Chapter 82 He doesn't know he's already at the Nascent Soul stage, right?
For the next few days, whenever Chu Xingchen was free, he would go to the Qingfeng Sect.
He would take Jiang Zhiming and head straight for Elder Wang.
Sometimes he would bring Chen Baiqing, other times Li Yingling.
Only Li Xingtian didn't like to come, preferring to stay at the new sect's site to supervise the work.
Especially recently, Chu Xingchen ran over even more diligently, because the approval for the expensive materials for the main hall had begun.
When faced with the occasional high-value building materials mixed in, Elder Wang wanted to reject them for approval and first confirm the situation.
But standing before him was a Chu Xingchen staring with a deep gaze, and a Jiang Zhiming persuading him from the side.
Especially Jiang Zhiming's one sentence:
"The money belongs to the sect, but the relationship is your own."
Elder Wang stared blankly at Jiang Zhiming. Aren't you a disciple of the Tianyan Sect?
Using the Qingfeng Sect's money to handle the Tianyan Sect's affairs, and you call the relationship your own?
She is a central region genius, while you are just a Foundation Establishment cultivator, an elder with no one backing you. Do you really think you can befriend her?
Don't you even look at what you're capable of. A Foundation Establishment disciple who used to have to make a detour when seeing me is now putting on airs.
Once she finishes her business and returns to the central region, can you really follow her back?!
Is there something wrong with this person's brain?
But he couldn't bring himself to say the words of rebuttal in front of Chu Xingchen, and Jiang Zhiming was mindlessly persuading him.
With a heavy expression, Elder Wang could only check the item on the list.
Damn it, the Sect Master's mind must have a problem. Why are the reception elders he finds all traitors?
Suppressing the pain in his heart after checking the materials, Elder Wang said coldly:
"I have important matters to attend to. You two may do as you please."
He then stood up, preparing to find the Sect Master to report the situation here.
Damn it, he had to get this traitor out of here quickly!
Chu Xingchen looked at the already-approved materials list with satisfaction and cupped his hands to Jiang Zhiming:
"Many thanks for your righteous words, Brother Jiang. Otherwise, this Elder Wang looks like he wanted to disgust me!"
Jiang Zhiming quickly cupped his hands in return: "Brother Chu, no need for more words. Being a brother is in the heart."
After all, the Sect Master had previously instructed him not to trouble Chu Xingchen needlessly, even if he had performed a great service.
It was just a few spirit stones. Surely the Sect Master wouldn't be so stingy.
But there was a difference between "surely" and "definitely."
Having obtained a satisfactory result, Chu Xingchen flattered Jiang Zhiming with a few words about his loyalty and righteousness, then patted his butt and left.
Just as Chu Xingchen left with Li Yingling, who had been watching the excitement.
The Sect Master then sent for Jiang Zhiming to be questioned.
In a side hall of the Qingfeng Sect.
The Qingfeng Sect's Sect Master held the materials list, his face as heavy as water, glaring fiercely at Jiang Zhiming below:
"What is the meaning of this list?!"
Jiang Zhiming looked up slightly at the Sect Master's expression and immediately sensed that things were not good.
He estimated that the Sect Master's previous words were going to be treated as fart.
He quickly feigned ignorance and deflected, saying: "This list was signed by Elder Wang. Shouldn't you be asking Elder Wang what this is about?"
"Weren't you beside him, bewitching him to sign?!"
"Sect Master! Heaven and earth can bear witness. Elder Wang didn't want to sign. Could I have possibly forced his hand to sign?!"
"I'm asking you, did you persuade him to sign or not?!"
Jiang Zhiming's face was aggrieved as he asked in a low voice:
"I couldn't very well persuade Elder Wang not to sign in front of that disciple of the Tianyan Sect, could I?!"
"Wasn't it you who entrusted me to build a good relationship with that disciple of the Tianyan Sect, to avoid her coming to cause trouble? In front of her, I have to say some pleasant words, don't I?"
Sect Master: "..."
Hearing that, it did make some sense.
After staring at Jiang Zhiming with a heavy expression for a while, the Sect Master finally dismissed him. After all, from recent observations, this Jiang Zhiming indeed had a good relationship with the disciple of the Tianyan Sect.
After staring at Jiang Zhiming with a heavy expression for a while, the Sect Master finally dismissed him. After all, from recent observations, this Jiang Zhiming indeed had a good relationship with the disciple of the Tianyan Sect.
A talent who could get along so well with that troublemaking disciple from the Tianyan Sect was probably not easy to find.
After all, just listening to him speak was enough to make his own Golden Core unstable.
However, just as he was about to leave, the Sect Master still opened his mouth to give a warning:
"Let today's matter be. In the future, when you encounter such things, you are not to help him anymore!"
