In the following days, Chu Xingchen frequently visited Qingfeng Sect whenever he had the chance.
He would drag Jiang Zhiming along to Elder Wang's quarters.
Sometimes he brought Chen Baiqing, other times Li Yingling.
Only Li Xingtian rarely joined, preferring to oversee the construction at the new sect site.
Lately, Chu Xingchen had been visiting even more often, as the approval process for the expensive materials needed for the grand hall had begun.
Elder Wang, faced with the occasional inclusion of outrageously costly building materials, wanted to reject them outright and verify the details first.
But standing before him was Chu Xingchen, staring intently, with Jiang Zhiming at his side offering persuasive words.
Especially when Jiang Zhiming uttered:
"The money belongs to the sect, but the goodwill is yours to keep."
Elder Wang gaped at Jiang Zhiming. Are you even a member of Qingfeng Sect?!
Using Qingfeng Sect's funds for Tianyan Sect's benefit, and calling it "your goodwill"?
That guy’s a prodigy from the Central Continent, while you’re just a Foundation Establishment cultivator—a temporary elder with no real backing. Do you really think you can befriend him?
Know your place! You used to avoid me, a mere Foundation Establishment disciple, and now you’re putting on airs?
Once he’s done here and returns to the Central Continent, you think you can follow him?!
Is this guy out of his mind?
But voicing these objections in front of Chu Xingchen was impossible, and Jiang Zhiming kept mindlessly urging him on.
With a heavy heart, Elder Wang marked the materials as approved.
Damn it all, the Sect Leader must have lost his mind, appointing these traitorous elders!
Suppressing his frustration, Elder Wang coldly said, "I have urgent matters to attend to. You two may leave."
He then stood up, intending to report the situation to the Sect Leader.
We need to get rid of this backstabbing fool immediately!
Chu Xingchen, satisfied with the approved list, clasped his hands toward Jiang Zhiming.
"Brother Jiang, thank you for speaking up for me. Elder Wang clearly wanted to make things difficult!"
Jiang Zhiming quickly returned the gesture. "Brother Chu, no need for thanks. True brothers stand together."
After all, the Sect Leader had already instructed him to keep Chu Xingchen from causing trouble—considering that a great achievement.
A few spirit stones shouldn’t be a big deal for the Sect Leader, right?
But shouldn’t and definitely won’t were two different things.
After exchanging a few more compliments about Jiang Zhiming’s loyalty, Chu Xingchen happily took his leave.
No sooner had Chu Xingchen and the amused Li Yingling departed than the Sect Leader summoned Jiang Zhiming for questioning.
Qingfeng Sect, Side Hall
The Sect Leader held the material list, his expression dark as he glared at Jiang Zhiming below.
"What is the meaning of this?!"
Jiang Zhiming glanced up and immediately sensed trouble.
Looks like the Sect Leader’s earlier words are about to be retracted.
He feigned ignorance. "Elder Wang approved this list. Shouldn’t you be asking him?"
"Did you not pressure him into signing?!"
"Sect Leader, I swear—if Elder Wang didn’t want to sign, how could I force him?!"
"Answer me—did you persuade him or not?!"
Jiang Zhiming put on a pitiful expression.
"Was I supposed to tell Elder Wang not to sign in front of that Tianyan Sect disciple?"
"You assigned me to maintain good relations with him to avoid trouble. Of course I had to say something favorable!"
The Sect Leader: "..."
That… does make some sense.
After a long, scrutinizing stare, the Sect Leader finally dismissed Jiang Zhiming. From recent observations, Jiang Zhiming had managed to build a decent rapport with the Tianyan Sect disciple.
Finding someone who could tolerate that troublemaker wasn’t easy—after all, just listening to him talk made the Sect Leader’s Golden Core tremble in rage.
Still, as Jiang Zhiming turned to leave, the Sect Leader added sternly:
"I’ll let it slide this time, but if this happens again, you are not to take his side!"
Jiang Zhiming hastily bowed in agreement before retreating from the hall.
Once outside, cold sweat drenched his back. The pride he once felt as a newly promoted elder vanished entirely.
