Chapter Forty-Eight: A Conspiracy with the Father-in-Law (Monthly Ticket)

"Once the competition concludes, I will naturally impart that secret technique to you. The sect's Heavenly Secret Spirit Stones will also be yours, of course."

"You really ought to finalize these matters in advance," Li Chengzhu said urgently. If something were to happen to you during the competition, who would I turn to then?

"Heh heh." Xiao Changchuan gave a sly chuckle. "You had best pray that I secure first place." With that, he turned away, ignoring Li Chengzhu, and walked inside alone.

*That old fox,* Li Chengzhu thought, gnashing his teeth. He certainly knew that Qiu Feng was with him, and he was likely plotting some sort of trap to set against Qiu Feng.

Inside the Commander's mansion, the two ladies had been waiting with bated breath, finally seeing Boss Li return.

Xiao Ying rushed out eagerly. Xiao Changchuan watched her with a smile, prepared to pull his daughter aside for a few final words of advice, only to watch her dash past him and dive straight into the arms of the man behind him. She inspected him from left to right, as if terrified he might be missing a limb.

Xiao Changchuan’s hand remained awkwardly outstretched, his mouth twitching.

Li Chengzhu, looking smug, embraced Xiao Ying and walked inside, casting a provocative, gloating look at Xiao Changchuan as he passed.

Gu Linglong nodded at Li Chengzhu with a gentle smile, though it was clear she had been just as anxious.

"Ahem." Xiao Changchuan coughed, stepped forward, and looked at his son-in-law and daughter with a solemn expression. "From now on, Xiao Ying is in your hands. If you dare to treat her poorly, I will hunt you to the ends of the earth to destroy you."

"Father!" Xiao Ying stomped her foot, acting like a spoiled child.

Li Chengzhu, however, remained unfazed. He nodded. "Rest assured, with me around, Xiao Ying won't lose so much as a single hair."

"That is for the best," Xiao Changchuan said, smiling with relief.

Li Chengzhu looked around. "If there is nothing else, Father-in-law, Ancestor, I shall take my leave."

"Go," Qiao Yanluo said, her eyes remaining closed.

"Very well." Li Chengzhu nodded, took his two wives by the hands, and marched out with his head held high, just as he had entered.

"Do not forget my final words," Xiao Changchuan’s voice echoed faintly behind him.

Li Chengzhu stumbled. *That wretched old father-in-law, does he really want me to play dirty against Qiu Feng?*

Watching his daughter and son-in-law walk out, Xiao Changchuan’s expression instantly turned calm. He turned back, bowed to Ye Zhiqiu and Qiao Yanluo, and said, "This disciple shall also take his leave." He then strode away.

"Changchuan," Qiao Yanluo called out.

Xiao Changchuan’s footsteps faltered, but he did not turn back.

"Do you still hate me?" Qiao Yanluo’s voice trembled slightly, and even Ye Zhiqiu’s expression grew heavy.

After a long silence, Xiao Changchuan sighed. "Time dulls all things. I can understand the decision you made hundreds of years ago now, which is why I once intended to marry Xiao Ying off to the Qitian Pavilion. Those in high positions have their own burdens. Had I truly married her off, perhaps she would have grown to hate me for centuries, just as I hated you."

"Sigh." Qiao Yanluo let out a heavy breath. "If not for the fact that you haven't let go of this knot in your heart for centuries, you wouldn't still be unable to ascend to immortality. That woman has already been an immortal for nearly two hundred years."

"Let the past be the past. Since I have decided to participate in this competition, I have naturally let go of everything," Xiao Changchuan said, his tone remaining flat.

"Have you decided to pass the position of Sect Master of the Joyous Union Sect to that boy?" Qiao Yanluo asked.

"Yes. Since I have decided to let go of everything, I no longer wish to concern myself with the affairs of the cultivation world."

"Is she part of the reason?"

Silence, for a long time.

Xiao Changchuan nodded slightly. "I admit, she is a small part of it. Perhaps in my subconscious, I have that intent. But the boy is truly a prodigy."

"That is good then," Qiao Yanluo nodded.

"Is there anything else, Master?" Xiao Changchuan still stood with his back to them.

"No, go." Qiao Yanluo waved her hand, an indescribable sense of loneliness in her tone.

"Understood." Xiao Changchuan said nothing more and strode out.

Only when his silhouette vanished from their sight did Qiao Yanluo sigh again. She turned to Ye Zhiqiu and asked, "Was the decision from six hundred years ago truly wrong?"

Ye Zhiqiu no longer wore his usual playful expression. "Let the past be the past. The fact that you allowed Xiao Ying to be with that boy shows that you, too, have let go."

"But Changchuan... he still hates me."

"Children have their own fortunes. There is no need to worry about them." Ye Zhiqiu put on a smile, lightly draping his arm over his wife’s shoulder and whispering into her ear, "If you are willing, we can have another one and raise him to be free and carefree."

