Chapter 410

Chapter 410: Someone is Scheming

Under Liang Xun’s gaze, Wang Chen drank all the tea in his cup.

After setting down the empty cup, he said, “Senior Liang, I’m sorry.”

Liang Xun was momentarily stunned.

He had expected Wang Chen to refuse, but he never imagined the refusal would be so straightforward, without the slightest hesitation!

Liang Xun seriously suspected that Wang Chen did not understand the value of this opportunity.

Xuan Yuan was one of the nine veins of the West Sea Sect and was in the middle tier among them; even if a Meridian Disciple had the same cultivation level as an Entry Disciple, their path and future prospects were not comparable.

The difference in identity and status was equally significant!

As an outsider without a background, Wang Chen had set his sights on entering the nine veins, which was undoubtedly quite ambitious. However, receiving support and help from a Meridian Disciple would surely make it much easier.

If Wang Chen gained recognition from this Xuan Yuan disciple, he would have backing within the sect.

Liang Xun could not fathom why Wang Chen remained indifferent.

He could only attribute it to Wang Chen’s ignorance and felt the need to explain: “Junior Wang, you need to understand…”

“Senior Liang, I appreciate your goodwill.”

Wang Chen interrupted him, “But I have already promised Zuo Xiaomo. There is no reason to back out midway. A gentleman’s word stands firm; without trust, one cannot stand.”

Liang Xun was speechless.

Wang Chen almost pointed a finger at him and shouted, “Do you want me to be someone who is untrustworthy?”

The inner sect disciple watched in disbelief as Wang Chen stood up and left the private room, his fair face turning red.

Beside him, a young cultivator angrily scolded, “This boorish cultivator from the outer states really doesn’t know how to appreciate kindness!”

In the world of cultivation, a hierarchy based on region existed as well.

People from the Central State looked down on those from outer states. Cultivators from the Central State also disdained those from outer states, and the natives of Wailing City scorned outsiders like Wang Chen as mere brutes.

Yet, in reality, this cultivator only had the cultivation level of the eighth level of Qi Training and was just an Outer Sect Disciple.

In terms of status, he was not even a match for Wang Chen.

But his words betrayed no respect for Wang Chen, filled instead with contempt and disdain!

“Senior, will that be all?”

Another cultivator frowned and asked, “This person really has no regard for you!”

“Humph!”

Liang Xun snorted coldly, “Just wait and see; there will come a day when he regrets not seeking my help. At that time…”

He didn’t finish his sentence, but anyone could hear the ruthlessness underlying his words!

Back in the hall downstairs, Wang Chen did not dwell on the matter.

With someone like Liang Xun, you would encounter a few no matter where you went, and arguing with them would only hinder your cultivation. Aside from wasting time, it wouldn’t yield any gains.

The West Sea Sect had strict rules against private fights among disciples; even though Liang Xun was humiliated by Wang Chen, he did not dare confront him openly.

Of course, while it is easier to dodge a direct attack, hidden schemes are hard to guard against, and Wang Chen would not let his guard down.

It was simply a case of meeting force with force; he had come this far not by mere endurance and avoidance.

When others bullied him, if he didn’t fight back fiercely, he would only be seen as weak and incompetent, prompting them to take advantage further!

After Qiu Zhong’s House Ascension Banquet ended, Wang Chen returned to his usual cultivation routine.

However, every now and then, he would stay in Wailing City for a few days.

He cultivated the Su Yin Huan Zhen Hehe method with Xu Xinlan, purifying his own magical power while also helping her enhance her cultivation level.

Unlike the strong and independent Li Qingxi, Xu Xinlan was the type of woman who was extremely virtuous at heart.

Choosing to rely on Wang Chen, she entrusted all her heart and soul to him.

During his stay at the Xu family, Wang Chen truly enjoyed a life full of tenderness.

He woke up to ready meals and had someone to assist him in dressing and bathing, not to mention the sweet affection they shared in bed.

Wang Chen resisted the erosion of his will by this lifestyle with great determination, avoiding the trap of indulgence.

With the essence of the wood element produced in the mine, his cultivation grew swiftly.

The Preheaven Five Element Technique could earn him 1 experience point in just a day.

Breaking through to the third level of the Purple Palace was just around the corner!

As winter turned to spring, March arrived before he even realized it.

One day, while Wang Chen was cultivating at home, he suddenly received a message via Zuo Xiaomo’s flying sword.

The date for this year’s outer sect assessment was set for the first day of April, with the location still at the Nine Dragons underground palace.

Zuo Xiaomo informed Wang Chen in the letter that strange occurrences had taken place in the Nine Dragons underground palace, leading the sect to seal it off. Although it had now been unsealed, it remained very dangerous inside.

Thus, the sect decided to amend the assessment content and corresponding rules.

As for what the new rules would be, they had yet to be announced, and Zuo Xiaomo did not know either.

But he urged Wang Chen to prepare, as the date for the assessment was confirmed.

After reading the letter, Wang Chen replied to Zuo Xiaomo, stating that he would attend on time in his capacity as a guardian.

However, what Wang Chen didn’t expect was that right after he returned the flying sword, he received an order from the sect.

“Eradication of bandits?”

When Wang Chen followed the order to the Inner Sect Main Hall’s Sect Management Department, he was given a task by the sect’s clerk to eliminate a group of bandits roaming the border between Central State and Northern State!

Moreover, this was a special mission.

Sect disciples not only enjoyed the benefits of the sect, but also had to bear corresponding responsibilities and obligations.

Since he was assigned to complete this task, there was no room for him to refuse.

Unless he wanted to drop out of the inner sect.

Wang Chen did not refuse the task, but he was confused by its requirements: “Am I going to exterminate them alone?”

The sect’s clerk smiled and said, “If you want help, you can discuss it with the local besieger. The leader of this band of robbers has only reached the initial stage of the Purple Palace. If the sect sent two or three inner sect disciples there, that would be overestimating him.”

Wang Chen remained silent.

His intuition told him that this sudden task was definitely not as simple as it seemed.

In half a month, he was set to participate in the outer sect assessment as a guardian to help Zuo Xiaomo pass safely.

Receiving an Outgoing Assignment task at this moment felt too coincidental!

Wang Chen suspected someone was scheming.

Perhaps it was Liang Xun!

He had refused Liang Xun last time, and now the retaliation had come, timed perfectly!

Wang Chen tentatively asked, “I’m to be a guardian for the outer sect assessment on April 1. Can this task be postponed until after the assessment?”

“That’s impossible!”

The sect clerk decisively rejected, “The bandits endanger the area; we cannot delay even for a day. There are still half a month left, right? If you act quickly, you have plenty of time!”

Plenty of time?

Wang Chen secretly scoffed.

The hardest part of dealing with bandits was their erratic movements, making them hard to catch.

Moreover, traveling back and forth between the West Sea Sect and the Central State and Northern State would take considerable time.

This was a trap!