Chapter 156: Rewards Provide the Real Motivation

Madam Xiao was not particularly worried that anything might happen to her daughter.

After careful consideration, she reasoned that if Chen Xiang was targeting Xiao Lin, her own cultivation level was far from enough to stop him. Moreover, the Sky-Sealing Sect was too far away to provide timely rescue.

She also believed that if Chen Xiang were lying to her, the Sky-Sealing Sect would certainly not let him off.

Having visited the Sky-Sealing Sect once, she had come to realize that her meager strength was like that of an ant before such a massive sect.

Leaving aside the Core Formation stage, the Sky-Sealing Sect possessed hundreds of cultivators in the Nascent Soul stage alone; she was utterly powerless to resist!

Without saying much more, Chen Xiang left the main hall in the company of Miss Xiao.

Madam Xiao’s expression flickered with uncertainty.

If she had any choice in the matter, she would never let Xiao Lin come into contact with Luo Tianming.

However, Luo Tianming’s combination of intimidation and coercion had placed immense pressure on her.

If she refused to hand over Xiao Lin, the Xiao family would be destroyed, and Xiao Lin would still end up in Luo Tianming’s grasp. If she complied, the Xiao family would be groomed into an immortal cultivation family, acting as a vassal to the Sky-Sealing Sect.

If Luo Tianming was truly dead, as Chen Xiang claimed, she would no longer care for power or prestige—she would immediately leave Liuxin City and find a small mountain village to live in seclusion.

Meanwhile, unable to refuse Miss Xiao’s kind hospitality, Chen Xiang joined her for breakfast.

"Young Master Chu, tomorrow is the Liuxin Literary Gathering. Is there anything you need to prepare?" Miss Xiao asked.

Without a second thought, Chen Xiang shook his head. "No."

"Oh," Miss Xiao acknowledged softly, lowering her head again to sip her soup in small, delicate mouthfuls.

A heavy silence followed.

Chen Xiang looked at Miss Xiao thoughtfully and fell into contemplation.

Her Ice Phoenix Physique was extraordinary. If she were to practice ice-attribute cultivation techniques, not only would she achieve twice the result with half the effort, but her power would also be immense.

However, this physique had a distinct flaw.

Upon reaching the age of eighteen, the primordial qi within her body would gradually dissipate, and the Ice Phoenix Physique would degrade, eventually turning into an ordinary Ice Spirit Physique, which merely granted a faster learning rate for ice-attribute techniques.

Consequently, the age of eighteen was also the time when that primordial qi was most easily harnessed.

During his last session of eavesdropping—cough, no, correction, while observing Elder Liu—he had "accidentally" overheard that Miss Xiao had only half a month left until her eighteenth birthday.

If she failed to begin cultivation by then, the primordial qi of the Ice Phoenix Physique would dissipate completely, and only through practicing ice-attribute techniques could this qi be successfully converted for her own use.

Pondering this, Chen Xiang looked at Miss Xiao and asked, "Miss Xiao, how much do you know about immortal cultivators?"

Hearing this, Miss Xiao widened her eyes in shock. A spoonful of soup went down the wrong pipe, and she began to cough violently.

"Cough, cough... cough..." Miss Xiao hurriedly patted her chest, coughing until tears welled in her eyes, yet her gaze was filled with dread.

Seeing her reaction, Chen Xiang knew at once that Miss Xiao was aware of certain affairs in the cultivation world and had likely been threatened by people from the Sky-Sealing Sect.

When she finally managed to catch her breath, she asked in a somewhat strained and unnatural tone, "Young Master Chu, why do you ask this? Could it be that you know something?"

Chen Xiang smiled faintly, offering no immediate explanation.

Since Luo Tianming was already dead, everything would now have to be decided by Madam Xiao.

Miss Xiao cast a suspicious glance at Chen Xiang. Seeing that he remained silent, she knew better than to press further.

After breakfast, Miss Xiao initially hoped to stroll around the city with Chen Xiang, but he bid her farewell, claiming he had matters to attend to.

Stepping out of the Xiao residence, Chen Xiang headed straight for the Tea Fragrance Pavilion.