Being an elder feels more like being a lackey…
Everyone outranks me. Everyone can step on me.
He sighed. But now that I’m on this path, I have to see it through.
Material approvals came in batches—only when the previous batch was nearly exhausted would the next be reviewed.
During the interim, Chu Xingchen’s visits dwindled. When he did drop by, it was usually just to share a drink with Jiang Zhiming.
On these occasions, Chu Xingchen would spin tales of being ostracized, of how hard life was as a disciple.
Jiang Zhiming, resonating deeply, would gaze at him with increasing sincerity.
Shared hardships, eloquent words, and Chu Xingchen’s refined demeanor made him utterly convincing.
Especially when Chu Xingchen, eyes brimming with emotion, declared:
"Meeting you was fate. Life’s joys are best shared with a brother like you."
How could anyone refuse such words?
But once materials ran low, Chu Xingchen returned in full force, determined not to miss the next approval cycle.
This time, he predictably cornered Elder Wang just as the elder prepared to review the new list.
Elder Wang’s face darkened as he scanned the bill.
Are these pillars made of gold? The tiles too?! Who dares submit this?!
If we build this, will Qingfeng Sect even have a treasury left?!
And judging by the quantities, this wasn’t a one-time expense.
Approving this would bankrupt the sect.
Absolutely not.
With a pained sigh, Elder Wang said, "Brother… these materials are beyond Qingfeng Sect’s means. Just these pillars alone—we can’t afford them."
Chu Xingchen said nothing, only fixing Elder Wang with an unblinking stare.
"Really impossible!" Elder Wang insisted, shooting a desperate look at Jiang Zhiming.
This isn’t like last time! I can’t sign this! You’re close with him—say something!
Jiang Zhiming kept his head down, studying his boots in silence.
You reported me to the Sect Leader, and now you want my help?
Brother Chu—crush him!
Elder Wang glared at the traitorous Jiang Zhiming, took a deep breath, and gritted his teeth.
"This list… is unacceptable!"
Chu Xingchen’s gaze sharpened, his Nascent Soul-level pressure bearing down on Elder Wang.
But the elder clenched his jaw, refusing to yield.
"Fine. Put it on credit," Chu Xingchen suddenly relented, withdrawing his aura. "Aside from Brother Jiang, no one in Qingfeng Sect knows how to act."
On credit?!
So you never planned to pay in the first place?!
But this wasn’t something Elder Wang could decide alone. "This… requires the Sect Leader’s approval—"
"What’s there to approve? Didn’t the Sect Leader order you to handle material reviews?"
"The amount is too large—"
Chu Xingchen snorted coldly, his voice icy.
"What kind of place is your Qingfeng Sect? Do you really think I’d stoop to swindling you out of such a paltry sum? You may have no shame, but our sect still values its reputation."
"Just send someone to collect the spirit stones from our sect whenever you please!"
As Elder Wang prepared to retort, he noticed Jiang Zhiming’s ambiguous gaze shifting toward him…
Was this… the Sect Leader’s approval?!
Fine. If anything goes wrong, I’ll just blame it on Jiang Zhiming’s meddling!
Suppressing his reluctance, Elder Wang finally signed off on the material expenses.
Chu Xingchen nodded in satisfaction.
Atop a peak in the newly established sect.
Zheng Xiaofeng stood behind a woman clad in white, his eyes lowered deferentially.
Xie Lingyu gazed at the bustling construction site below, a faint smile of contentment gracing her lips.
She murmured softly, "We’ll meet again across ninety thousand miles…"
Without hesitation, she turned and strode away, issuing a quiet command:
"Clean up their loose ends."
The sword at her waist unsheathed itself, transforming into a flying blade. Xie Lingyu mounted it and soared into the distance.
This time, Xie Lingyu of the Central Continent pays her respects!
Back at the sect’s construction site.
After Xie Lingyu’s departure, Chu Xingchen’s gaze drifted thoughtfully toward the peak where she had stood moments before.
