I Might Be a Big Shot — Chapter 8
At this moment, Changkong Zhuoyu moved.
He sensed the rampaging spiritual energy in Li Xinglun’s body and quickly absorbed it, giving Li Xinglun a brief moment of respite.
Then Changkong Zhuoyu swiftly turned, pressing his palms against Li Xinglun’s, and used the same method Li Xinglun had just employed to guide the spiritual energy through his body.
It was as though a senior of the same lineage was using his own power to boost Li Xinglun. Li Xinglun immediately seized the opportunity, silently operating the Li family’s mental technique and beginning to cultivate.
Usually, when Li Xinglun cultivated, he would painstakingly communicate with heaven and earth, coaxing a little spiritual energy over to him and converting it into his own true essence. With the Li family’s mental technique, the amount of energy he could absorb was quite limited. Even with daily practice, progress was slow. For him to reach Foundation Building at just twenty years old was already considered exceptionally talented.
But this time was different. The spiritual energy was forcibly seized by Changkong Zhuoyu, then funneled into Li Xinglun’s body in a continuous flow using the same method.
Although Li Xinglun’s cultivation level wasn’t high, after narrowly surviving at the bottom of the Soul-Breaking Gorge, his understanding of Heaven's Order deepened, and his mental state was sufficient to support him all the way to Nascent Soul stage. Now, with Changkong Zhuoyu controlling the torrent of energy at a perfectly suitable pace, he absorbed it without encountering any bottleneck.
Li Xinglun quickly entered a meditative state and began cultivating.
This cultivation lasted for over a month. When cultivating, time becomes meaningless — some practitioners shut themselves away for decades, and the world changes while they meditate. Even when he was breaking through to Foundation Building, Li Xinglun had needed to seclude himself for a whole year before barely succeeding.
Given the current state, he thought he might as well keep cultivating as long as possible — ideally, all the way to Nascent Soul. But the spiritual energy of heaven and earth wouldn’t allow it!
The Soul-Breaking Gorge was no famous, energy-rich sacred mountain. Its spiritual veins here were pitifully thin, and now that Changkong Zhuoyu had completely ransacked them, the surrounding ten-odd li would likely remain barren for years, until the nearby veins slowly nourished the land and allowed grass and trees to regrow.
Fortunately, there were no people living within a hundred li of the Gorge. Otherwise, this act of draining the land’s energy would have been a grave sin, as the lack of spiritual energy could weaken and sicken the locals, greatly affecting their lives.
Thankfully, thankfully.
Opening his eyes and seeing the withered plants all around, Changkong Zhuoyu patted his chest and said with lingering fear, “Good thing we cultivated here where no one lives. Otherwise, affecting mortal lives — wouldn’t that karmic debt have forced me into the demonic path?”
Li Xinglun stared at him speechlessly. He hadn’t even had time to check how much his cultivation had improved after coming out of meditation when he heard Changkong Zhuoyu say this — it was infuriating.
“Master, haven’t you noticed that your speed of absorbing spiritual energy is a bit… fast?” Li Xinglun pointed at the withered trees. “Have you ever seen a righteous cultivator leave the land like this after training?”
“I’ve never seen others either…” Changkong Zhuoyu muttered, then suddenly realized, “Could it be that I’m actually a demonic cultivator?”
“Judging from your methods… it’s very possible.” Li Xinglun was incredulous. How could someone so silly possibly be a demonic cultivator?
But this plundering way of cultivating was beyond even what the term ‘demonic’ could explain. The domineering manner in which he drew in spiritual energy was something even ordinary demonic cultivators couldn’t achieve — perhaps only a top-level master of the demonic path could.
Recalling the endless murderous, bloody aura Changkong Zhuoyu had displayed when using the sword technique in the Gorge, Li Xinglun couldn’t help but reach a conclusion: not only was Changkong Zhuoyu a demonic cultivator, but also a great demon lord with bloodstained hands.
This realization filled Li Xinglun with very complicated feelings.
“Then… by helping you cultivate, I didn’t also cause you to fall into the demonic path, did I?” At this moment, all of Changkong Zhuoyu’s usual swagger disappeared. He looked like a child who had accidentally done something wrong, carefully watching Li Xinglun.
Seeing him like this, Li Xinglun’s heart gradually calmed.
Even if Changkong Zhuoyu had once fallen into the demonic path amid a blood tribulation — so what? The one he knew, the one he interacted with now, was the Changkong Zhuoyu who would even pay someone to sell him out. Did it really matter whether he was demonic or not?
