And on this lotus, a person had already been sitting there for quite some time.
He gazed at the mountains and waters, leisurely sipping tea, seemingly at ease.
However, only he knew that, at this moment, his heart was incredibly conflicted.
This person was none other than Mr. Gao.
A lotus flower, missing three petals.
Each petal represented a life, and he divided himself into three, transforming into three parts, each casting down a chess piece.
Whether it’s the Zheng Clan, Zhou Kuangtian, or Lin Beichen.
The three chess pieces represented his three chances.
And now, the piece he sent to Zhou Kuangtian has already received a response.
Next, he only needed to collect the piece from the Zheng Clan to bring this event under his control.
"No matter which side wins, I’ve left a connection, so I’m not left without a retreat."
Mr. Gao said leisurely.
He cultivated from a poor background, his cultivation was a result of his own efforts, but also because he was adept at analyzing situations, always standing with the victorious side.
No matter which side won, he could always stand with the wise and ultimately gain benefits.
Trying to keep one foot in multiple alliances is impossible for others, but Mr. Gao, relying on his strange cultivation technique, could achieve this.
His Lotus Secret Technique allowed him three lives, and as long as he didn’t die once, he could repair the lotus through continued cultivation.
Over the years, although he encountered lethal moments countless times, he managed to escape certain death with this technique.
Those born into humble beginnings, if they wish to survive long in this world, must master three principles.
To think of danger, to think of retreat, to think of change.
Considering the danger allows you to know where the danger lies.
Knowing where the danger is allows you to consider retreat.
And after determining a retreat, you can wait for the situation to change, then immediately intervene and change your fate.
Relying on these three tricks, he outlasted many experts and took their legacies.
There are strong people in this world, some are good at fighting, some are good at thinking, and others are skilled at cunning.
And he is the one most skilled at cunning.
Having drunk the cup of tea, a man with the same appearance walked down the mountain path.
The man walked slowly, settled beside Mr. Gao, and gently opened his mouth, a lotus petal lightly falling from his mouth onto the lotus in the spring.
The lotus fell to the ground and took root, immediately growing an identical petal.
Seeing this, Mr. Gao revealed a faint smile once more.
However, soon, the smile on his face disappeared without a trace.
The image returned by the third lotus was exactly the same as what came from Zhou Kuangtian.
Even though Mr. Gao had anticipated this, he couldn’t help but feel a surge of anger.
These lofty individuals really took themselves too seriously.
Despite all his warnings, they wouldn’t listen, even if it meant giving up some profits, they should have tried to appease Lin Beichen.
Yet none of them heeded the warning, all of them disregarded his advice.
"Family interests? Worldly reputation? It’s just that they can’t let go!"
Mr. Gao sighed softly, slowly closing his eyes.
Although the battle had not yet begun, he already had a vague premonition in his heart.
Once the battle starts, whether it’s the Zheng Clan or Zhou Kuangtian, they will become history.
The history of Xiang Island will be rewritten.
He relied on the suspicion between the major clans, continuously reaping benefits in the gaps, eventually achieving what he has today.
"After today, perhaps it’s time for me to establish a family."
Mr. Gao muttered to himself, gazing at the distant horizon.
The Lotus Secret Technique is indeed exquisite, yet it ultimately is a Rootless Technique.
Now that the world has changed, and the Celestial Gate has opened, if he wants to advance further, he must rely on his own strength.
Only by establishing a family, having its members work for him, gathering resources, can he have the possibility to progress further.
In the slums.
Lin Beichen, with Sun Zhishi, returned to the surface.
Almost at the same time, a spiritual light descended from the sky into Lin Beichen’s hands.
Seeing this, Sun Zhishi’s eyes flashed with a peculiar light.
"Young brother, this Thousand Miles Sound Transmission technique is quite skillful, who is he to you?"
"He is no one, just a pitiful person wandering among the great families."
