Chapter 177 - 112: Another Treasure, the Zhenyuan Stele

"You can’t even see it as clearly as that guy does."

Hailing from a Major Sect, being a Sect Leader’s True Disciple, and a practitioner of the Sword Dao—all this meant that Lin Kong of the Void Moon Sect didn’t have much respect for Ji Qinglian.

He didn’t mince his words:

"I very much agree with one thing that man said: ’Follow us, and you can win even if you just coast along’—that’s our current situation."

"In this competition, victory is ours for the taking at any moment. Therefore, there’s no need for us to lower ourselves to win others over."

Speaking of which, Lin Kong shook his head and chuckled. "That man has some foresight, I’ll give him that. It’s a pity, though. He knows victory belongs to us, yet instead of coming over to our side, he deludes himself into thinking he can resist."

"I never used to understand what ’a mantis trying to stop a chariot’ meant, but now I see what delusional arrogance looks like."

"..."

These words made Ji Qinglian’s breath catch in her throat.

Ji Qinghui also frowned slightly. "Victory is indeed ours, but we should still recruit talented people when we can."

At this, he gave a light laugh and said, "Our opponents aren’t just humans, but also Demons and Evil Spirits."

"It’s always good to have more hands to fight against the Demonic Fiends."

This argument was based on a righteous cause, so Zhu Junfeng and Lin Kong couldn’t easily refute it. However, Zhu Junfeng spoke up, "The Third Prince is right, we should still try to recruit talent. But if that man’s temperament is as Miss Qinglian described, then he’s far too arrogant."

At this, he glanced at Ji Qinglian with a raised eyebrow, and Ji Qinghui... did the same.

Their gazes made Ji Qinglian flare up. "Are you suggesting I’m lying because he provoked me?!"

Zhu Junfeng immediately shook his head. "That’s not what we meant. We are willing to believe the Commandery Princess’s words. It’s just that, if everything is as you say, his personality is truly awful."

"The fact that the Commandery Princess failed to recruit him earlier is clear proof."

"Therefore, before we try to recruit him, I think we should first knock him down a peg. Let him learn that no matter how good you are, there’s always someone better."

"Only then will our recruitment efforts go smoothly."

These words were reasonable, so of course, Ji Qinghui wouldn’t refuse.

However, after the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, once the two True Disciples from the Void Moon Sect had disappeared from sight, Ji Qinghui’s expression suddenly darkened.

Ji Qinglian took the opportunity to scoff. "Brother, look at them. They already dare to interfere with you recruiting people. In the future, will it be them calling the shots in our Prince Qinghe’s Mansion, or you?"

Her words made Ji Qinghui’s fist clench for a moment, but he quickly calmed down and said, "I know what they’re plotting. But right now, the most important thing is to establish my position in Father’s eyes, and I need their help for that."

’So, am I the sacrifice?’

Without showing any change in her expression, Ji Qinglian said quietly, "But we can’t just let them push us around. Leave the matter of recruiting Zhong Ming to me."

This made Ji Qinghui frown.

Ji Qinghui didn’t actually pay much mind to Zhong Ming. In his view, although Zhong Ming’s Talent was great, his personality was far too arrogant.

Moreover, he felt that due to Zhong Ming’s previously poor Cultivation Technique and lack of resources, his strength definitely couldn’t be on the same level as Zhu Junfeng and Lin Kong.

Therefore, he thought that sending his own sister to recruit him was a bit of a waste of her abilities.

Originally, he would have had Ji Qinglian focus more of her attention on the two True Disciples from the Void Moon Sect.

However, Ji Qinglian’s pointed remarks had given Ji Qinghui some reservations about those two True Disciples as well. And because of this, he nodded.

"Alright."

...

In Prince Qinghe’s Mansion, the two siblings, Ji Qinghui and Ji Qinglian, were discussing something.

Meanwhile, after leaving Ji Qinghui’s residence, Zhu Junfeng and Lin Kong also started talking.

Lin Kong was the first to speak, his tone laced with impatience. "Ji Qinghui... he’s not being straight with us."

"That’s to be expected," Zhu Junfeng said. "If he weren’t, the Sect wouldn’t have sent us here."

"In that case, I’ll be the one to deal with Zhong Ming," Lin Kong declared.