{Blood tribulation — a major, deadly trial in one’s cultivation, often involving mass killing, war, sacrifice, or karmic punishment tied to violence. }
“No,” Li Xinglun reassured him. “I don’t know what your method really is, but when you helped me cultivate, you actually used my own mental technique. And the spiritual energy you absorbed was passed to me without being refined, so I wasn’t affected at all. On the contrary… forcibly plundering heaven and earth will likely bring all that karma down on you.”
“Oh.” Changkong Zhuoyu relaxed, regaining his usual confident demeanor. “Such trivial karma — how could it trouble me? As long as you’re fine.”
This natural concern warmed Li Xinglun’s heart. He said, “Master’s guidance is remarkable. Your disciple has already advanced from early Foundation Building straight to late Foundation Building.”
That speed was truly terrifying.
Even the most gifted direct disciples of the great sects needed at least ten years to progress from early to late Foundation Building. Demonic cultivators might be a bit faster, but even the fastest-recorded demonic cultivator in history, the demonic sect leader of two thousand years ago, had taken five years. In terms of speed alone, Li Xinglun now stood at the pinnacle of the cultivation world.
“My disciple is amazing!” Changkong Zhuoyu gave a big thumbs-up. Although he couldn’t remember much about the cultivation world, he still knew the basics. This rate of progress was simply unheard of.
“Still Master’s teaching is superb,” Li Xinglun knew Changkong Zhuoyu liked being praised, so he sincerely said, “Master is truly impressive. I merely drew in a bit of qi, and Master immediately understood my method of circulating true essence. If you hadn’t used the same method to guide true essence into me, my own mental technique might have rejected it and injured me — no way I could have advanced like this.”
“Of course! Taking me as your master was no mistake!” Changkong Zhuoyu was the kind who would brag even if no one praised him, so hearing such logical, heartfelt praise, he naturally accepted it at once.
“But… with such rapid progress, will your state of mind be affected?”
“No,” Li Xinglun explained that his mindset was already stable enough to reach Nascent Soul.
“That’s good!” Changkong Zhuoyu immediately said, “Once we find a proper place to train, we’ll seclude ourselves for a year or two, let you charge straight to Nascent Soul — so the cultivation world knows that not only am I powerful, but I also train disciples faster than anyone!”
Hearing this, Li Xinglun truly smiled. “Naturally.”
The two of them continued exchanging praise back and forth until Li Xinglun suddenly realized that he was talking just like Changkong Zhuoyu. Only then did he deeply understand just how formidable Changkong Zhuoyu was — even Li Xinglun had started boasting along with him!
“Ahem.” Catching himself in time, Li Xinglun quickly said, “Since Master has figured out how to circulate true essence, let’s hurry to Miaojiang.”
Changkong Zhuoyu always listened to Li Xinglun (though something about that felt off). He placed a hand on Li Xinglun’s waist and flew up into the sky with him.
Once airborne, the shoes beneath his feet turned into white mist, lifting them like clouds. With this mist, their speed increased severalfold.
Li Xinglun: “…”
So this was Changkong Zhuoyu’s magic treasure — clearly a top-tier, versatile treasure, capable of attack and defense, even protecting its master automatically in the Soul-Breaking Gorge. Definitely no ordinary item.
Now Li Xinglun didn’t even need Changkong Zhuoyu to hold him. He stood steadily on the white mist, flying at an incredible speed without feeling a hint of wind.
Someone with such a treasure — what kind of figure was he in the cultivation world?
In his twenty years, Li Xinglun had never heard of such a terrifying expert.
In just the time it took for an incense stick to burn, the two arrived at Miaojiang.
Changkong Zhuoyu chose a secluded, empty spot to land. Afterward, they walked into a small town and found a teahouse to sit down and order tea.
If you wanted to learn about the Five Poisons sect, the best place was a bustling teahouse. Lots of people, easy to gather information.
This teahouse wasn’t large, but it was quite crowded. There were people in Miao garb and some who were clearly martial artists from the Central Plains, with their weapons set beside them as they drank tea and spoke in low voices.
In comparison, Li Xinglun wearing a bamboo hat didn’t stand out much — after all, the Five Poisons sect wasn’t a righteous sect, and it was understandable that people here might want to keep their faces hidden.
But Changkong Zhuoyu’s stunning beauty still drew countless eyes.
