paranoianovel Chapter 157 Great Success
Chapter 157 Great Success
Chapter 157 Great Success
As the overlord of Lingxiao Prefecture, Xuan Yang Sect's every move attracts the attention of countless people.
Although the Ranking of Heroes is only a list of outer disciples, it is still the focus of attention for major forces, especially for those within Lingxiao City, as it presents them with an excellent investment opportunity.
If one can befriend the prodigies on the Wind and Cloud Ranking, and once they enter the inner sect or become true disciples, and rise to a high position in the future, then they will also rise with them, and their entire family will benefit from this.
Therefore, every change in the popularity rankings is immediately reported throughout Lingxiao City.
Wuyi Lane.
It was still that dark tower.
"Croak~"
A strange bird, resembling a crow but several times larger, flew in through the window and landed steadily on the counter on the first floor, leisurely preening its feathers.
The rat-faced masked man patted the strange bird's head, then placed a pill in his palm. The strange bird affectionately rubbed against the masked man's palm before taking bites of the pill.
After the strange bird finished eating the pill, the man with the rat-faced mask removed the bamboo tube tied to its leg and let the strange bird fly away.
Inside the bamboo tube was only a simple sheet of paper with the complete rankings from the popularity chart copied on it.
The man with the rat-faced mask sat in a wicker chair and began to read slowly and deliberately.
He only cares about the top ten on the popularity chart!
As for those ranked outside the top ten, they are just mediocre talents and not even worthy of his attention.
"Huh————"
When he saw Chu Xuan ranked ninth on the list, he couldn't help but let out a surprised sound.
The rankings have changed!
Chu Xuan unexpectedly dropped to ninth place, while Xiao Ran, who was previously ninth, was pushed down to tenth.
The man with the rat-faced mask immediately pulled out the rankings from the previous two periods and discovered that Chu Xuan had previously been ranked twenty-seventh, and further back—
No!
Someone who had never been on the list before suddenly made two leaps in ranking.
After reading the introduction of Chu Xuan's ninth-ranked position, he couldn't help but click his tongue.
The force reverses and attacks the true essence?
Although the specific details were not mentioned above, the fact that he was seriously injured by a sneak attack is enough to show that Chu Xuan is no ordinary person!
"Master, what's wrong?" the withered old man beside him couldn't help but ask.
"See for yourself!"
He handed the list to the old man.
After reading it, the old man couldn't help but sigh, "The Xuan Yang Sect truly has hidden talents! First there was that person who ambushed the Qian family, and now Chu Xuan has emerged! This person probably has a chance to become a true disciple!"
The man with the rat-faced mask laughed and said, "How can you be sure these two aren't the same person?"
"what?"
The gaunt old man was taken aback, then seemed to realize what was happening and said, "Sect Master, do you mean that Chu Xuan is the one who robbed the Qian family?"
Who knows?
The man with the rat-faced mask said indifferently.
Da da da~!
Just then, extremely faint footsteps sounded at the door.
A person shrouded in a black robe appeared at the entrance of Wuyi Alley and walked a few steps to the counter.
Not only was he dressed in all black and his face covered with a mask, but he also wore a black veil hat on his head.
Not only could they not see their faces clearly, they couldn't even tell if they were male or female.
"Does the customer want to buy or sell?"
"The man with the rat-faced mask asked."
"kill!"
The man in black spoke in a hoarse voice, "I'll offer 100,000 contribution points; please, Black Clothes Alley, kill someone!"
The man with the rat-faced mask paused slightly.
Wuyi Lane doesn't just do black market business; those are just side businesses.
Their main profession is assassination!
Of course, not just anyone is qualified to ask Wuyi Lane for help.
The rat-faced masked man said slowly, "I will remove my battle robes for you!"
The black-clad man opposite him also changed his expression, seemingly suppressing his nausea, and continued, "A warm night spent in a boudoir!"
The gaunt old man standing to the side immediately turned pale, wishing he could turn his head away.
He had been the manager of Wuyi Lane for decades and had never seen such an unreliable pavilion master!
What kind of words are these?
The rat-faced masked man let out a grotesque laugh and said, "Speak, who do you want to kill?"
"Chu Xuan, ranked ninth on the Xuan Yang Sect's Ranking!" the man in black robes said directly.
"Chu Xuan?"
The rat-faced masked man let out another eerie laugh. "You wouldn't happen to be the True Essence that Chu Xuan ambushed, would you?"
"That's my friend!"
