Burning Incense? . . .
Wan Zhenghao rose from his seat, his considerable girth swaying as he made his way out.
In matters of cunning and interpersonal relations, Boss Wan had a considerable advantage over Cha Eun Xiao. After all, he had been honing these skills for millennia. While Cha Eun Xiao may have stood as one of the most formidable figures among cultivators, his knowledge of worldly affairs remained rather limited.
Boss Wan's unease about lingering in the vicinity of Ling-Bao Hall added to his desire to depart.
Late that night, as Cha Eun Xiao concluded his preparations, he idly inquired about a matter that would prove to be rather perplexing.
"Wan, you've been the wealthiest man in the Land of Han-Yang for so many years. Why haven't you established your own security force? Why haven't you recruited high-level cultivators to serve under you? Your wealth surpasses that of entire kingdoms, and you could easily acquire more powerful allies."
Cha Eun Xiao was genuinely puzzled by this oversight.
A man of Wan Zhenghao's wealth and influence, who harbored a profound aversion to danger, should have employed a cadre of elite Sky Origin Stage guards. It was a simple matter of prudence. Given his stature, Wan Zhenghao should have been surrounded by formidable cultivators to ensure his safety.
Normally, someone as affluent and influential as him could easily amass a small army. Money possessed the capacity to sway nearly anyone, transcending boundaries and affiliations. The riches of Ling-Bao Hall were more than sufficient to attract such individuals.
Wan Zhenghao, however, appeared distinctly perturbed by this query. "Of course, I desired to do so. I'm not an imbecile. But Gu Jinglong was in charge... and he forbade me from acquiring my own guards. Whenever I tried to recruit one, he would promptly eliminate them."
Cha Eun Xiao found the situation increasingly baffling. "Over the years, you've held the distinction of being the wealthiest man in this realm. Surely, many individuals have attempted to relieve you of your wealth. What would you do if someone came to threaten you?"
Wan Zhenghao's face reddened, and he hesitated before responding, "Well... then..."
"What's the matter? Can't you explain?"
"I can explain," Wan Zhenghao stammered, "but it's just that... Gu told me that I was chosen by the gods. He said all I needed to do was burn some incense."
Cha Eun Xiao was taken aback by the unexpected response. "Burn incense? What sort of incense?"
He suddenly realized, "Ah, that's why I've observed you burning incense and offering obeisances at times. There was a purpose behind those actions?"
Wan Zhenghao cleared his throat and explained, "At the time, Gu informed me that I had been divinely chosen. I would have an everlasting life and wealth that would never diminish. He assured me that, no matter the adversity I faced, I only needed to burn the incense he provided, and all would be well. However, it could only be used in dire circumstances, as frivolous use would diminish the divine blessings I received. That's why I've been employing it in this manner. Money can resolve most issues, but in cases where financial means fall short, I would burn the incense. It has proven effective; when I've used it, those who posed a threat to me invariably met an untimely demise. Money can solve many problems, but the incense offers a unique solution when financial means prove insufficient."
"As the centuries passed, no one had ever dared to provoke Ling-Bao Hall. How do you think we have thrived in the Land of Han-Yang, even while refusing to support any of the kingdoms? Nobody could challenge us, for anyone who dared eventually met their demise. For years, even those who tangled with the Chaotic Storms could remain alive by swearing loyalty. But those who crossed paths with Ling-Bao Hall, they all perished. So when you decided to back the Kingdom of Chen, I was genuinely concerned. Though, I didn't dwell on it much at the time," Wan Zhenghao remarked.
Boss Wan reveled in his own history and sighed. "However, I have been burning incense in abundance recently, but it hasn't yielded any change. I wonder if Master Gu has been preoccupied lately, perhaps too busy to attend to our matters."
"Burning incense, huh? Hahahaha..." Cha Eun Xiao was taken aback, and then he erupted into laughter.
With his Dao Origin Stage prowess, Gu Jinlong could easily imbue items with a trace of his spiritual consciousness. Thus, if anyone interacted with those items, he could detect it. This was how Gu Jinlong had monitored Cha Eun Xiao through the space ring he had given him.
However, the notion of burning incense as a solution was rather peculiar.
As the wealthiest man in the Land of Han-Yang, Wan Zhenghao should have been adept at solving problems with his riches. Yet, he resorted to incense and believed he had been chosen by the gods, which left Cha Eun Xiao in disbelief.
"What in the world? A rotund fellow chosen by the gods? That's absurd!"
Cha Eun Xiao finally had answers to his longstanding questions. He realized that burning incense was how Wan Zhenghao had navigated perilous situations. It made sense, considering Gu Jinlong's formidable abilities, he could easily eliminate any threat to Ling-Bao Hall.
"Incense burning... Damn it! Gu Jinlong seems to have considered himself a god," Cha Eun Xiao laughed and expressed his disbelief. "This is unbelievable!"
Wan Zhenghao blushed and finally recognized that Gu Jinlong was not the enigmatic and transcendent being he had perceived him to be. He was no longer capable of answering Wan Zhenghao's requests; he had vanished from the world and even his soul had been absorbed by the Egg.
The incense-burning experience had become a subject of humor for Cha Eun Xiao.
Feng Monarch pondered, "These days have been quite depressing, and thank goodness for this amusing anecdote. It's the only respite I have. Until this chaos subsides, I'll cherish this joke."
Amidst all this, Boss Wan was mortified.
Upon hearing that the five clans had arrived, he eagerly wished to depart, eager to escape this awkward situation. The five clans had unwittingly provided him with a means of escape, even though it was a peculiar thought..