Chapter 39: Plotting Great Matters (II)

When Qiu Feng opened the door and saw that it was the same man who had fooled him last time, his expression turned cold. "What is it now, Brother Li?"

Watching the frost on Qiu Feng’s face, Boss Li chuckled inwardly. He figured this fellow was still annoyed about being tricked with the purple jade statue last time, though that wasn't entirely his fault—who told Qiu Feng not to specify whose purple jade carving he wanted?

"Brother Qiu seems to harbor quite a bit of hostility toward me," Boss Li said, rubbing his chin with a sly grin.

Qiu Feng took a few deep breaths, finally suppressing his anger. He stepped aside and said, "Not at all."

Without waiting for an invitation, Li Chengzhu walked into the room, pulled up a chair, and sat down. He looked around and asked with feigned surprise, "Brother Qiu, what happened to the purple jade statue I gave you last time?"

"I accidentally broke it," Qiu Feng replied coldly.

Li Chengzhu’s eyes widened. "Broken? Ah, that’s the trouble with purple jade; it’s too brittle. A single tap and it shatters into dust. No matter, if you want another, just say the word. I still have the film, so carving another is no effort at all," he declared, acting the part of a loyal friend.

"Just say it—why did you come to find me this time?" Qiu Feng had no patience for his games. Nothing good ever came from meeting this man, and he was sure there was another sinister scheme afoot.

"Hehe." Li Chengzhu let out a dry laugh, crossed his legs, and squinted at Qiu Feng. "Are you worried about the upcoming competition?"

"And what if I am?" Qiu Feng glared at him. "Hasn't my magical treasure already been swindled away by a certain petty individual?"

"You can't put it that way," Li Chengzhu said, his face not showing a hint of shame. "A bet is a bet. I don't think you’re the type to be a sore loser, Brother Qiu."

"I don't want to talk about the past," Qiu Feng said, his face flushing slightly. "But I am curious: why do you ask?"

Boss Li rolled his eyes. "I remember you mentioning that you placed third in the tournament a hundred years ago, is that right?"

"Yes." A look of pride flashed across Qiu Feng’s face.

"If I’m not mistaken, you should still have an immortal artifact," Li Chengzhu said with absolute certainty.

Qiu Feng gave him a cold look. "Why are you so sure?"

"Hehe," Li Chengzhu gave a cryptic smile. "I guessed."

It would be a miracle if he didn't have an immortal artifact. To place third, while dependent on one's own cultivation, certainly required the backing of a powerful magical weapon.

"So what if I do?" Qiu Feng’s tone was sharp. Was this guy trying to scam him again?

"Don't get so worked up." Li Chengzhu stood up, patted Qiu Feng on the shoulder, and folded his arms. "If I were to lend you the Nine Heavens Daluo Cauldron and the Meteor Sword, how high do you think your chances of winning would be?"

"What?" Qiu Feng couldn't help but stand up in agitation, his eyes locked on Li Chengzhu, searching for any sign of deception.

"I will provide you with the immortal artifacts," Li Chengzhu said, his eyes squinting into a smug smile.

Qiu Feng’s lips trembled. He stared at Li Chengzhu for a long time before slowly sitting back down. "Why?"

Seeing the doubt and caution in Qiu Feng's eyes, Li Chengzhu wiped his mouth and sat down as well. "It’s simple. You don't have anyone in the Immortal Realm you can rely on or ask for help, do you?"

Qiu Feng had to admit this was true and nodded. If he had someone to help him, he wouldn't be this frustrated.

"I’ll provide the help. How about it?" Li Chengzhu mused.

"What are the conditions?" Qiu Feng didn't believe this despicable man would offer what he needed for free.

"Conditions can wait." Li Chengzhu waved his hand; it was always easier talking to a smart person. "First, tell me: if you had the Nine Heavens Daluo Cauldron and the Meteor Sword, what would your odds of winning be?"

"The Meteor Sword won't be necessary; I have my own immortal sword," Qiu Feng said indifferently. "Just returning the Nine Heavens Daluo Cauldron to me will suffice."

"Wrong." Li Chengzhu shook his index finger slowly. "It is a loan, not a return."

"Regardless, with the Nine Heavens Daluo Cauldron, I can definitely place in the top three," Qiu Feng said, his spirits soaring.

"Oh?" Li Chengzhu stared intently into his eyes. True, if this guy could take third place without the cauldron last time, with the power of a second-grade immortal artifact, taking a top-three spot would be a breeze.

"Then why did you say earlier that you were one hundred percent certain to lose this time?" Li Chengzhu asked, voicing his doubt.

"This time is different from the last," Qiu Feng explained. "Last time, because your master entered the competition, many who felt they had no hope of taking first place didn't sign up, waiting for this very day, a hundred years later."

"So, this competition is bound to be full of strong rivals?" Li Chengzhu continued. So, your third-place finish last time was just picking up scraps.

