Chapter Thirty-Three Entering the Chessboard

  "It's not necessary." The old man, called the Fifth Elder by Hu Dong, waved his hand lightly and said, "Since they've come to our Tao Ran Residence, it means they trust us. This Bi Zhuang is no ordinary person, if he gives us enough trust, we can't break the rules either."

  "Yes." Hu Dong lowered his head and said: "However, this Bi Zhuang appeared somewhat strangely, should we send someone to investigate?"

  "Investigate, of course we must investigate. This Bi Zhuang suddenly appeared out of nowhere and casually produced three high-grade elixirs and two second-grade artifacts. Don't underestimate them." The old man said calmly: "In the entire Yun Tian Empire, only the Zi Yun Men Palace has this ability."

  "What the elder means is that there's a connection between Bi Zhuang and Zi Yun Men?" Hu Dong asked cautiously.

  "Is there a connection or not, I don't know, but being able to produce such handwriting, and on the grounds of the Imperial City's Purple Cloud Gate, do you think it has nothing to do with the Purple Cloud Gate?" The old man was certain, then smiled again: "However, looking at those two people just now, they seem to be coming out for the first time. Although the young lady's expression didn't reveal anything, her breathing was slow and fast, and her eyebrows were unnatural, she should be nervous."

  "Yes, I also discovered that just now." Hu Dong said with the same doubt: "So after entering the house, I took the initiative to ask them questions. However, that Sword Old Master seems to have a bad temper, and his cultivation is even more profound and unpredictable than expected. Since the elder was in the inner room, I didn't dare to cause too much conflict."

  "You've done well." The Fifth Elder praised, "My trip to the capital is not to be revealed in the slightest. Our meeting just now was unexpected, and we even ran into a Bi Zhuang by chance. It seems that the Lantern Festival a month from now will indeed be a mix of dragons and snakes."

  Hu Dong hesitated for a moment, then continued: "Then what attitude should we maintain towards Bì Zhuāng? Please enlighten us, elder."

  "Bai Zhuang's background is unknown, but they are generous with their spending, and it's likely that they have many more alchemists and pill makers in their hands. A power like this, although not crucial to our Tao Ran Ju, I still want you to try your best to satisfy Bai Zhuang's demands. In the future, we can take advantage of them whenever it's convenient. Treat Bai Zhuang as our top collaborator!"

  Hu Dongyi was puzzled and felt that the Fifth Elder's words were contradictory, so he asked: "If it can be had or not had, why should we still treat him as the best collaborator?"

  The old man hummed and his face gradually turned solemn: "That young lady, her cultivation is low, so she's not worth worrying about. But that black-robed sword elder, he's no ordinary person. His aura is vast like the sea, it's the purest heavenly and earthly spiritual energy, he must be cultivating the most top-notch divine technique! Moreover, he had already discovered me, but I didn't know until he used his mind to control the Eight Immortals' table to move outside, that's when I suddenly woke up."

  At this point, the old man shook his head: "That person's strength is truly extraordinary, I'm afraid I'm not even a match for him."

  This sentence made Hu Dong's body suddenly shake violently, looking at the old man in disbelief, his eyes wide with shock, "Fifth Elder, you have already reached the third level of foundation building, an unparalleled strongman, could it be that Sword Old Man's cultivation..."

  "Not bad, he's at least a fourth-level Foundation Establishment!" The Fifth Elder paused for a moment, his face solemn and serious as he slowly said: "It's even more possible that he has reached the fifth-level Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, a super strong cultivator!"

  Foundation Establishment Fifth Level: Great Perfection!

  Hu Dong's mouth was agape, and he couldn't believe that Jian Lao, with whom he had just spoken, was actually a Qi Practitioner who had reached the Great Perfection of the Foundation Establishment stage, whose every step could make the entire continent tremble!

  He was somewhat skeptical at first, but since it was said by the Fifth Elder, he had no choice but to believe!

  He couldn't help but take a deep breath as he recalled his previous encounter with Bi Zhuang, and his back felt a chill run down it, filled with a lingering sense of fear.

  Hu Dong's shocked expression was seen by the five elders, he took a deep breath and said: "The matter of He Zhuang is now left to you, three days later at the auction, you must publicize it well. This time, He Zhuang's move should be to show off in the capital city. When we publicize it, we also need to take good care of the confidentiality measures. The two words 'He Zhuang' are absolutely not to be mentioned."

  "Understood."

  "There is also." The Fifth Elder glanced at him faintly and continued, "The Affairs Hall has recently been short of a disciple as well. If you can handle your relationship with Bi Zhuang well, I will recommend you to enter."

  HuDong was shocked by the words, his face filled with an uncontrollable joy, he lowered his head: "I will do my best."

  Watching Hu Dong leave, the Fifth Elder slowly walked into the secret room, gazing faintly in the direction of the imperial palace, and forced a smile: "Now there's going to be a good show, before Tian Xuan Daoist arrives, I'll sell some personal feelings to Jiang Shen Zong, unite Bi Zhuang and Jiang Shen Zong together, it's all beneficial for me, Tao Ran Ju, no harm at all..."

