In the inn room of Windless City, the candlelight flickered, casting a dim yellow glow on the walls.
Xiao Chen sat on a stool by the window, his fingertips lightly tapping the table, his gaze fixed on the dark night sky outside the window, as if waiting for something.
On the bed next to him, Stone was fast asleep, his snores rising and falling, creating a strange contrast with the tranquility of the room.
"Knock knock knock".
The knocking sounded precisely on time, neither too loud nor too soft, carrying a hint of hesitation.
Xiao Chen raised his eyes and said calmly, "The door isn't locked, come in."
The door creaked open and Bai Feng walked in.
He was dressed in a plain long robe, his hair was a little messy, and his eyes were covered with dark circles. He had completely lost the spiritedness he had shown outside the mine, and was now only exhausted from the burden of his family.
Upon entering, he subconsciously glanced at the sleeping stone, then turned his gaze to Xiao Chen, his expression complex.
"Brother Xiao, were you waiting for me?" Bai Feng's voice was a little hoarse, with uncertainty in it.
Xiao Chen nodded, gesturing for him to sit down: "I guessed you would come."
The Bai family is currently in a predicament where they have virtually no choice but to seek outside help. And the only "outside help" they can trust and who are capable of assisting them, looking across the entire Windless City, are probably just themselves and Stone—after all, their strength had already been seen by the Bai family during their trip to the mine.
Bai Feng sat down opposite Xiao Chen, remained silent for a moment, and then, as if having made a huge decision, said directly, "Brother Xiao, I won't beat around the bush. The Shi family and the Tang family will make their move first thing tomorrow morning, and I hope you can help our Bai family."
He took a deep breath and added, "As for compensation, the Bai family will never treat you unfairly. Spirit crystals, magic weapons, cultivation techniques... whatever we have, just ask."
Xiao Chen picked up the cold tea on the table, took a sip, looked up at Bai Feng, and asked calmly, "Brother Bai, do you think I'm lacking spirit crystals right now?"
After the auction of the Spirit Recovery Pill, he will have enough spirit crystals in his hands for an ordinary cultivator to squander for several lifetimes. The spirit crystals that the Bai family can offer may not be more than what he has.
As for magical artifacts and cultivation techniques, the foundation left by Lin Zhou far surpasses that of a family in Wufeng City.
Bai Feng was taken aback by Xiao Chen's directness. He had clearly forgotten that someone capable of producing a miraculous medicine like the Rejuvenation Pill would certainly not lack ordinary resources.
A hint of embarrassment flashed across his face, but then, as if remembering something, hope rekindled in his eyes. He leaned forward and lowered his voice, saying, "Brother Xiao, if you don't lack these things, then... our Bai family is willing to give you the spot in 'Mist Hidden Valley'."
"Hidden Mist Valley?" Xiao Chen raised an eyebrow; he had never heard of this name before.
“That’s one of the most mysterious secret realms in the Chaotic Star Belt,” Bai Feng quickly explained, his tone solemn. “It only opens once every twenty years. Inside, there are rare treasures left from ancient times, such as ‘Resurrection Grass’ that can bring the dead back to life and heal the wounded, ‘Boundary Stones’ that contain spatial laws, and there may even be complete ancient cultivation techniques!”
He paused, then emphasized, "Most importantly, Misty Valley has a special nourishing power for cultivators' mental state and Dao foundation. It is said that someone once stayed there for three months and directly broke through from the Dao Proving Realm to the Creation Realm!"
“Such a secret realm has extremely limited spots.” Bai Feng looked into Xiao Chen’s eyes. “Our Wufeng City, including the City Lord’s Mansion, only has five spots in total. The Bai family has managed to secure one spot through generations of hard work. If Brother Xiao is willing to lend a helping hand and help the Bai family get through this crisis, the spot will be yours.”
Xiao Chen stopped moving his fingertips.
He had no shortage of spirit crystals, but he was very interested in secret realms. On the path of cultivation, resources were important, but opportunities were even more precious. Especially secret realms like these, which could nourish the mind and contain laws, could be of great help to him break through his current realm and even reach higher levels in the future.
He looked at Bai Feng and saw sincerity in his eyes—this spot was obviously extremely important to the Bai family, and they would never give it up easily unless they were in dire straits.
"Are you so sure that I can help you hold off the Shi family and the Tang family?" Xiao Chen asked.
Bai Feng gave a bitter smile: "It's uncertain, but it's our only hope."
He recalled Xiao Chen's decisiveness in killing the Star Crystal Python leader in the mine, his composure in confronting the peak of the Dao Proving Realm with the Tribulation Transcending Realm, and the heaven-defying Spirit Recovery Pill at the auction—this person in front of him, though seemingly young, was unfathomable and might truly be able to create miracles.
"This time, the Shi and Tang families have probably used their most trump cards."
Bai Feng said in a deep voice, "Although their ancestors haven't broken through, they have at least five elders at the peak of the Dao Proving Realm, and they still have many trump cards to play. Our Bai family... only has a few elders who can fight, my father and I, and... Luo'er."
"The other retainers all ran away as soon as they heard that the Shi and Tang families were about to make a move."
When Bai Yiluo was mentioned, a trace of guilt flashed in his eyes—his sister shouldn't have been involved in this kind of fighting.
Xiao Chen remained silent for a moment. The wind outside the window seemed to pick up, carrying a chill that seemed to be brewing a storm.
Helping the Bai family means simultaneously confronting both the Shi and Tang families, two enemies, which carries considerable risk.
But the spot in Misty Valley really tempted him.
“I can help you,” Xiao Chen said slowly, his gaze falling on Bai Feng, “but I have two conditions.”
Bai Feng quickly replied, "Brother Xiao, please speak! As long as we can do it!"
"First, the quota for Misty Valley must be handed over to me immediately after the matter is completed, without any additional conditions."
"Secondly, I will only ensure that the Bai family patriarch succeeds in breaking through and that the Bai family is not destroyed. As for the future of the Shi family and the Tang family, it has nothing to do with me, and I will not interfere in the settlement of the grudges between the three families."
He didn't want to get too deeply involved. Helping the Bai family through the crisis and securing a spot was the safest course of action, and he would then withdraw.
Bai Feng nodded without hesitation: "No problem! We'll do as Brother Xiao says!"
What are these conditions if we can protect our family? As for the Shi and Tang families, we'll naturally find a way to deal with them once my grandfather breaks through to the Creation Realm.
“Then… I’ll be waiting for you outside the Bai family mansion tomorrow morning.” Bai Feng stood up, a hint of relaxation finally appearing on his tense face. “Brother Xiao, rest assured, we will definitely prepare a token of our gratitude.”
Xiao Chen nodded and said nothing more.
Bai Feng bowed deeply, turned and hurried away, his steps much lighter than when he arrived, clearly having seen hope.
The door closed, and the room returned to silence, save for the snoring of Stone.
Xiao Chen looked out the window. The night sky over Wufeng City was still pitch black, but he knew that a bloodbath would break out here after dawn tomorrow.
He picked up the rusty iron gun; the barrel was cold, yet he could almost feel the fighting spirit contained within it.
Helping the Bai family wasn't out of friendship, but because of the opportunity in Misty Valley.
As for the Shi family and the Tang family...
A sharp glint flashed in Xiao Chen's eyes.
Those who block the way, behead them.
As night deepened, the wind outside the inn seemed to grow colder.
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