Qiu Feng looked at him. "My strength is not lacking. There were many powerful experts last time, and I defeated them regardless." Recalling that victory, a look of pride appeared on his face. "Without true strength, no matter how good the artifact is, one cannot bring out its full potential."

"Good." Li Chengzhu slapped his thigh and said hypocritically, "Brother Qiu is truly a man of great character."

"Now can you state your conditions?" Qiu Feng’s face turned cold again.

"Hehe, I remember you told me that the first-place winner receives a sixth-grade immortal artifact plus twenty high-grade Heavenly Origin Spirit Stones, second place gets a fourth-grade immortal artifact and ten stones, and third place is a second-grade immortal artifact and five stones."

"Yes." Qiu Feng nodded. He hadn't expected this guy to remember the rewards so clearly.

"That makes it easy." Li Chengzhu rubbed his hands together. "The condition is: if you win third, I want that artifact. If you win second, I still want that artifact. And if you win first... well, give me twenty high-grade Heavenly Origin Spirit Stones." Seeing Qiu Feng’s expression darken, Li Chengzhu quickly changed the last demand—damn, he had originally wanted that sixth-grade artifact.

"Don't push your luck!" Qiu Feng stood up, enraged.

"Calm down, calm down." Boss Li squinted at him. "Brother Qiu, if I’m not mistaken, this is your last chance. If you don't take first place this time, in another hundred years, you’ll surely ascend to become an immortal. You’ll regret it then."

Li Chengzhu gave the impression of a big bad wolf tempting a little girl with a lollipop.

"So what? I’d rather not waste my effort." Qiu Feng was so angry his face had turned blue. It was just a second-grade artifact; without it, he didn't necessarily mean he couldn't make the top three. It was like that last time, wasn't it?

"The strength of an immortal is determined by the quality and quantity of the spiritual energy stored in their body before ascension. Think of the Immortals' Womb Lake—not a single person who ascends from there is below the level of a Superior Immortal." Li Chengzhu appealed to both emotion and logic. "Besides, you’re not getting nothing out of this. If you really take first place, that sixth-grade immortal artifact alone is priceless. Are you really going to care about a mere twenty high-grade Heavenly Origin Spirit Stones?" Boss Li continued to apply pressure with the promise of profit.

Qiu Feng fell into deep thought, his brows tightly knitted.

"Damn it, if you don't want to, forget it. I’ll just go to the competition grounds, find someone strong with no background, and lend them these two artifacts. I don't believe they’ll refuse." Seeing Qiu Feng still hadn't answered, Boss Li resorted to intimidation.

"Deal!" Qiu Feng gritted his teeth.

"Straightforward." Boss Li’s demeanor changed instantly, and he patted Qiu Feng on the shoulder. "Don't worry, with me backing you, taking first place will be like reaching into a bag to retrieve an item."

Qiu Feng stared at that nauseating face. Did this guy really have so little regard for the heroes of the world? He subtly pushed away Li Chengzhu’s hand from his shoulder and said, "Forget about that Meteor Sword. I already have an immortal sword. Quality beats quantity."

"Hehe." Li Chengzhu smiled slightly. "We’ll see when the time comes. Perhaps there will be some unexpected effects."

*As long as you don't trip me up, that would be the only 'unexpected' thing,* Qiu Feng sneered internally.

"Get some rest. We’ll set off in two days." Li Chengzhu put on his 'big boss' persona, looking at the potential investment before him.

"You’re going too?" Qiu Feng was surprised.

"Of course." Li Chengzhu smiled. "Such a significant competition is bound to have some interesting developments, wouldn't you say?" Thinking of the mastermind who had ambushed them, they would surely show their face there. Boss Li’s expression turned grim.

"Suit yourself," Qiu Feng said coldly. This guy definitely didn't trust him with the immortal artifacts and wanted to follow along—truly measuring a gentleman’s stature with a villain’s yardstick.

Back in his room, his two wives were likely still refining artifacts, and Li Chengzhu suddenly felt bored.

He hadn't settled down to cultivate for a long time. Although his cultivation had grown rapidly, his foundation was not solid. Fortunately, by practicing dual cultivation with his two wives every day, he had slowly stabilized his surging power; otherwise, he might have suffered a cultivation deviation.

What annoyed Boss Li the most was that he had absorbed Xiao Ying’s original yin while he was unconscious, meaning it hadn't been utilized properly, and half of it had been wasted. Otherwise, if he had absorbed all the original yin contained within a vessel like Xiao Ying, his strength would surely have ascended to another level.

Boss Li was accustomed to reaping without sowing. If he were forced to sit down and cultivate on his own, he probably wouldn't do it even with a knife to his throat.

*Hundreds of years of original yin,* Li Chengzhu thought, feeling thoroughly depressed.