"Hongxuan has been staying near the West Gate to recuperate these days. Alas, it’s unfortunate. Didn’t the outer area of the West Gate suffer a demon beast attack yesterday? It’s quite chaotic there now, with many loose cultivators dead or injured... You know, if some unlucky person happened to die there, they might not even find the bones, let alone alert the Lingyin Sect."
Luo Heng lifted his teacup and took a leisurely sip.
His murky gaze fell on Chen Ye, full of naked temptation:
"Although Hongxuan’s cultivation has been ruined, his possessions remain. Even though the association took back his treasure armor, he still has other treasures... such as the ’Frost Splendor Record,’ which he must still be carrying. If Taoist Friend Chen is lucky, maybe you could find it in some corner?"
"Of course... this old man will naturally have someone accompany Taoist Friend Chen to search."
This was almost a clear indication.
Luo Heng was inciting Chen Ye to kill Kong Hongxuan and seize the cultivation technique!
Chen Ye showed a hint of hesitation: "Chairman Luo, you’re joking. Although I have some disputes with Taoist Friend Kong, I wouldn’t want to go too far."
"Oh? Taoist Friend Chen, what do you mean by this? I never said to kill Hongxuan; after all, he’s one of our brothers in the Jade Lizard Association!"
Luo Heng feigned anger.
He was a bit surprised inside, but it made sense after considering.
Chen Ye, not being one of their association members, only played with plants in the market, and didn’t have the disposition to kill and seize treasures.
He pondered for a moment: "Let this old man pay some attention to other water series cultivation techniques for you then. After all, the ’Frost Splendor Record’ is Hongxuan’s cultivation technique, and it wouldn’t be appropriate for this old man to forcefully take it..."
Chen Ye’s eyelids twitched.
This old guy, wasn’t it straightforward when he ruined Kong Hongxuan’s cultivation back then?
Seeing Luo Heng’s evasive intent.
Chen Ye said no more, he was just trying to test the situation.
After treating the Six-leaf Mysterious Ginseng again, he left with his payment.
When Chen Ye left the Jade Lizard Association’s premises.
Luo Heng’s confidant cautiously stepped forward:
"Chairman, what if Chen Ye doesn’t take the bait? Should we... directly control him? Force him to work for our association?"
"Fool!" Luo Heng snorted coldly, "He’s now someone Zhou Mingyuan values, and it’s not easy to go too far. Direct control? If Zhou Mingyuan finds out, wouldn’t it bring trouble to the Jade Lizard Association?"
The confidant lowered his head, not daring to speak further.
It turns out Luo Heng was waiting for Chen Ye to become restless enough to actually go and kill Kong Hongxuan.
Then turn on him immediately, using the incident to blackmail Chen Ye!
After all, Kong Hongxuan is a member of the Jade Lizard Association. If Chen Ye kills him, it’s a deadly grudge with the Jade Lizard Association.
By then, even if Zhou Mingyuan values Chen Ye greatly.
He wouldn’t publicly protect a murderer of the association’s members.
In this way, Chen Ye would have no choice but to let Luo Heng manipulate him obediently!
"But..."
Luo Heng thought for a moment and then instructed:
"Remember, increase the manpower later and keep a close watch on Kong Hongxuan’s residence near the West Gate! Report any signs of activity immediately!"
According to Zhou Mingyuan, Chen Ye is sure to pass the Lingyin Sect’s Spirit Plant Master assessment.
Even if Luo Heng reaches the Foundation Establishment stage, Chen Ye can still be a great asset, far beyond Kong Hongxuan’s capability!
"However, it’s still too cautious."
Luo Heng smiled bitterly. With his backing, Chen Ye dared not go and kill Kong Hongxuan.
Without his backing, would this loose cultivator who only knows how to tend to plants dare to offend the Lingyin Sect’s precepts?
...
That night, the wind and snow grew fiercer.
Goose feather-like snowflakes covered the sky and earth, enveloping the entire Yunxi District in a vast expanse of white.
The moment Chen Ye left the Jade Lizard Association,
he appeared at the West Gate the next.
He surveyed the chaotic area, where the remains of the demon beast attack from yesterday were yet to be cleaned up.
