506 - A Sect Leader’s Ascension

### Chapter 506: Black Market Purchase of a Furnace Host Zhan Jianfeng wore a somber expression as he strolled through the bustling streets of Qi Fu City. His right hand casually slipped under the collar of his crimson robe, lazily resting across his chest, while his left hand swung widely with each step. With a lethargic swagger, he made his way into one of the city's finest spiritual tea shops. "Ah, Young Master Zhan is here! A rare guest indeed." The receptionist greeted him with a cheerful smile, "The usual seat?" Zhan Jianfeng shook his head and wordlessly headed toward the stairs. The receptionist hurriedly followed, reminding him, "Young Master Zhan, the upper floor requires a Foundation Establishment level..." "Reserved by Executor Liu," Zhan Jianfeng snapped, glaring at the receptionist before continuing upstairs to enter an exquisite private room. "Who does he think he is? Just another Qi Refinement stage cultivator, acting all high and mighty!" remarked a departing rogue cultivator, pulling aside the receptionist for an explanation. "Ha, he's an inner disciple of the Chu Qin Sect from the western region," the receptionist explained with a laugh, unaffected by the rudeness. "He was the champion of the last Black River Market Arena Tournament in the Qi Refinement category. It's quite a reputation around here!" "Oh!?" The rogue cultivator expressed sudden respect upon hearing this. "I heard the tournament’s victory has been monopolized by major northern forces beyond the Death Swamp for years. Winning it for our Baishan region is quite an achievement." "Hahaha!" Laughter erupted among the Qi Refinement cultivators in the tea house, including the receptionist. "Not quite glory," someone chimed in. "Zhan Jianfeng’s rise to fame was... unconventional." "In the first and third rounds of the tournament, he was lucky enough to draw a bye." "In the quarter-finals, his opponent was severely injured in the previous match and had to withdraw." "In the semi-finals, his opponent experienced a breakthrough after the last battle and went into seclusion." "In the finals, his opponent suddenly sensed an opportunity for Foundation Establishment and rushed off to pursue it, leaving no match. So, he won five consecutive victories without fighting. Talk about luck! Shouldn't he be famous?" The explanation left the rogue cultivator clicking his tongue in disbelief. "If I had such luck, I’d rather it be used to achieve my path." Although laughter from the hall couldn't penetrate the private room protected by a small formation, Zhan Jianfeng stood alone inside, without Executor Liu in sight. He paced back and forth, too anxious to savor the second-grade spiritual tea before him. Alone for over an hour, he finally relaxed when a youthful woman entered. She appeared only sixteen or seventeen but had achieved Foundation Establishment; her true age couldn’t be more than twenty-five. "Tang’er!" Zhan Jianfeng's face lit up with joy. "You finally made it!" He moved to embrace her but was gently rebuffed by a barrier of spiritual energy. "I'm sneaking out unbeknownst to my family. I can't stay long..." Wei Tang, as she was called, had a charming, delicate beauty that needed no adornment. However, her formal colorful palace attire contrasted with her youthful appearance, giving her an air of maturity. Avoiding his attempt at affection, she sat across the table, looking impatient as she spoke, "Just say what you need to." "What other reason would I have to find you?" Zhan Jianfeng gazed at her with unabashed affection, eagerly pouring her tea. "I’ll be thirty after the New Year. It’s time we plan our future." "This…" She hesitated, holding the teacup to her lips, conflicted and remaining silent. Wei Tang, hailing from a local rogue cultivator clan, was part of a family that lost its former influence when Lu Shiluo, a Jindan cultivator, withdrew from an alliance to wage ill-fated wars. As a result, their territory was usurped multiple times until it was controlled by Wei Tang's family, now loyal to the Lianshui Alliance. Six years prior, Zhan Jianfeng's bizarre luck in winning the Black River Market Arena sparked acclaim as both skilled and fortunate—a promising future talent. With the ongoing unrest within the Lianshui Alliance, Wei Tang's family sought to ally with the rising Chu Qin Sect, asking Executor Liu Guang of the small shop in Qi Fu City to introduce Wei Tang to Zhan Jianfeng. The two immediately formed a bond, leading to an engagement. However, six years later, Zhan Jianfeng was still stuck at Qi Refinement perfection without reaching Foundation Establishment, while Wei Tang had successfully achieved Foundation Establishment at twenty-four, earning recognition as a true young prodigy. With their differing cultivation levels, Wei Tang’s prolonged avoidance of Zhan Jianfeng suggested her reluctance, though he already understood. "What are your intentions? Speak!" He slammed the table in frustration. Zhan Jianfeng was a descendant of Zhan Yuan and Zhan Chou, enjoying some preferential treatment in Chu Qin due to his singular potential. Yet such treatment fostered entitlement, arrogance, and a reckless disposition. Even after his path stagnated, he maintained his temper, displaying it only within such limits as arguing through table-slapping. "I truly want to marry you," Wei Tang voiced her confliction. "But the family head wishes to annul our engagement unless you join the Wei household. If you refuse, there’s nothing to discuss." "Join your family?" Zhan Jianfeng laughed with anger. "I’m from the prestigious Zhan family, an inner disciple of Chu Qin, descendant of Jindan, with a first-ranking in the Black River Market Arena. Me, join your family? Is that even possible?" "Hah!" recently establishing her Foundation, Wei Tang couldn’t long endure Zhan Jianfeng’s behavior and retorted with a derisive laugh, "Your Zhan family lacks even one Foundation Establishment