t worried he’d take the money and shirk the job.

It was only a single spirit stone, after all, and the messaging jade badges only had value in pairs; a single one was as useless as scrap.

Satisfied, the worker left.

Su Jian didn’t linger either, heading to a nearby inn and taking an unremarkable room.

Whoever this “Shen Jingya” was, if she wanted to monitor him, she was dreaming.

Even if it meant abandoning the property he’d acquired in Yingdu, so be it.

He’d leave her an empty house to stare at in vain.

Temporary losses were nothing; he was a man with a dog system, never lacking the courage to start anew.

Moreover,

He’d unlocked so many treasures. Now all he needed was to gather strength in secret and uncover the truth behind it all.

Once an opportunity arose, he’d take the villain’s head without hesitation.

Su Jian seized the quiet moment to ponder carefully.

---

Suddenly, he felt as if everything was a game of chess, and he was just a piece on the board.

Since the enemy was after the Vajra Ring, why hadn’t they made a move yet?

What were they plotting?

There were many things Su Jian couldn’t understand.

Let’s hope the Lord proves useful; he seemed to be Su Jian’s only channel for information on the mastermind.

Su Jian’s thoughts were clear—he knew exactly what he needed to do.

Above all, he had to rid himself of their surveillance...and until the crisis passed, he must stay hidden.

He could already imagine...the mastermind’s furious face.

Before long,

The messaging jade badge in Su Jian’s arms reacted.

Zhao Qianxue’s image appeared on the badge.

“Don’t ask, don’t tell. Come to Room Nine at Lingyun Inn right now. If anything happens on your way, use the Great Teleportation Talisman immediately,” she said quickly.

“And about the maidservants at home...before you leave, remember to remove the formation. If they wish, let them find their own path,” Su Jian replied rapidly.

Zhao Qianxue paused, her face suddenly grave. “I understand.”

They ended the communication.

Su Jian’s gaze darkened. He only wished for peace, to quietly cultivate immortality, yet fate always seemed to put obstacles in his path.

Zhao Qianxue was likely under surveillance by the mastermind as well.

Su Jian was now worried for her.

If the mastermind lost track of him and targeted Zhao Qianxue, her only recourse would be to use the Great Teleportation Talisman to escape, then contact him again via messaging badge.

Su Jian carried a jammer, so he wasn’t concerned about Zhao Qianxue’s pursuers discovering his presence.

Besides,

Even if they knew he was here, what of it?

If he wasn’t absolutely sure, he wouldn’t have taken this course.

Zhao Qianxue soon arrived at Lingyun Inn. Recalling Su Jian’s unusual actions that morning, she knew something significant must have happened.

She closed the door, her expression anxious. “Little Jian, what happened?”

She had never seen Su Jian so flustered.

No matter the occasion, he had always been calm and collected.