"What an unexpected gain," Zhang Chen silently praised himself, then put away the Water Control Technique. He had all the time in the world now; everything could be done without taking risks. If he startled the snake and the other party transferred their assets, it would be difficult to find such a good opportunity again.
"If what’s hidden in the secret chamber is a Qi Cultivation formula, that would be wonderful. Once I obtain a higher-level Qi Cultivation Technique formula, I can leave the Yellow Heaven Dao and roam free in the vast sky," Zhang Chen fantasized.
Then Zhang Chen put away the Water Control Technique and began his usual idling.
Xiaodouding’s daily tasks were martial arts practice and meditation, while Zhang Chen’s task was idling and pondering his own skills.
That night
Zhang Chen returned to the main hall, feigned a routine walk around, tidied up, and then once more approached the statue of the Ancestral Master and Great Virtuous Master with a cleaning cloth. From his palm, his device extended, stealthily piercing the circle of the Power of Faith.
Crunch after crunch, silently he devoured with joy, the mighty Power of Faith turned into mysterious power, which then transformed into Zhang Chen’s Skill Points.
The night passed quickly, and Zhang Chen had accumulated a total of one million points that day. He then focused on the Water Stabilizing Rune:
[14th Skill (Tier 4): Water Stabilizing Rune (0/32000)]
[Note: You can stabilize fourth-tier water flows within fifty meters around you.]
[Points: 10,000,000]
Exactly one million points were spent.
Looking at the fourth-tier Water Stabilizing Rune, Zhang Chen immediately upgraded it, and the rune advanced once more:
...
[14th Skill (Tier 9): Water Stabilizing Rune (0/1002400)]
With just a few points left, Zhang Chen calculated silently with his fingers, "To upgrade to the Twelfth Tier and break through its constraints, it’ll take a few more days."
But now, having upgraded to the ninth tier, the speed wasn’t slow for him.
Seeing the time grow late, Zhang Chen dared not linger any longer and quietly left the main hall, returning to his courtyard to continue idling.
However, as Zhang Chen, carrying a bucket of water, exited the main hall with the intent of sneaking back to his courtyard, he unexpectedly ran into Wei Yingwu.
At that moment, Zhang Chen emerged from the main hall with a bucket. It was plausible that he had been cleaning all night, but coincidentally, Wei Yingwu was cradling a fox, which was speaking: "Later, just place this object under the statue in the main hall, and I can steal the Water God’s Creation for the Crown Prince of Yellow Heaven Dao..."
Before the fox finished speaking, Zhang Chen walked out of the main hall, causing the atmosphere to freeze in mid-air. As Zhang Chen looked at Wei Yingwu, the white-furred fox on Wei Yingwu’s chest hurriedly dove into his sleeve. Though the fox moved swiftly, Zhang Chen, being who he was, immediately caught the flaw.
The air seemed to stagnate, and Zhang Chen thought to himself, "So, Prince Pingbian’s Mansion has been harboring secret plans against Yellow Heaven Dao."
Wei Yingwu looked at Zhang Chen, a murderous intent flickering in his eyes and hesitated, wondering, "Did he hear anything or not?"
This kind of matter surely couldn’t see the light of day!
If exposed, Yellow Heaven Dao would never let it go!
Moreover, this was the main hall of Huangli Temple, and the Daoists had already risen. If he acted rashly and was seen, it would be even more troublesome.
"Senior brother, you’re early. What were you saying outside the door? Little brother didn’t catch it," Zhang Chen said, his eyes shifting to break the tense atmosphere.
Upon hearing Zhang Chen’s words, Wei Yingwu relaxed instantly, thinking to himself, "He didn’t hear it clearly!"
Casually covering it up, the two parted ways.
As Zhang Chen walked away, Wei Yingwu headed into the main hall, with the white fox in his sleeve saying, "This person cannot be left alive; no possible loose ends can be allowed."
Wei Yingwu was stunned upon hearing this but said no more.
Walking away, Zhang Chen’s heart was pounding. He believed he recognized that white fox; it resembled the aura of the person who had taken away Chen Sanliang.
"Prince Pingbian’s Mansion and Yellow Heaven Dao don’t seem to get along as well as they appear. It seems Prince Pingbian’s Mansion also covets the position of Water God," Zhang Chen thought to himself.
The next day during the day, Zhang Chen was beaten to a pulp as he slept by his rebellious niece, bruised and battered, but there was nothing he could do. What could he do? He was powerless.
Facing his rebellious niece, all Zhang Chen could do was endure the beating.
That night, Zhang Chen collected another million points and saw that it was enough for another upgrade.
[14th Skill (Tier 10): Water Stabilizing Rune (0/2004800)]
"In about two days, I can break into the eleventh tier. These auxiliary skills don’t consume much experience, the real consumers are the offensive skills," Zhang Chen mused to himself.
During the morning class that day, Zhang Chen and Xiaodouding stood idly at the back of the crowd. Scanning the crowd with his eyes, Zhang Chen noticed Wei Yingwu in the ranks but didn’t see Zhang Xiaohua anywhere.
"Why hasn’t the Crown Prince been seen these past two days?" Zhang Chen curiously asked Xiaodouding.
Lowering his voice, Xiaodouding replied, "I heard that the Crown Prince has been scared out of his wits and has been hiding under the Ancestral Master’s plaque in the backyard, afraid of being found by the monster from the mountain. I heard that the monster was summoned by Zhang Xiaohua just to eat him."