cultivator now, just tales of glory from the past. Those five victories without fights only serve as amusing anecdotes, yet you're the only one who boasts about them." "Shut up!" Zhan Jianfeng raged, "If your family goes back on their word, don’t blame me for the consequences!" Resembling his ancestor Zhan Yuan with his unremarkable appearance, his rage still carried formidable intensity, fixing Wei Tang with an overpowering glare. The private room’s atmosphere turned tense, devoid of any warmth, with Wei Tang’s chest heaving with anger. Yet, recalling her family’s vulnerability compared to the powerful Chu Qin Sect, she forced herself to contain the fury. Resolving to endure silently, she said, "I’ll discuss this at home," and, with a brush of her sleeve, promptly left. "Bastard! Damn it! Opportunist!" Alone once more, Zhan Jianfeng hurled curses and vented his anger until a tall, lean middle-aged man entered the trashed room. The newcomer was Liu Guang, Executor of Qi Fu City's Chu Qin shop. Sporting a sharp appearance with piercing eyes, he surveyed the mess with a smile, using spiritual power to sweep away broken objects. "So, you didn’t reach an agreement?" he asked. Zhan Jianfeng, seated on the floor, recounted the demand to join the Wei family. "That's impossible! You have to help me teach the Wei family a lesson to vent my anger!" he shouted passionately. Chu Qin's small shop network, lacking enough Foundation Establishment cultivators, prompted Nangong Yanran to recruit outsiders like Liu Guang to manage the stores. Ambitious to become a formal disciple of Chu Qin, Liu Guang eagerly flattered Qi Ronger’s favored Zhan Jianfeng, "What's the problem? Return home and inform our lord ancestor. If he won’t back you, might as well become a Wei." Liu Guang jested. "Don’t joke like that," Zhan Jianfeng retorted, amused despite himself. "Many beautiful women in the world, why dwell on this one? With your qualifications, you can succeed in the future and return to humiliate Wei Tang and her family!" Ever the persuader, Liu Guang’s words lifted Zhan Jianfeng’s mood considerably. "Who are you? The champion of the Black River Market Arena! Practically the top Qi Refinement cultivator on Bai Mountain!" he praised loudly. "Yes, I’m the top Qi Refinement cultivator!" Zhan Jianfeng clenched his fists, eyes filled with determination. "No need to fret, it’s just a woman. Come, let’s have some fun!" Liu Guang urged, pulling him up. "I’m not going to such a place," Zhan Jianfeng blushed. "You’re nearly thirty! According to sect rules, you can have a concubine without marrying formally. How about I gift you a concubine—flawless, stunning, and a Qi Refinement cultivator?" Liu Guang whispered conspiratorially, leaning closer to Zhan Jianfeng. ### Chapter 506: Black Market Purchase of a Furnace Host "Black market? A furnace host!?" Zhan Jianfeng was taken aback. "Those furnace hosts are quite expensive, aren't they?" he inquired. "My friend, I've struck it rich!" Liu Guang proudly patted the storage pouch at his waist. "You know about the collapse of the Bi Lake Treasury, right? After Qiyun cleared the way, they expelled all the treasure-hunting cultivators, and now many treasures are circulating within Qi Fu City." He produced several iron and bronze boxes, spoils guarded by contraptions within Bi Lake. "Some cultivators got plenty but didn't care for the lower-tier items inside, nor did they want to bother opening and appraising each one to sell separately. So they priced them by the material of the box, selling them as a gamble. We Executors call it ‘box gambling.’ Buy one, and if you find something valuable, you profit; if not, you accept your loss. I struck gold yesterday with a silver box and made quite this amount." He held up six fingers in a triumphant gesture. "Sixty?" Zhan Jianfeng queried. "Six hundred!" Liu Guang exclaimed with satisfaction. Employed by the Chu Qin Sect, his annual salary never came close to six hundred third-tier coins, making this indeed a windfall. Zhan Jianfeng expressed his envy, understanding that although Chu Qin Sect generously supported disciples—especially inner disciples—with resources for cultivation, cash at hand was strictly controlled. This was partly to avoid flaunting wealth publicly and to prevent habits of frivolous spending that might hinder cultivation. Zhan Jianfeng himself rarely had more than six third-tier coins at a time. "Don’t hesitate! We must hurry," Liu Guang urged. "There’s an auction happening right now. If we’re late, we’ll have to wait for days." Throwing a third-tier coin to the receptionist to cover the damages, Liu Guang pulled Zhan Jianfeng along, leading him through narrow alleyways to a daydreaming cultivator at a corner. Handing over two iron tokens, they were guided through winding paths to the black market. Zhan Jianfeng had been here before and knew the protocol. He accepted a concealing cloak from an old cultivator at the entrance, a Foundation Establishment level gatekeeper, and donned it with ease, following Liu Guang into the auction hall. The auction was well underway, and just then, they presented a woman bound in black cloth, elegantly proportioned with every curve visible. Embarrassed, Zhan Jianfeng averted his gaze, feeling his breath quicken and throat dry. "How about this one?" Liu Guang asked in an altered voice, barely above a whisper. "Ahem, well..." Zhan Jianfeng wanted to purchase her, but embarrassment rooted him to the spot. Flustered, he scratched his head in uncertainty when suddenly—boom! A deafening explosion blasted a hole in the auction hall's ceiling. Before anyone could react, a Nascent Soul cultivator's formidable pressure subdued everyone to the ground. "Take them all! We’ll interrogate them thoroughly after!" Before losing consciousness, Zhan Jianfeng saw many scholar-like cultivators descend through the hole, their commanding voices echoing ominously in his ears. (To be continued)