Cultivation: Immunity to Negative Effects

Chapter 277: Chapter 277: Plotting and Tools

In addition to seizing a micro-oasis, Zhang Chi also planned to gather the Star Divine Iron required to refine a Magical Treasure Flying Sword.

Furthermore, he intended to start collecting the various Tier Four Spiritual Objects needed to nurture the Heaven-Reaching Tree seed.

These things could not be found in the Great Abyss, but they certainly existed in the Endless Desert Sea.

Notably, the two Honored Guest Elders’ memories contained no information about the Celestial Repair Sect.

After all, their Cultivation was too low, making them relatively uninformed.

Of course, the Celestial Repair Sect might have been annihilated long ago, or perhaps it had relocated elsewhere.

Zhang Chi, however, was unconcerned, as he had no intention of joining the Celestial Repair Sect.

Of course, these were all long-term plans. For the moment, Zhang Chi had to prioritize restoring his Cultivation.

Once he did, he would regain the ability to command his Spirit Sword. Even when facing early-stage Nascent Soul True Monarchs, he would have little to fear.

After digesting this information, Zhang Chi took stock of his recent gains and couldn’t help but nod slightly upon finding them quite substantial.

"Have your Patriarch come here."

Zhang Chi then pulled back the carriage curtain and spoke to the mortal guard waiting outside for orders.

"Yes, Immortal Master."

The guard nodded respectfully and hurried off.

"I’m here, Senior. What can I do for you?" Soon, Shang Deyi came jogging over, looking both nervous and expectant.

"It’s nothing, I just wanted to inform you that these two Honored Guest Elders are dead. Have them taken away and dealt with. You should be able to handle the cleanup, shouldn’t you?" Zhang Chi said.

"Good riddance. Please rest assured, Senior, you can leave this matter to me. Those two Honored Guest Elders betrayed their master first—they deserved to die. The evidence against them is ironclad, and they have no powerful backing, so there won’t be any future trouble."

Only then did Shang Deyi notice that both Honored Guest Elders were dead, their faces a horrific sight, bleeding from their eyes, nose, and mouth.

This made him hold Zhang Chi in even greater awe.

However, he felt not an ounce of sympathy for the two Honored Guest Elders. In fact, he couldn’t have been happier to see them dead.

Before, he had even been a little worried that Zhang Chi might, for some unknown reason, leave these two Honored Guest Elders alive. Only now did he breathe a sigh of relief.

"That’s good."

Zhang Chi nodded slightly.

He didn’t care about two mere Qi Cultivation Cultivators, but as a newcomer, he wanted to avoid any unforeseen complications.

"Is there something else?"

Shang Deyi had the guards carry the Honored Guest Elders’ corpses away, but he himself remained. Though Zhang Chi had anticipated this, he feigned a frown and asked his question.

"Senior, forgive my boldness, but do you have a destination in mind? If not, I would like to invite you to become an Honored Guest Elder for our Shang Family. I can guarantee that we will offer you treatment befitting the Foundation Establishment Level."

Shang Deyi knew that an opportunity like this wouldn’t come again. Steeling himself, he voiced the thoughts he had been holding back.

"So you want me to help you keep the rest of your Shang Family in line?" Zhang Chi countered instead of answering.

"Yes. And not just members of the Shang Family, but also the Feng Family. The Feng Family is a Foundation Establishment Clan and has always been hostile to us. Our families were evenly matched in the past, but over the last century, the Feng Family has produced numerous talents. Now, they have five Foundation Establishment Cultivators."

"Our Shang Family used to have a Foundation Establishment Cultivator—my father. But he was plotted against by the Feng Family and killed during a Beast Tide. As a result..."

Shang Deyi immediately continued his story.

But the more he spoke, the more apprehensive he grew. Even he had to admit that the Feng Family was terrifyingly strong.

But if he didn’t lay everything bare now, the chances of Zhang Chi agreeing to become the Shang Family’s Honored Guest Elder would only dwindle once he found out the truth later.

Worse, it could even make the Shang Family another enemy.

"Is that all?"

In truth, Zhang Chi had already learned of the Shang Family’s general predicament from the memories of the two Honored Guest Elders, but he listened silently until Shang Deyi was finished before speaking.

