Volume 10, Chapter 661 – Interrogation (Part 3)

“Raw? Old Master Wenren, are you treating us like ignorant children? Everyone knows that the Golden Fate Blossom seeds are rewards from the Evergreen Conference, and they’re only ever ripe. There’s absolutely no other way to get them. Where exactly did you get this raw one from?”

Qi Huang began questioning him based on common sense.

“Yeah, and raw, you say? Why don’t you just claim it was born from a human instead? Wouldn’t that make it even rarer?”

Shen Yuan fearlessly retorted.

“Do you really think we’re three-year-old children? Since you claim it’s raw, why hasn’t it sprouted even after you planted it for twenty years?”

Ruan Lingyu also demanded an answer.

“You don’t need to concern yourselves with these questions. The Golden Fate Blossom seed is indeed raw, and there’s only one such seed in the entire cultivation world. It’s priceless. Now, how exactly do you plan to compensate us?”

Wenren Jun shamelessly tried to extort them.

“Stop beating around the bush. Just tell us what you actually want!”

Cheng Hongling spoke impatiently.

“Straightforward! I like that.”

Wenren Jun offered a fake compliment and then stated his demand: “You have two choices. First, marry my grandson…”

“Just skip to the second one.”

Cheng Hongling immediately interrupted him.

“What? Are you saying my grandson isn’t good enough for you?”

Wenren Yun, unable to bear the insult, raised his voice.

“Even my little junior sister wouldn’t look twice at someone like Lü Yi from an Immortal Clan, and you think you deserve her? Do you really have no sense of self-awareness?”

Ruan Lingyu’s face was full of disdain.

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“Lü Yi? That guy’s useless in my eyes aside from having the backing of an Immortal Clan.”

Wenren Yun sneered even more contemptuously.

“Have you only ever heard of the Nine Great Monsters? Haven’t you heard of the Ten Geniuses of the previous generation? My son was one of the previous generation’s Ten Geniuses of the cultivation world, and he was ranked higher than today’s Lü Yi. That Golden Fate Blossom seed that Cheng Hongling consumed was won by him when he was just in his teens at the Evergreen Conference in Changming Kingdom.”

Wenren Qing stood up proudly, boasting about his son’s glorious past.

Qi Huang suddenly understood and secretly transmitted to the main body: “No wonder this guy’s so strong but not listed among the Nine Great Monsters. Turns out he was one of the previous generation’s Ten Geniuses. He must be close to forty years old by now.”

“Cultivators age slower than mortals. Forty isn’t that surprising. But what I don’t get is, Wenren Clan isn’t even an Immortal Clan. How could someone with an ordinary bloodline become one of the Ten Geniuses?”

Cheng Hongling expressed her doubts. She couldn’t believe there was another person in the world as lucky as herself, possessing a heaven-defying doppelgänger.

Qi Huang also couldn’t figure it out and directly asked Wenren Qing: “Is this for real? The cultivation world has always revered bloodlines. Since your Wenren Clan isn’t an Immortal Clan, how did he qualify as one of the Ten Geniuses?”

“It’s true our Wenren Clan isn’t an Immortal Clan, but we’re related to one. Our ancestor was fortunate enough to marry a woman from an Immortal Clan. So, in a sense, we are considered a collateral branch of an Immortal Clan, just without an Immortal Stele.”

Wenren Qing patiently explained, clearly showing how seriously he valued Cheng Hongling.

“So that’s how it is… you’re collateral relatives of an Immortal Clan.”

Qi Huang finally looked relieved.

“That’s right. Which is why marrying my son would actually be a step up for you. And besides, that Golden Fate Blossom seed you consumed rightfully belonged to him. Offering yourself as compensation would be perfectly reasonable.”

Wenren Qing immediately raised his demand.

“I don’t think that seed is worth my main body offering herself, even if it’s a raw one. Tell us the second option.”

Qi Huang remained unmoved.

The Wenren family members all showed displeasure on their faces. Their clan’s number one Immortal Seed was being dismissed by a “country bumpkin”, and they all felt humiliated.

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“In that case, I won’t force you.”

Wenren Jun’s eyes flickered, and to everyone’s surprise, he dropped the first demand. Then he continued, “The second option is to help us retrieve another raw Golden Fate Blossom seed from the Kapok Valley Treasure Land.”

“Help you? You’re giving us way too much credit. Forget the wild beasts inside, the Immortal Alliance’s blockade alone makes it impossible for us to enter.”

Qi Huang raised another logical objection.

“You may not be able to get in, but others can. All you need to do is act as bait to lure out the Lightning Hawks.”

