Recruit black physique to start practice in wasteland

Chapter 2560 (Part 1, Second Update)

Baiqiao remained completely unmoved by Hanli's taunts.

He said calmly, "It's easy for Qu Zhenzun to go beyond the realm, but his return is another story... Or do you hope he suffers a Pyrrhic victory first?"

As for the possible reaction after defeat, he didn't say, and there was no need to say.

Given Qu Zhenzun's pride, everyone could imagine the consequences—he couldn't possibly want to be seen in such a disheveled state.

"Tch," Han Li shook his head dismissively. Although he was willful, he had lived for over a thousand years.

How could he be so easily swayed by the other party's words? "You just hate that he's cut ties with Ling Yun and is no longer under your control, right?"

“You’re really wrong,” Baiqiao said seriously. “Lingyun has already gotten involved.”

"The Hundred Friends Alliance wanted to send someone to infiltrate this realm, but was stopped by the Realm Envoy... Did Ling Yun ask you for credit for doing all this?"

"Damn it," Han Li was furious because Ling Yun had abandoned all responsibility, and upon hearing this, she was stunned for a moment, "Really?"

Baiqiao rolled her eyes at him speechlessly, without saying a word, the meaning of which was clear: Would I dare to make up such a thing?

Qu Jianlei spoke up and asked, "When did this happen?"

A few years ago, that would have been one thing, but now it's a different story.

"The envoy's actions..." Baiqiao originally wanted to keep it a secret, but after glancing at Han Li, he changed his mind, "Not long ago."

Qu Jianlei pondered for a moment and then asked, "Does the other side have a Great Lord?"

“I don’t know,” Baiqiao shook his head. “There are some things I can’t hear about. What I can guarantee is that no lord can attack you!”

"Of course, it's only suitable for the area around the Houde Realm. Going to other cultivation worlds would be inappropriate... Hmm, the other party might have the methods of a Great Lord."

"The Great Ruler's methods," Han Li muttered, but there was no trace of fear in his voice.

On the contrary, there was a hint of indifference on his face.

Baiqiao pretended not to hear him and said to herself, "So don't think that I only know how to use others to do things."

Then his expression hardened. "Ling Yun has done a lot for everyone without you even knowing it."

“Lingyun is Lingyun, and you are you,” Han Li retorted, showing absolutely no politeness.

"If it weren't for the worry that Qu Zhenzun would leave Houde, you'd probably still be hiding in the shadows, secretly plotting something."

However, Baiqiao's mental fortitude was truly extraordinary; she remained unmoved by his words.

He simply stated, "As the person in charge of the sect's affairs, I should make comprehensive plans."

"I stepped in because I didn't want Qu Zhenzun to suffer because of poor communication... Am I the only one who doesn't want him to leave?"

Qu Jianlei remained silent, but Han Li couldn't help but snort, "In the end, isn't this all your doing?"

"The first fifth-order spiritual veins must be very cheap, right?" Baiqiao snorted, showing a hint of emotion.

"If you want to get something for nothing, you have to take on the corresponding risks. That's common sense, isn't it?"

These words silenced Han Li, who finally muttered, "This isn't even a risk, it's a huge pitfall..."

Baiqiao ignored him and looked at Qu Jianlei instead, saying, "You don't need to worry about the matter concerning the Great Khan."

"If you need Lingyun's help, that's fine, but we need to discuss the details of the cooperation."

"No need!" Qu Jianlei and Han Li said in unison: What a joke! We've already been schemed against like this, and you still want to cooperate?

After Baiqiao left, Hanli remarked, "It was actually the real person who came. It seems the pressure was considerable."

He acted very irritable just now, but these days, who lacks a bit of acting talent?
"I absolutely won't cooperate with this guy," Qu Jianlei said, also feeling a sense of unease. "Can't I just keep my eyes open and do something else?"

He doesn't admit he's not smart, but he feels he'll break down if he lives like that every day.

"And with me?" Han Li glanced at him sideways. "Want to cooperate?"

“Absolutely,” Qu Jianlei said seriously. “Don’t listen to his provocations. I definitely won’t go to the outside world without making a sound.”

"Baiqiao is such a cunning guy, he's trying to create conflict between us."

"Oh," Han Li nodded and said nothing more. "Then let's plan how to deal with them?"

"We need to set a goal first," Qu Jianlei said in a deep voice, "What is the purpose of this battle...?"

Seven or eight days later, a rumor suddenly broke out among the cultivators of Houde Realm: the Hundred Friends Alliance is looking for partners everywhere!
The business alliance has offered very favorable terms for cooperation, and it is said that some True Venerables are already interested!

The vast majority of the virtuous and venerable ones have been forced to state their positions, so the scope of "some venerable ones" is very small.

When Langmai Zhenzun heard this rumor, he was quite dismissive of it; such gossip was not enough to affect him.

In any case, he is a member of the True Venerable circle, and those rumors can only affect those at the Nascent Soul stage at most.

As a top-tier being in the Realm of Profound Virtue, even if a True Venerable did something, it would be enough to explain it clearly within the True Venerable's circle.