Jiang Zhiming quickly cupped his hands, promised, and then withdrew from the side hall.
The moment he stepped out of the side hall, Jiang Zhiming was covered in a cold sweat. The exhilarating feeling of soaring to the position of elder in a single day was completely swept away.
Being an elder... why did it feel a bit like being a grandson?
Everyone was senior to him, and everyone could step on him?
Jiang Zhiming sighed. Once he was on this path, no matter how dark it was, he could only walk to the end.
Material approvals were done in batches. The next batch of materials would only be approved when the previous batch was almost used up.
During this period, Chu Xingchen came less frequently, making sporadic visits, sometimes just bringing a bottle of wine to share a few drinks with Jiang Zhiming.
At these times, Chu Xingchen would fabricate some stories about being ostracized and the difficulties of being a disciple.
This often resonated with Jiang Zhiming, and his gaze toward Chu Xingchen became increasingly sincere.
With similar life experiences, a pleasant way of speaking, and that air of a gentleman when talking about all things under heaven, he was truly convincing.
Especially when Chu Xingchen looked at him with sincere eyes and said with deep emotion:
"It is a pity we did not meet sooner. In life, nothing matters more than a great drink. I offer it all to you, Brother Jiang."
It was truly hard to refuse!
But when the materials were nearly depleted, Chu Xingchen would come even more frequently, deeply afraid of missing the material approval.
This time, as expected, he caught Elder Wang just as he was about to approve the materials.
Elder Wang looked at the bill before him with a heavy expression.
Damn it, were the pillars made of gold, or the tiles made of gold? How dare they let him approve such a bill?
After this is built, will the Qingfeng Sect's main hall even need to be built?!
And looking at the material quantities, this was probably not a one-time thing.
If it were really built to these specifications, the Qingfeng Sect damn well couldn't afford it.
There was no way he could approve this, no matter what.
Elder Wang sighed with a troubled expression:
"This brother... these materials, the Qingfeng Sect truly cannot afford them. Just these pillars alone are more than the Qingfeng Sect can bear."
Hearing this, Chu Xingchen said nothing, just looked at Elder Wang with a deep gaze.
"It really won't work!" Elder Wang said, his gaze turning to Jiang Zhiming at the side.
This list is not the same as the last one! Damn it, I really can't sign this. Aren't you on good terms with him? Hurry up and persuade him!
Jiang Zhiming looked down at his boots, saying nothing.
Damn it, you reported me to the Sect Master, and now you want my help?!
Brother Chu! Get him!
Elder Wang glanced at the traitorous Jiang Zhiming, took a deep breath, and gritted his teeth as he refused:
"This list... it really won't work!"
Hearing this, Chu Xingchen's gaze grew sharper, staring fixedly at Elder Wang as the pressure from his higher Nascent Soul Realm slowly descended.
But Elder Wang gritted his teeth, absolutely refusing to relent.
"Fine, let's just put it on my tab then," Chu Xingchen suddenly relented, retracting his pressure. "Besides Brother Jiang, not a single one of you in the Qingfeng Sect is sensible."
Put it on a tab?!
So you really weren't planning to pay it back before?!
But on this matter, Elder Wang truly did not dare to make the decision: "This matter... I must report it to the Sect Master..."
"What is there to report? Didn't the Sect Master order you to approve the materials?"
"The amount is too large..."
Chu Xingchen snorted coldly, his tone icy:
"What kind of thing is your Qingfeng Sect? Do you think I would renege on such a small sum of money? You may have no shame, but our sect does."
"When the time comes, just send anyone to our sect to collect the spirit stones!"
Just as Elder Wang was about to reply, he saw Jiang Zhiming give him a meaningful look...
Was this... the Sect Master's agreement?!
Forget it. If anything goes wrong, he'll just say it was Jiang Zhiming's doing!
Suppressing the pain, Elder Wang finally checked off this batch of materials.
Chu Xingchen nodded in satisfaction.
——————
On a peak of the new sect.
Zheng Xiaofeng stood behind a woman in white, his head bowed.
Xie Lingyu looked at the bustling construction site, a gratified smile appearing on her face.
She whispered softly, "Until we meet again in ninety thousand li..."
With that, she turned and left without hesitation, commanding at the same time:
"Clean up their loose ends for them."
The long sword at her waist left its sheath, transforming into a flying sword. Xie Lingyu departed upon it.
This time, Xie Lingyu of the Central Region pays her respects!
At the sect's construction site.
After Xie Lingyu departed upon her sword.
Chu Xingchen's gaze leisurely drifted toward the peak where Xie Lingyu had just been.
She doesn't know she's already at the Nascent Soul stage, right?
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