Volume 7, Chapter 459 – I Couldn’t Be Happier

At the inn where the Juying Sect was staying, Elder Ren paced anxiously in circles. After the draw, there was only one day of rest before the fifth round of the competition would commence at dawn the day after tomorrow.

“Elder, someone is here to see you!”

At that moment, a disciple reported from outside the door.

“Who is it?”

A glimmer of hope flashed across Elder Ren’s face.

“I don’t know. Their face was covered, but they claimed to know a way to defeat Qi Huang,” the disciple added.

“Oh? Bring them in at once!”

Elder Ren was overjoyed and immediately gave the order. If his guess was correct, this visitor was either Steward Cai himself or someone sent by him.

A short while later, the visitor entered the guest room and removed the bamboo hat covering their head, it was indeed Steward Cai.

“Greetings, Steward Cai.”

Elder Ren bowed humbly, clasping his fists in salute. After all, he was the one seeking help.

“No need for such formalities, Elder Ren.”

Cai De casually took a seat on a chair, then asked unhurriedly, “Juying Sect? What’s your relationship with that already-eliminated Juling Sect?”

“Ah… you could say we’re sister sects. Their founding ancestor originally came from our Juying Sect,” Elder Ren quickly explained.

“No wonder the names are so similar.”

Steward Cai chuckled to himself.

“Steward Cai, earlier you mentioned you knew a way to defeat Qi Huang. Might I ask if that’s true?”

Elder Ren couldn’t hold back and cut straight to the point.

“I am an official of the Immortal Alliance and the presiding authority of the Evergreen Conference. Do you really think I’d joke about something like this?”

A trace of displeasure flickered across Steward Cai’s face.

“Yes, yes! My apologies for the rudeness, Steward Cai. Please forgive my bluntness.”

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Elder Ren hurriedly apologized, then pleaded, “Might I ask what method you were referring to? If you could enlighten us, and if it proves useful, our Juying Sect will never forget this favor.”

“Elder Ren, have you heard of the Hundred Rivers Formation?”

Steward Cai countered with a question instead of answering directly.

“Hundred Rivers Formation? Isn’t that the signature grand formation of the Linzhen Sect from Xitong Kingdom? I’ve heard it can combine the energy of multiple talismans into one.”

Elder Ren thought for a moment before replying.

“I’m surprised Elder Ren’s knowledge is so extensive.”

Steward Cai looked genuinely impressed.

“You flatter me, Steward Cai. But how does the Hundred Rivers Formation relate to Qi Huang?”

Elder Ren asked, puzzled.

“Elder Ren, you must be aware that recently, some early Divine Ability Realm protective talismans have appeared on the market in the prefecture. If you could gather twenty or thirty of them and combine their power using the Hundred Rivers Formation, do you think there’d be a chance to defeat that Qi Huang?”

Steward Cai dropped the hint.

“Of course! If twenty or thirty early Divine Ability Realm protective talismans were merged, their combined strength would reach the mid Divine Ability Realm!”

Elder Ren’s eyes lit up, but then dimmed again. “But where would I even find twenty or thirty Divine Ability Realm protective talismans? And while I’ve heard of the Hundred Rivers Formation, I don’t know how to use it.”

“I can provide you with thirty Divine Ability Realm protective talismans right now. As for the Hundred Rivers Formation, the Huxiao Sect recruited two outside reinforcements from the Linzhen Sect for the Evergreen Conference, the brothers Cao You and Cao Wei. You could try negotiating with them.”

Steward Cai spoke with surprising generosity.

“Really? Then I must thank you, Steward Cai! Our Juying Sect will surely repay this kindness.”

Elder Ren was ecstatic and repeatedly bowed.

“No need for repayment. However, I can’t just give you thirty Divine Ability Realm protective talismans for free. How about this, ten thousand taels of silver per talisman. I’m only charging a handling fee.”

Steward Cai laid out his terms, then produced a stack of Divine Ability Realm protective talismans. These had been painstakingly crafted by Elder Zuo over the past few days, working tirelessly without rest. The sheer expenditure of energy meant he would need a long time to recover.

“No problem!”

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Elder Ren didn’t hesitate to pull out the banknotes. After all, the Shixin Sect had spent a full two hundred thousand taels just to buy two of these talismans. By comparison, this price was downright reasonable.

