This is truly satisfying.
Someone’s comfort invariably means another’s discomfort.
Take Vice Mountain Master Feng, for example.
Last night at midnight, Vice Mountain Master Feng suddenly received a Starlight Transmission from Dean Cao Chun, suggesting a leisurely drink under the moon if he was free.
A head-scratching invitation.
Feng had initially considered going, but after some thought, decided against it.
Who do you think you are, Cao Chun?
Just the fourth in the hierarchy of Jinshan Taoist Institute, while he, Feng Shu, was the second most powerful.
Shouldn’t you be the one asking me out for drinks?
Logically, with my rank, when you invite me for a drink, not to mention three days in advance, even half a day would suffice.
Summoning me with a Starlight Transmission in the dead of night and expecting me to show up immediately, that’s just undervaluing myself.
Rank two versus rank four, all right.
If you really want company for a moonlit drink and a chat, you, Cao Chun, should be the one bringing a good bottle to my place.
Now, calling me at this hour for drinks, and if I were to respond immediately, it’d make me look like a lackey.
So, Feng pretended he hadn’t seen the message and didn’t go.
He planned to casually mention it tomorrow and take the opportunity to give Cao Chun a subtle rebuke to remind him of his place.
But unexpectedly, by the time the night had passed, a momentous incident had occurred.
Squad after squad of the Star Patrol Guard was dispatched, and the warships of Yan State’s Navy had arrived.
Something significant must have happened last night.
Suddenly, Feng realized that maybe Cao Chun’s invitation for a drink was a facade, a pretext to discuss this very matter with him.
The more he thought about it, the more infuriated and anxious he became, prompting Feng to seek out Cao Chun directly.
Yet, the moment he laid eyes on Cao Chun, Feng’s eyes bulged, fixated on him, "You... you’ve broken through, when did this happen?"
"Vice Mountain Master Feng, I was rather fortunate last night and made the breakthrough."
Feng gritted his teeth as he uttered this word, as breaking through from the Peak of Star Condensation to the Gathering Battle Realm was hardly something achievable by mere luck.
The breakthrough from the Peak of Star Condensation Realm to the Gathering Battle Realm represented a major milestone without specific thresholds, but it was incredibly challenging to achieve.
Because this breakthrough required only one condition—a massive infusion of Star Power!
Such an abundance of Star Power isn’t something you can stumble upon by chance!
Last night, he must have missed something big!
"Did you call me before or after your breakthrough?" Feng asked urgently.
"After I called you!"
"Why didn’t you wait for me for such a fortunate event?" Feng was truly frantic.
"I merely invited you for a drink; I thought you hadn’t seen it."
With that, Cao Chun clasped his fists and left.
In reality, last night’s Starlight Transmission that Cao Chun sent to Feng was arranged by Mountain Master Dong Zhao, as a final test for him.
Intended to give Feng some clarity.
If he was willing to abandon some unrealistic aspirations and recognize his own place, he would naturally be welcomed into this tight-knit circle of mutual benefit.
Regrettably, he had cast himself out.
In a palace built deep within the mountains, a speck of starlight suddenly dropped from the heavens, passing through several halls and landing on the altar beneath the Divine Statue, transforming into a small, exquisite Seal.
With the newly arrived Seal, there were two Seals now resting on the altar.
As the Seal landed, a hazy figure of starlight appeared beside the Divine Statue.
Although it was merely a silhouette, the breathtaking aura it emitted instantly awakened all the disciples both inside and outside.
"Disciples respectfully welcome the True Man."
The ethereal figure of the Baidou Divine Sect’s True Man simply nodded, raised a hand, and the small Seal of a Star Officer on the altar floated into his possession. With a slight motion of Divine Thought, he began to extract the Divine Soul Power stored within the Seal.
But upon attempting, something felt wrong.
It was lacking, pitifully so, not even half of what was expected.
Usually, when he absorbed the power, he would leave twenty percent behind for the reconstruction of the Divine Statue and to empower the Star Official Seal’s return.
Yet now, there was less than half that amount remaining.
This meant it was still the power he had imbued when he bestowed the Star Official Seal.
No additional Divine Soul Power had been brought back.
"Who is our Vermilion Bird Palace’s Six-star Officer?" asked the figure of the Vermilion Bird True Man, one of the Four Phases True Man of the Baidou Divine Sect.
"Reporting to the Sect Leader, he is surnamed Gu and named Jianfei, having received the Star Official Seal just half a year ago." replied the chief steward of Vermilion Bird Palace.
"Go investigate, find out where the issue occurred and why not a single trace of Divine Power was brought back. In theory, since the Lingji Star Hall has been sealed, such a situation should not arise again." Vermilion Bird True Man’s figure spoke.
After giving his orders, the figure of Vermilion Bird True Man appeared somewhat helpless as he picked up the Seal, vigorously channeling his own Divine Soul Power into it until it was filled to twenty percent before stopping.
This appointment of a Star Officer had been a loss.
A loss-making deal is always displeasing.
"Find suitable candidates for these two Seals as soon as possible, preferably someone sharp-witted," said the figure of the Vermilion Bird True Man.
"I understand and will arrange it immediately," replied the chief steward of Vermilion Bird Palace.
Vermilion Bird True Man’s figure gestured, summoning a Star-picking Order, and within a few moments sent out a Starlight Transmission.
"Collection of Divine Soul Power failed, the item you seek will be delayed!"
Then, the figure of the Vermilion Bird True Man slowly faded away.
The richest man in Jinshan County was not to be underestimated.
Ning Yuchan and Xu Jin, responsible for overseeing the raids of Zhao Mansion’s properties within and outside the county city, worked tirelessly from dawn to dusk, each on their own, until the task was nearly completed by evening.
Already accounted for, there were over a hundred thirty thousand taels of liquid silver, thirty thousand taels of gold, roughly forty thousand taels in various jewels, fifteen First Tier Star Weapons valued at about thirty thousand taels, with total cash assets exceeding five hundred thousand taels.