After winning the Heaven's Vault Secret Realm, Chongxuan Sheng used this opportunity to establish himself in Linzi, but he was still met with cold shoulders.
He seized the moment, persuading his uncle Chongxuan Chuliang to make a temporary trip to Nanyao City.
At great cost, he subdued Great Qi's fourteenth prince Jiang Wuyong, thereby declaring his strength and determination.
Since then, he had rarely tasted the bitterness of being turned away.
Even those who were at odds with him were unwilling to humiliate him to his face.
Moreover, having personally initiated the War of Extinguishing Yang, leading from the front and achieving great merit repeatedly, it was reasonable to say that no one in the court or the public would dare look down on him anymore.
But unexpectedly, Chongxuan Zun made his move, and the winds stirred in all directions. A simple, straightforward play of open chess—a genuine clash of forces—directly cut away the largest share of post-war benefits.
The Treasure Gathering Commerce Association's change of allegiance, in the eyes of those with insight, was an even stronger signal. A signal that Chongxuan Zun had taken notice and was about to end this tedious game.
Who was Chongxuan Zun?
For a very long time, he had been the undisputed heir of the prestigious Chongxuan family.
Before Chongxuan Sheng burst onto the scene, no one could challenge his position.
The top diviner Yu Beidou, known for his "Half a Lifetime of Divination," highly praised him, saying he had "Eclipsed the brilliance of an entire generation!"
In Great Qi, where prodigies were as numerous as clouds, what a lofty compliment this was!
Not to mention whether Yu Beidou had ulterior motives in his praise.
Simply in Linzi, how many arrogant sons of heaven were there? Who could stand to hear that title?
Yet after all these years, not a single person had managed to bring him down from his pedestal.
Some disdain competing for fame, some are displeased but unwilling to fall out with the Chongxuan family.
But everyone could not deny one fact: all the peers who had challenged Chongxuan Zun over the years had failed!
They might be displeased with him, but everyone had to take him seriously!
The stronger Chongxuan Zun was, the less favored his competitors were perceived to be.
Therefore, when Chongxuan Zun made such a forceful move this time, the entire network of connections that Chongxuan Sheng had painstakingly built in Linzi fell mostly silent.
Even the Treasure Gathering Commerce Association had swept him and Jiang Wang out the door.
It was foreseeable that Chongxuan Sheng would run into walls elsewhere.
With the wisdom of this fatty, he couldn't possibly be unaware of the situation.
So instead of offering sympathy, Jiang Wang even boasted: "Well, I had a great meal, visited Hongxiu Zhao, and drank Mist Maiden's Pipa! The City-Breaking Marquis's manor opened its doors to me, and I've arranged to go to Haitangchun with Li Longchuan next time!"
Chongxuan Sheng squeezed into his chair with a thud, faintly hearing a creak.
"This place can't be expensed!"
Jiang Wang shrugged: "No problem, I kept the receipt. Put it under your name."
Chongxuan Sheng looked at him for a while, as if seeing him in a new light: "Little Brother Jiang, you've grown quite fast! I'm even starting to suspect that when you gave gifts to Li Longchuan, you might have taken a kickback!"
Jiang Wang blushed slightly: "Old Matriarch Li did give me a meeting gift!"
Chongxuan Sheng was startled: "You even met the old matriarch of the Li family?"
"Testing the strings with Li Longchuan, I happened to run into her." As he spoke, Jiang Wang took out a jade box and handed it over: "Xu Xiangqian said this meeting gift was given to everyone, not an exception."
Chongxuan Sheng took the jade box and examined it, clicking his tongue in wonder: "This is Stone Gate Grass. The only one of its kind in the world, found only in Stone Gate Commandery! This grass grows only on stone, contending with the heavens. As the saying goes, 'Grass born at Stone Gate, toughest and most resilient'—it's an excellent spiritual medicine for body refinement and physique cultivation."
He handed it back as he spoke: "I won't open it to look, to avoid losing the medicinal essence. You need to use it as soon as possible."
