"..."
Chen Qiu suddenly fell silent again, standing motionless. The two sentences felt eerily familiar, as if he had heard the exact same ones last night. After organizing his thoughts, he shook his head and said, "Since you knew she was entering the city last night, why were you at the east gate of Fufeng City last night recruiting disciples under the banner of the 'Sky-bursting Gang'?"
"How would I know it was her?"
Fat Long scratched his head irritably, "I just received news early that a troupe from the Capital was heading to Fufeng City. The locals here don't have much entertainment, and bustling events are a must-see."
"I arrived in Fufeng City yesterday morning, planning to recruit disciples while many people were gathered at the city gate, guaranteeing a great harvest."
"Only in the morning did I find out that it was actually her."
"At that moment, I thought of running, but I couldn't bear to miss this opportunity. Thinking I was already there and amidst so many people, she shouldn't possibly notice me. But just as she entered the city, she looked in my direction. My heart skipped a beat, and all I could do was turn around and hastily find someone to run towards, showing her a back view."
"That person was you."
"Originally, I just thought of striking up a casual conversation with you, just waiting for her to enter the city and not see my face. But unexpectedly, within a few exchanges, I found out that you too had traveled across time, and you know what happened afterward."
Chen Qiu's mouth twitched slightly as he raised his hand wanting to pour himself a cup of tea, only to find that the teapot was somehow empty. He stopped his action and touched his nose.
Now it seems,
this girl also counts as somewhat of a benefactor to him.
If it were not for this girl, Fat Long would not have stopped him, he wouldn't have known about such a thing as an entry, nor would he have entered the Heavenly Dao Secret Realm, nor would he have had the opportunities that followed.
Not quite right.
If looking further back, this girl came because of the Huang Family's 'Heavenly Dao Entry' manifesting in this world. If it weren't for the Huang Family, both this girl and Fat Long would not have come to Fufeng City, meaning the Huang Family also counts as somewhat of a benefactor to him.
And... it seems the Young Master of the Huang Family has already died by his hand.
Would killing a benefactor bring heavenly retribution?
He shook his head and thought no more of this, but brought the conversation to the crucial point, "What exactly is that so-called 'Heavenly Dao Entry'?"
"It's a special type of entry,"
Fat Long's expression turned serious, and he spoke solemnly, "As I mentioned before, aside from white and green entries which signify levels, there are many special entries, such as 'Grey Entry,' 'Bloodline Entry,' and... 'Heavenly Dao Entry.'"
"'Heavenly Dao Entries' happen randomly, some are very strong and some are weak, but they all share one commonality, that is, 'Heavenly Dao Entries' can be inherited."
"They can be directly passed on to your direct descendants."
"That alone is enough. Once a Heavenly Dao Entry appears, countless forces will come scrambling, as long as they seize it and ensure their family can continue its lineage, then with the passage of time, the family's heritage will grow stronger and stronger."
"Da Xia Country has not seen a change of dynasty for nearly a thousand years. A long time ago, the current Royal Family of Da Xia was just a little Xia family."
"Why has it prospered for so long?"
"Naturally, there are many reasons, but one of them is that the ancestors of Da Xia obtained a total of eleven 'Heavenly Dao Entries.' All direct descendants of the Xia family are born possessing these eleven entries."
"Now, on the 'Heavenly Pride Leaderboard' of Da Xia, out of the top hundred, thirty-seven are from the Xia family."
"Truly a strict selection by the Xia family."
"Oh?"
Chen Qiu's eyes narrowed slightly at this. Upon hearing Fat Long, he knew many people would die this time; the effect of the Heavenly Dao Entry was somewhat perverse, "Since so many powers are already aware of this Heavenly Dao Entry, can the Royal Family of Da Xia not know? Wouldn't they send someone?"
"They won't."
Fat Long shook his head, "The Heavenly Dao Entry is both inheritance and a curse. No matter what entry is randomly obtained, it will definitely be passed on to your descendants, and some entries have rather severe negative effects."