The man in black robes said coldly, then added impatiently, "What, does Black Robe Alley now require identity checks before accepting missions? Are you accepting or not?"
The rat-faced masked man chuckled, took out the newly acquired Ranking List, pointed at it, and continued, "Chu Xuan is no ordinary ninth on the Ranking List. He has also mastered the Four Harmonies True Qi, which can injure True Yuan Realm cultivators. His future is limitless, and he may have the opportunity to become a giant of the Xuan Yang Sect in the future."
"What, are you scared of Wuyi Lane?" the man in black robes sneered.
"You've misunderstood!" the rat-faced masked man shook his head. "What I meant was—it costs extra!"
"Just tell me how much!" the man in black said coldly.
"One price, 300,000 contribution points!" the rat-faced masked man said calmly.
This price not only surprised the man in black robes, but also made the withered old man next to him grin.
300,000 contribution points!
Even killing a genius disciple from the inner sect of the Xuan Yang Sect wouldn't be worth this much!
"Are you all obsessed with money?" the man in black robes roared.
The rat-faced masked man said calmly, "I told you, Chu Xuan is no ordinary disciple! He has the potential to become a giant of the Xuan Yang Sect in the future!"
"Heh!" the man in black sneered. "Why don't you say that with his potential, he might become the sect leader of the Xuan Yang Sect in the future?"
"That makes sense!" the rat-faced masked man nodded. "Then add another 100,000!"
"Goodbye!"
After finishing his sentence, the man in black robes turned and left.
Once his figure disappeared, the gaunt old man couldn't help but ask, "Sect Master, why didn't you take this job? 100,000 contribution points is quite a lot!"
The masked man with the rat-like face turned his head and looked at the gaunt old man as if he were a fool: "We kill people in Black Robe Alley for money, not because we like to court death! Offending the Xuan Yang Sect now, are you trying to hasten your demise?"
The gaunt old man said, "He's just a disciple ranked ninth on the Wind and Cloud Ranking. Surely the Xuan Yang Sect wouldn't make such a fuss?"
"I told you, Chu Xuan is different!"
The man with the rat-faced mask shook his head and said, "Didn't you see how quickly he rose to power? The Xuan Yang Sect has been raising Gu for so many years, and they've created this Wind and Cloud Ranking. Do you think they're just there to be killed for fun?"
These are the Gu spawn they selected. If they were killed by an opponent of the same level, that would be one thing! But if we dare to make a move, we'll be cutting off their hopes! I'm afraid the entire Wuyi Lane will be leveled before the next day even arrives!
The Blood God Sect clearly knows this too. They've been fighting the Xuan Yang Sect for so many years, yet they haven't dared to openly provoke them. That's why they want to pass this hot potato to us—they've certainly made a clever plan!
He patted the withered old man on the shoulder. "Old Zhang, I think it would be more appropriate for us to switch positions. After all, you're more like the Pavilion Master!"
After saying that, he ignored the astonished, gaunt old man and turned to leave.
"What do you mean?"
The gaunt old man was completely bewildered.
What does it mean to be more like the Pavilion Master? Could it be that the Pavilion Master has had enough fun and wants to leave?
He was overjoyed, but then felt something was wrong. He muttered it to himself several times before finally realizing what was going on. His old face turned as black as the bottom of a pot!
Lingxiao City, the Dong family.
Although the Dong family is considered a mid-tier power among the second-rate forces in Lingxiao City, they still have a True Yuan expert in charge, which gives them the right to build a residence within the city.
The Dong family estate, covering more than 20 acres, was even more luxurious than the Qian family estate.
In a pavilion in the middle of the lake, Ye Zhiyi would occasionally toss fish food into the lake, attracting the koi carp around to scramble for it.
At this moment, however, she seemed somewhat absent-minded.
She has been in Lingxiao City for almost a year, but she has hardly ever left the Dong family's gate.
Jinxiu Pavilion is doing well; in less than a year, it has opened ten branches in Lingxiao City, and is very popular with the young ladies.
It's loved by wealthy women.
But all of this is no longer her concern; it's all being managed by a relative from the eldest branch of the Dong family.
Yes, she's been sidelined!
All of this was not her aunt Shi Yourong's original intention. In fact, her aunt treated her very well, almost like a biological daughter. However, her aunt was only the second wife, and her voice in the Dong family was very limited.
Fortunately, the Dong family did not mistreat her. At least she had no worries about food and clothing and was safe and sound. She didn't have to live in fear and anxiety like she did in Qingshan City, so it wasn't all a bad thing.