Wenren Jun explained calmly.

“That’s right. Lightning Hawks feed on Golden Fate Blossom seeds. The scent of the one you consumed will draw them out, and following them will lead us straight to more seeds.”

Wenren Qing added.

“Well, that’s perfect then. We’ll take the second option.”

Qi Huang agreed without hesitation. This was exactly what she’d been waiting for.

“Are you sure about this? Kapok Valley Treasure Land is indeed a ‘treasure land’, but precisely because it’s filled with heavenly treasures, it’s also crawling with wild beasts and wandering ghosts from all over the continent. It’s one of the most dangerous places in the cultivation world. With your current cultivation, going there is practically a death sentence.”

Wenren Jun tried to dissuade them.

“No need. We choose the second option.”

Qi Huang repeated firmly, her eyes flashing with killing intent. If they refused, she was prepared to force the issue with violence.

Cheng Hongling’s gaze also turned sharp. She knew her own worth far exceeded that of countless Golden Fate Blossom seeds. If she were Wenren Jun, she’d never allow herself to choose the second path.

“Very well. I won’t force the matter then.”

Unexpectedly, Wenren Jun agreed with unusual ease.

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Qi Huang and Cheng Hongling exchanged startled glances, both deeply suspicious of this strange reaction.

“If it were me, I’d never let us choose the second option,” Qi Huang transmitted.

“Exactly. Since he gave us this choice so easily, he must want us to take it. There’s definitely something more going on here.”

Cheng Hongling analyzed calmly.

At that moment, Wenren Jun added, “One more thing: I don’t know who among you ate the Golden Fate Blossom seed, so all of you must go.”

“I ate it. Just let me go. This has nothing to do with the others.”

Ruan Lingyu immediately stepped forward to take responsibility.

“You ate it? Do you have proof? Spit it out and let everyone see.”

Shen Yuan immediately questioned her.

“You want me to spit out something I’ve already eaten? Do you think I’m livestock that can regurgitate food?”

Ruan Lingyu rolled her eyes helplessly.

“If that’s the case, how can you prove it was you? Obviously, I was the one who ate it. Don’t believe me? I’ll spit it out and show you.”

Shen Yuan opened her red lips and discreetly spat out a pine nut she’d hidden in her mouth earlier, then held it up to everyone. “Look, isn’t this a Golden Fate Blossom seed?”

“Don’t joke around, beauty. That charred thing looks nothing like a Golden Fate Blossom seed. It looks more like your kidney stone.”

Su Qingying immediately mocked.

“But how could a kidney stone come out of her mouth?”

Miao Xiang asked timidly.

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Qi Huang couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. These senior sisters usually got along well, but when it came to Golden Fate Blossom seeds, they started tearing each other apart. It was truly exasperating.

“I don’t have time to waste on your nonsense. Since you all claim to have eaten it, you’re all going.”

Wenren Jun spoke impatiently.

Qi Huang’s eyes flashed with contempt. She thought to herself that this old man was pretending to be confused on purpose. It was obvious who had eaten the seed, but he wanted to use this as an excuse to take liberties with her senior sisters. Still, she didn’t argue. After all, this was part of her plan from the beginning. Leaving the others behind would only make her uneasy.

Cheng Hongling trusted Qi Huang completely and also remained silent.

“Since the matter’s settled, let’s not waste anyone’s time. You may all go about your business now.”

Wenren Jun then dismissed the group, but added, “Wenren Li, Wenren Lian, Wenren Zheng; you three stay. I have something important to discuss.”

The three elders exchanged puzzled glances but stayed behind obediently.

“As for you, go rest for now. I’ll inform you once I’ve made the necessary arrangements.”

Wenren Jun instructed Qi Huang and the others, then ordered the household steward to escort them to the guest quarters.

“I have a bad feeling that old man is plotting something shady.”

Qi Huang transmitted to the main body.

“Once we get to our quarters, use the Shadow-Retaining Mirror and we’ll find out.”

Cheng Hongling suggested.

The group followed the steward to their quarters, where they were placed under strict surveillance by Wenren Manor’s experts, given their current “criminal” status.

Qi Huang wasn’t worried. She gathered her main body and senior sisters in a room, set up a soundproofing talisman and Divine Sense barrier, and then took out the Shadow-Retaining Mirror to spy on Wenren Jun and the other elders.

Meanwhile, Wenren Jun had gathered his clan brothers in the study. After carefully setting up a Divine Sense barrier and a soundproofing talisman, he spoke gravely: “Brothers, what I’m about to tell you is of utmost importance and may concern the lives of your families. I hope none of you will breathe a word of it to anyone.”