Steward Cai swiftly pocketed the silver notes, then added, “There’s one more thing I should remind you. While I don’t know the exact details of the Hundred Rivers Formation, I’ve heard that when activating the formation, each talisman must be carried by a separate individual. So to unleash the full power of these thirty protective talismans, you’ll need to send thirty Immortal Seeds onto the stage.”

“Ah? Thirty Immortal Seeds?”

Elder Ren’s face fell instantly.

“Is there a problem?”

Steward Cai frowned.

“Steward Cai, to be honest, I only brought fifteen disciples in total this time.”

Elder Ren’s expression was awkward as he explained.

“Not enough? Then borrow some! There are plenty of sects still lingering in the prefecture to watch the competition.”

Steward Cai offered a solution.

“But the problem is, all those sects’ Immortal Seeds have already been eliminated. How can they return to the stage?”

Elder Ren looked troubled.

“Who said eliminated disciples can’t return? Don’t forget, the Evergreen Conference is based on sects as competing units. What was eliminated was their sects, not the individuals themselves.”

Steward Cai’s reminder was pointed.

“With your words, I can rest easy.”

Elder Ren let out a long sigh of relief.

“Remember, try to recruit disciples from the sects Qi Huang eliminated. That way, they’ll have a chance to avenge their humiliation, and you’ll save on hiring fees.”

Steward Cai gave specific instructions.

“Thank you for the advice, Steward Cai. Qi Huang probably never dreamed that the people she eliminated would return to the stage to eliminate her in turn.”

A gloating smile spread across Elder Ren’s face.

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“Don’t mention my involvement.”

Steward Cai issued a warning, then donned his bamboo hat and left the inn.

Elder Ren, brimming with excitement, immediately summoned Han Yu, the Juying Sect’s top Immortal Seed, to share the incredible news.

“So that’s why he suddenly raised the participant limit to thirty, it was all preparation for the Hundred Rivers Formation.”

Han Yu had an epiphany.

“Exactly. Combining thirty third-layer Divine-grade protective talismans would produce a force at least at the fifth layer. As long as Qi Huang hasn’t surpassed that level, we’ve practically secured first place in this Evergreen Conference.”

Elder Ren’s demeanor was now brimming with confidence, a stark contrast to his earlier despondency.

“How did you know these are third-layer Divine-grade protective talismans?”

Han Yu asked, puzzled.

“Are you stupid? Where do you think these talismans came from?”

Elder Ren shot Han Yu a glare.

“Oh… Elder Zuo?”

Han Yu quickly caught on.

“Naturally. Where else would Cai De get so many Divine Ability Realm protective talismans at short notice?”

Elder Ren’s tone was mocking.

“The Immortal Alliance is really going all out to deal with Qi Huang. Even with Elder Zuo’s cultivation, producing thirty early Divine Ability Realm protective talismans in four or five days must have drained him completely.”

Han Yu sighed.

“True. But he had no choice. Everyone knows Qi Huang is challenging the Immortal Alliance. If that little brat takes first place, where would that leave his reputation?”

Elder Ren’s face twisted into a sneer.

“My only concern now is whether those two Linzhen Sect disciples will cooperate with us. After all, the Hundred Rivers Formation is their sect’s signature treasure.”

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Han Yu wore a trace of worry.

“Of course they will. With the Immortal Alliance backing us, they wouldn’t dare refuse unless they want to be blacklisted from the cultivation world.”

Elder Ren’s reminder was pointed.

“Right.”

Han Yu exhaled in relief.

“Enough talk. Go recruit disciples from the sects Qi Huang eliminated. I’ll head to the Huxiao Sect to discuss this with Cao You and Cao Wei.”

Elder Ren issued his orders.

“Why only those sects?”

Han Yu was confused.

“Use your head. Those cultivators Qi Huang defeated must be itching for revenge, so they won’t demand much payment. If we approach other sects, what if they try to extort us?”

Elder Ren sighed at Han Yu’s lack of foresight.

“I see! Qi Huang probably never imagined the people she eliminated would reappear on the stage.”

Han Yu’s expression mirrored Elder Ren’s earlier gloating.

“Exactly. If I were her, I’d be furious to death. The Immortal Alliance truly knows how to crush both body and spirit.”

Elder Ren tossed out one last mocking remark before leaving the guest room.

“No, no, no, I couldn’t be happier. This way, I can be fair and eliminate every single one of them twice.”

In a private room of the tavern across the street, Qi Huang put away her Shadow-Retaining Mirror, then skipped out cheerfully, her hands clasped behind her back.