She doesn’t know I’ve already reached the Nascent Soul stage, does she?
esick Sect? Well, at least it's considered a respectable orthodox sect. Wait a minute— What kind of vibe are you all giving off? Shouldn’t this be a love-struck, romance-obsessed sect? Why does everyone here sound more like demonic cultivators? "Master, today he’s getting married. This disciple wishes to descend the mountain and crash the wedding, then toy with him to death right in front of his wife..." "Elder, I only got into your sect through connections, so why won’t you teach me anything?" "Because I also became an elder through connections." Thankfully, Su Ji was just an outer sect labor disciple. Surely, nothing too crazy would— "Junior Brother, you’ve broken through to Qi Refining. Once you sever your useless spiritual root, you can officially become an outer sect disciple." "The Great Dao is merciless. Don’t let a worthless spiritual root waste your essence and spirit, hindering your cultivation." Is this really the Lovesick Sect? ... Three years later, Su Ji sat in the seat of the Lovesick Sect’s sect master, sighing with emotion. His rise to this position all started when his junior sister adamantly insisted on preserving his "spiritual root." "Mmm... Senior Brother, what’s our relationship now?" "Stop talking. Keep going." "By the way, that newly promoted top-tier sect—didn’t they come to buy our Love Beans?" "One top-grade spirit stone per Love Bean—is that really so expensive?" "I suspect they’ve eaten too many Love Beans." "Now they’re lovesick." Well, this really is the Lovesick Sect after all.
ine. During your journey, you save an abandoned baby girl and become her elder brother】 【You rely on each other, becoming each other's support】 【At the end of the simulation, you shield the now-grown girl with your life, sacrificing yourself to block numerous demonic cultivators. You die, and the light in the girl's eyes fades】 …… 【Second Simulation: You are transported to a world where steam and magic coexist】 【You immerse yourself in the study of magic, obsessed with its research. One day, while out, you encounter a half-blooded demon girl wandering the streets. You take her in as your student】 【You teach the demoness what it means to be human, show her the beauty of the world, and nurture her into a miracle that surpasses even the gods】 【At the end of the simulation, you die of old age in front of the nearly immortal demoness due to your mortal lifespan】 …… One simulation after another, one encounter after another. Xu Xi suddenly felt something was off: "Wait, you said you're coming to the real world to find me?"
s the Eldest Princess, renowned for her cold and aloof detachment, became the most docile of lambs, obeying his every command without question. But when the final move was played on the chessboard, as Gu Chenghan seized everything and ascended on the verge of apotheosis, that very Princess suddenly embraced him from behind, her tone carrying a dependence never heard before: "Wait... you haven't yet... commanded me to love you forever." Gu Chenghan froze abruptly. She... hadn't been hypnotized?! ... [The Eldest Princess's Diary] [When my soul was extracted, becoming the sole spectator outside my own shell] [At first, there was overwhelming fury, until I saw] [How he used my sword to effortlessly shatter my inescapable doom] [How he wielded my authority to eradicate fatal conspiracies I had never even detected] [Like a deity, he rescued me from the deep mire I was trapped in] [If not for those annoying vixens, he and I would be a match made in heaven] [I think I am ill, gravely ill] [My deity should belong to me alone] ... "Hypnosis? Oh, it succeeded, my dear Master." "Only this time, it's my turn to hypnotize you."
orn and Humiliation】【Forced Love】 In his past life, Lin Ran was betrayed and murdered by his girlfriend and family, while the yandere female aristocrat, who had treated him as a mere plaything, avenged him by doing in his enemies. Upon seeing the yandere female aristocrat lying in the same coffin, ready to die with him, Lin Ran realized how profoundly mistaken he had been. Reborn, he abandoned the fickle campus beauty and wholeheartedly embraced the yandere female aristocrat's arms. "Ran! If I dig out your eyes and turn them into a specimen, you'll only be able to look at me!" Lin Ran: "Darling, kiss me!" "Ran! If I break your legs, you won't run away anymore, right?" Lin Ran: "Love, hold me tight!" "Ran! If..." Lin Ran: "Hush now! Love me more!" Luo Yao: ... Seeing his scumbag dad: "Take him out!" Seeing his stepmother: "Get rid of her!" Seeing his brother: "Eliminate him!" Seeing his white moonlight: "Send that to Southeast Asia!"