"Zhiyi, what are you thinking about so intently?"
Beside the stone table, two women of similar age were looking at her curiously.
A woman wore a plain-colored long dress, her hair was tied up in a low bun with a jade hairpin inserted, her makeup was light, her eyebrows and eyes were gentle, and her demeanor was quiet and dignified.
The other woman wore a light red short jacket with a light green skirt, her hair tied in two buns with pink silk ribbons, and she wore silver bells in her earrings. Her eyebrows and eyes were curved, and she smiled lively and cheerfully.
The one speaking was the quiet and dignified Jiang Shuyao. The other person was named Lin Wan'er.
Both of them were rare beauties, no less so than Ye Zhiyi. They were also from second-rate families in Lingxiao City and were among the few friends Ye Zhiyi had made after coming to Lingxiao City.
Lin Wan'er chuckled and teased, "If you ask me, Sister Zhiyi is thinking about her lover, isn't she?"
Ye Zhiyi smiled but didn't explain anything.
For Jiang Shuyao and Lin Guan'er, being born into a wealthy family was both their fortune and their tragedy.
The advantage is that they grow up in luxury and almost never have to worry about making a living.
The downside is that one cannot control one's own destiny.
If they have martial arts talent, their families will do everything they can to cultivate it. If they don't have martial arts talent, then there is only one outcome waiting for them: a marriage alliance.
By marrying off their children, the family can attract talented individuals.
Neither Jiang Shuyao nor Lin Wan'er possessed much talent in martial arts, and they had long known that they were destined to be used by their families for arranged marriages. Their only hope was that their marriage partners would be promising young men, not some powerful old man.
Therefore, when the three of them got together, they mostly talked about how great the geniuses of the Xuan Yang Sect were.
"What's wrong? Which genius is so fortunate to have caught Wan'er's eye?" Ye Zhiyi asked with a smile as she approached.
"Zhiyi, you're making fun of me again!"
Lin Wan'er blushed, then excitedly pulled Ye Zhiyi aside, saying, "Sister Zhiyi, look at the latest rankings of the Xuan Yang Sect! This Chu Xuan, who has only been a disciple for a year, is already ranked ninth on the rankings! I heard he's not even twenty years old yet!"
"Chu Xuan?"
Ye Zhiyi was taken aback.
Familiar memories seemed to be awakened at this moment.
She quickly picked up the list of famous figures and looked at it. The more she looked, the more she realized that the Chu Xuan described on it matched the old friend in her memory. It was just a pity that it did not indicate where Chu Xuan came from.
Jiang Shuyao sighed, "Those who can make it into the top ten of the Wind and Cloud Ranking are all true geniuses! If I could marry such a talented young man, even if it meant being used by my family for an alliance, I wouldn't have any regrets!"
Lin Wan'er nodded in deep agreement.
Unfortunately, it was just a dream for both of them.
Those geniuses who can make it into the top ten of the Wind and Cloud Ranking are sought after by the top forces in Lingxiao City. Their families are simply not even in the running.
Ye Zhiyi remained silent.
She naturally understood what it meant to be in the top ten of the popularity chart.
Ye Zhiyi gazed in the direction of the Xuan Yang Sect, muttering to herself, "Chu Xuan? Is it really you?"
"Miss!"
Just then, a maid rushed over, panting, and said, "Quick! Madam requests your presence! The master—want to see you!"
""
Homeowner?
Ye Zhiyi was somewhat surprised.
The head of the Dong family was naturally her uncle-in-law.
She had only met the other party once when she first arrived at the Dong family home, despite how long she had been there. Although he was very polite to her, the distance in his words and his condescending attitude were still unforgettable to her.
Ye Zhiyi seemed to understand something.
Soon, she followed the maid to a main hall.
Besides Aunt Shi Yourong, there was also a middle-aged man, who was none other than Dong Tianming, the head of the Dong family.
In addition, a man with a bruised and swollen face was kneeling at the door.
This man is the current owner of Jinxiu Pavilion, and seems to be the cousin of the eldest wife of the Dong family.
"Zhiyi's here! Come in quickly!"
When Shi Yourong saw Ye Zhiyi, she immediately stood up with a smile and waved to her.
"Greetings, Aunt and Uncle," Ye Zhiyi quickly greeted them.
"We're all family, no need to be so polite!" Dong Tianming laughed and waved his hand, his attitude incredibly amiable. "Zhiyi, I've been busy with family matters lately and haven't seen you much. I wonder if you're settling in comfortably?"