Where in the mortal world could you find someone so handsome? Even in the cultivation world, it would be hard to find anyone who could match him. At least cultivators could resist a bit, but ordinary people couldn’t — from the moment they entered, everyone stared in a daze.
Li Xinglun: “…”
“These two look like trained fighters — probably here to find the Five Poisons sect.” Murmured whispers reached Li Xinglun’s ears.
“Hmph, with that kind of face, he’s probably here to use poison to harm others!”
“Nonsense. Look at his clear eyes and natural demeanor — no way he’s a bad person.”
“I’ve never seen such a beauty… as the saying goes, better to die beneath a peony than live without romance…”
Li Xinglun grew angrier the more he heard, but outwardly he drank his tea as if nothing happened.
Changkong Zhuoyu didn’t even bother listening to them, instead curiously observing the teahouse — everything here was novel to him.
“Gentlemen, what tea would you like?” The tea attendant approached, but couldn’t take his eyes off Changkong Zhuoyu.
“What teas do you have here?”
The tea attendant beamed proudly. “Don’t be fooled by our little shop — we have all kinds of teas, high and low.”
He then rattled off a long list of teas and prices without pause, leaving Changkong Zhuoyu dizzy. At the end he asked, “So, which would you like?”
“This…” Finally coming to his senses, Changkong Zhuoyu patted his waist — but he had no purse. So he looked at his disciple.
Li Xinglun had been attacked at night, hadn’t even grabbed a storage pouch, and even needed Changkong Zhuoyu to make him a bamboo hat — completely penniless.
An awkward silence followed. Then Changkong Zhuoyu straightened his face, exuding an aura of mystery and transcendence. He coolly told the tea attendant, “We are outsiders untouched by worldly concerns. Just bring us plain water.”
The tea attendant: “…”
If it were anyone else, he’d have already thrown them out. But faced with that visage — no one could muster the slightest complaint. So he nodded reluctantly and went to fetch water.
When he returned, he actually brought a set of fine teacups and placed brewed tea on their table, filling their cups. Instantly, the room was filled with a delicate fragrance.
“Good tea!” An old man at the next table sniffed deeply, looking enraptured.
Changkong Zhuoyu: “…”
Even he could tell this tea wasn’t cheap!
Fortunately, a man in a green robe stepped out from the back room, cupped his hands and said, “I’m called Scholar Bai. Miaojiang is remote, and it’s rare to see someone like you here. Please accept this tea as a gesture of friendship.”
Ah, so it was free. Changkong Zhuoyu understood, picked up a cup, sniffed it, and said calmly, “Very well — a friendly gesture.”
He then took a sip, his expression softening at just the right moment, every gesture full of elegance and grace.
He didn’t say much, but his poise made this shabby teahouse seem instantly resplendent. Everyone around felt like lowly worms in comparison — not even daring to meet his gaze.
Li Xinglun: “…”
He’d only given Changkong Zhuoyu a little guidance about speaking and showing less expression — but he hadn’t expected him to pull it off so well. Truly, he looked like a master!
Changkong Zhuoyu’s movements were pleasing to the eye, and his presence made everyone in the room suddenly thirsty, needing tea to quench it.
Almost simultaneously, everyone raised their cups and drained them.
Even Li Xinglun took a sip and thought it really did taste good. {Liar!}
Once everyone had drunk, Scholar Bai’s humble demeanor vanished. He said to the crowd, “Indeed.”
At his words, the martial artists in the teahouse suddenly went limp, collapsing into their chairs.
Scholar Bai smiled proudly. “I’m not normally inclined to such… affections. But upon seeing you today, I couldn’t help myself. I hope you won’t hold it against me.” {Initiating Failed Suitor counter: #1}
Changkong Zhuoyu stared wide-eyed at everyone collapsing around him while he remained unaffected. Confused, he asked, “What do you mean by this?”
Scholar Bai’s smile froze. “Why haven’t you collapsed?”
Li Xinglun, who had been playing dead, finally couldn’t hold back. He slapped the expensive teacup, shattering it into shards that embedded themselves in the wall like hidden weapons.
He grabbed a shard, flashed to Scholar Bai’s side, and pressed it to his throat.
“How dare you touch him — you’ve got some nerve!”
Li Xinglun felt as though his fury was about to consume him — and at that moment, he couldn’t tell if his words were part of the act, or from his heart.
~ Chapter End ~
Comments
Post a Comment