"Well..." Jiang Chen spoke casually, "As an honorary guest, your responsibilities are minimal. I would only ask for your assistance in certain situations."
"However, since you're not interested, let's disregard my proposal and act as if I never mentioned it," he continued, shrugging indifferently. He had anticipated Lin Feng's refusal and held no real expectations.
Jiang Chen's continuous acts of kindness towards Lin Feng were intended to showcase his generosity and goodwill in Ning Xian's presence.
His strategy in dealing with Lin Feng involved positively influencing Ning Xian's opinion of him.
"Young Master Jiang, I need to discuss my cultivation with my master, so I can't continue this conversation," Lin Feng stated decisively, making his intentions clear.
At these words, Ning Xian and Qiu Liaoxi slightly frowned.
Considering Jiang Chen had just assisted the Vast Spirit House in resolving issues with the Di Clan, it appeared somewhat impolite to dismiss people so abruptly.
Nevertheless, before Ning Xian and Qiu Liaoxi could respond, Jiang Chen deftly managed the situation. He extracted a transmission jade token from his storage bracelet and placed it on the table. Smiling, he said, "In that case, I'll take my leave. Should you encounter any difficulties beyond your capability, use this transmission jade token to reach me."
Having said this, he bowed slightly, his hands clasped in front of him, and departed from the Vast Spirit House.
"Uh... sigh," Ning Xian murmured, releasing a soft sigh, feeling slightly discourteous.
Fortunately, Jiang Chen appeared understanding and seemingly unaffected by the situation.
At that moment, Qiu Liaoxi turned to her two disciples, her voice a blend of relief and anticipation, "With the Di Clan issue resolved, our Vast Spirit House can finally reopen the pharmacy."
"However, before that, Lin Feng, I have some alchemy manuals and cultivation techniques to share with you," she added, directing a warm, affectionate smile at Lin Feng. Her aged face lit up with genuine fondness.
Despite Lin Feng's somewhat abrupt behavior, she was forgiving and pleased that he had chosen not to return to the Starry Abyss Sect.
"Understood, Master!" Lin Feng responded eagerly. He quickly added, "Also, Master, I still need some spiritual plants to nurture my Dantian..."
"Right now, let's focus on the alchemy manuals," Qiu Liaoxi interjected gently.
"As for the spiritual plants, we'll have to wait until our supply channels are restored," she explained calmly.
"Alright." Lin Feng's enthusiasm diminished a bit, but he nodded in understanding.
...
Meanwhile, in a house with a courtyard not too distant, Jiang Chen lay back leisurely, extending his divine sense to observe Lin Feng, Ning Xian, and Qiu Liaoxi.
To monitor the Vast Spirit House effectively, he had acquired this residence. The seller had been pledged to secrecy, ensuring no information about his presence would be disclosed.
'Does Lin Feng still need spiritual plants?' Jiang Chen mused thoughtfully. 'His Dantian must have healed by now, so the purpose of these spiritual plants must be different, perhaps for self-enhancement!'
'Could it be that he's the kind of protagonist who gains strength by consuming spiritual plants directly, bypassing the need for concocted pills?'
'Hmm, the current shortage of spiritual plants at Vast Spirit House actually plays into my hands.'
'Yet, this also suggests that Lin Feng might venture out to find spiritual plants, potentially triggering other storylines and gaining significant advantages.' Jiang Chen pondered, his eyes shimmering with a contemplative light.
At that moment, he observed Qiu Liaoxi turning to enter a room, clearly ready to provide Lin Feng with alchemy manuals. Lin Feng followed her closely.
Simultaneously, Ning Xian glanced at the transmission jade token Jiang Chen had left on the table and picked it up.
'In case Master and I face severe challenges, having the support of the Jiang Clan could be crucial; I really should thank Jiang Chen...' Ning Xian thought, a hint of happiness appearing on her beautiful face.
Jiang Chen, observing this, felt a sense of satisfaction. His relationship with Ning Xian had just progressed further.
Just then, Lin Feng's voice suddenly echoed. "Ning Xian, come here. What are you doing?"
"Ah, nothing." Ning Xian turned around, shook her head, and walked towards him.