"Thank you for your concern, Uncle. Everything is fine," Ye Zhiyi replied cautiously.
Dong Tianming asked a few more questions, then inquired, "I heard from your aunt that when you were in Qingshan City, you recruited a retainer named Chu Xuan? Is that true?"
Ye Zhiyi nodded and said, "That is indeed the case, but it's not a recruitment. Young Master Chu and I are just cooperating, each learning from the other." He then laughed and said, "See? I told you Zhiyi had good judgment, didn't I? If it weren't for Zhiyi's support back then, Chu Xuan would probably still be in that small mountain village. How could he have soared to such heights now?"
"Zhiyi has done him a favor. With that relationship, even if our Dong family can't win him over, it shouldn't be a problem to befriend him."
"Yes, yes, Madam is right!"
Dong Tianming nodded with a smile.
He didn't press Ye Zhiyi for more information, and then said to the kneeling man, "You bastard! Hand over the things now!"
""
"yes!"
The middle-aged man hurriedly took out all the deed to Jinxiuge from his pocket and respectfully handed them to Ye Zhiyi. He said with a mournful face, "Miss Ye, I really didn't mean to steal your business. I was just worried that you might be deceived since you're new to the palace, so I helped you manage it."
All the shop deeds, account books, and the income from the past few months are here. I haven't dared to spend a single penny!
Ye Zhiyi didn't answer, but looked at Dong Tianming somewhat helplessly.
Dong Tianming laughed, "Zhiyi, it was my fault for neglecting management before. If your aunt hadn't mentioned it, I wouldn't have known that this scoundrel had robbed your shop. Don't worry, Jinxiuge is yours, and no one can take it away!"
Shi Yourong smiled and said, "Take it!"
"Thank you, Auntie Chou. Thank you, Auntie."
After an incense stick had burned, Ye Zhiyi walked out of the room and looked at the thick stack of shop deeds and gold notes in her hand, feeling as if she were in a dream.
Even after traveling thousands of miles away from Qingshan City, I still managed to benefit from the other party's influence.
Animal Park.
Zoo No. 9!
Bang~!
Chu Xuan slapped a second-tier alien beast, a wolf, that was charging towards him like a bowstring, sending it flying. The wolf died before it even hit the ground.
[Slayed a Tier 2 alien beast, Essence Value +121]
Chu Xuan turned to look at the "head butler," Zhang Cheng: "Anything else?"
"That's it!" Zhang Cheng shook his head, his face crestfallen. "Senior Brother Chu, it's really over! The quota of beasts you've killed is already enough for two years from now, and the warehouse is overflowing. If we keep killing, we simply won't be able to explain it to the sect!"
"What about the first-tier beasts?" Chu Xuan asked.
Stand still without picking.
Even the smallest mosquito leg is still meat!
"Even the first-tier beasts are gone!" Zhang Cheng revealed a smile that was more like a grimace. "Senior Brother Chu, we really can't kill any more!"
"If you keep killing, you might as well kill me too."
Chu Xuan looked at Li.
It seems like it might not be a bad idea!
"???" Zhang Cheng was immediately horrified.
What do you mean? What do you mean by this?
"Cough cough————"
Chu Xuan coughed lightly, "Just kidding! Never mind, you guys should deal with these beast corpses first."
After saying that, he immediately returned to his residence.
[Energy Value: 4637/10000]
【Eight Desolate Prison Suppression Force (45387/100000)】
"That seems like enough!"
Chu Xuan added all his essence points to the Eight Desolate Prison Suppressing Force.
In an instant, his inner strength surged dramatically.
A violent shockwave swept out from the center, causing the floor, tables, and chairs to creak and groan, trembling violently as if they were about to collapse at any moment.
The entire Earthly City was covered by a faint ring of invisible energy pressing down on it.
Within his meridians, the vital energy surged like thunder, circulating several times faster than before. His physical strength also increased steadily, and his bones emitted a fine, crackling sound.
Chu Xuan slowly opened his eyes, and the violent aura around him instantly dissipated.
Li slightly clenched his fist, his knuckles producing a crisp popping sound. There was no outward display of rage, only a sense of unrestrained composure.
A sense of control that makes things seem effortless.
Chu Xuan let out a long breath.
Finally, he mastered the Gang Jin technique.
If he were to encounter a true essence expert from the Blood God Cult again, even if he were no match for them, he would never be as powerless to resist as he was last time!
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