Chapter 77: Preparations for War

  Lei Xiaoding agreed to come back at night to take the Diligent Dan, Su Che returned to the Lingcao Medicine Garden.

  As he passed by Chen's courtyard, it just so happened that Chen and a steward apprentice walked out together. When they saw Su Che, Chen was clearly stunned for a moment, then pretended to be smiling.

  "Director Chen." Su Che greeted him with a natural expression.

  "Su Che, you're back from your training?"

  "Yes, Director Chen."

  "Is everything going smoothly?"

  "Not bad."

  After a few pleasantries, Su Che bid farewell and left. Chen Zongguan's eyes sank, staring at his back, muttering to himself: "He actually returned unscathed, could it be that Zheng Jun didn't find him?"

  Chen Zongguan did not expect that Zheng Yuan, who was in the later stages of Qi Refining, would be defeated by Su Che, who was only in the early stages of Qi Refining. In the Cultivation Realm, it was almost impossible for a weaker cultivator to defeat a stronger one with such a huge gap in their cultivation levels...

  Su Che walked into his thatched hut, but in his heart he sighed: "Zheng Jun's disappearance can't be hidden for long, and the conflict with the Chen family is inevitable. It's really annoying."

  "Unless you're willing to be a nobody, keeping a low profile for the rest of your life, otherwise, all sorts of troubles will find their way to your doorstep."

  Not being envied by others is a mediocre talent, and Su Che also agrees with this. At this moment, he thought again: "Just now, Chen Zongguan seemed to have not recognized my true cultivation, which means that our Concealment Technique can deceive the investigation of a Foundation Establishment cultivator."

  "Yes, I feel the same way." Old Hei responded: "If we can still deceive the Golden Elixir Cultivator's divine eyes, that would be great."

  Concealing one's true cultivation to deceive the opponent, this is undoubtedly extremely beneficial for Su Che. For now, it's still uncertain just how effective the Lingyun Technique that Lao Hei and Xianyu came up with will be...

  After a short rest, Su Che went to the second-level medicine garden again and performed his duty as a spiritual grass doctor, using Xianyin Warm Flow to treat several sick spiritual grasses.

  Artificially cultivated spiritual grass is indeed prone to illness, as the survival environment created by humans has altered the innate survival rules of the spiritual grass to a certain extent. Some subtle and imperceptible factors can cause a particular strain or even an entire class of spiritual grass to fall ill or die.

  In the past, the treatment of spiritual grass was something that only the elder of the medicine garden could handle personally. Now with Su Che, it has also reduced the workload of the elder of the medicine garden. Therefore, nowadays, most of the disciples in charge of the medicine garden are extremely respectful to Su Che, this spiritual grass doctor.

  Of course, such an extraordinary ability will also trigger the greed of some people. Chen Zongguan is a standard example. For him, replacing Su Che as the Lingcao Doctor means that his status in Xuánjī Peak will be elevated to a higher level, gaining more attention from the sect, and even playing a crucial role in impacting the Golden Dan period in the future.

  Until nightfall, Su Che did not see Ling Long in the medicine garden and did not know where she had gone. However, this was also a matter of no importance, seeing her would only be to report: "I'm back, I'll be leaving again in a few days..."

  In the evening, he went to Lei Xiao's place again and successfully obtained 85 Earth Spirit Pills. However, Su Che felt that this amount was far from enough for his own consumption. In the painful cultivation in the underground fire vein of Yinfeng Gorge, his progress was extremely remarkable, but the corresponding cost was that he had to consume four Earth Spirit Pills every day. For a closed-door meditation of half a year, at least 700 pills would be needed, and such a large amount was definitely something the Lei family couldn't afford.

  More importantly, transactions with the Lei family's spiritual grass cannot be too frequent. If it loses its degree, it is easy to bring out unpredictable troubles.

  So, how can we get hundreds of Ling Dan while keeping a low profile without being noticed by the gods and ghosts?

  This problem really stumped Su Che, and he couldn't think of a good solution no matter what.

  Another day passed, and Leixiao came to deliver a message with the jade token to meet Su Che. As soon as they met, he said without thinking: "Someone has opened a betting plate, one against two, I bet three hundred spirit stones on you. If you win, I can get back six hundred spirit stones... Good brother, tell me the truth, can I get back six hundred spirit stones?"

  "Are you betting against me?" Su Che asked in a low voice: "So, most people don't think I can win, is that right?"

