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Chapter 15: A Win-Win
Chapter 15: A Win-Win (Please Continue Reading)
Xiao Chen pondered deeply, certain he’d never heard of the chief disciple receiving any special resources. That title was clearly just an empty honor!
Due to his lack of family cultivation training, Xiao Chen initially viewed the matter purely from a self-interest perspective, failing to grasp the title’s true significance to a clan. Frankly, he had no interest in such a hollow position.
Since that’s settled,” he said, “no problem. We have a deal then—keep my secret, and I’ll support your bid to become chief disciple.”
Su Wanning immediately relaxed, relieved. She didn’t realize, however, that Xiao Chen’s revealed combat strength had secretly unsettled her. While the chief disciple’s cultivation realm wasn’t the sole determining factor, this was only because most candidates’ abilities were relatively similar under normal circumstances.
The cultivation world ultimately respected power above all else. If someone like Xiao Chen—clearly invincible among peers—competed for the title, she’d have real trouble securing victory.
Admittedly, this seemed overly cautious. Yet Su Wanning’s instincts warned her that Xiao Chen’s extraordinary strength marked him as anything but ordinary. Though he appeared to be at the Fifth Layer of Qi Condensation now, within a year or two, he might surpass her in cultivation entirely.
Fortunately, this threat had vanished. Xiao Chen not only relinquished his claim but also pledged support.
She smiled, extending her hand. “Deal!”
He slapped her palm. “No taking it back!”
To ensure compliance, both swore unbreakable oaths before exchanging jade tokens, spirit stones, and the Cloak of Hidden Tracks, each feeling they’d gained the better end of the bargain.
“Senior Sect Brother, safe travels!”
Watching Xiao Chen depart, Su Wanning’s eyes curved like a crescent moon. Perfect—she’d eliminated a potential rival while gaining a powerful ally, all by parting with a single unwanted magic artifact. Truly a win-win: she won twice.
Meanwhile, Xiao Chen, now wearing the Cloak of Hidden Tracks, felt equally satisfied. He’d gained a fortune in spirit stones and a free magic artifact by surrendering a meaningless title. Another win-win: he won twice too.
Unfolding the cloak, he draped it over himself, transforming into an entirely new persona. Remarkably, even his mana fluctuations and voice altered completely.
Though merely a low-grade magic artifact, its design was ingenious. Intended to minimize mana consumption for lower-tier cultivators like Su Wanning, it employed an “overlay” technique—adding layered disguises atop the wearer’s original aura. Each user received a unique transformation, making detection nearly impossible. Even if Su Wanning encountered him again, she’d only suspect, never confirm, his identity.
“This opens up more trading opportunities,” he mused. Previously, he’d worried about drawing attention by trading openly with multiple disciples, which might affect the Trials Ranking. Now, hidden by the cloak, he could conduct business anonymously.
This also solved another issue—his surplus of points. During his trade with Su Wanning, she’d only accepted thirty points, warning that more would seem suspicious. Though Xiao Chen had sold forty points’ worth of jade tokens for a mid-grade spirit stone, he still held 270 points remaining.
Chen Guangyu had promised to buy all his points, but Xiao Chen preferred having backup plans. Wearing the cloak, he resumed hunting spirit beasts while seeking other disciples to trade with.
Soon, he spotted extinguished campfire remains and footprints by a mountain spring. Following the tracks, he found a Senior Sect Brother seemingly napping in tall grass, head exposed, eyes opening warily at Xiao Chen’s approach.
“Esteemed Senior Sect Brother,” Xiao Chen called, “due to special circumstances, I must conceal my identity. Please forgive the rudeness.”
To his surprise, the man’s eyes widened, face reddening as if both furious and terrified.
“No misunderstanding,” Xiao Chen assured, displaying spirit beast cores to prove his intent. “I only wish to trade points.”
But the man merely gurgled incoherently, blinking frantically—clearly gagged and bound.
“Golden light envelops my body, reflecting my essence!”
Xiao Chen activated a defensive technique, golden light flaring as he stepped back, scanning the area. The man’s predicament was obvious now—he was held captive.
Surveying the surroundings, Xiao Chen smirked. “I know you’re there. Show yourself!”
No enemy emerged—only the muffled whimpers of the trapped disciple, shaking his head violently.
“You wish to speak?” Xiao Chen asked. The man nodded.
“Is the captor not nearby?” Another frantic nod.
“Wait here—I’ll rescue you.”
Shaking his head at the absurdity—why would a kidnapper abandon their victim?—Xiao Chen advanced cautiously, golden light intact.
Unseen in the grass, a Ghost-Faced Spider prepared its web. A rare spirit beast with awakened primordial bloodline, it had resisted drugging. Now it lay in wait, eyeing Xiao Chen as a naive fool.
The spider sneered mentally. That thin golden light? A mere prick of its needle-like mouth would shatter it effortlessly.
As Xiao Chen approached within ten feet, the Senior Sect Brother’s mouth exploded open, launching a razor-thin proboscis toward his throat.
Half an inch more, and Xiao Chen’s life would’ve ended.
Yet this time, the fragile-seeming golden light didn’t shatter like previous prey. The Ghost-Faced Spider froze, stunned.
(End of Chapter)
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