Chapter 412 - 294: A Foolproof Plan? (2)

Chapter 412: Chapter 294: A Foolproof Plan? (2)

"If he were that easy to deal with, would the Huang Family need to hold this meeting?"

"Enough! No more arguing. The general plan has been decided." A pale hand emerged from beneath Huang the Ninth’s black robes.

Huang San gave him a long, hard look. "Lao Jiu, do you really think your plan will work?"

"I’m eighty percent certain! The remaining twenty percent hinges on whether we can get Tang Wen to participate in this trial."

A silence fell.

"Lao Jiu, does this mean the clan has to bleed even more?"

"Not blood. Bait!" Having lost his heartbeat, Huang the Ninth’s voice was always steady and calm.

"Bait? The more we offer, the more wary Tang Wen will become, I fear!"

Huang the Ninth glanced at the speaker. "First, we up the ante. Then, we invite all the other clans to contribute to a generous prize pool."

He had been planning this for some time. "As for assuaging Tang Wen’s cautious nature, I’ve already thought of that.

We’ll say that the young masters and heirs of the various clans are participating in this trial, making it an event of great significance.

Therefore, we will invite the major powers beforehand to inspect the trial zone deep underground.

And be sure to extend a special invitation to the White Tiger from the White Tiger Tribe, along with those women, to enter the underground of Ganshan City and inspect the area."

"That’s a good idea."

"Yes, with this, Tang Wen might just follow them down."

"Once he sees the environment of the Thunder Jade Mountain Range for himself and realizes we’re not lying, he’ll naturally join in. Then, it’ll all be up to Lao Jiu!"

Huang the Ninth removed his hat, revealing a bald head. His eyes, set in deeply sunken sockets, swept across the room. "I’ve been preparing for a very long time. I will ensure it’s a one-way trip for him!"

Tang Wen, regarded as a mortal threat by Ganshan City’s strongest Fourth Grade Clan, was still merely at the Seventh Grade.

At this moment, however, he wasn’t in Feng San Niang’s arms, enjoying a tender moment.

After settling Feng San Niang in his residence, he went to see Zhou Bing and Xia Qingge.

The three women together were a drama waiting to happen.

The atmosphere was awkward.

Unable to stand it, Tang Wen simply took his elixirs and went into seclusion to cultivate.

[Extraordinary Ability: Dark (Awakening Progress 79.33% → 79.61%)]

Half the night went by, during which he consumed an entire portion of Sixth Grade Dark Blood Marrow.

After what felt like an eternity of pain so intense he thought he would die, he had finally pushed his awakening progress forward by 0.28 percentage points.

’Whew! What a pitfall. This Perfect Extraordinary path really is a bottomless pit.’

Tang Wen lay on the ground.

The potency of a Sixth Grade Extraordinary Blood Marrow was considered top-tier.

Yet, even this top-tier potency was no longer having much of an effect on him.

And Fifth Grade Blood Marrow was exceedingly rare—something one could only stumble upon by chance, not actively seek out.

It wasn’t that Ganshan City was incapable of killing a Fifth Grade Exotic Beast.

Rather, killing a Fifth Grade Exotic Beast and extracting its Blood Marrow were two entirely different matters.

In a true life-and-death battle, trying to keep an opponent’s spinal marrow perfectly intact was a sure way to get yourself killed.

But if Tang Wen wanted to awaken his ability quickly, he really needed Fifth Grade Dark Blood Marrow.

’Where could he possibly find it?’

Subconsciously, his mind ran through the list of his female confidantes.

’Sister Bing and Xia Qingge are out of the question.’

’My senior sister Shui Yun doesn’t have any either.’

’That leaves only my newest flame—Feng San Niang, and my most powerful backer—the Hu Lan Saintess.’

So, fighting through his exhaustion, he pulled the Unity Mirror from his Void Stone and began a chat with the Saintess.

Meanwhile, Feng San Niang, hailed as Ganshan City’s greatest beauty, hadn’t gone to the room Tang Wen had arranged for her.

Instead, she had secretly slipped into the room Tang Wen usually occupied and was now lying on the bed he always slept in.

’Why isn’t he back yet?’

’Does he think I’m using him? Or... does he just not like me?’

’No, Feng San Niang, have some confidence! You’re the greatest beauty in Ganshan City!’

’No, my origins are humble... I come from the pleasure district. Will he look down on me for that?’

’Or is it because I’m Sixth Grade, and he feels he can’t handle me?’

For the first time, Feng San Niang regretted that her cultivation talent was too good.

’It’s alright. Wen Lang’s talent is even greater. He’s already on par with a Sixth Grade, and it won’t be long before he catches up. Besides, breaking through to Fifth Grade isn’t that easy!’

She tossed and turned, her thoughts only making her more and more restless.