Lin Kong’s tone was extremely casual as he spoke; clearly, he didn’t see Zhong Ming as a threat at all.

But Zhu Junfeng rejected this proposal.

"Don’t be hasty. We can’t make a move for now... Prince Qinghe is no fool. He is very good at biding his time. For him to cause such a huge commotion now, he must have other plans in place."

"If we’re careless, we could really suffer an unexpected defeat."

He paused, a calculating glint in his eyes. "Just leave Zhong Ming to those Inner Sect Disciples... Besides, having him lose to Inner Sect Disciples will also make Ji Qinghui realize the gap between people from small sects and us. It will make him rein in his ambitions a little."

From start to finish, Ji Qinghui and the True Disciples of the Void Moon Sect were only ever plotting against each other. As for Zhong Ming, they didn’t care about him in the slightest.

Part of this was due to the inherent arrogance of True Disciples from a Major Sect.

But another part of the reason was that Zhong Ming’s disguise was working.

With his crazed behavior and utter arrogance, he didn’t resemble a powerful prodigy in the slightest. Because of this, Ji Qinghui, Lin Kong, and Zhu Junfeng all looked down on him from the bottom of their hearts.

...

’Cultivation really is impossible without resources.’

While Ji Qinghui and the people from the Void Moon Sect were busy with their various schemes, Zhong Ming was immersed in arduous cultivation.

As he was the only ace up her sleeve, Ji Qingyue was very generous.

She gave Zhong Ming a large batch of the resources he needed for his Body Forging on that very day.

Among them, aside from the Star Stones filled with the Power of the Stars and the Red Flame Golden Pattern Pills containing Solar Power, she also gave Zhong Ming a High-grade Earth-level Treasure.

This treasure was in the shape of a broken stone stele, engraved with some ancient but incomprehensible characters.

"This stele is called the ’Zhenyuan Stele.’ Its function is very simple: suppression, or rather, stabilization."

Ji Qingyue explained as she handed the stele to him:

"Place the stele on your head, and it will stabilize your physical body, preventing it from easily collapsing."

As soon as she said this, Zhong Ming’s eyes instantly lit up.

During Body Forging, the greatest fear is the body cracking apart because it can’t withstand the medicinal power. With this stele, he could go all out and use some more aggressive cultivation methods!

"Th-This is for me?"

The benefit was so great that Zhong Ming found it hard to believe and couldn’t help but ask.

This question made Ji Qingyue roll her eyes. "Of course not."

Her tone resigned, she said bluntly, "No matter what, Father would never agree to me casually giving away a treasure. This is a loan."

"..."

Knowing it was just a loan, Zhong Ming felt a pang of regret, but his face soon lit up again.

’A loan is more than enough! With this, plus my Candlelight Heart Eye and Great Dream of Thousand Years, I have a chance to grind ’Star Heaven·Divine Monarch’ to the Second Realm, or even the Third Realm, before the Star Moon Treasure Vault opens.’

’Since ’Star Heaven·Divine Monarch’ has already evolved to the Celestial Level, if it reaches the Third Realm, I might be able to achieve a Physical Body Breakthrough!’

Physical body, Magical Power, Heart Soul, and Intent Resonance—these are the four thresholds for forging a Celestial-grade Dao Foundation.

And Zhong Ming realized that he already had a firm grasp on his Heart Soul and Intent Resonance. Now, a Physical Body Breakthrough was also within reach.

Of the four Extreme Realm gates, only Magical Power was something he had no leads on for now. To have overcome three of the four—how could he not be thrilled?

Besides that, there was another point that excited Zhong Ming.

Staring at the writing on the stele, a sharp glint flashed in Zhong Ming’s eyes. ’Others may not understand the characters on this stele, but I can use my Mind Reading on them. If I can understand them thoroughly, then even after I return this treasure, I can still rely on my own comprehension to make my physical body not so easy to break down!’

After realizing this benefit, the thrilled Zhong Ming didn’t want to delay any longer. He immediately returned to the Seven Profound Sect’s encampment, closed his eyes, and began to cultivate.

But what the cultivating Zhong Ming didn’t know was that word of his actions in the Starry Courtyard had reached not only Ji Qinglian’s brother, Ji Qinghui.

The other two Commandery Princes of Prince Qinghe’s Mansion had also learned Zhong Ming’s name through this matter.