If they feel it's unnecessary, they don't need to give any explanation to lower-level cultivators.

Langmai had also heard about what happened a while ago, but he had no interest in getting involved. What did it have to do with Houde or Baiyou Business Alliance?

However, as time went on, the rumors intensified.

Lower-level cultivators dared not speak ill of the True Venerables, but intentionally or unintentionally, their criticisms were subtly directed at the True Venerable Langmai and others.

Ling Yun had already noticed this phenomenon, and the unworthy True Venerable had found Bai Qiao, suggesting that the sect should pay attention to the rumors.

However, Baiqiao knew what the other person was thinking, and he tactfully said, "If you hadn't told me, I really wouldn't have noticed this."

Upon hearing this, the unworthy True Venerable was immediately taken aback, "It wasn't you who arranged it?"

His statement was not only contradictory, but its underlying meaning was also quite hurtful.

Baiqiao almost lost his composure and forgot all about etiquette. His face darkened, "You lowly esteemed guest, do you think I have that much free time?"

With a brain like yours, you're incredibly lucky you didn't die from the ravages of time!

“I’m just a hint,” the Unworthy True Venerable said, not caring much, because he had other things to say. “If it’s not you, then who is it?”

"Oh, I get it!" What's wrong with Baiqiao's brain? He can grasp all sorts of crooked and unorthodox methods in a flash.

"Thank you for reminding me, Your Excellency. I will make arrangements for this. Some people do indeed lack a sense of morality."

Then, various rumors intensified, with some even claiming that a certain True Lord had set his sights on the position of worshipped by the Merchant Alliance.

The Merchant Alliance has a total of ten honorifics, and there is currently a vacancy in the "Upper Chapter," which needs to be filled.

Someone was eyeing the "previous chapter," but it's said that Zhao Yang, the patron of the Merchant Alliance, is very interested.

The previous chapter and Zhaoyang are both Heavenly Stems, one is ranked seventh and the other tenth, so being ranked higher is naturally better.

When Langmai Zhenzun heard this rumor, he was completely dumbfounded. "This is... I didn't even know the Merchant Alliance had ten retainers!"

If there are ten worshippers, it's not surprising that they would be ranked using the Heavenly Stems, but how could he possibly know that the previous chapter was missing?
Even Baiqiao was a little confused when he heard the rumor. "Where did this guy find out... that he searched the souls of those two great masters?"

Within the Baiyou Business Alliance, there is a lot of information that is not top secret, but no one in Houde really knows it.

However, this did not prevent Baiqiao from making arrangements accordingly, and this time the rumors were very clear, referring to Langmai Zhenzun!

Langmai's clone was furious upon learning the news and finally stopped leisurely watching the spectacle.

He immediately ordered his men to investigate: to find out where the rumor originated.

If he really couldn't find it, he would bring back some physical objects so he could personally perform divination and verification.

Although it was just a clone, he still possessed basic divination abilities.

At the very least, he could estimate whether someone was covering up the secrets of heaven—that would mean he was being targeted.

The Emperor gave the order, and the men below reacted with astonishing speed, capturing four prisoners alive in less than five days.

These four individuals were the main instigators, far exceeding the expected level of enthusiasm for gossip.

After reading the memories and doing some calculations, Langmai Zhenzun felt a chill run down his spine: It's all over!

The good news is that no one is hiding the truth; the bad news is that the information was released by the Lingyun Sect!
This is... worse than someone concealing the secrets of heaven!
The current situation is very clear: Ling Yun has someone who wants to deal with him—most likely, it's the sect's will!
Langmai Zhenzun...does have some hatred for society because he feels he is living a very miserable life.

Just as he told Han Li, he has always believed that he got to where he is today entirely due to his own efforts.

The problem is that even now that he's a True Venerable, he still suffers more than other True Venerables.

Why do other True Venerables have independent fifth-order spiritual veins, while he can only have half of a spiritual vein?

If he had an independent fifth-order spiritual vein, he could directly absorb it when breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage, which would reduce the pressure considerably.

If we can have two of these, then we can focus our main resources on overcoming distractions in other areas!
However, although Langmai Zhenzun was eccentric, he knew that he really couldn't afford to offend Lingyun Sect.

Now that he's being targeted by the sect, he feels a mix of emotions, mainly resentment and anger—what the hell did I do wrong?

As expected, the realm of virtue has never been kind to me; my previous understanding was absolutely correct!
However, although he was extreme, he was not mindless. After calming down, he thought about it and realized that it seemed that I was not the only True Venerable involved.
He had previously neglected this matter because he believed that it was most likely a scheme orchestrated by Han Li and Duo Bu Zhen Zun.

This organization is trying to use public opinion to hold him hostage, forcing him to back down under immense pressure, or to explode out of anger.

If he chooses the latter, the result is predictable—it gives the other party a reason to make a move.

So he initially chose to ignore it, and even felt a bit disdainful: such childish tricks, trying to play me?
Just like that saying, the tactic of manipulating public opinion is completely useless against the True Venerable.

But now, he was a little unsure: Could it be that Ling Yun had been planning and pushing this from the very beginning?