At the same time, he noted that Shang Deyi was being rather candid—or perhaps just clever, knowing that one must be completely frank when asking for a favor.

He had even revealed the ugly truth that some of the Shang Family’s upper echelons had been bought by the Feng Family and were planning to turn their own clan into a vassal.

"Also... the competition for the Tier Two Spiritual Land, which is held once every thirty years, begins in three months. I hope, Senior, that you can help the Shang Family register and compete on our behalf," Shang Deyi added, forcing himself to say it.

He was already braced for rejection.

"I can do that," Zhang Chi replied with a casual nod, much to Shang Deyi’s surprise. "But I have two conditions."

’As far as he knew, the strongest members of both the Shang and Feng Families were no higher than the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage. The Feng Family also lacked any significant backing, being just an ordinary Foundation Establishment Clan.’

’So, naturally, he had nothing to fear.’

"Please state them, Senior!" Shang Deyi exclaimed, overjoyed.

"I require exclusive use of your family’s best Spiritual Vein, until the day I leave."

"Furthermore, we won’t be fighting for an ordinary Tier Two Spiritual Land. We’re going for a Super-Micro Oasis. And once we’ve won it, I’ll be the one to decide how the profits are divided," Zhang Chi continued.

’Zhang Chi needed an influence to serve as his puppet. Since he’d run into Shang Deyi, and the kid seemed sharp enough, using the Shang Family would be perfect.’

’A Super-Micro Oasis was a grade smaller than a micro-oasis, possessing only a Tier Two Spiritual Vein.’

’While an oasis of this level was insufficient for his ultimate needs, it would be a decent place to recover his Cultivation for the time being.’

’Besides, competing for a micro-oasis or an ordinary Tier Three Spiritual Land required a Golden Core Level influence.’

’The standard for a Golden Core-level clan was to have at least one Golden Core cultivator among its own members, or two Golden Core Honored Guest Elders from outside the family.’

’Zhang Chi himself was a Golden Core. With his Golden Core Demon Beast and Corpse Puppet, he could count as at least two Golden Core cultivators by the rules of the Desert Divine Palace.’

’However, there was one more prerequisite to compete for a Tier Three Spiritual Land or a micro-oasis: the participating Immortal Cultivation Influence must have successfully claimed a Tier Two Spiritual Land or Super-Micro Oasis in the last three consecutive competitions.’

’The Tier Two competition was held once every thirty years. The Shang Family had succeeded thirty and sixty years ago but failed ninety years ago.’

’Therefore, they needed one more victory.’

’Fortunately, the next Tier Two competition was in three months, and the Tier Three competition was in about a year, so for him, it wouldn’t delay his Cultivation at all.’

"This..."

Shang Deyi’s expression faltered.

’If Zhang Chi monopolized the Tier Two Spiritual Vein, then even if a Shang Family cultivator reached Foundation Establishment in the future, they would have to find another Spirit Vein Cave Mansion.’

’And letting Zhang Chi control the distribution of profits? That would make the Shang Family little more than his tool.’

’He had only wanted to borrow Zhang Chi’s strength to overcome their current crisis. But based on these terms, this wasn’t much different from becoming a vassal to the Feng Family.’

"Take your time and consider it. If you’re unwilling, I won’t force you. In fact, I’ll leave right now," Zhang Chi said with a faint smile.

’On the surface, the Shang Family would become his pawn, but in reality, they stood to gain immense benefits.’

’After all, he was going to seize a micro-oasis eventually. Even if he monopolized the Tier Three Spiritual Vein for himself, the remaining Tier One and Two Spiritual Veins would be more than enough to elevate the entire Shang Family to new heights.’

’The same went for the profits.’

’Micro-oases were typically vast, and their profits were immense.’

’Even if he took the lion’s share and the Shang Family only took a small cut for their manpower and efforts, it would still be far more lucrative than occupying an ordinary Tier Two Spiritual Land.’

’But he couldn’t be bothered to explain all this. Whether or not Shang Deyi could grasp this opportunity would depend on his own vision.’

’In any case, he now understood the local situation. He could easily find another partner; it would just be a slight waste of time.’

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