Failing to meet the Pill King, Chen An didn't linger long in Xixia City and chose to return to his sect the same day.
Although the plan to hunt the Hundred-Eyed Toad was shaping up, it was bound to be a tough battle. Chen An needed to make ample preparations beforehand.
Currently, his defensive and offensive options are severely lacking. While he could rely on spirit talismans for a bit of leverage, the effectiveness of first-tier talismans against a second-tier beast was limited at best.
Adding to his woes, his collection of spirit stones wasn't sufficient to procure advanced techniques. Though the sect's market wasn't as vast as Xixia City's, it offered more affordable options.
After spending half a day returning to the sect, Chen An decided to head directly to the market to meet Li Muchen.
However, just as he reached the inner sect, a disciple stopped him.
"Are you Chen An?" the man asked, his expression unfriendly. Dressed in the attire of an inner sect disciple, the man seemed to be in his early twenties, likely having joined the sect a few years ago.
"How can I help you, Senior Brother?" Chen An responded calmly, already guessing at the man's intentions.
"The name's Geng Shuang. I've heard a lot about you lately—the talk of the sect after winning the disciple tournament. Since you're supposedly so capable, how about we spar?"
Geng Shuang advanced toward Chen An, clearly having waited for him specifically to cause trouble.
Chen An had only just returned after a few days away, and to encounter such trouble right upon his return could only mean this man was targeting him deliberately.
Pausing for a moment, Chen An probed, "So the Grand Elder sent you to deal with me? It seems he trusts you a great deal. Are you planning to kill me within the sect?"
"What are you talking about? The Grand Elder? I don't know anything about that!" At the mention of Yun Henqiu, Geng Shuang's face showed a flicker of panic, though he quickly tried to mask it. However, Chen An easily caught the subtle change in his demeanor.
"Interesting. I wasn't entirely sure before, but thanks to you, now I am," Chen An remarked with a faint smile, seeing right through Geng Shuang's facade.
Ever since he learned he would face Yun Xiao in the arena and had to win, Chen An knew he was destined to offend the Yun family. With Yun Henqiu's extensive influence within the sect, it was only a matter of time before someone came to trouble him.
He just hadn't expected it to happen so quickly.
Still, it didn't matter. A troublemaker delivering himself to Chen An's doorstep could just as well serve as nourishment for Elder Gu's purposes.
"Here's the deal," Chen An offered, "I have other matters to attend to right now. Let's meet tonight at midnight in the outer sect. Whatever you have in mind, I'll be there to face it."
Geng Shuang was surprised at Chen An's immediate acceptance, especially knowing the Grand Elder had sent him to stir up trouble. Was Chen An just confident in his abilities or simply ignorant of the danger he faced?
No matter the reason, Geng Shuang had his orders to cripple Chen An, and since his target was walking into the trap of his own accord, why would he refuse?
"Fine. Midnight it is. Don't be late!" Geng Shuang declared before striding off, unaware that tonight would mark the end of his journey.
Unfazed by Geng Shuang's sudden appearance, Chen An made his way to the market, where he found Li Muchen still manning his usual stall.
During Chen An's absence, the talismans he had left behind had sold out entirely, netting him another tidy sum of spirit stones.
"You wouldn't believe it," Li Muchen exclaimed excitedly upon seeing him. "Your performance in the disciple tournament has made waves. People are fascinated by your talismans. I've been swamped these past few days. When are you making more?"
Chen An found it curious that Li Muchen, unlike other disciples who only set up stalls when they needed spirit stones, seemed to prioritize business over cultivation as if it were more important.
"I've got a tough battle ahead and won't have time to make more talismans for now," Chen An explained, before asking if Li Muchen knew where to find higher-quality, more powerful techniques.
This question left Li Muchen scratching his head.
Advanced techniques did exist, but they all came with strict cultivation requirements. At Chen An's current level, his options are extremely limited.
"Honestly, your best bet is the Sect Library," Li Muchen suggested. "It houses all the techniques and talisman designs the sect has collected since its founding.
"But to even enter the library, you'd need to be an inner sect disciple, and even then, there are many restrictions. Given your current situation, it might be difficult."
Li Muchen phrased it diplomatically, but the implication was clear: Chen An wasn't qualified to access the library yet.
This realization left Chen somewhat frustrated. He had returned to the sect hoping to gain something, but it seemed like a wasted trip.
"Perhaps I should seek out Elder Gu," Chen An mused. "He needs my help now more than ever, so it wouldn't be unreasonable to ask for a favor in return."
With this in mind, Chen An didn't linger in the market but headed back to the outer sect. He didn't approach Elder Gu immediately, knowing he needed to prepare a bargaining chip to demonstrate his sincerity.
...
At midnight, Geng Shuang arrived at the agreed-upon location in the outer sect.
Dressed in dark clothing to avoid detection, he waited in a secluded corner, eager for Chen An to show up.
As he waited, he failed to notice a red-ringed snake slithering toward him.
If it were a beast, Geng Shuang's instincts as a cultivator would have alerted him. But the red-ringed snake was merely an ordinary venomous serpent, and so he remained unaware.
The snake hissed softly, its tongue flickering as it neared Geng Shuang's ankle. Without hesitation, it sank its fangs into his leg, injecting its venom.
"What the—?!" Geng Shuang yelped at the sudden pain, but before he could investigate, rustling noises came from the nearby bushes.
Moments later, Chen An emerged, sprinting toward the outer sect's Elder Hall.
Caught off guard, Geng Shuang gave chase without hesitation, unaware that he was being lured into a trap.
Unwittingly, he followed Chen An straight into Elder Gu's meditation chamber. Unfamiliar with the elder's rules, Geng Shuang barged in after him, sealing his fate.