Having already made a name for himself on this street, he was instantly recognized the moment he arrived.

"Look, isn't that Young Master Chu? The one who outperformed the six great talents at the Tea Fragrance Pavilion yesterday!"

"Young Master Chu? Where? Where?"

"Ah! Young Master Chu, please give me your autograph!"

"Young Master Chu, this humble one will be waiting for you tonight on the third floor, room C, of the Spring Pavilion!"

"Young Master Chu, don't go near that little fox! I'll be waiting for you in room A on the first floor of the Yihong Brothel—any position is fine!"

...

While some scholars looked at Chen Xiang as if he were an idol, a crowd of women swarmed toward him, pulling at his clothes from all directions, with the bolder ones openly throwing out invitations.

Startled by the chaotic scene, Chen Xiang silently executed a spell to create an invisible barrier separating himself from the crowd. Putting on an expression of someone struggling through a tight press, he pushed forward toward the Tea Fragrance Pavilion.

With great difficulty, he reached the entrance of the pavilion, followed by a large trailing mob. Ignoring them entirely, he bolted up the stairs.

Arriving outside the door of the Quiet Elegance Pavilion, Chen Xiang finally let out a breath of relief. "Fame is truly something else. Fortunately, I'm quick-witted and ran fast, otherwise my kidneys might not have survived!"

Scarcely had Chen Xiang finished speaking when a soft chuckle sounded from within. "Pfft, Young Master Chu is certainly amusing."

Smiling slightly, Chen Xiang pushed the door open and stepped inside.

As usual, with a casual wave of his hand, he erected a powerful soundproof restriction. However, today's barrier was vastly different from yesterday's—the restriction he set up now was countless times stronger!

This was because he was now a Earth-grade Spirit Array Master!

Seeing Chen Xiang display this capability, Li Hanwei’s expression shifted, and she praised admiringly, "Young Master Chu’s talent is truly astonishing. I previously thought your cultivation talent was peerless, but today I realize your talent in array formations is equally breathtaking!"

Although she had been surprised when Chen Xiang casually set up a restriction yesterday, it had merely been at the level of a Yellow-grade Spirit Array Master. As a profound practitioner at the Mysterious-grade Spirit Array Master level, she had been able to read it. Today, however, she could no longer decipher the techniques Chen Xiang used.

It was clear that he had made tremendous strides in the Dao of Arrays.

With a wicked grin, Chen Xiang said, "Hehe, I have another talent that is equally extraordinary. Would you like to try it? It will definitely exceed your expectations!"

Exceedingly delightful! Yes, absolutely!

Though Li Hanwei did not understand what Chen Xiang was implying, his expression alone told her it was nothing proper.

With a refined smile, she demurred, "I think I'll pass. I'm not particularly interested in such bizarre and unusual matters."

"Oh, come on, if you don't have the interest, it can always be cultivated! My little beauty, you should learn more from me. Look at me—I simply love doing unexpected things," Chen Xiang said with a straight face.

"Well, that is true, you certainly do unexpected things. For instance, the very moment I told you yesterday that Luo Tianming was at the City Lord's Mansion, you went and killed him that same night," Li Hanwei said with a serene smile.

She poured a cup of tea for Chen Xiang, looking thoroughly pleased.

Chen Xiang sat down lazily, picked up the cup, and took a sip. A bitter yet sweet fragrance lingered in his mouth.

"Fine tea!" Chen Xiang praised, setting the cup down before continuing, "Wasn't that because of what you mentioned yesterday? There has to be a reward to provide motivation! I tossed and turned all night, unable to shake the itch, so I simply couldn't resist dropping by the City Lord's Mansion for a stroll. Imagine my surprise when I bumped right into Luo Tianming, so I just casually killed him."

Li Hanwei furrowed her brow slightly and asked in confusion, "Reward? What reward? Why know nothing about this?"

"What the heck! My little beauty, has someone been controlling your mind? That won't do at all! Quick, let me examine your body to completely root out any hidden dangers!" With wide eyes, Chen Xiang stretched out a pair of wandering hands and lunged toward Li Hanwei.