  "Of course." Lei smiled and nodded, "Many people still don't know that you've already advanced to the third layer of Qi Refining. Moreover, Song Paozi is an old-timer among the third-layer disciples of Qi Refining, and with the powerful backing of Zhen Lan from Tianwu Peak, it's clear that he has a greater advantage."

  Su Che nodded and immediately took out a spirit stone bag and stuffed it into Lei Xiao's hand: "This is one thousand spirit stones, I'm betting on myself to win, you help me place the bet."

  "Ah, you little rascal, you really have the goods!" Lei laughed with a sly grin: "Now that's more like it, I've got confidence in my heart. You dare to bet 1,000, then I'll... add another 200!"

  Su Che smiled, not too concerned about the small stakes of this gamble. Of course, with his own and Song Baozi's low-level cultivation, they were not well-known figures in the Tianxuan Sect, so they couldn't make a big bet.

  However, if it can make those guys from Tianwu Peak lose face, lose people and lose money, it's quite a relieving thing.

  Lei Xiao, holding the Ling Stone bag, ran away in a flash and disappeared from sight, no one knew where he went to place his bet. Su Che thought to himself: "In this duel, whoever loses will automatically renounce their status as an outer door disciple and leave Tianxuan Sect. At that time, Jiang Chen's debt can be repaid to me."

  What debt? A life debt!

  "Hahaha..." Old Black laughed and said: "This is a competition without any suspense, however, Master, don't hurry to kill Jiang Chen, first send him into the Heavenly Prison, let me, Old Black, take good care of him for a while. The Three Thousand Tortures Great Method, he must experience it several times."

  "Is it beyond doubt?"

  Su Che smiled slightly: "For us, it's a foregone conclusion, but for them, I want to make some people stare blindly and drop their jaws. In this matter, I don't want to handle it low-key."

  As for Jiang Chen, Su Che thought that only a thunderous and mighty method could smash his head, in order to live up to the name 'Su Che', and to live up to the lingering soul of the previous owner of this body.

  Cultivators attach great importance to cause and effect, and pay close attention to heart demons. Especially for something like borrowing a corpse to return the soul, it's equivalent to owing 'Su Che' a favor, so one should take seriously the things that need to be done for him.

  Causality is not an ethereal thing, Su Che had a clear feeling that his resentment towards Jiang Chen was somewhat abnormal. To be precise, he only felt antipathy and hostility towards Jiang Chen in his mind, but this body itself condensed thick hatred, which is what people often call "hate entering the bone".

  He avenged his life-and-death feud for him, and the resentment that had been condensed in his bones could finally be completely dissipated. Su Che thought so.

  That afternoon, Yu Qing found Su Che and carefully sized him up before nodding: "Can't see any pre-battle tension, his condition is pretty good."

  Su Che prepared the tea set for Yu Qing to brew tea and calmly said: "They are not worthy of making me nervous."

  "Is this confidence or underestimation?" Yu Qing asked with a smile. In fact, she was also curious about Su Che's cultivation speed, which had reached the third layer of Qi Refining in less than half a year.

  "Are you underestimating them?" Su Che's smile was somewhat dazzling: "Indeed, I couldn't think of what kind of trouble they could make for me."

  While speaking, Su Che and Lao Hei also confirmed that Yu Qing Shixiong could not recognize his true cultivation either.

  Yu Qing nodded and reminded, "Because of my relationship with Zhen Lan, she attaches great importance to this duel, which also implicates you... According to what I know, she will definitely provide some special items to Song Huaizi and the other person. You should be on high alert."

  "Alright." Su Che nodded calmly.

  "If you have any needs, just tell me." Yu Qing said seriously: "Actually, I don't care about the outcome of this fight. Even if you lose, I won't feel that my face has been lost. But the stakes you've set are too high, the loser will leave the sect, and I must consider your future."

  "Thank you, Brother." Su Che's heart warmed up with genuine gratitude: "Brother, please be at ease, I'm fully prepared and confident to handle all the variables."

  "That's good."

  Yu Qing nodded slightly, fell silent for a moment, and seemed to be deep in thought. After finishing a cup of tea, he got up and left.

  "Master, this Yu Qing Shixiong of yours has a heavy heart." Old Black reminded in a low voice: "I feel that the power hidden within his body has shown some fluctuations, it doesn't seem quite normal."

  "Yes, I also feel a bit awkward." Su Che nodded in agreement: "The Jade Clear Master we met today, the whole person seems to be shrouded in something very heavy..."

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