Chapter 106: So, He Was a Ruthless Character

After returning home, Su Ji'an first handled the lingering effects of the recent magical confrontation before distributing tasks to the many Blue Star players based on their individual circumstances. Since he was cultivating them, he felt it was necessary to put in some effort.

Su Ji'an checked on Shen Qing'er’s condition. She appeared to have a rosy complexion and steady breathing, looking quite well. After observing her for a while longer to ensure there were no irregularities, he departed.

As dusk fell, Su Ji'an finally received definitive news regarding Cui Wenzi. Counting the days, the ten-day deadline was approaching; the man certainly knew how to time things.

[Cui Wenzi’s identity as a human has caused him much inconvenience. He has hit walls everywhere among the demon race these past few days and has clashed with them several times, leading the demons to harbor deep hatred for him.]

Su Ji'an: "..."

So this old fellow had spent all his time brawling. Why couldn't he be a little more flexible? If he couldn't approach the Demon Emperor directly, couldn't he find ways to get close to those in the Demon Emperor’s inner circle? By extension, if one knew how to adapt, surely meeting the Demon Emperor shouldn't be that difficult. Yet, by trying to meet the Demon Emperor head-on as a human, Cui Wenzi had invited exactly this kind of trouble. It seemed that for future important tasks, he needed to provide clearer instructions.

[Cui Wenzi fought his way to the front of the Demon Imperial Palace. Relying on an extremely profound demon-subduing technique, he was unstoppable along the way. He not only evaded the Void-Refining stage demon experts pursuing him but also slew several Spirit-Forming stage demon cultivators, reaping a bountiful harvest.]

So formidable? He was a ruthless man indeed; Su Ji'an realized he had underestimated him. It appeared that the cultivation methods of that realm were not simple. Although it was an era of declining Dharma, the heritage and foundation were in no way lacking. If the opportunity arose, he could issue relevant tasks to trade for his supernatural abilities and techniques in exchange for rewards.

[At the gates of the Demon Imperial Palace, Cui Wenzi declared he had come to solve the Demon Emperor's troubles, but claimed that the obstacles he faced along the way were clearly the work of treacherous villains.]

[The Demon Emperor then appeared. With a sinister smile, he asked for the specific reasons. Cui Wenzi did not hesitate and truthfully revealed all the information regarding the daughter of the previous Demon Emperor, including her current guise as Shen Lianxiang. He warned that if he had not arrived today, the Demon Emperor’s throne would likely have changed hands before long.]

[The Demon Emperor was half-doubting, but Cui Wenzi had no intention of explaining further. He stated indifferently that he merely wished to use the Demon Emperor’s hand to eliminate the daughter of the previous sovereign, as they shared a common enemy. Having said this, he offered no further words.]

[At the critical moment, Cui Wenzi used a Great Teleportation Talisman to escape and strode away.]

Cui Wenzi did not drop the ball when it mattered most. At such times, excessive explanation would only lead to suspicions of ulterior motives. Regardless, the whereabouts of the mastermind had been relayed to the Demon Emperor. The demon would certainly not remain indifferent, though the ultimate effect remained to be seen. The seed had been sown; now, all he had to do was wait for the harvest.

Not long after, Zhao Qianxue returned home. Before Su Ji'an could mention Shen Qing'er, she spoke up: "Little Ji'an, our Immortal Guest Tower’s sales today are far from what they used to be, and even the membership cards you mentioned have had very few takers."

Su Ji'an had anticipated this. The number of cultivators in Cold Mountain City was limited, and furthermore, since they had been reduced to cultivating in a mundane small town, they were unlikely to be powerful cultivators. Most importantly, the reputation of the Immortal Guest Tower had not yet been established. If the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion were the one doing this, the results would undoubtedly be excellent. If the Immortal Guest Tower were to abscond, the members would simply be left staring in frustration.

Zhao Qianxue continued, "I think it is time for our Immortal Guest Tower to expand to the surrounding cities."

Su Ji'an nodded slightly and said with the air of one with deep pockets, "I leave this matter entirely to you. Tell me if you need manpower. Here are one thousand spirit stones; use them for now."

The recent income from the Immortal Guest Tower had been quite good; not only had they recouped their initial investment, but they had also begun to turn a profit. To grow and become strong, remaining confined to this small corner of Cold Mountain City was not enough.

Zhao Qianxue was somewhat surprised. She had originally only intended to expand to one city, but these thousand spirit stones were more than enough to open shops in five cities.

Su Ji'an added, "Do not stock too much inventory in each shop; enough to supply the next few days is sufficient. Just increase the frequency of supply runs."

"You need not worry about manpower. I will find more 'Chosen Ones' for you. These people fear neither death nor do they ask for wages. You can rest assured and hold down the fort in Cold Mountain City; there is no need to run back and forth."

There were aspects of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion worth learning from, and their response to the Righteous Alliance’s retaliation had been quite clever. Even if they were looted again, it would be a trivial, inconsequential matter, and they could even reopen on the same day. The Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion was the best cautionary tale. If the Immortal Guest Tower were looted, while there would be no real loss, it would certainly be repulsive.

However, by adopting the model of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, such risks would naturally cease to exist. In time, the Immortal Guest Tower would sprout like bamboo shoots after the rain, growing endlessly. They would inevitably expand rapidly within a short period. But all of this required the absence of resistance. He feared the process of expansion would not be so smooth sailing.

Immediately after, Su Ji'an informed her about Shen Qing'er.

Zhao Qianxue leaned close to Su Ji'an’s ear and whispered, "Is she very beautiful?"

Su Ji'an responded instinctively, "She’s alright, but she’s nowhere near as good as you."

Zhao Qianxue chuckled lightly. "Then, are you thinking of doing something strange to her?"

Su Ji'an: "..."

Zhao Qianxue’s beautiful eyes turned, her tone filled with provocation: "I don't mind, you know. Besides, I have been physically exhausted lately, and cultivating the Mysterious Maiden Sutra has left me feeling somewhat overwhelmed. If you wish to take a few concubines, I would allow it."

Su Ji'an was stunned. She was this understanding? Yet, he truly had no such thoughts; at most, he only had a nominal dao companion.

Su Ji'an sighed softly, "Let such things happen as they may. Besides, we have yet to emerge from our current crisis."

As for Shen Qing'er, he had absolutely no interest in her. She wasn't even as interesting as the young ladies in the pleasure houses.

Zhao Qianxue huffed, "All heart, no guts. Back in the palace, the look you gave her clearly showed you wanted to devour her. You only used the pretext of the Mysterious Maiden Sutra later to reveal your true heart. In my opinion, you just look indulgent on the surface..."

Su Ji'an was left speechless. Was he being looked down upon? If so, he would show her his true strength. Besides, there was still a part of the Mysterious Maiden Sutra’s cultivation method that remained obscure and unlocked.