Chapter 736 - 222: Brother Xiaohai, Hated by All
The paths of alchemy and artifact crafting both require time and effort like the slow grinding of a millstone. In these pursuits, the cultivation level is often not the most critical factor; instead, the grade of the alchemical products or crafted artifacts is prioritized.
Moreover, these two paths are universally recognized in the Domain Realm as the most lucrative career paths.
Compared to those who focus solely on cultivation or combat, these paths lead to wealth more easily and steadily.
Chen Yan completely understands this point.
Setting artifact refiners aside, the importance of alchemists can be easily illustrated with a metaphor.
In the real world, even if you are a company owner, a wealthy person with houses and cars, you must still rely on hospitals for birth, old age, sickness, and death.
If you have a relative or a friend in your social circle who is a senior or associate director at a local public hospital, or even just an attending physician, you would enjoy numerous benefits!
Those with experience naturally understand this.
After some polite conversation, Chen Yan’s attitude towards the Zhu brothers became much warmer.
After the four chatted for a while, Long Da hesitated for a moment and then said, "Fellow Daoist Zhao, you seem like a very kind person, and though our acquaintance is shallow, since we’re talking about such matters, there is something I should warn you about."
Chen Yan said nothing, only smiled quietly at Long Da.
Long Da glanced at the Zhu brothers, then spoke in a low voice, "The Fellow Daoist from the East Sea living next door to your residence; if you interact with him, you must be cautious."
Upon hearing this, Chen Yan couldn’t help but smile, "Oh? What’s the matter with that Fellow Daoist from the East Sea?"
Long Da sighed, "I’m not one to speak ill of others behind their backs, but seeing as you’re a good person, I couldn’t help but warn you; in short, be careful dealing with him."
As soon as Long Da finished speaking, Zhu Yao replied coldly, "What’s there to be embarrassed about saying? It’s not like we’re in the wrong. You, Long Da, might feel awkward, but my brother and I have nothing to be ashamed of.
Fellow Daoist Zhao! That person from the East Sea living next door is the most deceitful. If he comes to you, you must be careful!
He initially acts very warm and approachable, treating others like a breath of spring air, but eventually, he becomes utterly detestable!
That fellow owes me money for a batch of ’Invitation Pills,’ hasn’t paid a cent! He even deceived my brother and took away a two-zhang-long, third-grade dragon tendon!
This person is extremely despicable; if it weren’t for my brother and I’s insufficient cultivation, we would have long gone to his door to demand repayment!"
Chen Yan listened, maintaining a calm exterior, but sighed inwardly.
What happened to Brother Xiaohai next door? Why has he ended up disliked by everyone?
Curious about this, Chen Yan asked, "Speaking of the neighbor next door... I saw him today arguing with the District Administrator, Zhao You, about a debt for a Primordial Qi Array that he’s delayed paying for a month now.
And now you three fellow daoists mentioned these matters...
This person is in debt everywhere and doesn’t repay, doesn’t West Platform City’s governance care about such issues?"
Seeing the Zhu brothers’ faces filled with anger, Long Da waved them to calm down and not be hasty, while he smiled bitterly, "Fellow Daoist Zhao should know, this East Sea fellow...is not easily provoked."
After a pause, he smiled bitterly again, "Even though he’s despicable, he has high-level cultivation in the Ascension Realm; among the cultivators in West Platform City below the Celestial Human Realm, none can challenge him.
Though there are senior cultivators in the city’s governance, those at or above the Celestial Human Realm rarely stay in the city; they are either in their respective sects or at strategic points performing services.
As for West Platform City’s current governance, the City Lord is merely at the completion stage of the Ascension Realm and focuses on seeking a Realm-Breaking Celestial, paying little attention to mundane city affairs.
Moreover, this East Sea fellow is cunning; he usually does not owe money to the governance or deceive cultivators with official backgrounds.
He only swindles loose cultivators. When they first meet him, seeing his high-level cultivation in the Ascension Realm, they assume he’s an extraordinary person and fall for his scam.
And once they lose money, there is nothing they can do.
Some have reported it to the governance, only to be told to resolve it on our own.
However, he’s now in debt to the district, which is equivalent to owing the governance. If he dares not repay, eventually, the governance will act against him."
Understood, meaning the strong don’t care, and the weak can’t manage.
Although Chen Yan was curious about the "East Sea’s" identity, he himself harbors many secrets and would not easily get involved in such matters. So he responded indifferently, "Thank you, fellow daoists, for the advice. I will be careful."
The conversation reached this point, and there was nothing more to be said. Long Da and the others rose to take their leave.
Chen Yan escorted them to the courtyard gate. After they left, he shut the gate and returned to his cave dwelling, intending to resume channeling Primordial Qi in his cultivation—the free Primordial Qi Array hadn’t been fully utilized today.
But before he could sit down for a quarter of an hour, Steward Zhang the Third came to report again.
"Master, there is a close neighbor visiting."
Chen Yan was intrigued, stood up and went out, and saw a figure standing outside the courtyard gate.
Brother Xiaohai?
As the gate opened, he saw Brother Xiaohai standing outside, cupping his hands in a manner that radiated a rather extraordinary bearing.
"I am East Sea! I’ve heard a distinguished neighbor has moved in, and have come to pay my respects!"
Chen Yan: "..."
East Sea glanced at Chen Yan, raised an eyebrow, and said calmly, "Fellow Daoist, won’t you invite me in to sit?"
Chen Yan sighed, cupping his hands, "Fellow Daoist East Sea, I won’t hide anything from you, I’m poor and stingy, not worth your trouble to scheme against."
East Sea: ???
·
At this moment, facing East Sea, Chen Yan confirmed one thing in his mind.
Facing each other, this East Sea could not see through his transformation technique, could not see his true identity!
It should be known that his transformation technique with the White Fox Inner Core, although ingenious, was not invincible. You Su Yi once told him that the transformation technique of the White Fox Inner Core, when activated with his Guiyuan Realm cultivation, is undetectable below the Celestial Human Realm.
And beyond the Celestial Human Realm, it won’t be enough.
Initially, Brother Xiaohai was already a tribulation-transcending cultivator—Chen Yan now roughly understood, it should have been a Realm-Breaking Celestial level of cultivation.
Brother Xiaohai should be in the Celestial Human Realm.
Yet now, facing each other, this East Sea did not recognize him.
Therefore, Chen Yan concluded, he certainly was not the person he had seen before!