"You have no sense of propriety," Qiao Yanluo said, swatting him.

Li Chengzhu returned to the inn with his two wives, lost in thought over Xiao Changchuan’s words.

Xiao Ying looked at Gu Linglong, then at Li Chengzhu, and finally gathered her courage. She walked up to Boss Li, took his hand, and looked up with wide eyes. "Zhuzi, don't be angry. I know I was wrong."

Li Chengzhu smiled faintly and pulled her into his arms. "I'm not angry. It's just that you should have told me earlier about the potential dangers this child might face."

"What’s wrong with the child?" Gu Linglong asked, alarmed.

"Let’s sit and talk." Li Chengzhu sat his wives on the bed and relayed everything Xiao Changchuan had told him.

Gu Linglong was shocked. "Fifty high-grade Heavenly Secret Spirit Stones? Isn't that too many?"

"They don't necessarily have to be high-grade," Xiao Ying spoke up weakly. "It's just that high-grade stones are the most effective."

"Can others be used?" Li Chengzhu asked, puzzled.

"Yes, but the effects might not be as good," Xiao Ying said, keeping her head low, terrified of her husband’s anger.

"What about Heavenly Secret God Stones?" Boss Li’s eyes flickered.

"God Stones?" Xiao Ying looked up. "I've never seen them. They say only the Heavenly Court Palace has them."

"If we only had a few God Stones, could they replace the equivalent number of Spirit Stones?" A thought bloomed in Li Chengzhu’s mind.

"They should be able to, and perhaps the effect would be even better."

"Zhuzi, you don't mean..." Gu Linglong stared at him in slight surprise.

"Yes," Li Chengzhu nodded. "That's what I'm thinking. For the child, we must provide the absolute best."

"Zhuzi, do you have God Stones?" Xiao Ying’s mouth hung open; those were things of legend.

"No," Li Chengzhu shook his head. "We'll talk about that later." He looked at Xiao Ying. "In the future, if you plan to do something, consult me. Even if you don't consult me beforehand, you must tell me afterward."

"I was wrong." Xiao Ying lowered her head. Gu Linglong sighed and pulled her into an embrace.

"I don't mean to blame you," Boss Li said, wiping his mouth. "But this concerns our child. If it’s as your father says, and the child has a congenital deficiency in the Five Elements, then we’re in big trouble."

"Yes." Xiao Ying nodded like a chick pecking at grain. "I will definitely tell you everything in the future."

"But I am curious," Boss Li said, a lecherous grin returning to his face. "Is that secret technique of your Joyous Union Sect really that infallible?"

"It only has a forty-percent success rate," Xiao Ying said, emboldened by the fact that her husband wasn't angry. "I was only trying it out that time. Even if I hadn't gotten pregnant, as a 'faded flower,' I didn't think the Qitian Pavilion would want me anymore anyway."

"Well, the Li family bloodline is clearly robust—to hit a forty-percent chance on the first try!" Boss Li beamed.

"Pah!" Gu Linglong spat lightly; this man’s skin was thicker than ever.

After some time, Li Chengzhu calmed down.

His father-in-law’s intent was clear: he wanted him to sabotage Qiu Feng. It seemed Qiu Feng’s strength was a genuine source of concern for him.

Only now did Boss Li understand what Qiu Feng had told him: "The real competition is ruthless." Indeed, any means could be used.

Did he really have to set a trap for Qiu Feng? Should he knock him unconscious or delay him on the night before his match?

With Li Chengzhu’s current cultivation and the speed of the Little Thing, setting a trap for Qiu Feng was trivial. He could just slip him a few drops of the Yin Immortal Powder and let him spend the night hugging a pillar.

After much thought, Boss Li decided to let nature take its course. Since his father-in-law hadn't been explicit, he would just play dumb.

While Li Chengzhu didn't mind using schemes to achieve his goals, he deeply disliked his father-in-law. Not for any other reason than his previous attempt to marry Xiao Ying off to the Qitian Pavilion.

The second round of the Great Ascension Stage Cultivator Competition began after a ten-day rest.

Li Chengzhu visited Qiu Feng’s room the night before and conspired with him for a long time. When he walked out, he was full of smiles.

He followed the massive crowd into the arena. After settling his two wives and asking Yuan Mu to watch over them, his first act was to observe the vast storage space.

The voice from before echoed in the arena once more: "The second round of the Immortal Envoy Selection: One-on-one matches are about to begin. All contestants, please proceed to your designated positions according to the numbers drawn. Rules: Any spell, artifact, flying sword, or immortal tool is permitted until the opponent is defeated. Malicious killing or attacking a contestant who has surrendered is strictly prohibited. Any contestant who feels unable to continue may present the guardian token provided to you. Presenting the token signifies your withdrawal from the competition. You may no longer attack or assist others in attacking; violators will be executed!"