The scent of blood mixed with the smell of burning wafted through the cold wind, occasionally accompanied by sporadic sounds of fighting in the distance.
Disciples of the Lingyin Sect were clearing the demon beasts outside the West Gate.
At that moment, in an inconspicuous courtyard near the West Gate,
Kong Hongxuan lay in bed, his eyes blood-red.
With his dantian destroyed and his cultivation lost, it was more painful than death for him!
"Chen Ye! Zhou Mingyuan! You all wait for me! If I don’t avenge this, I won’t be human!"
He gnashed his teeth, plotting revenge crazily in his mind.
"The roots must be eliminated, or like spring grass, they will regrow!"
Kong Hongxuan felt immense regret.
If only he had known Chen Ye had such means, he would have prioritized eliminating this threat rather than worrying about the East Valley!
But,
Now it’s too late for regret!
Stone Mirror Association...
The Stone Mirror Association and the Jade Lizard Association have always been at odds, if they learn that Chen Ye treated that damaged Six-leaf Mysterious Ginseng for Luo Heng...
Luo Heng kept the acquisition of the Six-leaf Mysterious Ginseng highly secretive, and the Stone Mirror Association certainly didn’t know.
If he leaks this to the Stone Mirror Association, they would surely see Chen Ye as a thorn in their side!
By then, there would be no need for him to act; the Stone Mirror Association would find any way to dispose of Chen Ye!
Moreover, he could seize this opportunity to demonstrate loyalty to the Stone Mirror Association.
He might even get some cultivation resources in exchange, enough to rebuild his dantian and make a comeback!
The more Kong Hongxuan thought about it, the more excited he became, quickly calling for his younger brother.
As he whispered with his brother, he failed to notice,
a shadowy figure, ghost-like, silently appeared in the yard.
Chen Ye operated the Great Success Realm’s Qi Concealment Technique, perfectly hiding his presence, evading nearby Nifeng Hall cultivators and scattered loose cultivators.
"This person... falling to this state, and still has confidants."
Chen Ye didn’t rush to approach; he stood a hundred steps away, his gaze as frosty as ice, watching the two inside through the window.
One was Kong Hongxuan.
The other resembled Kong Hongxuan, appearing to be in his early twenties, with cultivation at the Fourth-Layer.
Seeing this,
Limit Break-level Geng Metal Qi quietly gathered at Chen Ye’s fingertips.
Brilliant golden light emitted a barely noticeable glow in the dark snowy night.
In the next moment!
"Whoosh——!"
A point of golden light tore through the wind and snow, silently piercing the thin window paper, and precisely burrowed into the back of the young man’s head!
Outside the window, snowflakes danced intensely.
Inside the window, round beads of blood scattered like severed pearls, bursting into the sky.
The blood stained Kong Hongxuan’s sinister smile.
His brother in front of him now bore a small hole in the center of his forehead, from which a stream of blood gushed forth.
Time seemed to stand still, or perhaps the golden light was too fast.
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh——"
Three golden lights shot through the small hole in succession.
Blood mist spread,
Golden light burst forth!
"Pu chi!"
Kong Hongxuan’s eyes were filled with golden light, unable to struggle, and he died instantly.
Chen Ye slowly retracted his fingers, expressionless.
He was not a bloodthirsty person,
but Kong Hongxuan sought to kill him and threatened his student, leaving no room for mercy.
At this time, all favorable conditions converged.
Not taking action would lead to future troubles!
As the saying goes,
Heaven grants, and if you don’t take it, you suffer the consequences;
If opportunity arises, and you don’t seize it, you suffer the misfortune!
Ensuring Kong Hongxuan was completely dead, and that no one noticed outside the courtyard.
Only then did Chen Ye cautiously slip into the house.
He didn’t bother with anything else, and went straight to Kong Hongxuan’s corpse to retrieve a slightly old book from his chest.
On the cover, the three simple yet imposing words proudly read— "Frost Splendor Record".
"To uproot the grass, one must eliminate its roots!"
Before the people from the Jade Lizard Association arrived,
Kong Hongxuan had already become a corpse!