After preparing the food for dinner, Wen Ruo brought Bai Yao and a sleepy-looking Jun Sandao over.
"I don’t know why Yaoyao and Jun Sandao are together. Junior Brother, it seems they’ll be imposing on you," Wen Ruo said, a helpless smile on her face.
Jun Sandao said, somewhat discontentedly, "I was sound asleep in my cave mansion, but this crazy woman Bai Yao forcibly dragged me out."
"What did you say?" Bai Yao retorted, her gaze turning icy.
"It’s nothing, nothing at all! The more the merrier," Chen Jiuge said, smoothing things over.
Putting down her wine glass, Bai Yao remarked, somewhat wistfully, "Junior Brother Chen, this Eden Garden of yours is really quite something; it looks like a lot of fun. I recall your birth family isn’t very large, right?"
Chen Jiuge, caught off guard by Bai Yao’s question, hesitated for a moment before replying honestly, "It’s alright. My family’s Old Ancestor is a True Immortal, so I suppose that makes us a third-tier family."
"That is indeed a small family. Xiao Ruo told me about what happened before. Junior Brother, you need to change your perspective," Bai Yao said earnestly.
"What happened?" Jun Sandao asked curiously.
In Bai Yao’s telling, Chen Jiuge became an innocent victim, and the entire Radiant Immortal City was portrayed as the villain.
Upon hearing that Chen Jiuge had released the Disaster Beast Ming Snake to resolve the issue, Jun Sandao slapped his own forehead. "Junior Brother Chen, that was such a waste! A Disaster Beast Ming Snake, and a juvenile at that! What if something had gone wrong? If you were truly desperate, you could have given it to me! I would’ve helped you take over the entire Radiant Immortal City in exchange!"
Although Jun Sandao’s tone was full of banter, Chen Jiuge detected an underlying seriousness. Could it be that he had really made a mistake? Chen Jiuge looked to Wen Ruo for help.
Wen Ruo sighed and said, "Junior Brother, since Yaoyao and Senior Brother Jun are both here today, it’s a good opportunity to enlighten you about the resources and status you currently possess."
"Let me, let me!" Bai Yao interjected.
Producing a rod-shaped Magic Treasure that emanated Spirit Light, Bai Yao, now in the role of an instructor, began her lesson.
"First, we need to recognize the difference between disciples of the Myriad Beasts Sect and the Loose Cultivators out there."
"In the Myriad Beasts Sect, even Outer Disciples are considered geniuses in the outside world. Inner Sect Disciples start at the Nascent Soul Cultivation realm. Those with better talent who live longer typically reach Divinity Transformation or Returning to Void. And those with exceptional talent and longevity almost invariably reach the Mahayana realm."
"As for Loose Cultivators, their cultivation levels are generally between Foundation Establishment and Golden Core. If they reach the Nascent Soul realm, they are considered to have some status. Those at Divinity Transformation garner a considerable reputation. As for Returning to Void and Mahayana Loose Cultivators, they either possess astonishing Luck or unique Secret Techniques. Those who achieve immortality are even rarer."
"These are the most basic comparisons. After all, apart from Loose Cultivators, there are also many disciples from minor families or side branches of major families. Their capabilities are clearly a cut above those of Loose Cultivators, though naturally, they still fall far short when compared to Sect disciples."
"Considering the incident you encountered, Junior Brother Chen, there were many, many ways to handle it. But you, Junior Brother, chose the worst one."
"Consider your identity: you are the Direct Disciple of a Heavenly Immortal. This status is comparable to that of the Young Masters from the main branches of those two families. In terms of position, as a Direct Disciple of the Sect, no one in the Myriad Beasts Domain would dare disrespect another Direct Disciple of the Myriad Beasts Sect. As for resources, you have the backing of a Heavenly Immortal. Furthermore, you befriended those Divine Beasts at the Main Hall. They spend their days bored, just drinking; if you had asked, they would undoubtedly have been willing to lend a hand."
"Do you understand, Junior Brother Chen?"
Looking at Bai Yao’s cheerful grin, Chen Jiuge finally had a clearer understanding of his own status and position. He gave a wry smile and said, "Senior Sister Bai, I believe I understand now."
Jun Sandao shook his head. "No, you still don’t understand."