Upon seeing the transmission jade token in Ning Xian's hand, Lin Feng's expression turned displeased. He questioned, with a tone of concern, "Why did you take this transmission jade token from Jiang Chen? Don't you realize he's not as kind-hearted as you think? He must have a hidden agenda!"
He had long been determined to win Ning Xian's heart. Yet now, to his dismay, Ning Xian had actually accepted Jiang Chen's transmission jade token!
Ning Xian looked at Lin Feng, her brows furrowed in confusion. "I really can't understand why you're so hostile towards Jiang Chen."
"He offered you the chance to be an honorary guest of the Jiang Clan, a clearly advantageous proposal, yet you turned it down."
"Moreover, Jiang Chen helped us, but you rudely dismissed him." she added with a hint of frustration, "and now, I've merely accepted his transmission jade token to seek help when needed."
"Do you realize that my master and I are in a vulnerable situation, and any help is crucial?" Ning Xian exclaimed, clearly quite upset.
Seeing her reaction, Lin Feng grew visibly anxious. "Ning Xian, I can protect you as well; we don't need Jiang Chen's assistance!"
"He's up to no good; don't let him fool you! He knows about your exceptional background, and all of today's actions are likely planned to get close to you for his own gain."
"Think about it: the Red Sun Seven Flowers Pill is extremely rare. Isn't it too convenient that he had one and also a cousin suffering from Purple Extreme Yin Devouring Syndrome?" he argued passionately, "This can't be a coincidence; it's a carefully laid trap!"
Upon hearing Lin Feng's words, Ning Xian was visibly taken aback.
Meanwhile, not too far away, Jiang Chen subtly raised his eyebrows, thinking, 'Impressive, the protagonist really is a tough opponent. Just by piecing together a few clues, he's able to spot every little inconsistency.'
'The Red Sun Seven Flowers Pill is incredibly valuable, and even Qiu Liaoxi only possesses part of its formula. It's hard to believe that I would just happen to have one, when in truth, I obtained it through the System Mall.' he pondered inwardly, 'Moreover, Purple Extreme Yin Devouring Syndrome is extremely rare. The coincidence of both situations, both stemming from me, is indeed suspicious.'
'Thankfully, I've done well in covering my tracks. Don't disappoint me now, my astute Ning Xian.' Jiang Chen thought, stroking his chin, a faint smile forming at the corner of his mouth.
True to his expectations, after a brief moment of surprise, Ning Xian shook her head at Lin Feng, saying with a tone of reason, "Have you forgotten that Jiang Chen admitted to having a secret?"
"It's possible that he stumbled upon some luck and obtained various rare pills. The Red Sun Seven Flowers Pill might just be one of them, not something he specifically found knowing about Jiang Yuqian's condition."
"Furthermore, the Purple Extreme Yin Devouring Syndrome is extremely rare, and most alchemists can't diagnose it, as it's not mentioned in most alchemical texts." she explained thoughtfully, "only Master can accurately identify this disease in Autumn Glory City."
"Therefore, this isn't a scheme; it's simply a coincidence." Having made her point, Ning Xian turned and walked towards the room where Qiu Liaoxi was waiting.
"Ning Xian..." Lin Feng started to speak but found himself at a loss for words to refute her logic. He also noticed a fleeting look of disappointment in Ning Xian's eyes as she walked away.
On the other side, as the interaction between Lin Feng and Ning Xian concluded, a system notification resonated in Jiang Chen's mind.
[Ding! You have successfully reduced Ning Xian's favorable impression of Lin Feng, and you have earned 300 points of Villain Value!]
'Hehe, my Villain Value has now climbed to 1,500 points,' Jiang Chen thought, his lips curling into a slight smirk.
'Regrettably, I couldn't decrease Lin Feng's Heavenly Fate Value.' he reflected with a hint of determination, 'It seems I need to continue working on driving a wedge between Ning Xian and Lin Feng!'
At that moment, inside the Vast Spirit House, the door to the room shut, and a formation designed to block divine sense was swiftly activated.
Immediately, Jiang Chen's divine sense found itself obstructed, rendering him incapable of perceiving anything happening within the room.