Lin Beichen said indifferently as he casually opened the letter.
The letter was sent by Mr. Gao.
Before parting, he had left a trace of his aura with Mr. Gao, who used it to transmit messages.
There was no other means of communication between them.
Lin Beichen appreciated Mr. Gao but did not plan to take him as a subordinate.
This person had cultivated on Xiang Island his entire life, his wild nature untamable, his life’s pursuit was merely to establish a great family there.
However, neither the Zheng Clan nor Zhou Kuangtian would allow him to do so.
He survived by means of special tactics and strange secret techniques.
If no unexpected events occur, perhaps a century later, he might have a chance.
But as it stands, unless Lin Beichen assists, he won’t have any opportunity.
Lin Beichen, with Sun Zhishi, arrived at the highest point of the slums.
The highest point of the slums was atop a peak over three hundred meters high.
A Buddhist Stupa funded by the Buddhist Sect.
The stupa was completely clad with Glazed Golden Bricks, radiating strands of golden light under the sunlight.
The Glazed Golden Bricks were engraved with Buddhist scriptures, with daily chanting and sutra recitation, adding to the stupa’s Buddhist aura.
The people of Xiang Island have always revered the Buddhist Dao, thus there was always a continuous stream of offerings, attracting many Buddhist monks.
Lin Beichen sat cross-legged atop the stupa, leaving Sun Zhishi beside him.
Sun Zhishi clicked his tongue in wonder, looking around at heaven and earth anew, everything seemed fresh and filled him with curiosity.
After watching for a while, Sun Zhishi’s face suddenly changed, feeling as if spiritual qi was all around, so dense it was akin to rushing waves.
"Young brother, you attracted all this spiritual qi, aren’t you afraid of being overwhelmed?"
His cultivation of spiritual qi relied solely on the Earth Vein.
And spiritual qi from the Earth Vein has a characteristic, anything that can’t be absorbed returns to the Earth Vein.
This way, there was no danger during cultivation.
But there is always a trade-off, competing with the Earth Vein for spiritual qi, and the earth being boundless, how could his meager aura compete with it?
Thus, although Sun Zhishi had cultivated spiritual qi for quite some time, his progress was never significant.
Of the hundred units of spiritual qi he absorbed, less than five units would remain with him.
"The world’s spiritual qi is mine to absorb, why should I not?"
Lin Beichen’s expression was unmoved, like a meditative monk.
His perception enveloped the Earth Vein of the whole slum, not only including the people within his perception but also sensing even underground.
Beneath the stone gate, Zheng Yaxin still sat on the ice bed, trembling.
Lin Beichen had left, but Zheng Yaxin was unaware.
She constantly worried that Lin Beichen would return and cut her down.
Sun Zhishi stood aside, silently observing the change in Lin Beichen’s aura, his eyes growing increasingly complex.
"Young brother, just who are you? Can’t you give me a hint?
Though I haven’t left underground in decades, I’m not completely ignorant of the outside world!"
His implication was simple.
Lin Beichen had kept him there for a purpose, and he needed to know whom Lin Beichen meant to confront.
The power Lin Beichen exhibited was terrifying, the enemy must be formidable.
He felt helpless and a bit frustrated.
He wanted to leave, but Lin Beichen wouldn’t give him the chance, and the person Lin Beichen wanted to confront wouldn’t care if he was willing or not.
The opponent would see him as aligned with Lin Beichen.
Lin Beichen continued absorbing the spiritual qi silently until he had cycled it through his body once more, and then slowly opened his eyes.
The Withered and Flourishing Body grew ever stronger, even though he hadn’t cultivated recently, this Withered and Flourishing Spiritual Qi, closest to the Earth Vein, continued operating at all times.
As long as his feet touched the ground, this spiritual qi would travel upon his body, constantly transforming with the Earth Vein.
For outsiders, these things seem exceedingly mysterious, but for Lin Beichen, it was merely ordinary.