"Let me put it this way: every Immortal of the Myriad Beasts Sect—be they True Immortals, Heavenly Immortals, Golden Immortals, or even the higher-level Immortal Daluo Golden Immortals—has numerous affiliated families backing them."
"But why would an Immortal spend a great deal of time on those affiliated forces? That’s why those forces desperately try to climb higher, to gain favor and prove their worth. I imagine the businesses you started near Hundred Herbs Peak, Junior Brother, are running smoothly with no one causing trouble, right?"
"I also know Elder Wen. He’s very protective of his own. Consequently, his network of influence isn’t enormous, and it’s mostly concentrated around Hundred Herbs Peak. Junior Brother, believe me, before your Ming Snake even reached Radiant Immortal City, the thieves you’re after would have been captured. Even the so-called branches of the Nangong Family or the Yue Family would likely have come forward offering gifts in apology."
"Don’t underestimate the Immortals of our Myriad Beasts Sect. We are a dominant power in the Heavenly Realm, a top-tier existence."
Witnessing the usually lazy Jun Sandao suddenly erupt with such a commanding aura, Chen Jiuge was involuntarily awed. Could this be that legendary, overwhelming presence???
Wen Ruo, on the other hand, showed no reaction. But Bai Yao, who had been so dismissive of him earlier, now gazed at Jun Sandao with a dazed, love-struck expression. Could it be...?
The situation unfolded exactly as Jun Sandao had predicted. Li Qiwen, who had taken the Ming Snake to Radiant Immortal City, arrived at the inn to find One-Eye, the ringleader of the group that had robbed the merchant caravan. This band of thieves, supposedly secretly supported by the Nangong Family, had now been tossed like dead dogs into the backyard of the Tongxin Inn, awaiting Li Qiwen’s judgment.
Looking at the unfamiliar man, Li Qiwen asked in confusion, "Who is this?"
"One-Eye, the ringleader behind the robbery of Young Master Chen’s caravan. We’ve already executed most of the thieves. These few commanders have been brought for Manager Li to deal with."
"And you are...?" Li Qiwen was still bewildered. He didn’t recognize these men, and his Young Master probably didn’t know them either—otherwise, there would have been no need to send the Ming Snake to assist him.
"I am Fu Hai, a Hall Master of the Heavenly Sea Gang from Jinling Immortal City. Our Heavenly Sea Gang is an affiliate of Elder Wen; Young Master Chen should be aware of us."
"Our mission is complete, so we should take our leave. By the way, members of the Nangong and Yue Families will be here shortly to offer their apologies. Manager Li, no need to see us out."
That night, as expected, representatives from both the Nangong and Yue Families came to apologize. They not only presented precious spiritual materials but also transferred ownership of all their inn properties within the city to Chen Jiuge, making it clear they had absolutely no intention of opposing him.
Walking out of the Tongxin Inn, the Nangong Family Head stared intently at its signboard, eventually bowing his head with a long sigh. So what if they were a branch of a Heavenly Immortal Family? Without a single True Immortal, such branches were a dime a dozen; the main family wouldn’t care in the slightest. He had indeed grown old, too focused on scheming and forgetting that strength was paramount. Fortunately, this Direct Disciple came from a humble background and was still unaware of the resources he commanded. Thanks to this, his lineage had narrowly escaped catastrophe.
Meanwhile, back at the City Lord Mansion, Yue Nantian turned to his eldest son, Yue Shanghe, who had accompanied him. "Do you understand now?"
"I understand. Strength is paramount," Yue Shanghe replied calmly.
Yue Nantian said, nodding in satisfaction, "Correct. Strength is paramount. That old fool from the Nangong Family just didn’t grasp that. To harbor designs against a Direct Disciple of a Heavenly Immortal is simply courting death."
"But Father, didn’t you also just go with the flow?" Yue Shanghe asked, somewhat puzzled.
"If we hadn’t tested him, how would we know if he was truly a Direct Disciple? Our Yue Family has a True Immortal ancestor. Besides, we weren’t the ones who initiated the trouble; at most, we merely stood by and watched. Given his high status, he would have no grounds to act against our Yue Family."
"However, from now on, we must be extremely careful not to provoke the Tongxin Inn or that general store. Even if we don’t try to curry favor, we absolutely must not offend them."