Finally, she simply sprawled out on the bed in a fit of abandon, her limbs spread wide. ’I don’t care if he likes me or not, I’m not leaving. He already hugged me and kissed me in front of all the top figures in Ganshan City today. Whatever happens, I’m not leaving...’

That evening, Tang Wen returned, drenched in sweat.

Before he even reached the door, he could hear bursts of chatter and laughter from inside the room.

He paused, listening for a moment.

Shui Yun, Feng San Niang, Zhou Bing, and Xia Qingge were all there.

’Without a doubt, his senior sister Shui Yun must have arranged this little get-together.’

’Hmm, they’re all so reasonable and understanding, and they sound so harmonious right now... If I go in, I’m sure I won’t get beaten to a pulp, right?’

CREAK.

The door swung open with a soft sound, and Tang Wen walked in.

Four women, four pairs of eyes, all snapped toward him at once.

Xia Qingge’s eyes were filled with annoyance.

She honestly had no idea why she was even here.

’I should be out drinking with Hu Niannian right now!’

She tilted her head back, took a large swig of wine, and shot Tang Wen a glare.

Zhou Bing’s gaze was as gentle as water, brimming with endless affection.

Feng San Niang’s beautiful eyes, however, revealed a special gleam of surprise and delight; they were practically glowing.

Shui Yun, for her part, looked on with approval. ’Good job, Junior Brother! In just one night, you’ve made Lady Feng completely devoted to you.’

"Junior Brother, you just came out of your cultivation, so you probably haven’t heard yet."

"What is it?" Tang Wen was trying to figure out where to sit.

The four women were seated around a table that had seven or eight chairs in total.

’They’ve left spaces between each other. If I go over now, who do I sit next to?’

’Maybe it’s better if I just stand.’

Shui Yun spoke. "The president of the Commerce Association still recognizes Lady Feng’s status as heir. It was announced today that if Lady Feng places in the top three during this trial, she can become the vice president."

Though Tang Wen was inwardly puzzled, he nodded and looked at the alluring Feng San Niang, saying, "Third Lady is one of my women now. Senior Sister, you can just call her Third Lady."

Feng San Niang nodded eagerly. "Wen Lang is right. Senior Sister, please don’t be so formal."

She was much older than Shui Yun, but now that Tang Wen had acknowledged her status, she couldn’t afford to pay attention to anything else and readily called her "Senior Sister."

Xia Qingge secretly rolled her eyes at Tang Wen again, her expression clearly saying, ’Your women are having a meeting, so what am I doing here?’

Tang Wen chuckled. "Alright, if you can’t sit still, go find Twenty-one for a drink!"

"You should’ve said so earlier! Ladies, I’m taking my leave." Xia Qingge was gone like a gust of wind.

Shui Yun and Feng San Niang understood: This Miss Xia was one that their Junior Brother/Wen Lang hadn’t yet conquered.

With Xia Qingge gone, Tang Wen openly sat down between Zhou Bing and Feng San Niang.

Shui Yun had opened the conversation by talking about Feng San Niang’s status, and Tang Wen suddenly realized that his highly ambitious senior sister couldn’t care less about a trivial matter like who he sat next to.

In her eyes, Feng San Niang’s cultivation at the Peak of Sixth Grade made her a shoo-in for the Commerce Association’s vice presidency.

Feng San Niang’s devotion to her junior brother meant that in the future, her own—Shui Yun’s—power could also extend into the Commerce Association!

’Junior Brother really is capable.’

"What was the Huang Family’s reaction?"

A glint appeared in Shui Yun’s eyes. "They sent someone to discuss the underground trial. They proposed that all the clans contribute to a prize pool for the best-performing juniors. They also claimed the site is safe this time and that we should all inspect it together underground. They even said we should invite our friends from the White Tiger Race."

"Heh. So the Huang Family really is plotting against me," Tang Wen said as he took Zhou Bing’s hand, toying with her long, slender fingers.

Feng San Niang’s heart lurched when she heard this. She quickly grabbed his other hand. "Wen Lang, it’s all my fault you’ve offended the Huang Family!"

Tang Wen smiled. "It’s just a matter of one mountain not being big enough for two tigers."

Feng San Niang relaxed slightly. "Then you shouldn’t go to this trial."

Seeing the concern etched on her face, Tang Wen felt a sense of satisfaction. It seemed this woman he had brought back on a whim truly had feelings for him.

"There’s a saying: ’A thief can operate for a thousand days, but you can’t guard against one for a thousand days.’ The Huang Family wants my life, but they should first take a look and see if they even have the destiny to take it!"

"You’re still going?" Zhou Bing squeezed his hand in return.

"Don’t worry. I’ll only go down if I’m one hundred percent certain of my safety." He looked toward Shui Yun. "Have Master and the others stall them for a bit."

The Fifth Grade Thunder Division expert and the Fifth Grade Dark Blood Marrow promised by Hu Lan hadn’t arrived yet. There was no rush for the trial to begin.