"How do I use it?" Jiang Wang asked.
"Chew it raw!" Chongxuan Sheng said irritably.
Jiang Wang had been unfamiliar with it before, otherwise he wouldn't have let this opportunity to enhance his strength slip by.
He immediately opened the jade box in front of Chongxuan Sheng, took out the herb that looked like green jade, and stuffed it directly into his mouth. He bit it once, and the juice of the Stone Gate Grass flowed out, instantly dissolving completely, all of it flowing down his throat and then dispersing to his limbs and bones. Quickly, faint streams of strength began to emerge.
The process was extremely pleasant, his entire body feeling as if he were soaking in a bath.
Chongxuan Sheng said sourly: "Although it's given to everyone, that Xu Xiangqian studies under a renowned scholar and, like Li Zhengshu, hails from Qingya Academy, so his friendship with the Li family is naturally different. Old Matriarch Li giving you Stone Gate Grass shows how much she values you."
Jiang Wang couldn't be bothered to respond and carefully felt his body. After taking the Stone Gate Grass, his flesh and body, which hadn't improved since the completion of the Four-Spirit Body Refining Art, received about a half-level enhancement.
"I didn't realize you were so popular with the elderly! Before, that old monk from Hanging Temple was also desperate to take you as his disciple."
Chongxuan Sheng rambled: "Next time I'll take you to see my family's old man. You can just sweet-talk him into being happy and have him leave the family head position to me—save me the trouble of fighting so hard for it!"
Jiang Wang finished refining the Stone Gate Grass and said impatiently: "Are we going to talk business or not?"
"Sigh." Chongxuan Sheng suddenly lost his energy and slumped back into the chair: "Remember what you told me in Qingyang Town after the war ended?"
"You congratulated me on winning another bet."
Chongxuan Sheng said somewhat dejectedly: "At that time, I said it wasn't time to celebrate victory yet, but in my heart, I felt that defeating Chongxuan Zun was just a matter of time. I thought I had taken him seriously enough and never let my guard down."
"But now I understand—facing this person, not fearing him, not being afraid of him, is already underestimating him."
As Chongxuan Sheng spoke with his head hung low, Jiang Wang actually laughed: "What, are you going to resign and admit defeat?"
"I'm so fat—easy to get to the table, hard to get off."
Chongxuan Sheng murmured: "Now, I'm starting to fear him again, to be afraid of him again, so I'll face him with everything I've got, not daring to relax for a single moment!"
It had to be said, when this fatty got serious, he always had a kind of unexpected boldness.
Jiang Wang thought for a moment and said: "Li Longchuan accepted the Qiushan Bow, he was very satisfied with the gift and showed sincerity in wanting to be on good terms. However, I don't think he will take any direct action against Chongxuan Zun. No matter how heavy the gift, it can't buy that kind of friendship."
"He's satisfied, and that's enough!" Chongxuan Sheng said: "That's all I need. I don't need Li Longchuan to do anything, and I don't care whether he will or won't—let others worry about that!"
This "others," of course, referred to Chongxuan Zun.
But, giving such a heavy gift—was it merely to distract Chongxuan Zun's attention?
How could that be!
But since Chongxuan Sheng wanted to keep him in suspense, Jiang Wang let him be, only asking: "You've been out all day—you weren't just trying to get doors slammed in your face, were you?"
Chongxuan Sheng sneered again: "With Chongxuan Zun making such a big move, how could I not let him appreciate a fine result? How could I not give those people a chance to show their stance? Except for my big face, who else could take that much ash?"
"So, what are you going to do next?"
"Sleep!"
"Sleep?"
"After I wake up, I'm going to the palace!"
"To the palace?"
"Tomorrow, you're coming with me!"
Chongxuan Sheng struggled to his feet from the chair, dragging his obese body toward the door.
"In my Chongxuan family, brothers are friendly and respectful—His Majesty will surely be delighted!"