"Adding one more Heavenly Dao Entry to the Royal Family of Da Xia won't make their descendants' foundations much stronger, given they already have eleven."
"But if a Heavenly Dao Entry with strong negative effects is randomly obtained, then it's purely a loss."
"There's little to gain but so much to lose; no one would sit at such a gambling table."
"Some major families either have already won the gamble by possessing several Heavenly Dao Entries, no longer needing to gamble, or are currently doing well enough not to gamble; hence their interest in this isn't great."
"But for a small family like the Huang Family, it presents a fatal attraction."
"And the Royal Family wouldn't do something like sending people to snatch the Heavenly Dao entry and then exchange it for Spirit Stones, that would be too beneath them, you see. If Da Xia were to do that, do you think these sects would still stay within Da Xia's borders? The world is vast, there's always a place for lords."
"Sects and countries have a mutual relationship, not a hierarchical one."
"How much is a Heavenly Dao entry worth in Spirit Stones?"
"This thing is basically not sold on the market, and doesn't have a fixed market price, but it should be at least 1,000 Spirit Stones I guess. Of course, that price is my estimate; I'm not clear on the specific amount, but it should only be higher, not lower, given it's a Heavenly Dao entry."
"Hmm."
Chen Qiu nodded his head, as he had already understood the situation: "What is the cultivation level of that girl?"
"Foundation Establishment Stage Level One."
"It doesn't sound very high."
"Enough to kill the two of us for sure."
"You're too afraid of death."
"Nonsense, aren't you afraid?"
"Let's go." Chen Qiu didn't speak further but rather stood up and walked straight towards the outside of the guest room. After reaching the first floor, he casually took two Spirit Stones from the Shopkeeper's hand, then proceeded to walk out the city gate along the main road.
This had been arranged with the Shopkeeper beforehand.
The demon beast corpses in the guest room, whether fur or flesh, were valuable goods that could fetch around five to six Spirit Stones.
He didn't have time to deal with them, so he sold them to the Shopkeeper for two Spirit Stones.
The Shopkeeper earned Spirit Stones, and he saved time.
...
"Are you really going to Fufeng City to wade into these troubled waters?"
"Have you gone mad?"
"Even though you're in the Qi Refinement Realm Level Seven now, but there are many from the Foundation Establishment Stage going there; it's just not enough, isn't this just courting death?"
On the main road of Area 4 in Qiantian Market, Fat Long, who was hurriedly following behind Chen Qiu, incessantly urged, "Brother Chen Qiu, don't think that just one realm higher in Foundation Establishment than Qi Refinement is small, but in fact, it's a world of difference!"
"Going like this, it really isn't any different from sending ourselves to death!"
Chen Qiu, with a calm face, led at the front and softly said, "You see the nature of this world as well. If you can't boost your strength at all costs, what would you do if you end up captured by the Flower Offering Sect for use as nourishment like you?"
"With such an opportunity right before us, how could we possibly miss it?"
"Absolutely not, your body isn't robust nor do you have the might of nine oxen, and your cultivation level isn't high; they wouldn't choose you for nourishment!"
"Just yesterday you told me if I don't become stronger, someone like you could easily kill me."
"But now I can't beat you anymore!"
"Still no good."
Chen Qiu walked to the city gate of Qiantian Market, stopped in place, and looked toward a few men outside the gate who seemed somewhat astonished when they saw him, softly saying, "If these 1,000 Spirit Stones come into hand, I can take you to the Flower Offering Sect tomorrow and kill those who have humiliated you."
"Fortune favors the bold, sometimes we have to take the risk."
"But life is also lost in risks, we shouldn't gamble if we don't have to."
"Don't worry."
Chen Qiu patted Fat Long on the shoulder, paused for a moment and then chuckled softly: "Mists don't scatter on their own; they must be cleared away by hand, and if you want the dragon to leap to the sea and ascend to the heavens to claim its rightful place, you must take the plunge."
"I have a way, and I will win."