Dan God Inheritance! . . .
In Oracle District, under the unwavering support of Li Yunxuan, Cha Clan had emerged as the auxiliary force of Misty Cloud Palace.
This meant that all forces allied with Misty Cloud Palace, including those involved in Regeneration Lotus trade, would need to collaborate with Cha Clan. All medicinal resources collected were to be transferred to Cha Clan, and Cha Clan would receive cultivation resources from Misty Cloud Palace as a central hub.
In essence, local forces now operated under Cha Clan's leadership.
Zhan Yunfei, representing Cold Moon Palace, played a pivotal role in this transformation. He meticulously compiled a list of the spiritual herbs required by Cold Moon Palace and negotiated a fair arrangement with Cha Clan.
As a result, the formerly second-rate Cha Clan had now become the focal point, enjoying newfound prestige and authority.
But that wasn't the end of the surprises. Misty Cloud Palace decided to establish a field base within Cha Clan to enhance operational efficiency.
For those in the know, it was evident that Misty Cloud Palace was extending unparalleled protection to Cha Clan.
Even if Qiong-Hua Palace harbored intentions to strike against Cha Clan, they would find it nearly impossible, short of Misty Cloud Palace's collapse.
The actions of Misty Cloud Palace were explicitly designed to safeguard Cha Clan at every turn.
The local forces in Oracle District grew increasingly envious of Cha Clan's newfound privilege.
Cha Clan's recent good fortune seemed unstoppable.
While the exact motives of Misty Cloud Palace remained a mystery, it was evident that Cha Xiao held a prominent position within Cold Moon Palace. In fact, according to what was known about the three elderly men, Cha Xiao could be the most prominent figure in the highest position.
The most prominent figure!
Cha Xiao had toiled tirelessly in recent times, and now that his father had taken charge of Cha Clan, it was vital to enhance the clan.
Boundless Space was stocked with a multitude of Dan Beads, and the opportunity to utilize them was at hand. It would be a waste not to take full advantage of these resources.
Cha Eun Xiao embarked on a mission to distribute a portion of the precious dan beads to his fellow clan members. As he handed over the dan beads, he took the opportunity to inform them that these treasures had been generously bestowed upon them by his sect, the Cold Moon Palace.
Regrettably, the individuals in the clan lacked the knowledge to identify the significance of these extraordinary dan beads. Their trust was unwavering, and they accepted Cha Eun Xiao's explanations without question. Whenever he would fabricate stories about the beads, Zhan Yunfei and Zhu Jiutian would readily affirm his claims, all the while gazing longingly at the dan beads. They would say, "Indeed, we possess numerous dan beads of this caliber, although these are merely standard ones."
The Cha Clan placed their faith in Cha Eun Xiao's words, believing it reasonable for him to procure dan beads from the sect to support his own family. Moreover, he held a prominent position as the successor to the grand elders of the Cold Moon Palace.
Little did the Cha Clan members know how Zhan Yunfei and Zhu Jiutian truly felt. These two cultivators possessed keen insight and were far from ignorant. They couldn't precisely gauge the dan beads' level, but they were well aware of their exceptional quality. They watched as Cha Eun Xiao gave away these valuable dan beads, far surpassing their recognition, under the guise of them originating from the Cold Moon Palace.
They didn't receive a single dan bead and were compelled to assist Cha Eun Xiao in his deceit. While they suppressed their desires, they reluctantly commented, "These are nothing special; we have an abundance of them."
Inwardly, their thoughts were quite different. They shouted, "Plenty? More like we have none!" They harbored no doubts about the high value of Cha Eun Xiao's dan beads, particularly since they knew the secret behind the extension of the lives of the three grand elders. Cha Eun Xiao possessed Life Origin Dan, a rarity unseen in the Qing-Yun Realm for centuries, which indicated the possibility of having other high-level dan beads.
The dan beads distributed by Cha Eun Xiao were of incredibly high quality but were merely standard dan beads. While they held great potential for low-level cultivators, they offered no significant benefits to top-level cultivators like Zhan Yunfei and Zhu Jiutian.
Had they recognized the dan beads as the legendary Supreme Dan, they would have eagerly taken some to their sect for further study. However, with Cha Eun Xiao's presence, the Cold Moon Palace might no longer require a dan-maker, as he had proven to be a supreme dan master.