  Weiyuan Wangfu, Lingyue Yuan.

  Chu Hao had settled the matter of Tao Ran's residence, and after Chen Honghong fell asleep, he sat in the room thinking back and forth, feeling that there was something missing somewhere, but for a while, he couldn't think of it.

  His current cultivation is only at the fifth layer of refining bones, and his strength is less than six horses. In ordinary people, it may be considered good, but if he encounters a real master, he will still be finished in an instant. At present, the prohibition in his body cannot be opened, and if he wants to break through to the refining skin period, he can only start with Dan medicine.

  The previously refined elixirs were all given to Hu Dong, and now it seems that the "Tiger Tendon Pill" needs to be refined again. The Tiger Tendon Pill is a good thing, at least before the fifth layer of the Refining Skin period, it should have a significant effect. Only someone like Chu Hao, who possesses the Hunyuan Cauldron and high-end equipment fire, can achieve such a success rate, and can eat elixirs like rice.

  However, when it came to refining the Tiger Tendon Pill, Chu Hao was somewhat troubled by the materials. Although these materials were not difficult to find, the key was that he didn't have so much money anymore, and could only wait for the auction to end in three days' time before reaping his first bucket of gold in this world.

  Having read this far, Chu Hao couldn't help but feel some regret. If he had known earlier, he should have just let Hu Dong get away with it. A single 500-tael ingot wasn't too much to ask for, after all. Alas, hindsight is always 20/20.

  Chu Hao practiced some basic fist techniques for a while. He knew the principle of "haste makes waste", and although this young master's body had a foundation, it hadn't been tempered in too long, so the fundamental martial arts were most suitable for him to cultivate at present.

  After finishing his practice, Chu Hao looked up to see that the sky had already darkened into evening. Chu Yunfei had probably returned as well. He was considering whether or not he should go find his cheap father, King Wang, to ask for some spending money when the steward of the estate, Liu Lao, arrived and announced, "The king has arrived."

  Chu Hao was shocked and hastily walked out, while the servants of Lingyue Garden all knelt down beside him.

  Unable to fathom the purpose of his father's sudden visit, Chu Hao took a step forward and knelt down halfway, saying: "Your son greets you, Father."

  "Get up." Chu Yunfei's face was pale and tired, even more exhausted than the first time he saw him, but when he saw Chu Hao, a smile emerged on his face. Chu Hao felt a pang in his heart, as a superior, it was really not easy to be like Chu Yunfei.

  Chu Yunfei nodded and then let all the servants around him go down. Then he pointed and said, "Let's go in and talk."

  "En." Chu Hao nodded, and then followed Chu Yunfei into the room. The others, including Chu Mo, all went down, leaving only Liu Lao standing alone outside the door, like an old pine tree, being gradually swallowed up by the night colors.

  "Sit down." Seeing that Chu Hao's room was a bit messy, Chu Yunfei first frowned and then relaxed his face before sitting down at the table, tapping on it as he spoke.

  Chu Hao originally intended to stand, but after hearing this, he was stunned for a moment and sat down.

  He picked up the teapot on the table and poured a cup for Chu Yunfei. Chu Hao didn't say anything, just sitting quietly. He couldn't help but be clear about Chu Yunfei's intentions. Generally, those in power are like the vast ocean, profound and unpredictable, let alone a prince. Even if he was now the father of this body, it was no exception.

  However, Chu Hao wouldn't be too reserved either, after all he had a thick skin.

  "The guards at the mansion said you've recently started cultivating." Chu Yunfei took a sip of tea, then raised his eyes and spoke.

  Chu Hao knew that this matter would definitely be passed on to Chu Yunfei, and he had already prepared a response, saying: "It's just that I'm usually idle in the mansion with nothing to do, so I'm just exercising my body."

  "Really?" Chu Yunfei glanced at Chu Hao with a hint of profundity.

  "Yes." Chu Hao's heart skipped a beat, thinking that Chu Yunfei might have seen something, but his expression remained unchanged. He smiled wryly and said, "Father also knows that my current body is completely unable to cultivate internal energy. No matter how I cultivate, ah..."

  The words trailed off halfway, but there was a hint of desolation in them.

  At the mention of this, Chu Yunfei's face had a hint of anger, but it flashed by in an instant. He then said in a complicated tone: "Forget it, Wang Er. You've come to your senses, and that's already made your father very pleased. The past is just that - the past. Since you've regained interest in cultivation, I'm sure you'll be delighted with the arrangements your father has made for you."

  "What's decided?" Chu Hao was taken aback.

  "Half a year later is the imperial annual martial arts spring test, Father King plans to send you to Duolai City after the Lantern Festival ends in a month, let you practice well and come back to take the exam." Chu Yunfei stared at Chu Hao, saying: "What does the prince think?"