Qingyun Tower.
Qin Changsheng, controlling Hu Nan, arrived outside Qingyun Tower.
Every year, these fellow townsmen from Beihai County would gather at Qingyun Tower.
Qin Changsheng's main purpose here was to gather information.
He wanted to see if these people knew Lin Hao's whereabouts.
Qin Changsheng, controlling Hu Nan, went straight to the second floor. As soon as he pushed open the wooden door of the private room, the previously noisy room instantly quieted down.
All eyes turned to him, some with surprise, some with envy, and some with undisguised admiration.
"It's Senior Brother Hu!"
"Senior Brother Hu has arrived! Please, have a seat!"
"Senior Brother Hu, you are truly amazing!"
"Champion of the Heavenly Sword Sect Outer Sect Competition!"
Several enthusiastic shouts rang out, and many fellow townsmen quickly stepped forward, their faces beaming with genuine smiles, stepping aside to lead the way, their expressions full of respect.
These people were all fellow villagers from Beihai County. Although they occasionally interacted within the sect, they had never been so enthusiastic.
Qin Changsheng, controlling Hu Nan, nodded slightly: "Thank you for your concern, fellow villagers. I'm late."
"Not late at all! We are extremely honored that Senior Brother Hu could come!" a slightly plump cultivator said with a smile.
"Senior Brother Hu was the champion of last year's sect competition. He fought his way through the rounds, standing out from the outer disciples, and now he has even reached the tenth level of Qi Refining, only one step away from Foundation Establishment. Such talent and perseverance are truly something I can't wait for!"
These words immediately drew a chorus of agreement.
"Yes, yes! Senior Brother Hu is a prodigy from our Beihai Prefecture! Who would have thought that one day our prefecture would produce a sect competition champion!"
"More than a prodigy, he's the pride of Beihai Prefecture! With Senior Brother Hu here, we fellow Beihai Prefecture natives can hold our heads high in the Heavenly Sword Sect, no longer afraid of being looked down upon by disciples from other prefectures!"
The crowd chimed in, their tone full of praise and admiration, their gazes fixed on Hu Nan with envy.
Most of them were only at the fourth level of Qi Refining, some even still at the third level. They felt a mixture of admiration and a desire to curry favor with Hu Nan, a fellow townsman who had reached the tenth level of Qi Refining at such a young age and won the sect competition.
Qin Changsheng, controlling Hu Nan, calmly handled the crowd's fawning while subtly surveying the people in the private room. His face remained impassive, adorned with a gentle, humble smile, remaining silent and maintaining Hu Nan's carefully constructed persona.
He could clearly sense that most of their enthusiasm stemmed from his current status and cultivation level; in the cultivation world, strength ultimately reigned supreme.
Just then, his gaze paused slightly, landing on a figure in the corner of the private room.
It was Zhang Han, a fellow townsman from Beihai County. He rarely interacted with Hu Nan within the sect, but was always arrogant and looked down on Hu Nan's humble origins and inferior spiritual roots, never even deigning to glance at him in the past.
At this moment, Zhang Han sat alone at a table in the corner, his face ashen.
He looked up at Hu Nan, surrounded by the crowd, his eyes filled with jealousy, resentment, and a barely concealed humiliation.
He simply couldn't understand how Hu Nan, whom he had once trampled underfoot and looked down upon, could rise to become the sect's grand competition champion, reach the tenth level of Qi Refining, and be adored by so many fellow townsmen, becoming the pride of Beihai County.
Meanwhile, his own cultivation remained stuck at the fourth level of Qi Refining, making no progress whatsoever. Seeing Hu Nan's boundless glory, jealousy and resentment grew wildly in his heart, threatening to consume him.
The surrounding praise sounded like harsh mockery to Zhang Han; every word of praise for Hu Nan felt like a slap in his face.
Even Lin Yao, whom he had always fawned over, began to treat Hu Nan differently.
With Hu Nan's arrival, the hometown gathering officially began.
During the gathering, everyone toasted Hu Nan,
hoping that Hu Nan would take good care of them in the future.
After several rounds of drinks and dishes, the delicacies on the table were mostly devoured. Everyone's glasses were overflowing, and their faces were flushed with the effects of the alcohol. The initial restraint had vanished, replaced by a more casual and warm conversation.
During the meal, most people boasted about their recent cultivation progress or complained about the tediousness of sect missions, their words brimming with the everyday warmth of fellow cultivators.
Qin Changsheng listened for a while, seeing that everyone was engrossed in conversation, and then slowly spoke: "Fellow cultivators, after days of arduous cultivation, it's rare to have such an opportunity to gather. I wonder if anything interesting has happened in the sect lately? Tell me, it'll help relieve some boredom."
His words caused a brief silence in the private room, followed by an even more enthusiastic discussion. Everyone responded enthusiastically, each offering their own witty remarks about the interesting things that had happened in the sect.
The crowd chattered amongst themselves, sharing these amusing anecdotes.
Zhang Han snorted coldly and suddenly spoke, "What you're all saying is nothing but low-brow jokes. The truly 'interesting' thing is Lin Hao. A few days ago, someone saw him frantically buying up Rejuvenating Pills on the black market."
These words immediately caused an uproar in the private room. Everyone's faces were filled with shock and astonishment as they began to discuss among themselves.
"What? Senior Brother Lin Hao? Why would he go to the black market?"
"Yes! Senior Brother Lin Hao is the son of Elder Lin Zhentian. He has a noble status and abundant cultivation resources. If he wants Rejuvenating Pills, he can simply apply to the sect or ask Elder Lin to help him find them. Why would he need to buy them on the black market?"
"Rejuvenating Pills? Aren't those pills for repairing arms?"
"Senior Brother Lin Hao is the son of an elder. How could he not have those kinds of pills?"
The crowd discussed animatedly, their tone full of doubt and curiosity.
While Rejuvenating Pills are extremely precious, they are nothing to Lin Hao.
Far away in the outer courtyard, Qin Changsheng, upon hearing Lin Hao's words "Pulse-Regenerating Pill," immediately formed a meticulous plan in his mind, rapidly unfolding before him.
Lin Hao possessed Foundation-Consolidating Grass.
The Pulse-Regenerating Pill was a medicine for repairing arms. Lin Hao's frantic acquisition spree was no random act; he must be desperate to repair his arm but didn't want to make a scene, hence his clandestine purchases on the black market.
Qin Changsheng happened to have a Pulse-Regenerating Pill, one he had even stolen from Lin Hao.
If he were to sell this pill to Lin Hao, Lin Hao would naturally recognize it.
Qin Changsheng had long understood Lin Hao's temperament: arrogant, vindictive, and quick to seek revenge. Seeing his stolen pills, he would naturally retaliate.
Even if Hu Nan offered a high price, Lin Hao would still buy them.
After purchasing, Lin Hao would discover that the seller was only at the sixth level of Qi Refining. He would definitely seek revenge and secretly follow Hu Nan.
Finally, he would turn the tables and seize the treasure.
Lin Hao was confident of victory, believing that Hu Nan's low cultivation level would cause him to underestimate him and lower his guard.
While Lin Hao was robbing him, Qin Changsheng would launch a surprise attack and kill him.
Once Lin Hao was killed, the Foundation Establishment Grass, the mid-grade Foundation Establishment Pill, and possibly other treasures on his person would all belong to Qin Changsheng.
Qin Changsheng pondered this plan for a long time and found it very feasible.
Even if it failed, Qin Changsheng would only lose an avatar.
He only needs one spirit stone to summon this avatar again.
If successful, Qin Changsheng will obtain the Foundation Establishment Pill and the Foundation Condensation Grass.