Over the next few days, Cha Eun Xiao continued to distribute the dan beads, significantly bolstering the Cha Clan's strength. He possessed the insight to discern the weaknesses of individuals at a glance, enabling him to provide them with precisely the dan beads they needed. After consuming these dan beads, individuals experienced remarkable improvements.
Additionally, Cha Eun Xiao selected a group of young disciples for intensive training. By bestowing them with his dan beads, they exhibited extraordinary progress, surprising even Zhan Yunfei and Zhu Jiutian. These youngsters had initially been considered ordinary, even inferior, in the context of the Cold Moon Palace. However, after Cha Eun Xiao's intervention, they transformed into highly talented cultivators.
Their bodies became somewhat transparent, as if they had been refined by the heavens and the earth. Wherever they went, spiritual energy flowed into their bodies automatically. Zhan Yunfei and Zhu Jiutian were rendered speechless by these extraordinary developments.
Cha Eun Xiao's actions left them pondering the extent of his hidden knowledge. They approached him to seek answers, their expressions intense with curiosity.
"Tell us everything!" Zhan Yunfei demanded, his hand striking the table emphatically, as if Cha Eun Xiao held the key to unraveling the mysteries that perplexed them.
"What do you mean, 'what is going on?'" Cha Eun Xiao responded with a perplexed look, seemingly unaware of the depths of their inquiries.
Cha Eun Xiao's evasiveness regarding the true nature of the dan beads had pushed Zhan Yunfei to the brink of frustration. The value of these dan beads was undeniable, and some of them were so rare that Zhan Yunfei had never even heard of them, let alone seen them. He was willing to support Cha Eun Xiao's ruse, but the feelings of envy and sickness were hard to ignore. He implored, "Just tell us what those dan beads are! They are unbelievably valuable, and I haven't even seen some of them. It's fine that you need me to cover your lie, but I feel sick and jealous. Please, don't keep us in the dark..."
Cha Eun Xiao nonchalantly responded, "Oh, you mean the dan beads? I thought it was something serious..."
Zhan Yunfei and Zhu Jiutian were incensed at Cha Eun Xiao's apparent nonchalance.
[The Cold Moon Palace has existed for ten thousand years, and we have never possessed such dan beads! These are super powerful dan beads, and you just gave away hundreds of them without thinking it's a big deal?]
[Our hearts ache, our muscles cringe, and our livers squirm! We're reluctant!]
[Are you seriously suggesting that these incredibly precious dan beads are insignificant to you? You can't be this arrogant, can you?]
"What kind of serious thing is it?" Cha Eun Xiao feigned innocence, as if he had no idea what they were talking about. "Those dan beads are just normal, not particularly valuable."
Zhan Yunfei and Zhu Jiutian were left speechless, uncertain of how to respond.
[These dan beads may not have significant effects, but they're of an incredibly high level, right?]
[At the very least, they're at a level neither of us has ever heard of!]
After exchanging a long glance, they finally sighed, feeling utterly bewildered.
Some time later, Zhan Yunfei admitted, "Okay, fine. Those dan beads are actually quite good..."
"Quite good?" Cha Eun Xiao widened his eyes and feigned surprise. "How? Bone Ablutionary Dan, Pei-Yuan Dan, Spirit Gathering Dan, Mai Ablution Dan, Limit Breaking Dan... They are all low-grade dan! We have a dan-maker in the sect who can produce more than you could ever want. I'm just giving away a small portion. Please, no more joking. If you want to flatter me, find more convincing words. Your jests aren't funny."
Zhan Yunfei sighed, realizing that Cha Eun Xiao might be genuinely unaware of the disparity. "I'm not trying to flatter you or make jokes. While our dan-maker can produce the same types of dan you mentioned, the dan beads he makes don't even compare to the ones you've distributed..."
He paused before making a straightforward comparison. "Your dan beads are like gold, while his are like rocks—no, even worse than rocks."
Cha Eun Xiao pretended to be shocked. "What?"
Zhan Yunfei had to accept that Cha Eun Xiao truly didn't understand the extent of the disparity. He gave up on the analogy and asked, "I know that extending the lives of the three elders was your doing. I also know that you were previously focused on studying the art of dan in an influential sect known for its valuable dan beads. However, it's still hard to believe that you can create such precious things. Where did you get those dan beads?"
Cha Eun Xiao's eyes lit up at Zhan Yunfei's words. "The Life Origin Dan beads I gave to my three masters were extraordinary! They were top-tier dan beads. I acquired those heavenly-level dan beads from my origin sect. My skills aren't yet at the level to create such dan beads. As for the dan beads I gave to my people, that's a long story..."
Zhan Yunfei and Zhu Jiutian were perplexed. They wanted to know more.
"When I left the sect, I continued southward and inadvertently entered a large mountain," Cha Eun Xiao began.
"What mountain?" the two brothers inquired.
"It was a peculiar mountain. While traversing it, I slipped and fell down a vertical cliff."
He was recounting a real incident.
Zhan Yunfei and Zhu Jiutian were puzzled.
The story Cha Eun Xiao was telling was about his discovery of Li Wuliang. It was a true account, not a fabrication. Yet, even Li Wuliang, who had been living at the base of the cliff for years, hadn't discovered the sharp and strange cliff, let alone Zhan Yunfei and Zhu Jiutian.
"A vertical cliff that went straight from the top to the bottom?" Zhan Yunfei and Zhu Jiutian exchanged puzzled glances. They couldn't recall a place like that. "What happened next?"
"When I found myself in that strange place, the first thing I noticed was that clouds shrouded the bottom of the cliff, and I couldn't see any sunlight. The area below was perpetually covered in unmelted snow..."
Cha Eun Xiao explained, "I was distressed and tried every method to escape, but I couldn't find a way out. I had limited food, and I was cold, hungry, and tired. So, I sought refuge in a cave I found on the cliff's wall."
Naturally, Cha Eun Xiao didn't hesitate to enter the cave.
Zhan Yunfei and Zhu Jiutian seemed to recognize the importance of the cave.
"It was a dwelling within the cave, and at its center, there was a skeleton. I couldn't determine how long the person had been sitting there, but only their bones remained. These bones were as hard as jade, and I tried everything to break them, but it was impossible."
Zhan Yunfei and Zhu Jiutian were taken aback. "A skeleton? Impervious to breaking? Is that true?"
[What level of cultivator could leave behind unbreakable bones after death?]
"That's correct," Cha Eun Xiao affirmed. "Next to the skeleton on the cave wall, there were inscriptions that mentioned a Dan God from beyond our realm who had been betrayed..."
Cha Eun Xiao began weaving a fictitious narrative, every word flowing naturally.
Of course, he couldn't disclose the truth.
Zhan Yunfei and Zhu Jiutian listened to an absurd tale featuring a dubious main character. When the story finally concluded, they remained dazed and confused, as if they had just awakened from a dream. Everything felt surreal.
"You're saying that the skeleton belonged to a Dan God from beyond our realm?"
"Yes."
"And there were numerous bottles with dan beads in them, each with inscriptions authored by the Dan God?"
"That's right."
"And all these dan beads are of an exceptionally high level?"
"It appears so."
"So, you inherited the legacy of a Dan God?"
"Well, what can I say? I already had a strong foundation in the art of dan from a renowned sect. My origin sect's forefather was skilled in creating supreme dan beads, and my master once told me that I possessed unparalleled talent in dan-making. I was poised to elevate the art of dan to unprecedented heights. In a way, I didn't need the Dan God's legacy. It was a trivial gift
to me."
"That's incredibly arrogant!"
Cha Eun Xiao appeared unfazed. "What did you say? Remember, the Life Origin Dan I bestowed upon my three masters were created by my old master. I'm not joking. If only the three elders hadn't instructed me to keep my dan-making talent a secret from others..."
"That Dan God claimed to be a Dan God himself. How do you know he wasn't lying?"
Cha Eun Xiao shrugged, seemingly untroubled. "There's always someone more knowledgeable. I've come to realize that there is no limit to ignorance. However, if you have any more questions, go ahead."
Zhan Yunfei and Zhu Jiutian were left in a state of bewilderment, trying to make sense of Cha Eun Xiao's incredible narrative.